kybearfuzz: (2011 Pride Shirt)
kybearfuzz ([personal profile] kybearfuzz) wrote2012-07-01 10:18 pm
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Drawing in Stages

Pride 2012 Animated GIFLast week I was challenged by [livejournal.com profile] designerotter to go through the various stages of how I draw a cartoon. With Cincinnati Pride being this weekend, I decided to do a new design for a tee-shirt to wear. This cartoon is what I came up with. I put the various stages in an animated GIF.

The first thing to do obviously is get an idea. I loved the rainbow kilt from the 2010 shirt, so I used it again, but this time with a spin a friend coined "Barilyn Monroe."

  1. 1. The first thing is the general sketch. Done in pencil to put the basic shape in place, along with general positioning and proportion.

  2. 2. The second step is to add more detail to the sketch, filling in specifics such as facial features, muscle definition, and patterns. It's finalizing the sketch.

  3. 3. Next, I use a Sharpie marker or a finer point art marker to go over the sketch. The bigger part of the body is usually done with one marker, facial features are done with a very fine point marker. I erase the pencil marks after inking the cartoon.

  4. After the basic ink outlines are done, I start adding more details, like coloring in the beard and adding the chest hair and other body fur. The chest hair and arm/leg hair adds depth to the image. This is usually the final image before I scan it into the computer.

  5. After scanning the image, I start coloring in Photoshop. I add the base colors first, the general colors for each part of the cartoon -- flesh tone, clothes, etc.

  6. Once the base colors are on, I start the shading process, which really gives the cartoon depth. I either add the colors, going just a darker or lighter shade of the original. Alternately, I can use black/white with some very light opacity, which often creates the same effect and allows more uniformity in the shading lines in single strokes.

  7. After shading is done, I usually start filling in empty spaces with gradient shades or patterns I need. If there are no background pieces, a simple gradient background is added to give it some additional color. In this case, I just filled in the grate he stood on with a pattern.

  8. Lastly, instead of a background, I put in the word "Pride" by cutting/pasting the image from Comic Life for the lettering, then putting a rainbow gradient behind it.

There are better pics of it, but I transferred the design to a tee-shirt iron-on and put it on a yellow tank to wear to the Cincinnati Pride Parade. I have pics to put up, but still need to resize them and such. There are better pics of the shirt, but I took this one quickly before heading out to the parade.

Pride Shirt 2012

[identity profile] texwriterbear.livejournal.com 2012-07-02 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
That is awesome Mark!!!
You are pretty damn talented!!!

[identity profile] putzmeisterbear.livejournal.com 2012-07-02 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Love it.

[identity profile] bruinwi.livejournal.com 2012-07-02 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
I'll bet you got many positive comments on your shirt while at the parade.

[identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com 2012-07-02 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
You are damn good! Wow!!!

[identity profile] mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com 2012-07-02 12:27 pm (UTC)(link)
I bet you got all kinds of wonderful feedback! It's inspired!

[identity profile] designerotter.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
Love, love, love this - just Brilliant!! I'm in awe ....Your command of figure, body gesture, and expression is really impressive. I was surprised that so much of the work is done before you even scan it in, so it's really you and not the machine that controls the look.

It was great fun to see it in steps - the animation was very effective. And what a fine graphic it is altogether! I bet you got a lot of comment (and requests) at the Parade.
Thank you so much!....now I'll have to go see what I can do to keep my end of the challenge ;0)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks Sean! :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I did! One guy I didn't know commented on it and freaked when I told him I drew it the night before. The magic of iron-on transfers.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! I like how it turned out too.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 01:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwww... shucks... thanks... :)

And thanks for the add, by the way :)

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 01:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I've had fun with it. I'm already looking forward to Pride next year.

[identity profile] kybearfuzz.livejournal.com 2012-07-03 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, thank you, kind sir! I only wish I'd had more time to really line up the images for smoother transitions in the animated GIF.

I have tried drawing on the computer, but I find I lack the patience and control to do it well. Pencil and paper work much better for me.

When it comes to coloring though, I am in love with Photoshop. If only they had had this when I was a kid and being tortured with Crayola. :)

[identity profile] maxauburn.livejournal.com 2012-07-04 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
You're welcome!

I love that Legion flight ring!

I have one too, but it's way too big.

I just keep it because I had to have one.

Happy 4 th!