Project: 99 Designs Book Cover#1

Posted on December 4, 2008 
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I’ve been looking at 99designs.com not in a serious, ‘I think I’m going to win way’ but more in a ‘this might be a good way play’ way.

The brief for the above design included:

The Cover needs to inspire hope as the Title suggests.

Les wants it to be colorful, striking and make an impact

And I got on a blue/cloud/God thing and this was first real attempt.

I’m not so keen on the central picture but I do like the fonts and the gradients on the type.

It was a fun exercise but I didn’t win.

Project: Self-initiated Book Covers Jane Austen

Posted on November 25, 2008 
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emmajaneaustin_sample emmajaneaustin_sample2 JaneAustinExplaination I thought I’d get back into the swing of cover design with a few personal projects. Any thoughts?

Edit: It looks like Windows Live Writer has shrunk them in transit. Here is a pdf of the last image: JaneAustinExplaination.pdf

Video: Painter with Chris Noeth

Posted on November 22, 2008 
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Rough Sea Games - Rocks The Boat - sketch video 01 from Chris Noeth on Vimeo.

Don’t ask me why but I love watching process videos and this is a good one – Chris must have a good mind eye image of what he wants as he fills in all the detail. He’s making it look way too easy though!

Video: How to Start a Drawing from TenMinuteDrawing

Posted on November 16, 2008 
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I’ve just discovered this amazing blog called TenMinuteDrawing and here is a wonderful video that just made a lot of things click!

Development: Demon Update

Posted on October 1, 2008 
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Slow progress but I am making progress so I’m happy :D

Sale: Corel Painter X 50% off

Posted on September 28, 2008 
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If you’ve been umming and ahhing about getting Corel Painter X well now is an excellent time to get off the fence as Corel Painter X is currently selling at 50% off (at least in the UK). See here for details.

Development: Demon from The Fantasy Artist’s Bible by Matt Dixon

Posted on September 28, 2008 
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I’ve been having trouble getting things in Painter X so I’ve been playing. And one of the books I’ve bought recently is helping me a lot. The Fantasy Artist’s Figure Drawing Bible by Matt Dixon is packed full of usefull stuff including loads of line-art to colour. The Demon is from p192 and I’ve been tring to colour him in and after losts of goes I think I’m beginning to get it. Above is how he looks at the moment.

Paint Like: Pablo Picasso

Posted on September 27, 2008 
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Quick attempt at Paint Like: Pablo Picasso in Corel Painter Magazine Issue 21

Painter X with a little Photoshop CS3

Link: Billings 3 / journal / hicksdesign

Posted on September 22, 2008 
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Billings 3

I’d used a variety of billing software in the past (including doing it manually InDesign!) and separate timing apps, but discovering Billings 2 was the first time it all clicked together. It quickly joined apps like Coda as one of my “how did I ever manage without?” essentials.

Billings 3 / journal / hicksdesign.

I’m always thinking about working for myself and wondering about how to set things-up. It seems that Billings might help :D

Something from the notebook: Stickmen

Posted on June 8, 2008 
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I was just playing with expression and gesture.

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