Shannanigan's Sketchbook Shenanigans...

[shannanigan]

Ok I'm starting up one of these Sketchbooks... I wasn't real sure what they are supposed to be, but looking through some I guess its pretty much a free-for-all.

A little about myself.... my name is Shannon and I currently live in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. I am originally from Michigan and have lived in Boston, Chicago, St. Louis and even a short stint in Milan, Italy. I design women's footwear for a living (well somebody has to do it! LOL!). When I was young I had dreams of being an animator (2D, 3D barely existed then. I'm old.) or work for Marvel, obviously neither happened. I'm 100% self-taught, and after nearly 20 years of drawing I still suck at hands. Haha!

I prefer to draw Black-Line art.... cartoon/comic style. I constantly commit Artistic Treachery by referencing anatomy and poses from... *gasp* stock photos! No I'm not ashamed of it and yes I am aware that my proportions are off sometimes.

I really need to work on drawing Males, body-type variations in my characters and creating my own environments rather than using photo backgrounds for everything. Honestly my architectural and horizon line perspective skills are pretty non-existent. Its all those years I spent drawings "floating" pin-up girls... LOL!

Anyway... enough rambling... here is some art.

[shannanigan]

Both initial idea sketch and final artwork.... Miss Muffet's Revenge!

[shannanigan]

Entry for my first "CHOW"... the Bettie Page Tribute.

[spaztastic]

I really like your work Shannanigan it's so different than most everything on here. It's soooo cute too. And I still love your Bettie.

[shannanigan]

This week's CHOW (#141) is to design the 3 Ghosts from "Christmas Carol".... Past, Present and "To Come" (aka Future. )

So here is my progression so far.... these first two are photos I took of my sketches because I was visiting the folks for Christmas and they have no scanner!! *scream*

[shannanigan]

Now that my Wacom and I have been reunited. LOL!
Here is the completed line art...

EDIT: Added the final Artwork... thanks for the reminder MJ!

[SirCalypso]

Nice concepts, I love your take on Bettie!

[Bill]

Hi, I like your stuff so far... never would have come up with Betty Page the Flinstone. Very Nice!

[shannanigan]

Hi, I like your stuff so far... never would have come up with Betty Page the Flinstone. Very Nice!

Thanks Bill!

Yeah I was trying to think of other famous Betty(ie)s she could dress up as and being a cartoon freak, Betty Rubble popped into my head first. Which was perfect since they both have black hair!

[SirCalypso]

LOL, yes, that is why I liked it. :3

[shannanigan]

Goofy walking tower idea.... meant to be whimsy sorta thing. I've had this sitting around a while, I suppose I should make the effort to do something with it.

[spaztastic]

I think the last concept has a lot of possibilities. I want to see mooooore!!!!!

[shannanigan]

I think the last concept has a lot of possibilities. I want to see mooooore!!!!!

None for you Missy! LOL!



Heres my first WIP for the CHOW 142 - "Knight of the Round Table".
Drawing guys is so freakin' hard.... and as usual the bane of my artistic existence is the damn hands. *crys*


EDIT: A little progress update on my Knight in Shining Armor...

[shannanigan]

Holy Crap... what is this?? Is it... no.... it can't be... a hand-drawn "study" from Shannon. Its a miracle!! LOL!
The hands are drawn from my right hand, which is far inferior to my left... and yes I have really little hands with short fingers.

Did I reach my 100 limit on how many times a week I can mention the horror that is the drawing of hands? Ok good.... I hate hands.

The "head" is intended to go on my Knight buddy up above there... it came from my brain. So I guess its not really a "study"... just a sketch.


EDIT: Added the Photoshop drawing "Head" for my Knight... with "test" hair. LOL!

[Me,Myself & Me again]

I like your style especially the betty rubble pic. The only thing with your work i think is sometimes the lines are slightly too thick and draw away from the focal points of the picture. But other than that kool sketchbook.

p.s hi i'm the new guy in the sketch group with no name

[shannanigan]

I like your style especially the betty rubble pic. The only thing with your work i think is sometimes the lines are slightly too thick and draw away from the focal points of the picture. But other than that kool sketchbook.

p.s hi i'm the new guy in the sketch group with no name

You are officially in my Signature...

