Bears and Beasts!
Welcome to my first post of 2007. Now, don't get overly excited or anything...
First of all, for those of you in Los Angeles tomorrow night, Josh and I will be joining a slew of estimable artists (Jordan Crane, James Jean, Souther Salazar, Ron Kurniawan, etc...) at Thinkspace Gallery for a BEASTS! booksigning. Come talk to us so we don't feel neglected and unpopular. We'll probably be sulking somewhere in the shadow of James Jean's crowded table.
Not too long ago, I received a job illustrating a book review about the overcrowded prison system here in California. I decided to go with the imagery of the California flag, making use of the grizzly as my main subject.
The deadline for this one was a bit tight, so the sketch phase was delightfully short (it's usually excruciating for me). Basically I just had to make a rough doodle to give them an idea of where I was going. Once it was sent off, I went to work beatifying it.
After simplifying the drawing and bringing it closer to the imagery on the California flag, I figured it would be smooth sailing from there on out. Of course, it wasn't. In mid painting, I was asked to extend the border of the illustration to fit the column of text on the right and have the landscape trail off the page. Unfortunately, at that point I had already finished painting the slant of the ground going the opposite way.
Thank God for Photoshop.
Cut out the old background, painted a new one, digital cut and paste, and BAM! Like magic.
Here’s a detail of the massive bundle of prisoners. Because I’m such a self-absorbed egomaniac, I try to sneak a self-portrait in whenever I drawing large crowds. This one was no exception (I'm hanging upside down on the far right).
*******
First of all, for those of you in Los Angeles tomorrow night, Josh and I will be joining a slew of estimable artists (Jordan Crane, James Jean, Souther Salazar, Ron Kurniawan, etc...) at Thinkspace Gallery for a BEASTS! booksigning. Come talk to us so we don't feel neglected and unpopular. We'll probably be sulking somewhere in the shadow of James Jean's crowded table.
*******
Not too long ago, I received a job illustrating a book review about the overcrowded prison system here in California. I decided to go with the imagery of the California flag, making use of the grizzly as my main subject.
The deadline for this one was a bit tight, so the sketch phase was delightfully short (it's usually excruciating for me). Basically I just had to make a rough doodle to give them an idea of where I was going. Once it was sent off, I went to work beatifying it.
After simplifying the drawing and bringing it closer to the imagery on the California flag, I figured it would be smooth sailing from there on out. Of course, it wasn't. In mid painting, I was asked to extend the border of the illustration to fit the column of text on the right and have the landscape trail off the page. Unfortunately, at that point I had already finished painting the slant of the ground going the opposite way.
Thank God for Photoshop.
Cut out the old background, painted a new one, digital cut and paste, and BAM! Like magic.
Here’s a detail of the massive bundle of prisoners. Because I’m such a self-absorbed egomaniac, I try to sneak a self-portrait in whenever I drawing large crowds. This one was no exception (I'm hanging upside down on the far right).
Posted at 6:38 AM
11 Comments:
Beautiful drawing.
That's a big people-package.
that bear is pretty angry about something. I think it's the prison system in California.
p.s.
you're right, the shadow of James' table will be a perfect place to sulk
Many Congrats! This illo is killer!
I hate bears, I hate overcrowded prison systems, and I hate California, but somehow you made it all work. Way to go Nathan!
Yo, I don't cast a very long shadow. Bad genetics. Good piece!
hahaha - Nathan with criminals
Even though you guys never wrote me back when i posted here earlier.. i still gotta say that your work is rockin!
This "process" post is great to show people what an illustrator must do to tackle an assignment(with tight deadlines and all.. I'm an animator, i know the deal)
Keep up the good work.
ariel
Cool!
i found you in the massive ball of human...or should i say nate-dawg...kekekeke. not like it was hard though...you told everyone exactly where you are.
good work!
Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Will - Thanks. I think I have a thing for large convoluted masses of people.
Josh - funny man, funny man...
Gerald - thanks!
Jared - thanks for not hating.
James - 'twas a pleasure sharing a table at the booksigning.
Jon - I never told you my reasons for "escaping" to Japan.
Ariel - sorry we didn't get back to you last time. thanks for the encouragement and kind words.
Noel - Hey! Long time no see/talk/hear/acknowledge.
Christine - Thanks, but please don't mention my old nickname ever again.
Very nice Nathan!
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