pumpkin patch, 3 of 3

     While using my new gray markers my mind was on the subject of color tones.  I noticed how stacking progressively darker tones on top of lighter tones was having an interesting effect and, boing!, I remembered an exercise in one of my early art classes where we were instructed to find the gray tone of a color using only pencil.  I think we used some color magazine photos to work from and our work was checked by the teacher making a non-color photocopy of the magazine images and comparing the gray tones we drew to the gray tones in the photocopied image.  All in all, a very good exercise, very memorable.

      Anyway, I got a little ambitious and thought about what would happen if I reversed that scenario?  What if I tried to see only the gray tones in colors and attempted to draw with them as though I was completely color blind?  As it was, I was stacking two or three gray tones before finishing with black on the previous images in this trilogy, therefore, two or three colors should be used in this experiment.  To keep things fairly simple I settled on the three primary colors: yellow, red and blue.  Yellow obviously having the lightest tone and blue the darkest.  I started with yellow (bad for the eyes, by the way) and began stacking, finishing with black.  What you see above is the end result.  I'm happy to say I think I succeeded.  If you grayscale this image it looks pretty similar to the others.  Yay!  Go me!

     Well, I'll stop wanking now and let you enjoy the final entry in my latest Octoberween trilogy.

pumpkin patch, 2 of 3

     After my initial experimentation with my newly acquired gray tones I settled down a bit and made these little guys.  Despite my best efforts they seemed to have turned out more adorable than creepy.

     Adorable because they seem to be honestly scared.  Frightened out of their cute little pumpkin skulls.  So often in real life fear manifests itself as anger, intolerance, stubbornness or other similar emotions that so conveniently feign strength.  People often choose to lie and appear strong, while the more natural reaction of honest fear is often regarded as a sign of weakness.

     Feh, I'll stop philosophizing and just say that's one of the great things about Halloween.  We get to go around and be scary and get scared and don't have to worry about what people think of us.  And it's fun.

pumpkin patch, 1 of 3

     I went out this weekend and got some new markers to increase my selection of gray tones.  Another purchase included my first pumpkin of the season!  Woot!

     What you see above is the combination of the aforementioned purchases.  I know it looks like I drew this bad boy from memory but I actually had my pumpkin in front of me while I was drawing.  It's just that the damned thing is so perfectly round and generic!  I'll be sure to get one with more character next time.  Anyhow, I think the gray tones worked decently and while this isn't the most inspired drawing I've ever done I think it has some merit.

     Tune in tomorrow for a more interesting use of my new markers.

funny faces, 2 of 2

     With this post I'm back on track for Octoberween!  That's important since I'm still flying by the seat of my pants and can't afford to get even a little behind this month.

     This face seems a little happier and less anxious than the first.  I think it's the eyebrows (what is it with me and my reaction to eyebrows?).  Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed my Funny Faces duo.  Thanks, I'll be here all month!

funny faces, 1 of 2

     I know I gave you guys double images in my previous jack-o-patterns post to make up for the one image I was behind so far, but I'm not going to be satisfied with my efforts this month unless I have at least 31 Halloween-specific posts by the end.

      So here it is:  A duo of posts for today, in jack-o-lantern style, that I actually drew back in my 30's when I was trying out a brand new broad tip Sharpie in the midst of the craze.  Drawn quickly, with a more upbeat style that most of the craze, I have only two of these.  It quite naturally followed that these would be my double-header posts to make up for my minor misstep early in the month.

     Thanks for taking a look and the second face will follow later this evening.

jack-o-patterns

     Are you carving a pumpkin this year?

     'Cause I'm carving myself a goddamned, motherfucking pumpkin!  I may carve two.  I don't care if we we only got one trick-or-treater last year.  I'm cutting open a pumpkin's head, pulling all its ooey-gooey brains out with my bare hands and carving the shit out of its freshly hollowed-out skull.  Then I'm gonna cram a few candles in it, light them bitches and rock it old school.  Hopefully, the G.I. down the street will get drunk, try to steal my totally boss jack-o-fucking-lanterns, trip and fall while holding them, making a big mess of blood, candle wax and a mix of smashed pumpkin and human skull all over the end of our drive way.  Then I'll take a picture and post it for everyone's gory enjoyment!

