You have all been so nice I'll try and break down what's going on with my new style. The more sophisticated the starting shape the more refinements I can make later. For random shapes, the results very, often times I just dump it and start over. Here is one of my warm up exercises. For this style I think differently then when I draw with traditional ink. I try to create a fence for the design first then let loose inside. It allows for a sort of stream of conciseness while still maintaining all the characteristics that make what I am trying to draw recognizable. It's a bit to random at the moment, I rely on symmetry to generate additional shapes to play in. 1. I'll draw the left half first keeping the right side of the doodle vertical and open to avoid crossover. I make a continuous sweeping stroke to create some areas for positive and negative space. The outer edges are intended to be general facial points, cheeks, chin, brow line nose ect. I am in essence drawing the middle first. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3798802897_ebea5e07af_o.png" /> 2. Then I'll reflect and copy to see how it lines up, then change the color on the right half to gray and lock it. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/3798802967_3f2acf5042_o.png" /> 3.Then I switch back in forth between thinking of the design as a whole, and working on the left half refining things and adding detail. I'll repeat step 2 several times to see what happens, and guide my process. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3799620044_77b1dab264_o.png" /> 4.I continue to work both sides of the drawing, letting the shapes compete for most interesting, and helping the shapes along with distinctive marks nostrils, eye balls, "C" shaped, parallel lines to form some curves, banding or stripes. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/3799620128_7e381c1a4e_o.png" /> 5. At some point I will group the two and treat it as one shape, then begin blending the middle where the two join, and adding differing marks to either side to change the balance as needed. (if I am happy with it I skip this step and begin coloring) 6. I work in grayscale first, and add colors last. This is to ensure that when I do pick colors there is enough value and contrast between them so that they are interchangeable. Shading and lighting are reversible. (not really but I pretend they are, it adds to the whole feel) I use a neutral gray background, and begin with a white or light gray base covering all of the interior line work. <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3798803271_88eed85c22_o.png" /> 7. I use a light, mid, and dark gray each on it's own layer working from lightest to darkest. I use this order because lighter things are forward and darker things seem farther back. It's a way of giving it depth or focus. 8. I then group and reflect my color layers to line up with the other half. Here is what it looks like naked. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2543/3798803335_5e0a5d1afd_o.png" /> 9. I use the change color options to randomly see what color combo I like best. To get to if. Select artwork and click Recolor Artwork (It's the button that looks like a color wheel in the top tool bar.) Or find it with the main application window. Edit>Edit Colors>Recolor Artwork From here you can change color order, by clicking the randomly change color order button in the Assign tab. or manually change color in the Edit tab. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3856781895_0f1ab3a176.jpg" /> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3856781903_6080a0e678_m.jpg" /> Here are a few of my results. <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2671/3798803463_c0173cfddb_o.png" /> 10. It gets really interesting when you start to repeat the shape and set it to multiply, the stokes become hatched where they overlap and it takes on a stained glass look. It helps to remember that I am reusing the eyes both as front on view and profile view for both faces on both sides. <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3798803671_b60e12572e_o.png" /> 2009-08-05T20:18:18-04:00 25 2009-08-04T22:41:04-04:00 true 0 61201 false false 11894 506 1 2009-11-21T04:32:10-05:00 699 interesting... 61201 Post 2009-08-04T22:47:41-04:00 1892301 13514 2009-08-04T22:47:41-04:00 cool! thanks for sharing sir. 61201 Post 2009-08-04T22:53:45-04:00 1892351 11562 2009-08-04T22:53:45-04:00 That first line is make are break pretty much, The draw back is it works for faces, for other things it gets complicated pretty quick. 