Chapter 168 . New Drawing, New Tablet & Soon to Come, New Website!

So much things to say, going to explain...
- smile -

Today, it's about the new, which, I believe, is a good sign. It, among other things, means that I keep on moving in life, keep on learning, and keep on keeping myself to my toes!
All of that are very, very good news!

So, if you will, let's start.
I will open the subject officially by a new drawing, a new portrait.
This is François, my awesome brother in law, or if you prefer, the brother of my sweet wife.

François

I must admit, I personally enjoy drawing portraits that way a great deal!
It is not easy to explain. First of all, it's fairly simple, because I practise a lot for the past 19 years, and because it's inside me. The drawing comes from the inside.
Really, it's a delight to do!
I like the fact that it express, to me again, the character perfectly, and gives a kind of attitude, which, I also like a great deal!
All of that to say that, I will probably do more portraits shortly.
Stay tuned!


But, one might say, how is that even possible?!
In your previous post, you said that your tablet had issues, and you were not able to use it anymore...
Well, would I answer, that is all true!
But, I had also mentioned that I ordered a new tablet!
Well, it came in the mail yesterday...

I can resist, quite easily, to open it immediately, I enjoy waiting for a while, a way to choose the perfect moment to open my present, as, this is to me, a real present, it means so darn much!
It's my primary tool, as far as drawing is concerned!
So, after few minutes, the pressing from my wife being too heavy to handle, I open the package, and saw that lovely box:

Huion 610Pro

When this is done, there's no point to wait longer to open it.
And so, her is the tablet:

Huion 610 Pro

Lovely!
So much nicer than my "old" Wacom tablet!
Then, during the day, I tried it, and here are my findings, especially the comparisons with the Wacom:
THE PROS:

• The tablet is way more adapted for digital drawing.
• The quality, believe or not, is nothing comparable. it is of higher quality without an inch of a doubt!
• The price is not comparable either! This is affordable!
• The quality of the drawing is multiplied by 10 I'd say.
• The accuracy as well.
• The size, even quite smaller than the Wacom does not create any challenges, it is perfect!
• The look makes you want to eat it!
• The way it holds itself on the desk is a real improvement.
• The pen is nicer to keep in hand, and way lighter, which, to me, is a big plus!
• As for it's accuracy, it's simply not comparable. (Remember that my Wacom was years old tough).
• The functions are real and customizable.

THE CONS:

• This is a tough one. One could say that it is easier to draw on a larger tablet as was the Wacom, but to me, regardless of the size of the Wacom, I always ended up using a smaller space that what was possible. I guess that's just the way I draw...
• Now, this is a tad annoying at first: Wacom allows you to choose and define your drawing area just like you want it. It's called the "tracking" of the tablet. With Huion, you simply can't do that, it's the full surface or nothing. This forces the artist to center the part is working on to the center of the screen on the computer. It annoyed me at first, but I found out, quite fast, that it is actually better to draw. It allowed me to focus better and be way faster to produce the piece.

Now, remember that this is only the first drawing I do with that new tablet, my new baby, and that I might add some thoughts regarding it's usage in a near future...
Again, stay tuned!
Last, her is how it looks all set on my desk:

Huion Tablet all Set to be Used

We're getting there.
Next step, a New Website, or should I simply say, a website!
I haven't had a website dedicated to my work in a long time! In fact, I convinced myself that I didn't need one. But again, that was just myself convincing myself.
So, after much thinking and talking with my better half, I realized that if I wanted to sell my posters, and the comic book, I would, eventually, need a proper website, with the option to buy online directly.
So, it's been 1 week I have been working on it, and it is almost ready.
I dislike that type of work.
Not that I am not good at it, I just don't get the pleasure I get while drawing. Normal one could say, but designing website and such are very similar to drawing, you create a space, the way you want it, the best way you want it. The main difference is that, there's a lots of "goofing" around, trying to adjust this and that, and, frankly, I feel too old to do that.
- smile -
But what must be done, must be done. And so I did.
The site would allow for purchase of the posters, the comic book, and, why not, hire myself to draw what you actually want, a freelance service so to speak.
It will also have a blog, which I will dedicate for my work only.
I will keep this existing one, but this one is more personal, not something where I would send my clients, even though...
Anyway, all of this said, the site should be up and running, I'd say, within a week.
Once and for all, stay tuned folks!!!!

