Tag Archives: Illustration

Billy Goats & a Troll, Three Blind (Pew) Mice, Illustration wit a Twist

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 Put a new twist on an old idea

Why not make the troll HUGE!

Troll SketchThis is an image for a fun little book project I was doing awhile ago and unless you just arrived on this planet you already know what the story is.
I had done another book project that was for a fractured fairy tale called The Three BULLY Goats. A cute little story where the goats were the bullies and the troll was kind and gentle.
I guess that led to me wanting to

illustrate another troll under a bridge with a goats story. I wanted to make an image that would bring a slight twist on the classic BILLY Goats Gruff tale and I thought that playing with the scale of the troll might make my piece more unique. I’ve always been puzzled when musicians re-make a well-known song yet fail to put their own artistry into the performance. I hope I can give this book freshness so that both adults and children can appreciate it.

CAN YOU TELL IF I PAINTED THIS TRADITIONALLY OR DIGITALLY?

Part of my process has always been to work from a warm tone over the entire surface – and then I add tone to the shadow areas. Weather I used acrylics, oils or an iPad or other digital devices, I would still go from a toned canvas, to toned shadows to to the finished piece.

I combined two different sketches to get it right. 

I combined two sketches because I was having a hard time drawing the Troll where I wanted him in one sketch. I used Photoshop to get it right…and the painting was also done in Photoshop. – Brushes that never run out of paint! Undo! Copy Paste! Endless Adjustments! Speed! No Shipping Costs!

A new look at an old illustration

3 blind (pew) mice. A  new take on an old favorite by NC Wyeth called the Blind Pew.

0003 Jim M. 3 blind mice. A new take on an old favorite painting from NC Wyeth called the Blind Pew.
Artist Jim Madsen, (Wayne Andreason is his best friend) copied “Blind Pew” with a twist. He took an old favorite by NC Wyeth, the Blind Pew and put it to Three Blind Mice.

The Blind Pew ~NC Wyeth

NC Wyeth's illustration, the Blind Pew
Compare the mouse on the left and the house in the background. And the color pallet and painting technique. Although Jim’s is a digital painting. Way to go Jim.

Some Illustration is NOT Art

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Some illustration is ART…some is NOT ART, Even if you frame it.

Our artwork is like our babies, Priceless?

Remember when you drew something back in Jr. High maybe, and it looked great, at the time? Or when you painted your first painting in High School. Perhaps you copied, (plagiarized) the cover of you favorite album, like Boston’s Don’t Look Back? (Yes, I’m that old) If you were like me, you planned on keeping it forever. Or if it was in the High School art show, the price tag was for about $1000.00 or “NOT FOR SALE!”

Hopefully you can look back at those pics, if you still have ’em and see that you weren’t that good. Not that you weren’t that good, but that you have improved… A LOT!

Keep Sketching… And Drawing… And Painting.

I Guess what I’m trying to say is this. If you keep at it you will improve. You will find and hone in on your style, you will get better and better. So keep up the good work.

The first things you illustrate may feel like artwork too. I was in love with my first illustrations. I was a professional artist. How cool is that? My work was published, I was published. My friends and relatives would say “You’re going to be famous, like that one guy, what’s his name? He did all those paintings?”

I finally reached a point where I have no room for my early editorial and advertising NON-ART illustrations…so “BuBYE!!!”

art or trash?

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS. The garbage truck already came so you can’t rummage through my trash, past the old pizza boxes and dig out a bunch of my “Non Art” and sell it on E-Bay for more than it is worth. But I think a slice of pizza is still stuck in there that you can have. Just joking, my FolioAcademy biz partner Wayne already dug that out and ate it.

Boston, Don't Look Back album cover

Hey! we could copy this, paint it and sell it for like a thousand dollars. COOL!

Tips for New Illustrators and Art Students Part 3

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 12 tips for New Illustrators and Art Students Part 3

Artist Paul Mann hard at work in his studio.

Artist Paul Mann hard at work in his studio.

            -1 Things I’ve Done as an Artist

Getting What You Want as an Artist

There are people out there who ask me ‘Other than being a big mouth and starting a YouTube channel what have you done?’ (And if there aren’t there should be, because it’s a valid question)

I started Folio Academy with my good friend Wayne Andreason, where we sell video tutorials. I have made 3 e-books, (see here, here and here) which have sold over 50,000 copies on amazon and Barns & Noble.

A story app called “I Eat You” for iPad and iPhone.

The school of visual storytelling.  With Jake Parker, where we teach live online classes.

Now I am working on an app called Gary’s Place, about a gopher who lives beyond his means.  I am working very hard on that right now. (Fall 2013) I even have my son Aaron learning how to program and animate for that. Yes I’ll pay him for his work.

These are things I’ve picked myself, and I’ve decide that I will try, and if it fails then so what? I can move on to something else.

Now as for helping you, I want to tell you.

                2- ‘Wealth is created in your spare time.’

Think about that a little bit, and my follow up is, I want you to ask yourself what you think you need.

If you could look into the future and see yourself after you’ve finished an amazing project. That is having great commercial success. And aside from all the money you’re making, and the conferences you’ve been asked to speak at, and the recognition and awards.

Now after seeing all that, if you could see what it took to get there,

Would you give up some of your Friday and Saturday nights to work on your art?

Would you live in a smaller apartment or house so you could work less at a job, and work more on your art?

Would you go for a cheaper cell phone, and save money to apply towards your art projects?

Would you spend less time watching TV and movies for your art, and I mean a Lot less time?

Would you play fewer or no video games for your art?

And if you are not willing to give up those things then I want you to say this and see how it sounds and feels coming out.

