Much to my sketchbook’s disappointment, the DMV is closed all this weekend due to the holiday. Even while closed, the DMV was still able to make a grown adult cry outside its steely gate – impressive.
So instead, Jake & I sat outside on my stoop and had a little drawing session.
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PLUS
Construction has begun on the Eagle + Wolf site! More collaborations to come soon.
-LW
Posted in Eagle + Wolf, Sketchbook
Tagged Eagle + Wolf, Ink, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Sketches
While I work on drawings that I cannot yet reveal, here’s a little bit of history for you.
This drawing is circa Fall 2007, right when I had moved here to Portland. My love for ink, brush, and charcoal really began at this time.
Drawn on 11 x 14″ Bristol board, this began as a doodle and ended as a finished piece.
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During this time, I was attending my first semester at PNCA, and taking a class called “Time Arts”. This class covers all time-based arts – animation, film, performance art (ahhhhhh!!!!!), and sequential art – comics!
Here is the first, and as of yet, only comic I have ever made, Balloon.
During the critique, some of my fellow students found the 8th frame confusing, and I agreed – it’s a bit unclear. The little blob underneath the girl’s body is her shadow as she slowly floats away, becoming a balloon herself. Curses!!! You mean, I’m not perfect?
Also, you can definitely see the Edward Gorey influence in these drawings, as around this time I had been studying his work.
So why haven’t I done anymore comics?
It just ain’t my cup of tea. I like cramming my narratives with so many quirky little details, in a single shot, rather than having moments dragged on, frame by frame. Comics are a lot of hard work, and if I were to ever make a graphic novel, I would obsess so much about the quality of each frame that it would take me twenty years to finish one.
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Yes!!! The DMV, my most favorite place in the world! I wish I lived there!
Tomorrow Jake & I must venture down there to take care of….well, a lot of things actually. Which means we’ll be there forever. How could I not bring my sketchbook? It’s like a goldmine of people-watching. I mean, the last time I was there, I saw a grown man crying like a baby. Alright!!
-LW
Last night I wanted to do a few simple drawing exercises, so I took my little watercolor pad, climbed into bed, and made some small ink drawings.
Taking a cue from Jillian Tamaki’s sketchblog, I made these drawings using only ink. I often use ink washes/color washes in my work, but very rarely will I use the medium alone.
Ditching my other drawing tools and relying on the somewhat unpredictable qualities of ink is definitely a good way to become better friends with the medium.
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Another book I had picked up the other day at Goodwill was a little paperback copy of Robert Frost’s Poems.
In it, I surprised to find these dreamy little illustrations by John O’Hara Cosgrave II:
I could not find much information on the artist, other than he was born in the early 1900′s in San Francisco, and was mainly an illustrator of sea vessels and anything marine-related. He was a magazine illustrator, but also a painter and graphic artist. I love the simple, but very effective lines of his work.
-LW
Posted in Inspiration, Sketchbook
Tagged Ink, John O'Hara Cosgrave II, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Robert Frost, Sketches
This past week has seen a lot of inspiring additions to the Eagle + Wolf library.
While at Goodwill today, I was super excited to see a copy of Dinotopia on the shelf. In an illustration conversation with Jake a few months ago (weird, we NEVER talk about drawing), I remembered this book and the amazing illustrations, and realized that I hadn’t thought about it in years.
The book, written and illustrated by James Gurney, is layed out in a sort of scientific/documentary fashion, from the eyes of an explorer who disappeared from a ship and was never seen again. Where he ended up was in Dinotopia – a lost island where humans and dinosaurs coexist.
This layout includes handwritten script, implying that the explorer drew this in his research book.
I was obsessed with Dinotopia when I was about 11 years old. My brother and I loved dinosaurs, and this book blew me away. Gurney created an entire world, replete with details about the language, architecture, and all facets of the culture on this island.
A vertebral drawbridge?!
As it turned out, this book was a nerdy fantastical pot of gold – it’s sold over a million copies and spawned a whole series of related books. Overall, I am still in awe of the amazing scope Gurney accomplished with his fantasy world. And dinosaurs are still cool, Jake.
Heh heh, NO, we did not get this book. We just thought it was funny.
Another awesome book: The Selby is in Your Place. This book is based on the site, theselby.com, and is a project started by Todd Selby. Todd is a photographer who visits the homes of random interesting people and documents all the rad stuff they have. All his subjects seem to be from the creative vein – designers, artists, musicians, stylists, photographers – who are all happily nesting and enjoying the fruits of their creative labors.
