Art Exclusive
 I have renamed this section, the art here at the beginning is exclusive to this newsletter. I do not post it anywhere else. This month I didn’t get a chance to do many ‘extra’ art pieces so this is an older piece from my last sketchbook. Again playing around with watercolor this is done from photo reference. |
Completed Projects
| Smaugust 2020 Smaugust 2020 was a huge success, I illustrated 31 new dragon designs. Over 20k designs were uploaded to #smaugust2020. Here are a few of my favorites.     Here are some of my favorites from other artists on Instagram.    Civil War Guerillas I completed the pitch artwork for the Graphesis project. It is now in the review stage awaiting approval and funding. It is a shoo-in but obviously, nothing is 100% till the fat lady sings… Complete for now, but hopefully more to come in the future. PREVIOUS POSTS If you missed the previous newsletters you can find the entire back catalog here on my website. DRAWING CONCLUSION ARCHIVE |
Current Projects
Daniel 7 Comic Would you believe it if I told you I have another Kickstarter for you!? I have been working with Fish Coin Press for the last 2 years on several different projects, you might remember the Bible Verse trading cards earlier this year. Now I am excited to announce that one of my favorite projects is soon to hit the limelight! Here is the process for the cover.     KICKSTARTER SUPPORT LINK! The Kickstarter includes a Behold Cards expansion for the Christmas Season as well as previous sets of Behold Cards, the Daniel 7 Comic, and various other rewards. Get one or several, it is up to you. If you follow me because you like Monsters, Comics, or Biblical Art there are plenty of all three in this project. Daniel chapter 7 from the Bible tells the story of a very trippy dream about monsters that the prophet Daniel has while in exile in Babylon. The comic is adapted and colored by Jared Boggess, Illustrated, Cover, and Lettered by me. TOTI have started thumbnailing issue 2. There is a ghoul, witch, tree spirit, and some mystical weapons, I am pretty excited. Here is some concept art.  The Green Flamingo I am working with my Book Agent to refine the script and art for the book. It is a bit of a slog but I am enjoying it and my Agent is a pleasure to work with. Sketchbook I have made a robust schedule for my sketchbook to keep me in it. 10 heads, hands, and figure studies a week, that’s two a day. I am a little bummed that I HAVE TO schedule what used to be a normal everyday thing for me. But I am thrilled with the results. Here is a page.  Teaching Classes have started and they are going well! I hope to share some of my student’s work later on in the semester. |
Upcoming Projects
| Painting I have penciled out a large painting that I am dying to work on when I have the bandwidth. Inktober Inktober is the drawing challenge for the month of October. The challenge is different from the other challenges I have done this year because the challenge is to use a specific tool not to draw a specific thing. This year I want to do something similar to what Jake Parker has done the last 3 years where he draws all his Inktober characters on one page. I am not sure how it will go but I am excited to see what happens. Anyway, I usually add my own personal theme to the challenge: 2019 – Witches 2018 – Space Knights 2017 – Fairies 2016 – Classic Movie Monsters This year I want to open it up to my audience to see what they would like me to draw? Keeping in mind that I have already drawn Phobias, Mermaids, Unicorns, and Dragons this year… whew, it has been a full year. Jake Parker publishes the Official prompt list to his email newsletter the same day this comes out but you can find it on Instagram later this month @inktober Card Game It has long been a dream of mine to create a card game. I was inspired by a conversation with my wife recently and the illustration I did last month of Baby “C” as a pear. So I am now working hard on a new card game with the working title “Spoiled Fruit” |
Art Lesson
| LINE: Alright, let’s start simple with line. We use it all the time, to write, to draw a closed shape, all sorts of things. What I want to share with you today is how Line Weight can help bring an illustration to life. Line Weight: the thickness or Heaviness of a line.  Here we see Baby Pumpkin sitting in front of the TV with a window behind him. This image lacks any visual depth. The horizon through the window has the same line weight as the TV in the foreground.  Let’s try again by varying the line weight from thickest in the front to thinnest in the background.  Wow! what a difference! Now the scene has some depth to it. Here is an illustration of Brother Blueberry. Everything is rendered with the same line weight. It makes it feel a bit boring and flat.  By varying the Line weight throughout the illustration we create contrast and focal points that can draw the eye and make our character more interesting.  |
Philosophical Rant
