Homemade quill pens for Inktober!

In anticipation of the start of Inktober, I created a couple new quill pens. I'll use these on some of the pieces I create throughout October.

Pelican quill: very sturdy and holds ink well, though not for long.
Works beautifully broad-side after being dipped in water to create
wash effects.

13 inches from tip to tip.

Older crow quill, made in 2010; no longer holds ink well.

2010 piece made with aforementioned crow quill,
complete with Rob Zombie lyrics.

New crow quill with some Gorilla Tape padding.

Fanart Friday: AKIRA

Tetsuo belongs to none other than Katsuhiro Otomo.

There is a Tumblr known as Fanart Friday that, despite my rarely drawing fanart, inspired me to draw something from Akira. Having only discovered it this year, I can say with utmost enthusiasm that it is one of my favorite films; the six-volume manga is just as breathtaking. Katsuhiro's visions are graphic and uncompromising, boiling down to "this is some of the best inspiration I've had in ages."

Next month marks the start of Inktober, and I want to take a couple scenes and adapt them as ink pieces. I made this 3-5 minute sketch strictly for practice from a production cel.

For Inktober, I'll focus mainly on Brainsick and Legacy art. I'm itching to get back to my inks!

Oaxacan Big Cat: Mini-Bust wrap-up!

Priming on the shoulder begins with DC Pink Lavender.

Priming continues with DC Deep Fuchsia.

Neck primed with Koh-I-Noor Progresso #13.

Primsacolor Dark Green, Grass Green, Apple Green,
Chartreuse, and Yellow Chartreuse.

DONE!

This was a great exercise in creating smaller artwork, which was my preferred MO for years. Using my various colored pencils together worked well. Expect to see Oaxacan busts pop up from time to time in the future!

I still plan on creating the Oaxacan Toucan next, but I will also resurrect the Oaxacan Fox soon. Anyone remember the poor li'l thing? Coloring never got past the first stage. I want to redraw her on Stonehenge paper, and I may alter her pose a bit.

Oaxacan Big Cat: Mini-Bust!

I've wanted to create a mini-bust portrait of the Oaxacan Big Cat ever since finishing the original piece. I have better materials and more experience than I did two years ago. In an effort to preserve my Prismacolor pencils, I am blending them with Derwent Coloursoft, Blick Studio, and Koh-I-Noor Progresso colored pencils. Many colors are close matches and work well layered together.

Sketchbook concepts.

After the initial sketches, I photocopied the bottom bust, blew it up by 150%, and traced it onto Strathmore Windpower Mixed Media Vellum bristol, 400 Series, 6"h x 8"w. Strathmore 400 series paper stands up to more layering and editing than other papers I've used.

Rough sketch in Light Gray Col-Erase.

Outlining with Prismacolor Verithins.

Working on a drawing board allows for a more comfortable angle.

Whisker pads primed with Blick Studio Light Blue.

Koh-I-Noor Progresso woodless colored pencils are
fantastic for establishing large areas of color.

Bridge of nose primed with Progresso #7

Draco hanging out on my art desk alongside the original Big Cat.

Face and ears complete!

One of the larger stylus points used.

Medium-size stylus point.

This is what the Big Cat mini-bust currently looks like,
minus the polishing from the last three photos.