M I R A C O L A • Updated - 6-13-2006

[skvv]

wowzers, color me starstruck!! (i used to play magic) AWESOME that you could join the party mr. jeff! i've been staring at your artwork since 1997 and i'm always impressed (except for those damn beebles).

[dogfood]

These look great. I love the amount of expression you are able to convey, especially with the hands and pose.

You seem to have the tendency in a couple of these to make the hands kind of large. The girl with the demon looks to have large, man hands (but is absolutely sweet in all other regards).

Love the oil sketches.

[miracola]

great work miracola, i'm actually pretty interested in that paper you are using, i've never seen colored paper in a spiral notebook before, at least in my art stores.

anyways.

i love your stuff and i hope to see you continue posting more fantastic work!

Finding that colored paper spiral sketchbook was a total fluke. I have never seen one before. I looked this one up online and can't find much. What I find is small, square versions mentioned on French web sites. But nothing for sale anywhere. Even the Canson site itself doesn't seem to mention them.

This one is 8.5"x11" with 160 pages of different colored Canson paper and semi-transparent plastic covers. The words "carnet de croquis" were on the cover as well as the Canson logo. That's it. The store only had one book and I'm not sure if they can get more. I'll certainly find out. It was found at a store called Michael's Arts & Crafts. And the book only cost me $7.00. What a steal!!!

And thanks for the compliment.

Jeff

[miracola]

wowzers, color me starstruck!! (i used to play magic) AWESOME that you could join the party mr. jeff! i've been staring at your artwork since 1997 and i'm always impressed (except for those damn beebles).

Ah, so you are a Beeble-hater are you? I go through phases, somedays I like them, somedays I want to throw them against a wall!

And thanks man! I sure have been doing this stuff for a while. I feel so old now.

jeff

[skvv]

yeah, they're not so bad i guess.

on a more serious note (and watchout for the fanboyism popping out here a little) Kev Walker, Brom, Paolo Parente, Mark Zug, Matt D. Wilson, and You are all in my personal hall of fame.

[miracola]

yeah, they're not so bad i guess.

on a more serious note (and watchout for the fanboyism popping out here a little) Kev Walker, Brom, Paolo Parente, Mark Zug, Matt D. Wilson, and You are all in my personal hall of fame.

You ever mention me in the same sentence as Brom again and I just might have to buy you a new Mustang GT, boyyeeee!! Seriously though, Brom has always been an idol of mine for obvious reasons. Kev is just an amazing talent. Paolo has rock solid skillz and is the coolest dude in Italy. Mark blows me away with his paintings. If you ever get to see an original, you'll never forget it. Matt has grown leaps and bounds and is frickin' talented. He was just good way back when and now he's like outer space good!! I even have an original Wilson painting!! Me digs it.

I can honestly say I don't belong mixed in with those guys, but if you wanna say it, I won't tell ya to take it back. I think I still have some proving to do. I certainly don't think my best has come yet. Lord knows I can't be known for those damn Beebles. I appreciate the compliment, seriously.

jeff

[miracola]

Some drawings from my Tuesday night figure drawing class. I was late tonight and missed the warm up gesture sessions.

5 min.
15 min.
25 min
45 min.

[miracola]

Some pencil drawings from an older sketchbook. About 2 or 3 years old.

[Profil]

Nice work
I love this one:
http://www.jeffmiracola.com/images/a..._sketch001.jpg

The palette is wonderful.

[Ryu]

Ok, i have to admit, i stared at your thread at least 10 min. Blank eye. No thought.