New Website Preview

Here is a fast preview of the look I wanted to give to this new site, simple and clear!


OK, we're getting to the end of that post, there is one more thing I would like to add.
- smile -
A while ago, I had been in touch with Mr. Kyle MacLachlan, an actor I always found brilliant.
I did a poster for one of the character he played in Marvels Agent of SHIELD, Mr. Calvin Zabo aka Mister Hyde.
I contacted him, and offered a printed copy of the poster, which he gladly accepted.
Then, I got busy and it took me, frankly, quite a while to make this happen.
But, after getting the poster printed, which looked great, - smile -, I finally sent it today to the address he gave me, in California.
I truly hope he's going like it, but again, we'll see.

Myself on my way to the post office

Okay, this time it's all for today.
As I can feel the need to draw, I should be back soon, but who knows what life prepares for us.

Have a great day folks.

Sincerely,

Serge
05th August 2015

Chapter 165 . New Prints, New Drawing Tablet, New Drawing & New Marvel Movie.

Good day folks,

It's been a while since I wrote here, but then and again, I have been busy...
So I guess, I have few things to say.
Let's start if you will.

First and foremost, after a nice break, I went back to drawing.
The thing is, when you stop drawing for a while, you forget how to draw. Or to be more precise, "I" forget how I use to draw, especially the technical level, the tricks, the method.
The good thing is, this comes back quite fast with practice, and then, it's like:
- "WOW, that's really how I did it? So much work!!!".
Truth is, that's in those situations that you find new ways, new tricks, new paths, a new way of looking at your own work in a certain way.

All of that bla bla bla to say that I sat back at my desk and I simply draw.
I wanted to do something simple, relatively simple, some drawing without any deep message, just a doodle, something that I'll enjoy, something that is not crushing, because, massive pieces always are.
I wanted to go for a portrait.
I like drawing portraits, it's very fulfilling for some reasons that I can't really explain, it just is.
The choice of the subject often depends on the picture I choose as a model.
Out of the great choice I had, I choose Laurent, my wife's sister husband if you're still following me.
The character is great, he carries an incredible positivity, and such a vivacity in life, it's good to see and a pleasure to experiment first hand.
And, I had the picture which came with the character.
So, I sat and drew.

Now, and I'll get back to it later, but my Wacom tablet was giving me some challenges.
In short, I couldn't draw straight lines across the screen, they would be wavy, and I would have to readjust them over and over.
A real pain, so darn frustrating!
In the end, a drawing that should have take me 2 to 4 hours ended up taking 10 hours...
But, the result was worth it, I believe I captured the character perfectly!
I'll get back to the tablet issue later, and how to fix the issue.
Here's the drawing:

Laurent

I should definitely keep on doing portraits like that, not only do I enjoy it, but it really fulfills me, and, I just love people when they are lovable.
The portraits make me love people, as I explore their visage during the process, bringing something oh so human, it touches me deeply.
Time to make myself happy!
-wink-
Something to keep in mind!


On a different subject, my dear wife reminds me often that, my drawings are made to be printed.
Well, she's right of course...
But this is something that is easy for me to forget, I draw those things, then I forget about them almost immediately. In fact, in my subconscious, when the drawing's done, the work is done.
But that's only partially true, the drawing is done when it resides on a piece of paper, hang on a wall, looked at by people.
So, and she had to work quite a lot to convince me, it's time to get stuff printed.
A step at the time, of course, but regularly, we will get some of my pieces printed, in different size and flavour. This, not only brings some more happiness to my life, but also will allow me to do some exhibits, as I will have something to show on a different support than a bloody computer.
There is nothing like having artwork in a material form, just like receiving a letter instead of an email.
After all, we are also grounded beings, we touch and smell and we relate to all of our senses....

We did 3 prints.
The first one is the poster I did, a while ago, of my wife Stephanie.
It's a poster/advertisement for a show in Japan. To add the Japan's feeling, I worked the entire piece keeping in mind a great Japanese master, Mr. Miyazaki.
The piece is quite large, 24x18, framed and already on a wall.
Here it is:

Stephanie in Japan

And here is another picture, just to place it in it's environment:

The Bathroom

Then, there was the print for Mr. Kyle McLachlan.
A while ago, I did a poster related to the character he played in the second season of Marvel Agent of SHIELD. My wife suggested I contacted him to show him the piece.
Turned out he answered and liked it quite a lot.

