Ask "Stretch" - October bonus

Hello, everybody and welcome to a special bonus edition of "Ask Stretch"! Today, I'm going to look at and answer some more questions that have been sent in by you, the audience.


1. Hey, Stretch, I want to be an artist but recently feel unmotivated to draw! I sit down to a blank piece of paper and nothing comes to me. Eventually, I get frustrated and then nothing gets drawn. What can I do to stay motivated?

Answer: Good question! What motives us all to do something differs from person to person. Was it something really delicious that we ate? Perhaps a new movie or piece of media that differs from the norm? Maybe it was an event or discussion with friends or family?

I find that continually having new experiences or at least mixing up the order one does daily activities is great for keeping those creative juices flowing. Learning new things is also very helpful. (this includes topics already explored and topics that still need exploring) Taking a story that is commonly known, such as "The Three Little Pigs", and redesigning the characters/scenes is always fun. What's critical here is to never get complacent or too comfortable inside your own box. Surrounding yourself with peers also helps stimulate the mind with healthy competition. Setting goals can be helpful if you're a goal-oriented person. If you happen to be someone that avoids daily routine like the plague, then just draw something, anything, at some point in the day. If a new sketch each day is overkill, then have something new by the end of the week. The creative process has to flow in a way that suits "you". Otherwise, it just gets stressful as opposed to being fun. Also, consider drawing in new styles that you haven't attempted before. "Variety is the spice of life!"

By the way, if you're stressed about being productive, taking a few days to rest and/or recharge is healthy and will help you return to the creative frame of mind.


2. I'm hearing that the only way to draw is by using digital programs like Adobe Photoshop and a tablet....is drawing on paper dead?


Answer: I wouldn't go so far as to call drawing on paper "dead" per se. Digital software is great, don't get me wrong, and so is drawing on a tablet. Studios in general are mostly or completely digital these days. Most artist cubicles have a computer fully armed with digital drawing/painting software and a large tablet to go with it. However, there are still many artists that draw on both paper and the tablet. Often times, the rough design will be on paper and then clean line and color are done on the computer. (I work this way too) There's a certain something that can only be felt drawing on paper. Plus, a paper sketch book is much more portable than a computer in most cases. Maybe one day we will carry high tech small tablets to draw with but until then, the paper sketch book remains king. Also, keep in mind that digital creative software is a tool as much as traditional drawing utensils. A tool is only as good as its user at the end of the day. Plus, drawing on paper is much more cost-effective as opposed to several hundred to thousands of dollars that's required for a digital set-up : )


That does it for this bonus episode of "Ask Stretch". Got a question about the creative process or the  creative industry itself? Please send me a message and I will do my best to answer your questions. Take everyone and see you all next month!

Ask "Stretch" - Ocotober

Hello everybody! In light of resolving computer issues and the lack of new posts, I thought now would be a good time to do this month's "Ask Stretch". Hope everyone is well as we get deeper into flu season over here in the western hemisphere. Hm, wonder if the eastern hemisphere has a flu season?....Anyhow, let's have a look at a question sent in from you, the audience:

1. Hi Stretch! I was wondering why do you draw in blue and red? Do all character artists do that?

Answer: Most character designers will draw in blue specifically as it is tradition dating back several decades. Typically, it's a blue col-erase pencil that is used. These are blue colored pencils with an eraser on the end. The blue is a nice, erasable, easy-to-see color and for quite some time, scanners and xerox copies had a hard time picking it up. It's only recently that scanners can see and pick up the blue. The knowledge back then that the blue would either be little seen or not seen at all gave animators/illustrators the freedom to draw loosely. These loose drawings resulted in better posing for characters specifically. When poses and designs were approved, then a more permanent tool could be used such as regular pencil lead, paint or micron pens to name a few.

In my case, as a concept artist, I use blue colored mechanical pencil lead to design out the first rough pass of  the structure of any one concept. Afterwards I go over my lines with a more permanent medium or scan it into my computer and do color rendering in digital software. The red is also colored mechanical pencil lead and I like to use it for the character costumes or props in a background layout for example. The differing colors allow my mind to stay more organized when I'm designing. Sometimes I'll be working on a design and there are so many layers of detail that it comes out as looking like a rainbow rough!

As technology improves, artists find more and more ways to design using different processes. Some artists prefer the old blue pencil and others sketch out with pen or markers. Most schools will teach their student through traditional methods first but some have converted completely into a digital curriculum. Instead of starting on paper with pencil, they straight into Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint or into 3D software such as Autodesk Maya. This has lead some into thinking that 2D animation/design is dead but I can say that all designs begin on paper first as the 3D world is built off a strong foundation of 2D skills. I firmly believe that if one wishes to be an artist in the animation field, 2D or 3D, one must get the 2D design skills under their belt first.

This wraps up October's edition of "Ask Stretch". Got a question about the creative process, the industry or just being an artist in general? Shoot me a message! Keep an eye out for a bonus "Ask Stretch" later this month. Until then, take care everyone!

Female mechanoid

Trying something new is important to keep oneself from getting too comfortable designing one thing or genre. I love the "Mega Man", aka "Rockman", video game series so I thought I'd make a character to fit into that universe. Pardon the somewhat less quality of the scan as my computer decided to die the other day so I'm roughing it on a different machine until a replacement can be found/built.