I love it, love it all... sorry, i'd like so much to crit, make you progress as much as you inspired me, but i can't
so as far as it goes, thank you !!
I'll watch that thread, hope you'll update often, because i love it .
The pencil rendering is so nice, and love to see your black and white, especially because a big part of my portfolio for school i'm making is black and white stuff ( its all in my sketchbook if you want to see, :p if you have time of course )

so i hope to see more,
peace

[PHATandy]

this stuff is really great.. youve got a nice grasp on most stuff.. your use of the white pencil is awesome. havent drawn in a while.. now i am.. thx for the inspiration. Good work

[miracola]

Profil
Thanks man! I really like that one as well. I am working on sketches right now for a painting that I will approach in the same way. I liked how sculptural it looks, so I hope I can reproduce that in this other, larger painting.

jeff

RYU
You are a man on a mission, bro! Your sketchbook is awesome. It is a classic example of getting better through quantity. Draw and draw alot, that's what I was always taught. I try to draw at least once a day no matter how busy I am. And it looks like you do that same. I do believe very strongly that drawing will make you a better artist all around. And you seem to have grasped that concept and taken it to heart. It's inspiring to see someone with such drive. Whatever you do, keep it up!! I'll be checking your work often.

jeff

PHATandy

Awesome!! If I can inspire someone to do art, then I've accomplished so much.

White paper scares me. It's so stark and empty. Colored paper is easier for me to approach and I like that I can use the white pencil to bring out highlights.

jeff

[dogfood]

There's been a lot of complaining about how so many comments are of the fanboy variety, and not enough actual crits, but I have to say that these threads (while i have critted a piece or two) do a lot for me, personally. I get down and don't feel like drawing, but look at your work (among others), and dive for my pencil and sketchbook. Thanks. A lot.

[flex mathews]

very nice work... i really love the oils. so small.

[miracola]

There's been a lot of complaining about how so many comments are of the fanboy variety, and not enough actual crits, but I have to say that these threads (while i have critted a piece or two) do a lot for me, personally. I get down and don't feel like drawing, but look at your work (among others), and dive for my pencil and sketchbook. Thanks. A lot.

Dude, I do the same thing. I lurk around these threads and see all kinds of cool stuff. I get down as well at times and need some inspiration. This site really gives me that inspiration. That's one of the things that sucks about being a freelance illustrator - you spend a lot time alone at the easel or drawing table. It helps to connect with others and see what others are doing. Every time I think I've pushed a drawing to the max, I check out this site and see someone else's work that rocks and I think I should have pushed my drawing further like so and so did. So a site like this only drives us to improve and that's awesome.

Jeff

[miracola]

very nice work... i really love the oils. so small.

Flex,

Thanks man. You do some great work yourself. I just love your pencil renderings. You gotta post some more goodies man, especially some more oils.

jeff

[Stitchface]

Wow Fantastic Thread Jeff , its nice to see some of your sketches, have been collecting your magic card art for years. Especially like the oil sketches above!! [Ha, a traditionalist]. I will be checking back here often for inspiration.

Thanks for joining CA.org!!!!
-Jeff

PS- Sorry for the fanboy comments, but I am more inspired here, besides skecthbooks are for experimentation and self exploration, I don't like analizing them, instead I save the critiques for finished pieces/illustrations.

[miracola]

Wow Fantastic Thread Jeff , its nice to see some of your sketches, have been collecting your magic card art for years. Especially like the oil sketches above!! [Ha, a traditionalist]. I will be checking back here often for inspiration.

Thanks for joining CA.org!!!!
-Jeff

PS- Sorry for the fanboy comments, but I am more inspired here, besides skecthbooks are for experimentation and self exploration, I don't like analizing them, instead I save the critiques for finished pieces/illustrations.

yeah, it's hard to crit a sketchbook unless someone is specifically trying for something. But mine is just a posting of sketches so people can see my different drawing techniques and also hopefully get some inspiration like I do from others.

I guess I should post some Magic art sketches as well. They aren't all that much use because my AD almost always approves the first sketch (lucky me), but I did have a handful of changes to a current piece that I can't show yet

I'll try to dig up some others tonight.

Jeff

[Fellah.]

No fanboy comments? Thats impossible!!! This stuff gave me the final push to get back to the buisness! Or at least die trying... It has that feel of fun and hard work that makes it very inspiring!
Btw: Thanks for the nice reply on my sketchbook - it has a long answer waiting for you -hehe,sorry.

