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.

Magical Monster People: Beetle Bro and Flying Squirrel Dude

What's the hardest part about being you? Mustache.

I often get asked if I add in the animal parts later on, after I get home from the figure drawing group. I don't, I draw and paint each one of these with the model in front of me in about 10 to 20 minutes. I like the immediacy of working quickly and on a timer. It makes me more free to work with my mistakes. Could the paintings be better if I spent more time on them? Probably. Maybe I'll do that sometime. For now I like to finish these paintings in the time allotted.

Magical Monster People: Mermaid & Faun

These are my two of my most commonly drawn characters. Almost any time the model is lying down I imagine a mermaid. I like the fauns because of how classical of a mythological creature they are and how well represented in a certain period of art they are. Since then, however, they have fallen out of fashion. Fear not, dear reader, I am bringing them back, one 20 minute watercolor painting at a time.

Magical Monster People

antler girl and elephant girl:

Mom's visit to LA

My mom kindly sat for me while I painted a quick watercolor painting.