Another special birthday commission

Another client loved the idea of painting something unique for a person that’s just impossible to buy for. How can one get any more original and out of the box than to commission an artist? The birthday message and all names have been blurred for privacy concerns.

Ask "Stretch"! - September

Happy September everybody! Here in the western hemisphere we are just getting started into autumn, even though it still feels like summer. It's time for another session of "Ask Stretch"! Let's have a look at some questions that you, the audience, have sent in:

1. What is your process for drawing out a 5 point character design turnaround? Do you start out with the front view, then back view, then three quarter view, etc…?


Answer: For those whom may be wondering; a 5 point character design turnaround is a critical piece in designing for animation. You could call it a map showing the animation team on any given production how your character looks from all angles so they can animate properly. The "5 Point" is talking about the different poses one sees the character in: front, 3/4 front, profile, 3/4 back and back. I always start my turnarounds at the front position which shows a lot of detail and has little to no perspective to worry about. It's a good planning pose to start from. When I have a finished front pose, then I move on to designing the 3/4 front, profile, 3/4 back and back. The character, when you're done, should be proportionately correct from all angles and the details read seamlessly from pose to pose. If anything is off, the animation will look wrong and time will be lost while fixing the problem. It is crucial to use a ruler to draw horizontal reference lines, be precise and take your time. 


2. I notice sometimes you start out the character design process with the head design first. If so, how do you approach designing the character body or does the body just fall into place? 


Answer:  Actually, it's rare for me to begin a character concept any way else other than starting with the head. Sometimes I can see the whole character in my mind clearly and other times I need to work the character out piece by piece and try different approaches before I find "the one". When it comes to the body, I like to begin with the torso; defining the shape of the ribcage and the pelvis. After that, I'll design the arms, legs, tails and whatever else is left. The body design often needs some tweaks and experimentation in order to find the most appealing look. I'll try different shapes and shift masses around. Sometimes the body does fall right into place and other times it takes a few attempts before the final concept is found. There have been cases of a concept going through over 20 design attempts before the right one finally comes.


And that's all for this edition of "Ask Stretch". Got a question about the creative process, the industry or just being an artist in general? Shoot me a message! Until then, see you all next month : ) 

Song of Undine

Trying a new color approach with a more painterly look. She's my version of an Undine, or water spirit from Greek mythology, that's hanging out singing away in the ocean.

Alien female head design

Aliens are tons of fun to design since they can look like anything. There isn't any real "this is how it is" baggage. The imagination gets severely limited when we accept that things can only look or function a certain way. Progress can't be made without wonder and experiment. All of our inventions, great and small, come from this line of thinking: "What if....?"

Savior of the seed

Sometime in the distant future, our food will be so advanced that we won't grow food from seeds anymore. Instead the trend is all about "holo-food" that comes complete with texture and scents of different foods. It pleases the tongue and the mind enough to bypass the stomach feeling full. The humans of this time are always eating claiming they can't get enough.....because....well, they aren't. They're just "filling up" on holo-food and drink rather than the real stuff. Water is a taboo word almost lost to the times. Everyday, the humans get a daily shot of vitamins and minerals crafted in labs. Underneath the humans' feet, the mouse population scurries about looking for real food in the form of seeds that could be raised to produce food. Maybe that's what our young girl mouse is doing in this picture. Perhaps, one day, the fate of humanity will actually ride on her and her kind's shoulders to save humanity from its own food technology....

"Giving"

I'm a firm believer in art bringing smiles and inspiration for a better tomorrow. I found this post by accident on Facebook and felt that I must share it. Enjoy and share : )

Fireball made in less than 30 seconds

Animating in general is a labor of love and that labor increases in the 3D realm. (depending on whom you talk to that is.) This was made in Autodesk Maya using the 3D FX brush and several fire "brushes" found in what's called the "Visor". The visor is a keeper of 3D brushes that Maya comes with and has brushes for lightning, fire, clouds, trees and flowers to name a few. There's A LOT more than those contained in the visor. I used 3 different flame brushes and then looped their animation of 50 frames per cycle. It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds and yields interesting results!

Sabre, the wolf

Wolves are my favorite animal and I've drawn "Sabre" before but I like to revisit old favorite designs and design them once more with new skills/experience I've picked up. It's lots of fun and I'll keep doing it until the design reaches maturity, so-to-speak.

Connect with me!

Enjoy what goes on here at Howling-Wolf-Art? Here are a few links to stay in the know:

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My Mobian self - Cherry

I came to the realization that I've never drawn in the style that Sega uses for the Sonic games. Sat down and drew my own little OC to fit in that universe. Of course, I don't own the rights to Sonic, his games or other characters. I just drew in a hybrid of my style and the one used on Sonic.

Special birthday gift that was commissioned

One of my current clients was on the hunt for truly unique gifts to give her family and friends. She contracted me to create this piece for an upcoming friend's birthday. For privacy's sake, the name and message on this "birthday card" have been blurred out. If you or someone you know would enjoy an acrylic painting that they can't get anywhere else, contact me for a quote : )

Secret of Mana series - Popoie

The last of the main characters and third party member of the team. Popoie is a 13 year old sprite with a somewhat mischievous attitude standing as tall as maybe up to Randi's waist. Randi encounters him in one of the early villages the player comes across. He joins your quest to find his homeland and his memory.While Primm gets the support magic, Popoie becomes master of all offensive magic spells. (Again, I don't own anything to do with Secret of Mana,  just drew the characters for fun)