Work Smarter Not Harder

These are some of the set designs for my short film characters, yet I wish to explore them a little further. These past few weeks have been trying to think as these characters would and truly understand who they are. Playing creator is much more difficult than imagined.

Also, here is a mustang promotional piece that was done a few months back to make up for last week.

Take care,

-H

Spaddon Studies & N.C. Wisdom

Well, here's the promised post of studies that I had done for the "Spaddon" comic, based off of a true civil war story on a Union scout named Spaddon. I took some liberties with the original story to make it my own. These are a few of the prelim character sketches of the main characters. Then there's a page of random people I liked while thinking of a concept for a new illo. The smell of coffee at Barnes and Noble is so invigorating.

I also came across a wonderful passage in my copy of the N.C. Wyeth Letters:

"The greats in all the arts have been primarily romanticists and realists (the two cannot be separated). They interpreted life as tthey saw it, but, "through every line's being" soaked in the consciousness of an object, one is bound to feel, beside life as it is, the life that ought to be, and it is that that captivates us! All great painting is something that enriches and enhances life, something that makes it higher, wider, and deeper. 'A great painter is a great man painting.'"

Take care, and next time I'll post up the finished comic!

-h.

So Much Work--So Little Time!

I thought that I accumulated enough to keep you all busy for a while. My apologies for not keeping on my weekly schedule, I've been a bit behind and am trying to catch up. Time management is a key issue as of late, but whew!--tons of fun dudes and dudettes! To go from top to bottom with work, I have some recent process on a current assignment, process work and reference pictures of myself for "The Who" portrait which I intend on painting in gouache, but will remain a digital painting for now; and lastly I have recent molskine action from George Pratt's drawing class among numerous drawings from my own figure class.

That's it for now--hope you guys enjoy! And as always comments and crits are welcome.

Cheers!

-HH

Moleskine FUN!

I've been very busy these past few weeks, preparing for the Illest show with decorations, posters, video fun, and of course art work! So what I have for you here are a few pages from my moleskine. From bottom to top, I have studies of a new storyboarding project based around a little tike learning to ride his bike (ha! that rhymed!), some studies of Miles Davis for a likeness portrait, and The Who for a caricature portrait assignment. I'm gonna have loads of fun with The Who since I'm going to turn them into Dr.Seuss' "whos" and have all sorts of fun with their instruments. Anyway, just wanted to quick post something--I promise to post up some real finishes soon! Sit tight!

-HH

Academy Update

Hey just wanted to give a quick update of some work done here at the Academy. Been really lovin' figure drawing as of late, it's a great technique that I need to explore a little more. Also, I've got a tight sketch from the second assignment that I'm currently messing around with in PS and Corel. So sit tight, I promise to show the final. I've also some studies done for a current assignment, along with a sketch. There's two assignments this week to do a Rolling Stones cover, along with a narrative scene for a children's book. Irving Berlin, a famous broadway composer known for a "White Christmas" is my Rolling Stones musician, and The Gift of the Magi is the story I chose of three. Still have to get moving on the tight sketch for that one--it's a bugger!

I have plans of renovating my portfolio on a very serious level after the Academy, it's about time I get myself out there. So I plan on entering as many competitions as I can, and politely pester all the major places that I'd like to see my work put up on its pages. Although, Pixar and Blue Sky are major goals of mine.

Let me know what you guys think of the work!

Peace,

HH

Rockin Out at the Academy

I sincerely apologize for disappearing like that, the Academy has definitely been taking up most of my attention and leaving me little space to scan in all the work I'm producing. What I have to show is (yet again) a molskine page of character studies for a current assignment based around the topic of conversation. C.F. Payne was the visiting artist for this week, and wow, what a guy! So far I feel amazingly blessed to be here making all sorts of new friends, getting a professional network going, and going through the thick and thin of all that the Academy has thrown at me. My mind is certainly going to be thinking in a different fashion from now on when I approach a piece, I think it's been that way for everyone here.

For all those going to the San Diego con, tell me all about it when you get back! I really wish I could go, but funds are a bit short for me right now. Although, I do plan on attending the next CA workshop in January. Let me know how all of you are doing, I'd love to hear how everything has been going!

Also, one last thing I'd like to share, and it's this quote said by the father of illustration himself: " Periods of hard struggle are big stepping stones to success." So for all you artists out there having a hard time, remember it's all for the better.

Peace out,

-HH

Illustration Academy: WEEK UNO

It's been quite the week dudes, very intense but very fun! Thought I'd upload a little somethin' to show that I'm still around. I apologize for not being consistent the past couple of weeks with updates, it's just been quite the ride for me lately with projects and the Academy. I finally broke in a new moleskine and did up some sketches of students here, along with one of our awesome instructors: Sterling Hundley. Sterling is not only wicked with his work, but he also has the gentle prowess of a humble instructor. He's just simply amazing. I've also been able to befriend many invaluable people while here at the Academy that I would not be able to do most of my work without. They've been such a huge help along with the instructors' careful guidance.

To touch on the first assignment that I'm about to finish, it was given by Mark English to do a square format image on the theme of "A Slice of Life" from Sarasota. I've realized how important the very basic and raw components of a picture are, and that you must completely submerge your brain completely in that one image. The color, value, diagonals, symbolism, placement and overlapping, they all are key to the success of an image. I realize now how closed my eyes are to the illustration realm, thinking I was beginning to see that light of knowledge. I've also realized how really working the process out completely to the very tee and getting all errors out of the way makes doing the final piece a breeze. Although, I realize I have trouble with my focus points, and making them intentional. There's so much I'm learning at one time, it's almost impossible to remember the simple things that make a picture work.

Well, better get busy--there's work to be done!!

Take Care,

-HHerrick