Gone Fishing...

 Last weekend, I thought about going fishing. This is as close as I got, to a lake. Another miniature painting was started and I could almost smell the cool lake breeze, hear the water lapping against the boat and see the bobber, riding the ripples on the lake.

Anyway, my plan is to start several miniature paintings over the next month or so, then finish them as time allows. I really need to work hard to meet my miniature painting goals, for the year. 

I did a few quick sketches of the cat characters and then went to a final painting. I've been adjusting the final drawing, as I go. 

The first sketch on the board (above) was too human-like. The arms were too long and shoulders were too high. I was getting too far from cat-like bodies. 

The arms still feel too long. I need to refine the proportions until they feel right. This was my weekend fishing trip...minus the fish...and the trip. 

Oh, well. I might get out on the lake, next weekend.

Such little paintings, so little time...

I started another miniature painting over the weekend but had to put it on hold, for now. My newest children's book sketches have been revised and are waiting for approval. I'll start the final artwork, this week.

The Call- background roughed in.

Although the miniature work is small, the amount of time it takes to render the fine detail is as much or more than my bigger paintings.

The Call- in progress.

The Call- main figure roughed in...detail, next.

This fox will have to wait... The Call is on hold.

It's Miniature Saturday!

Today, I'm starting another miniature painting. Here is a sketch for the newest idea.

sketch for "The Call"

My goal is to complete six miniatures, this year. This is the first chance in a long time, that I've had to work on these little gems. Monday, I'll get back to my newest children's book...pirates. I'll fill you in on that, later.

...now, back to the tiny brushes.

Blues Update- No longer "Still Alive and Well"...

A sad day.

I just received some good news...and bad news. Last night, my Hot Licks Bluesfest poster design was approved (that's the good). This morning, I received the news, Johnny Winter had passed away (that's the bad), yesterday, in Switzerland. He was 70 years old.

I was really looking forward to meeting him. Johnny Winter was the first big concert (Hara Arena, Dayton, Ohio) that I attended in the mid-70's. I was in High School and his album, Still Alive and Well was burnin' up the record player.

Prayers for the Winter family.
Bluesfest poster on hold.

Hot Licks and WET PAINT!

I just finished the artwork for this year's Hot Licks Bluesfest. I took a few pics during the painting so that I could show the in progress stages.

First, I blocked in the shapes over my drawing with acrylic washes (skin areas and guitar) and painted in the shapes that I know were going to be very dark, almost black (sky, shirt and shoes).

Then, I started to add detail to the character's face, trying to capture the moon lighting.

From the face, I kept working outward, adding more detail to the hands and guitar. I kept the light source in mind and decided where and how it would hit each part of the image.

You could still see some of my pencil drawing under the acrylic washed areas.

After the hands and guitar were mostly completed with detail, I started to work out the affect of a second light source. The words- "HOT LICKS"(in bright orange-red) will be placed along the backside of the character.

Here, you can see the warm light hitting the hands, guitar neck and body, etc.

When most of the image was finished, I went back to the top area and added some stars and stylized steam, rising from the image.

Small detail was added, sweat on the player's face and warm light on the underside of his hat and ear. I love adding little touches like that to a piece...kind of an afterthought but it works.

Well, there you have it! I still need to work on the type...stay tuned!

Singin' the Poster Blues

This year's idea sketches
with the last two years artwork in the background.

It's that time of year, when I start thinking about creating the artwork for Granville's Hot Licks Bluesfest.  This year, the headliners are: Johnny Winter and Rory Block, two super talented blues giants. 

I found some really cool reference photos and started working with those, keeping as far from the exact photo as I could (I don't want to get a letter from some photographer's copyright attorney). I kept getting nowhere. The sketches were dull, something was missing. I wasn't getting what I wanted. It was driving me crazy. There were some "O.K." designs but this is the Hot Licks Bluesfest...O.K. wouldn't cut it!

Then, I realized that I was too focused on the reference photos. I kept forcing the poster design to conform to the pictures. They were preventing me from finding a great solution to the poster design.

I put everything away and started over, trying to capture an overall energy in the composition. After I got a descent design, I could find or construct some photo reference to support it. Plus, this wasn't suppose to be a Johnny Winter or Rory Block poster. It's a Hot Licks Bluesfest poster. Although I like to include something that relates to the headliner, it isn't a portrait. 

Thumbnail (idea) sketches approx. 1.5 x 2.5 inches.

Finally! I started to see something that I liked. The sketch on the left seemed a little too country.  It's the Blues-fest...not Country-fest.

Note to self:
Remember to keep it simple. Focus on big shapes instead of detail.
Detail will come later.

Then, from the thumbnail sketch, I enlarged the design and blocked in the shapes

Sketches were done on tracing paper so that I could refine the drawing and add more detail on each layer.

Then it started to feel right. It had some energy. It had some burn and despair...it's the Blues, baby.  And, I could finally stop singin' the Blues Poster Blues.

Final sketch, ready to submit for approval.
The space along the left side is for sponsor logos.

So, I'm back on track...ready to get to it! This week, I start the final artwork. 

I'll keep you posted.