Recent Changes

Scan the sketch into Photoshop
Digitally Paint!
{2017 Character Descriptions Spanish.pdf}
Character Description #1:
Living in the modern world as part of a team of investigators that solve mysteries (sometimes “supernatural”), this character is usually portrayed as a highly intelligent young woman with highly specific interests in science (at one time pursuing a career as a NASA research scientist) and being very well read on obscure fields, such as ancient Viking writings. She is described by her younger sister as being "born with a mystery book in her hand". Consequently, this character is usually the one to figure out the mystery.

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Character Concept Sketch {250px-Link_Artwork_1_(Twilight_Princess).png}
From movies and animations, to video games and comic books,
illustrators are called upon to visualize what a character looks like based on a description from a writer or director.
Darth Vader, Harry Potter, Winnie the Pooh (and Tigger too!) all started out as a written description
until an illustrator created what they look like visually.
In this project, you will visualize what a character looks like based on a written description.
We will then scan your sketch into Photoshop and digitally add color.
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Process:
Read the character descriptions below, choose one description to draw.
Do not choose a character that you already know.
Add details such as clothing patterns, jewelry or weapons and armor that tell us about the characters personality.
Do a sketch of a background that represents where you may see the character.
Scan the sketch into Photoshop
Digitally Paint!
Character Description #1:
Living in the modern world as part of a team of investigators that solve mysteries (sometimes “supernatural”), this character is usually portrayed as a highly intelligent young woman with highly specific interests in science (at one time pursuing a career as a NASA research scientist) and being very well read on obscure fields, such as ancient Viking writings. She is described by her younger sister as being "born with a mystery book in her hand". Consequently, this character is usually the one to figure out the mystery.
Character Description #2:
This female character lives in a world like ours where magic exists. She has long brown hair and brown eyes. Very studious and bookish - she possesses a brilliant academic mind and proves to be a gifted student at her school. Although sometimes annoying, she tries very hard to be the teacher’s pet, in part because she is secretly afraid of failing. Her incredible skills and intelligence helps her friends after many tight spots.
Character Description #3:
This character is a female elven assassin raised by wolves in a very dangerous forest. She is short, very fast, and dresses mainly in dark clothes that allow her to sneak around. Carrying a bow and many daggers, this character is basically good, but dangerous. She has a scar over the left side of her face, dirty un-kept blond hair and blue-green eyes. Her best friend often keeps her out of trouble.
Character Description #4:
This character is a large, peaceful, brown dragon who is a vegetarian with an easygoing nature. She allows people to ride on her back, but mainly prefers to lie around and sleep, much like a cow with wings. She has a very scary name for effect.
Character Description #5:
This yellow dog is the star of the show. She is outspoken, honest, loyal, kind, and very talkative! Although she is bilingual (speaking human and dog), she sees the world from a dog's point of view. She can also translate what most other animals are saying.
Character Description #6:
He was twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed, and so wild — long tangles of bushy black hair and beard hid most of his face, he had hands the size of trash can lids, and his feet in their leather boots were like baby dolphins.
Character Description #7
This character is a genius scientist, able to create complex inventions. His brilliance ban be muddled by his jaded personal views and very bad habits. He is easily board and does not do well with routine. He is a tall, lanky old man with long arms and legs and gray blue spiky hair.
Character Description #8
This character is small for his age, standing at only (4'11"), despite his attempts to appear taller. He wears his golden-blond hair long - usually tied in a braid that hangs down to his shoulders. He parts his bangs in the middle so that they frame his face on either side as they fall and, in the center of the parting, he leaves a single strand of hair sticking up like an antenna. He wears a red, long-sleeved hooded cloak that comes down to his upper calves, with black pants and shirt. He has a mechanical right arm and left leg resembling plate mail, giving him extra strength and power.
Character Description #9
This male character is a barbarian of towering height and size. Grey-skinned and tattooed, he has a bald head, wears no armor, and is growing a thick beard caused by this magical dwarven belt. Although not very smart, this character is an incredibly dangerous fighter in his fantasy world. After saving an innocent person, this character was thrown out of his group by his uncle and ended up joining a band of heroic adventurers.
Character Description #10
This male character is a halfling/hobbit; very short with large, hairy feet that are never in shoes. He has thick curly red-blond hair and beard, with round glasses. Although he doesn't look it at first glance, this character is a very wise, and very powerful wizard who has saved his friends many times. His orange and white robes has blue trim resembling magical symbols. He sometimes works part time as an accountant.

