Page 12:
Sometimes, as far as reference is concerned, the best thing you can do is keep a well stocked liquor cabinet. ;]
Page 16:
Here's a couple progress photos of page 16:
Monday, June 14, 2010
Nordguard Pages 12 & 16
A few more painted pages, specifically 12 & 16.
Page 12:
Sometimes, as far as reference is concerned, the best thing you can do is keep a well stocked liquor cabinet. ;]
Page 16:
Here's a couple progress photos of page 16:
Page 12:
Sometimes, as far as reference is concerned, the best thing you can do is keep a well stocked liquor cabinet. ;]
Page 16:
Here's a couple progress photos of page 16:
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Northern Territory
A map, as promised! I love making maps.
Specifically, it is a map of the Northern Territory, part of the Nordguard universe and where most of the fun in the books will take place. For a "real world" point of reference, Kuuvik (down at the bottom) is in relation to Churchill, Manitoba. The map is based on period maps (late 1800s/early 1900s) and the charted arctic region of the era. Some of the topographical features of the map are different in the Nordguard universe (namely there's a few additional mountain ranges, which slightly effect climate and the treeline) but the coastline is roughly the same.
It was a nice, brain dead break from painting pages--and now I can stop using the scribbled bar-napkin map I was referencing before. ;]
Photo details:
Painting the Map:
The map has been soaked and stretched on a board to prevent wrinkling. All the text and coastlines are done in pencil, but when the paper is soaked, it will "seal" them so then won't smudge or bleed while I paint.
I put down a very wet wash with a large brush, then while the paper was wet, started applying watercolor to build up color.
After the brown base had dried, I started painting the waterline and the then coast.
There's a few more "in-progress" photos of the map on www.nordguard.com, in the development art section, for anyone curious!
Now, back to painting pages!
Specifically, it is a map of the Northern Territory, part of the Nordguard universe and where most of the fun in the books will take place. For a "real world" point of reference, Kuuvik (down at the bottom) is in relation to Churchill, Manitoba. The map is based on period maps (late 1800s/early 1900s) and the charted arctic region of the era. Some of the topographical features of the map are different in the Nordguard universe (namely there's a few additional mountain ranges, which slightly effect climate and the treeline) but the coastline is roughly the same.
It was a nice, brain dead break from painting pages--and now I can stop using the scribbled bar-napkin map I was referencing before. ;]
Photo details:
Painting the Map:
The map has been soaked and stretched on a board to prevent wrinkling. All the text and coastlines are done in pencil, but when the paper is soaked, it will "seal" them so then won't smudge or bleed while I paint.
I put down a very wet wash with a large brush, then while the paper was wet, started applying watercolor to build up color.
After the brown base had dried, I started painting the waterline and the then coast.
There's a few more "in-progress" photos of the map on www.nordguard.com, in the development art section, for anyone curious!
Now, back to painting pages!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Pages 13 & 19
Paint has been poured!
Here a couple finished (well, that is until I see another hundred little things to tweak) pages, Page 13 and Page 19, respectively. I actually painted Page 19 a few months ago but figured I might as well put it online since the sketched page was up. (See the sketch here)
I took some progress photos of page 13. There are a ton more on www.nordguard.com, since I re-tooled the development section of the site. I've been updating it on the sly every few days with progress photos of various pages, pretty much as I go.
Page 13, In Progress:
Before starting the scene, I did a little thumbnail watercolor study of the room, and a floor diagram with the windows/characters/stuff's location.
The first photo is the virgin sketched page, which has been soaked, stretched and stapled on a board, which prevents it from wrinkling when I paint. The second photo is my ink set-up. I use a small paintbrush and Sennelier ink. Empty screw-tops off cheap wine bottles make for excellent ink holders (the wine isn't bad for artistic moral, either.)
Stretched and Started Inking:
Inking:
Painting:
I resisted the common sense idea of making maquette heads for the longest time. I convinced myself they would take too long and wouldn't be that useful--but, one day I needed a break from drawing and sculpted a few. They've proved to be easy and fast to make and almost indispensable when it comes to tricky lighting.
For tomorrow: another page or two and maps.
Here a couple finished (well, that is until I see another hundred little things to tweak) pages, Page 13 and Page 19, respectively. I actually painted Page 19 a few months ago but figured I might as well put it online since the sketched page was up. (See the sketch here)
I took some progress photos of page 13. There are a ton more on www.nordguard.com, since I re-tooled the development section of the site. I've been updating it on the sly every few days with progress photos of various pages, pretty much as I go.
Page 13, In Progress:
Before starting the scene, I did a little thumbnail watercolor study of the room, and a floor diagram with the windows/characters/stuff's location.
The first photo is the virgin sketched page, which has been soaked, stretched and stapled on a board, which prevents it from wrinkling when I paint. The second photo is my ink set-up. I use a small paintbrush and Sennelier ink. Empty screw-tops off cheap wine bottles make for excellent ink holders (the wine isn't bad for artistic moral, either.)
Stretched and Started Inking:
Inking:
Painting:
I resisted the common sense idea of making maquette heads for the longest time. I convinced myself they would take too long and wouldn't be that useful--but, one day I needed a break from drawing and sculpted a few. They've proved to be easy and fast to make and almost indispensable when it comes to tricky lighting.
For tomorrow: another page or two and maps.
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