Pen and ink illustration for Steampunk Magazine.{ click on the image for a closer look }
Getting back to my old love, Drawing, I set to making the final for this piece in pen and ink. I may have discovered something in the process that is unexpected, and it has to do with time. Basically because the technique of working this way requires long streches of time and concentrated focus, the mind tends get kind of "free." I found that there were unique thoughts surfacing through out the project while I was deep in the process, things that surprised me. I managed to capture one that goes like this:
"'CONCEPT' can be a guiding light during the process of creation. Each choice may not be apparent in the end result, and it doesn't need to be. In this way artistic intent can be infused in the work."
Now, those who know me will know that I am prone to a "loose" thought process, but this kind of thing even gives me pause for a moment.
I don't know if it's true or not, I don't know if it's universal. I do know that it seemed true in the moment, and that it feels like the real art work is being done, ever so gently washing over and through my thoughts.
The nuts and bolts scoop on the image itself is that it is for an article about Steampunks in today's society, at least that's part of a brief synopsis that I received. I decided to use nib pens and ink to work towards an old fashioned feel. It works with the subject matter, as well as being something that can't be done on the computer. { however it is not clear how well pen and ink 'reads' on the computer screen... good thing this is for print! } Much like a Steampunk Atlas, our craftsman has the weight of the world on his mind, but focuses his attention on the work at hand.
Much thanks goes out to the folks at Steampunk Magazine for including me in their publication. We're all looking forward to seeing issue #7 hit the stands!
Prints of this image are available upon request, please email me here.
Link to more pen and ink work from me here, here, and here.
Link to Steampunk Magazine
I don't know if it's true or not, I don't know if it's universal. I do know that it seemed true in the moment, and that it feels like the real art work is being done, ever so gently washing over and through my thoughts.
The nuts and bolts scoop on the image itself is that it is for an article about Steampunks in today's society, at least that's part of a brief synopsis that I received. I decided to use nib pens and ink to work towards an old fashioned feel. It works with the subject matter, as well as being something that can't be done on the computer. { however it is not clear how well pen and ink 'reads' on the computer screen... good thing this is for print! } Much like a Steampunk Atlas, our craftsman has the weight of the world on his mind, but focuses his attention on the work at hand.
Much thanks goes out to the folks at Steampunk Magazine for including me in their publication. We're all looking forward to seeing issue #7 hit the stands!
Prints of this image are available upon request, please email me here.
Link to more pen and ink work from me here, here, and here.
Link to Steampunk Magazine
Cool. Reminds me of Joseph Clement Coll. I liked the way you inked his left sleeve, the one holding the stylus (?). Is that darker patch near the shoulder a mistake or were you trying to loose an edge with the black background?
ReplyDeleteOne of my dreams is to be able to dedicate the time to mastering the pen and ink techniques used by the masters like Charles Dana Gibson, James Montergomery Flagg, Everette Raymond Kinstler, (all the dudes with 3 names). I applaud you for working in this direction
Howdy Brad,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your observations. I too love those three named guys, with Franklin Booth as an add on there!
Yes, this way of working is so satisfying, and it does take quite some time to go from blank page to illustration. I noticed that as the drawing goes on, that the level of risk goes up for every move that is made. After all, the beginning is much closer 1,2,or 3 moves in, but towards the 80% done mark, things move a little slower and more deliberatly in part because the work is further from the start!
FYI, he holding a phillips head screwdriver, not that it really shows or anything. And, not to pat myself too hard on the back, I was surprised when I took a step back and saw the line work on the arm! Who did that? ;-)
Cheers