2 zombies becomes 4 zombies

A very long time ago I turned two little boys into zombies ... today I drew them again.

It's been a very long time since I did a portrait and it felt good to start again. I used red to sketch the boys and I kept it very loose.

 Basic colors were blocked in next. I'm using acrylics because they dry fast and I like to draw over what I paint, but I don't feel like waiting today.

And this is the drawn on image now ... i had to adjust the clothing. The ink was laid down with a normal black ink gel pen.

Badda boom badda bing, a bit of this and that, a little trademark secret stylizing and it's done.

And lucky for everyone I still possess the original zombie portrait of these 2 boys from so long ago. Now I'm going to mail it all out to their dad.

 Whatcha think? Want more details? Less? Something else? Let me know in the comments.
Also, go check out my original art for sale at www.ko-fi.com/byron 

zombie sketch

Sometimes when I don't know what to do, I grab a paper and just start drawing and painting. 

This image was the result of one of those times.

4"x6" mixed media on cold pressed watercolor paper.

Parchment Paper Zombie Cat

A few days ago I painted a zombie cat on parchment paper.

This is the video of that process, narrated by me.

Let me know what you think.

work when you can ... wherever you can

One problem that many artists face is finding time to get to the studio and get their ART on. Being a stay home Dad with 3 kids and all sorts of different kinds of busy I need to work wherever the hell I am. So ... a long time ago on the advice of my art mentor I bought a tackle box. The kind you use for fishing. Nearly everything I need to draw or paint can be stored in it, and I can take it everywhere. If I cut my paper down to 4x6 sizes ( or a bit bigger ) it can go in the box too. Small container with a tight sealed cap works well to hold some water and I'm all set.


So ... now when I only have 10 minutes to myself between putting the kids to bed and spending some QT with the MRS I can open it up, grab what I need and draw and paint until I'm dragged away from it. I've done this on the floor, at the kitchen table just before breakfast and even out on the deck while watching my 5 year old play in the sandbox. I've also taken the box with me to family get-togethers and various other outings.

The point is ... there's no excuse to not being able to find even a few minutes in the day to create some art. With some thought and creativity you can have something portable too. Even just a small sketchbook and a pen is all you need. Anyone out there have a small portable studio ... or at least something they carry with them most times? Let me know what you got!

frenzied friday

I could complain about all sorts of things. Pain, finances, hectic schedule, busy life with kids always on the verge of running late for everything. But what's the point. Everyone has been there at one point or another in their lives. It happens. If it wasn't for the super shitty or busy times we wouldn't realize when we're having the good times. The calm and relaxed times. So I'm not going to complain :)
Lucky you ...

Instead what I'm going to say is that during all these super busy stressed out shitty times, there are still minutes in the day when you can get something done. I'm trying hard to realize that life is busy and to keep an eye open for the times when I have 15 minutes or so to myself ... 15 minutes I can use to tweak an image in photoshop, or finish off an animated gif I was working on ... then post it to G+

Sometimes I have enough time between life gigs to do something spontaneously  .. like record myself drawing another zombie pic ... like the one at the top.

The point is ... if I don't keep an eye open for these few moments of free time, and take advantage of them when they present themselves, I won't get anything done. Even this blog is being written in the few minutes before supper when the kids are outside and the wife doesn't need me to do anything.