Chapter 169 . Two New Illustrations & Few More Thoughts on the New Tablet

Productive, I have been...

Is it due to a great source of inspiration, a new step in my life, a new fluidity or the new tablet acquisition?
I would say, a little of all of that.
- smile -

Fact is, I have been drawing, among other things, every day, and, as always, it pays!!!!

I'm into drawing portraits.
Just little doodles, sketches, nothing too advanced, but the point is to grab the personality of the models...
Always...

And, I am trying to represent images that I would have not done, not that long ago.
And by this, I mean represent people as they are, show a piece of life, so to speak.
I am into reality those days, therefore, I'll take a little break from super heroes, crazy images, and imagination at it's best.
Instead, as I have already stated, I want to show the reality, what truth I see in people.
And so, I do simple portraits.

Note that I have also put colouring aside, for a while that is, and went back to black and white illustrations.

So, this said, here is the first one of the two new drawings:
Amber, my little niece, with her lovely smile:

Amber

Simple, I'm trying to be simple.
An attitude, a smile that defines the model, this is what I am presently interested by!

The second illustration is of a good friend of mine, someone inspiring, my friend Christèle:

Christèle

Smooth and peaceful, the lady and her thoughts!
What else can be said?

Yes, I believe I will do more portraits, until I reach the next step, the next plateau...

One thing I would like to add, is a note regarding my new tablet, the Huion 610Pro.
Since I have acquired it, I am able to draw faster.
I guess that's normal. Still, it's impressive!
It does exactly what I ask it to do, no more, no less.
The precision of the pen is fantastic, and it allows a flow I couldn't achieve with my old Wacom.
One thing I noticed is that, the tablet is not as fluid when I use Photoshop.
But being that I use Illustrator 97% of the time, it is more than fine with me!
So, unless you are a PS fan, I would highly recommend it, and if you are a PS fan, do some researches, dig a little more and take the appropriate decision!

On a side note, another one, Website is happening and growing fast, I have few more sections to complete, get the comic printed and sell it to the world!
It's a time of change, and I embrasse it!
Change is good, especially if you feel you are going places.
And I believe I am.

So, more news to come soon, new illustrations I hope and all that sweet jazz.

To finish, just a little image from a car show we went, the wife and I, admire yesterday in Oak Bay, beautiful lines, perfection at it's best!

Car Exhibit in Oak Bay - Victoria BC

This said, I am going to wish you a good week, and we'll talk soon.

Sincerely,

Serge
August 10th 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