whimsical art

Step By Step Art Progression For The Grand Vizier's Garden Party

May 27, 2014 in animals, cartoons, character design, conceptual illustration, fantasy art, Fian Arroyo, Fian Arroyo blog, game art, Games, giclee print, humorous illustration, humorous illustrator, illustration, line art, sketches, people, water color and ink

Here's the step by step art progression of my new fantasy art piece "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party". It is my interpretation of a Pink Floyd song. Check out my descriptions for each step below. If you have any questions, just post a comment or email me from the Contact Me section of www.fian.com.

These are the tools I used to create "The Grand Viziers Garden Party". They are Arches watercolor block of 30 sheets of 140 lb cold press paper, Winsor Newton watercolors, Pilot Namiki Falcon fountain pen, Pilot Metropolitan animal fountain pen, Noo… — These are the tools I used to create "The Grand Viziers Garden Party". They are Arches watercolor block of 30 sheets of 140 lb cold press paper, Winsor Newton watercolors, Pilot Namiki Falcon fountain pen, Pilot Metropolitan animal fountain pen, Noodlers fountain pen, Noodlers ink, Pedeo drawing gum, Winsor Newton Gum Arabic and various brushes.

Rough sketch with doodles from my sketchbook added. Getting our cast of characters into their places. Places everyone!!! — Rough sketch with doodles from my sketchbook added. Getting our cast of characters into their places. Places everyone!!!

Transferring the sketch to the watercolor paper block. I print out the sketch then rub the back of it with a graphite pencil and trace the image onto the paper. — Transferring the sketch to the watercolor paper block. I print out the sketch then rub the back of it with a graphite pencil and trace the image onto the paper.

Starting the inking process. It is always a rush to get to this stage and to make it start to come to life. — Starting the inking process. It is always a rush to get to this stage and to make it start to come to life.

The outline inking. The main line work right before the detail comes in. The grand vizier is getting ansy...he wants to see how he will look in color. — The outline inking. The main line work right before the detail comes in. The grand vizier is getting ansy...he wants to see how he will look in color.

Details to the outline inking. The last stage before I apply color...then the real decision making comes into play. — Details to the outline inking. The last stage before I apply color...then the real decision making comes into play.

Masking the characters with Pedeo Drawing gum (blueish color) so I can paint the sky with a watercolor wash. Its easier to get a fluid wash without having to worry about getting color into unwanted places.

The sky wash is added....now I'm ready to bring the characters to life. — The sky wash is added....now I'm ready to bring the characters to life.

Starting to add color to the characters. I started with the grand vizier himself and made him a reddish color to make him the center of attention like he always demands. — Starting to add color to the characters. I started with the grand vizier himself and made him a reddish color to make him the center of attention like he always demands.

Bringing more of the characters to life. Bringing this party into full view. — Bringing more of the characters to life. Bringing this party into full view.

Detail of the painting process. Gotta make sure the Vizier is done right...he's kinda fussy that way. — Detail of the painting process. Gotta make sure the Vizier is done right...he's kinda fussy that way.

The finished art. A glimpse into what goes on at The Grand Vizier's place on weekends and what goes on in my head all the time. Enjoy! — The finished art. A glimpse into what goes on at The Grand Vizier's place on weekends and what goes on in my head all the time. Enjoy!

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Step By Step Sketch To Final Art for Fantasy Illustration

May 09, 2014 in advertising illustration, animals, cartoons, character design, conceptual illustration, fantasy art, Fian Arroyo, Fian Arroyo blog, giclee print, humorous illustration, humorous illustrator, illustration, line art, sketches, water color and ink

Here is a step by step from sketch to final art for a watercolor and pen & ink fantasy piece I did to be sold as fine art prints. Its called "Careful With That Axe Eugene", its my interpretation of an old Pink Floyd tune. At first I thought it was jinxed because the first line work attempt ripped when I was tearing it off the Arches watercolor paper block (thank goodness I was going to redo it anyway because I wasn't happy with the line work). Then when I was going through the process of round two, I wasn't "feelin' it yet", and I almost bailed on it but continued to plow through. I finally started to get into it when I hit the homestretch. Sometimes you get to close to the trees to see the forest...or is it the other way around?

I used a Noodlers and Pilot fountain pen with Noodlers ink on 140 lb Arches cold press watercolor paper to create this.

You can purchase a print here.

Click through the pics to see the progressions.

Enjoy!

-Fian

http://fian.com/fians-blog/?offset=1400071247176

ZaPow Gallery Podcast Interview With Fian Arroyo: Spaghetti-O eyebrows

April 24, 2014

I was Interviewed in a podcast this past weekend for the ZaPows Art galleries series "Illustration and a Beer" Episode 30 "Spaghetti-O eyebrows". It was a fun interview. I can't believe I brought up my Spaghetti-O eyebrows incident. This fun interview covers my illustration career, why we moved to Asheville NC from Miami, Florida, my work in the ZaPow gallery and of course Spaghetti-O Eyebrows and more. Check it out here http://www.zapow.com/podcasts.html

Hindsight is 20/20...i should have taken a pic of the interview.

When Art Goes Bad

April 10, 2014 in animals, cartoons, character design, conceptual illustration, fantasy art, Fian Arroyo, Fian Arroyo blog, game art, giclee print, humorous illustration, humorous illustrator, illustration, line art, water color and ink

The Perils Of Keeping It Real. I finished the line work and was tearing it off the Arches watercolor 30 page pad when it ripped due to the adhesive on the pad being way too adhesive. Thank goodness I wasn't happy with the illustration and redid another one. Sometimes when creating art the old school way, unforeseen mishaps may happen, like a tear in the paper or an ink blob from the pen. Whatever form it may manifest as, you have to overcome the overwhelming urge to hurl and move on to fix the problem or as in this case start over. Working analog is not as forgiving as working digital...no command Z. Will post the finished art after I apply the watercolors to it. This illustration will be available as a giclee print soon...stay tuned.