Real Gone

This will be my last update for a little while. As some of you know already, my unit was called up last October to Support Operation Iraqi Freedom. And that time was pushed forward due to the sudden surge of troops needed for Baghdad. So next week, I will be part of that big push. Of course where I'm going; I can't say, and when; again, can't really say. But I will continue to work on my art work in my down time, make a contribution to Illustration Friday (again when time is permitted) and hopefully have my book finished and ready to go on my return from this deployment. I will update this site from time to time, but it will be nothing to due with Iraq. A big part of our failure in the war on terror is "lose lips sink ships, and tittle tattle can lose a battle." But again, I wish everyone a great year, and talk to everyone real soon. In the mean time, My little contribution (the last for a little while) to illustration friday this week: Red.
Title: My Lost Love
Medium: Prisma Color Pencil, Ebony Pencil
Size: 8 1/2 X 11
R/S
MRF

Busy as a Bee: The Paper Wasp Queen Update #3

So today I decided to work on the lower two legs, background and some inking on the upper body.


I started by picking a lighter color (Spanish Orange) and doing the flat color work on the bottom two. While I was at it, I also did the upper one to get all the flats completed.
I then went to the darker of the flats (Yellow Weed Orange) to work on in the shadows. Latter this will give the reference to darker from lights. I use a Kneaded Eraser to get rid of the #2 outline (these lines will be replaced with foreground shadow work at a latter time).



Moving along- I go to a slighter darker color (Burnt Ochre) to begin giving that no so flat look. This color will be the base before adding the primary. Once that is done, I go over all the shadow work with the primary color (Tuscan Red) and start bringing the shadows down from underneath. The same color will go with deep detail along the legs to give it patch work (or its leg design) Then finally for the legs-Black, to give the overall seeming effect. Each color is placed on layers and built up around one another. This is to give it a smooth effect and not look as if it was splashed on.


Then some detail work (using a very fine Millennium .500) to work in the dark groves for the upper body. Very steady hand work and also the lower back next to the wing is worked in and color is added.
Another fine swipe of the Terra Pens for background and this is what it is today.

Busy as a Bee: The Paper Wasp Queen Update

Like most of my art work, everything starts out as a drawing. A couple of weeks ago I started on some new illustrations for my book. Most of which is for the up-coming chapters (which I will not disclose) but what I do enjoy is giving a little so it gets those that want to read it drooling over the eye candy which will be out soon.
I started with the drawing, and then did an India ink job around the pencil layout to give it a flat shape. Then I start by layering color on the outside. I use different Terra shades to get the border down. I only do a little at a time so I can give it that dirty look I love so much in my artwork.

From this point, I’ve begun to add Prisma Color Pencil (Tuscan Red). This is the main color for the worker. I start dark and then add different shades lighter than before. The wings are done with the same Pitt Pens (shades of grey) again darker on the inside and then lighter working out.



After the lower part is done; I start adding shape to it by using the black prisma color pencil. This is always done last before the grey and white (which will be done latter to give it a slimy look) so it adds texture and body-giving it that dark skuzzy look. This is all I have done today, but as more is done; I will be sure to add updates.

Weeping Daymares…

When you dream, it moves in slow motion. Sometimes you don’t even know that you have slipped into the realm; past the dreamscape and into the parts of your mind that lie dormant. I’ve been gone from the realm of realism for so long; I almost couldn’t tell where I had fallen. The queen spoke of this, a place filled with my deepest contentment. Joy sets; and the sound of voices; whispers of something I could not make out. I walked down the beach, my bare feet sinking into the grainy sand with each step I took towards the crest. The sound of waves, water, children laughing; it was the warmest I had felt since I fell from the light. There was no cold snow, no chilling wind that blew through my bones like the freezing blade of hate.

