observing time.

Beanie Boy

2012-01-13T23:48:00.001+08:00

Trying to get the creativity flowing, and this was supposed to be a warm up sketch, but then I guess I got too finishy with it. Does that even make sense?

Down in Larissa's Lagoon...

2012-01-10T20:35:00.001+08:00

Been working that obsession lately.

Based on the song 'Larissa's Lagoon' by Idina Menzel. (Also kinda looks like a crazy Idina.)

And here's b/w lineart of the same thrown in just for fun. Inked by hand. Pretty sure my eyes went even more squint drawing that hair.

Idina Menzel

2012-01-10T03:53:00.000+08:00

Idina Menzel portrait. Last drawing of 2011. Oddly not Batman fanart.

odd doodles and things

2011-10-28T18:04:00.001+08:00

Sea Swordsman

2011-10-22T04:07:00.003+08:00

Been a while (this is becoming a gag line, judging from previous posts) since I put pen and pencil to paper. This is brain spillage from writing an essay yesterday. To relevance to the essay, really, but I'm really quite happy with how this turned out. Uniball 0.38 for the inking. Got a bit messy with the scales. Also was originally going to add more at the bottom, but then decided I liked the way the composition was, fine.

Minor trivia: The creature wrapped/perched around our dear Swordsman is a merlion, part lion part fish (but not a lion-fish!), created really for the sole purpose of souvenir sales by some tourism board in Singapore way back. Cool creature nonetheless, and really not enough art making use of it.

Yeller Batman Fella

2011-09-24T07:13:00.002+08:00

Nananananananana nananananananana nananananananana BATMAN!!!

Been a while since I drew, so I tried this out in Photoshop. Knowing that I'd get frustrated/impatient when trying to clean up the lines, I left them loose.

Also tried not to concern myself too much with accurate anatomy, and tried to incorporate more movement in the lines instead. Chose a relatively monochromatic and slightly desaturated palette, which I think worked out pretty okay. It's not perfect, but I'm quite happy with the results.

This is a variation of his current/Batman INC costume, with the yellow symbol and no black shorts. Funny enough, the last time I drew him in that costume, Batman was in a precarious position beside his washing machine. This time he looks like he's dancing, according to someone. Conclusion: INC costume was made for funny.

'i shall become a bat'

2011-08-28T23:59:00.003+08:00

Been a while since I last drew anything... thought I'd try to work with skin tones (probably something of a first, the mulan thing doesn't really count) and light. Couldn't find a way to do a suitable background, so I left it.

Warrior Girl

2011-05-14T22:27:00.004+08:00

Hmm. I set out to draw Mulan (again).

The good: I managed to colour it
The bad: I still don't know how to colour properly.
The good: I didn't use a reference.
The bad: It looks like someone I know...

ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PERSONS DEAD OR ALIVE IS PURELY COINCIDENTAL!

Well, it sort of was coincidental at first, then I just stopped fighting it midway through the painting.

pop culture and all

2011-05-14T07:50:00.003+08:00

Broken Sword from 'Hero'. Can't remember how many sheets of paper I used up trying to achieve a likeness of Tony Leung, or Tony Leung as Broken Sword, or even a likeness of Broken Sword, then I started on a blank canvas in Photoshop... and was almost instantly happy with the lineart results. Life is strange that way. Used a really soft brush for what I'd describe as 'colouring', and not really 'painting'.

Next up: Byronic Hero (Exhibition A)

I was really trying to paint out a 'Heathcliff'. Then his hair got too long and girly... so I trimmed it... and this happened. I know, I know, he looks like a certain someone else. But after this result, and cramming Wuthering Heights for my last exam, I'm developing a theory that byronic heroes all have big noses, protruding brows, and long unkempt hair... unless of course you're Gaston Leroux's Phantom, in which you have no nose, and possibly no hair. I also think a certain someone was modelled after Heathcliff. Think about it. Physical appearances, their obsessive love for someone long dead, the fact that they scream a lot...

Cuckold King

2011-05-10T07:43:00.003+08:00

'So disgraced a part..' - Leontes; The Winter's Tale

I'm supposed to be studying the text, not using it as sketch inspiration fodder. Try telling my brain that.

beyond batmobiles

2011-05-06T07:59:00.000+08:00

Trying out some futuristic Batmobile concepts, using the silhouette method of the previous two vehicle designs. Tried to keep some of the DCAU/Burton aesthetic in the first one (design's probably too similar, actually), along with the Art Deco shapes. For the second, I wanted to see if I could make something with the cockpit right at the front, hence the back turbos and all. Redish black paint probably harking back to both Bob Kane's and Batman Beyond world (which incidentally, I think, looked to the original Bob Kane designs for inspiration. I could be wrong thought). Tried to make it look a bit more like a car as well, since the first one was very plane-like.

