He lives on Drury Lane!

FRUSTRATION

Learning to color in photoshop is hard.

Tree

This post is dedicated to the homework I was supposed to do...but didn't. Instead I was inspired to try Earle's style, after watching a little blurb about his process.

Photoshop, Hard edge brush, various sizes, texture 45%, flow 64%

Process:
















It ended up being so messy because it got really tedious. Earle must have masterful patience.

Kinda messed up with the colors, too. I should try it with traditional media.


AGH. SO BUSY.

Eyvind Earle and Sleeping Beauty

Took some time off and watched Sleeping Beauty this morning(I swear, the best thing about these "out-of-the-vault! editions" are the special features/making-of documentaries). I used to think that this movie was boring when I was a kid, but it's pretty much one of my favorites now. It's just absolutely gorgeous, truly a "moving illustration" as Walt wanted. I'm especially in love with Eyvind Earle's backgrounds. I can't imagine how long they took, they are so complex and lovingly crafted.

















Influences from gothic tapestries, van eyck landscapes







Ghent altarpiece and detail


I think, for me, it's a lot easier to appreciate this kind of work these days. Technology may have simplified things, but I think it also removed some of the need? to develop this kind of skill. There is still incredible work being produced today, but I hardly ever see anything like this on film anymore (at least, not that I know of).

I guess it's just the change in medium. The backgrounds in, say, Cars and Ratatouille are no less impressive--they are so well done that the audience is immersed in the environment--but I really admire the insane research and traditional skills that go into creating those old backgrounds.

Watching the commentary on certain scenes also reminds me why I love animating (despite the fact that I actually do not like animating). I wish I were much better at it (yeah, lots of commitment and endless practice, i know) because I'd love to create stuff like this. As much as others howl about Disney cliches and the cookie-cutter "Disney" type characters/animation, there's something about classic Disney that really appeals to me. Maybe I'm blinded by my childhood, but I prefer it to much of the cartoon animation on TV these days. No offense to the Spumco/Kricfalusi crowd.

all artwork (c) Disney
several images taken from http://animationbackgrounds.blogspot.com/


extra! Earle's color work in:

extra!

finally got some personal art done.
Just some more brushpen practice, inspired by this: Clio's gal
except her's is much better (:

Haha, i know this dress is completely impossible...none of the folds make any sense. Also, her arm is completely swollen and messed up, but ehh.

PS. This blog needs some color!!

The Milkmaid and Her Pail

Some illustrations from my sequential art class... based on the Aesop's fable:

This project drained me, for some reason. I'm not very good at book binding.

all were done with brush/inkwash.

Doodle of the Day

Inspiration from life:



A can of Cafe Hag coffee found on my roommate's shelf.


2 min, photoshop. (thanks Ray)

Waves!

I guess I'm trying to be more consistent in these art exercises...the second exercise in 3 days, that's practically a record for me. really trying to improve.

Some more painter practice....this one took way too long (look! I even made a note of how it took Way Too Long) It took me 2 -3 hours, though I was randomly distracted by Project Runway and the Food Network.

Decided to try waves/water today:

could definitely use some work, but I'm pretty satisfied for an exercise.

I want to do more texture practice, but I also have a sketchbook project in mind....we'll see.


G'night

Instead of catching up on homework like I should be doing, I spent the last 20 minutes working on this:



crappy.
but I'm trying to get more painter practice in. I'm really rusty when it comes to this stuff, so I figure random doodling will start me down the right path.

Cannot. Focus.
might as well go to bed...?