Futur Echo

some photography

2008-10-15T23:53:00.001-04:00

So I've been really suffering with artists block lately and haven't drawn or sketched anything I'm particularly proud of, so this summer I tried my had at photography. I have a digital camera that I never really explored do I decide to see waht I could do with it. Here are some of the results.

More photography

2008-07-02T15:24:00.004-04:00

Sometimes animals can provide interesting pictures by doing almost nothing. I present my cat for your viewing pleasure.

Photography for inspiration

2008-07-02T15:03:00.003-04:00

So I haven't really been able to draw lately. nothing looks right and I get frustrated with everything I draw. so I decided to take my camera outside and snap a few pics to inspire me to draw. Here is the result.

Art from anime north 2008

2008-06-05T17:11:00.004-04:00

Just a random smattering of some of the work I did for Anime North this year. Enjoy

Harry Potter stuff July 2007 take 2

2007-09-06T09:59:00.001-04:00

And these are the keychains that were handed out to the kids who waited in line for there books on the 21st of July.

Harry Potter stuff July 2007

2007-09-06T09:53:00.000-04:00

These are the windows I did at my day job for the release of the 7th Harry Potter book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. They were painted with acrylic paint and took me about 12 hours a piece (except the door which took about 2 hours). Overall they were a great success.

2007-06-19T16:25:00.000-04:00

The Summer and spring Fairies.

Harry Potter Banners

2007-05-15T20:16:00.000-04:00

I did some Banners for the book store that my friend was working at for the 6th book launch. They took me about 2 weeks to sew and paint but I think they look pretty awesome. I was quite impressed with myself considering I'd never done anything like this before. Unfortunately, I no longer have the banners (the store kept them), but for the next and last book I'll be doing some window art for a different book store. I can't wait for July it's going to be really exciting with the movie out on the 13th and the book the following week on the 21st. I'll post pics of my work once it's up.

I bruise easily

2007-04-16T13:42:00.000-04:00

A pic of Torhu from FRUBA. She just seems kinda like a fragile angel sometimes.

Ed and Winry

2007-03-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

I just did this for the fun of it.

Some still lifes...

2007-03-05T23:05:00.000-05:00

...From way back when. I recently shot and uploaded these still life studies. Gotta say I don't do a lot of this anymore. I really should.

some fun sketches

2007-02-28T19:25:00.000-05:00

Just some older stuff from my sketch book.

Tropical swimmers

2007-01-10T14:47:00.000-05:00

I did these not too long ago. Well a few years now but I still like them.
Originally I was going to do the zodiac signs with these but I never followed through with the other eight signs. Basically after I did the water signs (Pieces, Scorpio, and Cancer) and one land sign (Virgo), I coudn't think of anything else for the other signs (Fire, Land, Air) plus I had inspiration for another picture so I abondonned the project and never returned. Maybe one day I'll finish the set. Who knows.
All four were done with markers and some pencil crayons along with a white out pen. I even used a china marker for the clouds. The water reflections on the blonde took forever. I practiced on a lot of scrap to get it just right but I still think it looks odd. The spalsh also looks off.
The one thing I am happy about is the blending on the surfer. That is just marker and patience. I used up the ramainder of my blending marker but I think it was totally worth it. Don't you?
The poses I 'borrowed' from a Victoria's secret catalogue. When I need inspiration for fashion and interesting poses VS is a handy fall back. Enjoy!

Inspired by Twilight

2007-01-03T13:46:00.000-05:00

First off Happy New year! I hope that everyone had fun and got at lest a few hours to enjoy themseleves. Me I got some time off, not much but I managed to get a few sketches on to the computer for your viewing pleasure.
These pics were inspired by a book I'm reading called Twilight. It's a book about a love story between a human girl named Bella and a vampire named Edward. The book is by Stephenie Myer and I suggest that you check it out. I read it in a day flat. (I didn't sleep) and then read the sequel immedialtely after. It's an amazing read. I'm realy looking forward to the next two books (apparently due out later this year and then the year after that, according to her web site). I was so enamoured by the stories that I bought the first book for a friend of mine who claimed that vampires might be too dark for her tastes and that she was a slow reader.
I gave her the book on the 23rd and she's half way through already. I've directed her to the web site for the book more info and inspiration.
Speaking of the web site Stephanie Myer has a play list of the songs that she was listening to while she wrote the books. I decided to download the songs and listen to them while I re-read the books. It's amazing how she's channeled the feelings and the sentiments of the songs into the story. I must admitt she's got some interesting taste in music. I've found a few more bands that I need to pick up Cd's for.
If you can't tell I really like these books, I really can't do them justice by describing them you've got to read them for yourself. Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Myer. Let me know what you think.