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Fantasy and Science Fiction Art
{gandalf_and_the_balrog.jpg}
Fantasy and Science Fiction is quite possibly the largest genre that uses illustrations.
Everything from graphic novels, book, magazine, trading cards, posters, video game design and concepts, and of course movies –
Fantasy and Sci-Fi is a huge field!
And as you may have guessed, many of these artists have gone digital! This project is so massive that I’ve broken it down to two lessons…
{GandalfFallsWithTheBalrog.jpg} Project One: Fantasy
Students will either choose a paragraph (or more) from their favorite fantasy story and create an illustration for that section, or take the Monsters of Moria challenge (see below). The artwork itself will not include any text, but will be displayed beside the completed art. Students may decide to illustrate the book cover instead—which would include text (of course). Talk with me about this in class if you are interested.
“The Monsters of Moria” Challenge
One of the most widely illustrated fantasy novels of all time is probably JRR Tolkiens “Lord of the Rings”. And why not! The novels are abundant in fantastic locations, races of peoples (hobbits, elves, humans, dwarf) and monsters (orcs, goblins, trolls, ringwraiths)… oh my.
Here is your challenge; Illustrate a section from “The Fellowship of the Ring”. Chapter Five—“The Bridge of Khazid-Dum” is one of my favorite chapters. It’s when Gandalf and the fellowship, fleeing from goblins and trolls, faces the terrifying Balrog!
Download the chapter below:
{bridge_kd.pdf}
{DarthVader.jpg} Project Two: Science Fiction
You guessed it. Choose at least one paragraph of your favorite sci-fi novel, or scene from a movie, or even a video game story, and create an illustration for that moment in the story. Again, no text will be involved in the art, but ill be displayed beside the art.
Of course, you could always take the “Run Luke Run” contest.
“Run Luke Run!” Challenge
Although many science fiction films have used digital art, none to the level of the Star Wars franchise—they use so much that George Lucas had to create an entire company around creating that art (Industrial Light & Magic).
Truly awesome! So, heres the challenge my young padawans… illustrate one section of the script from the 1976 blockbuster Star Wars: A New Hope.
Below is a link to the script section that involves Darth Vader and Ben Obi Wan’s (you mean ole’ Ben?) epic light saber battle. The next section choice is shortly after that battle, when the “fellowship” is running towards the Millennium Falcon
( remember… run Luke run!)
{newhope.jpg} Download those script sections here:
{Star Wars script.doc.pdf}
Choose a different section from the entire script here:
http://www.blueharvest.net/scoops/anh-script.shtml
Check out Industrial Light and Magic: http://www.ilm.com/
If you haven’t seen any of these films,
consider that your homework!
{100589.jpg}
{QUAG_KEEP1.jpg}
{nc-wyeth-1.jpg}
{jh2.jpg}

{dig_ill.jpg}
Fantasy and Science Fiction Art
{gandalf_and_the_balrog.jpg}
Fantasy and Science Fiction is quite possibly the largest genre that uses illustrations.
Everything from graphic novels, book, magazine, trading cards, posters, video game design and concepts, and of course movies –
Fantasy and Sci-Fi is a huge field!
And as you may have guessed, many of these artists have gone digital! This project is so massive that I’ve broken it down to two lessons…
{GandalfFallsWithTheBalrog.jpg} Project One: Fantasy
Students will either choose a paragraph (or more) from their favorite fantasy story and create an illustration for that section, or take the Monsters of Moria challenge (see below). The artwork itself will not include any text, but will be displayed beside the completed art. Students may decide to illustrate the book cover instead—which would include text (of course). Talk with me about this in class if you are interested.
“The Monsters of Moria” Challenge
One of the most widely illustrated fantasy novels of all time is probably JRR Tolkiens “Lord of the Rings”. And why not! The novels are abundant in fantastic locations, races of peoples (hobbits, elves, humans, dwarf) and monsters (orcs, goblins, trolls, ringwraiths)… oh my.
Here is your challenge; Illustrate a section from “The Fellowship of the Ring”. Chapter Five—“The Bridge of Khazid-Dum” is one of my favorite chapters. It’s when Gandalf and the fellowship, fleeing from goblins and trolls, faces the terrifying Balrog!
Download the chapter below:
{bridge_kd.pdf}
{DarthVader.jpg} Project Two: Science Fiction
You guessed it. Choose at least one paragraph of your favorite sci-fi novel, or scene from a movie, or even a video game story, and create an illustration for that moment in the story. Again, no text will be involved in the art, but ill be displayed beside the art.
Of course, you could always take the “Run Luke Run” contest.
“Run Luke Run!” Challenge
Although many science fiction films have used digital art, none to the level of the Star Wars franchise—they use so much that George Lucas had to create an entire company around creating that art (Industrial Light & Magic).
Truly awesome! So, heres the challenge my young padawans… illustrate one section of the script from the 1976 blockbuster Star Wars: A New Hope.
Below is a link to the script section that involves Darth Vader and Ben Obi Wan’s (you mean ole’ Ben?) epic light saber battle. The next section choice is shortly after that battle, when the “fellowship” is running towards the Millennium Falcon
( remember… run Luke run!)
{newhope.jpg} Download those script sections here:
{Star Wars script.doc.pdf}
Choose a different section from the entire script here:
http://www.blueharvest.net/scoops/anh-script.shtml
Check out Industrial Light and Magic: http://www.ilm.com/
If you haven’t seen any of these films,
consider that your homework!
{100589.jpg}
{QUAG_KEEP1.jpg}
{nc-wyeth-1.jpg}
{jh2.jpg}

