Illustration Project: Start to Finish

For this illustration imagine a line going down the middle where there would be a fold, where the spine would bisect the design.

Recently, I was commissioned to to illustrate and design a book cover for an independently published writer. I worked exclusively with her to create a feel that see liked. Here is the process we went through.

First, she gave me a number of photos to look through.
I decided this picture could make a good composition
and exuded the mood she wanted to have.

Second, I gave her sketches of what the cover
would look like as a composition with text. We
came to a conclusion we both agreed on and
proceeded to the illustration phase.

Next, I did a pen illustration of the author. Notice
that I had to draw the feet without a reference.

After the pen drawing was finished I scanned
it and added some texture and color on the
computer. This took a while.

Then I showed the author a proof.

She decided that she did not want her face
to look as cartoonish. We decided to use the
original photo and low-light areas with pen
to keep the illustration consistent. We also
decided to put her lower on the page to leave
more room for the Title text.

She liked this proof a lot.

Finally, I added some design elements. I
created a Title logo and designed other
elements in the same feel.

We were both very happy with the final
realized vision.

No Art This Time: Just the random facts.

So I have been tagged to offer seven random facts about myself. I was tagged by the friendly and talented Yoon See. This may be the first and last time I talk much about myself so listen closely if you have any interest what-so-ever:

1. My nick-name musarter comes from the idea that I create music and art:
I am a musician and art-er. I am a bit embarrassed to admit my infatuation with playing music came from the idea that musicians get all the ladies. I got this idea from this scene from Lost Boys. After seeing this scene I promptly begged my parents to let me lease a saxophone to play in the school band at the tender age of 11. As I grew older I started to write music and enjoy the mental exercise it provided; I loved and still love the vast possibilities in this creative environment. My musical tastes and influences include but are not limited to the following genres: Reggae, Rock (roots, progressive, classic, etc.), Independent, Alternative, Electronic, Classical, Funk, Flamenco, African, Latin, Folk (American and Gypsy), Jazz (in many forms), R&B/soul, Gospel, Hip Hop and the Blues. If I ever record anything I will link it to this blog.

2. I have broken thickest bone in my body:
I broke my heal bone when I was in the forth grade. It was Super Bowl Sunday and all the adults were at a party. A friend and I decided it would be fun to sneak into a neighborhood girl's house to scare her and her friends. To do this we had to climb onto their roof and sneak in through the balcony door. Let's just say there was not much thought put into this scheme of ours as there was no escape plan. Upon retreat from our scare I jumped rather than get caught. I landed squarely on the grass below with the exception of my heal which caught the cement walk-way below.

3. I have broke the largest bone in my body:
I broke my femur bone just like in the picture on the bottom left. I was riding a wave runner and crashed into another wave runner. I am a living testimony to life-preservers: without one I would have drown.

4. I am a Male human from the USA that does not care much for College or Professional Sports:
Maybe it has to do with the trauma mentioned in (2) above. I do think it is entertaining I just have better things to do with my time. One the fondest memories I have took place during a Super Bowl: I was surfing during a great swell, no one was out, just as I was paddling into a large, hallow, wave a dolphin jumped within 10 feet of me and we both caught the wave together. This memory makes me think of all the great things that can pass by unnoticed while we sit in front of monitors and television screens.

5. I am an American that walks to work:
See previous post. There is something to be said about a small commute and being able to see my wife and children at lunch.

6. I am a self-professed coffee snob:
Although I worked at Starbucks for a while, I hardly drank coffee there. Working with that coffee smell drew me in. I learned how to taste coffee working with many connoisseurs. These days I wont drink Starbucks drip coffee and I only use a french press at home. Here is a link to one of my favorite regional coffees.

7. I am only person that lives in Watkinsville, GA. that grew up in Encinitas, CA:
My wife grew up in Carlsbad, CA. which makes her the only person in Watkinsville from Carlsbad, CA. I grew-up in a hippie-town comprised of surfers and immigrants. I left a city that was nothing like the great place I grew-up. We were being called to move somewhere else but we did not know where. A Friend our ours was moving to Athens, GA. and offered to let me stay with them until I found a job, and that is what I did. Let this be a lesson to people that casually make bold offers: I am living proof that sometimes people take-up the most outlandish of offers.