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:01:33-04:00 1892381 506 2009-08-04T23:01:33-04:00 this should be a weekly segment 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:07:31-04:00 1892471 32631 2009-08-04T23:07:31-04:00 very interesting sir... awesome! 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:11:06-04:00 1892491 2870 2009-08-04T23:11:06-04:00 I don't think I have it in me for that, but yeah I like post like this, it's nice to see how something is put together. I'd like to see Wotto do one. I bet it's 3 steps or less. Drawing and only coloring half of it is a real time saver. 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:13:34-04:00 1892561 506 2009-08-04T23:13:34-04:00 Cool stuff, it is always interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes so to speak. 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:15:49-04:00 1892621 44251 2009-08-04T23:15:49-04:00 Awesome sauce! 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:19:02-04:00 1892661 12132 2009-08-04T23:19:30-04:00 thanks duder! and congrats! 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:30:04-04:00 1892771 10787 2009-08-04T23:30:04-04:00 very fuckin cool quaker 61201 Post 2009-08-04T23:39:26-04:00 1892861 13631 2009-08-04T23:39:26-04:00 yeah this is really nice dude! 61201 Post 2009-08-05T00:01:08-04:00 1893091 10233 2009-08-05T00:01:08-04:00 Thanks guys. I hope it catches on soon I would like to sell some these some day. 61201 Post 2009-08-05T00:38:45-04:00 1893261 506 2009-08-05T00:38:45-04:00 .... i hope this is your work http://apparelclothing.bigcartel.com/product/big-head 61201 Post 2009-08-05T01:21:01-04:00 1893551 10233 2009-08-05T01:21:01-04:00 thats defiantly some awesome on my possum. 61201 Post 2009-08-05T01:23:40-04:00 1893611 43381 2009-08-05T01:23:40-04:00 the funny thing is I read all of that and I still don't get it...that's why you are so good at what you do i guess :D 61201 Post 2009-08-05T01:26:03-04:00 1893651 11937 2009-08-05T01:26:03-04:00 What's not to get, I can go ever it in greater details if that helps. 61201 Post 2009-08-05T11:45:54-04:00 1901691 506 2009-08-05T11:45:54-04:00 I love your style and you are now one of the few artists I can spot in the tee section before I click. Thanks for this, I love seeing how other artists work and agree that Wotto and other designers should post some stuff about their methods. 61201 Post 2009-08-05T13:04:35-04:00 1903611 28701 2009-08-05T13:04:35-04:00 Newman, you are cool 61201 Post 2009-08-05T16:18:21-04:00 1908511 1404 2009-08-05T16:18:21-04:00 It's really cool seeing how you put these together. 61201 Post 2009-08-05T16:49:38-04:00 1909051 13481 2009-08-05T16:49:38-04:00 It gets really interesting when you start to repeat the shape and set it to multiply, the stokes become hatched where they overlap and it takes on a stained glass look. It helps to remember that I am reusing the eyes both as front on view and profile view for both faces on both sides. <img src="http://www.grabup.com/uploads/13b8747b68efaabefcf0b35ad5065d05.png" /> 61201 Post 2009-08-05T17:57:30-04:00 1910671 506 2009-08-05T18:00:07-04:00 maybe you should sell this to go-media u'll get moneys :P 61201 Post 2009-08-05T18:12:55-04:00 1910871 8874 2009-08-05T18:12:55-04:00 Hmm really? 61201 Post 2009-08-05T18:14:36-04:00 1910911 506 2009-08-05T18:14:36-04:00 if you're ever interested in a collab quakerninja let me know...I think it might be interesting for the both of us... 61201 Post 2009-08-05T18:52:40-04:00 1911521 33471 2009-08-05T18:52:40-04:00 <blockquote><cite>of1000kings said:</cite> if you're ever interested in a collab quakerninja let me know...I think it might be interesting for the both of us...</blockquote> Hells yeah, anytime you want pal. contact: Quakerninja@hotmail.com 61201 Post 2009-08-05T18:56:52-04:00 1911661 506 2009-08-05T18:56:52-04:00 <blockquote><cite>quakerninja said:</cite> It gets really interesting when you start to repeat the shape and set it to multiply, the stokes become hatched where they overlap and it takes on a stained glass look. It helps to remember that I am reusing the eyes both as front on view and profile view for both faces on both sides. <img src="http://www.grabup.com/uploads/13b8747b68efaabefcf0b35ad5065d05.png" /></blockquote> RAD!!! very nice and interesting post 61201 Post 2009-08-05T20:18:18-04:00 1912681 11894 2009-08-05T20:18:18-04:00