Children’s Book Illustration {6a00d8341ee19353ef011570a302af970b-800wi.jpg}
From fables and fairy tales to some of the most cutting edge modern stories,
children’s books (a.k.a. Picture Books) have long been a place to find amazing artwork in a wide variety of mediums (from charcoal and chalk to digital art.)
But don’t be fooled… the artwork isn’t always pretty… sometimes it’s downright scary!
One thing is for certain, Children’s books allow the artist to experiment with ideas, techniques and drawing styles.
Illustration Project:
Your mission is to illustrate a page from any children’s book story.
If you are willing, you may sign a contract with me to work on an independent book project of your very own!(Must be 8-14 pages long)
1. Find a children’s book story from the local library (or other location).
Choose one page that you would like to illustrate
{554813436_shepard_01_web.jpg}
2. Begin the thumbnail sketch process with these considerations;
The text must appear somewhere within the page design
(you can have the text within the artwork, or separate from the art)
You can change the overall format (shape) of the book.
How about creating a pop-up book! (Not for the faint-hearted!)
3. After choosing one, begin to sketch out a final rough at the original size.
We will scan in the rough and build the painting in Photoshop using the Mixer Brush Tool!
Lesson in Spanish: {Keaney-Childrens Book translations Spanish.pdf}
Children’s Books Links
http://www.childrensillustrators.com/content.cgi/index
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http://www.rmichelson.com/Childrens-Book-Illustrators.html
http://picturebookillustrators.typepad.com/
http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html
http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/flash.html
Stories
Aesops fables
http://www.taleswithmorals.com/
Little Red Riding Hood
http://www.fln.vcu.edu/grimm/redridinghood.html
The Three Little Pigs: http://books.google.com/books?id=mmVFI3WUOgMC&dq=the+three+little+pigs&printsec=frontcover&source=bll&ots=IGoHwJ0lUv&sig=nkV_pqRtkn4WzcgvvEcFEVdwy2E&hl=en&ei=eUPRSZ-sIdXVlQe58tnnCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=11&ct=result#PPP1,M1 {sendak-wildthing.gif}
Greek Myths for Kids
http://greece.mrdonn.org/myths.html

{dig_ill.jpg}
Children’s Book Illustration {6a00d8341ee19353ef011570a302af970b-800wi.jpg}
From fables and fairy tales to some of the most cutting edge modern stories,
children’s books (a.k.a. Picture Books) have long been a place to find amazing artwork in a wide variety of mediums (from charcoal and chalk to digital art.)
But don’t be fooled… the artwork isn’t always pretty… sometimes it’s downright scary!
One thing is for certain, Children’s books allow the artist to experiment with ideas, techniques and drawing styles.
Illustration Project:
Your mission is to illustrate a page from any children’s book story.
If you are willing, you may sign a contract with me to work on an independent book project of your very own!(Must be 8-14 pages long)
1. Find a children’s book story from the local library (or other location).
Choose one page that you would like to illustrate
{554813436_shepard_01_web.jpg}
2. Begin the thumbnail sketch process with these considerations;
The text must appear somewhere within the page design
(you can have the text within the artwork, or separate from the art)
You can change the overall format (shape) of the book.
How about creating a pop-up book! (Not for the faint-hearted!)
3. After choosing one, begin to sketch out a final rough at the original size.
We will scan in the rough and build the painting in Photoshop using the Mixer Brush Tool!
Lesson in Spanish: {Keaney-Childrens Book translations Spanish.pdf}
Children’s Books Links
http://www.childrensillustrators.com/content.cgi/index
{LiveImage.jpg}
http://www.rmichelson.com/Childrens-Book-Illustrators.html
http://picturebookillustrators.typepad.com/
http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html
http://www.chrisvanallsburg.com/flash.html
Stories
Aesops fables
http://www.taleswithmorals.com/
Little Red Riding Hood
http://www.fln.vcu.edu/grimm/redridinghood.html
The Three Little Pigs: http://books.google.com/books?id=mmVFI3WUOgMC&dq=the+three+little+pigs&printsec=frontcover&source=bll&ots=IGoHwJ0lUv&sig=nkV_pqRtkn4WzcgvvEcFEVdwy2E&hl=en&ei=eUPRSZ-sIdXVlQe58tnnCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=11&ct=result#PPP1,M1 {sendak-wildthing.gif}
Greek Myths for Kids
http://greece.mrdonn.org/myths.html