My digital media classes are designing cereal boxes, and one of the requirements is that they include a custom mascot. Some of my students are unsure of their drawing skills, so today I showed them how they can use a reference image to make a mascot. I used my head as the sample image. I started by showing them the over-detailed image, then the simplified one, and finally the exaggerated and even simpler version. Let’s hope it keeps them from making theirs from AI slop!
I just realized that:
And since literally no one but me ever looks at these, I’m going to go ahead and call this project done.
What will I do next? Only I will know (because I’m the only one who ever looks at this).
No reference photo this time, which is probably why I’ve returned to having a Megamind head.
I forgot to draw a self portrait yesterday – I was too busy watching four mostly terrible movies – so I’m posting two today. I spent hours on these.
I tried two tricks. I used one of them- turning the picture upside down- for the last picture. This time I added an 8×6 grid to give me 48 squares to keep me on track. Much less stretchy. I guess it’s better than tracing.
The main thing I learned: I have hairy ears.
Now I need to figure out how to do it right side up without the grid.
It definitely looks like… someone. Not me, but someone.
I should do that “flip a picture upside down and do it a tiny bit at a time” thing.
Thanks to the magic of Adobe Illustrator layers there are two versions of me today: Bearded and freshly shorn.
Hey, look! Things are getting worse!
I’ve been playing with making custom Photoshop brushes. This was drawn with one of those. I like the way I forgot to color my neck.
Maybe I should get a “how to draw” book.
So, I’m a guy who needs a project. I started one at the beginning of the year – The Thursday Morning Movie – but the work to personal satisfaction ratio is poor. I’ll finish the year as planned, but I don’t think it will continue beyond that.
So, I need a new thing that feels more creative and less job-like. The plan: self-portraits. I’m going to shoot for one a day. I like drawing myself because 1) I’m always around when I need me and 2) I won’t offend anyone if they look like crap.
And a lot of them are going to look like crap. I have no formal art training, and I haven’t done any regular drawing for at least a decade.
So with that in mind, please enjoy what I’m calling “Gotta Start Somewhere.”
Tiny head! Anime eyes! Glasses like Brains from Thunderbirds!
Bonus: If I actually remember to post these when I make them, this blog won’t be comatose! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!
