technique demo

The Stairs

I am calling this piece finished.  A lot of revisions but I like it now. Thanks for stopping by.

Beloved Miss Daisy

My beloved Miss Daisy... she was a good dog, a drama queen, but a good dog.

new work in progress

thumbnail sketch from a while ago... and now the final which is now started.  Thanks for stopping by. -db

Graveyard Walkers completed

Graveyard Walkers is finally finished.  I'm glad I am finished with this one.  Thanks for stopping by. -db

Graveyard Walkers WIP 4

The castle in the background appears to be pretty well done. Now the tombstones and the graveyard is starting.

Graveyard Walkers WIP3

It's finally showing some progress. Still a long way to go, but so far I am happy with it.  Thanks for stopping by.

Graveyard Walkers WIP2

Highlight textures are in on the castle and castle wall. Starting now to pick in the shadow textures on the castle. Once those are in, I will be able to adjust shadows and highlights as needed to further define the forms.  Thanks for stopping by.

graveyard walkers wip 1

Well the solid blacks are all put in, now time to start picking in shading and highlights. thanks for stopping by.

sketch for a new drawing: Graveyard walkers sketch

This will be a big one... 14" x 20" so it will definitely take a while.  Thanks for stopping by.

History of American Illustration

my six month project for building a visual History of American Illustration is complete.
I based this off on a variety of sources, Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, Spectrum Fantastic Art, The Norman Rockwell Museum's Illustration History, and the book The Illustrator in America.

This is a visual project consisting of a timeline of decades. Each decade can be opened to reveal a collection of illustrators. Each Illustrator can be opened to reveal a small biography and 10 images of each Illustrator's work. In the bio, I have linked an online gallery if available, Where the Illustrator went to school, any teaching they have done, and honors. In more recent entries, I also linked an online interview when available.

This was inspired by my mentor Mark Hazlerig who taught this class via stories and slides. He was and is my inspiration to what I do and how I do it. Also a big thank you to Bryan Ballinger for lighting this creative fire and getting me going on this.

Goggles 2 final

Goggles 2 is finished. Nice and quick. I like this one quite a bit. Thanks for stopping by

goggles 2 sketch

sketch for a new drawing.  Should be fun, I like it already.  Thanks for stopping by

BR Wool Cap

It's been a while since I did a portrait.  This felt good. Liked working out the leather jacket darks.  Thanks for stopping by.

The Unkissable Frog comic header parody

playing around on a Sunday. Just for fun.  It may become something more finished but I like the header parody.  Thanks for stopping by.

American Illustration 37 web gallery winner - Holly and Ivy

I am so honored to have had this piece selected... American Illustration 37 web gallery winner. Wow we WOW! 

Lost Souls

Finished.  Lost Souls is done. Another in the series of images inspired by Eastern State Penitentiary. I have no idea what is coming up next... we shall all find out together. Thanks for stopping by.

Night Keepers thumbnail sketches

The Night Keepers:   in the days before the enlightenment there was born a group of collectors called the Night Keepers. The Night Keepers, not born of humans, but from the dark night itself. For the night can be harsh, the night hunts, the night is sometimes vengeance.
The Night Keepers appear as forever young children of humans, who’s only reason is to hunt, to collect the heads of the cruel, the deceitful, and the wicked, severing their souls to haunt the face of the earth and wander in limbo for all eternity. They have been glimpsed on battlefields of the long past as well as the recent past, in the woods of old, and down dark alleys in their search to find the heads of the unjust. Sometimes they take the heads of the dead as well as the living deserving.

Udey the dog

Udey the Dog... pronounced Yew-dee.  The companion of a dear friend family of mine. He's getting up there in age but still has a lot of spirit.  Thanks for stopping by.

additional thumbnail sketch for skull collectors

Skull buried in Ivy. Maybe I'll try  some different perspectives and points of view.

new sketches for the Skull Collectors

preliminary sketches for a possible series, the skull collectors.  More to come.

Ghost of the Old Captain

Done. I like it.  The Ghost of Captain Cutler.  Thanks for stopping by.

Captain Cutler WIP1

working up a new piece... something I have wanted to attempt for quite a while.  Doing new a interpretation on the classic Scooby Doo cartoon from the late 1960s.  This one is Captain Cutler. Really fun so far.  thanks for stopping by.

Wintersmith WIP2

Still working away on this. Got all the foliage done... Next comes the drawing of the shadows and then cleanup. Thanks for stopping by. -db

wintersmith WIP 1

close up of Wintersmith inspired piece.  It took a couple of attempts at the dress but I think I've got it now.  Next... all the pine trees.  thanks for stopping by.

wintersmith sketch

A thumbnail sketch for a new piece inspired by the book Wintersmith.  thanks for stopping by.

porthole options

So, I bought a porthole.... I have been working on an image to put into the porthole to use as a picture frame.  The images are 6" square.  Thanks for stopping by.

The Great Wolf at the Abbey

Society of Illustrators Los Angeles Silver Medal

This just in:  I am most honored and thrilled to receive a Silver Medal award for Illustration / Self Promotion (Girl Behind the Window) from Society of Illustrators Los Angeles. Congratulations to all those who have made it in. 

Whitby Abbey Archway WIP 2 detail

Still plugging away at this one in spurts... I may put it back up for a while if I find something more exciting to work on.  Thanks for stopping by.

Selves

a small triple self portrait to keep me busy today.  Thanks for stopping by.

Whitby Abbey archway5 wip1

the darks are all inked in, now to start the scratch details.  Thanks for stopping by.

German Castle window completed for 2017 Holiday Card

Time ran short this year so I adopted the drawing of the german castle window into a Holly and Ivy Holiday card for this year.  I'm done with leaves for a little while but I am happy with the result.  Thanks for stopping by.

German Castle Window WIP 2

still plugging away on ivy, ivy and more ivy leaves.

Easter Island celebrates additional Holidays.

some days an idea gets stuck in my head and will irritate me until I get it out onto paper. This was one of those time.  Thanks for Stopping by.

German Castle Window - WIP1

From the Germany Trip from a few weeks ago, Bamberg Castle Window, Work in progress. A lot of ivy yet to be drawn.  thanks for stopping by.

Mausoleum Doors from Dracula's Guest

The First interior illustration for Dracula's Guest is in the completed folder.  I learned quite a bit on this one. Hopefully you enjoy this as much as I did working on it.  Thanks for stopping by.