thank you all so much- and work in progress

really i didn't think there was anyone much out there. i thought i was babbling to the air.
i guess it is also febuary, i don't get much sleep now, and there isn't enough light anywhere it would seem

and i also realized i tend to get repetitive when my brain is elsewhere

like worried about bernie or into some project

drawing, painting, sculpting etc, do that more to me & the effects last longer, maybe that's why i never drank or did drugs? i just need to do something like that and i am pretty oblivious to everything including what time it is or day it is

i thought you folks would like to see how i start those drawings, in this case a black and white. i use a black photographic crepe tape as a border, and i do that on almost all my blk/wht illustrations

i should most likely do a different border for different projects but for now that's what i do. i try and use decent supplies now, although i have been known to doodle on napkins, this is a strathmore smooth finish bristol. i also use vellum and plate for stuff. i think the smooth finish is a good compromise. i am using rapidographs as well as sakura pigma micron pens. just over the top you can see the first rough story board. i am referring to that. it's not any roughs really, as that one is just titles either of the blog post stories or of highlights that i want to remember and share through this project

now this is a bit of a wide shot of the top of my drafting table, on the left is my beginning surface, with the rough storyboard over, and a printed out picture of one of the ducks (it's momma duck from the other night) as a reference for where, how large, etc i want them in there. on the far right, being held with that black thing (it's a wreath hanger i am going to rig to hold paint brushes and my rags) is a roughly drawn idea of the baby ducklings in the sink, it won't stay anywhere near like that, i was just thinking a straight overhead would be interesting so that's sitting. you also see my triangles for getting straight corners on the drawing (that's for crop marks *crops* for the printer)and pieces of blue tape all over to hold the papers down. i work almost vertical so i have to secure everything

off to the side of me is a rolling cart with paints, pens, brushes, etc.......coffee......

and i need to figure another brush washing thing as thaddeaus likes to drink my paint water! damn cat, he's going to make me OLD. i have a craft brush wash thingie with a cover but i don't like it for this- it's ok for craft acylics i think though. it's hard to clean.

this is the end of the studio i used to make dolls in. ( that workbench is all broken up now, and the supplies are scattered somewhat. i want to make dolls again in the future, and i am so hoping i don't have to start entirely from scratch with equipment and supplies.)

my studio has three walls of windows, good for light- and i didn't feel claustrophobic in here, bad for heating and cooling........ and then there is that fishbowl thing.

i am still working on the studio....... i need to white wash the wood paneling (cheapo plywood paneling, nothing spectacular)

here is the next step, the ducks are blocked in...... just rough erasable images. i should do layouts and comps in pencil first (my teachers from art school will all be having heart failure seeing me do this and yes it is a TERRIBLE habit to be in-don't do it this way, but it's supposed to be a fun project for me and this is more fun)

what isn't here and will be developed as i go is the background, which in this case is going to be suggestions of leaves and monsters, i hope. (there is that whole reason to do comprehensive drawings *comps* and layouts) but i am either lazy or spontaneous whichever sounds better.

i played with placement and i really liked this, i like the angles, i like the big fluffy duck butt in your face so to speak (that's momma duck, phoebe and lillianna in ascending order) i am using a picture of momma duck when she was fluffing her wings out after a bath, i liked how unsettled she looks there.

next i start to ink in those outlines.....sorta, more or less.... i am sort of careful doing it.... kinda.. now of course if it was watercolor..... i am a bit ahem....... more free with the actual contours of the images......(ok so i sorta just slap paint around, and then try and make it look ok)

now you all know in boring detail how i start and what i start with.