Jenny's sketchbook

[JennyDavis]

Decided to take others' advice and start a sketchbook. I'm a traditional media artist trying to learn digital, so this'll probably be mostly Photoshop stuff. Might throw in some traditional media things every now and then. Feel free to critique - the more feedback, the better!

1. Ugly Stepsister #1 (pen & ink, watercolor, and gold leaf)
2. sketch of a Gaul, loosely based on this description of Gallic clothing. http://www.oldandsold.com/articles09/clothes-17.shtml
3. sketch of a girl with a falcon
4. frog prince...
5. sketch practicing portraits and overlaying effects in photoshop

[Jaytea]

*spits out milk*

heheh, gee, great work. I really like that last one and the sketch of the Gaul. Good variety in just one post.

I might suggest though, that the paper texture on the eagle trainer one seems a little distracting, is there any way to mute it a bit?

[alesoun]

That frog would scare the Hell outta me!
I really like the Ugly sister. Is working with gold leaf really as tricky as I've always heard?

[JennyDavis]

That frog would scare the Hell outta me!
I really like the Ugly sister. Is working with gold leaf really as tricky as I've always heard?

Lol thanks!

Not at all, gold leaf is really simple. All you do is paint a thin layer of metal leaf adhesive onto the area you want to guild. Wait for it to dry (30-60 min), then lay down a sheet of leaf over it and burnish it. Then all you have to do is rub it with your fingers, and the leaf that was not over the adhesive will fall right off.

[elsewhere]

Great start, I just love the girl with the eagle.
I don't have any crits for you, looking forward to seeing more

[Peter Berkovski]

Great start, I just love the girl with the eagle.

keep going!

[JennyDavis]

Hey guys, thanks for all the comments! Here're a couple more images... I'll try to update as often as possible, but my posts might be a bit sporadic, depending on what's going on with my classes (I'm finishing my BA this year). Wish I had more to show right now, but last week was midterms so I've been a bit swamped. (Excuses, excuses, I know, lol ).

Anyway, here's something a few months old and non-digital, just for the heck of it, and an in-progress of my Gaul, which I'm now working on coloring. Tips very much appreciated, as always.

I'm trying to make the swaths of material around the Gaul's waist look like furs--how do they read? I had somebody comment that they look more like straw. What do you think? Do they need tweaking?

1. the Gaul...
2. Masquerade #4 (pen & ink, watercolor, and aluminum leaf)
3. Detail of Masquerade #4

[mark malone]

Nice SP, JD!!
Yeah really like that self portrait nice use of tone & texture!!

[JennyDavis]

thanks for the feedback!

Sorry it's been so long since an update, I've been really busy lately and haven't had much time to draw until recently. (Excuses, excuses, I know.) But over the last couple days I've been on a total drawing rampage, so I have a bunch of stuff to show.

I'll just start with a few things for now though, and probably post more later this afternoon. I did finish the Gaul, I'll post him once I find his file... He's around here somewhere. Comments/critiques welcome as always!

All Photoshop:
1. Life drawing, took about 1.5 hours
2. "Crunchy."
3. Messin' around with layering textures and color overlays.

[vlad74]

Really cool stuff Jenny. I looked at your web site. Great watercolour paintings.

[Asatira]

Hmm, I can't really critique. I think you should be able to pick up digital painting pretty easily because you have a strong grasp of traditional media. It's mostly adjusting to a less tactile interface (mouse or tablet versus a brush or pencil). You've got some great stuff. I think I'll subscribe to see what else you come up with.

[Zenobia]

Great style here. You have a good grasp on anatomy it seems (something Im trying to work on myself).
Keep working on those digital painting! You're doing well and picking up fast.
Now on with more posts!

[JennyDavis]

thanks guys! i really appreciate the comments.

here's some more stuff...

1. hilltop castle... playing with making environments in photoshop. i would really like to be a concept artist (like a lot of people lol) so i was trying to focus on mood. i found some pictures of european castles from different times and ended up making a hodgepodge castle rather than something historically accurate.
2. finished version of my Gaul from way back. i'm not that happy with him now, his pose seems so stiff, but i thought i should go ahead and post his final incarnation.
3. and a page of sketches i did during my art history class.

comments/critiques welcome as always

[artistcaleb]

Beautiful!!! reminds me of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec! You're a brilliant artist. I would love to see more!

[Sekino]

That's gorgeous stuff! I love your linework. Hope to see more!

[Helltroll]

Nice composition with the castle, and I really like how you did the Gaul.
Almost sorta pastel-y

[JennyDavis]

Thought I'd go ahead and post this here, too. This is my first CHOW (#150), Queen's Consort. Finished it this afternoon. I had a lot of fun with it. I got the idea for the guy from a sketch I had started earlier of a drunk Roman.
So my Queen's consort enjoys his drinks, and he also does a lot of dirty work...

Caleb: Thanks! I checked out your website--that's high praise, especially coming from you! Your work is gorgeous.

Sekino: Thanks! Love your work, too. Your illustrations are so beautiful and delicate. Do you have a sketchbook thread?

Helltroll: Thanks for the feedback! Haha, glad you like the Gaul's look. I wasn't all that sure about it.