M I R A C O L A • Updated - 6-13-2006

[miracola]

I'll use this thread as a dumping ground for sketches. Sharing is caring, right?

I'll start it off with a few sketches I did last night while watching television. These aren't for anything specific. I was just sketching. I used Copic markers for these.

Jeff

[miracola]

Some oil sketches and a brown prismacolor sketch that I posted in an earlier thread but thought I should move it here so all my sketches are in one place.

Oil sketches are are masonite, each is 3.5"x3.5". Pencil drawing is on Reves BFK tan printmaking paper.

[fukifino]

Cool stuff, Jeff! Really diggin' it all. Nice to see you posting more on here lately.

I have a quick question about your finished work, if you don't mind. Looking through your galleries, your style seems all over the map when it comes to published work. Yet most of the stuff in your personal works gallery has a lot of Hale/Foster/Brom influence in it. I'm wondering if you've made a personal choice to try to get away from that style in your published work, or if that was just a phase you were going through during that particular block of personal work?

If I remember correctly, you were the one that mentioned over on the Wizards boards that you sometimes experiment with new styles and they don't always succeed. I'm just curious why you choose to experiment on some of the published work when you have such a strong stable of styles that seem to work really well.

Anyways, looking forward to seeing more of your sketches here.

[Skinshark]

Nice stuff...glad to see you come out of hiding.

But really...where's the "SKETCHBOOK"?

Nobody with your creative little mind is totally devoid of having a 100 drawings on a page...come on man...let's see the ugly stuff.

[le capitan]

cool stuff, i like your sketches. Reminds me of Tony Deterlizzi

[miracola]

Cool stuff, Jeff! Really diggin' it all. Nice to see you posting more on here lately.

I have a quick question about your finished work, if you don't mind. Looking through your galleries, your style seems all over the map when it comes to published work. Yet most of the stuff in your personal works gallery has a lot of Hale/Foster/Brom influence in it. I'm wondering if you've made a personal choice to try to get away from that style in your published work, or if that was just a phase you were going through during that particular block of personal work?

If I remember correctly, you were the one that mentioned over on the Wizards boards that you sometimes experiment with new styles and they don't always succeed. I'm just curious why you choose to experiment on some of the published work when you have such a strong stable of styles that seem to work really well.

Anyways, looking forward to seeing more of your sketches here.

Yeah, my work is all over the board fer sure!! I think I have A.D.D. or something because I get bored fast. I have been influenced by Frazetta, Brom, Hale/Foster/Berry, Bisley. And that influence creeps into my work at times. I honestly think I've been so busy over the years that I never really had a chance to discover my own thing. Plus I get such a range of assignments that I approach them in different ways depending on certain variables like time, materials, etc. When I use oils, I paint one way. When I use acrylics, I paint another way. Sometimes I like to do tighter tonal pencil drawings and other times loose like Ashley Wood or somebody like that. Some artists moving from traditional to digital will try to do the same style on the computer as they do with normal paintings. Maybe this is conscious, maybe not. I don't really care to try and make something digital look like an oil painting of mine. At least not right now;-) If I do digital stuff, I usually do it differently like simple line work with simple colors. At some point, I know my own look will emerge from all that, but the influence is inevitable because I used these guys to learn how to paint and draw. As soon as I discovered Frazetta or Brom back in high school, I poured over everything they did just to try and disect how they painted or drew. So I learned by mimicking them and a lot of the techniques have stuck with me. Call it a comfort zone if you will. But I do get bored and try new things. Some work, some don't.

Someone like Foster was heavily influenced by Rick Berry and Phil Hale. The similarities are still there, but he has managed to come into his own look and flair. I'm sure at some point the same will happen for me.

Plus, my style has changed because i've been doing art for a long time. I started getting pro work when I dropped out of college. I was very impressionable. If you could see some of my early work from like 1991 or 92, it sucks so bad because I have really progressed. And that makes me feel good. Especially since I didn't even start doing fantasy art until junior year of high school.

I envy those artists that have a "look" their whole careers, but it seems that isn't me just yet. I hope to get there, but we'll see.

Jeff

[miracola]

Nice stuff...glad to see you come out of hiding.

But really...where's the "SKETCHBOOK"?

Nobody with your creative little mind is totally devoid of having a 100 drawings on a page...come on man...let's see the ugly stuff.

Funny thing is that I don't fill up sketchbooks. I think I have 15 sketchbooks all half filled up with drawings. I usually draw on larger sheets of paper because I feel less confined that way. But I am trying really hard to fill those empty sketchbooks.

so yes, I will scan more work and post it here. ugly stuff? why I could never do anything ugly...

jeff

[Ghost]

Good stuff miracola keep it up

[Keepiru]

Jeff, those oil sketches are the best things I've ever seen! I love them. They remind me a lot of Ralph Eggleston's character designs, he did most of the design work for Monsters Inc. and Finding Nemo...and even if you hate Disney you have to admit that stuff is pretty genius. You also might want to look at Carter Goodrich and (always my favorite) Peter de Seve. From the little that you have posted, you are incredibly talented and imaginative, and I'm itching to see more.
As far as the sketchbooks go, I don't really agree that it has to be confined to an actual bound book...if you work large then work large...there are'nt any paramaters! Being fresh out of college with an illustration and design degree, I know that my stuff has really changed in the short time that I have been graduated, and I think that it is absurd to think that any artist should strive to confine themselves to one style and technique of working...ESPECIALLY for their entire career. People may have a certian perspective on things that will always come through in their art, but if you look at any great illustrator or artist, the very best ones are the ones who are "all over the map" in their creative process. So I think its a good thing, and it really shows that you are learning...once you start doing everything the same you stop learning and inevatibly stop being creative. So...my point is that (from what I have seen) I admire the way you work and I think that it is very inspiring, and It would be unfortunate if you tried to lock yourself down into working in only one particular way. Also, your stuff kicks some serious sumo ass.

