Monday, April 15, 2013

The Draw of Arting . . . no, wait . . .


Eight years ago - Ugghh.
I get questions quite often in email about my art.  I think it may be because since I've had my blog, people can see my progress from Absolute Crap to A Tad Crappy, and this intrigues them.  Hey - it's forward momentum, at least.  I am a lot less embarrassed about showing it in public these days.

So, I figured I'd share some things I've learned along the way.  Here are my rules of art:

Rule #1 - Ignore everyone's rules of art and make up your own.  Read about art voraciously.  Learn what value and line and composition is.   Ask artists stuff.  Bug them about how they did things.  Then toss is all over your shoulder and figure out what really works for you, as opposed to some guy who lived 500 years ago and was painting with egg whites.

Rule #2 -  Draw every day.  Shut up.  Stop whining.  I don't care if you are busy.  DRAW SOMETHING.  Draw a frikkin happy face.  Just draw.  I've been trying to  draw every day for about a year and a half now.  This has been the one thing that has helped me most in drawing.  Ever.

Rule #3 -  Draw what you are interested in.  I like TITS AND ASS.  I draw TITS AND ASS.  For years, I thought something was wrong with me because all I wanted to draw was naked ladies.  To hell with bowls of fruit or pottery or my hand.  Now, I fully expect - and hope - that one day I get out of my little mammaric niche and become interested in something else.  Hasn't happened yet.

Rule #4 -  Draw A LOT OF WHAT YOU A INTERESTED IN EVERY DAY.  Okay, yeah, stating rules 2 and 3 again, but they are important.  For me, the site Figure & Gesture Drawing: Tools for Self-educating Artists, has been invaluable.  I set the Practice Figure Drawing tool up to spew naked lady pictures at me and I draw them as fast as I can.  It's lovely.

Rule #5 - Ignore the asshole art critic inside of your head.  Yeah.  That one.  He's not happy unless everyone is miserable.  Why is he miserable?  Because he's just a voice inside your head and he can't draw or paint because he doesn't have HANDS.  He wants to be an artists, but can't.  JUST LIKE HITLER.  Ignore Hitler and your day goes by much more smoothly.

Rule #6 - Escape the computer when you can.  I've learned a hell of a lot more sketching with a pencil that I have with a Wacom.  Dunno why that is.  Maybe it's the lack of an undo button in the real world - but it seems to be true.  I ink 'okay' on the computer - but I bet if I forced myself to learn to ink with a brush, I'd be ten times better.  I'm just lazy at the moment. Don’t be like me!

Rule #7 - PLUSES.  Don't sit around waiting for likes or thumbs ups or people to tell you how great you are.  The picture that took you 87 hours to create will get you fewer comments than a smart-ass remark you spit out on the inter-webs with .5 seconds of thought.  If you are drawing for fame - please go back to the end of the line.  If you are not drawing for that occasional orgasmic brain explosion that you get at some point during creation - then you need to stop selling death-sticks, go home, and re-evaluate your life.

Rule #8 - Don't be afraid of references.  For some reason, many artists I know - including me - are frustrated and ashamed that we can draw okay from a reference - but not from inside our heads.  I saw an awesome artist field a question this way.  Q. I can't draw from my imagination.  I can only draw from reference.  What should I do?  A.  THEN DRAW FROM REFERENCE.  DUH.  The point is that if you keep on drawing from reference, you'll eventually 'get it' and can take the knowledge you got from all of those detailed studies and draw from your imagination then.  Well, I hope that is how it works. :)

Rule #9 - Draw real things!  Real, 3d things, I mean.  You know - things other than pictures.  Pictures are fine - but real things are . . . finer.  The recent improvements in my art - the point at which I suddenly wouldn't be embarrassed to have my work published in a book - coincided with me finding some  women who didn't mind me staring at their boobs for hours and drawing them.  Now, the actual drawings I make of those lovely ladies SUCK.  But it seems to have affected my ability to draw from photo reference and enhances it quite a bit.  Real boobs are magic, I tell you.

