Shizue in the woods

Things that I like. Day #1

Here is a drawing of my girl Shizue, she is a BJD doll and character of mine. Shizue (Zoe for short) is a Halloween elf that helps to spread the spirit of Halloween all across the world. I have made some other drawings of her but I think this one really captures her gaze.

I am starting a new challenge today, 30 days of drawings of things I like or things I have made illustrations of before (that I like). So, I expect to do some illustrations of my characters and re-illustrate some of my pin-up-type illustrations, but who knows, I am not really planning anything. This will be another 30 days, because that seems to work pretty good. It is just for fun! Fun drawings to help me strengthen my style and my drawing speed. I hope to move into a more concept-oriented challenges after finishing with this one if I get the results I am looking forward to achive.

This is the process I used this time:

Pencil skech

Work on values on black and white in a multiply layer

Work on color with Overlay layers and multiply layers

Add detail on layers on normal mode.

I hope you liked it! Tomorrow more!

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Daily Creation Challenge #30 and last!!!

For my last challenge I wanted to do something that I was supposed to do months ago. I finished the final business card comp for my cousin's craft label. It's a comp, subject to improve. She makes awesome handmade jewelry and accessories. I am not sure that she has a website but if she does I will update the post.

And now I am "free". But I have a very tasty project lined up next. I will be making illustrations for a friend's website. Will keep you updated!

The daily challenge has been an awesome experience and I have been thinking in other types of challenges to do next. I will leave it for 2012, since I will leave for a couple weeks and go home in Spain, and will be very busy with the holidays. Also, my brother has asked me for a drawing to put on his gaming stick and that has to happen before the wise men day!


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Daily Creation Challenge #29

Challenge #29

Merry Christmas! y ¡Feliz Navidad!

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Daily Creation Challenge #28

So... I was thinking to make a nice looking Alice in wonderland piece and many people liked the last illustration I made of Alice. So I decided to make the rabbit as a reflect of Alice. I think I will put them together in a image and color the whole thing. Sounds like a good mini project.

This is the Alice I was talking about:

Click to enlarge

Ok, only 2 more challenges to go! I can't wait to finish and feel as accomplished I think I will feel.

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Daily Creation Challenge #27

Challenge #27!! I can't believe that I made it this far! 

This is a piece that Diana Torres and I made together. She is a very good friend of mine and an excellent artist. She created the idea and the line work I applied color to it. It was super super fun! Diana and I need to do this again for sure. 

Here is an animated gif with the main steps that usually also means the main layers. Photoshop CS5 :)

~You may have to click on the image to see the animated gif~

Thanks Diana!!

PS: I am wearing my new DC jacket and smells so good! I was not meant for the snow but I really wanna use it on the snow!

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Creation Daily Challenge #26

I have the pleasure to show (at last) the cover of the book Antonio Cartier and I have made. We won the 5th Children's book contest of Fundación Progreso y Cultura in Spain. The price was some money and the publication of the book! We both are pretty excited.

As os now, they are printing about 500 copies and they won't be for sale. Instead they will donate the books to kids in events for children. I think that is wonderful. Don't despair though, We are thinking on other ways to publish the book and make it available for everybody. :)

The book is about a round kid named Otto that moves to a Square town and he has some trouble to fit in at first. But hey! We are all different but we are all the same after all! Right?

Well, and here it is! Introducing Otto!

Daily Creation Challenge #2-24

This is so weird. I am really tired. Anyway, closer to finish the challenge!
Photoshop CS5

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Daily Creation challenge #2-23

I really would like to be at the beach right now... it feels like it's going to snow in any minute here in Chicago. 

This is a quick rendering of a sketch I did last summer. I tried to make it look nice but no time to spare today. Making this piece reminded me of my summer themed oekakis. I miss those.

Photoshop CS5

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Daily Creation challenge #2-22

My first video of my painting process.

Enjoy!

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Daily Creation challenge #2-21

I just finished the lettering for the book Antonio Cartier and I made. We won the V annual contest of Fundacion Progreso y cultura in Spain. Check soon for new updates in how to get a copy of the book :)

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-20

 I just felt like doing something fun. I had a blast doing the challenge 17, so I wanted to use the same technique again. I am getting faster and faster every time. Also inspired easily, and this is good news since is the purpose of the challenge!

