Jim Romer’s blog: character designs, writing picture books, and random thoughts!
Monday, October 5, 2015
#INKtober 2015 No.4: The Swoop
Continuing the INKtober fest . . . here's #4. Getting a little political here, but it's all in good fun. Hopefully, this helps clear up some of the confusion to what's really going on . . .
Sunday, October 4, 2015
#INKtober 2015 No.3: Frankendad
The third image for Inktober is keeping with the Halloween monster tone. This one is a typical morning for good ol' Frankendad. Alway fun to take popular outrageous characters and just drop them into a normal everyday lifestyle.
I feel the sketch version below is better than the inked version above. I overdid the inking, making it too "muddy" with so much stippling, (those little dots of ink for shading).
I also prefer his relaxed right arm pose in the pencil sketch much better. It helps gives a more tired/lazy look. But I kept the lil' were-baby in for the added humor.
You can also see how I didn't like the first mug sketch, so it was cut and replaced by the Happy face mug.
Inktober 2015 image #3. created with two types of ink pens. (Didn't care for the coverage of the first pen and went over those lines with a darker black pen.) |
I feel the sketch version below is better than the inked version above. I overdid the inking, making it too "muddy" with so much stippling, (those little dots of ink for shading).
I also prefer his relaxed right arm pose in the pencil sketch much better. It helps gives a more tired/lazy look. But I kept the lil' were-baby in for the added humor.
The original pencil concept for Frankendad. |
Saturday, October 3, 2015
#INKtober 2015 No.2: Toadasaurus Rex
Continuing with Inktober and my wacky creature/monster theme: The Toadasaurus Rex.
Inktober 2015 image #2. created with a LePen fine point permanent marker (w/some digital coloring.) |
Had this idea in my head for some time now. The dinosaur character still needs more tweaking - but for now, it's good enough to play around with for Inktober. I picture this little guy snapping and leaping around at prehistoric house flies.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
#INKtober 2015 No.1: Normal-Size Foot
Since it is the "Halloween" month, I'm going to also try to and keep all of these images as funny monsters. It is the busiest time of the year for me, so we'll see how it goes.
#1. Average-Size Foot: The idea of this character goes back to my childhood when UFOs, sharks attacks and unexplained mysteries were all the rage. The basis of this character was from one simple question: Would the public still have an interest in such a creature if his foot size was the same as the average man?
Inktober 2015 image #1. created with a "B" Faber-Castell brush pen |
Added a bit of Liquid Ink coloring |
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Daily Quick Sketch: Birthday Bee
This is a sketch of a custom birthday card I made for my wife's birthday a few years ago. I decided to shade the pencil sketch with gray Copic markers. I find coloring with alcohol-based markers allows more control on how and where the color goes on the papaer.
The biggest problem I have using marker is . . . once the color is on the paper, you're pretty much stuck with the results you get. Most water-based/ink markers tend to color too dark, bold or over-power to the line work. The solution I found to this problem was to use alcohol-based markers, (such as Copic.) Alcohol-based inks give far more control when coloring with markers.
It does this in two ways:
1.) Alcohol based ink spreads more evenly, which eliminates the streaks, white gaps or darkened lines usually seen with water/ink based markers. The end result is a smooth and even texture with a slight watercolor look.
2.) Alcohol based markers allow you to build up to darker tones by simply going over the same areas with the same marker. This is a gradual build up too, allowing a lot of control with shading and highlighting.
It's important to use the proper paper. Some papers absorb ink too quickly which doesn't allow the proper even spread. Marker Paper or Mixed Media will usually give the best results.
Digitally color version using Photoshop's Hue/Saturation sliders to change the coloring |
The biggest problem I have using marker is . . . once the color is on the paper, you're pretty much stuck with the results you get. Most water-based/ink markers tend to color too dark, bold or over-power to the line work. The solution I found to this problem was to use alcohol-based markers, (such as Copic.) Alcohol-based inks give far more control when coloring with markers.
The original pencil sketch that has been colored and shaded using gray markers |
It does this in two ways:
1.) Alcohol based ink spreads more evenly, which eliminates the streaks, white gaps or darkened lines usually seen with water/ink based markers. The end result is a smooth and even texture with a slight watercolor look.
2.) Alcohol based markers allow you to build up to darker tones by simply going over the same areas with the same marker. This is a gradual build up too, allowing a lot of control with shading and highlighting.
