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Thursday, December 09, 2010

Observation is creation



















This year has been the year of doctor's for me.  Thankfully I'm doing good and last weekend I was at the eye doctor's office and I took my sketchbook with me(always keepin' it handy).  I started sketching and the words "observation is Creation" came to mind and it made me remember that if I don't know what objects or people look like I can't really draw or create them in my work.  We need to study and sketch observationally!  LOOK at stuff and draw it. LOOK at people and draw them.   
keeping up my sketchbook helps me create new shapes and build on my well of resources when it comes to drawing my boards.  Its like homework for us, especially if you're a designer of any sort - you need to observe even more because you're creating characters and development that should be caricatured from reality.  Key word "caricatured"!
The more you've observed the easier time you'll have when you have to create.  
If I don't have my sketchbook with me Ill draw on the iphone.  Here are some of those observed digital faces drawn with my finger.









Sunday, December 05, 2010

Waking Sleeping Beauty!!!

Wow! If you love animation and love great documentaries, "Waking Sleeping Beauty" is for you!  Don Hahn directed this great look back at the Disney studio's during the time when Jeffrey Katzenberg was working there and it's pretty informative on the studio's rise with the Lion King as it's crescendo.  It tells the story in a very honest way and really leans heavily on the greatness of Howard Ashman as well.  He helped them shape so many great songs that are just as incredibly popular today as when they were released!  The bonus features are fun and through out the film you get insights from many great artists including Glen Keane.  I had a great time watching this and I hope all of you go out and get your copy soon.

This one is a must buy!

Monday, November 15, 2010

EVOKE The Art of David Pimentel

Update:  Any orders in the month of December will receive a 4x6 original signed sketch of my "French girlie" similar to this one. (Without the frame of course)










My Book is now available!!!

I've been developing my art for many years and learning as much as I possibly could from many great artists who surround me and from those who've come before me.  This book represents all those years of inspiration and excitement I have for gesture sketching and art!

If you follow my blog or know me at all, you'll know that my mentor was Walt Stanchfield.  He was such a great teacher and great friend.  His teachings have spread through out the animation world like wildfire over the years and his notes are completely invaluable to any artist.  I am proud to say that I wouldn't be able to be where I am in the industry without having learned so much from him and I hope that my book can sit on the same shelf as his.














This hardback 100 page book is a compilation of many sketches, gestures and anecdotes for artists young and old.  To top it off I've been blessed to have one of the great producers of our time, Mr. Don Hahn, write an awesome forward for the book.














I'll be releasing my book at the CTN expo this coming weekend but if for those of you who can't make it, you can order it by clicking on the cover image on my side bar.

Cheers!

Monday, November 08, 2010

Marissa

Marissa Gomez is one of my favs!
In-between lessons with the students I did a few today..

one minute

















about twenty to thirty secs

















five minutes-darn scanner cut the foot off!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Monday's Class

Sometimes I get inspired to draw instead of teach as I watch the models do there great work.
Here's a few bits of inspired pieces.




Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Mr. Stick man vs. the contour approach





















People use the stick man to guide them along in their sketches way too much.  I go to class and many people draw that stick figure guy before any shape of the model is attempted.  I've seen portfolios with that stick man peeking through. I’ve even seen commercials with the stick man acting and posing for the audience. 

I don’t like him!  When he’s used in a gesture sketch he gets in the way of rhythm and clarity.  I understand why people draw him - Line of action, forms, volume.  That’s been the whole excuse for his existence.  I guess he was used in beginning art classes to simplify gesture to the most rudimentary state so we could grasp the idea of anatomy and form - but the problem is he’s never left our brains and a lot of artists still depend on him as a friend, but he’s not!!!

Maybe I’m being a little insensitive to Mr. stickman but maybe a contour approach is worth considering.

In the beginning of a sketch we want to start building the pose out.  I like to start with the abstract shape as I build the sketch.  Those lines that I put down and commit to are usually contour lines that I will use – and if not use - closely guide me to the final product.

