Switching Gears 2

Hello my friends. I hope that all of you are having a wonderful and safe holiday! I am still in the process of switching gears as I call it, and more on that shortly. But first, let's talk about Klowny. I really expected to be done with this by now, but a lot has been going on in my life, including starting a new business. More on that in a month or so, but it goes hand in hand with all the things we have been talking about the last few months.

As with any Illustration, you start with an idea and good reference material. Sometimes getting just the right reference material can be a challenge to say the least. Normally you start with sketches of what you want the finished piece to look like, and then you set up a model shoot for your figures in the painting. In this one, I found a clown photo of a girl I liked, and have been changing it to suit the purpose of what I need. There is no model for Klowny. He is freehand. I did find a picture of the trailer park to use as a basis, and I mostly free handed the elephant.

Now you see the pic as it is so far, but by the end of today, I will have the Trailer park looking more like a "Klowny Park" and have most of Kitty-Boo painted. So let me stress this one more time. According to Irene Gallo, Todd Lockwood, Daniel Horne, Brom, and on and on, reference material is key to doing a great illustration. An Illustrator is paid to produce a believable image of the fantastic, and you can not do that without using photo references for the things you paint. The only Illustrator that says he doesn't use reference is Frazetta. I believe that to a point, but Frazetta is one of a kind. To drive the point home one more time, if you ever took a live drawing class, either still or model, you had a model to work from, did you not?

After I have all my material together and have done thumbnails on what the finished product will look like, I start doing sketches of each of the elements. The great thing about working digitally is that I like the sketches, i can polish them and use them in the finished painting, which saves a lot of time as well. Drawing the Trailers was a major pain and took a couple of days. But this is where the training Todd gave me came in by having me go downtown and draw sketches of buildings all day. Another great thing about working with Painter is that I have Perspective grids to work with, which help me keep all of this in perspective. ( No pun intended. lol)

But as soon as we find our dream house and get moved, I will start doing some more 'Traditional" pieces to show you step by step. I enjoy working both ways, and I want to share with you the joy of doing the same. Now this next step works for both traditional and digital. In Traditional, you do all your sketches on Tracing paper, then you overlay them over a "Lightbox" if you have one and can move them around to get get finished looks for the final layout. Norman Rockwell was one of the first to use this technique. In digital, you do the same, except in "Layers" mode. So, with Klowny, I have a couple more elements I want to add. For instance I want to give the trailers a more circus like look, and add a few more props. So, in the next blog I will show you that.

If you haven't noticed, I have pulled down the Wicked Kitty site for now. I am putting it through some major changes and I want it reflect the lessons I am working on for all the artist readers, promoting my clients, doing podcast, and video cast. As I have said, I am doing some major upgrades to the Wicked Kitty World. One of them is really going to surprise you, and in a couple of months I will announce it and what it will mean to all my friends and fans out there.

I am still working on the Portfolio part of my book, so until i can start sharing that with you, I am going to share some "secret" little tips to help you in your work. Today's is a simple, but effective one. When ever you are drawing a hero, no matter the Genre, draw the hero's hands and feet size and half from what they really are. This gives both male and female figures the look of being powerful and heroic. It also works for the villains as well. This is one of the very first things Daniel taught me.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and please be safe. Peace and Blessings!

Switching Gears

Hello my friends. I am sorry, but this is another short blog. The reason is, I am in the middle of switching gears as the saying goes. Let me explain.

While I was in the hospital, at one point, I quit breathing because of being over medicated. But I pulled through to tell the tell. But this really got me to thinking about what is really important to me in this life. One of those things turns out to be that I really want to take this passing on of knowledge very seriously. A few years ago I had made up my mind that I want to write a book about all that I have learned and am still learning. So, instead of putting this off, I have started the book. The chapter I am working on now is the one about building a portfolio, which I promised to share with you. I will have to post it and all lessons in several parts from here on out, just simply because of the length. This also means, it might be longer between the installments because I will be doing sample Illustrations to accompany it.

Now, 80% of the book will be available right here and for free. But I will also hold some back too so people will buy the book. I hope that this book will be something I can leave behind to help people for years to come. I will share secrets with you that some artist will never have a chance to know. I will teach you the color method that is only known and passed down from Masters to their students, and so on. I know at this point, I am no Master, but I do have the training and if I live long enough, I will reach that level.

Basically my goal with this is to give you an education that would cost you and your family 6 digits for under 100 bucks. It will also include an instructional video. My goal is to have this done and out by this time next year. I am not a greedy man, and this isn't about the money. This is about keeping a promise to someone I love and appreciate dearly. So I guessing that I will have to self-publish, which is fine. Cheryl and I have plans to do that anyways. (and that is another thing we will talk about in a couple of months.)

