Book Cover Illustration with Dan Dos Santos!! Download available today. :)

[Rist]

Thanks Dan.

Been reading a lot about oil painting since watching your method and buying some oil products. One thing I notice is that many painters do not use mediums, even linseed, for the first layer. I am assuming you use a 50/50 mix because you have already accomplished the first few layers with acrylic. I also notice your style uses as few layers as possible; I guess this is because you like to work 'thin'.

[Noah Bradley]

This video could be priced at four times what it is and still be worth every dime. This video is a goldmine of information and instruction that will help aspiring cover illustrators, painters, concept artists, and honestly anyone interested in doing art professionally. Dan Dos Santos is a wonderful instructor who goes through every step of the painting process in thorough detail. He constantly explains what he's doing and why and what he's thinking about. If you want to get in the head of one of the greats, this is an easy way to do it.

Personally, I learned so many things. Even though I'm in art school (and having a great time), there are things they simply don't teach you. Learning from one of the best cover illustrators out there is a rare opportunity, and for about $10 an hour? Come on? How can you not justify that?

Forgive the shameless little plug, but I painted this little thing shortly after finishing the video. And while it's by no means a great illustration, it's a huge leap from the work I was doing last semester. And frankly, I attribute much of that to this video. I can't wait to watch it again.

I also can't wait for a sequel. *nudge*



Thanks to everyone involved.

[sin-d]

I have been waiting for this since Dan first announced it, and now I have been reading all of these great reviews and it is killing me to wait, but I have to have this on DVD rather than a download. Anyone know when the DVD will be available?

[Equality72521]

I second sin-d, the only reason why Im holding off from getting the video is I want it on DVD, so I can take it everywhere I go

and from reading all the good things about it I cannot wait to see it. Its like the gold at the end of a rainbow!

[Cityboy]

Thank you so much for this Dan.

Quick question, being that the canvas size changed from your original small one to the big canvas, my question is the grid spacing. You said on the reference image you place a grid on it that is 2 to 3 inches apart for reference and do the same on the paper you are drawing on. Being that the canvas size increased, do the same spacing numbers apply?

It would seem there would be some disproportion there because your subject would have to be drawn so much bigger. With your previous smaller canvas it was almost the same size as the reference image so I could see how you would be able to get the proportions dead on.

Hopefully that is not too confusing. Sorry noob here.

[MassiveDVD]

The DVD will be ready by the end of next week, hopefully sooner. We're just waiting on proofing and production.

[DSillustration]

Thank you so much for this Dan.

Quick question, being that the canvas size changed from your original small one to the big canvas, my question is the grid spacing. You said on the reference image you place a grid on it that is 2 to 3 inches apart for reference and do the same on the paper you are drawing on. Being that the canvas size increased, do the same spacing numbers apply?

It would seem there would be some disproportion there because your subject would have to be drawn so much bigger. With your previous smaller canvas it was almost the same size as the reference image so I could see how you would be able to get the proportions dead on.

Hopefully that is not too confusing. Sorry noob here.

Cityboy,

The small head I drew is actually the EXACT same size as the head I drew for the full sized painting.
As such, I didn't need to adjust anything.
I could see how the canvas size creates the illusion otherwise.

If I did want to enlarge it though, I would simply draw 1.5 inch, or 2 inch squares instead.
I try to keep my measurements in increments of 1/4 inches so as not to make the calculations too difficult.
This way, I can enlarge/reduce in 25% increments easily.

[Cityboy]

Got it...thanks for the response Dan and again, great tutorial. Money well worth spent.

[Deon]

Awesome tutorial, Dan - thanks for all the effort! You got me in the mood do work with some oils again - I just wish I had the space

[aguilas990]

Honestly if my hard drive were to melt tomorrow, this video would be the biggest loss

[Rist]

Finally finished this DVD. I would watch 1 part once a day, sometimes skipping some days. I wanted to do this so that each part would become a lesson in itself (easier to absorb the information, I think!).

Here are a few things you will find from the video:

note: I will list them as HOW-TO, but nothing is a 1 method for all so this is just a generic term to describe something that is so informative as to show a professionals working method.

- how to paint hair, which has a glow (beautiful effect)
- how to paint skin. VERY informative. If you was to buy something for flesh rendering, this would be it!
- how to paint weapons. Only a sword is painted, but Dan shows a method which could be applied to many metallic surfaces.
-how to paint materials. VERY informative! Paint metal, gold, steal (?), jewellery.
- how to compose a painting with 1 character. Dan explains the hidden difficulties of such a composition.
- how to paint things which appear to 'glow', such as neon-like breath.
- how to paint drapery. VERY informative.
- how to glaze. I was still a little confused about glazing, this cleared things up.
- how to understand colour and how it relates to everything around it.
- how to use mediums and the palette.
- how to paint details.
- how to fix mistakes.
- how to work with clients.

There is so much I could easily go on and on...

If there is anything you should buy this year, and you are an artist, its this DVD.

When i find time I will probably watch it again. This DVD got me into oil painting, which I did not expect when I began watching it. It is certainly one of those method changing lessons.