I am tagging some people not so much to see them write a novel, as I did, but to, hopefully,
send some traffic to some terrific blogs:

Andre Gribble
Dani Torrent
Ester Garcia Cortez
Curious Art
Michael Villegas
Austin Madison
Piero Pierini

All these blogs are very inspirational to me.

Obama Nation

So we have a new President. I don't really get why people love this man so much, really more than they should. Don't get me wrong he will probably be a good leader, and I know he has inspired a generation to think anyone can make it to the White House. I just think it is foolish to put so much hope in one person. After all, he is only human.

IF: Repair

All the Kings Democrats and all the Kings Republicans wont be able to put him together again.

This is for all the retirees that have lost their nest eggs.

ChaDes: Hostile Troll

The Judge, Jury, and Lawyers had no idea how hostile a witness could be until Morgouth took the stand.

IF: Strings

These things can ruin a perfectly good day at the beach.

ChaDes: Loopy Gangsters

This is my first post in a long while. I have been very busy but I managed to get a quick ChaDes sketch in. "Crazy-Eyes Patroza" always wore a white suit with a black tie and was known for using improvised billy-clubs such an occasional cannoli.

Beatrix Potter

Here is an illustration I did for "Monday Artday." The prompt was to make an illustration inspired by Beatrix Potter. This is illustration is from "The Tale of Benjamin Bunny," which is kind of like the sequel to "The Tale of Peter Rabbit." In this scene Mr. Benjamin Bunny knocks a cat of a basket that Peter and Little Benjamin are trapped underneath.

I recently decided that if I read a Beatrix Potter book to my son, I must do so in the Queens English. If you are wondering what this means, it is a really bad English accent.

IF: Memories

This is an illustration I did of my then girlfriend, now wife, when we took a trip to England the summer of '98. Oh the nostalgia of simpler times is very romantic.

I made this when I was in college. It is 8 x 10+ watercolor, colored pencil, and pastel on watercolor paper.

IF: Routine

Living in Athens, GA., it has become very routine to draw bulldogs. I have drawn bulldogs countless times and the only way I think I will escape this request is to move somewhere outside of Georgia. This project was fun because I also got to draw Jared, the Subway spokesperson.
I finished this one today, for a freelance client. T-shirt design, hence the limited color.

IF: Poof

I could not think of anything for "Poof" for the longest time. Not a thing came to mind, I drew a complete blank.

Definition of "Brain Fart."

IF: Canned

"Canned Heat"

Wiki "Canned Heat" or Sterno
also a great song by Jamiroquai that was made famous by Napoleon Dynamite.


If you liked this drawing, you might enjoy these character sketches too.

IF: Enough

East meets West: Good vs. Evil. How much anger and hatred is enough.

I did something in the theme of Yin and Yang at work. This was a variation on that theme that I thought might work for something. I also did another variation for Monday Artday for the theme "Opposites."

Monday Artday: July 14-21

"Steam Optimus" or "What the heck happened to my wagon."

I try not to post Monday Artday submissions here but this piece was selected as the winner for this week's theme "Steam Punk." I am humbled and honored to have been selected from among some really exceptional artists.

IF: Sour

That was one sour Mojito.

A bit late I know.

Imagination/IF: Pretend

I love the imagination kids have; they are such an insperation.

This is one I have been slowly working on. I have had very little time for drawing these days.

IF: Fierce

Bahlorg uttered these words shortly before he was vaporized by the Beholder.


I have not played Dungeons and Dragons for 15 years but I recently came upon a buddies blog that is dedicated to the drawing of D & D mishaps. This is a sketch inspired by their shenanigans.

IF: Punch Line

"I heard there is a gorilla at the end of this Punch Line."

Not much time for drawing much more that line drawings; alas I must try to stay fresh somehow.

ChaDes: Criminal Pygmies

They started small time, robbing small villages and sacking missionary compounds. Once they crossed the line, there was no going back. They were called "The Pygmy Brothers From Different Mothers."

ChaDes: Mean Orcs

IF: Worry and Baby

I know, a day late again. I kept thinking about this idea all week but never got around to putting it together. Now here it is. Any comments are greatly appreciated.

In other news, my wife will be having our second child, a baby girl, next Friday. So, IF's "baby" topic is actually appropriate for my entry this week.

Cheers to all.

IF: Wide

Yes, his arms and legs were in shape but there was something to be said about his girth.