I know I said this in the last blog but next time around, I'll have some more sketches from the Klowny painting. (This one is going to have tons of details) and post the first part of the Portfolio chapter. I am getting ready to bring everything I do up a level or 2. Thank you all for sharing this ride with me. Much Love. Peace and Blessings.

Kitty-Boo!

Hello my friends. I just realised I need to up-date the website. Yikes. Above is Kitty-Boo, a sketch for a new painting I started today called "The Ten Klown Mandments " written by Michael McCarty & Mark McLaughlin This sketch is just a part of the whole thing. One the next blog I should have the rest of the sketches, and show you how they all come together for the final painting.

This one is going to be a blast. For one, its a break from the "Mental Scars" project and gives me something that I really like to draw, which is anything strange or scary. As we have talked about in the last several blogs. I am going to share a lot of info with you all, but I just am not going to do it every blog. Sometimes, I just like to check in, and show you what I am up to, like today. Nothing heavy, just catching up.

I am feeling much better, but I have been having problems. My moods have been awful, they've been up and down because of problems with blood sugar. I'm amazed that Cheryl hasn't beat me to a bloody pulp yet. The doc told me today, NO MORE CANDY OR SUGAR! He was kind of firm about it too. I think I need to listen this time. Ho Hum. Cheryl went and got me some sugarless candy that is actually pretty good, so maybe this want be as bad as all that. But because I am back on prednisone, my sugar levels are sky high but there not great when I'm off of prednisone either. So, in my attempt to live a long life and be healthier, I have given up smoking, booze, candy, most pain medicines, and most all foods that are fried.

I know one thing, I sure couldn't get through this without Cheryl. She's been my rock through some hard times here. But anyways, time to go. Ghosthunters night! Peace and Blessings!

Getting My head back into it.

Hello my friends! What a busy week it has been. The most challenging part is trying to make up for lost time on my art without compromising the quality level I want to produce. Above is the cover for the "Mental Scars" graphic novel I have been promising to show you for a while now., and I am finishing another page up for the Novel this morning as well.

Then I am going to take a couple of days to do a new clown painting for the Darc Karnivale book. This one is going to be a blast and I can hardly wait to tear into it! I'll be showing you sketches in the next blog.

Well, since the last blog, I sure have gotten a lot more healthier, thank goodness! I am going to the Doc Wednesday for a check up and I get the feeling everything will come out fine. I've really been on a health kick of late. I quit smoking almost 4 months ago. I quit drinking a couple of weeks ago. I'm eating salads and drinking more juices, as well as nice tea's. I'm even getting Cheryl to do some of it. I've even got her thinking more like an "artist" when it comes to money and I can see her being more happy and less stressful. It is a different way of life, but if you embrace it, you will diffidently be more happy. We also have some things in the works that will make a big difference in our lives as well very soon.

I had to read back through a couple of blogs to figure out where we left off in our talking about being an Illustrator before I got sick. Now, so far, none of you have asked me any questions so I am guessing you understand everything I have been talking about so far, which is what to put up on a site you want your client to see, writing a letter to potential clients, and how to start looking for work. I also gave you the link to the Andrew Loomis book considered the Illustrators Bible. I trust that you are reading and practicing the things you are learning from the book. If not, your just wasting your time. Anything in this life worth having takes a lot of work to get. If you think not, then your in for a very rude awakening. Work at what you love hard, and everyday.

Although there are plenty of more things to talk about in the things we've already discussed, and we will come back to these things as we go, lets start talking about promoting yourself. Promoting yourself can be either one of the best things you ever do, or one of the worse. Depending on your grasp of things. Personally I spend 2 hours a day on Promoting. Now when I say Promoting, this covers everything from working on the website, sending out letters, branding the name Wicked Kitty Studio, networking with people on Face Book, writing a blog, doing interviews, radio and film. An I do this 7 days a week. To me, it is not a job anymore, it is my way of life. An Cheryl does her part as well. She spends a lot of time branding and spreading my name around.

The key here is not wasting your time on things that will do you know good. For Instance, My Space is a waste of time. Your not going to "Network" with anyone that will really help your career or visa versa. It is a place that everyone goes to tell each other how wonderful they are, or talk about other people. Politics and personal agendas. With Face book, you are friending and targeting the exact people you want and need to. For instance, I friend some artist that I have known through the years. Maybe 5%. But artist are not going to give me work or spend money on my art. They're worried about feeding their own bellies. lol So, 35% of the people I target are publishers, movie people and people that work in the media business. People that can help my career along, and the saying is true, "It is who you know" never doubt that.

