Method, Man

I don't do this often, but I thought it would be fun to show some of my work (like 5th grade long division). So here's the process for the latest Happy Holi-Dakes album cover. Summarized and simplified of course. You can download the album for free here: http://jamesdake.bandcamp.com/album/happy-holi-dakes-2013.

 

(Click the image to feel the jingle.)

 

Note: All work done with Wacom Bamboo Capture in Manga Studio 5. GIF made with GIMP.
(1) Rough sketch in black.
(2) Copy sketch layer and change it to blue; increase opacity.
(3) Draw final black line drawing.
(4) Flat color on new layer beneath line drawing, with movement lines on another layer. (6 layers total at this point, with white background layer.)
(5) Background created in two layers: the first with two brushes to create texture, followed by a diagonal gradient from left to right. I changed the colors around until I settled on the pink salmon color.
(6) Time to add glow! The star glows on its own layer with a trail of flashes creating more movement.
(7) Based on the light source of the star, I added highlights and shadows on a new layer, using mostly yellow and purple respectively. This adds much needed depth to the image as you can see in the animated GIF. I repeated this step in the animation to better show the difference.
(8) Added text. (In total, there were 11 layers counting white background.)

Happy Holi-Dakes!

Cheers!

(Click the image to feel the cheer.)

Huffing Post

I recently picked up some new software. Here's my first comic using Manga Studio 5:

(Click the image to pump you up.)

Autumnal Voice

(Click the image to hear it yell.)

Dearly Beloved

I forgot to post this sooner. This weekend was my brother's wedding, and a while back I created their invitations (minus any text which was added by a calligrapher). It was very much a collaborative process with them giving me a lot of initial magic. I ended up drawing and designing entirely on the computer, making it a lot easier to change colors, hues, saturation, etc. If you think you might like me to design your invites for a special day, feel free to drop me a line. Here is the final design:

 

 Cover

Inside

(Click the image to feel the love.)

Follow the Money

(Click on the image to taste the crown jewels.)

Dog & Tricks

A bit long and late in posting, but I've got two in a row to make up for it. The first is a quick sketch from a recent open mic night:

(Click the image for pop-up action.)

Indiana Jonesin'

(Click the image to grab the treasure, kid.)

First World Living

(Click the image to pet my feet.)

9 Ball

For the latest Infinite Scroll project at SketchbookProject.com, the theme was SPACE. So, naturally, I created this priceless work of digital art:

(Click the image to check the angle.)

You can see how it fits into the grand scheme of things at http://arthousecoop.tumblr.com/post/44812572158/infinite-scroll-space.

Cowboys & Power Tools

(Click the image to ride the train.)

Hat's Off

(Click the image to feel the felt.)

Eyes On You

The Sketchbook Project is something I am just now actively participating in, but is an organization that I have been a fan of for a while. As my first entry, I posted a photograph in the "Things Found...By Accident" project. This time around, I created one of 750 drawings that will be combined to give birth to a massively participatory monster! If you're not familiar with this process, it's usually referred to as Exquisite Corpse, wherein each artist creates a piece without knowing the whole. 

Please visit www.sketchbookproject.com/projects/ to join in the fun!

 What I finished with...

...and what I started with.

(Click the images for the eye-to-eye.)

Belated

Greetings! After some recent setbacks and pit stops, I am returning with a belated "Christmas with Artie" comic I thought up way back in December, but just now finished. I hope you enjoy, and I hope 2013 is better for all of us! Cheers.

(Click the image to take a closer look)

Click here to see sad little Keanu!

Twenty-Thirteen