Winter

2006-12-25T03:56:00.000-05:00

Wow it's been far too long. First off let me say Merry X-mas. I've been horribly busy working retail jobs (or should I say retail hell) that I haven't had time to finish off all those little projects that are amassing in my room. Soon I'll have some more time free, not to worry. I'm re evaluating life and I'm putting a few things in perpective. I also realise that reatail is the worst posible industry for the artist. It physically drains you so all the creativity runs dry. Guess that's why I'm posting at an odd time of day.
But well here is the one pic I wanted the post back on the winter solstice (21st Dec or the shortest day of the year). I like winter for on reason and one reason only-ice. I like ice cuz I'm a skater and I'm infinately more graceful on blades then on land. So this is my ode to winter. Enjoy!

Kyo the cat

2006-11-30T17:18:00.000-05:00

So I thought that I'd follow up Yuki with my favourite character from Fruits Basket, Kyo. Don't ask me why I like him so much. He's brash, rude, loud and flies off the handle a lot, but at times in the anime he shows real kindness to Torhu. Maybe that's why he's my favourite. He's very human. He acts like the majority of us.
Or maybe it's the fact that his dark secret is that he turns into a cat and I absoluty love cats (see the pics of my cat posted in October)!
Anyway, Kyo and the cat were drawn and coloured with markers. The rest is all photoshop magic. I'm getting better at drawing on photoshop (not just using the airbrush and blur tools anymore). I'm also saving up fo a tablet so my drawings can be done a bit faster.
Soon very soon my plans will come to fruition!

Fairy Sk8er

2006-11-28T16:39:00.000-05:00

I've been alittle strapped for time lately. So much so that I've been trading sleep for work (or is that work for sleep since I've fallen asleep a few times at work. Trust me this is harder then you think seeing as all 3 of my jobs require me to stand). So when I got a few moments I scanned this older sketch I did a few months ago. I had planned on finishing it but alas it will have to wait for a while. The pose came from a magazine I think. Although I've lost the magazine so I can't be sure. I think it's cute kind of how I feel when I'm skating, it's like I have wings and my skates are magical. That's the only way I can explain my double jumps. I miss skating. This 3 job thing is getting to be a bit much. But well what are you going to do? The world is driven the almighty dollar, not pretty fairy skaters.

Hummm....

2006-11-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I draw a picture that almost exactly represents my mood. This is one of those drawings. I don't know why but I've been feeling a bit isolated. Since I've been working 3 jobs and only seem to talk to people who have instructions for me, it feels like I've become a bit introverted, not in actions but in what I say to people. I feel I'm always careful about what I'm saying and aware of how I'm trying to be cheerful and general. I mean I still have normal conversations with my fellow co-workers but it's not a real conversation. It's like most of my conversations go as follows:

1: Hey! How are you?
2: oh hey, I'm good...Um been outside lately. It's gone real cold huh?
1: Yeah. Too bad this is just the begining of winter.
2: humm, I suppose. But you could go away for a week or so
1: True true....Maybe somewhere warm.
2: yeah.....well gotta go there's work to be done

It reminds me of those family guy gags where theres a weird awkward pause, or where they drag the gag out just a bit too far. I guess when I'm not so new and people know me a bit better it will be better, until then I'll just keep trying to have real conversations.

