James Zapata's Sketchbook of Magic Candy Dreams

[dirksteele]

Excellent work, James. I think your Batman characters are great (even though they are very Dave Rapoza, which I guess is a compliment!).

It's inspiring to see someone improve so much, as it shows us all that hard work pays off in the end. How did you improve in your time away from here, was it just constant daily practice or following tutorials etc? I know some people have asked this too but I didn't see a response. Cheers.

[Pixelhead]

Thanks, everyone!

dirksteele: Dave has been inspirational but it has been difficult to disassociate these from him, heh. The new accusation that seems to be floating around is something about the way I sign it being too similar to the way Dave does it regardless of the fact that I've been signing my stuff like this for a year and a half, long before these portraits.

As for my improvement, I just keep truckin along painting what I love and observing artists I admire. I try to soak in as much information about fundamentals as I can. There really is no other way for me to explain it other than I just really like to solve problems. I try to be honest with myself but I also try to get feedback from other artists if I feel like I can't trust myself. Also, a lot of throwaway sketches, ha. I experiment a lot in photoshop looking for interesting ways to achieve a certain color scheme, a cool way to blend colors, finding appropriate and interesting uses for different brushes and textures, etc. Just generally being excited about pushing the quality each time. Sorry for babbling, my mind is leaking like bad diarrhea from no sleep. Hope that answers your question.

[MacTire]

AAaaahhh!!!
Stunning work James! That lip is suitably disturbing, and I like that the seam between the clean and distorted flesh is a lot more beleivable now. Great distressed texture to the damaged suit also.

Looking forward to more!

[SarSengo]

Dope paintings man! love your process. Thank you for sharing! def subscribing

[Jacky-Boy]

Wow this is an incredible sketchbook, you've improved so much man!

I love how imaginative it all is, quite often with these mega improvement threads, they're all anatomy studies and copied stills from films. I'm looking forward to more goodness from you

[dirksteele]

Hey James, yep that does make sense! I think the way you've progressed is a really good way of accomplishing so much. I've never really heard anyone referring to their progression as 'problem solving', but I suppose that's what learning really is; analysing your own problem areas and solving them through practice and repetition.

I can relate to what you said about your experimenting in Photoshop a lot because I find myself doing a similar thing a lot of the time. It seems like I haven't really stumbled upon my 'own way' of working yet and use different techniques for each painting I try. I watch tutorials and download brushes from artists I admire and try to learn from those, but usually end up mixing that with my own methods. I guess that's how you eventually find you own style anyway.

Keep up the great work and thanks for the inspiration!

[Pixelhead]

Thanks so much, everyone!

@dirksteele: It just takes time and practice. I hate using such a generic stock answer, but really, it's all it is. I hope what I said helps!

Here is a small sketch I did last night:

[Pixelhead]

Here's another sketch dump from todaayyyy

[Pixelhead]

Livestream sketch: www.livestream.com/jamesart

[Pixelhead]

I also made a video of the last piece which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm9S...layer_embedded

[Mr.Pryminista]

I dig yer work mang

[Pixelhead]

Thanks!

Here is another painting I did on livestream. Video coming soon!

[Pixelhead]

Sooner than expected. Video for the last piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLsQZIIr-To&feature=plcp

[Sublimus]

Five from me dude. Love it!

[Pixelhead]

Thanks so much!

Here is some stuff. A quick study of mjranum's stock a landscape sketch from memory and a scary slimy guy.

[GEB]

Man your stuff just gets better and better ey! Love the Two face man

[Pixelhead]

Thanks, GEB!

More enviro stuff. Naked butt was an after thought. Or a perpetual one.

[Pixelhead]

Something personal I'm working on.

[Pixelhead]

New personal piece. Sea Goddess.

[Kambei Shimada]

Your use of colour is excellent. Nice sketchbook man.

Would be cool to see some of your linework too.

[MacTire]

The sea goddess came out really well James. Good use of the tentacles to direct the composition.
Personally I would have downplayed the scale texture though, it seems a little too rough (as in rough to the touch), whereas fish scales are generally alot slicker and smoother.

Ha, each time I look at it I find more details! When I began this post I had just noticed the gills, and just now I've scrolled up and noticed the mermaids!

You're doing great work James! Keep it up!

[Pixelhead]

@Kambei Shimada - Thank you! I don't really work in line. I never do, actually. I start with very loose and scratchy sketches and work into value and color very soon after.

@Mactire - Super thanks for the awesome kind words!

Here is something I did mostly on livestream. Was tons of fun!

[Wholewheat_keyboard]

Wow ~ you have some excellent stuff here!

I really like your super-villains. Poison Ivy & clayface especially!

It looks like you have a lot of fun on livestream. I love the stuff you've made for it. (smoking dwarf & rainbow pirate rock)

Your sketchbook is really fun to look through. I went through it all. I can see an improvement even between pages 1 & 2.

thanks for sharing Want to see more!

[NickyBeats]

DAMN!! kller works man!! really loving the sea goddess and that last one!!! ill have to stop by when your streaming sometme!

[ozark]

That one year hiatus really did its trick. I'm anxiously waiting for future updates.

[ANtY93]

I love this one, such a great atmosphere!

Maybe the head of the guy on the left is too big/hand too small

[Pixelhead]

Hey everyone. I'm having a limited print sale over on my site. Come have a look and buy some awesome quality canvas prints!

[Pixelhead]

Heyyyyy I'm streaming in a bit.

www.livestream.com/jamesart

[razz]

What immediately caught my eye in your work is the lighting. Looks amazing in every piece. I can definitely learn a thing or two by looking at these. Great stuff!

[Pixelhead]

Thanks man!

Late night streaming in a bit. Come hang out.

www.livestream.com/jamesart