Jez Andrews

To Crop Or Not To Crop?

2011-05-15T02:08:00.001-07:00

Morning Bloggers! Well last night was spent painting and watching the eurovision song contest. Not sure why we bother to be honest. If a big band like blue can only finish mid table then we should call it a day. Still Graham Norton did us proud with his quick quips and put downs.

Picture doing ok but I really want it finished so I can move on. Thinking of cropping it some more. Should help with the composition a bit more as well as giving me less to paint. What do you think?

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Arrrrgggghhhh

2011-05-14T10:45:00.001-07:00

Blog not saved my changes from a few days ago!!!! Took me ages too. I'd done my own background. Filled my new artist page with pictures, and started my tips page. I'm not impressed. I'll have to do it again now :(

Spare Time

2011-05-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well after a day working at my library, I now have a quiet evening to look forward to. My Wife is out at her sisters to watch the Eurovision of all things, and so with the kids going to bed soon that leaves a free evening for me. Think I will try and get some more of my picture done. I feel I have a surprising amount of energy left considering my ride on my bike last night and a day of work. Hopefully won't be found slumped and fast asleep on my laptop!

You Tube Goodies

2011-05-13T09:51:00.001-07:00

It's only just come to my attention that there is a wealth of tips and information regarding drawing digitally. I was watching a few by Dave Rapoza last night. Although not the most animated of talkers its amazing to watch the process he uses to develop his pieces. He can do fantastic work in just two hours. Something that would take me days. For my next piece I shall be embracing his style and trying it out myself.

Anyway, I have to get on my bike now, cycle 6 miles to my library where I work. When I finish I'm then meant to be going out riding with one of my mates. Think i'll be tired tonight!

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A Background Makes All The Difference

2011-05-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

Good evening people. Well here it is, another progress report and as you can see quite a bit has changed! Primarily the background has been done. I've done this by starting in a black shade and gradually adding layers of colour in subtle tone and colour changes. Its added a more dramatic lighting to the picture and gives a good sense of mood. I'm now applying more exaggerated lighting and shading to match the light of the background. Its taking a lot of patience blending in the colours, a technique I'll be demonstrating in a tutorial for beginners soon. I've added detail to the chest, although his necklace needs to be done. Currently working on the sword, but after spending a few hours on this already its time to call it a day.

Till next time :)

Influences

2011-05-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

Here is an artist who i've looked at and marvelled over for a few years. There is no doubt that he has had influence over my work or even the way I generally draw. There is just so much quality stuff in his portfolio. Any how, my own work moved on a pace last night with the top half getting close to be doing. The chest was always going to be a problem as i lost my original base layer so had to start again. However, I prevailed.......well more or less. I can often be very critical of my own work so itll probably be tweaked many more times till I'm close to happy. Actually to help with my lighting and directon (such an important part) I'm now doing the background. i'm going for something simple, much like Dave Rapozas images I've got posted on here. Anyway, I'll post a new picture soon, have fun drawing till then.

Dave Rapoza

2011-05-09T02:16:00.000-07:00

These are pictures by Dave Rapoza. His use of light and texture never fails to impress. A very mature take on a teenage ninja turtles I believe?!!! Certainly a guy I look up to in the art world. Check him out on http://www.cghub.com/

Modern Technology

2011-05-02T13:44:00.001-07:00

Thought id try and use my phone to blog. Might blog more often that way!

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Painfully Slow

2011-05-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Work is still progress but it seems to be taking ages. Did it take this long last time?? People really must have more spare time than me because they are producing pictures weekly, I seem to be on a biannual speed. Talking of other artists, it's amazing how humbling it is to look at what others can produce. www.cghub.com is perfect example of what I'm talking about and if you like quality art then its very much worth a look. Mines on there too but it pales into insignificance compared to professionals. I just think they have more spare time........and a less dodgy computer. Think its time for an upgrade!!!! Till next time, keep drawing :)

Progress

2011-04-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

Not much done tonight but I've done some repositioning and now started adding more exaggerated tones to the armour. All rough and ready but I'm finding my way once more :)

Gallery Updates

2011-04-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hey sorry been away for a while. Computer has been playing up and its been an effort to retrieve corrupted files containing my artwork. Still I've got it more or less sorted now and so I can progress. I've added some of my older work to my gallery so you can have a laugh at my stuff!! Be back again soon.

Damn Computer.....

2011-03-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

Technology has a lot to answer for!!!! It seems to have corrupted my art work and I can't retrieve it. Gutted. I've lost the will to restart it again. It had so much potential too.

Been looking into the artwork of Tony DiTerlizzi. Amazing imaginitive stuff. So creative, a style i'd love to have, but wonder if my imagination stretches that far. I'm tempted to freshen my working style and he maybe the inspiration I need. Check his work out. Well worth a look!!

Progress

2011-03-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

Face and hair now taking shape and getting close to being finished. There are things that look wrong and the hair is still bugging me!! Oh well, it'll have to do for now. I need a rest!!!!

Hair!

2011-03-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

Hair. Oh my god hair. Who'd have guessed making hair look realistic was going to be so difficult!!!! The face is nearly finished now and is looking pretty mean n funky but right now he looks like someone has place a very bad wig on his head. arggghhh

Well, I'm getting more and more viewings to this blog but still no comments. If you'd like to add something then please feel welcome to do so.

Get on with it!

2011-03-03T03:07:00.000-08:00

Back to art progress................working on the face now which is I guess the most important part. From here things only get better to look at. I hope!

Weather Cock Up

2011-03-03T03:05:00.000-08:00

Found the weather forecast amusing this morning. They showed us the morning temperatures then as the clock moved on the graphics only showed the changing cloud coverage......and that's all the weather lass could talk about. There were no wind icons or temperature icons. I know more about the next days weather than today's!!! Oh well it would have probably been wrong anyway.

Progress

2011-03-02T02:35:00.000-08:00

Well this is progress so far. Things are still a bit messy. I've gained some form to the shoulders and backpack and have begun on the chest. I've had a a change of heart though!!!! Although the pose worked in the larger imagine, in this cropped pose, it's too stagnant. I've decided I'm going to raise the hand up to the chest and have his face turn more to us.

New Project

2011-02-24T15:21:00.000-08:00

This is a drawing I did a little while back and one I really like. Granted there are some anatomical faults but I enjoy the level of detail in it. I have decided to use this imagine and do it as a new digital piece by adding some colour and more character to it. I'll keep you posted on progress so you can see my work flow.

Self Portrait

2011-02-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

This is a self portrait! OK, its done in my style but really it was more an experimental piece as I've finally got a touch sensitive pen to do my drawings with. And what a difference!!!! The picture isn't really finished yet, skin needs more work but it was a good practice piece.

My First Digital Work

2011-02-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

This was my first attempt at doing digital Sci Fi. It is something that took a great deal of time and was part of a huge learning curve in learning in how to use brushes, layers and the myriad of tools available on photo shop. My method of working was probably not the best or the quickest and although I still am not 100% happy, I have called this finished now. Overall, I am quite pleased with myself considering it was my first attempt and all done with a mouse.

Welcome!!!

2011-02-05T13:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog. OK bare with me as I've nothing to show yet but I will shortly uploading my artwork and sharing with you my process, inspiration and final work. I shall look forward to your comments and hope you aren't too critical!! First I have to work out how to get this all set up :)