Gah! COLOR!!! ...and books and such.

I know twice in as many days, I'm posting again. It might become something. HAHAHA! No, probably not.

So as promised here is a color version of the previous post's image. Been playing around in photoshop. breaking away from my comfort zone. It's been interesting.

Also, last post i talked about Jack Hamm's figure drawing book being essential to me as an artist. Well, it got me thinking about other books that I seem to continue to go back to over and over again - so I decided to make a list and share it with you.

• How to Draw Animals (mammals, really) by Jack Hamm
• Drawing Scenery: Landscapes and Seascapes by Jack Hamm
• Dynamic Anatomy by Burne Hogarth
• Action Cartooning by Ben Caldwell
• Fantasy Cartooning by Ben Caldwell

There are a couple more but I really don't feel like going downstairs and getting the titles and author's names. So the list will remain incomplete for now.

Gusty

Long Time...

... No blog!

So I've been busy with other things in my life these days. I'm really trying to get some art done, but it's hard, right now.

Any way, here is a little something for you fine folks. I've been playing around with a more realistic style lately. Not that I'm giving up on cartooning but it's nice to mix things up. As a result, this fine lass was done in combo of brush pen and felt pen and pencil. I got inspired by artist Jack Hamm. I have several of his books but find that his anatomy book is essential to me.

Hopefully it won't be too long until we meet again, folks. And maybe some color next time.

Gusty

Let's Hear It for The Girls!!

As some of you already know, I contributed to a T-Shirt design for a breast cancer walking group, in Atlanta, dubbed: Nipples, Dimes and Quarters. I had a lot of fun on this project and I was glad everyone enjoyed the final product. I hear it was a hit!

I want to thank my friend Matt and Julie M., Jennifer, Suzanne, Fran, Tracy and Julie C. YOU GO GIRLS!

NDAQ helped raise awareness and moneys to help battle breast cancer. They also walked in the honor of friends and loved ones afflicted with this terrible disease. To find out what you can do or learn more, go here.

Gusty

New Season, Fresh Start!

Hey Folks, This picture is of the new Lightbox I built myself. Since the cost of a professional lightbox the size I would need would be close to $300, I decided to build my own. I found handy instruction on the world wide super interweb, went to home depot and lowes and about $75 for lumber, light fixture, L-brackets and a piece of plexi glass later... Viola! My very own lightbox. And i know just the first piece I'm gonna trace with it. So the months of July and August tend to be the most oppressively hot and humid here in my particular corner of PA. To that effect, it makes working in my studio, which is a basement, unbearable. Now that the weather has made a change for the better, I intend to rededicate myself to producing more work and keep this blog going. After all, the pretty pictures are what brings you back here time and again. So that's all for now. Be well possums,

Gusty

Starfire!! (or Are You Still Even There?)

Gosh I haven't posted diddly in a while. It's too hot to be in the studio these days, it is a basement and has no A/C. Hopefully the dog days will be fewer and farther between once August of done. For now enjoy this little doodle of one of my favoritist characters.... Starfire. Tah-tah for now possums Gusty

I Need Your Help!

So I need everyone's help. I've been making a new logo for myself and I need some helpful criticism. Here's what I have so far.



So what do you all think? What kinda color should be added? If any? Everyone can participate in this.

Thanks Possums

Gusty

Preview for your!

Hello Folks, Some of you have been harping that my last post was SOOOO long ago and was an unhappy one too boot. Well in my defense things have been super busy here at Gustysblog. I'm going to share with you a sketch for an upcoming drawing I am doing for my own pleasure. Plus, keep a look out for an all new look to Gustysblog. Enjoy.


P.S. It's my birthday this Sunday, I'll be a whopping 29. Yay! ME!

Sad News!

Tony Smith and myself did not make the Top 50 in Platinum Studios Comic Book Challenge. I am a bit upset that there will be no going forward in the competition for the Powerpals but fear not. Tony and I have been making plans to debut our project in another media source. I'll keep you updated.

That's all for now Possums

Gusty

Sketches

I love sketches. It's the first thing I look at in art books. So in that spirit I give you this sketch post.


I recently purchased a small print of the Comedian of Watchmen fame by Scott Derby. I loved it so much it got me inspired to draw one of my favorite characters, Rorschach, that night. The hats a little weird but it works for me.

