Sketchbook 2.0 Speedpainting I guess

[m.c.miller]

5.18.09 - Well, some of this first stuff is getting pretty outdated...but I guess that is the whole point of a sketchbook. It is funny to look back and see how often I vow to do something and then don't. Most of this sketchbook has been spent searching for a way of working that is fast, expressive and free while remaining clear. Clarity has been an issue for me as you can see in many of these images. One thing to be aware of is that when I give information on how I paint, that information is only true of work that I was doing at that time. This is especially true of the tutorial that I posted a while ago. A lot of the information is still relevant but many things have changed since then.

10.19.08 - I put together a process tutorial here: My speedpainting process for those interested in learning how I create these images.

-----

thumb

[m.c.miller]

Here we go:

[m.c.miller]

more:

[m.c.miller]

and more:

[m.c.miller]

finally:

[REGNIRUTH]

woah, i was never sure how to approach speed painting, i've thought about it, but looking at this kinda gives me a few ideas. But for speed painting this is very good stuff, print worthy.

so i geuss it must be just a limited pallete and usually you start by cuickly putting in the values to shape the forms within the composition?

[m.c.miller]

so i geuss it must be just a limited pallete and usually you start by cuickly putting in the values to shape the forms within the composition?

I used to start in black and white and just establish value relationships, but now I just go for color right away. I just throw everything in there and then come back and wash it back down with a big brush. Once the color scheme is found it gets a lot easier to work with.

[zeal]

I'm lovin how abstract these are, pure eye candy!

[Mike Corriero]

There are a ton of cool things going on in here,
The brush strokes are great, but the use of color is just beyond beautiful man. Very nice shapes and patterns, almost abstract in a few but still enough information to communicate the idea of what's taking place.

Mike C -

[smokenmirrors]

definately some VIVID work you got here thus far! Im loving the technique.... I suppose though, perhaps just a little more attention to the heirachy of shapes (foreground, middle,back, etc), like you mentioned with the contrast pushes, would clean up the images a bit... Because some of the reads' take a bit of time to see what the story telling is. Nonetheless, sweet SB!

[Leo Ki]

You're making sculpture out of color! Splendid!
Whether the contrasts are too strong depends only on the mood,
I guess, because I wouldn't change anything to what you posted,
unless maybe (not sure) when you plan to push the detail further.

[walnut]

Interesting stuff you've been doing with brushes there. I'd love to see a tutorial on the way you use them.

[REGNIRUTH]

I used to start in black and white and just establish value relationships, but now I just go for color right away. I just throw everything in there and then come back and wash it back down with a big brush. Once the color scheme is found it gets a lot easier to work with.

awesome dude, thanks for the tip, i'll try to work on that.

[m.c.miller]

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! I'm specifically focusing on detail, storytelling and clarity now. Up to now the focus was mainly on technique and everything else was more or less random.

Interesting stuff you've been doing with brushes there. I'd love to see a tutorial on the way you use them.

My favorite brush, which appears most often goes like this:

1. Basic 'paintbrush' brush with very obvious spacing.

2. Abstract geometric brush with all kinds of random jitter.

3. Use brush 1 with brush 2 as a dual brush. Use a large relative diameter and adjust spacing and scatter for best results. Set dual brush mode to 'linear burn' and check the 'flip' box.

[Hive_minD]

I hate you for being so good.
bah, who am I kidding, I love you! Keep sharing, looking forward to updates!

Chris

[m.c.miller]

So much for clarity.

[m.c.miller]

I like how this one turned out. I think I'm going to try this direction for a while.

[Evergrey]

dammmmn, this is just... really beautiful. keep posting!

[RandAlThor]

Very lively colorful and dynamic, thanks for that little explanation, it helps so much when people actually tell you something useful ;-) keep it up dude...

[zeal]

That last one is brilliant. You really know how to use color
to create an impression and mood. I think it's a good idea to focus on story telling. That is something I'm trying to work on myself. I love style and technique in artwork but it has to bring up some sort of emotion that the viewer can relate to. I really enjoy looking at your work because there is subject matter, but it is open for interpretation and lets the viewers imagination get involved. Thanks for sharing some of your techniques.

Cheers!

[m.c.miller]

I really appreciate the positive comments guys.

I really enjoy looking at your work because there is subject matter, but it is open for interpretation and lets the viewers imagination get involved.

It is good to hear that this comes through to a viewer. I have a feeling that the story of my career as an artist is going to be finding this balance.

I like these two...the second one was very quick, hence the somewhat plain composition.

[Tasapaino]

Can't find anything bad to say about those pics... I like that new spaceship pic. Nice eye catcher, nice colors and great flow... Amazing!

[m.c.miller]

A big transition here. This really shows how I tend to go from one extreme to the other. The next stuff should be more balanced.

[m.c.miller]

I really like how number 3 and 5 turned out. I want to work like that from now on.

[anjin]

great style! I like it. One question: it works in this way, ok. but can you draw or paint something more traditional or now you made yours this style you cannot go back?

[m.c.miller]

This is how I paint when I have no reference. If I am working from reference or from life I use a more traditional style.

[m.c.miller]

I have been working with the figure recently since I have been ignoring it for so long. I'm also beginning to achieve more consistent results which is nice.

[Hive_minD]

Splendid work indeed!
I couldn't help wondering what you do for a living?

Chris

[chrishly]

lovely stuff man, I especially like the colors!

keep sharing please!

[m.c.miller]

I couldn't help wondering what you do for a living?

At the moment I'm focusing on my portfolio, trying to find out what to do with my art. My goal is to find work that suits my style...or to refine my style into something I can make a living with. I don't do anything special for work right now.

It's been a slow few days...I think I need to try some more long term images, I could do these random practice images forever and get nowhere.