Feeding the Artist

So, I've been busy improving my artist self as of late. I got the Structure of Man DVDs a little while back, I've been trying to do about 10 lessons a day. I'm also really enjoying watching the Gnomon Series of DVDs on Visual Storytelling by Iain McCaig. Great stuff! I love his idea of drawing each image twice (parts of it three times):

1.) First you draw the sketch with no references, trying to capture all of the passion and vision in your mind.

2.) Then you find references for everything (that you need to) and do studies from these until you've memorized them.

3.) Then you draw the scene again, working in all of your research while keeping the fluidity of the initial sketch.

I'm also in negotiations on a couple possible projects and I just finished picture book manuscript #2. I figure I'd be good to come up with as many stories as I can and write them out, that way for my next illustration project I'll have a lot to chose from.

New Desk

The new more neck-friendly set-up is pretty much finished :)

Shenandoah Valley Artists' Group

I'm in the process of forming a local Shenandoah Valley artists group over at ConceptArt.org. It will be geared toward the practice and study of art fundamentals and be run in a forum-like fashion (where members take turns teaching). More info is available at the thread:


http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=95587

Small Magics Cover Art!

New artwork posted on my site. This is the cover image for Small Magics by Erik Buchanan, to be published by Dragon Moon Press.

New Site Design!

New Design for my Fantasy Illustration Portfolio - Help me work out the hiccups!

Like the topic says, I've been slaving away on a new website design for my online fantasy/sci-fi/children's illustration portfolio. After getting a new monitor (long story) I realized that there were quite a few problems with the old one ...so I decided it was time.

It is pretty much done at this point. There shouldn't be any issues. I very much want to know of any funny business you encounter, whether it be a page or image that isn't linked correctly, or a spelling error (not that I ever make any of those ;). I'm also super-curious whether or not my shiny new lytebox image script, the code that brings my portfolio images up, works for you. Oh yes, please tell me your browser and resolution along with any comments :)

Here's the link: www.LDiehl.com

Thanks!