Hello Friends. I've been very busy. First up the sketches above. The top 2 where sketches I did for the "Darc Karnivale" book cover, and the 3rd one is the final approved layout for the book. Now I just have to paint it. Working in Corel Painter lets me do all my sketches separately and then put them together any way I want to with ease. Once I have each piece posistioned the way I want, I start adding more details, and continue to do so as the painting continues. I will keep you updated on this one as it goes, but I am working on it here and there as I am doing the other illustrations, but I have to have it turned in by the first week of May, so it want be long.
The bottom piece is the first sketch I did for a story called 'The Vampire Keeper" written by Laura Bickle. Also for "Darc Karnivale" I'm digging this one. It gives me a chance to do something sexy for a change. There will be a Naga in the illustration as well. I'll have the finished rough for you over the weekend.
Now for some good news. I recently had a stress test done on my heart, and I pasted with flying colors. All the treatments, changing my diet, and more exercise has really worked. An to be honest I feel better than I have since I was a young man. My career is going much better that I had ever dreamed of at this point, and In a few months I want have to lay carpet anymore. I'm going to get me a exercise machine to keep in my new home. That's right, I am buying a home, and it is perfect for me. It has everything I need, including a studio just for doing photography of models, and Lord since i have moved here I have models begging me to use them in my paintings. Even a Playboy playmate.
It blows my mind that just simply by moving up north all of these things have fell into my lap. But more later, I got to get busy now. Love you all! Peace out!
Hello Friends. Above is the re-do of "The Lynching of Jack Cutter" written by Ralan Conley for the book "Darc Karnivale. I just wasn't happy with the first version. I didn't believe it is the best way to put it. The model for Jack Cutter was just wrong, so I found this one instead, and now I like it. It feels more natrual and real to me.
I have started working on the cover for the book. I showed Dave some sketches with a rough of the idea I had in mind. In the next post I will share some of the sketches with you. I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter! Mine was cool. The Easter bunny brought me some goodies and then I worked all day. But you know what they say, "When your doing what you love, it isn't really work. Peace out everyone.
Hello friends. I hope all are having a wonderful and safe Easter Holiday. The above is the 3rd illustration for the "Darc Karnivale" book. The story is called "Teritum Squid" written by Jeremy C. Shipp. Another wonderful story. This one is a little bizarre and funny. A very good read.
A lot has changed in my life these last few months, for the good I might add. My work habits have improved. My day is like this. 10 hours painting and 2 hours networking, seven days a week. That leaves me about 4 hours for personal things and catching a few TV shows that I follow. But my work is improving in leaps and bounds.
I'm thinking that after I finish these 16 pieces and the cover that my skill level will be up a few notches. I am going back and redoing some of the painting I did for Ralan's story. I found a much better model for Jack Cutter and I should have that done and posted tomorrow.
This book is a big deal for me. All 16 writers are known writers and a few are personal friends, and I am having more fun doing this project that any other that I can remember. For one thing, the editor David Byron is just fantastic to work with, and one top of that we both have something in common, the carpet business. I install it, and he cleans it. lol But my carpet days are almost over. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and it will happen some time over the summer.
I have nothing against working a hard job, but I am getting to old for that mess, and I've been worried to death that I am going to damage myself to the point I would be crippled once I retired from it. I really want to travel and see the world, and I don't want to have to do that on cruches.
Well, I need to get back to work. I hope you enjoy the new piece. Peace and Blessings all!
Wouldn't you know it. I got the 2 images above backwards, and I can't figure out how to reverse them. Oh well, onwards! The good thing is that in the 2nd image you can get an idea on how I paint. When I first starting using Corel Painter, Daniel told me to treat it just like i was doing a traditional painting. So when painting in oils, I lay in all my colors, side by side, and then I go back and blend them as in the top illustration.
The biggest cool thing about Painter is that you have all the mediums at your disposal and you can mix them. For instance I can use colored pencils over oils. I can also erase the painted area if I am not pleased with it. I can mix watercolor and oils, ect. You can not do most of these things traditional. But the point I am trying to make is that George recently pointed out a "speed painting" that a talented artist did for Utube. I'm not sure what program he was using, but it wasn't Painter. With Painter you can paint the way you always have.
Okay, creating air. Daniel taught me that Mother Nature is the best teacher to an artist. Everything you need to know is in Nature. Take a tree for instance. If you sit down and just study it, shape, values and the edges you will notice that on the edges, there really is no edge. An the further you are away from the tree, the edges fade even more. This is because of air. Air acts as a natural diffuser. To create this effect all you need to do is smooth out the edges that you drew or painted. With pencil you can use your finger or a stub. With oils, just take a clean brush and go over the edges. In the top illustration, you can see where I have done this. Remember, the further the object is , the more air.
When you create air around a object, it anchors the object into the painting, like it belongs there. When you don't create air, you just have a bunch of objects placed on a page, and it takes away from the realism of the piece.
I remember when the Big D told me to start doing this, I didn't realise what he meant until I studied his works. I didn't really get it to start with and it took me a few paintings before I got the hang of it. So, when your working, just keep the air thing on your mind. If it gives you trouble, email me the pic you are working on, and I will show you in more detail.
I don't know about where you folks are, but it's snowing here. The weather person says where going to get about 6 inches. I do love to watch it snow, but I'm ready for Spring!
On another note, tonight North Carolina plays Michigan ST. for the national championship. What are the odds? I'm not sure who to pull for. I mean NC was my home for many, many moons, but now I live in Michigan. I guess I will pull for both and may the best team.
I will be posting another blog, probably tomorrow showing you the rough idea I have for the "Darc Karnival" cover. I'm really loving this one too. Till then, peace out!!!
Hello friends, above is the finished version of "Food Of Love" written by Joseph D'Lacey for the book "Darc Karnivale" I hope you enjoy, but remember this is copyrighted to Nick Rose, if you want to use it for something, just write me and ask. I'm an easy going fellow, unless you steal from me. In that case, all hell will reign down on you.
The next blog I do will be about Creating Air in your art using this piece. Please understand I do not want to come across as a hardass about my art, but I have had plenty of so called artist steal my work and idea's, and I have drawn a line and say it ends now. I finally can afford a couple of high dollar lawyers and I will not put up with talentless artist trying to steal my idea's and art.
Tomorrow I will do the blog on air in art. Peace and Blessings all.
Hello Friends. I've been very busy. First up the sketches above. The top 2 where sketches I did for the "Darc Karnivale" book cover, and the 3rd one is the final approved layout for the book. Now I just have to paint it. Working in Corel Painter lets me do all my sketches separately and then put them together any way I want to with ease. Once I have each piece posistioned the way I want, I start adding more details, and continue to do so as the painting continues. I will keep you updated on this one as it goes, but I am working on it here and there as I am doing the other illustrations, but I have to have it turned in by the first week of May, so it want be long.