Prince Yuki

2006-11-14T16:42:00.000-05:00

This is kind of funny. I did this drawing as fan art for the show Fruits Basket. It's a cute and sweet anime and I suggest that everyone see it. The character here is known as 'Prince' Yuki, mainly because he's the schools pretty boy and of course everyone loves him. His dark secret is that he turns into a rat when hugged by any girl.
But what's so funny? Well 2 things. The first is that this picture was absurdly easy to draw. I did it this past summer in a matter of a day. The character and 'throne' were done with marker and then I totally made up the background on photoshop.
The second is what is going on in my life. I drew this when I couldn't get a job no matter how hard I tried. Now, almost daily, I'm getting calls of either a job offer or interview. Suddenly I'm so absurdly busy that I don't even have the time to produce a fully finished pic such as this. Funny how things work out like that. At lease I don't have to worry about being frustrated over not being able to draw well. I don't have the time!

Musical Sketches

2006-11-13T01:48:00.000-05:00

So seeing as it's Novemeber and that season known only as Christmas is approaching fast (thought the stores would have you believe that the season is now and that your running out of time) I decided to try and get a start on gifts for my friends. This year I decided to make a mix Cd of my favorite music (all leagally bought), and I'd design a cover and label for them as well. So the above are 2 random preliminary skectches of the cover. I'm not too happy with either (my frustration is still commimg through when I draw) but they are a start at least. Hoprfully this year I'll get them done in time. Stay posted for the finished version.

Just some sketches

2006-11-08T12:15:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd post some sketches of stuff I'm working on while trying to get through my frustration. Eventually these will be coloured. I'm still not sure of the posing but so far their not too bad. Enjoy

Battel Face

2006-11-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

So I've had a really crappy week. I spent the Sunday before Halloween arguing with my father and then I spent the rest of the week avoiding him because every time I look at him I get frustrated. The main problem I have with him is the fact that he never is wrong even when he is! (Not that I'm always right, but I do like my oint of view to at least be heard) I often feel like I'm dealing with a child who hasn't developed the logic skills that we all aquire as we age. It's just he's right and that's the end of it (I wish I could blame some kind of mental illness for his behaviour, but alas no). So even if I try to discuss what happened and how I feel, the conversation ends up I'm wrong, the world hates me because I'm miserable all the time (apparently I don't even know how to smile), and since I'm his child and only a child I should obey him and be done with (even though by all the standards of the world I'm considered an adult and have been for some time now). So all that pent up frustration led to this drawing. I just feel that sometimes to make him listen I need a battel face (and be male because he never gives my brother this kind of agravation, and I'm the eldest so that makes no sense) or else he won't take me seriously. Either that, or I ignor him for a few months (when he ruined my birthday I didn't talk to him for 6 weeks) and he eventually forgets.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-24T17:42:00.000-04:00

Something fun!
This took me four days but was soooo worth it. This is a line drawing, coloured with markers. I did use a bit of photoshop for the background because I am a sloppy artist and had finger prints in the moon. Trust me it kind of ruins the image when you have a big blue finger print on the moon. It really ruins the illusion of depth.
I got my inspiration from 'the nightmare before christmas'. And the girls dress from some fashion show I was watching a few weeks ago. I can't remeber who the designer was but they did some really dark clothes which I felt were perfect for halloween. I have her in blue because black kind of becomes a hole in the picture.

Star Fall pt 1&2

2006-10-16T17:59:00.001-04:00

I was goofing aroung on Photoshop with some sketches I had done and I came up with these. Needless to say I was messing with the brushes, blur, rainbow gradient and dodge tools. There is also a little glowing egdes in there. I just did these really quickly so the line drawings are not that smooth but they look alright. Originally they were supposed to be together but I like them as two seperate pieces.

Beach

2006-10-15T17:26:00.000-04:00

I felt like painting the other day but I didn't feel like cleaning up so I tried to paint on photoshop. It might have been faster just to get out the paints, oh well it was fun. This used a lot of reference to get the colours right and I had to use about 6 layers just to get the water to do what I wanted it to. But it turned out really well. The water was created by layering layers of blue with the Stain glass filter (blurred and waved then tiltled in pespective) and the chome filter (also blurreed and tilted in perspective). The clouds are the leaf bush painted and blurred randomly. Finally the sand is just experimentation with different brushes.