Sketchbookin'

Sketches of upcoming projects and other brain noodling...

The Dartmouth Shuffle

Met this character walking along the train tracks with friends in Dartmouth. He approached us in the scariest way possible (a lurching run), doing his best to make painfully awkward small talk. I don't know how Andrew and I would have defended the women folk armed with cilantro and crab legs...but I'm sure we would have figured out something. Nothing came of it, other than cathartic rusty-iron-spike jokes for the rest of the night.

Here's to you, Crazy McStabbington...

Science Matters

As yet unpublished FFWD column by by David Suzuki about declining bird populations related to UK agricultural policies. I couldn't resist the metaphor of a little coal-mine canary.

Progress Pics...

I've had more than a few emails/comments about my colouring technique...here is an abridged excerpt from an e-conversation with Winnipeg's formerly-most-eligible-bachelor:

My colour work has changed a lot, and quickly! I was snooping around in a used book store, and struck gold: 3 Keith Knight books! Anyways, the same trip I found an old mag called "Draw!" that wasn't very interesting, except for an insert with a tutorial by Dave Cooper himself on colouring in photoshop.

I coloured step-by-step with Dave's tutorial many times...until I got the hang of his steps and fully understood his reasons for each. Once I understood why I was setting this to such-n-such number, or doing this before that...now I can start to stray a bit and find my own personal adaptation. This is happening slowly, and I now find myself drawing on paper with a mind towards colouring, and this is saving me a lot of time. I'm getting faster and more confident, but it does take practice.

That's the technical...as far as colour theory...If colouring was cooking, I'd be the guy putting ketchup on ice cream. I have a lot to learn.

My colour study has greatly benefitted from two particular sources:

John K's blog (particulary his bg posts and the review of Kali's Flintstone study)
Mary Blair's Golden Books (quit laughing).

Here are a few captures of the poster I made this morning...which is coloured based on Dave Cooper's tutorial.

Sketches involved researching the musician, which revealed some very amusing pictures...including a closeup of his trademark instrument. I quickly traced a photo to get a feel for the construction of the bass.
These were sketched while listening to his tunes on his website.
Once I'd settled on the pose, composition and likely lettering...the poster was drawn with Pitt brushpens (I wrecked 2 pens on this piece) and finework was done with my trusty Tradio. No worries about mistakes, I scan the inkwork, blemishes and all.
I use photoshop to clean up the b/w file as a bitmap (no grayscale fuzziness...). I scan at 800 dpi, clean up in 800 dpi and compress to 300 dpi for colouring. Here is the cleaned up version. The date "flame", opening act and venue info were drawn separately and added to the initial file.
As per Dave's tutorial, I create new layers and drop his signature colour blend (C:11 M:4 Y:40 K:1 ) into the entire picture. Using the Hue control, all of my colours more or less originate from this colour.
I don't get too complicated at first. I make my way around the picture, selecting areas and creating a basic colour relationship.
Re-selecting colour shapes and starting to manipulate hues.

Using quickmasks of a shape (i.e. a finger or leg) to "deselect" portions with control...not unlinke relief printmaking. Once an artfully selection is ready, I'll adjust the hue again to create a shadow with a closely related colour.
Using Dave's techniques, I then create a Color-Range-Select layer from the linework (follow his instructions carefully or you'll screw it up royally). I colour the lines the exact colour of the basic colour schemes...and adjust their hues accordingly. I was very hesitant to give up my black linework at first, but the results have made me very happy these days...
The checker background was created by cutting/pasting 8 hand-drawn checkers, selecting them and using that selection to manipulate the hue of the yellow background...gotta love photoshop.

In hindsight, I'm thinking that my skeleton's fingers owe Tim an apology. Thanks, man.

Thank you for all the feedback everyone...

Inspired by Peter L

I've traded my india ink for housepaint over the last couple of weeks, but am happy to be back at the drawing board.


Here is a piece inspired by the music of Peter L. A hardworking artist, musician, videogame addict and former student of mine, Pete was kind enough to give me a CD of his new tunes at the Zombie opening a few weeks ago.

Buried within the background colour is a pattern of planets and stars from a drawing Pete gave me years and years ago.



Pete, if you see the drawing here first...a print of this will be in your hands soon!!

