Time to through away the airbrush and all those smelly paints and hello digital painting...lol Well ...okay, I'm just kidding!!!
I designed this to be used as a back print for T-shirts for the Harley dealer in Niagara Falls.
This project was a good opportunity for me to see how well I would get along with trying to recreate my style of airbrush illustration using Photoshop and a new Wacom Pen Tablet that I had just purchased a few weeks ago. I was surprised at how my painting technique on the computer quickly resembled the way I would go about it if I were airbrush painting the same image.
It was a really good learning experience and I'm looking forward to trying more of this type of work.
Posted by mike meyer (Member # 542) on :
Looks great Bevin, I read in an Airbrush magazine that a guy did the very thing you spoke of....no more airbrush, all with the tablet. You can't tell the difference and it has helped him in alot of ways....can't rememebr his name...oh well...keep up the great work!!
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
Great job, not just the artwork but the whole compostion. Wacom Pen Tablet, another toy I need to buy.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Bevin...great execution....nice work.
I know you aren't asking for a critique...but I gotta say I'm a bit disturbed by what appears to be an Eagle struggling and "going down" for the count.
Design-wise...I'd have preferred see the eagle flying across the falls...
Eagle aside - I like everything else...great water treatment, love the type above the falls...and very glad to see you having fun with and successful at emulating your traditional airbrush skills with the Wacom and PS. Thumbs up.
Posted by Bevin Finlay (Member # 2159) on :
Todd;
Your comment has given me a little chuckle, as it is always interesting to see how differently people will interpret a piece of artwork sometimes. It never crossed my mind actually that the eagle might appear like he was drowning...lol
In actuality, the theme of the piece, has the powerful eagle, (a symbol of freedom and the Harley lifestyle) crashing up out of the water and causing quite a splash for the cheering and waving biker dudes that are riding along on the famous Maid of the Mist tour boats.
My first design for this had the eagle coming straight out at you more, which actually portayed the intended theme a bit better, but the client thought he maybe looked a little too mean and appeared like he might be attacking the people in the boat.
ahhh...too many chiefs...not enough indians...lol
Thanks for your comments though folks!!!
Posted by david drane (Member # 507) on :
I really love the design but the only thing that always irks me with computer type is the way the apostophe sits on the top of the lettering. I always tend to bring it up and give it a slight angle like we always did when hand writing.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
All in all, I'd give it an A+.
But I have to agree with Todd about the eagle. He has a bit of a panicked look.
.
Posted by Rene Giroux (Member # 4980) on :
Awesome Bevin Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
Kick ass Bevin, You got that tool down pretty quick.
I can see the panic too ... in the eye
panic ... and... not so much Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Bingo! Mark nailed it.
BTW, I would love to see a step-by-step on this. Any chance?
.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
You'd be panicking too if you went over the fall
BTW Bevin, real super job.
[ April 02, 2007, 09:45 PM: Message edited by: Bob Rochon ]
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Bevin,
you never cease to amaze the bejeepers out of me. Absolutely awesome work!
[ April 02, 2007, 11:48 PM: Message edited by: Bruce Bowers ]
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Thanks for taking that in the right way Bevin....I hesitated mentioning it - especially with your admirable skills.....
Again...nice job!
Question for ya: Which Wacom did you purchase? I bought a fairly large one...and now wish I had one the next size smaller....found that you can get one that is too big.
Posted by Rod Tickle (Member # 575) on :
Hi there Bevin, i'm a fan of your work anyway so no surprise I really like this too. I never really read too much into artwork, (i'm no sister randy) I like what looks good to me and this looks good. I'm still learning PS and hope to get to that level some day.
thanks for sharing!
Rod
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
I feel so inadequate. That says it all.lol
FANTASTIC!
Posted by Bevin Finlay (Member # 2159) on :
Again, thanks for the comments and no offense taken here. This is an important piece and I want it to be right.
Mark; I like what you have shown me. I've painted those o'l eagle eyes many times but it appears like the water theme is what is causing a bit of the confusion here. Perhaps darkening his eye in a bit like that will suit this situation better by making him meaner looking. I'm going to make that adjustment on a duplicate layer and study it for the time being. The finished file has not yet been released to the customer so I have a little time to play with it.