Rule #10 -  Sketches are sketchy.  Rough drafts are rough.  It ain't gonna flow out of your pencil all perfect like.  Those artists who have the drawings that seem to go all SWISH and the lines look perfect as if GOD HERSELF drew them?  Well, that's decades of training.  Or, sometimes it is 17 hours of work to make ONE LINE look right.  Anything that I make that looks easy took me a freaking damn long and painful time to do.

There are other rules, but they get much more specific into technique - which is one of those flowy, changy, wibbly-wobbly things that as soon as you write into stone it changes.  So I'll shut up about those.

Again, these are my rules.  Go get your own . . . and happy arting.

- Ark

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Yhoundeh, the Elk Goddess


Here is Yhoundeh, the Elk Goddess.  I think.  I mean, I think I am done, but I am tired.  I might need to tweak something, but it's pretty much done.  It's not like it's going to change so much that I'll make Han shoot first or something, so it's close.

:)

For Petty Gods.

- Ark

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Pencils for Yhoundeh



Here are the rough pencils for Yhoundeh, the Elk Goddess. This will be my third piece of art for Petty Gods, and boy, are my arms tired. :)

- Ark

Pelchako, the Trickster God

(apparently, I have Make-A-God-Itis, and I blame Petty Gods.)

Pelchako is the god of tricks and revenge.  He fits neatly into most pantheons - over on the edge where people don't notice him much.  He is ever watchful, and loves to even the score, bringing retribution to gods both low and high.  Despite his good work ethic - Pelchako is never invited to parties.

There are no temples to Pelchako, no cathedrals, not even a nunnery.  The common man does not worship him - but he does have priests and priestesses.  Pelchako-ites look, for all intents and purposes, like crazy bums that wear lots of beads and bones, pierce themselves is strange places, and cover themselves in swirling tattoos.

People in need of revenge or retribution donate items of value to the Pelchako-ites.  These holy men and women then go off and shame, harass, rob, or beat up the wrong-doers. Sometimes they perform these holy rites in private, but most of the time, they choose good public places packed with spectators.

Killing in retribution is very uncommon - but it has been known to happen.

These revenge activities rarely result in any legal entanglements for the priests of Pelchako, as they are performing their holy duty.  However, if a Pelchako-ite must go into lands where their god is unknown, or places that are dominated by stuffy worshipers of grumpy gods of law, they can get into trouble.  Some towns will immediately kick out a Pelchako-ite on sight.  Other, more even grumpy peoples, have been known to nail Pelchako-ites to pieces of wood on the side of the road.

In extremely rare cases, bands of Pelchako-ites have been gathered up by governments and paid to seek retribution against other governments.  A platoon of Pelchako priests coming at you during your morning constitutional is the last thing you want to see.

Woe be it to anyone who falsely hires a priest for retribution, though.  Pelchako knows all.  Well, maybe not all.  But he knows the juicy bits.

- Ark

Monday, April 1, 2013

Amber Bubbles


Yeah yeah yeah - I can't leave well enough alone - but I thought it needed something in the background. :)

- Ark

Amber Blood Sword


This has been one of the more challenging drawings I've worked on.  Bringing it from 'okay sketch' to 'good ink' had me banging my head against the wall and abandoning the piece three times.  But I've stuck with it and almost - ALMOST - finished.  I keep on looking at it and feel that it needs something.  Composition-wise.  I think that is the right word.  Composition.

Anyway, Amber Blood Sword is one of Konsumterra's Petty Gods, and the write-up can be found at http://elfmaidsandoctopi.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/oh-my-petty-goddesses.html.  She's a crazy-ass killing machine.  A mostly naked crazy-ass nigh-immortal killing machine.  You know - like my first girl friend.

Anyway, my fingers and eyeballs are all sore from Miss Amber over here - so I am going to go rest. :)

- Ark

Friday, March 29, 2013

Rather Petty


Working on images for Petty Gods.  Here is a sketch of an heretofore undisclosed angry sword wielding lady deity.