Here is a song by Peter L...Pete tells me some of these songs were created with a bit-rate that is NES compatible...and if you know what that means, you and Pete would get along pretty well...ha!

Thanks babe...

Sketches from the book Teri gave me a few months ago...I'd had my eye on it for years now.

"Daumier" by Roger Passeron

Sweet Zombie Love

My zombie valentine which was on display at the Carbon Media gallery is still for sale.
$20, 11X17 digital print, Paypal to info@ericdyck.com or feel free to email me for more info.

Illustration Friday's "Sprout"

Hey IF folks!

Illustration Friday's word this week is "Sprout". Just a quick one this week...

You can also visit my portfolio here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Of all the holidays...I sure seem to be getting a lot of "love" around this time of year.

I was invited to make a cut-out Valentines Card for Beatroute magazine...in the mag it is free, but if you can't find it there: THEY ARE FOR SALE!

Eric on the wall...once again...

ZOMBIE VALENTINES
Opens First Thursday, February 1
Carbon Media Design
Art Central - Lower Level
100 - 7th Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0W4

I'm happy to announce that I'm draggin my sorry butt into an art gallery after a hiatus of many years. My humble entry will grace the walls of the Carbon Media gallery alongside the likes of Calgary icons like Tom Bagley, Dean Stanton, Tim Huesken, Aubrey Hallis, Kipling West and more. I'll be there (maybe Teri too!) and would love to see you...c'mon down and enjoy Art Central's First Thursday goings-on as well.

Come on down!

IF: Buzz

Hey IF folks!

Illustration Friday's word this week is "Buzz".

You can also visit my portfolio here.

IF: Peace

...and all the best in 2007, everyone!

Thank you for welcoming me into your Illustration Friday community, and for your supportive feedback!

See you next year...

Eric Dyck

IF: Help

Hey IF folks...
Illustration Friday's word this week is "help".

Please visit my portfolio here.

Sketches from "Terror by Night" 1946

A Basil Rathbone-as-Sherlock-Holmes film on TV the other night...lots of fedoras, trenchcoats, 40s haircuts and wonderfully English noses. There were a lot of cramped compositions (the entire film takes place aboard a train) which made for some great sketch opportunities.

some studies...some from memory...

basketball sketch

I'm scanning my sketchbook whilst sipping coffee...lots of posts today...

i have more sketches than Canada has owls...

These are all sketches in preparation for a Science Matters illo...I realized after much work that spotted owls look nothing like my sketches, or even my favorite owl. Ah well...

IF: Might

Illustration Friday's word this week is "might".

Please visit my portfolio here.

Back again...

Well, I've been busy and that is good. I've neglected my sketch blog...not so good.

Here is a little picture to pacify the guilt...

Clear

Illustration Friday's word this week is "clear". Not the easiest theme...but it was fun once I'd settled on the idea. Once I'd finished, I couldn't help but think of the wonderful shirt in the film "Garden State".

Please visit my portfolio here.

Science Matters

Illustration for an unpublished FFWD Weekly article, written by David Suzuki about Canada's lack of international reaction towards the destructive practice of bottom-trawling.

Illustration Friday's "Ghost"

Illustration Friday's word this week is "ghost"...and I'm proud to say I've actually worn this costume.

Please visit my portfolio here.

Thanks for stopping by!

SMITTEN!

I'm on board...this is my first Illustration Friday, so I just want to say "Welcome" to all of you! I've been inspired and awed by IF's weekly contributions for some time, and I want in on the fun...

Enjoy my "smitten" entry, and for those who are interested my portfolio can be seen here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Island story colour

A finished page from Tom's story...on display at North Mount Pleasant Art Centre as part of their "Under One Roof" Instructor exhibit. This was a good exercise, and shows how I hope to colour all 3o+ pages of Tom's story.

Coffee Shop...

Chinatown Street Festival 2006

Brochure map for the 2006 Chinatown Street Festival. This was a visual update of a 2005 map designed by Sherwin Tsang, with all-new illustrations for an existing layout and concept. Many elements were originally designed by Sherwin, but redrawn by myself. Sherwin did a good job on the final colour values.

Thanks to Sherwin, Ken & Danny!