Todd; I had a chance to work with an older 12" square tablet for a while before buying my own. I found the larger one required a lot of arm movement and for me, was not as comfortable to use. I purchased the Intuos3 6x11 wide format model which is designed for use with the newer wide screen monitors ( which I do not have at this time ). It has the programable express keys and touch strips on the sides and I found those to be a real advantage. My dream machine would be Wacom's Cintiq21 that allows you to draw right on the screen. I think the possibilities with that unit would be amazing!!!
As far as a step by step Glenn, perhaps down the road.
thanks
[ April 03, 2007, 09:21 AM: Message edited by: Bevin Finlay ]
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Awsome Bevin!!
Posted by Ron Gibbs (Member # 3882) on :
Really nice work Bevin. Ron.
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
I like the pretty texture of the feathers and water; striking look on its face too! Nice work with a tablet. I always wondered how you could really do so much with a pad; amazing.
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
Man that's cool, an american bald eagle attacking a boatload of canadians! Nice job Bevin.
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
wow was just looking for one at a office store .. wacom was the only one there after seeing your great art work of a eagle breaking out of the water (my 1st thought) same as breaking out of a brick wall or metal wall ... must admitt now I don't know what to get 1st wacom mouse tablet ,scanner,or printer ...now I wonder who makes the best or more practical for the money ,,pen mouse tablet ...several yrs ago I had one that you wrote on paper and downloaded worked with win 98 ..XP?....liked the idea but never could get to work the way I thought but this by far more advanced even with corel X3 wow thank you n enjoy life
Posted by mike norcross (Member # 3496) on :
dam fine work, iwould love to have it on a t shirt sometime. GREATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
Posted by Brent Logan (Member # 6587) on :
Great work! How about a Step-by-Step for us Photoshop users?
Posted by Rich Hawthorne (Member # 7483) on :
Really excellent work Bevin. Very impressive.
Posted by Bevin Finlay (Member # 2159) on :
Thanks again. As per a few of your suggestions (thanks Mark) I made some final adjustments around the eagles eye and released the full size file to the customer the end of last week. The artwork was sent to another artist in Western Canada to do the color separations and will then be printed onto shirts by a company in Vancouver. I would love to do a step by step on this and will consider that on a future project. Thanks again!!!
Posted by goddinfla (Member # 1502) on :
I just took another look. Is it just me or do the talons curve toward the bird rather than away?
edited to add....
Hopefully the Leafs are on the boat and it goes down, just like their playoff hopes.
[ April 09, 2007, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: goddinfla ]
Posted by Mark Tucker (Member # 6461) on :
Yes, the talons are backwards. Must be DDT in the bird's diet. Nice job tho....
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
The talons curve which ever way your mind wants them too. Beautiful job Bevin.
Posted by jake snow (Member # 5889) on :
Lookin good Bevin. Love your stuff!
(even though ya cheated on a computer )
Posted by Bevin Finlay (Member # 2159) on :
Not one to get too defensive...lol, and perhaps it's because I drew it and know what my intentions were...but I don't think the talons look like they are backwards. The eagle is coming out towards the viewer with claws open as if ready to grab you. Claws and talons are pointing forward.
However, corrective criticism is always helpful...to a point...lol...so I will certainly be more aware of little things like this on the next charging eagle!
Jake...cheating???....ahh man, just when I was having fun and not having to sniff paint fumes...lol
Posted by Mark Neurohr (Member # 2470) on :
The eyes looks soo much better now. You're just learning to use a tablet Bevin?? You're going to be scary once you figure it out! Bitchin' Job Dude!!
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
BEVIN IS USING THE COMPUTER TO ILLUSTRATE!!!! "BEVIN IS USING THE COMPUTER TO ILLUSTRATE!!!! BEVIN IS USING THE COMPUTER TO ILLUSTRATE!!!! BEVIN IS USING THE COMPUTER TO ILLUSTRATE!!!!" she screamed as she ran down the road through the neighbourhood!
How long did it take you to break down?
Just kidding ya Bevin. You know I am. Awesome work bud. Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Ha! I like that Deri!
Bevin that is amazing, that you can do that on a computer! WOW! I do not have photoshop, so I have no concept as to how you did that. I do love seeing your work, tho.
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