- Ark

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Hiatus Update

Live Gesture Sketch
It's hard to believe that my role playing game hiatus has been going on for over a month now.  It seems like it's been a million years, and it seems like it's been a few seconds.  Odd, that.

I miss role playing.  I get used to running games, and my brain goes into universe and personality creation overdrive.  I can't completely avoid it.  My mind keeps on chugging along, creating even if I'm not planning anything that needs to be created.  Drawing has helped a lot with that.  It's a great place to direct the desire, no, the hunger, to make stuff.

Concept Attempt
Being sideways involved in the rebirth of Petty Gods has helped too.  Gorgonmilk has just been a powerhouse with the whole thing, turning Petty Gods into something far beyond its humble beginnings.  I submitted a petty god, drew her, and am drawing additional gods.  I'll also be doing some of the proof work.  I'm excited.  I want Petty Gods as a big-ass coffee table book sitting on my coffee table.

So no, I can't get away from rpgs - that's not in my DNA, I guess.  But the hiatus from running and playing the games has helped me clear my head about a few things, and given me time to be creative in other ways.

The Boy is chaffing under the lack of gaming, so he'll probably start playing something soon - but I'll sit this one out and cheer him on from the sidelines.

- Ark

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Polly, Patron Saint of Elven Barmaids

Polly is the patron saint of elven barmaids and tavern workers.  While the petty goddess has no formal churches, her presence can be seen in mysterious glowing tip jars in pubs all across the land.  Adherents of Saint Polly offer fifteen percent of their tips into the jars, which disappear in a a flash of light.

Unlike some gods, Polly offers excellent service for her tithes.  When a bar gets too crowded and busy for her worshipers to handle, Polly has been known to appear lugging beer and pretzels to the customers.  Many a hung-over patron swears they here brought beer by a goddess the night before, but few realize the accuracy of their statement.

It is not wise to cross Polly, however.  Patrons who stiff her worshipers  or are stingy with a tip, will find themselves rolled in the nearest alley on their way home and completely free of coins, jewels, and jewelry.

(Okay, so I finished the illustration and a brief write up - I just need some stats I guess and I can submit it to Gorgonmilk.  Yay!)

- Ark

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Polly - A Possible Petty God


I had an idea for a Petty God so I drew her.  This is a rough pencil - she needs some more work but we are in the right neighborhood.

Polly is the Patron Saint of Elven Barmaids.  There.  That is the ENTIRETY of my idea.

Yeah.

So I'm going to need someone to stat up Polly.  Because I am lazy.  And I know there are those of you out there who can stat up a godling easier than breathing.  So if you want to stat up a Petty God of Alcohol Distributors, go right ahead and post one below or sent one to my gmail address at StudioArkhein.  And I'll select a winner.  Or have a vote for a winner.  Or something   I am a bit sketching on this part of the process - but again, I am lazy.

:)

- Ark

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Goodyear Girls



A piece of the MIR space station (or something like that) gouged a hole in my tire on the way home from Walmart yesterday.  While waiting for a replacement, I bummed some paper from the mechanics and started to draw from the ad-laden local fluff magazines scattered throughout the waiting room.

I'm rather surprised that my half-ass sketch attempt turned out so well.  I was definitely inspired by all of the art links ya'll posted yesterday, though.

They say to bring your sketch book with you everywhere - but borrowed paper seems to work fine. :)

- Ark

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

RPG Art Suvey


One of my goals with all of this drawing stuff is to be able to produce black and white illustrations that would feel at home inside of RPG supplement or rule book.  I have no deep interest in becoming a professional, but I'd like to be capable of producing good art at that level.

So . . . I need your help.

Looking around, I've come to realize that I'm probably missing out on a lot of art and artists.  Erol Otus, Diesel LaForce, and Jeff Dee stand out as people who influenced me at a young age - and I've had the great fortune of meeting them over the last few years.  But I'm sure there are tons - past and present - that I just don't know about.  There are modules that I never owned, game systems I've never cracked open, etc.

