Big Sur Tree WIP 1

starting up another tree drawing.  This is a smaller piece, 11"x14" I think.  Thanks for stopping by.

Douglas Bell Named by Creative Quarterly as 100 Best Winner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Douglas Bell
Named by Creative Quarterly as 100 Best Winner

[New York] Derby 1, a project developed by Douglas Bell, was selected as one of the top 25 award-winning entries in the Professional Illustration Unpublished category. This highly selective and well-recognized competition sponsored by Creative Quarterly, The Journal of Art & Design magazine, now in its 12th year, recognizes outstanding creative work produced by artists, graphic designers, illustrators and photographers from around the world. A complete list of this year’s 100 Best winners is available at www.cqjournal.com/annual.

Winners of our quarterly competitions move on to our year-end competition where 25 winners in each category are selected by a distinguished jury. This year’s judging panel included Caitlin Karolczak, fine artist; Reiner Hebe, Hebe Webeagentur, graphic designer; Page Tsou, illustrator and Daniel Featherstone, photographer.

Entries were judged according to these criteria:

            • How well does the entry communicate?

            • How memorable or unique is the entry?

            • How strong is the entry aesthetically?

Each year winners represent countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America. Both professional and academic winners are represented.

Project title: Derby 1

Client: Self Promotion

Creative team: Douglas Bell

All winning projects will be prominently featured in the 128-page, hardbound100 Best annual coming out in May, 2017.

Creative Quarterly sponsors quarterly competitions in January, April, July and October. Information about this year’s shows is available at www.cqjournal.com/callforentries.

About Creative Quarterly

Creative Quarterly offers the best of art and design, quarterly. Founded in 2005 Creative Quarterly has received numerous international awards and recognition for its design. The magazine showcases the work of fine artists, graphic designers, illustrators and photographers, both professional and academic work is featured in both the magazine and online gallery. Creative Quarterly is distributed worldwide.

Caedmon's Cross final

Caedmon's Cross is finally complete.  I have not been so glad to see a piece finished in quite a while.  I don't want to draw a grassy field again for quite some time.  All in all, I am happy with the results. Thanks for stopping by.

Caedmon's cross WIP detail

detail of Caedmon's cross.

Caedmon's Cross WIP 1

Wow, who knew drawing grass was going to be such a daunting task... not naive old me.  Well, it is a learning opportunity. Thanks for stopping by. -db

opengates WIP1

starting up a new drawing... more old stone buildings with rusty iron gates and a haunting female character.

The Girl With Black Eyes

Star Straps

Star Straps
digital
6" x 6"

Countess Dolengen of Gratz

Countess Dolengen of Gratz is complete. This piece was inspired by the short story Dracula's Guest written by Bram Stoker and published posthumously four years after his death.  Thanks for stopping by.

Countess Dolengen of Gratz WIP 4

going slow, but it is starting show some positive results for my efforts.  Just keep plugging away.

Countess Dolengen of Gratz -WIP3 tiny bat close ups

small little bats that will fly around the Countess.  Thanks for stopping by.

Countess Dolengen of Gratz -WIP2

just plugging away at this piece. The midtones have been added in. Now starting to darken the lights and lightening the darks to add detail and shape. it is the long part of the process where you don't see a lot of progress for quite a while. Thanks for stopping by.

Storm Scars final

Storm Scars WIP 3

plugging away... I've hit a phase in the piece where I just want it done. Everyone has to go through this step and muster on, and I will, but at this point... I may need to step away from it and go draw something else.
Thanks for stopping by -db

Countess Dolengen of Gratz -WIP1

The Start of a new piece... a big one in size. Countess Dolengen of Gratz which is inspired by the story Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker from 1914, two years after Stoker's death.  the head of the figure is one and a half inches wide by two inches tall in size... a small portrait indeed.

thanks for stopping by.  -db

Derby 4, Variation 1

Derby 4 variation 1:  experiencing with some limited color.  We shall see where adding color will lead in the future.
Thanks for stopping by.

Derby 4

Probably the last portrait of this model for a while. Rita is a dear friend and an amazing artist.  This portrait series was a grand learning experience.  Thanks for stopping by.

Derby 3

playing with some different line techniques.  It is always fun to play.

storm scars WIP 2

plugging away on this.

Storm Scars WIP session 1

Starting up another landscape type drawing.  This piece is inspired by a trip to Lobo Point State preserve in California after a strong wind storm.

