Cecily Steele

Maybe I am. I doubt it. But I am interested in how ideas change, evolve, devolve, flourish … it’s a state we rarely access as human beings. We focus on the product; the end product that was successful. Here’s a little evolution of a tattoo design. I haven’t reached the end product, because this is a collaboration between two people; myself and my friend who wants the design. I can’t guarantee that there will be a successful end product, but here’s where the ideas have gone.

Just a side note. The first drawing I’ve done of this design is missing and was done while I was camping. These drawings are what I recall from that drawing and moving it according to the client’s ideas.

Also, I captured these with my digital camera so I could upload them quickly to get feedback. They are, therefore, a little blurry.

This is why I like having sketchbooks around. I like being able to practice, practice, perfect, refine, re-define, and work things out until I like where they are at. I recently stumbled on some studies of feet I’d done a few years ago and it reminds me that I need to do more of them, because these feet were pretty rad. Some people spend thousands of hours perfecting their ability to do something in Warcraft. I should be able to do at least that to get better at being an artist.

Bunny Molecules (full drawing), originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

Someone suggested to me in a fit of caffeine, what bunny molecules might look like. We’ve talked about Cuteons, the cuteness energy that rabbits give off, responsible for the amazing ability that rabbits have of placating just about anybody.

These are my bunny molecules, cuteons, or Bun2O. Still needs some tweeking here and there, but that’s why it’s a sketch. I’m still holding onto the idea of blowing it up this summer and making a HUGE painting of it. But no, not in pink.

Close ups can be seen by clicking here or here.

Trying…, originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

Trying to capture someone else’s style. Not to steal it, but to understand it. Apologies to Joshua Middleton. (http://joshuamiddleton.com/)

I was also playing around with hatching techniques. …. to no avail.

Self portrait (in progress), originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

… a little better…

Quick Self Portrait (in progress), originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

I’m missing half of my art supplies, but with two pencils and half an eraser, I did get this far. I need some serious touch-ups once I have my hands on my 1/8″ vinyl stick eraser, 4H pencil, and an Ebony.

Yeah – it’s that time of year again, introspective time.

Apple Moogle, originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

Final Fantasy Moogle done for the Genius team at the Apple Store.

Sketch book page 2, originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

Study stolen from someone’s beautiful website. I am loath to say I cannot remember who I swiped this image from.

I wish I could post the ribcage-to-pelvis ratio and rotational studies done last night during class but right now they are too big to scan. I will have to set up the camera later on this weekend and take a few snaps of the better studies. Anatomically, they’re interesting studies of how the pelvis and ribcage move in relation to each other. Artistically, they’re interesting line drawings and repetitive studies that form an interesting page.

Sketch book page, originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

Studies done over the week and weekend. images borrowed from a figure study photographic reference book and a large file of images I’ve pulled from the internet.

Mary Gesture Drawing, originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

This and the post below are two gesture drawings from a “Master’s Class” for advanced figure artists. For those who aren’t familiar with the concept – a “gesture drawing” kindly look to the post below for a quick explanation.

11″ x 24″ charcoal on newsprint.

Mary Gesture Drawing #2, originally uploaded by Gothbunny.

This and the post above are two gesture drawings from a “Master’s Class” for advanced figure artists. For those who aren’t familiar with the concept – a “gesture drawing” is a quick 30 second – 2 minute drawing that immediately captures the model’s pose, attitude, energy, etc. without a deep concentration on illustration or rendering. The focus instead is on the energy of the pose as well as utilizing a variety of line, line weight, gradient, and texture to capture the model quickly.

These were approximately 2 minutes long.

11″ x 24″ charcoal on newsprint. Nothing fancy.

Enjoy.