If you've got the time, throw out some of your favorite artists name's below - here or G+.  Or link to their art.  Or links to YOUR art if you are proud of it.  Or write a blog post about it and link to it.  Or whatever.  Just point me to some cool stuff. :)

Remember, what I'm looking for is good black and white art that would fit into any sort of RPG product.  And yeah, I have Googled, and that only comes up with the most popular five billion images.  But I'm sure there are more.  And I'm sure you know about them. :)

Thanks!

- Ark

Early Morning Blue



Worked on a sketch of Adelaide from our gaming group this morning during gesture warm-ups.  Been trying to concentrate on faces and capturing likenesses recently.  And hair.  My big weakness seems to be hair.  I need a hair drawing festival!

- Ark

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Red Sonja Lunged . . .


I'm pretty happy with this one.  This one took me about three days of work on and off.  I'd prefer to be a lot faster, but I get lost in the details.  Besides - playing with Kirby krackle is far too much fun.

Enjoy!

- Ark

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Basking


Prismacolor Premier black colored pencil, from reference.

- Ark

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Burnout

Last night, I realized to my horror that I was burned out.

For the last month, you you may have noticed a lack of content on the blog.  It sort of mirrors what's been going on in my head.  Nothing.  Nothing productive about gaming, anyway.

Games have been a problem - both running and playing.  Things are not quite clicking.  In fact, I've been encountering a sense of dread before each game.

It's really depressing to have these thoughts about a type of recreation I love so much.

So, I wrote my gamer group to let them know I am stepping away from RPGs for a while.  I dunno what 'a while' is, but I need to refresh my brain and get into a state where I can enjoy it again.

The Boy has been incredibly supportive.  He's a great kid and I'm very proud of him.

So - does anyone else have any experience with RPG Burnoput?  Advice and anecdotes welcome.

- Ark

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Edge of The Empire

 I had some store credit at the FLGS at the same time that the Star Wars Edge of Empire Beginner Game Box Set was staring at me.  Yeah.

So there it is over there, photographed poorly by me.  Lots of stuff in it.  Rule book, adventure book, maps, cardboard pogs of Stormtroopers and Hutts.  Lots and lots and lots of help for people who have never heard of an RPG before.  I'm not sure who those people are - but apparently they are the market for this product.  Hmm.  Star Wars fans who have never heard of an RPG before.  Wait.  Do those type of people actually exist over the age of five?  Perhaps there is a marketing issue here.

:)

The package is really nice and slick - reminds me of the Dr. Who boxed set that I got for Christmas.  Though not as nice.  No sturdy, holocaust proof box here.  Just some flimsy stuff that ripped on opening.  But the contents - those are the nice things.  Well, to look at.  I haven't read anything yet.  Well, except to note that there are no character creation rules here.  But we have multi-page folios of a Wookie glaldiator (barbarian), some human dude who can probably fly a pirate ship (rogue), a crazy robot doctor (cleric) and the Twi'lek who is not a stripper - but a bounty hunter who looks like she might could take the head off of the Wookie.  I'm not sure how to classify here - other than (amazon.)

Oh, and it contained those dice.  You know - those dice that you've heard about.  The dice that made even hard-core DCC fans do a double-take.  Here is their portrait:


Who needs pesky numbers when we have simple, intuitive hieroglyphs to make game play faster!  Yay!

Dear lord - what the fuck does any of this gobblegook on the dice mean?

I'm really hoping for a fun game here.  Star Wars SAGA got my hopes up - to be quickly dashed by the rampant holes that allowed psycho munchkins to create first level Jedi that can throw death stars at people. Edge of Empire is CLASSIC Star Wars.  Supposedly.  You know, Episodes IV to VI.  The good stuff.  No droidekas.  No padawans.  No midichlorians.   Just garbage shoots and seedy bars and unwashed desert nomads.

I'm don't think I would have ever bought this with, you know, real money, but since it is in my impulsive little hands, I'll get someone to play it with me and let you if Fantasy Flight has any clue as to what they are doing. :)

- Ark

PS - The Traveller campaign is doing just fine, btw.  I've just been having a really hard time putting it into words.  My vocabulator must be malfunctioning.


Tuesday, February 19, 2013