Yeah I do all my stuff with a single thickness and go back in and add weight, for "shadow". I'm sure sometimes I overcompensate....
but the single weight looks too flat and unfinished and I have no skill with using "brushes" where I can't control the thickness. I blame it on being left handed... *lame* Hahaha!

[spaztastic]

OoooOOOOooooo I like the Knight. And your hand studies are coming along real nice... question >None for you Missy! LOL!< whhhhyyyyyy *stomps foot and says in whiny voice then runs off to pout*


Anyway, I need to get my butt off this forum and draw. I am addicted to posting it's a problem I should probably seek help.

[Lakeland]

G.J. nice concept there, Im eager to see the final result

[J.roxanne]

good work !!A barrel of fun

[Byrd]

Glad to see someone else has a taste for steampunk, I especially like the Miss Muffet.

[MJ_Alcazar]

I like your style. It's really cute, and has a nice feel to it.

Why isn't the completed Ghosts in here, hmmm?

Keep it up!

[shannanigan]

Why isn't the completed Ghosts in here, hmmm?

Thanks for the reminder! I added it up there in post #6.


Here is my completed Lancelot for CHOW 142... took inspiration from lots of different things I ran across in my research. I read he was rumored to be descended from King David (slight Michelangelo influence in his hair and face), Roman inspired "anatomical" armor, the heraldic "Leopard" shield and other random stuff.

[realitychek]

Cool stuff so far shannanigan! Love the Betty tribute, you've got a pretty cool style going on so far Only thing I can pick out to crit so far is how in your Lancelot piece, the background doesn't seem to go with the style your character has. It just doesn't help the piece flow. Hope that helps

[shannanigan]

Only thing I can pick out to crit so far is how in your Lancelot piece, the background doesn't seem to go with the style your character has. It just doesn't help the piece flow. Hope that helps

In the great tradition of PeeWee Herman... I meant to do that!

Since the character is the main focus, I wanted Lancelot to pop out of the picture. My intention was to have the background be more of a backdrop than an actual environment, so I made it less defined, no outlines, etc. and went with a more graphic design approach with the shield and split image. Quasi-Art Deco thing.... if that makes any sense. Plus, I suck at environments. LOL!

Unfortunately my brilliant plans don't always translate well outside my head.

[shannanigan]

So I'm working on a little project for myself... it started out as random Illustrations of Steampunk inspired people, but now I'm thinking about making something out of it.

I jumped the gun and did a "Cover", which I'm posting below.... and realized I had to really step back and do development (both on the Universe I was creating and my drawing skills).

So I've been working on Character sheets, and hopefully environments eventually. Then I'll need to pull some writing skills out of my ass... its going to be a LOOOONG labor of love! LOL!

[shannanigan]

Here are a couple starter character sheets.... I plan these to have slightly larger heads... 6-7 heads high... in case anyone feels like commenting on my lack of 8 heads height.

[spaztastic]

oooOOOoooOOooooOoooo I love the new stuff you have on here, especially the Character designs.... I want a bionic arm toooo.

[shannanigan]

I little downtime at work today.... quick and freakin' messy as hell idea for this weeks CHOW. Post Apocalyptic Conjoined Twins...

Not sure I'll make it though, which is why I didn't post it in the official thread... lots of other stuff to fit into my freetime this week.

[shannanigan]

I'm officially passing on the Siamese Mutant Twin Chow this week and gonna try the POW19 (deadline Feb. 1st).

Here are roughs... 2 of 3 pages. I'm withholding the last page, since its the "punchline". Gotta leave something a surprise! LOL! My goal is the have them "inked" (for lack of a better term) by the deadline... since full color is probably a long shot.

I need to study the swing span bridge construction. Though it is Steampunk fantasy I want to be somewhat era-appropriate so I couldn't use a "Bascule" bridge (like a draw bridge) that I wanted to use originally. Swing spans were more common in the late 1800's along the Northwest coast. Ah scientific facts... how I hate you. I know more about bridges right now than I ever cared to know. LOL!

I found this site for future reference.... looks to be very helpful for vintage inventions! http://www.wow-engineering.co.uk/

[George Abraham]

Strange Pop art feel coming through.

Nice.