When students watch me sketch some interrupt and say “oh you’re outlining.”  But that’s not true, I’m building lines around the shapes in my head.  I’m trying to have foresight in my approach.  Thus not having extraneous lines that get in the way of lines and shapes that matter.  I believe that we all can project the line of action in our heads as we develop the sketch and look for the gesture.

Here’s an example of what I mean.  After doing this sketch below I retraced the strokes that it took to complete them.  Mr. Stickman took approx, 24 strokes and Ms. Foresight-Contour girl took approx, 28 strokes.  It took roughly about the same effort to draw Ms. Foresight as it did drawing Mr. Stickman.




















As I finished the sketch on the right I was able to use lines that I started with and counting strokes aside, the lines became more valuable.  Mr. Stickman’s lines are always going to be conflicting with his final lines.  I also get more for my money by thinking about other principles as I draw, such as acting, straights against curves, squash and stretch, body twists, stability and weight.





















In this example the drawing on the left shows where I started using lines that matter.  The right one shows the same lines put to good use without any inner lines getting in the way.  You can say that I’ve developed a new kind of stick figure using curved and straight rhythm lines that contour the shape of the model to reach my final sketch. 




















It’s not always easy to grasp and it takes a lot of drawing and sketching time to feel comfortable excluding internal line work.  Some artists are naturals but if you’re like me it takes a lot of good practice.

On these last pieces I started with this whole approach and you can see faint lines within the final drawing where I was building shapes. There are no stickman lines at all with in the interior and that makes me very happy.

I’ve talked enough. I’ll leave you with advice that Walt Stanchfield gave me when I asked “how can I improve?”  He simply said…






Monday, September 20, 2010

Crocodile

Back to the Bi-Daily sketch!  I'm actually working on a small drawing post coming up soon peeps!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Jaw dropping fun

Today's theme is "Zombie Work"













"you're lucky I'm still making house calls"


Have a good weekend....

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

She's Crafty

Thinking of today's theme-"crafty" I started listening to the beastie boys song "She's Crafty."
"the girl is crafty like Ice is cold"

Friday, August 20, 2010

Wednesday-Friday mix

I missed Wednesday's drawing so I combined today's theme "T-Rex" with "First Date"








"Bring her back by sundown"

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Good-bye Monday

I missed Monday so here's my piece for that day...




















had to go digital

Friday, August 13, 2010

Friday "Fangs"

Today's theme..."Fangs"
I thought I'd go with another otherworldly little guy.

see ya...

Crash Landing

Here's a lil' throw back piece.  original line art, digital shadeing...

Monday, August 09, 2010

Friday, August 06, 2010

Three in one

I drew three sketches representing this weeks themes.













 Acrobatic{?}














Skeptic{Or he just smelled a fart}









Underpaid{Not sure who's underpaid}

Friday, July 30, 2010

Hot Air

Decided to go traditional so I've got no color on this one.  Done with china marker.  Have a good weekend......

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

TALL

Today's theme is TALL as you just read on my title.  hee hee....

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Otherworldly

Still catching up on old bi-dailies with this little vacation trip on planet Nilknarf.















more to come...

Monday, July 19, 2010

Training Wheels

Somewhere in Simi Valley little Lucy decided to go down Death Mountain!














This theme is from today.

Rhino Pilot

This is the theme from last friday.  I'm going to catch up I tell ya!

I decided to draw a Rhino using a "pilot"
More soon.....

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Finally back

After a vacation and just plain laziness, Im Back!  today's theme....."Conductor"
And I'll be catching up on all of the others I missed too....

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Jazz!

Jenny Lerew threw out "JAZZ" as today's theme....do it!
Jeff Snow is a jazz musician so his sketch is seriously jazz!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Vampire!

In honor of "TRUE BLOOD" starting up again, I chose "Vampire" as todays theme.  Show your fangs!  mike lester's is great!  and here's Steve's.



Friday, June 11, 2010

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Born of fire!

Flyin' Pigs is the theme today!!! I wanna see some pigs people c'mon! Jeff Snow has got some up and Mike lester too!

Wow! we have Sandro Cleuzo on it!
and Dave Derrick workin' it!