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Painting in Progress
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 10:54 am on May 7th |
A current effort. I was given this easel in high school and I've carted it around all this time. It's cheap but it makes it easier to keep multiple things going. |
I imagine that there are many ways to go about a dedicated and disciplined painting regimen. For several years I desired and imagined getting back into painting. I had a show in 2005 and I treated it like a commission: I painted for the show. Tick-tock!
I'm doing a similar thing now in preparation for a show next December. It's a low-profile affair but it has given me the impetus to get off my rear end and move some of my sketchbook-centric art-making into more public and saleable formats.
I started out with all these odd plywood panels and a bunch of cans of left-over house paint. No sketching; just dive in and see what develops. So far, I've been pleased with the process: I've done about 25 paintings and the original set of graphic ideas is starting to branch out and get very nourishing.
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This really horizontal canvas suggested a wolf or something, so there she is. I'm using some cut outs to figure out what's going on underneath. Maybe that's trash or broken glass. Lots of questions to ponder. |
There are a ton of influences coming out as I finish them: Morris Graves, Jerome Snyder, Paul Klee, Bill Traylor… I'm sure you'll detect others. They started out just being geometric. Now there are animals and, probably, figures later on starting to get into situations in my compositions.
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three early geometric ones |
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I think I've just completed this one. The forms, as they suggest themselves and are generated generally dictate what will happen next. In this case, the geometric kryptonite stuff was in place first. Will it be a mountain? A cave? Near the ocean? Even though it's very static, can I suggest movement? Maybe these fragile little birds can impede its progress long enough for it to come to a stop. I guess this is about sticking up for the little guy who's here one day and gone the next.
Stay tuned!
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| See more: Just thinking…, Whatever, work |
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Sketches - Finals 2
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 11:50 am on May 2nd |
left: the sketch - right: final |
This full page illustration was done recently for a college law journal article about a steel industry merger that involved many players in many countries.
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When I was first contacted by the art director she suggested some sort of a rampant monster or robot sucking everything in concept. She referred to her favorite works in my portfolio in an attempt to help guide my painting decisions.These initial sketches were done in Painter.
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This one was my favorite from the first round. |
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pencil on blue colored paper. Shading added in Painter. |
After seeing these ideas, the concept was changed slightly to more of a clash between equals rather than one monster getting out of control. So I did a few figure studies; basic comic book, wrestling or boxing compositions would be fun to do.
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a more complete second round sketch with some color added to help clarify the scene. |
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The final was done in Freehand |
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detail |
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detail |
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detail |
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| See more: Editorial, work |
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Sketches - Finals 1
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 10:20 am on April 17th |
The sketching phase of an assignment requires curiosity and discipline. Getting stuck is not an option. Being original yet using familiar signs and symbols is part of the game. |
The transition from a sketch to a final illustration is where illustrators define themselves. The sketch stage is all about seeking, questioning, analyzing, intuition and being open to the nuances of your own concepting process, the sometimes vague or misunderstood comments of the art director or editor, and nothing less than the history of the discipline of editorial illustration.
I am often impatient when I sketch. I have an idea and I know my sketch is an imperfect guide to the glorious finished art I see in my mind. Often, the sketch bears little resemblance to the final. Depending on my mood, I will sketch in pencil, charcoal, ink, digital or some combination. Old clients understand this but new clients? It's a knife's edge walk sometimes! Trust and patience and one's true colors get developed in the walk together to the final deadline.
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the finish (digital) |
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The opening full-page illustration (the sketch: pencil, marker, digital paint. The final: vector) Later, it was decided that I would do the title type. |
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The final is the result of all the external and internal back and forth conversations. |
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This full page illustration is about somebody's campfire getting out of control. (pencil, digital paint). The final is all vector with a few added bitmaps.
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The final: I like this one because it's just straight comic effect, light and color. Much more direct than other more conceptual work. Toasty and soft in the middle -just like this guy's marshmallow! |
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a few new Kryptonite paintings
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 9:09 am on April 14th |
This started off as a portrait of Mugabe but it seemed too forced so I retreated to something more enigmatic-- a work in progress. |
I've added a few new images to my Kryptonite gallery. I'm working larger (away from my sketchbooks) in preparation for a show next December.
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Mugabe
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 7:14 am on April 6th |
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I've been obsessing over the fate of Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe this past week. For a little while I thought the transition would be relatively peaceful but that assessment seems overly optimistic now.
Mugabe is a small part of the overall problem but it's helpful to have someone with a memorable face to graphically pillory. Classic "tyrant" stuff. And those glasses! Is Libya's Gaddafi his fashion consultant?
I shouldn't joke. Mugabe is a dangerous and deluded predator.
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an idea for a film. |
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Imaginary Events
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 10:36 am on April 4th |
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The All Thumbs Orchestra Project Celebrity Series will be holding a concert featuring the complete works from J.S. Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier". An intrepid army of amateur pianists will take part in the marathon entertainment. A date has not been set however, a personal seat cushion is recommended.
The poster design was derived from one of my "Kryptonite" drawings and since it seemed to suggest a form of musical instrument, the concert was programmed. Enjoy!
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Spot Illustration: Arc Flashes
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 3:48 pm on April 3rd |
digital |
I'm back doing some things for Dave Yount AD of the NFPA Journal. This one was about changes to warning labels used on electrical components. Nasty dangerous stuff. So I make it look cute!
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one of my sketches: labels are either orange or red. |
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another sketch: lightning bolt is some sort of electrical cabinet. |
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the approved sketch |
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Poster Assignment
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 5:20 am on April 1st |
I did this in my collage style. |
Avril Uno of Itsajoke Studio (Seattle) emailed me last week to see if I would be interested in helping out on a pro-bono project about a group dedicated to saving squirrel habitat. It seemed like a joke (the part of the country where I live is awash in grey squirrels) but I have to admit that I was interested. Most of my paying jobs of late are about business or fire safety so I'm a sucker for assignments where I get to draw pictures of animals (one of my all time favorite things to do).
Itsajoke would handle all the design. All they needed from me was an playful image of a squirrel wearing a gas mask.
I can't wait to see the final printed piece!
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Why?
Posted by Rob Dunlavey at 5:54 am on March 25th |
"Unknown Soldier" 03-25-08a |
4000 and counting...
The hopelessly fragmented man observed: "Even in the most extreme experiences, far from our homes, we invested our experiences with meaning and love, loyalty and patriotism. Even when they ceased to have meaning OR value."
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