Background Painting

I just finished the 2 week Background painting workshop before the regular schedule starts up again.

Here's what I was up to:

In the first assignment, we used an existing layout and painted it monochrome. This was to emphasize depth and put a 'spotlight' on the general area where a character would move. All the assignments are done in gouache, which on this assignment I was not yet comfortable using... but it gets better :)

Here are some texture studies. I had a lot of fun with them. Using a photo reference I did the sky first. The aim wasn't to look like a photo but more like a texture one would find in animation. So I took that to heart and sweetened up the wooden fence and bricks in this fashion.

Here is a background to be painted in a day scene and a night scene. This is from an existing production and we were just interpreting it for education's sake. I've gotten more comfortable with the paint now but in both night and day I have not closed up the picture with enough darkness in the foreground and not enough light in the mid-ground.

The night scene.

Finally we were to draft our own layout for an animation background.

I had such a great time designing this and getting help with layout from my instructor. Once onto painting he let me have my way with nearly the entire piece--except the tree in the foreground, it was originally lighter. I agree that darkening it really makes it come forward. 

I had some inspiration from Looney Tunes backgrounds & Mary Blair's works.

I am really taking a liking to this graphic style.

Here's where you can view Mary's work: http://magicofmaryblair.com/

Comments & critiques are always welcome

Thanks for viewing!

Summer Break is OVER!

And it's a good thing too! This week at school we began with just two courses, Traditional Background painting & Intro to photoshop for Digital Background painting. Already, I feel I have learned so much. I went out to the library this weekend and found 4 great books related to my upcoming courses as well. The book on storyboarding will probably be a life saver, its one of my courses that I think I know the least about (besides photoshop -- I just started this August!)

              I can tell this 2nd year is going to be a great test of many things, my skill and time management. But I'm determined, and sincerely when it gets hard and I imagine quitting, I try to think of what else I'd be doing. Honestly, if I gave up, I would still be in my room painting or sketching in the streets, and now that I'm smitten with photoshop I'll never stop doodling, painting & creating. Its like some kind of addiction! >: D haha... ok well I have a few pictures here of some of my studies over the summer. Enjoy!

            This is a small bust in my mother's garden. I still need to work on foliage around the face. (I'll post the finished piece a little later)

Watercolour

9''x12'' Cold press 140lb. paper

 An antique radio.

Watercolour

4''x 6'' Cold press 90lb. paper

Back Alley in Kensington Market.

Watercolour & Ink

4"x 6" Cold press 90lb. paper

PHOTOSHOP

 This is me working with a tablet for the first time, I just wanted to show where I'm coming from and soon enough you'll see drastic improvement. I had no idea how to use anything except a loose idea of brushes and layer. ( I mean REALLY loose : P )

 I go on to scan a drawing in to paint on top. I still had no idea about anything just layers and one brush. Feeling overwhelmed I left this as is and decided to come back when I've learned a little more ;) I'll be seein' you in December missy! ;)
Also to mention the pose is taken straight from Gil Elvgren's cowgirl, I couldn't seem to make a cutesy pin up, they all ended up too... suggestive. So thanks to that inspirational artist ;)

This little treat was for my sister as a silly e-card surprise! 

And finally in school and learning from an experienced background painter the basics just in a few little classes. This course goes on all year so you'll just have to check to see where I'm at in a year with this. But great leaps have been made just this week both in knowledge of software and speed! 

I <3 photoshop now :3

This work is unfinished I am going to add in a few more shadows behind the bed off the shelf, also some items on the shelf and other various details on the window, trunk and picture frame.

I was also working on an oil painting this summer. I am still working on it, in my next post I'll show my progress from set-up to a good portion of work completed on it ;) and I will update when it is completed.

Thanks for viewing and comments & critiques are always welcome!