Introducing . . .

Toothpick Man! A character belonging to my good friend Anna. Being such a good friend she has allowed me to do some sketches of him. This possibly isn't the finalized version of him, seeing as Anna requested he have "more toothpicks sticking out of non-painful places". Well, I added some, but she may want more. All I can think is that he must snag his cape a lot. I ripped off Superman and Captain America for costume ideas. Do you think it shows?

I have been having an absolute blast on Adobe Photoshop Elements. This might be my best shading job yet. I keep finding new ways to use the tools more effectively and hopefully my work is improving.

I must say, that cape rocks.

Now in Color!

Once again, I bring you the original characters of Jay and Currer . . . now in Color!

My mom kindly purchased a photoshop program for me when I got home this summer. It was only yesterday afternoon that I finally installed the program. Suddenly, yearning for color, I took a scan of one of my sketches and opened it in Photoshop. Some time later, this picture was the result.

My first ever use of the photoshop coloring. I may be addicted. I've used photoshop programs before, but only on actual photographs, for a class. Never have I done coloring or shading on it before. Now I'm wondering why I didn't install the thing sooner.

It turned out pretty good. My sister says I got the coloring wrong on Jay's jacket (she would know, seeing as Jay is her character) and that is "makes her question her faith". Really? Again?

A side-effect of my sudden and inexplicable photoshop addiction will be more colored pictures popping up on my blog. I may even start coloring the In Joke comic strips. Maybe good coloring will make up for poor line art and cryptic humor.

My Head. Scarey Place.

So, while I'm off at college I learn how to place some card games. Rummy, and another one I forget. Also, Uno. Never played it before. My roommate practically forced me to join the game and learn. Now I'm hooked. Had to buy my own set of cards when I got home this summer. So, naturally, I introduced my family to the game.

Uno can be a rather . . . bloodthirsty game. Those unfamiliar with the cutthroat way often times leave in tears. Then, however, they adapt and become the most fearsome predator in the game. Namely, my sister.

Now in Semi-Color because otherwise no one could tell it was blood!

And, yeah, always knock audibly when entering a sibling's room at night. Otherwise you get shot in the face. True story.

Says something about my childhood

The In Joke #9

My Internet friend (DarthVicky6) has learned how to push my idiot button. All she did was post a single word on my profile: "YOU" and this is more or less what happened. Except at the end she said, "Lol, that's awesome."

My Dad laughed.

Mom is wondering if she should be offended.
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Anyway, nothing much new with life. Doing some painting, some drawing practice, and gloating over my ten brand new painting canvases. They're about 8x10 and make a lovely neat little stack in my room. I almost hate to paint on 'em. I'll do it anyway, though. It's part of my get rich quick scheme which involves selling pictures of saints.

Progress? Yah, Really

I've been thinking about how much work I have to do before I could even begin working on a comic book. My skills with drawing backgrounds are nearly non-existent and my ability to convey motion in still pictures is still weak. So far I'm best at static poses with the characters pretty much just standing there, looking into the camera.
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Before I got too mopey I went and looked at some of my older drawings and sketches done about five months ago. The picture at the top of this post is one of them. Looking over them I realized that I am making progress. I am improving. Just glance at this picture then look over at my other posts and you can tell the difference. A very significant difference.
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This picture (of a fellow named Matthew) has so many problems. First off, this was done before I had any skill at drawing hands, so the poses usually served to hide their hands altogether. He does have one hand extended, but I barely scribbled that in and the other is hidden behind his back.
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Not sure what is going on with his shirt collar, which is way too high up on his neck. Then the hair. Oh, mercy me. It had no real shape and makes his head look flat. I do believe this picture was done before I started sketching in the entire head and not just the face before adding hair.
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There is a second picture, the bottom one. This one was done just the other day, of the same character. They are only a few face studies, not a full body one like the other, but I think it gets the point across. The whole shape of the head is improved and the hair has form instead of being flat. As well, the facial features are more detailed and expression more natural.
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I suppose it also helps that now I ink my pictures and scan them into the computer, rather than just taking snapshots of them.

SuperSpoof

Toothpick Man (left) and Zatman (right)

Toothpick Man belongs to my friend, Anna. After drawing this picture of him I think he's sort of a combo of Captain America and Superman. Upright, honest, do-gooder with a toothpick obsession. Naturally, this meant we needed a dark and edgy Batman counterpart. Therefore, we arrive at Zatman. No, not that guy, Zatman. To the Zatmobile! Really, the only reason we named him that was because Zat rhymes with Bat.

Not Just My Fault

My friends and I spent one night talking extensively about the subject of superheros and comic books. Poking fun at them was more enjoyable than whapping a piñata around. Many hilarious ideas were thought of, recorded in nearly incoherent and illegible scribbles in my sketch book.

Seeing as it is summer vacation and I have some time I thought I would do some sketches for the characters created that evening. Remember, these are not finalized characterizations. Already I'm planning to make better scalloping on T-man's shell . . .

These two are Tortoise Man (left) and Dashing (right). Tortoise Man is our universe's counterpart to Iron Man. T-man is indestructible and invulnerable when his personally designed Tortoise armor. The chink in his armor? He weighs so much he can barely move. Then there's the problem of when he gets tipped over onto his back . . . You know, Tortoise Man, after all.

Dashing is our speedy character. Such as Marvel comics Flash or DC's Quicksilver. Dashing is faster than the speed of light and would be a most efficient crime fighter except for one thing: He's a narcissist. If he passes a mirror, window, or any reflective surface he stops to admire himself.

Maybe someday we'll do a comic book about Dashing, Tortoise Man and all their friends in the Stupendous League.