That was my soapbox! Im not sure how much it really means, considering you're a pro and I can barely scrounge some freelance work right now, but I just thought It needed to be said!

-Keeps

[miracola]

More sketches from various sketchbooks.











I actually used a model for the sketch below (no, not the little demon ) I have never used models in the past and thought I might try to start using them occasionally. I'll probably paint this one up in oil, so I will take progression photos to show the process for those interested. Any Crits or suggestions are welcome before I start painting it up. I have no idea of colors at this point.

[Skinshark]

Diggin' the dinosaur head and the first one there on creme stock.

Nice.

[miracola]

Some sketches of a friend that models for me. I did these last night.

jeff

[miracola]

Some Sunday morning doodles....

[Eew]

awesome stuff , how many sketchbooks you got ? i see 3 dif sb's ? your oil's

[auden100]

Hey, great sketches. makes me wish we had the star ratings back. I've appreciated your work for a while. Thanks for posting.

[miracola]

Hey guys, thanks for all the kind and encouraging words.

Keeps - I definitely know of Carter Goodrich and Peter De'Seve. I have always admired their work. I pretty much draw on whatever paper I have at hand. My dream is to one day fill up an entire sketchbook and not have 15 half empty sketchbooks. But as long as I'm drawing, who cares, right?

Chillin' out with the kids on a lazy Sunday. A few more sketches...





Back to work tomorrow, bummer!

Jeff

[miracola]

awesome stuff , how many sketchbooks you got ? i see 3 dif sb's ? your oil's

About 15, but none of them are completely full. But I have so many loose pieces of paper that I have drawn on all over the house. Hopefully I'll have one whole sketchbook filled up this year. we'll see.

jeff

[Keepiru]

Ahhhahhh...these are soo good. That blue paper is the way to fly, man! Prior to my previous post I had not visited your site, some of your work is really inspiring. It also makes me crazy that you're buds with Tony DiTerlizzi and Adam Rex. *sigh* maybe someday! *adds Miracola to heros list*
-Keeps

[miracola]

Ahhhahhh...these are soo good. That blue paper is the way to fly, man! Prior to my previous post I had not visited your site, some of your work is really inspiring. It also makes me crazy that you're buds with Tony DiTerlizzi and Adam Rex. *sigh* maybe someday! *adds Miracola to heros list*
-Keeps

I bought this Canson sketchbook last week that has all different kinds of colored paper in it. It is sooooo cool. Kinda like those packs of construction paper, but this is Canson quality paper. I am always on the lookout for a good brown paper sketchbook, but most I see just aren't dark enough. This rainbow sketchbook (don't read into that) will hold me over for now. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, I can't wait to get to orange!!!

jeff

[Main Loop]

there's some really cool stuff in here...



i love that one..

[miracola]

there's some really cool stuff in here...

i love that one..

Thanks man. That's my fav of the bunch as well. Something about browns and yellow ochre that I love. I'll try to doa few more oil sketches this week.

jeff

[miracola]

Ok, no laughing out loud, but here is my very first Painter attempt. I have no idea what I am doing in this program!! I just started drawing and this is what I got. I used a mouse to do this. I still haven't decided if I want to pursue using Painter. I better go find some tutorials.

[Ghost]

First thing painter isn't really meant to be used with a mouse invest in a Wacom tablet if u want to get the full power of painter unleashed.

[N-Mel]

good to see your sketchwerx. I have admired your work for years. I love your bold sense of design and loose style. Hmmm... I don't know if I meant to call you bold and loose. but take it as a compliment. ah, yes. I would like to see more of your process in color, paint, etc. thanks. Have a good one.

[FrozenValley]

nice work!
You have a unique style that works great, and your choice of colour is awesome.
James

[miracola]

First thing painter isn't really meant to be used with a mouse invest in a Wacom tablet if u want to get the full power of painter unleashed.

Hey Ghost. Yeah, I know that I need a tablet to unleash the power of Painter. I actually have a Wacom Digitizer 2 that a friend gave to me. But as you know, that is a super old tablet. It only works on my other computer(G3) and that stupid machine keeps crashing. I do plan to buy a new Intuos 3 tablet soon because I want to use it on the G5. So I'll make sure to post my very first all digital art created with a tablet as soon as I can.

[miracola]

Feeling a bit tonal today...

Derwent drawing pencils and white acrylic paint on Canson paper.

Pencils used:

Chinese White 72
Ivory Black 67
Venetian Red 63

[kapturowski]

I love this one. Especially the little demondude

[Ghost]

Digitizer 2 yeah that's old man, i gotta hand it to ya for doing it with a mouse though. Painstaking but U did it.

[davi]

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!