[Noë]

I was going to wait to buy this until I had the money but I saw the announcement that downloads will be streaming soon, so I thought I'd better get it now! Downloading at the moment..

I can already see myself in front of the screen with my notepad scribbling frantically haha

Love
Marleen.

[Liam Harvey]

DARn! i was trying to convince myself not to buy it because of money issues-buuuuuuut i have to, it just seems too good to pass up!

[Studio Colrouphobia]

Okay so I have a question or two, now that I finally got my paws on this beauty:

1) You state the amount of dollars you receive for he painting (typically) and you say it's generally based upon the client (art director) and their budget. Is this number a typical budget or is it something that increase with clients and ones own skill? One of the main reasons why I ask this completely raw question is because the number you mention is about 10 times larger then any numbers I heard before. So I need to assess whether this has to due to different climates in different parts of the world (you in the US, I'm in northern Europe) or whether it has to do with picking ones jobs.
--to clarify, I haven't gotten any jobs like this, no book covers made by me yet, but a friend/colleague of mine has asked me whether a certain pay is "business standard", it is this number that was about 10 times smaller then the number mentioned in the video)


2)When receiving money for a job, do you get paid in advance? do you get an advance payment and then a final payment? I have heard so many different variants by now but you seem to plan months in advance with your paintings so that's my main query, how you get paid since a painting can take months between being hired.

3)You say, in the video, that key in making a painting work out is using reference and to set up a good sketch(or something like this) and you have your own copy-pasted/sketched version (the orange dress). Seeing as how the final changed mainly in colour, what is your experience- Does this happen a lot? That the colour, or composition will change de to alterations made by client or author of the book?


4) Will probably come up with more questions after I viewed he vids again..

Oh, It seems like sometimes the vids are slightly "cut off" at the end of them. Dan speaks and the vid is stopped a fraction before a word is said complete (often in what seems to be mid-talk) and then the next vid start with a new chapter.. Just checking, but this is how it is supposed to be right?

[MassiveDVD]

10 times? How could an illustrator earn a living if he spent two weeks earning $300? That's half of minimum wage.

I think there's 2-3 words cut off at the end of one file. That's the only mistake I know of.

[Studio Colrouphobia]

10 times? How could an illustrator earn a living if he spent two weeks earning $300? That's half of minimum wage.

Hence my question. My colleague was presented with a budget of (about, translating currencies here) $320 for a bookcover, by a professional book publishing company. It was the only figure I have ever heard mentioned for bookcover-painting before the DosSantos video so hence my question

I think there's 2-3 words cut off at the end of one file. That's the only mistake I know of.

It isn't that bad you know, just made me think I might have downloaded it badly

[Sascha Thau]

One word: Extraordinaire. I've learned soooo much.

Easily the best money I've invested the last months. Thank you so much, massive black and dan Dan Dos Santos for making this happen. It seems he's ne helluva nice guy, too and he still plays his atari 2600.

This is winning on so many levels. Incredible!

[dhchamp]

bought it, downloading now.

OMG, I wanted this one for so long. now I finally got it and can't wait to watch it.

have watched the trailer so many times. waiting to be released, waiting for enough money.

It's a very nice dvd that covers all aspects of the project. wich is great.
thnx for the time and effort Dan.
the end illustration alone still enchants me.

(ok, enough with the praising. best of luck with your career dan and I hope I can someday reach a level good enough to draw whatever comes up in my mind.)

[SteFlack]

Don't know why I've put off buying this for so long but the post by Rist has finally sold me on it. Downloading now

[Moonlit*]

I am really interested in getting this but since I have never purchased a download before, can anyone outline how this works? You go to the paypal site, pay and then how do you access the download?

[Sascha Thau]

I am really interested in getting this but since I have never purchased a download before, can anyone outline how this works? You go to the paypal site, pay and then how do you access the download?

You'll pay and get immediately a link for downloading.

[Moonlit*]

Pretty speedy download, but didnt realise you needed Quicktime. Nevertheless, it's set up for viewing. Can't wait for the weekend.

[soz]

when you started the drawing did you have any guide lines like lines and squares to go over them?
how long have you been drawing, like how many years have you've been practicing?
I Love your drawings there awosome!

[magicgoo]

I'd love to order this today. Is it still available? It isn't actually listed in the ca store, so I didn't want to risk not receiving it.

[DSillustration]

Hey Ursula,
It is still listed...
DVD: http://media.massiveblack.com/features.html
DOWNLOAD: http://media.massiveblack.com/downloads.html
You just need to scroll down a bit for the download.

Colrouphobia,
Yes, the amount I mention is typical in the US only.
In fact, commercial illustration in general is a relatively US dominated field.
Even my friends from overseas that make their livings as Illustrators do so by working for US clients.
EU budgets usually range from $200-$600 for a cover, with the highest I've seen being $1500 from the UK and Germany.
That's not much by our standards, and as such, the EU market depends heavily on acquiring secondary rights to images (which can be purchased quite cheaply).

[magicgoo]

Perfect, Dan! Thanks so much for the links! For some reason, I thought that stuff was on this store, but had disappeared: http://www.conceptartstore.com

Awesome, though! Ordering the DVD right now! Can't wait!