Answer from Kyle McLachlan

I offered a print, and he accepted.
So, the print is done, looks fabulous, and ready to be sent to him at the beginning of next week.

Myself and the print of Calvin Zabo aka Mr. Hyde

Third and last for now, there was a print that many people asked me for. But I was reluctant to do so, as, it was only a part of the bigger piece, which, I haven't worked on in a very long time...
Time will tell, as far as this is concerned.
Nevertheless, someone very dear to my heart asked me for a print recently, and I just couldn't resist.
I got it printed, and it looked rather good.
So, another gentleman, also very dear to my heart, did some huge favour for me and my family recently, and he had asked for this print as well, a hell of a long time ago.
Do I did...
I can hardly wait to give it to him, such a pleasure to offer what I do best, or one of the thing I do best in life.
-smile-

Myself and the print of the piece called We

And now, the bloody story of the bloody Wacom Tablet.
First, I have never been a huge fan of Wacom, not that their products are not of quality, they are, but their prices are nothing short than ridiculous.
I guess, when you have a monopoly for so many years, you get used to do whatever you want in your field of business, and are able to argument it properly and adequately.
My present Wacom had a drawing surface of 12"x8" or so, I had it for many years, and for the past year I had started to notice a lack of precision, going from slightly annoying to a real nightmare.
As I said earlier, when I had to draw in diagonale, which I do an insane amount of time, the straight line would become wavy, and there is simply no fix but to rework those line many many many time...
This is a real pain, because it brakes the flow of creativity, which, in itself is all that really matters.
I did my researches on the net, and I am not the only one with this issue.
And there is no fix.
Wacom would not answer any of those concerns, and so, it looked to me like a perfect time to make a new move.
Plus, Wacom are starting to not support some of their old tablet, and you have to partially run some application in 32 bits instead of 64 and it is another real pain.
Let's make it clear, I don't use a computer to be able to trouble shoot.
Once and for all, I use this medium because I enjoy it. And to enjoy it, it has to be working properly.
So, ciao Wacom, and hello Huion.
After some new researches, I choose to try the Huion W58:

Drawing Tablet Huion W58

The drawing surface is a tad smaller, 10"x6.5", but frankly, I don't believe I will notice a difference after a tad of practice. How much did I really use from the Wacom? That would be a very good question.
And, because there is almost always a "and", the price is more than affordable, the whole thing, shipping included for a mere $100.
I don't even want to look at the equivalent for a Wacom, but we would probably be looking at 4 to 6 times more expensive...
Did I mentioned that Wacom had ridiculous prices?!!

Tablet is ordered, and I will keep you updated of the use of it when I will have this lovely possibility!


And we, slowly but surely, arrive at the end of that post.
One more thing though, this week was my younger son's birthday.
He just turned 13. Don't even ask me how this is possible, life is simply incredible.
Even though, there is a party today, on the very day of his Bday, we had a small special day.
He didn't have to do his daily chores, -wink-, we cooked what he likes, and we went to see the new Marvel movie, Ant-Man.

Ant-Man

And again, it was great!
Very funny, entertaining, and I just love feeling like the kid I once was, again...
I like and admire the way they introduce their characters, the way they turn those comics book into movies.
I read some bad review, among some good ones, but I think people who are displeased are waiting for something that Marvel is not. How can you expect what is not?
This is a great big question that can be asked for many many movies and such, adaptations in general.
Also, I read a post online of someone who said that he went to see Ant-Man and he goes to see Marvel movie to see when they are going to screw it up, to mess it up. And, as per this gentleman, it's not for that time!
What a weird way of thinking did I think...

We had a great time!

Ant-Man Tickets

Us after seeing Ant-Man

Voila folks, I think that's enough for now, more to come soon, hopefully, have a great week end, and, may the Force be with you!

Sincerely

Serge
25th July 2015

Chapter 164 . Mad Mr. Hyde, Sooke Scoop Local Magazine Update & Norah Jones in the UK

Kyle MacLachlan's Calvin Zabo

Good day,
It's been a while since I was here last!
Gosh, times fly.
What else is new?!