I also wanted to participate in this week's Illustration Friday. The topic is "Brigade", I thought that this character is part of a brigade during WWII but she is not very disciplined! She looks boyish because she was trying to fool the officers to enroll pretending to be a boy. She did make it in! 

I made it with Photoshop CS5, 1 h and 9 min. I know, because I made a video of this one. I will post as soon as I edit it.

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-18

just a late night sketch.

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-17

- Click on image to enlarge -

And here it is Enyo for Laura Garijo. Enyo is one of her original characters and her first BJD that she made to sell. Enyo is soooo cute! Check her website at www.lauragarijo.com

See the Sketch and previous post about her character 

I tried to make an animated gif in Photoshop, not the smoothest thing in the world but there is only 20 min left till midnight and I needed to submit my daily challenge!

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-15

"Recuerda que ambos teneís el mismo rango. La lucha de poder sólo os hará débiles"

He hecho esta ilustración para Tortuga Blanca. Es parte de una serie de dibujos que ilustran frases de la tortuga blanca. No olvidéis echarle un vistazo a su web :)

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-14

I really wanted to participate in a illustration contest my friend Laura Garijo put together. The prize was one of her wonderful Enyos, a BJD designed by her.
I was very busy finishing a children's book for another contest and I couldn't make it. Good thing I won the children's book contest!

But I was bummed I never painted my version of Enyo. And here it comes the sketch!

-----
Para ti Sakuli! No podia esperar a terminarlo para enseñarlo asi que aqui va el bocetillo!

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-13

STEP 6: FINAL ADJUSTEMENTS

6.1 Realize that it's been feeling like saturday since Thursday... It is indeed awesome.
6.2 be ready to finish this thing
6.3 Add some adjustment layers on top of all the layers. Mine were:

6.3.1 A pattern layer to add some texture to the whole illustration (I used a pattern that I made with acrylic paint)

6.3.2 A photo filter layer with a Warming filter (85) to unify the colors a bit and also to make his face a little warmer.
6.3.3 Levels layer to push the darks and make the illustration more vibrant since the colors were a little washed out.

6.4 Sign and sing
6.5 Be proud.

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-12

STEP 5! COLOR!

5.1 Eat a turkey sandwich with stuffing for breakfast, you'll thank me later.

5.2 Time for vampires. Rent or get a movie on demand about vampires!

5.3 Add a Multipy layer on top of your other layers and add some more values and color.  

5.4 Create a new layer on top in normal mode. I sometimes paint it all on that layer, like it was acrylic or some times I  create two or three to be safe or just to look at the progress at end because it's fun to do.
I just started to create my own brushes with textures and it's super fun. You can emulate pretty much every technique, but acrylic-ish looking brush it's probably the easiest to get right.

5.5 After two layers that is what I made. Just about done.

Check out tomorrow's final chapter for the final adjustements!

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-11

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

and happy step 4!

4.1 Get up late

4.2 Don't have breakfast

4.3 Don't have lunch

4.4 Do drink some water or gatorade, I don't want to be responsible if you fainted for not eating... 

4.5 Paint something on your computer to not think in the turkey that is coming soon!

4.6 Add a layer on Overlay mode and give some color that will indeed overlay on the values you already created. Set the layer to a lower opacity if it ended up being too bright. This was my layer:

4.7 Go and enjoy some good turkey and sweet potatoes, you should be very very hungry now!

Yummie!

Enjoy!

PS: If you don't live in the US or don't celebrate Thanksgiving, go and make yourself a turkey deli sandwich! It counts.

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-10

STEP 3!

3.1 Add Gradient layer on mode "color". Like this:

3.2 Add a Color layer underneath the previous layer on mode "multiply". I played with the opacity until I was satisfied with the results. My layer looked like this:

3.3 Go and eat a cookie!

Step 4 is coming soon!

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Daily Creation Challenge #2-9

STEP 2!!

2.1 Create a Multiply layer on top of the layer with your sketch.

2.2  Bored already? Go to the kitchen and open the fridge.

2.3 Realize there isn't anything you wanna eat right now.

2.4 Close the fridge.

2.5 Go back to your computer.

2.6 Shade your illustration thinking "value". It doesn't have to be perfect, it will help us to color the illustration without losing the overall illumination.

Step 3 tomorrow!

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