'Defiance' Sequential Series

I've done more small sequential pieces that relate to me as self-portraits and are scenes from my stories that I'm currently writing.

 Controlled  story in progress

Thorns of Love story in progress

Both of these are still works in progress...I've felt that I haven't done my best on these works...Still working on these. 

Dilly Dally with Illustration

I've created more illustrations as a means of more practicing and perfecting my style, composition, color, and as well as typography; which is a new challenge to master.

Rose Illustration: Created this in two hours and Photoshop from scratch, I want to make more quick illustrations like this in future. Illustrates one of my characters from my writings and the lightning is his power that he wields.

Broken Heart:  Created this illustration based off of a song; 'Helena' By: My Chemical Romance. It has a man with his chest wide open to reveal a broken heart within the dark cavity, his eyes are red to illustrate pain and suffering, it's dark because of depression and anger. Took references from the band album covers. Always, my work is bloodier than I intend it to be. It has some of the lyrics to the song: 

"And what's the worst you take, from every heart you break and like a blade you stain". 

This was definitely a challenge for typography, this isn't perfect, especially the typography. But a learning process to say the least. 

Ascension Into Revenge: Further

With the loss of his one love, he seeks vengeance against the conspirators that initiated her death.  In a world where genetic perfection is achieved; the limits are still being tested to bring about super human abilities. Further experimentation and analysis have many humans subjected to continuous testing with many trials and errors. However, experiments and hypothesis have concluded destructive results, giving the test subjects overactive and hyper strength to the extent of grotesque growths; cancerous. Nonetheless, obvious results, usually these subjects have stunted intelligence to the extent of retardation. Usually these failed experiments are kept under wraps but two have escaped with hunger in their intellectually empty eyes. Without knowing, these two failed individuals cannibalize their own kind including his love. Disposing of the two experiments, he was too late to save her.

Opening scene starts off with a scream in the distance that the door is issuing, he goes toward the door and opens it, inside he finds two grotesque creatures with human traces and recognition, however, their features are bloated, irregular and ugly. They're devouring another; normal human girl. He recognizes instantly that it is his love...he's angry and furious and acts before he thinks. The creatures come toward him to feast upon his flesh as their next victim. He lashes out on the creatures with a vengeance first propelling his arm through the closest's head with power so much, that his arm goes straight through leaving blood and brain matter splattered in his wake. The other he uses telekinesis to explode the other's head with absolute fury and a crazed expression upon his face. After disposing of the two beings he finds his love and holds her dear, only her body; mangled and stiff,  the only testament to her once lively existence. He cannot contain his emotions and his mysterious powers get the best of him as he destroys the room around him...he digs into his eyes to take out the contacts that were hiding his imperfection and drops them to the ground as he walks, never to look back...his once green eyes showed red with a fury and a vengeance. 


Page One                                                                                         Page Two

This is only a progression for what's to come. I've drawn out all of the panels separately and scanned them each individually into Photoshop to output the final project. These are all the original scans of my drawings however, I'll throw color and texture over the top and continue developing the panels and layout of the design.


Final. 

 Page One

Page Two 

I've felt that I've learned a lot from doing this project. It was quite extensive and excruciating. The first page was harder than the second because I've never done anything like this and I thought it would turn into a flop, however, it has turned out better than I originally expected.  To my pleasant surprise, the story flow seems to fit my description. As for words, I haven't decided to put in narrative or dialogue to explain the story even more.  Although there's many mistakes to which I've made in these two pages...but, a decent first time.  As I did last time, I created each panel separately and colored each separately.  I utilized smart objects to get consistent color without sacrificing detail. 

Electronic Art Studio Work

I am currently taking a class that is solely based on the illustration of images through Photoshop. Here's just a few of my works that I've done in this class. However, the execution and final pieces are not up to my original standards. They're a bit rushed and lack craft.

Snowman Illustration is the first EAS project I have done, I utilized textures and learned new techniques in Photoshop to create this Illustration based on the confines of the instructions given to me to create this work.  

Negative Self was created by scanning in five blind contours of myself and textures then using hue/saturation levels as well as other adjustment layers to create this scene. This describes my negative self of being overly confident, optimistic, narcissistic, egotistical, selfish and overly comfortable. All of these personality aspects I've just describe are opposite of who I really am.  