Bit of a cheat here, setting them as designs in the Batman Beyond time. I was going to try actual land vehicles... but I couldn't get the perspective right for the wheels. So as aircrafts... these kinda work, right?

Also, this took way too long to do. Maybe about 4 hours total? Should really be half that time.

battleship floating

2011-05-04T15:14:00.001+08:00

title says all? looks better smaller (for obvious reasons).

two ships

2011-05-04T01:07:00.004+08:00

been a while. stopped this while i was ahead. rubbish at rendering, but i figured i could at least work on values a bit. had an exam in the morning, so i was looking to work some extra adrenaline off.

Two Boots and a Washing Machine

2011-04-25T20:49:00.003+08:00

sooo... my washing machine's been having problems lately.

here was the original that I wasn't happy with in the end, you can see where I mucked up putting the greys on in photoshop as well:

chibi-Bats and girlBatgirl

2011-04-22T04:32:00.003+08:00

Heh. Chibi-Bats. And no, he's not smiling yet.

Yeah, I know she looks slightly off, but between the large hands, the stubby legs, and the huge head, I figure Cassandra can live with looking a bit childlike/chibified (DEFORMED). This was a really quick one too, so I'll learn and move on.

superllama!

2011-04-20T22:15:00.002+08:00

(I couldn't resist...)

So I just got enough badges for a Super Llama.... and this came out. As you can see, Bruce's not quite sure what to do with Clark in this state, either.

Either that, or Wally discovered deviantart.

Inked by hand, the rest in Photoshop. Llama came out looking a bit like a dog.. hmm.

a sketch and something

2011-04-20T07:48:00.003+08:00

Quick warm up sketch of Freeze. Loved his back-story in Batman the Animated Series. Speaking of, it's amazing how much Schumacher butchered the character's pathos in Batman and Robin (worst Batman movie evar). The crew on BTAS had transformed his obscure, odd villain into one of Batman's most interesting foes. Joel Schumacher made him into a steroid pumped Austrian who spewed bad jokes.

Anyway, here's the sketch:

And here's a little something else:

"how now, my hearts! did you never see the picture of 'we three'?" ~Twelfth Night

I did a semi-tight sketch on paper before scanning it in and inking digitally, much the same way as the Batman Beyond picture from a year ago was done. I find that I tend to have very loose linework when this happens.

batman;gotham

2011-04-19T10:04:00.003+08:00

After two days of working on heads and perspective, I thought I'd try a composition. I actually did find the process a whole lot quicker and less painful than before, though of course, it's not quite in a realistic style. I'm not sure I'd want to go for a 'realistic' style in the first place, to be honest.

Used a ruler to get most of the lines for the building. Then I went back and thickened/loosened the lines, and surprisingly it looks much better for it.

dynamic duo

2011-04-19T10:03:00.002+08:00

Yeah, I couldn't resist. Yeah, I don't know why Batman has lenses but Robin doesn't. I also don't know why Robin looks slightly Asian for some reason.

Princess of Themyscira

2011-04-18T21:21:00.001+08:00

Dropping 'style' for now, while working with getting figures and proportion right. And since Loomis' books are full of really classic 50s looking people... Wonder Woman was the way to go.

head sketches 2

2011-04-18T21:18:00.001+08:00

after Loomis. Some more than others.

head sketches

2011-04-18T02:45:00.002+08:00

Just some head sketches. Getting back to basics (sort of).

robot

2011-04-16T10:04:00.001+08:00

Mainly an exercise in values and composition.

time lapse video here

will regrow

2011-04-15T16:57:00.003+08:00

Started out as a rough sketch for some sci-fi world... and developed into a rough sketch for some sort of post-apocalyptic/sci-fi world. Thinking about the disaster in Japan.

bird shoes

2011-04-15T16:53:00.002+08:00

birthday present for the mother. didn't manage to take a shot of it till now for some reason. (:

landscapes and bugs

2011-04-14T01:19:00.004+08:00

I've been playing around in Photoshop, trying to learn how to come up with landscapes and stuff like that. This has always been a problem for me, trying to work in 3d and perspective, and keeping lines simple while being able to suggest form and stuff. Was watching a bunch of youtube speedpainting/time lapse videos, and felt inspired. So I had a go at it myself. Been at it the whole day, which resulted in three 'paintings'.

I'm not even showing the first attempt, 'cos that was rubbish. But here's the second:

After that, the next one took about 3 hours. I call it the Bugbot:

And the one after, 4 hours. Just a man and his bug. (don't ask me what's up with the bugs.)

hope y'all likes!

cut into your brooding time

2011-04-10T07:51:00.003+08:00

"No dating for the Batman"

Inspired by 'This Little Piggy' from Justice League Unlimited.

