Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Crash - Portrait of the Bandicoot

A couple of months ago I started a class demo and thought I'd use Crash as the subject. I was working with acrylics on illustration board emphasizing how the mastering of traditional skills is beneficial even if you work digitally. This is as far as I got with the underpainting phase during that session...


With some free time last night I completed the composition in Photoshop using the same technique as I would have with acrylics. Turned out to look pretty much like what the analog results would've been. It was fun doing this and I hope you enjoy the art.   

10 comments:

Sinnamon Jam said...

I always found it difficult to enjoy acrylics, mainly because I work on my art
at home as well as the fact that once the paint
gets onto your clothes, it never comes off. And its
so awkward just changing your getup for the sake of painting, for me anyway.

If I was to use Gouache, would I get as much as
an understanding with traditional art as I would with Acrylics?

Stephen Jerzak said...

This is awesome! I'd love to own one of your paintings.

Charles Z said...

Thank you Stephan.

Sinnamon - I enjoy using gouache and acrylics. They both have attributes which can be effectively utilized depending on what you're trying to achieve. Acrylics are painting with plastic. I use a glazing technique which primarily involves building upon transparent layers. First with a tonal underpainting then with layers of color that become increasingly opaque. It's a combination of approaches similar to watercolor and oils. I find that I can control the results a lot better that way. Some artists prefer a more impasto approach. Both are effective depending of what you're trying to realize. Acrylics also have a permanence that I find appealing.

Gouache is watercolor except that it's thicker. Opaque watercolor is another term commonly used for it. I really enjoy using gouache and I've known many artists who were masters of the medium when I worked at hallmark Cards. There's things you can do with gouache that you can't do with acrylics. Techniques such as a pick out which lets the artist go back into the pigment and rework it after it's dried. Something not possible with acrylics.

If you mix gouache and/or watercolors with acrylics then they become plastic as well. So I can expand upon my acrylics by mixing either one into my palette and they become permanent once the color has dried.

Gouache is an excellent medium and very versatile. A bit challenging to get on top of but once you have you can do great things with it. If you want to go that way that's perfectly fine. Have fun and explore and you'll be taming it in no time.

Mister Gribouille said...

Crash, I miss you!!!! ):

Mister Gribouille said...

hEY cHArles! XD this is My new CTR drawing (again) :

http://img11.deviantart.net/b49e/i/2015/261/0/b/ami_team_racing_by_letourbillonenchant-d99y3r8.png


I love flashy colors! :D

Charles Z said...

Gribouille You did an excellent job! Very impressed! Congrats on your artistic skills and your fine work!

Mister Gribouille said...

Ah! Thank you ChArles! ^^

Mister Gribouille said...

Hello Charles! A "Cosplay" again, I don't think I've shown this one... o_- ? :


http://img00.deviantart.net/fe8a/i/2015/271/b/1/tekk_n_by_letourbillonenchant-d7xspyf.png


Charles Z said...

More good stuff! Keep it up you're doing great!

Mister Gribouille said...

THaNK$!