I could see- and it was more beautiful than any color an artist could mix on a pallet of a warm day of the season. A woman with her child; no doubt the mother of the young little boy. A man knelt down in front of them with a camera; capturing a moment in time. For one a second, there was this complete look of absolute love. She held him close; I can only assume that he ran into her arms. The face of the boy not visible, but his tiny hands brushed her shoulder. He did not run for any hero in a book, nor for a fictional character created by man; but to the one he called mom, mother, mommy. She embraced him, holding him tight as her hair blew across her face in the steady warm wind which came off the soothing ocean tide. And although she spoke no words, her face painted deep with a look of unconditional love. And then time stops; No more wind, no more warm sun, no more joy. It was nothing more than a mere daymare, a day dream night mare, a look to the past. A tear; weeping in my mind, a trick to. . .


Illustration and excerpt taken from the Illustrated Novel, Tormented Souls by Michael R Fudge Jr.

Long Live the Queen: Update

So two, three days into it and I’m half way there. Last night (after staying up until 3am-again-god bless NOS) I finished the final lay out. It got a little tight in some places, and you can see from the drawing, there seems to be a lot going on here. You have a worker placing an egg on the top right of the hive, and then in the lower left a warrior awaits for the birth of the first fertile queen.
The layouts take longer than most of the drawing. Combining 4 different sketch's to bring out one final print requires a lot of over lays (Transfer sheets). This is nothing more than doing a trace over the original, and placing them in the right places of the final illustration board. But both sides have to be traced on, this creates an HB#2 carbon paper effect minus the mess. Easy to erase the black spots and fill in the gaps. It takes a long time but the effect is worth it.
Once it is completed then one more transfer sheet must be made of the entire picture to be placed on the illustration board. And that’s where I’m at today. Once I finish the final Trans Sheet, I can begin painting. I’ll post more as it comes along.
R/S
MRF

NOS…???

Time for a break so I thought I would drop a post. Okay, the past couple of days I’ve been really bogged down with all the work I’ve laid on me. Yeah.... don’t you hate when you create your own work and have no one to blame for being busy but you? Okay so I’m at the shoppette on post Friday and I just dropped Maria off at work, I’m already done and was told to come back on Monday for regular PT (Physical Training) at 0615 (another day of running). Run down and feeling burnt out with no energy left; I stopped in to grab a Red Bull and saw these instead. NOS? Wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I picked up 3 and brought them back home, jumped in the studio and donned my brain to begin the creative part of all layout designs. I received the post from Illustration Friday about the newest topic…BUZZ. I could sure use one, I thought as I sat there at the drawing board; and started on lay out ideas. You know, beer bottles, pictures of insects that go buzz and none of that was hitting the spot. Well cracked open one of these NOS and decided to give’em a try! WOW!!! It was all I could say.
My hand was working on the paper faster than my warped mind could think. With God Smack “Time Bomb” kicking in the back ground the only thing I could do was roll with the flow. Hey the bottom line is this, I found myself up until 3am working on an illustration, mind full throttle, and had to force myself to crash. But even when I was laying in bed on my way to the happy world of slumber, I still had the illustration in my head, I could see the colors fill themselves into the humble lines of way. I think this stuff is better than Red Bull, and I’ve been a big fan of it since my last deployment. But I have to say, step out of the bull, NOS is about to blow by! So if you’re into energy drinks; give NOS a try.
Here are some pictures of pre-layout and over lay designs for this week.
R/S
MRF

