This begins my trio set of ‘Vampire Valentines’. The remainder should be out by February, 2012.
Heartbreaker.
Heartbreaker
model – Kym
Category news
This week’s new art “Heartbreaker”
model – Kym
Slow week
this coming week’s art is currently delayed due to, well, not starting anything yet. I have a whole list of concepts in the works, some seemingly close to ready, yet none hit that final step that I feel they need to get there. I’m not sure what’s going on, perhaps I’m trying too hard to push myself to a new level, or my creativity is simply low, but nothing is working out so far this week. I really hope I find one this weekend, though.
starting new project
Friday I had a new shoot with model Stacy Lee, which was lots of fun. Before starting in on those shots though, I had one concept designed and ready. This one is from the recent shoot with model Kneely, and it didn’t take much to come up with its look. I played with the color palette a bit, then envisioned the background, and it was ready for drawing…
model – Kneely
note – I had the camera still set from the photo shoot, so it came out rather dark and grainy (since I don’t use the full set of lights for these shots). The next photo will give a better idea of the image for you.
Today, I got through quite a bit, and since it was all going smoothly, I didn’t stop to take pictures. first, I masked the image out, and airbrushed the background overall with a light blue acrylic mix. Then I mixed a medium blue, airbrushing over the top half, followed by darker and darker blues. Next, I mixed a light, bright green, airbrushing the Aurora Borealis design over the sky. I completed the background using a white colored pencil to create the stars.
Once dry, I removed the masking and began work on the paint. First was the white fur, using a light grey gouache. Next was the coat, using a mix of light pink and purple gouache. The color ended up a little red for my taste, but it had the texture I wanted, so using a brush on it again would be dangerous. I applied the masking around the coat, then mixed a light blue-purple acrylic, which I airbrushed over the entire coat. I completed the coat using colored pencils to finesse the details.
I then moved on to the face and hair, painting it all using various gouache paints. And just that quick, the paint work was completed (including the tinted and textured gesso applied to the skin areas)…
A week out sick, but work continues, slowly
I don’t know if this sickness had been working it’s way into my system for weeks back when I said I felt a little off, but last week it hit full force. A visit to the doctor got things moving in the right direction, but it still made for a slow an un-energetic time. I wasn’t bedridden though, so I did find a design to work on when I could. This one has been ready to go for months actually, I just hadn’t felt strongly enough about it to pursue it until now. A fresh look at it and I couldn’t see anything to change, so I proceeded as is, drawing it on paper…
model -Kneely
I masked it out, and began airbrushing the background. I started with a light cerulean blue for the sky and a start on the water. To that I added more and more ultramarine as I covered the lower area of the water. Once dry, I didn’t feel the water had that Caribbean look that I wanted, so I brush-painted the top-half of the water with turquoise and white. I also used the brush to bring in some ripple texture to all the water. To complete the water, I airbrushed a coating of blue and pearl ‘sparkles’. Before removing any masking, I blocked in the island rock with a very dark gray acrylic, adding details to it with colored pencils (as well as the distant islands)…
I left some of the masking on because I knew I would airbrush the tail next. I covered the background completely, then airbrushed it first with a salmon pink, then mixing in blue on up the tail to a true blue at the end. Like the water, I used colored pencils for detailing and further shading. I finished it off with a more solid coat of the ‘sparkles’, first blue, then red to match the tail’s coloring (the flash for these photos reflects those metallics, so they don’t look quite like it will in the end when it’s scanned)…
Next, I began work on the painting. I used gouache for the face, followed by the hair. I added a seaweed belt or skirt using gouache and then colored pencils for detail. I then masked out everything but the skin, and blocked that in using colored pencils and oil pastels…
today I believe I have completed it, and hope to have it scanned and up tonight or early tomorrow.
figuring out designs for this week
I had a few ideas I was looking forward to from my recent shoot with Gia. I thought one would be quick and easy to set up, but looks like to get the whole design to fit and look complete, it’ll need a good deal of work. So, I’ll get to it at some point, just not sure it’ll be this week. I’ll keep looking at the other sets we shot, play around with ideas and see what rises to the top.
new concept ready
Tonight I think I finally got the design down for the country girl piece. If I still like it tomorrow morning, I’ll get the drawing going.
working on designs
I have one idea in the works, a country girl, but so far I can’t see the background for it yet. Hopefully tomorrow something will snap in my brain and I can get it started.
misstep to start the week
I had an idea designed and started, but things went from bad to worse, so before I wasted more time on it, I trashed it today. I plan to begin on a new board tomorrow, so when update the progress, I’ll explain the troubles then.
working up ideas
I completed the commissioned piece this weekend, so now I’m back to going through photos and finding ideas/concepts for the next new artwork. I have a few vague thoughts in mind right now, just need to see if they’ll flesh out or not.
no blog this week
I have a commissioned piece to work on right now, so I won’t be doing any updates here (for their privacy). Once completed, I’ll get back to my usual stuff. 
