The Portrait of Dorian Gray

This picture has come about as a result of 2 of my new years resolutions.

#1 Read.

I would say read more...but I NEVER read. So I started The Portrait of Dorian Gray a little while ago. I have to finish it within one month, not that I am a slow reader, I just get bored very quickly and find something better and more interesting to do.

#2 Learn Digital Painting/

Although it's something I knew I had to work on, while I was at CTNX the main feedback I got at my Pixar interview was to render my characters in a way that would suit 3D animation better. So my new years resolution was to take some digital painting workshops online. This is my first attempt taking what I learned from Erik D Martin's workshop on CGMWonline. I wasnt too happy with it, it's going to take alot more practise, so Ive only posted this version with the line on to hide my poor painting :(

One baby step at a time...

Updates

So to begin... HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!!!

The Christmas/New Year period has been great and super distracting from drawing and art as Im sure lots of you will agree! However, now it the second day of 2012 and time for all those new leaves to be turned over and get proactive with the things we've only dipped in and out of throughout 2011.

DRAW MORE! Pretty much my daily new resolution but this time Im sticking to (hahaha, yeah right) Below are some gesture sketches, once again, done from the Stephen Silver app, Pose Book.

And some old news that I forgot to post, character design site, Characters Engage, kindly featured me in November. I dont know if many people saw it but if you havent, check it out and follow the Facebook Group, its a great way to find new artists and take part in interesting debates.


I have also created a new Facebook Fan Page for this blog so you can get more regular updates on new posts or news. Just click HERE to be taken to the Gillianimation page and LIKE the page. Alternatively, you can also click the LIKE button beneath my profile picture on this page.

Schoolism SALE!!!

We must have all been very good this year as Santa has persuaded Schoolism to do another $100 off SALE!

They've got great courses in Character Design, Digital Painting, Storyboarding, Gesture Drawing, Caricature and more!

Anyone who has been following this blog for a few months will know that I did Stephen Silver's Character Design Course and I was very good! I learned so much and he is such an inspiring teacher. I have a few friends who have also done some of the other classes and they have also reported on how much theyve learned and are glad they signed up. Well worth the money!

So if your new years resolution is to get better at design, or painting, or drawing, why not treat yourself to one of these courses with your Christmas money?

If you miss out on the sale then you can still you my special discount code to get $50 OFF!

Alimah Poses

A couple of posts ago I posted a little angel ( without her halo...which is still missing apparently...) based on a friend of mine's beautiful little girl, Alimah. I had so much fun with the design I wanted to take her caricature and pose her in some fun little angel/ballerina poses. These were so fun and got me practising my facial expressions a little more. Hopefully Ill clean these up one day.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

This years Christmas eCard a lot of you might have already received! Some inspiration for this came from Nikolas Ilic's Christmas Card.

Christmas Angel (Halo misplaced....)

Tests

The last couple of weeks have been mega busy, searching for work and doing lots of tests for various companies but I cant complain cause its keeping me drawing! Here is a test I did for an upcoming project being produced by Northern Irish talents. Unfortunately, I didnt get the gig but at least I got these fellas out of it and I can share them with you now.

Amelia Black Illustrations

Click me to see more!


As some of you may know, I illustrated a book over the summer and now Ive added a page to my blog where you can view all the illustration I made. There are also links to where you can purchase either the eBook or paperback versions of the book. It would make a great Christmas present for any child or adult!

Check it out!

Gesture

Well gosh! It seems like its been a while since my last post! I would apologise but Ive been off having a fabulous time! I was a lucky girl to get to go out to LA with my boyfriend for CTNX. It was such a great trip, being around all those inspirational people, meeting my favourite blogger artists and of course picking up some priceless artbook swag!

So to get back into the swing of things, Ive been doodling tonight with gesture drawing. Even though Ive only had a couple of weeks off, I feel totally off my game. Going to try and make posting more regular like I did over the summer. This silly thing gives me more motivation to actually sit my arse down and do some work! (I dont know why I sound so old English in this post...)

Oh, on another note. Went to see 50/50 tonight....sob.

Violin...200!

So some of you were diggin' the last post and there was one request to try another one. Not feeling this one as much as the previous one, think it was just a fluke! But anyhow, here is the second attempt, paying attention to the size of the hands and the violin.

This is also my 200th post! Seems alot but Ive had this blog for at least 3 years...so its not that impressive!

Violin

Uninspired

Really struggling to find inspiration. Complete designers block! This was all I could muster and I got frustrated half way through and gave up. Im sorry :(

Gesture

Lazy

Ive been incredibly lazy with drawing recently. Tonight I made some time to sit down and do some hermit style life drawing! Love those nights when you get really into it and its actually fun! As opposed to those day you cant draw anything for sh*t! Out of practice and it shows (especially with the female models!), but hopefully Ill get back into the swing of it soon.

Bang Bang

Feeling poorly today, I didnt go to work but instead stayed at home and did this design for AIB Jumble, a drawing group for ex students from my old University.

Its a shape challenge. Kinda like those ink prints therapists show their patients.

I saw blood.....

Beetlejuice

So in the spirit of a couple of posts ago when I mentioned how wonderful I thought TV and Film were in regards to inspiring character design practice, I have done one in a little more detail than Jim Halpert! Top is the finished colour but the silly checkered shirt lost some nice line detail I felt I had going. The 3 on the bottom were my initial sketches (which I kinda prefer to the final :s) Can you tell who it is yet?

Autumn Ponderings

Based on the sketch from the previous post. Bet you're digging his paw hands :S

Going to try and make more characters out of the people I sketch in my sketchbook. It's a fun quick way to keep practicing character design when you dont have time to dedicate a lot of time to a bigger project.

33rd Sketchcrawl - Luxembourg

This weekend was the 33rd Worldwide sketchcrawl, and for Luxembourg it was our 5th and our best turn out yet! I think we had around 12 people! Beats the normal 6!

Click on the image above to see the rest of the results from yesterday.

There are some really great characters in Luxembourg!

Doodle

Since wrapping up on my portfolio (as I could work on it endlessly, I just had to say stop!) Ive had some free time to myself. Time to just draw whatever I want without any pressure on my back.

Ive been catching up on some TV and films...always a great source of inspiration for character design. Not a great caricature but can anyone tell who this is supposed to be?

Schoolism

Regular followers and friends may know that I took one of the Schoolism online courses this summer, Stephen Silver's Character Design course. It did absolute wonders for my design approach and motivation.

See some of the work I produced in my current PORTFOLIO.

The site also offers many other types of courses, from Storyboarding to Digital Painting, from Gesture Drawing to Comic Illustration.

As I am an Alumnus, Ive been given a secret key in the from of a discount code that will get you $50 the normal price. Every little helps right? So if you've been considering doing one of these classes, now is as good a time as any! Just click the big green thingy below or on the side bar!

Untitled

Just a couple of sketches based off of some other sketches I did at the bar the other night. Couldn't quit capture what I wanted to at the time, so I tried again in the security of my own home without peer pressure!

Doing some personal studies this week, focusing mainly on hands and how clothing folds around the body. Felt like this was a good start but still a long way to go.