Magical Monster People: Reverse Mermaid & Bug Girl

Every time the model gets in a side laying down position the only creature I can think of to turn him or her into is a mermaid. Sometimes they are reverse mermaids.

Magical Monster People: Dragon Lady & Mermaid

I've been thinking a lot about how long do I want to keep up the Magical Monster People. I have been going to figure drawing on and off for about 10 years now and I am not about to stop for good any time soon. However, The body switching is a relatively new thing. It adds a fun twist to something that I would do anyway. I started it as a way to break out of the routine of drawing a model but it has become its own routine. I'm noticing repetition in my characters, many of them are starting to look alike. The sketchbook that I have been working in is about to be complete and perhaps I will decide that with the end of the sketchbook that will be the end of the Magical Monster People. Maybe I can change it enough to reinvigorate the concept. Either way I will keep going to figure drawing, whether or not the people have fur, feathers, or fins.

31 Days of Cowboys

I've begun research for a graphic novel set in 1910 southern California that I will be writing and drawing. Part of my research has been looking for photo reference of what people wore in that time period and geographical location. I found a set of photographs from the Library of Congress and began drawing some characters from it. Its interesting what assumptions I had about people from that time period that were incorrect. My favorite clothing detail that I learned was that most men wore suspenders instead of belts. In the roughly 30 pictures of men I only saw one or two belts.

For the month of August I drew a character either from that reference or my head. I played around with style and techniques. These are a few of my favorites:

Magical Monster People: Rhino Dude & Giraffe Guy

I've been drawing these characters at the Santa Monica figure drawing session once a week for about 3 months. While I don't think there has been much change in the quality of the work, I have definitely gotten faster at arriving to the final piece. Drawing is a skill that is developed over the long haul, I've been drawing for years and I still don't like I am as good as I should be. So its nice to see some type of development in a short time, even if that development is relatively minuscule.

Magical Monster People: Bat Woman & Bunny Girl

I'm always a little nervous showing the model the drawings I do during figure drawing, animal parts or no. Its not quite as nerve wracking as showing a portrait to what ever friend or family member that was kind enough to sit for me but its almost as bad. I wonder if they'll think, "Thats not what I look like." In some ways, its easier to show them the magical monster people drawings. It takes the pressure off of creating a likeness. Its obvious I am just using the model as a springboard to something different. In any case, the model enjoyed the bunny version of herself for this week.