iPod Touch to Manga Studio

• Supernova playtime

After trying for months, I've concluded that I can't finish outdoor iPod touch illustrations on location (glossy screen + scale). But the portability of the iPT is hard to shelve. So I've been experimenting with using the Brushes app on an iPT to take "field notes" which I then finish in Manga Studio. Here's 2 Brushes to Manga Studio comparisons.

• update:  another pair, this one is a splash pad. I forgot to mention in the original post that I used Manga Studio oils for the first time (they're great).

Zoo sketching with a new old pen

Recently I rediscovered the great "Speedball Elegant Writer" calligraphy pens and these zoo sketches are part of getting reacquainted with them. I also tried holding my Bee Paper sketchbook in 'landscape' mode.

Zoo sketches within an Apple's reach

Since Apple is a branding "top dog", the "big cats" reminded me of their OS versions. These were drawn with a Sharpie Calligraphic pen in an Aquabee sketchbook.

Bic ballpoint pen sketches

Some more Bic Atlantis sketches (great pen)--these from a Starbucks. Interestingly, as with my first ones here, there was another side-by-side contrast of reading media (newspaper and iPad [last one]). This time an age contrast too, although the older patron used the newer tablet to get her news.

Manga Studio studies at the library

Some painting studies in a library using Manga Studio pencils (mostly) set to 80% opacity with a very portable MacAlly iceCad graphic tablet. What I learned is that library visitors are good for candid extended studies. Tech note: I had to abort a different trip because MS wanted the install disc before launching–which I didn't have; so now, for future location sketching, I'll add a disc image (.dmg) to my backup thumbdrive.

Capturing animals at the zoo

Some selected sketches from the zoo. These were drawn with a Sharpie Calligraphic pen.

Outdoor location painting with Manga Studio

 

 

Here's some recent Manga Studio EX4 painting studies of outdoor subjects. These had to be done from inside 2 coffee shops and a library because I had to use my laptop power adapter (dead battery). Although with the sun reflecting off of my aluminum Powerbook much of the time, it felt like I was outdoors anyway. The goals were to gain milage with various pencil compositing modes, geometric rulers, temporary layers and color palettes.

Recent park sketches

New Bic Atlantis is a sketching discovery

These are my first sketches (composite from 2 cafe visits) done with the new generation Bic Atlantis ballpoint pen (new to me anyway). The fluidity of the new ink is impressive--almost gel-like but like digital inking, doesn't smear, which makes this a great pen for location sketching. (My favorite is the 2 older men sitting next to each other: one reading a book and the "hipster", a tablet. [lower right])

• more sketches: a pick-up basketball game

Exploring pens at the zoo

Here's some sketches from yesterday's trip to the zoo that I used to test some new felt-tip pens to replace the extinct (?..I think..) Eberhard Faber 'DESiGN' Calligraphy pen—used to be my favorite location sketching pen.

Accordian-fold "sketch pads"

These are simple home-made accordian-fold "sketch pads" that evolved from my previous post. Each one is made from a sheet of 17" x 11" bond paper, cut length-wise. With a simple ballpoint pen, this "location kit" fits into a shirt pocket.

Hotel guests 6 x 2

To step away a bit from the glossy, photogenic conventions of advertising and to search for characters and style cues, I went to a nearby hotel to do some location sketching. The modular 6-up folded bond paper format (x2) and half-sized yafa ballpoint pen was an attempt to miniaturize and homogenize with the guests.

Sketches from today's library visit

Returned some books to library and left with some sketches.

Zoo sketches

Sketches at the zoo with a Bic ballpoint pen.

Reading chair calisthenics

Who said that reading is not a physical activity?

Dog

While running errands today, I saw this irresistable subject. Without my sketchbook, I flipped over my "to do" list and used my Starbucks card holder as a "drawing board".

Bic sketches from a 2nd floor perch

Sketching with ArtRage on location

The last time I was at this cafe, I experimented with Manga Studio for some location sketching. This time, after a year plus hiatus, I wanted to re-explore ArtRage 2 for the same use..here what looked like a teaching moment between mother and son. The top sketch is as much as I was able to capture before they left. The bottom one is my attempt to "refine" the sketch from memory. AR is great for textures (a more nimble version of Corel Painter—much easier on my old Powerbook). I had forgotten a lot about the interface and tools, which is why I ended up with a mixed (up)-media study of oil and chalk..so now its time to re-read the manual...

Chickens scratches upsets fowl critic

Almost blind-sided by a nasty rooster while sketching these chickens. Fended him off but he still tagged my finger, luckily I used my non-drawing hand. Critics!

Future World Cup players

 
Soccer practice at a park during lunch break. Coach looked tough.