Bill Murray (Color Pencil Demo)
I have been teaching Illustration this Summer at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. This is a color pencil demo I recently did in class of Bill Murray. It is Prismacolor pencil on tinted matboard.
Mary GrandPre (Pastels)
Harry Potter in the style of Mary GrandPre
For my illustration class at the Art Institute of Las Vegas, I did a demonstration of an existing composition by Mary GrandPre in an effort to teach students how she handles goauche and pastels when she renders.
Mary GrandPre is famous for her Harry Potter Book cover (and chapter spot) illustrations, just be certain not to overlook her other beautiful work…
That said, here is a link to a show of her Harry Potter work as well as an incredible gallery of her sketches!
Frankenstein (oils)
Frankenstein
Another demonstration I did for my illustration students at the Art Institute of Las Vegas:
This was a two-hour demo done with oils (and to the surprise of some students—paper towels in addition to paintbrushes!)
Natalie Portman (Goauche Wash)
Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn
This is from an in-class demonstration I did on March 14th for my Illustration students at the Art Institute of Las Vegas.
It is Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn. It took about two and a half hours to get to this point. The media consists of nu-pastels on Arches watercolor paper with a gouache underpainting.
Here is what the sepia underpainting looked like before the pastels went on top.
The goauche underpainting
How I Make a Picture – Norman Rockwell.
I bought this extraordinary used book (which is out of print as of 1983.) This gem contains chapters such as: “Getting the Picture Idea” /” How To Select a Model”/ “The Importance of Detail” / Poses and Props”/ Making the Charcoal Drawing”/ Making the Color Sketch”/ and “The Final Painting”.
I wish Watson-Guptill Publications would release and updated edition with modern printing in full color, with a hardcover—it is the only way I can think of to improve on this classic.
Alex Ross (Goauche)
Wonder Woman (In the style of Alex Ross)
On of the most popular technique requests illustration students of mine want to see is that of Alex Ross.
I assure them that first and foremost, Alex Ross is a conceptual genius and that his unique vision can’t be taught (nor should it be attempted,) but I do have a nifty demonstration (taken right from Ross’s own book) on his materials and methods, so I teach them essentially how he works the medium.
I use identical compositions of Ross’s for a couple of reasons, mainly to save time, but also so that students can see for themselves how you get to the final look from a sketch.
Superman (in the style of Alex Ross)
Illustration Academy in San Francisco
Me with C.F. Payne
The Illustration Academy held a week long continuing education workshop in San Francisco in March that I attended.
I still reflect on the week-long program—it was that great.
I met and studied under industry leaders such as C.F. Payne and Mark English, Gary Kelley, and Anita Kunz.
Gary Kelley, Mark English, Sterling Hundley, Andrea Wicklund, John English, Anita Kunz, and Brent Watkinson
“The days began at 9:00 AM with studio time, lectures, slide presentations, demonstrations, or figure drawing scheduled until 9:00 PM. Students remained in the studios and worked until after midnight on the assignments. All of the instructors listed were in attendance for the full week, except for Geroge Pratt, who was with us for about a day and a half.
Also during this busy week, the students conceptualized, researched, and completed an assignment given the first day by the faculty. The week ended with a final critique of the completed works. One week in length, this Illustration Academy was shorter, but every bit as intense as the seven week program.”
I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to watch them work and ask questions about anything and everything related to a career in illustration.
Tina Fey (Color Pencil)
Tina Fey (unfinished)
The medium is prismacolor pencil on tinted paper. It is unfinished, but what is done took about and hour and a half.
Dave Chappelle (oils)
Dave Chappelle
Another in-class demonstration I did in February of 2007 for my Illustration students at the Art Institute of Las Vegas.
This Dave Chappelle painting demonstration is built for speed.
It utilizes some techniques that were made famous by legendary illustrators Bart Forbes, Bernie Fuchs and others.
Illustration Academy
The Illustration Academy is held in Richmond Virginia (it used to be held in Independence Missouri) and brings students together with some of the best professional illustrators working today. Worth every penny if you are serious about illustration.