I have been busy...
-smile-
There is few things I want to talk about, so, let's start immediately with my latest illustration, a poster of the infamous Calvin Zabo, aka Marvel Mr. Hyde.
I don't know if you're following the TV Show Marvel Agents of SHIELD, and regardless of the show itself, there is a character played by awesome Kyle MacLachlan, who is worth watching!
Back in the days when I was a boy, there was that Marvel character, which I had, but he way, completely forgotten, named Mr. Hyde.
It was a brilliant surgeon who did experimentation on itself and become Mr. Hyde.
The story is old like the the world itself.
However, Jekyll and Hyde are two amazing characters in general, maybe a character  in which we can all recognize ourself...
Maybe...

Anyway, they brought the character to the show, modified him intensively, and gave the role to Kyle.
The result is nothing short than awesome!!!!
His interpretation of the character is so subtil, you'd up liking quite a lot the mad murderer...
And so, it was most definitely worth an illustration.

Presently, I'm into posters, so, the plan was to make a Calvin Zabo poster, and so, I did...

First, here is the original one created by marvel:

Marvel's Mr. Hyde

Here is also a sweet cover from a Thor album when he has to fight The Cobra and Mr. Hyde:

Thor vs The Cobra & Mr. Hyde

And now, here is my own interpretation of Cal Zabo/Mr. Hyde, adjusted to 2015:

Kyle MacLachlan's Calvin Zabo

I like the darkness of the illustration, and still, there is some kind of uncanny humanity within the character...
I like telling stories.
This image tells a big story...

Here is a detail worth watching:

Scalpel and Flowers

On a side note, the technic I use with this medium is in constant evolution. It's kinda odd as, I am always surprise how there is always room for improvement...
It's wonderful and terrible at the same time...
Guess I'm stuck in the middle...
By chance, I am with her, he he he...



Now, I would like to talk a little about the Sooke magazine I quite like, the Sooke Scoop.
Frankly, if you live in the Sooke area, it is insane if you are not reading that Mag, and supporting the creators at the same time!
First of all, it's awesome, second of all, it's of high quality, and third of all, it feels great to support a good cause!
Does't it?
-smile-
The mag is sold $5 at the Stick in the Mud I believe, go there and pick up yours, the second edition is out!

Sooke Scoop 1st and 2nd Edition

Sooke Scoop 1st Edition

Sooke Scoop 2nd Edition

And, also, thought I would mention that, the Sooke Scoop are publishing my comic book, The Case of the Chinese Cemetery, so, you also get to ready some comics, he he he...

Sooke Scoop Comic Pages

On a side note, the comic will be available in very few months to order in a beautiful format!
More to come about that, stay tuned Peeps!

And, go get the Sooke Scoop!
-smile again-


Last, but not least, there is another illustration I did.
but the truth is, there is two new illustrations I did on top of Mr. Hyde, Mme Norah Jones.
I want through a while without drawing, after the Avengers poster, and one day, Norah called me, so to speak.
It had been a while I wanted to do an illustration of her, but... Well, you know, I like to tell stories, and if I have nothing to say, then, to me, the illustration becomes irrelevant and a loss of my personal time.
That is the very reason why it takes me, sometimes, so long to do a specific drawing, I need to have a story to tell.
Also, that is why drawing comic books are what I like doing the best!
Bla bla bla...

And so, I decided to draw a poster, for a UK tour, with Norah Jones.
As always, everything is overly thought about in the illustration, there is a fair amount of hidden messages, and inside jokes and what's not, the pub is a darn real UK pub, and the feel of the illustration, I believe, is what I was trying to do.
So, in short, I sat down, worked y composition, and drew.
Black and white, pure like back in the days...

Norah Jones Black & White UK Tour Poster

And it was done.
And I was happy.

Then, another idea came.
What about colouring it, but not like adding colours to the same image, but instead, working it as if it was a different image all together.
It's a state of mind that changes everything...

I wanted to play with two colours only, Orange and Blue.
And, after much work, here it is:

Norah Jones Coloured UK Tour Poster

And again, I liked it, some kind of lovely melancholy going on, only partially controlled...

And here is a detail:

Norah Jones Poster Detail

Et voila...
Plenty of other things to talk about, but that will be all for now.

More surprises coming soon.
Have fun and be good Folks.

Sincerely,

Serge
7th June 2015