For some reason, I guess because I never have, I also drew head shots of Both the Joker and Bats. Joker turned out much better in my opinion. (There was a Tim Drake Robin on this page too but it's aweful and will never see the light of day... EVER!)

These three sketches represent my more 'realistic' style of drawing. I really like to cartoon, but occasionally, I revert back to a more complex style of drawing. Consequently I have to relearn to cartoon after I'm done with realism. Oi!

More stuff in the pipe soon, possums

Gusty

Introducing the MIGHTY POWERPAL!

Hello Everyone,

So after long busy week, I'm finally getting around to publishing that post promised you guys. I know! I KNOW! Shame on me.

So for those of you who don't know, Tony Smith of Heroscribe fame and myself have entered Platinum Studios annual Comic Book Challenge. Today, I want to share with you the concept we came up with called The Mighty Powerpals. I like to think of it as a combo of Superfriends meets Cool World (yeah, that's right! I said it!) taking on Cartoon Networks Adult Swim.

Above is the actual Pitch Page we put to together for submission to the contest. Below is a piece of ancillary of the original cartoon cast. This piece was done first since it's going to be peppered throughout the story.



In the near future, I'll be introducing you to the cast members and updates on the progress of the contest and story.

'til next time possums

Gusty

Old School!

LIterally! In lieu of new material this time aroud i've decided to post some old material from my days at SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design for the acromymed challenged).

Our first piece(s) today is a two page adaptation of an aesope's fable I did way back in the fall of 1998. Anyone who can take a guess as to which proper fable it is get's cookie!

The next one is a watercolor of Smaug from The Hobbit that was done that same season.

Finally, the last piece is another watercolor that was done for no purpose other than for haha's. I had just read all three Lord of the Rings books and saw the first movie and i was love with elves and all things elvish. I'm a dork I know.

Ok, so tomorrow i'm going to spend the day doing some drawing for an project that burned me out last week. It deserves it's own post and I'm not yet done recovering from it. So i'll post about it very very very soon. It's wicked cool.


"til next time, possums

Gusty

NIpples, Dimes and Quarters

So my friend Matt, a Graphic Designer from Atlanta, commissioned me a to draw a design for his friend's breast cancer walking group dubbed "The Nipples, Dimes and Quarters". The art direction was simple! "The busts of the respective presidents with big bosoms looking shocked." Ok! Different but definitely interesting, I thought.

So my first step was to quickly capture the concept in sketch form. As you can see the first sketch was really fast and loose. i just wanted to get the thought outta my head and onto the paper. Now, ordinarly, I would have done three to four sketches playing with various layouts and placement. But, in this case I knew what I wanted in my head and knew it would translate well on paper. So I sent this sketch for approval by Matt.

Once approved I moved on to executing the design. I'm a big fan of using reference material, and since there is no better reference than the actual thing. I went through my coin jar and picked out one of each coin. I went about the execution really kinda wonky like. I decided that I'd draw the busts (pun intended) first and then scan them in individually. Then i drew the ovals for the coins on a different sheet of paper. I assembled each coin individually in photoshop and added the color at this stage too. Then I took the coins and brought them into a new file in photoshop as layers and played with the placement a little. Once I was happy, again, i sent it out for approval.

The Client was very pleased, and fortunately there were no edits or adjustments I needed to do on my end. Which is rare.

I am exceptionally please with the way it all came out. I did make one change to the original art direction though. Instead of all the Presidents looking shocked that they've sprouted gigantic breasts, I thought it would be fun if George was just loving his new bosom and giving a pleased/coy look.

So that's that in nut shell. I'm expecting at least a picture of what the t-shirts will look like (maybe even a t-shirt itself). I'll certianly post it up here for you all to see.

'Till next time, possums!

Gusty

EXCITING! NEW! BLOG!

Ok so I'm gonna give this whole blog business a shot. Lot's of artist's have blogs, where they showcase their artwork. Why should I be any different. The purpose of this space is going to be to share my art with you all, discuss technique and I'm probably also going to share some really random thoughts with you all, so beware!

So for my inaugural post I'm highlighting two pieces i did this past spring for a self-promotional postcard. (the postcards have yet to be printed). I really wanted to play with raster and vector illustration and complimentary colors. I like 'em.... YOU?

More to come in the coming days, months, years but it's late and i'm must get some beauty sleep if i'm gonna continue showing you some cool ass stuff.

'till next time

Gusty