my process [at least for the next few series]...

first off- i lied- here's another update with no image, but i'm taking lunch, and i need to purge a few thoughts [but i plan on working enough images into this post to get you through it... eventually]...

so because of what i've been doing professionally for the last 13 years or so [building levels for video games], i've sorta slipped into a method of producing art, that's quite similar- so here's a description of my process...

basically i start creating/ drawing "elements" for pieces, much like i model meshes [in CG] that i arrange to create levels [not as much any more, but whatever]. anyway- i love working this way- it allows artists like me with [self-diagnosed ADD] to work on quite a few elements of a piece, jumping around to whatever i feel like working on at the time AND increasing efficiency, because i get in a groove, and can crank away on a certain aspect of a series- which leads me back to creating the elements.

the elements are simply small drawings [my 5.5X8.5" sketch pad] of whatever i feel like drawing or need to draw at the time. so i can do rough passes on a buncha different ideas, and revisit them later for an inking/ nailing down pass.

because these aren't the final products, i don't concentrate on the line quality at this point any more.

so i scan those in, and arrange them [hopefully artistically] into a PSD in photoshop.

that is then printed out [for anything larger than 8.5X11, i either tape them together or hit up kinkos (who i hate) for large format prints in B&W].

that is then traced onto canvas paper using a light table with pencil, detailed out a bit more here and there, then "locked down" with ultra fine sharpie [which also helps funtion to repel the guache, and keep it off the outlines].

now it's time for the gauche, which takes quite a while, and can sometimes require multiple passes depending on the opacity and thickens of the paint. then a layer of 3M? artists' workable fixative, to protect it all a bit from water [which can "undo" it all at this point], etc.

then comes the windor ink, which can be quite dangerous with those unpredictable [yet spontaneous] nibs i use.

when they bleed or puddle out [which is all but unavoidable], there's a time-sensitive process that helps save it all [paper towel to blot up the bulk, brush some water on to thin out the remainder, then more paper towel action]- the fixative usually prevents it from getting tot he gauche, but not always- in that case, it's time to bust out the gauche again.

ALMOST DONE!

now comes the final sealant... and it's done! or so ya think... then ya keep eyeballing it, noticing things here and there, so luckily the windsor ink will lay over the sealant rather nicely. then another layer of sealant [hopefully the final], pop it in a frame [note: http://www.framesbymail.com/ has pretty nice frames which are essentially custom, for a decent price].

... next step: trying to find a decent place to do prints.

ok. so yeah- as always... IMAGES TO COME!! I PROMISE ART WILL EVENTUALLY BE POSTED ON MY ART BLOG!!

... patenaude