Ostrander's Sketchbook of Shtuff

[Ostrander]

Reply-a-go-go...

chaosrocks- Hi Chaos! I looooooooooove B&W. It's too bad most people don't really feel the same way. I'm glad you do though.
As far as the composition goes... It's funny when you're working on something that you're really into, how you can forget or even not pay attention to certain aspects of the image. I agree anout the balance of this image being off. I was really trying to get that sense of turmoil, with the tilts and angles. I could have planned this better. But sometimes you just gotta get the damn thing done. And that's what happend here. I gave myself enough time, so that's not my exscuse. I'll go back into it here in a bit. I do feel good about certain elements of it. I just need a break from it. Thanks for your comments and dropping by again!

spiffiness- Heya Spiffy. Thanks for that, I appreciate it!

Zombie_dla- Stars? I see stars sometimes when I bump my head. And at night when the sky is clear. I love stars. Unfortunately, my sketchbook doesn't. I appreciate your comment and thanks for dropping by!

Nyx702Yeah I've been busy. Sorry Nick. I'm an ass. I get real active on here from time to time and then fall off the face of the 'net only to come back again and post some more. Works been bustin my ass. Freelance. Family and life in general. I agree about the figures. I'm gonna try and push this to another level here in a bit. I'm glad you approve of the looser work. It was something Spiffy had suggested and I think it was a good point. And yeah, it could probably go more loose. I sometimes "zone out" when working though and then get caught up in the details. Thanks for droppin by man. We'll get together with some OC soon. I'm jones-ing!

Ok, on to some art...
This was done for a test for N I V A L Interactive. They are developing a MMO and the test was to develop a Kobold. They asked for a Warrior, but I thought a mage would be neat too. But alas it wasn't meant to be. Recieved a polite rejection from the AD. Maybe next time.


Here's something I'm messing around with. I don't have alot of time to read, so I like to listen to audiobooks. This is quick doodle from a fairly recent Stephen King story. I think I'm gonna try and flesh this out a bit and get a nice illo out of it. Can you guess what it is? I bet you can.
hehe... wow, that sounds like the lady from Romper Room! Man I'm old.

Till next time...

[Ostrander]

me vs. Ilaekae, my side. For the battle tdome thread.

[Rich Pellegrino]

Hey Glen, nice drawing! I like the energy you've got going on in this.

[Nyx702]

Ah, those creatures for the art test are pretty cool. I think the color is a step up! The only thing that bugs me is the sheild on the one. The plate type things dont really look like they are attached. I don't know quite what it is...they kind-of look like claws. If they are a scale type armor they wouldn't do a very good job protecting if they were going side-ways. Maybe that was the point though, they are Kabolds...ah I am just talking out of my butt.

I think the image for the Tdome is awesome. I absoltly love the use of the white space at the bottom. Is that pink fyold shirt one of you favorites? You look pretty hip.

[TheGnoll]

Ostrander...i think i've hear your name somewhere but i really can't recall where...comics maybe?

dunno

last tdome entry looks great great b/w techniques...i've always been a fan of your zombies, but looks like you're damn good at all the rest.And you even did a Chulhu picture!unfortunately for some reason that tdome piece missed some "epic" qualities, if you know what i mean

keep sharing, great stuff in this book

ciao

[Ostrander]

voodoochile- Hey Rich! How you been man? I'm glad you like the pic. I appreciate your comment! Thanks for swinging by again. We're gonna have to get together again soon.
Nyx702- Hey Mr. Nick! Thanks for your comments on the kobold. I can see what you're saying abiout the shield. I found out today I didn't make the cut with the test. It didn't fit the style they were looking for unfortunatly, but he thought I did an excellent job and is holding my name for something in the future. Standard stuff I guess. Glad you liked the Tdome pic. I hate to admit it but I don't actually own that shirt. Love the band though.
TheGnoll- Hi Gnoll, I actually had a very brief stint in comics in the late 90's with some small press fantasy and horror stuff. I didn't get a chance to continue on that road as my life took a different path for a while. You might be thinking of John Ostrander, He's a comic writer for DC's The Specter. I used to go to all kinds of cons and would get asked if I was related to to the guy by editors and artists. I should have said yes and maybe I would have landed some big gig somewhere. Who knows? I'm glad you like the zombie stuff and my other work too. I know what you mean about the "epic" qualities of the Tdome I did, or lack of I should say. It's funny, sometimes I get so caught up in something I forget to step back and really look at the thing. Then before ya know it its too late. I will eventually go back into it and figure it out. But as so many others that are moving on to round 2 are going to enter new pieces I might do the same. Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your comments!