[miracola]

Just one sketch done in 45 minutes during lunch today. I have no idea what I was thinking, I was just drawing.

jeff

[Eyal]

some hot shit here!
someone turn on the a/c!

[Ryu]

beside the awesome drawing you just posted,
i just wanted to thank you so much for the kind words ! Feel so good...
Im workin a lot, but you never know, and the exam, and competition (i dont like that much, because i dont need it to draw a lot..)
So thank you, ill be posting some more, because i'm having some selection for my portfolio today.

Thank you, and 'ill be around here for every update, u can be sure
Great art, great inspiration, great guy... man, could we only ask for more?

[USER777]

beautiful and inspiring stuff. i LOVE the figure drawings. so much solidity in your form. do you use white chalk for your highlights on those figures? or something different?

[miracola]

beautiful and inspiring stuff. i LOVE the figure drawings. so much solidity in your form. do you use white chalk for your highlights on those figures? or something different?

Thanks man. It's been a long, tough struggle with my figure drawing. I've come such a long way since my college days. I've been so disciplined though for the past 4 years or so and draw from the live model as much as possible by going to open figure drawing at the local art college and also having friends pose for me. It pays off, it really does.

For materials, The above two last figure drawings are on Reves BFK Tan printmaking paper. It's about $5 a sheet (20'x30") in the store and half the cost of that online. Pencils used are Derwent drawing pencils. They say "Made in England" on them. They are kind of like chalk in a way. Somewhere inbetween chalk and conte, more like conte because it isn't messy like chalk. I highly recommend them. I got mine from a local craft store.

the pencils:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz204/24/pr...m=0&ig_id=1314

the paper (last one on the page)
http://www.aswexpress.com/discount-a...art-supplies/4

jeff

[miracola]

beside the awesome drawing you just posted,
i just wanted to thank you so much for the kind words ! Feel so good...
Im workin a lot, but you never know, and the exam, and competition (i dont like that much, because i dont need it to draw a lot..)
So thank you, ill be posting some more, because i'm having some selection for my portfolio today.

Thank you, and 'ill be around here for every update, u can be sure
Great art, great inspiration, great guy... man, could we only ask for more?

It's my pleasure man. There are some really talented artists here like yourself and EYAL. You guys inspire me as much as I may inspire you.

jeff

[foster]

hey jeff, wow man, this is all so cool! you have always been and excellent artist but you have kept in motion. it seems all you put your hand to turns gold.

you have an excellent sense of volume and shape and know just how to play them off of each other to make some of the strangest and most fun works of art i have seen.

glad to see what you are up to now a days.

jon

[miracola]

hey jeff, wow man, this is all so cool! you have always been and excellent artist but you have kept in motion. it seems all you put your hand to turns gold.

you have an excellent sense of volume and shape and know just how to play them off of each other to make some of the strangest and most fun works of art i have seen.

glad to see what you are up to now a days.

jon

Thanks so much Jon. You ain't so bad yourself

Actually, I hate you. Just like Brom stole white-skinned woman and noone can paint one without being a Brom hack, you hijacked robots dammit!! oh wait, I could paint white robots, oops, did I type that? don't go stealing my idea now

Seriously though Jon, you are in a league of your own. A true inspiration to guys like me. Every single time I see one of your oil paintings, I want to ditch everything in my life, lock myself in a room and paint, paint, paint. Thanks for the inspiration.

jeff

[strych9ine]

It's really nice to see you around the forums, I've dug your work for quite a while. Definitely an inspiring thread...

[brkofdon]

wonderfull work! all the lurking that i do around here makes me stumble upon some really great artists...like yourself! i love your play with styles, probably one of the most things i look for first when i see peoples art. anyways please keep sharing your work! ill be checking back ....

[miracola]

A dinosaur drawing I did for my son last night. He art directed me on this one. He asked for the stripes and the large backplates.