Looking at this book and the site will probably make you INSANELY JEALOUS.
Lookit all this cool stuff!!
But it’s all very inspiring too. There are a lot of great ideas to pull from for my own illustrations, and looking at all these different homes gives you an itch to start collecting weird, random objects for your own house.
Holy crap, who remembers the Omnibot 2000?
I know a few people who wouldn’t mind owning this.
I also picked up a Jack London collection book, which of course includes Call of the Wild. I last read this in the 5th grade, and this lil’ wolf will be happy to read it again.
So much good fuel for the fire. These books are integral to the creative process. Sometimes when I’m in a rut, sitting and flipping through the right book can lend me some inspiration.
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Aw crap, more shoes?? I picked up two more pairs this weekend – they were dirt cheap and awesome and I couldn’t resist. Where am I going to put all these things? Don’t be surprised if these little tuxedo dippers end up in a drawing somewhere.
-LW
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged book, Call of the Wild, Dinotopia, Jack London, James Gurney, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, The Selby
Meticulous
Fine
Detailed
Intricate
Meditative
Absorbing
Exploring
the depths
of my own imagination.
Only glimpses and tidbits from here on out, but man – this is going to be fun.
-LW
Tagged book, Character, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Miss That, The End
After I drew up the the Charles Bukowski portrait, Jake finished up his digital half yesterday evening.
Once again, here is the original drawing:
And the final piece:
For this layering process, Jake used many of his own photographs as elements of the piece – burnt wood from our recent trip to the beach, and lights and signs from Las Vegas.
I have to say, I really think Jake killed it on this one. He did a smashing job.
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With the characters nailed down, work has continued on illustrations for the book, The End of This & That. Yesterday I began ink work on some inside cover pieces. In the meantime, here’s a glimpse of the first page I’ve already completed:
For this project, it’s back to my tiny, tiny Micron pen.
-LW
Posted in Collaboration, Eagle + Wolf, Portrait
Tagged Charcoal, Charles Bukowski, Collaboration, digital, Eagle + Wolf, Ink, Jake Hollomon, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Portrait, The End
“Anything is a waste of time unless you are fucking well or creating well or getting well or looming toward a kind of phantom-love-happiness.“
For Eagle + Wolf’s second portrait: Charles Bukowski. If you haven’t read any yet…..well, read some. Or all of it.
Here is my half of the project.
“Never get up before noon.”
(Man, I do this without even trying, much to my own disappointment.)
Jake: tag, you’re it.
-LW
Posted in Collaboration, Portrait
Tagged Charcoal, Charles Bukowski, Ink, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Portrait
Don’t know about Pee Wee? The basics.
For part deux of the Pee Wee portrait, I passed over the digital scan of my drawing to Jake for colorization.
The original drawing:
After Jake’s digital attack:
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Just the other day, we realized that my friend Eli had watched Pee Wee’s Big Adventure the exact same night Jake and I had.
At 57, Paul Reubens has been making attempts at a comeback with his character Pee Wee, recently reprising the role for a stage show in LA earlier this year. There are also talks about a possible movie based on two scripts Reubens has written. For a real throwback, check out Pee Wee’s official site.
My original Pee Wee doll – he still talks!
With this collaboration complete, I think I will finish up the original drawing in ink and charcoal. I may also consider putting it up for sale.
Next up: Bukowski!!
-LW
Posted in Collaboration, Eagle + Wolf, Portrait, Process
Tagged Collaboration, digital, Eagle + Wolf, Jake Hollomon, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Paul Reubens, Pee Wee Herman, Portrait
After a relaxing nap in the park today (not wearing a coat – whaaaaa????), I finished the final portrait in the series of character sketches for the book, The End of This & That.
The Elderly version of Miss That:
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Miss That
Miss This
I don’t know about you, but I would totally hang out with these ladies.
-LW
Coming back around to the book I’m illustrating, The End of This & That, and completing the final character sketches. Below is a portrait of a young Miss That.
The self-imposed process for these sketches is an important factor in moving forward with the rest of the book. I have to ask myself certain questions as I draw – will this character appeal to the audience, or just to myself? Can the character sustain throughout the entirety of the book? Does it embody the personality the author had in mind? Did I put too much flair on this shoulder adornment?
Being the Master of this universe certainly comes with it’s own challenges, but creating an entire world out of thin air is immensely fun.
-LW