All done in Photoshop with a Wacom. Probably about 15 hours or more, total. I'm quite happy with how this one turned out, despite my patent inability to draw backgrounds. Logged some of the process as well, interesting how it changed from the initial sketch to the final product.

around campus

2011-04-04T22:49:00.001+08:00

dun dun dun batman

2011-04-04T20:52:00.002+08:00

Working with the Wacom. Beginning to get the hang of it, maybe?

Meow

2011-04-04T17:20:00.001+08:00

Loulou was such a vocal cat. And was a big scaredy. But by the end of the four days he'd gone from bolting whenever I got up to demanding I feed him. Cats, eh?

Popple Again

2011-04-04T17:17:00.004+08:00

Popple

2011-04-04T17:13:00.001+08:00

Bonbon

2011-04-04T17:12:00.001+08:00

Mo

2011-03-30T17:25:00.001+08:00

because true french cats perch on the edges of sinks and rule the world.

Loulou & Bonbon

2011-03-30T17:17:00.001+08:00

sleeping cats salignac

2011-03-30T17:12:00.002+08:00

salignac 27032011

2011-03-27T21:56:00.003+08:00

Visiting Fiona and Barry in rural France. sketched out a section of the kitchen.

tomorrow's knight

2011-03-20T03:39:00.001+08:00

WooOOOOoooo~ Go Terry!

Old Man Wayne. Bat in an Alley

2011-03-18T23:27:00.005+08:00

Old Man Wayne + Ace (who doesn't love either?)

Bat in an alley.

Used a black sharpie, uniball pigment, and uniball signo rollerball pens for both of them. Should probably stop drawing Batman. Decided to go the doodley route for the first one's shading. Must learn how to lay blacks properly.

Carrying On

2011-03-11T08:31:00.003+08:00

Batman (Bruce Wayne) carrying his kids on his shoulders... who will in turn carry on the Legacy of the Bat.

Pencil, paper. Uniball pIn pigment pens, size 005, 01, 05, a Sharpie marker, and uniball signo 0.38

back of my mind

2011-03-10T01:53:00.001+08:00

unball 0.38, colours in photoshop. not entirely pleased with the result. happy with Bruce's head, though.

batman and wonder woman

2011-03-09T06:28:00.001+08:00

Okay, weird cut-off of Wonder Woman's left leg. And the armour's off. But seeing as I managed to fit in two characters on a page without the perspective looking totally wonky, I think I'm fine with it. Once again, the wonders of uniball 0.38.

Damian Wayne

2011-03-08T08:36:00.002+08:00

Damian Wayne, the current Robin. Pencil, inked with uniball (the wonders of uniball)

jian dan

2011-03-02T18:06:00.003+08:00

Quick doodle for a Livejournal banner design.

Portrait - My Father

2011-02-15T09:08:00.002+08:00

Colour pencils on black sketchbook. Promised my father about a year ago that I'd attempt a portrait of him based on a picture taken in 2009.

hua mulan

2011-02-11T11:00:00.003+08:00

does this count as a proper drawing? xD

Pencil, then Inked in uniball 0.38. Background added in Photoshop.

mulan-esque

2011-02-11T00:35:00.003+08:00

Been a while since I've posted any drawings...

CNY poster

2011-01-22T18:08:00.001+08:00

Batman Beyond

2010-05-05T09:59:00.005+08:00

Decided to log my progress as I went along. I'm not entirely happy with how the background turned out. And I need to learn to paint/colour in photoshop. Very pleased with the inking though, which is the first time I've done it digitally. Was kinda scared to let a pen touch my pencils. Hooray for the digital era, is all I'm saying.

The Bat and the Cat

2010-04-30T14:11:00.001+08:00

After I drew this was like idrewagirlidrewagirliDREW A GIRL - and she turned out looking ok! Bruce looks massive though xD oh well he's meant to. So it's Bruce and Selina, the current pairing floating through the DC universe. Pencil. Paper.

Batman + Beyond

2010-04-29T09:27:00.002+08:00

Well if you can't be productive when you procrastinate, then what can you do?

Ironic: I spent ages fixing the old Batman, and to be honest, he still looks a bit wonky. I was starting to think I couldn't draw. At least now there's some hope again of me coming up with something I'm decently happy with. Terry McGinnis, the only true son of Bruce Wayne for me!

Glasgow Uni Jobs cut protest

2010-04-23T08:05:00.004+08:00

On the 14th of April 2010, staff and and campus union members staged a protest on the grounds of the University of Glasgow over job cuts.

yellow

2010-04-20T13:51:00.000+08:00

Blossoms

2010-04-20T13:41:00.003+08:00

More of spring, and just in time. Took this just a week ago, and now the petals are all falling.

snowdrops

2010-04-20T05:58:00.002+08:00

first signs of spring out in March.

life in the cracks

2010-04-20T05:15:00.003+08:00

clings on at every

narrow slip of a cracked chance

that it can get. yes.