I started this yesterday and finished it morning for my job. It was slightly modified to apply to "IF."

VOM: Encouragment to Prisoners

This is a postcard that is going to be sent to a prisoner, or prisoners, that is/are incarcerated for their faith. I am heading a group that will make art and send some encouraging words by postcard to, hopefully, encourage these prisoners.

It is a bit late, but this image was inspired by IF's "Seed" topic.

ChaDes: Hairy Gods/IF:Rambunctious

Ignorance is Bliss. He thought Venus was just being a bit Rambunctious.

When I heard about "hairy gods" I immediately thought of Vulcan as presented in "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen." Vulcan is interesting because he is the only Greco-Roman god that was deformed, or eh, handicapped. To me this seems like a bit of a oxymoron.

Caricature

This caricature artist asked someone to draw his mug for a change so I did. See the actual photo of his him; you may have to scroll a bit. I was actually rejected as a caricature artist once at Sea World of San Diego. Go figure.

IF: Primitive

I hope some people stop by so I can get a vote. Before I ink this drawing I would like see if anyone has an opinion. Should he holding a pencil or a cell phone? Or you can offer something completely different.

Update 4/23/08
So, atomicvelvetsigh had the idea of the caveman holding a mouse and I went with that. It took me a long time to go digital; this image is a bit what I felt like once I took the jump.

ChaDes: Sweaty Biker

"What was the name of that joker who normally sits here?
Crankshaft, what kind of name is Crankshaft?

IF: Save

Saving the World.

IF: Homage

Here is a "homage" to C.S. Lewis. Good ol' Screwtape trying to think of something good, or bad depending on your perspective, to write. Lewis is best known for his Fantasy and religious writings but little is said of his science fiction. I highly recommend the Space Trilogy he wrote, at least the first two books.

IF: Pet Peeves

A pet peeve I have is when people overreact to comments or take business related comments personally. Conversely, sometimes I too want to bite people's heads off when they aggravate my pet peeves. So I am really not one to judge.

This is an old drawing from work relating to dealing with difficult people.

Wee People and Garden

Here is an entry for Monday Artday's "Wee People" and IF's "Garden." I am a little late for both but I want to share them anyway. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

IF: Hierarchy & ChaDes: Unhappy Totem

I think most people find it unpleasant to be at the bottom of the Totem Pole or Hierarchy, so to speak.

Chades: Armor Giraffe & IF: Multiple

IF:
Here are multiple giraffes I drew for a character design challenge called "Chades." I finished it on Thursday and what luck, "Multiple" was the IF word.

Chades:
Here is a giraffe modeling some medieval and space armor. Giraffes are my new favorite animal: Hairy antennas, strange proportions, Huge ears and eyes, and awesome patterns. They are so cool, as Austin already stated. Probably wont get more armored giraffes in this week. See more armored giraffes at Austin's (Munchanka) link to the left.

Observation: with those long necks giraffes must get crazy head rushes.

IF: Theory

A theory is something that is in flux; it is something that evidence is continually being built upon. It is kind of like an idea on trial. The one problem I have with theories is that they tend to have subjective detectives; the observers tend have an idea of what they want to find, so anything they find points towards their theory. Anything found contrary to their theory is omitted, or at least this is probably a temptation. So reality which is set forth by theories, scientifically speaking, can be based on opinions and the omission of facts. This hypothesis is a possibility or it is, at the very least, my observation.
Note: I originally had the idea of a sherlock homes character but the gesture drawing looked like a rabbit and I thought what the heck. This is an pen and collage experiment. I tried making a background but it turned out looking like junk.

IF: Choose

This could be the greatest of news or a moral dilema.

I almost did something about the Presidencial "Elections" but there was no good candidates to choose between.

IF: Blanket

Even the King of the Jungle gets insecure sometimes.


Added Yellow in March.

Work Meeting Sketch

Last week was an extremely stressfull work week for me. This is a quick sketch I did during a meeting to express my frustration. I am the man in pain and a co-worker is the chest-popping-head.

IF: Tales and Legend

This was part of a project I worked on called "Scripture Spoofs™." This would be about a legend I made up about a famous tale; a whale of tale. Sorry, I already smacked myself for that one.

IF: Stitch

This is why comedians are not allowed in the ICU; brand new stitches cannot stand up to a belly laugh.

I'm sorry if you are easily nauseated.