A4 Acrylic Paint: Bene Gesserit Sister

I've using a lot of water colours, charcoal and pencils lately so in a bid to do something different and refresh some long slumbering practice I've turned to acrylics. Still had some in the house and I miss the bold colours and contrast I use to get using them years ago, so to start I used a simple A4 canvas and began to paint a female face keeping some scatter magazine references at hand. At the beginning it didn't look like anything expect a creepy child's painting but with time and persistence it soon evolved. At the end I got used to a black background and instead of adding hair I could add a shoal or nun's garment but that wasn't my style, then it reminded me of the witch/priestess order from Frank Herbert's Dune so I went with that in mind. I kept everything outside the face relatively quick and less detailed than the face, next time I'll buy some better, more detailed brushes and work with a larger surface to achieve such detail. Here's my progress, just goes to show even from crude beginnings if you trust yourself and keep going to get somewhere.

Charcoal Gorilla (and process)

One of my animal studies using traditional mediums, charcoal and chalk on green paper, the study uses photographic reference, exercising accurate observation and hand/eye coordination, details can be difficult to achieve with charcoal and chalk but it is great for establishing value and light.  I'm no expert as I taught myself along the way but here's my process.

Sketch outline lightly with pencil, the first stage is generally the most important., use eye (or grid) to measure shapes like head, body and eyes, be loose and messy narrowing down an accurate layout of shape and important focal points such as face. Look at outlines and the negative shapes (background) then spin and check 360, No details here, as this will be mostly covered up, tidy layout outline with eraser.

Establish main values and lighting, biggest and darkest shadows, usually leave chalk to very last. Smudge shadows with tissue paper to keep hands clean and achieve medium shadows, outline with charcoal.

Smudge and add details, build up image with charcoal  details and shadows, the gorilla here is still all charcoal the lighting has changed to make it appear brighter. Don't be too precious about the lines you draw, if u need to smudge in more value do it but keep medium tones (paper) and light (Chalk) areas charcoal free, put in the time here, if your starting image is accurate trust in the process and go at it.

This is the finished image. Finish all details, suggest fur details with charcoal strokes and light chalk brushes, use charcoal pencil (or sharp edge) for line details, zoom in your focus to ensure focal points like face are detailed and lit accurately, zoom out to ensure overall value with head, body, face has been established and works, bring the background up to scratch, lightly smudge as this will put it out of focus and establish distance. Leave it, then come back with fresh eyes, call it done when your happy (or when your done).

Sci-Fi Pen Doodles

Recent Portrait

Heres a recent portrait I completed with watercolour, I've been doing more and more portraits as comissions, gifts and portfolio builders. Its been a few years since my last portrait or painting like this so it was a welcomed return to traditional artwork, I also tried a few little warm up runs before going at it. I really like painting people but even more so animals as their feedback is always consistant. More like this to come.

Portrait Warm Ups

More recently I have been working on a few commissioned portraits and despite a return to traditional work I can still feel a little rusty and somewhat apprehensive before undertaking work for others. That's why I do little warm up practice paintings or drawings before getting into the real piece, it allows me to make those early starting off mistakes without comprising the commissioned piece and helps me form guidelines with what to do and not to do. The top one is a coloured pencil sketch, the bottom is a watercolour practice, I try to do them right but keep it small in size and quick in time (about 30mins), its also important just to get it done and use that momentum in the actual commissioned piece.

The Robot and the Roses

Back to Charcoal and Chalk. Rather than a straight forward portrait or study I wanted to do something a little more science fiction inspired. So using reference material and imagination I came up with this Image, I like this kind of work because it doesn't seem like it, real reference mixed in with a sci-fi concepts with traditional mediums and there will be more like this in the future. Without saying much more, here's the process.

There will be more like this in the future so follow the blog or my art page on facebook or if your on Instagram look for @MCCANNOID to see bits like this and more. Thanks.

Fantasy Map Sketches!

Sometimes studies and practising fundamentals like portraits, still life or perspective drawing can be a little demanding of concentration and effort, when I like to draw just for the fun and draw from the imagination: I draw fantasy maps. These can be as simple as you like or as complex, for example I like to separate imaginary Kingdoms by symbols or flags. building architecture styles, ensure they have access to metal mines, or lumber works or seaport access for trade. I also treat it like a game, like if you use your finger to follow a road, eventually you'll have a fork in the road and choices to make which might take you to a magicians citadel or a barbarian encampment with ruins and wild creatures along the way. Its basic, pencil and paper basic, but its creative fun especially if you like studying maps like me and getting bearings between areas and if they tell a story or an intersting  cultural difference (even if its fantastical) all the better.

There will be more maps to come, eventually I'll be adding colour or maybe even developing the game or storytelling aspect of it. These examples are basic and fun but detailed drawings look good framed on a wall  adding a lot of interest as a unique talking point, so I will be taking on some commissions for these in the future (if your interested email me at chhmccann@hotmail.com) but I'll also keep the personal examples coming.

Smart Monkey

Here's a quick pen doodle of a noble looking chap, rather dashing yet somber looking. Cheer up old boy!

I've plenty of little sketches like this I'll be adding to the blog including some digital works (once finished). Follow to see more: here and on facebook,Instagram (look for McCannoid). I'm taking on a few commissions at present, if readers are interested email me for more info or requests. Thanks

Charcoal n' Chalk Female

Bringing the Blog up to speed. After having a total malfunction of my Laptop last year, it was a good time to return to traditional work whilst saving up for somet new tech. One of my favourite methods is using black charcoal and white chalk to create images on coloured paper/card, preferably a mid range tone or dull colour like grey is perfect. It was a while since last using this medium so my approach was a little slow and rusty but it got there in the end.

Step one: Using study reference draw outline of Image, being keen to get applying charcoal and chalk I kept this fast and loose, this may have lead to positioning and symmetry issues later but we live and learn.

Step two: Went about outlining hair, eyes and shaded areas with charcoal, and brightened skin by smudging lightly chalk dust, this was more than I originally intended almost drowning out the skin highlights but brought a illuminated look that worked out but I got the message, don't be too liberal with your chalk highlights.

Final Stage: So I continue adding light and dark building the image, following reference guides, the charcoal pencil was used from tighter details and the process often required smudging or erasing with charcoal eraser, but also household cotton buds (for ears) and tissue, you don't want to get too much on your hands and stain the image plus I think with the warmth and moisture of hands or fingers, using them as smudge tools is a little less predictable/controllable. Just finish when your happy or when its past 2am, like this one was.

Not using a great camera but I often like to add an Instagram filter on bits like this depending if I like the effect or not, You can check out @MCCANNOID there and follow me to see more! I'd love to hear any comments, critique or advice for future works using this media or just in general. Thanks.