Street

2010-04-20T05:13:00.002+08:00

with the trees budding.

Orange on Blue

2010-04-20T05:09:00.002+08:00

coloured bins

2010-04-16T22:16:00.001+08:00

Street trash

2010-04-16T22:15:00.000+08:00

Green on Grey

2010-04-16T22:14:00.002+08:00

Peel

2010-04-16T22:13:00.002+08:00

Self - aged seven

2010-03-26T23:02:00.000+08:00

Colour pencils on black paper. I was quite pleased with this one (:

Pan

2010-03-26T12:39:00.004+08:00

Thought I'd try working with colour pencils, and use that black sketchbook I got a while back (yes D, thank ye muchly). And here's Peter Pan. Or Puck. I've yet to truly decide.

Unsleep

2010-02-23T10:51:00.003+08:00

In honour of last week.

John 1:5

2010-02-08T22:11:00.000+08:00

Hebrews 12:2

2010-02-07T09:45:00.002+08:00

via veritas vita

2010-02-01T21:18:00.002+08:00

was waffling around with a possible t-shirt design.

Once White

2010-01-23T02:13:00.000+08:00

now muted.

spiderlace

2010-01-23T02:12:00.002+08:00

Quiet on Campus

2010-01-23T02:10:00.003+08:00

Dec '09

Winding Wood

2010-01-23T02:09:00.002+08:00

framed

2010-01-23T02:07:00.002+08:00

off kilter

2010-01-23T02:05:00.000+08:00

world frozen in time

blank

2010-01-23T01:53:00.002+08:00

sparse

what was before..

ze wizard ov ze park

2010-01-23T01:52:00.001+08:00

Grey Squirrel

2010-01-23T01:49:00.001+08:00

Winter River

2010-01-23T01:37:00.002+08:00

Footprints

2010-01-23T01:33:00.001+08:00

we wants you

2009-11-18T00:19:00.002+08:00

Unite anti-fascist march, with anarchic hooligans chucked into the mix. Glasgow City centre, 10am 11/14/2009.

Dancing through Life

2009-11-18T00:17:00.001+08:00

if only because dust is what we come to

Lone

2009-10-26T21:42:00.003+08:00

Red Man Walking

2009-10-26T21:40:00.001+08:00

At the harbour

2009-10-26T21:33:00.003+08:00

Sailing blue

2009-10-26T21:17:00.001+08:00

Swirls

2009-10-26T21:16:00.003+08:00

Horizons

2009-10-26T21:14:00.003+08:00

Bricks

2009-10-26T21:12:00.002+08:00

unused. disused.

Slices of Sky ; Lines

2009-10-26T21:10:00.000+08:00

Walk Along

2009-10-26T21:08:00.000+08:00

Walk along, walk alone, with you beside me.

Beyond

2009-10-26T21:07:00.001+08:00

Pushing past

2009-10-26T20:13:00.000+08:00

as the world rushes in on you

Arbroath

2009-10-20T06:01:00.002+08:00

Went up to Arbroath for the weekend. There's a portion seen from one of the corridor windows, and a quaint looking machine at the Sugar and Spice Tea room.

Sparkles

2009-10-11T03:15:00.003+08:00

A bunch of fireworks just went off, and I happened to be able to see them from my window.

A couple more on Flickr.

Bat Duo. pre-R.I.P

2009-10-10T23:49:00.003+08:00

Got stuck working on my current illustration/eye-candy thingamajig, and doodled this out instead. Yep that's Tim and Bruce.

Scottish Cup Glasgow Uni 1 - 4 Girvan

2009-10-08T04:35:00.002+08:00

Glasgow Uni round and about

2009-09-23T06:14:00.003+08:00

Faculty Induction lecture and I was paying attention, honest! They'd just turned the speakers off and the lecturer was speaking from another theatre. I got bored.

The computer hub area at Hillhead Library.

We've been having abominably good weather for almost two weeks now, which means more people flocking to the grassy patch in front of the Fraser Building during lunch.

Off the corner of University Avenue.

As you've probably noticed, those were taken with my camera. I am no longer in possession of a scanner, sadly, so I'm going to make do with this. Hopefully I'll be able to update more regularly, but either way, here's just something to tide this blog by. (double alliteration, whoa)

Shed

2009-09-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

dusty. empty. silent.

Skylight

2009-09-08T04:12:00.002+08:00

I spend too much time at fast food joints

2009-08-24T21:00:00.000+08:00