The Sketchbook Project

I have just signed on for The Sketchbook Project. A intriging concept where anyone from around the world can recieve a sketchbook, create awesomeness, and post back to have there sketchbook exhibited around the good ol' US of A.

"Thousands of sketchbooks will be exhibited at galleries and museums as they make their way on tour across the country.

After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view."

Sounds cool. eh! I'm looking at this as an opportuity to keep a regular sketchbook going. My theme is "first thing in the morning, last thing at night"

-matt

Creating Characters from Abstract Shapes

Here's a series of character sketches I created from abstract shapes. Here's how the exercise works.

First, Draw some random shapes on your page. Any shape, size etc. Now sit back. What do you see?

Let the shapes speak to you. It's a bit like making shapes out of clouds.

Now start drawing it in. Be flexible. Add lines and extra curves as you see fit.

You'll end up with character designs you never would have thought of otherwise. Now you can take them and flesh them out into full illustrations.

- matt

Spike

Here he is. No.21- Spike. The last of my Sea Creature Postcards.

A good experience painting all of them. I've learnt a lot and can see where I need to improve and what my strengths were. So what's next? 21 Robots, insects, dinosaurs...Stay tuned.

- matt

Head Sketches

A few sketches I did starting with random shapes (shown in red) and then developing characters from there. It's a bit like staring at clouds and seeing what shapes appear. I like doing these as there is no pressure to create 'awesome' characters.

-Matt

Strawberry Dally

The Strawberry Dally. No20 in the Sea Creatures Series. Two more to go!

M

Peter Lorre

A doodle that started with an eye which reminded me of Peter Lorre http://www.filmbuffonline.com/Features/Centennials/PeterLorre.htm from the Maltese Falcon so I kept going from memory. Came out not to shabby:)

The Skewed Frill Fish

The Skewed Frill Fish, originally uploaded by matt bacon.

No. 19 in the Sea Creature Postcard set

Snorky

Snorky, originally uploaded by matt bacon.

No.18 in the Sea Creature series. I shall call him Snorky.

The Golden Roger

Golden Roger, originally uploaded by matt bacon.

No. 17 in the Sea Creature series. "The Golden Roger". Used a different paper on this one. I think it holds the colour better than the smooth pressed paper I was using. Maybe the next set of whatevers I'll switch over.

-matt

Greedo

Greedo, originally uploaded by matt bacon.

Card 16 in the Sea Creature series. Only four more cards to go!

-matt

Elsaron Cronicles Book Cover

Elsaron Cronicles, originally uploaded by matt bacon.

Here's a book cover I painted for my Style File submission. It's a fantasy story set in a nother world called Elsaron. The boy is from our world and has mistakenly fond a way through and now must confront the dominate warlord to help bring peace back to Elsaron.

Anyway, that's what was in my head:)

Will post a more detail about the process i went thorough soon

-Matt

Part 15 Sea Creatures

"The Long Snouted Warbler"
Very quick card using copic marker instead of the watercolours.

Part 14 in the Sea Creature Poatcards

The Conical Squidy

Sea creatures part 10, 11 and 12

The Chinese Lantern Jellyfish

The Pink Jolie

The Purple Spotted Crincher.