“No Going Back” by Philip Dunne
© Philip Dunne 2009 - 2013
Pencil, ink and Photoshop CS3
Drawing Tip 4:
Don’t do it cheap - but experiment:
If you are a digital illustrator, then you would spend the most amount of money you had on a super fast mac or pc. This is the same for traditional illustration or drawing. Spend as much as you can afford on good quality art tools and paper. A few years back I went to a chain supermarket and bought a set of drawing pencils because money was tight and I felt they were a ‘good deal’. Worst decision ever! Because the pencils were poor quality and my drawings were hard to produce with poor materials. I was starting out as an illustrator and I learned my lesson - now I go to quality art shops and buy the best pencils or pens I can get.
Also buy a good quality notebook, don’t scribble stuff on a cheap notebook with the pages lined, get a nice moleskin. However don’t treat your notebook like a finished piece…this is your jotter so it’s good to even stick photos in. Don’t be too fussy in having perfectly finished pieces in a notebook. Also try to experiment when drawing. Don’t stick to pencils, drawing is essentially about image making and no matter what you use, it’s the outcome that is important. You might get beautiful results by drawing with a larger brush or pen you’ve made yourself…whatever works feel free to take yourself out of the familiar. I recently illustrated a piece called “My Garden Is Ripe” I hadn’t worked with colored charcoals for a few years so I decided to use in this piece. It took me a while to draw things out because charcoal is much more delicate than pencil but I really enjoyed doing something different!
Drawing Tip 3:
*Every* idea counts:
A question I get asked frequently is “Where do your ideas/concepts come from?” It might sound unbelievable but I would get roughly 20 ideas for a finished illustration a day. Some that I just don’t have the time to explore, others that are definitely finished pieces. That’s why I carry a small A5 notebook and a pencil with me everywhere.
So I can quickly scribble down creative thoughts that run into my head. It is something that I don’t force. It occurs organically, specifically when I’m doing mundane things like traveling on the bus or going to bed. I do my best to draw what I see in my mind, getting the color and tones down too. Then if I feel that the idea is good enough to pursue, I will sketch up a more detailed rough and decide on what techniques to use and what colors would best work. Never ever discard an idea, no matter how wacky or absurd it might seem. It’s these off the radar concepts that you should always pay attention to and try to develop.
Quirky ideas go hand in hand with your own personal style of drawing…they will make you be constantly original and keep you working onto the next concept and developing the next illustration.
So no matter how strange an idea is - pursue it!
E.T. Series 1 - 7
“The Earth had been destroyed and plundered of it’s natural resources and beauty. In a far away galaxy, an advanced race of Extraterrestrials see the pain that mankind is experiencing…the decide to set course for Earth on a mission to repair, regenerate and perfect the dying human race.”
&Reach new illo: This Is My City
I am now represented by &Reach http://reach.tv/ in the USA. Here is an exclusive new illustration I created for them. Please follow them on Twitter, Facebook and sign up for their mailing list!
“Woofer”
#FACET - 47/365 - JMM
New prints on my store! http://society6.com/lovetherobot
Retroactive: “Epic 6 ( aka Mystic Stare?!)” by Philip Dunne circa 2009.
Retroactive: “Obsolete (ET Part 2)” by Philip Dunne 2011
Retroactive: “Obsolete (ET Part 1)” by Philip Dunne circa 2011
“Move” by Philip Dunne
Pen on Marker Paper, Adobe Ideas, Adobe Photoshop CS6.
“Change” by Philip Dunne
Pen on Marker Paper, Adobe Ideas, Adobe photoshop CS6.
“Never Over” by Philip Dunne
Pen on Marker Paper, Adobe Ideas on iPad, Adobe Photoshop CS6.
