Roughing The Details.

The edges of a real tattoo are bleedy as the ink will spread between layers of skin. So I have roughed the edges using brushes in gimp and played with some layers transparency to get a real hand done look. This detail is of the lines, I am trying to get the coloured layers working right at the moment.

Make Cow Not Human

I just took a squzz over at Makehuman to see whats new.  I was totally blown away when I discovered you can now Make a "Cow" Yay!!

Quetzalcoatl Tattoo

As part of this book illustration, I have to design a tattoo of a Quetzalcoatl (the winged or feathered snake from ancient South American history). I have begun the first part in Inksape in RGB. I will convert it to CMYK using some online tools for import into Scribus where I will finally save the completed title in *.pdf format ready for the printers. I still will need to give it more of a tattoo texturing, as tattoos tend to be more dot gradient than solid in colour. I am also going to layer on some skin texture in Gimp. The next stage is a string of jelly snakes that make up the rest of the zero in the 102 title. These will seemingly wrap back around and end inside the mouth of the Quetzalcoatl.

102 Cover Begins

I have taken on another book cover project. This one is for a pop dilemma novel by Author Annabelle Utrecht. Its called 102 a contemporary cowboys and Indians story. On a higher level it questions modernity and the ability for indigenous cultures to survive in a world that moves so rapidly to a state of cultural entropy. It follows the lives of several people who are often in a state of turmoil. 102 is a native american reservation where a drug and alcohol free zone is to exist. A tribal elders daughter is to be the reservations nurse. All is going smoothly until .... You'll just need to read it yourselves. But you can get to see the cover come together here. Here on its first draft is the sketch that won me the gig.

Make Money With Your Art

As an emerging illustrator you may often find it hard to start convincing the usual agencies to utilize your skills. You may instead think to set up some sort of manufacturing profile by setting up an online store with a service that can provide you with the manufacture of an object while you provide the creative.

Although some of the terms and conditions of some of these sites can seem a little outrageous. I do suggest if you are an eager designer/illustrator. You have a good look at these as they may just help bring in a little income while helping raise your profile. 

Here are a few links .

http://www.shapeways.com/

http://www.ponoko.com/

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/

http://www.blurb.com/

http://www.spoonflower.com

Ian Balls Work

All created using Blender and his technique bellow. Ian is a fine example of an open source software user making money from his craft using software he paid nothing for.

Blender As Anime Studio

Yay, I found this wonderful set of tutorials by Ian Ball where he explains how to use Blender 3d ( Open Source ) to build animatable 2d characters similar to Anime Studio Pro. I for one am very keen to get this happening for some of my Oscar McCoska character designs. Have loads of animating fun once you master this simple technique. Very cool!!

Although the technique is a little bit more of an effort to Anime Studio Pro. It certainly is better 'cause its free.



Here is the link..LINK TO PART ONE 
Here is the link..LINK TO PART TWO