Breaking Bad

Breaking bad is one of my favorite shows, right up there with The Wire, Carnivale, Rome and Deadwood. I was compelled to make a study of one of the most memorable scenes in my opinion. I am weak with multi-figure compositions, so I took a chance to practice. I didn't take care to save the steps, except for the initial block in. I think that's the most difficult step, simplifying the shapes and placing them correctly. But once that step is done, it's like 50% of the work done. Shape-accuracy is important, don't fuck around and be sloppy with it (friendly self-reminder). For me it's useful to do it all with 100% opaque brushes, so that I get nice clean hard edges, and the shapes can work as clipping-masks later on, which leaves me free to go in with big strokes without worrying about destroying the silhouettes. I compare positive and negative spaces till my brain is exhausted ;) I spent about 6-8 hours on it in total.



I can't remember where I found this image, but I really liked it. Probably on the SpaceGhostZombie Tumblr, or Shane Glines's Coolretro Tumblr.

Say what you will, Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman still kicks ass. Tim Burton's Batman FTW!

My friends know that I'm a sucker for Jazz and Hip Hop. In the Jazz genre, some of my favorites are Bill Evans, Django Reinhardt, Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughan, A.C Jobim and of course Chet Baker. Here's a lil' study of him. I was mesmerized by the chiaroscuro!

One of my favorite tunes by Baker. Love the lyrics and melody.

Stealing Light

Revisiting an old setting of mine, because I felt I didn't do the characters justice, and it was a good opportunity to practice lighting.  I tried to match/be closely inspired by the reference I grabbed from Blade Runner. I recall Wes Burt told me several years ago, at the Made Workshop in Berlin, to use reference for my lighting, because I was being inconsistent. In any case, here's an attempt. Also Zorn and princess Leia :)

Grace Kelly

I have to admit, I feel Grace Kelly is one of the most beautiful and charming women I've ever seen on the silver screen. The movie, "Rear Window" by Alfred hitchcock is a masterpiece, and I had to do a study of this promo-photo. After having done the photstudy, I decided to give it my own take, stylizing it. I drew each face about a dozen times before I found drawings I liked.

A monumentail glorious failure. I failed at getting the expression and pose I wanted, settling too fast for something mediocre. I lost control of my valiues, making the ambient blues too light. And too many goddamned fiddly little strokes. Where are the big and confident strokes I've tried to learn how to do?! Also noticed, when rendering further, some of my design-decision look silly, and are sub-optimal. Also beefed him up too much, he was supposed to be slender and agile. Fuck. The high key highlighting is interesting, need to explore more.

 

Focusing mainly on simplifying shapes and getting the placement of the values right.

Until next time, you stay classy San Diego!

Studies!

Study-time! Looking around for good reference material is half the fun.

I dedicate this image to my friend, Albert Urmanov! Not going for exact likeness, had some fun!

 

 Steps in Gif!

Steps! 

 Took some liberties...

Motivation and Inspiration

I would like to share some videos and audiobooks I find inspirational. I post this mainly as a compilation for myself, stuff to look at on those inevitable days when I'd rather put down the pencil and play some games or indulge in a marathon of TV-series (Damn you "True Detective" and "The Wire").

I am consumed by a profound feeling of gratitude towards the people who have nurtured, guided and inspired me. For Björn Hurri, Ola Holmdahl, Patri Balanovsky, Yohann Schepacz, Tom Scholes, Carl Lundgren, Devin Platts, Dennis Chan and Glenn Vilppu, thank you. I would not be anywhere without you.

The Long Game Part 1: Why Leonardo DaVinci was no genius from Delve on Vimeo.


The Long Game Part 2: the missing chapter from Delve on Vimeo.

Aaaaand a bonus ;P

Skull and Girls Practice

Here's a new batch of studies.

With this I tried to replicate the light and colors while totally deviating with the model. This is a glorious fail. The pose is totally rubbish, no conscious purpose or storytelling, and the proportions of the legs are off too. Well, I learned a lesson at least, and I kinda don't hate the fabric...

Thanks for looking!

Practice

Now transmitting from the small town of Skövde! Doing studies and freelance, my feeling is that I'll do this till the end of September, culminating in the Trojan Horse workshop in Portugal. I hope I will be able to level-up as I intend. So, you know the drill, here are some more studies.. (also a step-by-step gif if it helps!)