     Wow, that turned into quite a spew.  Anyhoo, I'm carving a pumpkin (or two).  If you like any of the patterns I've drawn above you are free to use them for your carving creation this year.  I'll be sure to take a picture of my jack-o-lanterns when I'm done with them.  Peace.

nega-demon

(ADULT CONTENT BELOW)


     What's the month of October without a little crazy, fucked up, shit?  That's what I always say.  My demon here isn't coming to kill you.  No, not right away.  That sword ain't designed for no quick death my fine fine friend.

     I know this looks like a series but it wasn't really planned that way.  I'm just enjoying the effect that a simple negative tweak can have on a drawing.  Gotta run, tight schedule today.  Enjoy.

bone pile

     I was gonna let this one ripen a little but it's Octoberween and I've got to pull out all the stops if I'm going to get 31 images out to you guys (I'm already one behind as it is which will require a double-header post at some point, possibly this weekend).

     The pile o' bones here was simply drawn with markers and tweaked slightly with my image editor of choice.  While it's not as delightfully absurd as an Evil Bong I hope it nonetheless adds a little creepy, weirdness to your day.

ghoulie ghouls, 3 of 3

     Here it is, boys and girls, the third and final Ghoulie Ghoul!  He's old, he's hairy and he's probably got breath that'd dissolve titanium!  If he looks strangely familiar, this drawing was based on the same Halloween decoration I photographed and futzed with to get my profile pic.  One of my favorites from my modest collection of holiday ghouls that I've accumulated over the years from Walgreens' sometimes surprisingly good selection of Halloween baddies (no I'm not getting paid to say that).

     Walgreens commercial aside, I hope my Ghoulie Ghouls have worked their way into your hearts and nightmares this fine fine October.  Thank you and stay tuned as I continue to flail my way through the month!

ghoulie ghouls, 2 of 3

     I'm enjoying the combo of gray and black markers.  It's an easy way to add both depth and speed to my drawings.  Cranking these out, fast and spontaneous, was a very freeing experience.  I get so meticulous sometimes and it can eventually start to get on my nerves.

     I hope you're enjoying my Ghoulie Ghouls trilogy.  I've tried to save the best for last.  Stay tuned for more Octoberween fun.

ghoulie ghouls, 1 of 3

     I sat myself down in front of my ghoulie ghoul Halloween decorations and cranked out some drawings over this past weekend.  I'm flyin' by the seat of my pants this October but, dammit, I'm gonna contribute to the festivities as best I can!

     I have to say I'm excited and pleased with the drawings I completed.  This one in particular gives me the total deja vu for some reason.  I think it's the fuzzy eyebrows and frowny eye sockets.  It's almost like I've drawn something very similar to it before.  I'll have to leaf through my sketchbooks when I get around to it.  Man, these felt good.  It was almost like I was back in a college drawing class putting forth a sincere effort and trying to improve myself.  Good stuff, man.

a strong weakness

     This is how I feel most of the time.  Strong and powerful, yet weak and crippled.  Always waxing and waning, never committing to one path or the other and always despising the path that I'm on.  Meh, got a little heavy there.

     More early Sharpie craze, before all the bones and hair.  Just added a minor finishing touch today, post scan.  Not sure what the shoulder protrusions and/or horns are about.  Seems to be a recurring theme.

cry golem

     Another one of the great things about Halloween is that it suddenly gives the weird things I normally draw on a regular basis some acceptable context and appropriateness.

     Drawn just last last week, I think this shows the continued beginnings of my style in a state of flux and, hopefully, development.  I'm at least using something more than just black markers (ooh, two colors!) and not relying so heavily on skulls and skeletons.  I hope this trend continues and I hope my latest creation adds to your enjoyment of the season.

okay, who gave him the hatchet?

     Some quick zombies to start off the greatest month ever.  A month so great that it brought my wife into the world and it all ends with what used to be hands down my favorite holiday.  The last couple of years Halloween and 4th of July have been running neck and neck in my mind but that doesn't take away from the fact that they're both awesome holidays.  If only there was a way to legally combine blood, guts and gore with big explosions and lots of sparks.  Pumpkin bomb filled with pig entrails?  Maybe.  I'll have to give that some more thought.