Zoo Illustration was created with the metaphor of the Five Hundred Pound Gorilla; which describes as hidden financial issues within the educational and business systems as well a companies. I had the gorilla dressed in a tie and glasses, sitting on money with a mountain of money in the back. Holding money to his face and a golden eye. It's also raining money in the background. There is still a few anatomical issues regarding the lower half. However, the use of psychedelic colors make this illustration pop.   

The Book Cover Illustration utilized our favorite book and mine was A Space Odyssey 3001 where it tells a tale of the future where Jupiter; illustrated as the sun, and Europa; one of Jupiter's moons explodes with life upon the surface and the aircraft in the foreground on the very right explores this new fruitful planet. I've included the Earth as well because there's a lot of scenes in the book where the Earth is in it. And everything has changed a lot over the course of 1,000 years. This was also cut paper style. 

 This illustrates myself as a super hero...well heroine. But I've based this off of a character that I am writing about which she has the power of lightning. Used a large brush and hue and saturation levels for the glowing effect, which was apart of the assignment. 

CD cover that I did with sharpie doodling, created this based off of alternative rock music and inspired by Incubus art. The front cover is the headphone girl, the back cover is the red veins, and the inside and CD itself is everything else. Had a lot of fun with this and there was no Photoshop manipulation of the drawings, just straight sharpie and scanned into the computer. 

Astronomy: Research Methods

Since I was a little kid, I've always gazed up into the night sky and continue for hours on end. I often wonder what was up there and marveled on how big the sky is. My artwork and literary work has a lot of astronomy in it and I like reading literary work based on astronomy and its mysteriousness. Why do I like astronomy and its mystery? Because it's always being discovered and it continues to nourish my learning and gives me enlightenment, that we aren't the center of the universe and that there are whole other worlds out there. It's a constant exploration.
Here is some of my artwork based on astronomy and wonder:

 Painting 2'X2' on MDF; water mixable oils.

Painting 16"X20" on canvas; water mixable oils 

Also my photography is very much sky driven: 

Why do I gravitate toward the sky and its wonderment? Because we as humans seem so Earth bound, maybe afraid to go out into space? I don't blame us....I'm kinda scared too, but I've conquered my fears before and I believe that mankind can too. But there are constant new technological advances that can propel us out into space such as Ion Engineering: 

Ion Engines

Ion Engines are the most exciting new rocket propulsion system since the Chinese invented the rocket about a thousand years ago.
Most rocket engines use chemical reactions for power. They combine various gases and liquids to form chemical explosions which push the rocket through space. Chemical rocket engines tend to be powerful but have a short lifetime.
Ion Engines use electric fields instead of chemical reactions. Ion Engines tend to be much less powerful, but they are so efficient, they can last for years before running out of fuel.
These activities should help you understand how Ion Engines work.

Before you can understand the entire Ion Engine, you need to understand some basics about electric charges. 

http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/ion_engine_interactive/index.html

Ascension into Revenge

I'm doing a sequential piece from a book that I'm writing. This is the background, character profile and the starting point to which I'm writing and drawing for this sequential piece. More to come! 

Background

In a small bionic world, order and perfection are achieved. The small world is composed of a hard crystal; diamond, that protects the city inside and supports the atmosphere. The diamond exterior is cut to reflect the sun’s light. Seasons are non-existent, only a comfortable temperature of 75 degrees and the occasional soft wind composes the weather patterns. The city is completely advanced with their species completely advanced genetically. But, rules must apply to achieve such an advanced and perfect world. Anything that even has the slightest imperfection of either an object or a human being is quickly disposed of without thought or question about it.

            For order and perfection to be achieved, it must be completely controlled to the extent of overbearing, even limiting freedom to unfairness. Anyone who gets in the way of such perfection being mastered is quickly assimilated into oblivious charm or executed.

            In the year 3000, planet Earth-B was fully operational and has over 7 thousand people living in the magnificent glowing world.

            “We beings are from the biological planet Earth…we abandoned our planet to achieve the greatest perfection. The beauty, strength, intelligence, even personality have been altered to better ourselves as a society and to fit the needs of the advanced technological new civilization. And I’m proud to say, we achieved, successfully.”

            Everyone clapped and cheered as the new handsome mayor cuts the bow to enter them into the new world.  