| Your guide for how to Compliment, Critique, and Communicate with an artist. Not all Artists are looking for a comment from you. In art school, all students go through the grueling process of having their work critiqued and ripped apart by instructors and fellow students. It has trained us to have a very visceral reaction to unwelcome comments, and this includes compliments. Timing in the first year of marriage, my wife made a very honest mistake but it just about ruined an afternoon. I was working on a watercolor illustration of Maeve from Westworld. The way that watercolors work is that you have to lay down the lighter values first before moving to the darker colors. Laura was passing by and saw that Maeve had very light skin (I was only on the first pass) and she commented that Maeve has a darker complexion. I almost exploded. “I’m Not done yet!” after some tears on both sides and an honest conversation I told her that I already knew that and it felt like she doubted my competence whereas she was just making a remark, void of value, just an observation. We came to the understanding that she is welcome to share if I invite her to comment. Invitation And that is the key, the Invitation to critique. My sketchbook is a space for mistakes and learning. If you open it up and make the comment, “This drawing is only half done.” It will not go over well. But if I ask your opinion on something then I want it all, the good, bad, and harsh. I am not looking for an ego boost. I am looking to improve my ability. This sometimes gets me in trouble when someone wants to share their art with me because I won’t share an opinion. I’ll stand firm in the pool of platitudes and generic comments until invited to critique. I recognize that art is a hobby to many people and most of them are just looking to have fun with art. Basically, unsolicited advice is not welcome. Specificity Now that you have been invited to critique it is time to get specific. You will be tempted to offer empty generic phrases. Here are some comments to avoid and examples of better options. BAD – “I love it!” This is not specific. You can love it, but it helps to share something specific that you love. For example say you like the use of the color red in the piece, If you share that insight with me then I can focus on highlighting that more in my future work because that is specifically what you liked. Maybe you like it on the whole. That is great, say it, but noting specific things about the piece tells the artist that you are invested in it. BETTER – “I love how you utilized the color red in this illustration” BAD – “I would have done [your idea]” or “You should do [your idea]” Okay, look. I don’t care. If you would have done it a different way, then go do it. I did it this way. Unless you want to commission me to do your idea or are fine with me stealing it then don’t bother sharing. What I hear with this comment is “Hey you know all that time you spent on this? yea that was useless because I have a better idea but none of the talent so I am going to tell you how to do your job. BETTER – If you have a different Idea then go make it. Be inspired and share it with the artist who inspired you when you make it. BAD – “I don’t like it” Not all art is for everyone, but remember specificity is key. sharing why you do not like it is super helpful to the artist. If you do not like the colors then maybe you would like some of the artist’s work without those colors. Now if you are not a trained artist it might be difficult to call out what you do not like about the piece, this is where engaging with the artist with questions can be helpful. BETTER – “I do not like this shape if feels very out of place. Why did you choose to include it?” BAD – “I would buy this, but I am broke.” Not exactly bad, but if you do not mean it don’t say it. If the artist is out of your budget then try to find something that they are selling within your price range. most artists who sell originals for thousands of dollars have prints of the same art for $20. My booth ranges from $1000 – $1 Better – “I like [specific artwork or art element] but I only have $20 budget, how can I support you?” This helps frame it as us being on the same team. Many artists understand having moths in their wallet and they want to make sure you get the most bang for your buck. BAD – “I could never draw like you.” DON”T DOUBT YOURSELF! you think this is a compliment but it is empty. Even worse it is self-deprecating. You can do it, but it is an insane risk and takes time, practice, passion, and drive. This comment isn’t a compliment it is a selfish pity party. Instead, recognize that the artist took the plunge that you are not willing to and celebrate it. BETTER – “Wow, your practice and study have really paid off, these are incredible illustrations [including something specific is a nice touch].” GOOD – “This makes me feel [emotion]” Art is all about feelings. If I can coax you into a feeling with an image that I painted yesterday, I’m straight up doing magic! And this includes “Bad” feelings. If my drawing causes you to feel anxious, mad, tired, These are all wonderful insights to if my art is working. Response I have an important role in this exchange as well. I have a responsibility to receive a critique with humility and grace. Another story about my wife… She pointed out that the far eye in most portraits I do is a bit wonky in a specific way. Because she shared it at the appropriate time, after an invitation and with a specific note, now I have a specific thing that I know is a problem and I am receptive to wanting to improve it. I can now become a better artist. All of these are aimed at communicating with visual artists, but I think most can be adapted to anyone. Be considerate, specific, and honest. I love hearing feedback on my art. Especially the art that I publish to this blog, my website, and social media. I am inviting you to share any of your comments with me. Stay safe out there, love each other, and create beautiful things. Cheers, A |
| For more about me, Anderson Carman, you can follow the links below to my Instagram and Online Portfolio. |
