The Process – Vue Privée’s Maiko

Client: Vue Privée‘s Gallery

Brief: Aimed at capturing the elegance of Old Japan, seen through the lens of photographers living and working during the late Edo period (1872 – 1912). Using gallery owner’s private antique photos collection as inspiration.

Process: To start any project i always do extensive research for the items i planning to draw. Sometimes, even read up facts on them.

While looking for research i basically already have an image in my head on how i want my illustrations to be, so most of the time i only look for items that goes similar to that idea. Similar meaning; species of plants/animals, man/woman, dressing, pose, angle/view/perspective etc.

I do all the initial sketches on tracing paper, so i can overlay them on top one another to “check” if the composition works. And after that some minor adjustment/fine tuning will be done before i redraw the entire image as a whole.

Once the image is scanned onto Photoshop, i began an extensive cleaning up of tiny dust spots and pencil lines. Followed by pathing out the items that needed to be coloured. Here’s the view of my path window in Photoshop.

And also the process of colouring.

Even though i been given total freedom to create this piece, from time to time i do email the client on the sketch done for update, so to assure that i am on track and do not stray to far from the topic.

So here’s the finish piece!

Two most important tips i can offer to anyone.

A) SAVE YOU FILE

B) BACK UP FILES RELIGIOUSLY

Thanks for reading and comments will be very appreciated.

Travis Charest’s SPACEGIRL Vol. 1

For a while, i thought the artist whom inspired me to hone detail pencil lines had disappeared into thin air, i am very glad he’s back with a self published comic book SPACEGIRL.
I remembered when i first laid my eyes on WildC.A.T.s Trilogy #2; A 4 pp. B&W preview done by this man. I was blown away, and never seen popular comics being drawn like that. I now have slap myself senseless for procrastinating buying his new book for its either sold out or tripled its price since its release.

Dali X Disney

Strange but plenty of eye candy

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Scott McCloud (dorky yet hilarious) take on comics

Fleecircus @ Moleskine Passions Exhibition

click on image to see larger view

Am very honored to be invited by Moleskine once again to be one of the creatives for Moleskine Passions Exhibition. I have chose Movies as my preferred inspirations. Here’s a sneak peek of what I’ve done.

Will post the final submission once its ready, in the meanwhile maybe you might know which movies these quick ink drawings are inspired from?

Ok heres the “answers”, from bottom clockwise to centre: Mary Poppins (1964), Penelope (2006), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (時をかける少女) (2006), Streets Of Fire (1984), Lars And The Real Girl (2007), Thank You For Smoking (2005), Gran Turino (2008), The French Connection (1971).

Fleecircus For Kult Magazine

Here’s my take on the theme “Artificial” for the next issue of Kult magazine
Do grab a free copy at most shops in town!

Pencil and Colour With Photoshop CS
Click On Image To View Details

Initial Sketch On Paper Before Colouring

ASK AN ARTIST

We start off Monday with a new weekly installment – ASK AN ARTIST

This week Mike (aka The Chairman) interviews Zid about his experience at the OIC-Portrait Day event

What do you look forward to at “PORTRAIT DAY”?

For me, it’s the diverse participants for portraiture and ultimately able to see how different artists work.

The former is the excitement when you see facial features that really challenge your “eye-brain-hand” coordination. The latter is relatively a reason for me to engage in the discourse of influencing and be influenced in my creative process. Finally the chicks… Hey at least I’m honest about it.

How do you make your session fruitful?

By having my drawings sold! Hehe, naw, by being able to capture likeness within the given time slot, and having satisfying results by means of visually significant output.

What is your absolute fave tool at the sessions?

I’m more of a “use whatever you have at that moment” if not “use the cheapest most crappiest tool and make the best out of it” kind of artist. A ballpoint pen would do for the base lines and I’d just use anything I can find in my pencil case for finishing touches then and there. Dried markers, highlighters, correction pen, magic pen, name it. No particular favourite.

What have you seen or learn from a fellow OICnik at such sessions?

That you guys are elite and carry fancy tools! Which is awesome, made me feel like a cheapskate! I’m amazed at how you guys can capture likeness and stay focused doing it the whole day. At some point in every session when I zone out, the results are always uneasy to my eyes.

Your favourite style of portraits or favourite portrait drawing of the moment.

Of course, Kent Williams’ all the time! (Attached) and also check this link

PRACTISING PROCASTINATION

…. work can wait… a while

Taken from the sculpture Laocoön and Sons (Wrestling the Serpent) 1506
Mechanical pencil on Moleskine

Winged Victory of Somathrace (337-283 BC?)
Mechanical pencil on Moleskine

NOTE: Those red label dots i placed on the sketch are actually mistakes that i made; as my patience to get the details right was wearing a little thin, Gahhhh….!

Wishing you a 2009 filled daily with enriching experiences.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

SEASONS’ GREETINGS!

May Christmas fill you with joy and 2009 fill you with laughter.
Have a good one!

SINGHEALTH CALENDAR

I completed a series of illustrations for SingHealth calendar, the calendar will be given out free with purchase of January issue of Women’s Weekly. The design done by Ling from Nuts Ideas.
Each illustration are based on a specific theme given by the client, the aim was emulate something magical according with the theme. All illustrations are done with pencil on paper later coloured in Photoshop.