The great thing here is that I don't have time to "go out" with friends, and it's very rare that I meet anyone that is "into" the same things as I am that is local to me. When I do go out, it's with Cheryl and sometimes the kids. So one Face Book, the very people I am networking with, also turn out to be good friends, simply because of the we do the same things. So It turns into business an pleasure. So, that is one of the big reasons I love Face Book so much.

The other 60% of my friends on Face Book are friend/fans. This gives me a chance to talk and deal directly with the people that like my art, want to buy my art, ect. It's almost like being at a convention and meeting people face to face, except much cheaper on the artist. But the one on one feedback is priceless.

The downside of Face Book is the people that want to IM you and you don't know them. You never know if there wanting to talk business or junk. 95% of the time, it's junk, and I just don't have time for that. I keep the IM just for my family, close personal friends, and business. If you want to talk to me, please just send me an e-mail and I promise, I will write you back within 24 hours.

If any one out there has figured out how to hide that your online when your on Face Book, I would really appreciate you telling me how to do it.

Moving on. It is important to keep your Blog and website up to date, and find ways to make your blog interesting. I mean, when I go read someones blog, and yes I do read several, the last thing I want to read is how great the person is. I do want to hear the good news and the good things, as well as the bad. I want to read what it is like realistically to be in that persons shoes, and Its great to pick up tips and tricks, or funny experiences. As well as with your website. I make it a point to update it at least 3 times a month. I still have features that I haven't put on there yet, such as podcast. I can also film myself talking and show you examples of what I am doing while I am doing it. So over the next several months I am really going to be changing the way I do things to make the blog and website more interesting.

Another biggy is if your shy, take some drama classes and get past that. You have to learn to put yourself out there, get up in front of people, talk and be relaxed the whole time your doing it. I remember when I was growing up, I was taught, "You never know unless you ask" and that is very true. I can't even begin to tell you the times that I got something just simply because I had the courage to ask. Don't be afraid to contact blog radio stations, or your local ones, tell them who you are and what you do. You might be surprised at the positive response you will get.

Next time around, we'll cover what to put into your portfolio that will get you work. Time for work my friends. Tell your friends about what where doing here. I would love for you all to share your experiences as well. Much love all.... Peace and Blessings.

Finally getting healthy again.

Hello my friends. As most of you know, I have been in the hospital, and that has been coming for some time now. I've just been so busy, I kept putting off doing what I needed to do to get healthy.

Before I go any future I want to thank each and everyone of you for all the e-mails, and the letters and comments that you sent me on face book. I had no idea that so many people really cared about my well being. It touched me and Cheryl deeply. Thank you all so very much. Now, as I promised, what happened to me put me in the hospital.

I got Ulcertive Colitis when I was in the Army, 33 years ago, and it is something that I have had to learn to live with. Most of the time I can keep in under control, but when I moved up to Michigan, I was put in a very bad situation and put under a great deal of stress, which is not how it was supposed to be. My nerves got bad, and the colitis flared up. I started going to the VA here, and of course they gave me the medicines I needed. (If you don't know what colitis is, It is basically bleeding open wounds in your colon) One of the main treatments for it is predizone, which is basically a steroid and can be bad for you if taken over a long period of time. Because of having to take it on and off through the years, it has given me diabetes, high blood pleasure and a few other surprises.

After I moved in with Cheryl, my nerves finally started calming down, and it started to clear up. But, the doc pulled me off the predizone to early and the flair up came back. So this went on for a few months back and forth. I even got a bad flu because my body had gotten so weak.

So as a result of all of this, my body dehydrated really bad, my kidneys where shutting down, my colon swole to about twice its size or at least it felt like it, but the icing on the cake was to find out that my blood pressure had dropped very low. Like 80 over 50, and I couldn't keep my balance or anything.

Off to the hospital I go. And one of the first things I find out when I get there is that I also now have a Hernia. Another souvenir of laying carpet for so many years. I was in intense pain to say the least. Once my body started hydrating again, I started passing stones, and the pain in my colon was unbearable. So, they where shooting me up with some pretty serious drugs. I was taking trips and never left the hospital. lol But after 4 days I started showing signs of life, and feel better now than I have in a very long time.

Now I have a ton to catch up on. I hope to be back on track by the next blog and get back down to sharing things with you all. But here is something you may enjoy. It's my 7 minute part in the documentary "The Kings of Scream"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcrsD7cr9A0