PROCESS
Many artists can draw a decent likeness of a well-known face, but the
challenge is to capture not just the likeness but the character of the
person. Capturing this truth, or essence, is, for me, the most
important factor in considering a portrait successful or not. By
observing the unique qualities of the individual, I am able (hopefully)
to render a realistic depiction beyond mere likeness. One of my
favorite ways to do this is through exaggerated form; the slightest
push of an expression or posture, in just the right place, can tell the
viewer quite a bit.
A traditional painter at heart, I love
working with oil, acrylic and watercolor. However, due to the
fast-paced world of publishing, I have taught myself how to paint
digitally using a Wacom, 21” Cintiq. This amazing piece of technology
allows me to work naturally, intuitively drawing and painting directly
on the LCD display. My technique when painting digitally is very
similar to the way I paint with oils or acrylics. I tend to work from
dark to light, focusing mainly on values and color harmony. I never use
any form of photo manipulation. The work that I create digitally is
hand drawn and painted. Working digitally has its advantages for both
myself and art directors: no fuss or time spent on scanning and color
correcting, ability to make changes quickly and easily, and the time it
takes me to create a painting digitally versus traditionally is cut in
half. The best part is that the final result looks like a traditional
painting. The results are so similar that people often confuse my
traditional and digital paintings, unable to tell which is which.
Before
beginning a piece I generally create several thumbnail sketches. Doing
thumbnails is a simple and quick way for me to find interesting
compositions and explore character shape and proportion. I use my
thumbnail sketches like short-hand notes; typically, I don’t share them
with art directors, unless they ask, as they can be confusing to anyone
but myself. After developing the thumbnails, I quickly move on to the
sketch.
By this stage, having the idea and composition set, I
begin to take pictures for reference. Using friends and myself as
models, I can control the lighting, folding in clothing, poses, hand
gestures and expressions. (I have used my own face many times for
creating expression for my subjects; it pays to have a rubber face!)
After gathering all the references I will need, I do a final sketch. I
love to draw and I because I believe that drawing is the foundation for
my art, I take special care to get it just right. If the drawing is
right, the painting will be right. A strong drawing and composition
must come first. Often times, I prefer sketching on a toned background
rather than a white background. This helps me lay down my line work and
quickly establish light and darks, giving my sketch depth and a life of
its own in a very short amount of time.
Once the sketch is
approved, I prepare it for painting. I typically cover my entire sketch
with a thin layer of raw umber, using the sketch in the same way an
under-painting is utilized in traditional painting.
My paintings
tend to have a lot of detail, but don’t let that fool you. The details
are only the final touches. The most important thing is the drawing,
and once I have that to my satisfaction I focus on capturing light and
establishing strong values. I create a limited palette and use only
those colors for the duration of the painting.
Because of my
experience with painting in oil and acrylic, painting digitally comes
naturally; mixing color digitally is done basically the same way it is
done traditionally, only easier and quicker. It can be a temptation for
digital painters to get carried away and create near-photo, realistic
results, but, for me, this approach is against all that I love about
painting. I enjoy finding a thumbprint on a painting or seeing loose
hairs from a paintbrush entombed forever in the art. I purposely leave
brush marks visible, knowing that as long as the lighting and values
are correct, the painting will still have a very realistic look and
quality alongside its traditional feel.
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