Just Add Water
September 2, 2008
by dave
Filed under Artwork, Dave Posts
Last year Greg brought in some prehistoric style Sea Monkeys to cultivate. We used only the finest quality Aquafina to fill their tank though Greg let the water get pretty slimy from time to time. It was an especially creepy process considering each morning one of the critters doubled in size from the night before by eating his friends.
Here’s to you prehistoric Sea Monkey.
Dave, that is a morbid tale…better send in Rocket Kid asap before this little dude turns into lunch!
Great piece.
Awesome. You do some of the coolest things with teeth.
Yes Dave!! Great character and super detail!!! Love it my friend!
Another test subject approved for delivery, i notice the mind control device on the head similar to test subject alpha 6 from the sketchbook. who is manufacturing these bad boys? great design make it a downloadable wallpaper.please
we need a detailed step by step process of the coloring! The DVD was perfect but we need the voice over of each step! or should i say i need it!!! Diggin this a bunch! molina out..
cool monster, you guys should draw a series boxed creatures or something
Hey Javier, I recently sent the guys an email saying the same thing! I am so impressed with the coloring and have no clue on the process. It doesn’t seem that they moved it into Photoshop, is it still done in Sketchbook? Would love to see a tutorial/step-by-step type of video.
Absolutely beautiful!
Thanks everybody!
oscar: Good eyes, good eyes…I thought I would sneak that in there. Who knows how many monster test subjects are floating out there in the wild. I’ll look into a wallpaper this weekend.
luigi: You never know!
Javier + Noah: On the DVD, all the linework is done in Sketchbook and the color is done in Photoshop. As far as the technique, we really just start with blocking in color then gradually build up our shading. We keep searching for a magic workflow but we tend to spend most of our time banging our heads against the walls.
Just got the Sketchbook in the mail. Awesome Designs, layout and sweet colors. Getting the SBP trial version was a nice surprise too! I loaded it up and I have to agree the pencil lines are much smoother and natural than Photoshop. I’m using a Wacom Intuos and getting some pretty good results, but I find myself abusing command Z due to misplaced lines.
I hear you guys use the Cintiq, have you ever worked on an Intuos and how does it compare? I’ve been debating over dropping the cash on the Cintiq but haven’t found a place where I can give it a test drive. Thanks for the inspiration, keep up the great work.
Hey Matt, I’m exactly where you are on considering the Cintiq…just chicken so far to drop the bucks but Dave and Greg are really building up my confidence in it here.
I’ve also talked to others who made the switch and can’t find anyone who has regretted it yet!
Very cool
I’ve been considering a Cintiq too but I gotta try it out before I drop that kind of cash. I tried using Sketchbook on a small tablet PC and could not really keep my linework from looking wobbly and could never seem to get a good feel for where the tablet pen met the line. It always seemed to be playing catch up to my pen.
Since the Cintiq is made for artists, I would assume it would work much better. I also see they have a smaller one available for $1000. Anyone try it out yet?
BTW, thanks for explaining Dave. Somehow when I try coloring in Photoshop it doesn’t look nearly as good. Methinks it has more to do with skill than what program you use, so if you can give me some of yours, I’d be much obliged!
Hey guys, i wanted to chime in on the whole Cintiq discussion. Dave and I do both use Cintiqs and swear by them, but tablets are just fine. They just take some getting used to, trust me, Cintiqs take some getting used to as well.
If you want some advice, I would look into the 20wsx. Itâs got a great new tooth to the drawing surface for that sketch-paper feel and has tons of mappable buttons. Its 2000, but worth every penny. I had a teacher once ask me while quarreling over the price of a new cpu how much money it would save me in time versus waiting for the price to come down or wait til my salary went up. It works itself out usually. If youâre on the fence, go for it.
Believe me, i couldn’t spend that kind of cash either, but it has more than paid for itself.
Jump in, the waters great!
Peace-
g
Now that is advice right from the horses mouth! I’m hovering around the diving board now and will be taking the plunge. I have started and stopped with the pen tablet more times than I can remember and I am now just finally seeing that it just takes practice. Duh-on-me!
Can’t be any harder than learning the Accordion and you should hear me….nevermind that.
The added tooth surface Greg mentions will eliminate yet another problem I’ve had on the pen tablets and didn’t even realize…too slipery!
Thanks Greg….now were did I lay that check?
Thanks for the feedback Greg. I have improved w/ the tablet but I always wonder if switching to the Cintiq would be like driving a Lamborghini after driving a ford escort my entire life. Time to start saving my lunch money, that water’s looking refreshing!
Hey Bernard,
I like to lay a piece of everyday copy paper on my tablet, then draw with the pen right on top of the paper. That really helps get rid of the problem of being to slippery. Give it a try!
Noah—Wow!
Now what’s my excuse for not thinking of that…gee thanks.
This will hold me over well until the check for the Cintiq grows to size.
looks good! The advice given here is also fantastic! keep it up gents!