“I would rather hang out with my friends, spend this money, hang out with friends, watch TV, and play video games than have my dreams come true about becoming a (state your dream here)”

I see a lot of my students wasting time, and I’ll come clean I used to be addicted to Star Craft.  I lost two years of my life to that stupid game.  I have come to the point that if a game is really good, I can’t play it, because I don’t have the time for it.

You need to be able to fall in love with your art and creating your art.  Not the things that will keep you away from it.

        3- Make Great Art

The first step, as author Neil Gaiman said is ‘Make great art.’

That’s the first step, but it’s not the only step and it’s not an easy step.  It takes a lot of practicing, and work, a lot of NOT surfing on the internet.  A lot of just sitting down, drawing and painting and working on your craft.

If you’re starting out right now, you may not be making great art.  Nobody starts out great.  The idea of child prodigies in art is a debunked myth. An artist like Mozart who has had movies made about him, and books and is really well known was virtually unknown for the first ten years of his career.

Next step is… Continue reading →

Phases of this Textbook Cover Illustration

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My Art Process for the Phases of this Cover Illustration

The Sketch

Element hired me to do the cover art for an English language text book.

– the idea is that by learning English you become more free to pursue whatever you want.
– that more doors are open to those who speak and understand English. And probable to those who know how to read and write English as well.
My client wanted me to illustrate some of the buildings in the shape of letters to further the language angle.

SEPARATE BACKGROUND Can be Used Multiple Times

I was asked to paint the background separate from the foreground so they can use it for other covers that we are currently working on.

Adding ELEMENTS

This is a challenge because as I’m painting it’s hard to control values and colors but here they are combined.

Final Cover Art

This is the final illustration, by me, Will Terry, with the cover graphics. Turned out pretty well.

Folio Academy Student, James Horvath, Gets an Art Gig

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It all started with Will Terry’s first art lesson video course

How to Illustrat Children's books

 Words can’t begin to describe the feelings I’ve had over the past few years since making my first video tutorial: “How To Illustrate Children’s Books”. I’ve received hundreds of letters, emails, Facebook messages, etc thanking me for making that video and the subsequent videos I made afterwards. I get to chat with people everyday about their enthusiasm and renewed energy for working on their art projects. I find myself wanting to produce more and more video courses for my students around the world.

More Courses by Artist, Will Terry

James Horvath shared a wonderful thank you letter and a short success story.

With permission from James Horvath I’m sharing his letter because it really touched me yesterday – I’m glad I was home alone so my kids didn’t see me get all mushy. My emotions come from the leftover feelings I have growing up in the shadow of academic over achievers in my family and thinking that I would never be able to do anything important with my life. There really isn’t anything better in life than knowing you make a difference – so I thank all of you for the kind words you’ve sent me in the past few years! ~Will Terry

 

Hey Will

 

 It’s been a while since I downloaded and watched your video series, “How to Illustrate Children’s Books“. I just wanted to write to you and let you know how well your course has worked for me. 
 
I’ve been a freelance children’s illustrator for many years. I worked primarily in the education market doing work for Scholastic, Pearson, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and a few others. And while I’ve enjoyed some modest success, I always wanted to write and illustrate my own children’s picture books.
 
About a year and a half ago I decided to get off my butt and actually do it, instead of just dreaming about it. I found your video course online and decided to spring for the $29.99.
 
I developed my story, worked on some sketches and sample art, basically, followed your process and submitted my dummy (an email with a PDF) to one publisher. A test run so to speak. I braced myself for the almost inevitable rejection that I was sure would soon follow. 
 
Instead, within 24 hours, I received a response with a very enthusiastic reply. That was on a Tuesday. By the end of the week I had a 3-book deal with HarperCollins Publishers. My first book comes out on April 30th. And is up for pre-orders at practically all major on-line retailers.
 
I just wanted to send you this note and say, “Thanks”. I really do credit you and your course with outlining a path for my success. I would, and often do, highly recommend your video series to anyone looking to break into the children’s book market.
 
Thanks again!
James Horvath

Check out his work.
 

Congratulations James

– I can’t wait to buy your books when they come out and to brag that I might have played a tiny part in their creation. It’s been a crazy ride with our Folio Academy project. 

BYU Instructor, Robert Barrett teaches How to Art

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We’re proud to have another wonderful artist, Robert Barrett at Folio Academy!

Robert Barrett is widely recognized as an accomplished painter, muralist, and illustrator, and his new video will be a great addition to our collection.

Working as a professor of visual art at Brigham Young University, Robert also had his work exhibited in numerous art shows. His worked has been shown in New York by prestigious groups such as the Society of Illustrators, the Directors Guild of America, and the National Arts Club. He has worked with many clients over the years, doing both illustration jobs, and books. Here are some he has worked with: Fawcett Books, McGraw Hill, Random House, Viking USA – with their imprints Puffin, Penguin, and Dial Books, Ideals Publishing, Thomas Nelson, Dell Publications, Double Day, Bantam, Clarion Books, Harper Collins, Concordia, and Deseret Book, as well as Outdoor Life, American History, Boy’s Life, American Legion, and McCall’s Magazines. Robert received a MA and MFA in painting attending the University of Iowa, and a BFA in painting from the University of Utah. He received the Karl G. Maeser Award for Teaching Excellence while at BYU, and more recently was chosen in 2010 as the “Distinguished Educator in the Arts” by the Society of Illustrator’s in New York City.

Roberts new course “Lift out Technique in Mixed Media.” Is now available at Folio academy. This course will teach the fundamentals of lift-out technique by following Robert Barrett as he completes a painting from start to finish. Beginning with instruction on the initial drawing stages, Robert will take you through opaque water color, oil washes, and finished details. Throughout the instructional video, Robert discusses the fundamentals – such as how to get a correct drawing, the importance of good shapes, and how to design compelling color.

Approximate run time 2.5 hrs – ages 16 and up