It's important to use the proper paper. Some papers absorb ink too quickly which doesn't allow the proper even spread. Marker Paper or Mixed Media will usually give the best results.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Character Development: Prince Mudslide
This is another character, part of the Molten People living underground. He is Prince Mudslide, son of King Mudsok.
UPDATE: Added some digital color tones.
Mudslide is very lovable, gentle and simple minded soul. He's amazed at the upper world and desperately wants to learn . . . but like most Molten People, it takes him a very long time to learn new things. He is the only child of King Mudsok. The king loves his son dearly, but worries for his people that Mudslide will not be ready to take his place when the time comes.
UPDATE: Added some digital color tones.
Updated digitally colored version, using Photoshop. |
Monday, August 17, 2015
Daily Quick Sketch: Mean Pig with Banjo
I started sketching this long ago, to be submitted to the Dueling Banjo Pigs' website. But I never got around to coloring or submitting this image to the site. (Another banjo pig image I created awhile ago was colored and sent to the website instead.)
Grumpy ol' pig not having a good day, drawn with a pencil and shaded with a Copic gray marker C3 |
I shaded the pencil drawing with a copic gray marker while on vacation. This was done while lying on the beach. The great thing about Copic markers is how you can layer, creating darker shades from the same color marker. It also blends so cleanly that you can't really detect any marker strokes.
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Character Development: Subconscious design
I'm often asked where I get my ideas and characters.
The honest truth is usually subconsciously.
I find that I often dream up stories and wake with the ideas floating in my head. The idea is never complete in full detail, that takes time. But if the thought is strong enough, it's often the kickstarter into a much bigger well-rounded story.
An example would be how I recently woke up with a idea for a story. I could envision how the story flows and ends and list all the characters needed. In this particular tale, a fox is one of two main characters needed, but I don't have the slightest idea of what the fox character should look like.
I find that I start to subconsciously doodle, sometimes on a pad, worksheet or in this case . . . sticky notes. This doesn't mean I'm half-asleep while I doodle, it simply describes the zen-like state of just letting the pencil wander without focus. I don't know what is going to appear on the paper when I'm done, but I collect the results and use that as reference to create the final image. In a way, I'm creating my own line-up of character references to pick and choose what I like and dislike.
It's safe for me to say I dislike all of the rough sketch characters (seen on the left above), which causes me to continue until I finally reach the look that satisfies me. This isn't always 100% foolproof for developing characters -- it's a constant hit or miss. There are still characters I try to develop that have taken years -- AND several that still haunt me because I never reached a point of satisfaction.
The honest truth is usually subconsciously.
I find that I often dream up stories and wake with the ideas floating in my head. The idea is never complete in full detail, that takes time. But if the thought is strong enough, it's often the kickstarter into a much bigger well-rounded story.
An example would be how I recently woke up with a idea for a story. I could envision how the story flows and ends and list all the characters needed. In this particular tale, a fox is one of two main characters needed, but I don't have the slightest idea of what the fox character should look like.
I find that I start to subconsciously doodle, sometimes on a pad, worksheet or in this case . . . sticky notes. This doesn't mean I'm half-asleep while I doodle, it simply describes the zen-like state of just letting the pencil wander without focus. I don't know what is going to appear on the paper when I'm done, but I collect the results and use that as reference to create the final image. In a way, I'm creating my own line-up of character references to pick and choose what I like and dislike.
Subconsciously designing and feeling out a character through doodling on sticky notes |
The beginning sketches are usually very light pencilling, nothing really definite in form. Just feeling around for features that will make the character be instantly recognized as a likable fox. As time goes by, the features start to appear more defined and the pencilling gets stronger and darker. Finally, the character is slowly forming to a point that I can visualize it in my head - I quickly transfer that image to paper.
It's safe for me to say I dislike all of the rough sketch characters (seen on the left above), which causes me to continue until I finally reach the look that satisfies me. This isn't always 100% foolproof for developing characters -- it's a constant hit or miss. There are still characters I try to develop that have taken years -- AND several that still haunt me because I never reached a point of satisfaction.
Friday, May 29, 2015
Illustration Friday: Ninja Mummy
Illustration Friday: Every Friday a word is given on the website, IllustrationFriday.com. Artists and illustrators then submit an image that represents that word all during the week.
This week's word: MONSTER
This is a word of the week that I can really enjoy! So many monsters!