Here is a step by step of an older piece I did. I felt it should go here where it's nice and cozy. This was done in painter 6 and then some minor adjustments in pshop.

[(c)]

man the last one os absolutlu stunning!!! love the colours!!

[Ostrander]

(c)- Thanks man!

A little lunchie-doodle-do-do.

[Ostrander]

CA sketcher thingy.

[enthombed]

nice colors man in this last one... keep posting more.

Cheers

[chaosrocks]

love the touch of pink.. just makes it.... I captured it too actually . its in the casketcher thread in the lounge... I enjoyed watching you do it. eri starts with skribble, you pull it up out of the mist..... or at least thats what it looked like.

will wander by again

chaos

[mull77]

Love the COW piece, and that santa is perving out all over the place.

Got a polite rejection for my Kobold myself

[Ostrander]

enthombed- Thanks!
chaosrocks- Thanks chaos! Out of the mist huh? Sounds kinda creepy. ;P
It was a nice diversion at the end of a long work week.
mull77- Thanks! Yeah, at least the AD didn't say "Give up now, you suck!" That'd stink. Bad.

Here's my shot at that stylized animal challenge thingy.

[Solon]

Nice cow! lol. kidding, the legionaire hat is a nice touch. good caracter! keep posting.

[Nyx702]

I also like the legionaire hat and the linework/coloring. But I am a bit disapointed in the compostion. It looks very similar to the goat that you did. I loved the goat but it seems tired on this one. No offence my good friend! but it's a tad boring.

I really like the colored line art though. This is similar to the goat and the goat is one of my favorite color pieces by you.

[MUNIZ]

Great thread man, I just saw your post on the Stylized Animal thread. Really nice. I should have found your SB earlier. Keep em coming.

[Juhani Jokinen]

Nice work mate! You are really improving. Gotta love your work!

Keep up the nice work.

Juhani

[(c)]

I love the colours u apply nice light but still with dephs!!! like also the marvil like line work!! keep it up

[liam.c]

haha good stuff man !!!!!!great sense of humor !

[Machineabuse]

WOW! I learned a lot in the last two pages just from looking :3

If I have one crit for all of this is that WE NEED MOAR! xD

Wonderfully versatile in style, I like the use of backlighting in many of these.

[anubis713]

Absolutely amazing.
Your line work on the zombies is pretty incredible.
The creatures are really creative.
The "Hypnotizing" one is my favorite.

Definitely keep them coming!
I want to see tons and tons more.

[spiffiness]

I really like your Cow/alien thing! The fur is crazy! I have to agree with Nyx that the stylized animal looks a lot like your previous drawing. Your ink work is really great, too.

[Ostrander]

Wow I have a lot of replies to get to.
Solon- Hehe, thanks!
Nyx702- Man, I can't pull the wool over your eyes!
MUNIZ- Thanks MUNIZ! I appreciate your comments.
Anthriel- Thanks Anth, I appreciate that.
liam.c- Thanks Liam, I'm glad you like my sense of humor. Admissions free. Don't forget to tip your waitress.
Machineabuse- Wow thanks for that!
anubis713- Thanks Anubis. No big secrets with the line art. Just the scratchboard tool in painter with a slight squeeze to its shape. Thanks for dropping by.
spiffiness- Thanks Ms. Spiff!! Yeah, I already feel pretty bad I didn't push it more. I tied for second though!

Well, here is someting I whipped up this afternoon for the CHOW. I hadn't done one in so long. I included the steps along the way. I had started with some quick sketches that I lost interest in real quick and decided to just "play" with the skratchboard tool in Painter. So don't laugh at my terrible sketches.


Iorek Byrnison- from His Dark Materials series. Haven't read them but it looked like a fun CHOW.

[Sealegs]

Wow, really like your style...lovin the animals...keep posting!

[enthombed]

Hey Ostrander, nice bear man, really like the final result of this piece, the colors remember some books make to children, nice and clean stuff.

Keep posting

Cheers

[enthombed]

Hey Ostrander, nice bear man, really like the final result of this piece, the colors remember some books make to children, nice and clean stuff.

Keep posting

Cheers

[Machineabuse]

Holy hell dude. You have me crazy inspired. I GOTTA try that subtractive B&W style out for size.

[Pascallo]

Hey Ostrander, long time no see! Good recent work!
The polar bear is awesome! Though I feel like the metallic elements (if they are metallic) should have not so many strokes that it seems to merge with the wooden elements and its coat. Otherwise really nice! Like it!

[maxetormer]

[AK86]

wow awesome sketch book!