Hooked on A Series of Unfortunate Events

As a writer an artist, you have to expand yourself to different avenues; it helps you to grow and create a certain style. Each writer and artist has their own personal style, or voice so to speak. Their words entangle you into a realm which pulls you into a world created by their imagination.
Now I have to admit, as a beginner, I latched onto one writer and stuck with him for a while, the master of horror, Stephen King himself. I read all his books a dozen times, own his entire library and movies which were adapted from his tangled world of mystery and macabre. Then came Dean Koontz (which I recall reading The Door to December in a recycle trailer where I worked as a kid trying to earn my first way in this world at the age of 15) and became trapped in his web of demise. Both authors I still read today, adding their newest novels to my library.
Just last week I was in Target when I ran across the entire collection of Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events. The first thing that popped into my head was Jim Carrey and the words, “it’s french for beef which is roasted.” Now I must’ve watched this movie about a hundred times with my kids while I lived with them in Georgia, waiting for their mother to return from her recent rotation to Iraq, and never once imagined how the book was written. I picked up the first book (out of 13) and read the back which told me to put it down, don’t buy it, it’s filled with nothing but misfortunes for 3 orphan children. I have to admit, if I had never seen the movie, I would’ve bought the book right on the spot. Why, because I’m human, and when you tell a human not to do something; they 99 times out of 100 will do it anyway.
I have to say that I was hooked from the first 4 pages. The style of the book was the same as that in the movie. Each page led to another event, one right after another to the point where I had flipped 20 pages into it and almost missed my appointment. Long story short, I ended up buying it, and I’m sad to report that I will probably spend the money and by the whole box collection. Lemony Snicket (Brett Helquist) has a mysterious way of telling a story, and if you are a big reading fan, and never read it; I would have to implore picking up the collection. Even though it might seem it was meant for a child, it can turn your head and keep you flipping through the story until you reach the end. Filled with illustrations by Brett Helquist; and tuned with words from Lemony Snicket, the book is as good as the movie and well worth the time to step away from Stephen King for just a second and take a journey with the Baudelaire Children and witness first hand a series of unfortunate events.
R/S
MRF

Where I found the box collection:

Where you can find the movie:

A little about the writer:

Dawn Of the New Year: The Tormented Soul

So another year is upon us; what will it hold? I guess it’s as good as time as any to post an outlook of the future. I’m sure like many others, we waited and count down as the ball fell to conclude the passing of one year and welcome a new. I’m even closer to saying that I’m sure that everyone made a resolution which will stick for a month or two until it becomes inconvenient to carry on. Whether it was going to the gym, give up smoking, find a better job, or just try and make peace among one another. Some will hold true and make an attempt, while others will just pacify themselves in believing that they will commit to some and fall short to others. Hey I’m not being an ass; I’m just stating the hard cold truth. It is in our nature (the ultimate design) to fall short and fail. That’s the glorious purpose of learning. The true and undoubted failure is not when you unsuccessfully fall belly up; but how and if you learned from it, pick yourself up and try again. Some hit that rock bottom and become complacent and decide to stay at the level. Remember I’m not pointing fingers; if the shoe fits, then wear it. I too suffer from this ultimate design. And at a lot of points; remain complacent with the failure I create. So in all, I’m not really pointing blame, but accepting it; and I guess that is the first step in the recovery. It’s the “finding the horse” so you can get back on it again.
But on to the real reason I’m here. In the past year, I’ve maintained this blog, not for dumping my endless thoughts or questions on to a web url in hopes of finding a reason to it all. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t even call myself a true blogger. I have no groups attached, I try when I find to the time, to check out all blogs to see what it is I’m missing around the world. I mostly have Illustration Friday in which I submit a work of art, hope for feed back, and wait until the next topic is submitted. So I guess I’m a failure when it comes to the blog issue. But what I do offer is a chance for you to step from your world and see what another is like. To ease your everyday suffering with the thoughts of mine. Pictures of dread that come from a #2 pencil, a story of torment that plays like a symphony orchestra of pain. And while some read it and view this world that has pushed into mine, I’ve gathered enough to finally begin the final stages of my illustrated novel,
”Tormented Souls.” A piece that I started a year ago with a cover design that turned from a short story into a mini series of stories. Pages filled with illustrations that bring life to the words on paper. A story not meant for the week or faint-hearted.
So I’m taking this next year, which will be spent in the desert of Iraq, and finish piecing together this puzzle that has yearned to live for the past 12 months. What I’m offering to those that read is the chance that no one else had when other mystery writers started. And that is to watch it grow. It’s like a flower, you plant the seed, give it water, sun, and in time, it will grow to something that was made in it’s design. A blue print of torment on paper. And a chance to see what truth lies behind the tormented soul. I have no idea where it will go and I’m not sure if it will even come true. But if it does, it will be one hell of a ride. I guess only time will tell. So drop in from time to time. I’ve packed what I could in my studio that will help bring life to those images. And with that being said, I can finally close the deal on the first book. The true question to all of it is this; do I hold onto the horse as it bucks or do I fall so that I can learn to get back on it again.
Respectfully Sent
MRF