This was a sketch I had originally created around Halloween 2014. It was going to be an ordinary dancing mummy, but I stopped drawing it after doing the top half of it's body and put it aside for several days.
When I went back to finishing the sketch, I saw the character in a new light. The pose looked more like a martial artist stance, so I started to give the dancing mummy some ninja clothing.
I started to imagine how this character would animate since its a contradiction of two movement styles:
A.) the fluidly smooth, silent and quick reflexes of a ninja, mixed with
B.) the awkwardly slow, stumbling and limbering motions of a mummy.
Merging the two styles, I'd picture he'd be a quick and skilled martial artist, but he would often spastically twitch uncontrollably, groaning and create nontraditional (but humorous) fighting poses.
This week's word: MONSTER
This is a word of the week that I can really enjoy! So many monsters!
This was a sketch I had originally created around Halloween 2014. It was going to be an ordinary dancing mummy, but I stopped drawing it after doing the top half of it's body and put it aside for several days.
When I went back to finishing the sketch, I saw the character in a new light. The pose looked more like a martial artist stance, so I started to give the dancing mummy some ninja clothing.
The Ninja Mummy fighting in a sand storm |
A.) the fluidly smooth, silent and quick reflexes of a ninja, mixed with
B.) the awkwardly slow, stumbling and limbering motions of a mummy.
Merging the two styles, I'd picture he'd be a quick and skilled martial artist, but he would often spastically twitch uncontrollably, groaning and create nontraditional (but humorous) fighting poses.
The original pencil sketch that was going to be a dancing mummy . . . |
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Doodle: Lil' Batman on Yellow Sticky Note
Been awhile since I posted anything, haven't been drawing much for some time. But I do have many doodles around my desks.
Doodles are images that I simply draw without thinking, as if my subconscious mind has taken over and the pencil just moves. Most doodles are done while I'm working . . . part of the creative process I guess.
Here's one of a tiny stubby Batman . . .
Doodles are images that I simply draw without thinking, as if my subconscious mind has taken over and the pencil just moves. Most doodles are done while I'm working . . . part of the creative process I guess.
Here's one of a tiny stubby Batman . . .
Batman pencil doodle on a traditional yellow sticky note |
Friday, April 10, 2015
Illustration Friday: Warrior (aka Sir B' Gok!)
Illustration Friday: Every Friday a word is given on the website, IllustrationFriday.com. Artists and illustrators then submit an image that represents that word all during the week.
This week's word: WarriorThe chicken warrior known as Sir B'Gok, created in ArtRage Pro |
Thought Process:
Through word association, the word "warrior" instantly reminds me of bravery. This, in turn, makes me think how a true warrior would never run away from any fight.
Such a warrior would never be . . . A chicken. This gave me the idea to make a "chicken" hero.
Through word association, the word "warrior" instantly reminds me of bravery. This, in turn, makes me think how a true warrior would never run away from any fight.
Such a warrior would never be . . . A chicken. This gave me the idea to make a "chicken" hero.
The original pencil sketch of Sir B' Gok |
Sunday, April 5, 2015
UPDATE: Ulric Evil Unicorn
UPDATE:
Had a few minutes to spare, so I colored Ulric, the Evil Unicorn.
Had a few minutes to spare, so I colored Ulric, the Evil Unicorn.
UPDATED: added a color version |
I thought of this character when the popularity of the "My Little Pony" craze took off several years ago. Unicorns are usually born "Lawfully Good" creatures; so in D+D/geek speak, this means a unicorn should never be inherently evil.
The crazy (and evil) unicorn, Ulric. |
But what if a unicorn was insane? Then it wouldn't know it was doing evil. That's where the idea of the horsefly comes in. The horsefly is infatuated by Ulric's shiny horn and flies around it constantly in circles. This in turn drives Ulric insane on two counts:
#1 The constant buzzing sound is driving him mad.
#2 Ulric constantly argues with the horsefly that he is not a horse, so it should leave and find a real horse to bother.
Ulric constantly talks to the horsefly though it never replies back, making Ulric seem even crazier . . .
#1 The constant buzzing sound is driving him mad.
#2 Ulric constantly argues with the horsefly that he is not a horse, so it should leave and find a real horse to bother.
Ulric constantly talks to the horsefly though it never replies back, making Ulric seem even crazier . . .
The original pencil sketch of Ulric the unicorn from one of my sketchbooks |
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