Kirkstall Abbey Arch, completed

 Completed and I think I am happy with this one.  I have included some close ups for those who want to see how the linework and shading was created.  Thanks for stopping by. -db

Kirkstall Archway WIP session 4. A lot of progress

Good weekend of work. I have surpassed where I was prior to having to rework all the stones with black as a base. It's appears to be coming along as I envisioned it. thanks for stopping by. -db

Kirkstall Archway session 3. Major revisions

Ok, so sometimes learning means going back and correcting… that is what is going on now.  I originally attempted to have the shadows be solid black and then pull out the mid tones and highlights  with white line… which worked nicely. However I also attempted to combine that with lighter areas being left white and then darkening their mid tones with black line…. the two were incompatible. Probably too much black linework was needed to keep things consistent and flowing visually. Anyway, I have made the decision to make all stone work black in this drawing and then push all the lighter areas with white line.  Now it is coming together.

Kirkstall Abbey Arch WIP 2

Well, now the midtone lines have been added. Next comes starting to add darks to the midtones and feathering them out into the quartertones and highlights.  Thanks for stopping by.

Kirkstall Abbey Arch WIP1

Starting up a new large format drawing... Kirkstall Abbey Archway.  This is about the third sitting to get this far. Now the perspective should be correct and I can start laying in basic values.

The Dead... completed

it's done... a small piece, 6"x7.5" but I am happy with it.

The Dead WIP posting 2

Still working on this piece... Progression session 2. It's coming along. Thanks for stopping by. -db

the dead- WIP

working up one last dark piece for the autumn season... The Dead.  It was a challenge to mimic a burlap type texture convincingly but after a few test tries... I'm happy with the result so far. We will see how this goes as it progresses.  Thanks for stopping by. -db

I got a rock....

nothing serious... just a fun little parody doodle for the Halloween season.

skull drawing

I had to try to get at least one Halloween type drawing done before the end of the month.

Look at Frosty Go... Holiday Card Design 2016

Sometimes they just come out of dreams.  This one woke me up and i had to sketch it right then and there or else I would lose it in my sleep.  Glad I did that.

In the Bleak Mid Winter... Holiday Design 2016

Well, I'm calling this one done.  We shall see what some distance does to see if it makes the cut for this year's card. Thanks for stopping by.  -db

Bleak Midwinter WIP 2

Getting close to calling this drawing done... I have no idea what to do with it after the snow is done... I have tried a few colorings and no good solutions yet.  We shall see. Perhaps some time will reveal a solution.

another holiday card illustration: Sheep Work in Progress

So, I'm working up an additional holiday card illustration. This one is really squeaky tight. Sheep in snow... sort of a bleak midwinter vibe.  Still a long way to go, but here is what i have so far.  Thanks for stopping by.

Holiday Card 2016... maybe

I got started earlier this year than I have... perhaps ever. We shall see if I get an alternate or if this done and deliverable.  Thanks for stopping by. -db

Chair horse WIP 2, head section

Chair horse, still a long way to go, but I finally got back to working on this piece. It's a biggie for me, and I got a bit burned out on it for a while. Somehow I got reinspired. Hopefully it iwll last for quite a while.  Thanks for stopping by.

Eastern State Pathway selected as winner in Creative Quarterly #45, due out this winter

Eastern State Pathway has been selected as winner in Creative Quarterly Illustration #45... due out this winter. I am proud and honored that this piece has been selected.

Eastern State Pathway selected as winner in Creative Quarterly #45, due out this winter

Eastern State Pathway has been selected as winner in Creative Quarterly Illustration #45... due out this winter. I am proud and honored that this piece has been selected.

detail for The Well session1

Detail of a new piece I have started up... the well. Since I have been down and out with respiratory infection, it has been slow to no go on this piece or much of anything these last two weeks. Hopefully with antibiotics I'll be on the mend soon.  Thanks for stopping by. -db

marshall hat 2

Marshall Hat 2 complete, 6"x6" digital ink drawing. This one went surprisingly fast. Thanks so much for stopping by.

new small portrait. Marshall Hat 2 Session 1

As always, I start with a blueline block in for where things are and to get proportions and perspective in line. This usually takes 2 to 4 layers of various tightening up. Once that is done, then I will start blocking in solid blacks.

Eastern State Pen; The Path, Colored Edition

A colored edition for those like things a little extra murky.
Thanks for stopping by.

Eanstern State Pen; The Path, B/W

Eastern State Pen, The Path B/W -Size 20"x20"

Digital ink drawing... one tiny stroke at a time.  The Black and white edition.

toned paper wolf sketch

A toned paper demo I did today for a younger student of mine.  45 minutes