 Character profile:

            James Smith age 17: Alias. Not of the human species really, that explains the powers he possesses…posing as a human. Height 6’5”

Has the power to read, manipulate, channel, and experience other people’s thoughts and minds, has the power to extract deepest secrets, desires, and knowledge to the extent of obtaining complex information and thought processes. Experiences dreams of others; be able to really understand other people on the closest level ever imaginable.

Has the power of telekinesis.

However, his personality is starkly different from what you would believe would be a very understanding individual. Arrogant, short tempered, hateful, very angry and frustrated individual; from the wrong of the planet and at his own gifts as he considers as curses.  Doesn't know of his alien heritage, doesn't know what’s going on with him.  

“Ascension into Revenge”

With the loss of his one love, he seeks vengeance against the conspirators that initiated her death.  In a world where genetic perfection is achieved; the limits are still being tested to bring about super human abilities. Further experimentation and analysis have many humans subjected to continuous testing with many trials and errors. However, experiments and hypothesis have concluded destructive results, giving the test subjects overactive and hyper strength to the extent of grotesque growths; cancerous. Nonetheless, obvious results, usually these subjects have stunted intelligence to the extent of retardation. Usually these failed experiments are kept under wraps but two have escaped with hunger in their intellectually empty eyes. Without knowing, these two failed individuals cannibalize their own kind including his love. Disposing of the two experiments, he was too late to save her.

Last scene from my sequential piece. Putting it into Photoshop. 

With obvious anger and loathing about the whole situation, he plans to find the source of the experimentation to destroy the testing. 

Science and Technology: Research Methods

Given the last Research Methods blog post, I've found that I gravitate toward science and technology, especially advancements in technology and scientific means to put into story. My favorite genres are science fiction, fantasy, action/adventure, and futuristic. I usually stay away from pure romance and cryptic stuff. 
I like astrophysics, biology, chemistry, physics, genetics, and astronomy. Also I like technology such as 3D printing and animation. 
However, what really catches my eye right now is genetics because I'm writing a story that is based on genetic advancements and what is ethically enough and ethically right and wrong about genetics. Right now the character that is the protagonist in my story thinks it's ethically wrong to have such genetic advantages because everyone should be created equal with equal rights, no matter the disadvantages of their genome. This planet is based on prestige, thus any genetic abnormality is shunned or the individual is destroyed. Therefore, a lot have to cover their genetic abnormalities with surgery or other means of covering or if too advanced, these individuals stay in hiding...their lives at stake if they ever come out of hiding. 

Should genetic advantages separate people and judge people based on their genetics? Well, I believe it already does because we already judge people, we already categorize people not just by their social statuses but by the had they're dealt with by God and how they were born and what abnormalities they carry. 

Still, I believe genetic advancements should be pursued to cure diseases and prevent birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities. Despite what one may believe that it's ethically wrong to pursue such ventures. These scientific explorations can reduce suffering and deaths, can extend life and can make people's however difficult short lives into normal. Such as degenerative diseases, cancers, and a wealth of other things. Stem cell research has gotten much better and can cure diseases that were once impossible.


3 types of stem cells: adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells and induced-pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs.In tissues like bone and muscle, adult stem cells can generate replacements for bone and muscle cells that are lost through injury, disease or normal wear and tear.  Adult stem cells are sometimes referred to as somatic stem cells. Adult stem cells usually develop into the same type of cell as the tissue in which they reside.  Stem cells found in muscle tissue, for example, normally gives rise to new muscle cells. Embryonic stem cells are “starter cells” that can be coaxed into becoming any of the specialized cells of the body, meaning they are “pluripotent.” Embryonic stem cells are derived from eggs fertilized in the laboratory, not in a woman’s body.  Induced-pluripotent stem cells are adult stem cells that have been genetically altered to behave like embryonic stem cells. At present, they serve a valuable role in research and drug testing.
http://www.nationalstemcellfoundation.org/about-stem-cells/stem-cell-research-facts/

I go against the grain of my main character somewhat, with his strong views against it. But in a way, I challenge myself to think differently, to pursue different avenues and to try and understand people and the hand that we're dealt with and live with it. Inspiration:

GATTICA: Genetic ethics

Aeon Flux: Cloning 

Repo: The Genetic Opera: Genetic Perfection 

These movies and many more strike controversy and are inspirations to the story that I'm writing.