My journey to live life as an Artist.

Really looking more into inks here.

2012-02-05T07:39:00.001-08:00

Some new stuff :)

2012-01-31T08:44:00.000-08:00

Playing around with the new cards and playing around. Enjoy

Sketch Cards!

2012-01-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

Finally, My babies are here, time to get to work.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

Morning Everyone, your favorite fashionably late artist is here. I have some news, Well 1st off my new years was great. Got to spend it with everyone I hold dear. Artisticly wise, Things are fantastic. I was pulled on as an art director for my friends music career. I am responsible for his over all image, this includes, logos, pictures, video, and just creative input on advertising descisions. I should be getting my sketch cards tomorrow from versicolour print ( finally ). Ill post them tomorrow if I get them. I am also out of the learning stage of my career. Its more reflecting and gaining better understanding. Ive been rubbing digital elbows with some pretty fantastic artist thru facebook that has helped me overcome some hurdles that I have encountered for the past year including hair. I have started a company with my friends called nerdology inc. We basically review everything there is to review related to nerd culture. Im pretty amped about it, seeing that it dosen't feel like work. On the down side, my grandfather passed away January 3rd. It was a tragic car accident, my grandmother was with him but she made it. Right now she is on the road to recovery. Thanks again ladies and gents for your precious time.

Thanks again,

- Jon

My level 9000 year.

2011-12-28T08:58:00.000-08:00

Listening to "The black Album - Change Clothes"

Well, Christmas was done and it was pretty low key. got about 20 bristol pads, some custom sketch card stock, few markers, pens, and " all that jazz". Anyways, its almost been a year since I have started this blog and I am jazzed what the new year will bring. I will be doing my 1st con at the motor city comic con to see how I well, rank as an artist. 1 full solid year of studying and practice has got to pay off.

No new art really but a few sketches, Right now im reading Andrew Loomis's Drawing the head and hands, books pretty solid, takes some time to get all the plates down but over all its pretty sexy. hope all is well and If I dont speak to you before 2011 is over, Happy new year.

- Jon

Red Sonja

2011-12-20T20:54:00.000-08:00

Alot of Red Sonja Sketch Cards going around. FIgured id give it a shot.

Scraps

2011-12-17T09:26:00.000-08:00

If your on my facebook you have probably seen a few of these.

Lunch Time Sketch 12/17/11

2011-12-17T07:48:00.001-08:00

Almost test time.

2011-12-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

After almost a year of self study its Time to study for my version of mastery tests. Starting Monday. I will be practicing and perfecting my craft. This is my pipeline so I need to study these in this order:

Perspective

Force: Character Design from Life Drawing

Vanishing Point: Perspective for Comics from the Ground Up

Gesture

Force: Dynamic Life Drawing for Animators, Second Edition

Force: Character Design from Life Drawing

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: Volume 1

Structure

Drawing the Head and Hands

Figure Drawing for All It's Worth

Creating Characters with Personality: For Film, TV, Animation, Video Games, and Graphic Novels

Form

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: Volume 1

The Artist's Complete Guide to Facial Expression

inking

Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storytellers

How to Draw Noir Comics: The Art and Technique of Visual Storytelling [Paperback]

Color - Starts March 3rd

New Works

2011-12-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

Been Hitting the books. Will be posting soon But here is the new newness. I have 3 months more to work in my style then a year of color theory after that. Im kind of sad that this primary year of exploration is almost done but glad to have grown leaps and bounds. If any of you don't want to do the whole art school shindig, Ill be posting all of the sites I have subscribed to and books that was read in this journey of reinvention.

New work

2011-11-16T06:52:00.000-08:00

So lately i've been pretty busy. Last post I stated my struggles with video-games and kind of back sliding back to how I used to be before I got married. Seriously, October - November, some of the best games come out but I know, I know, its no excuse for putting a pause on goals. Well whats new, hrmm, I have teamed up with writer Corey Cliett. I met him at this local comic book shop we have hung a few times and now we are writing and creating a universe in which our stories can spawn from. Needless to say I am pretty excited. We are moving at an alarming rate and we believe that the story is top notch. Being completely new to this, I haven't solidified a source for coloring but we are getting to it. Well anyways, enough with the jabber jaw,

here are a few previews. I hope you enjoy these pages and concepts more than I did, creating them :)

Ok Ok. Batman Arkum City, Battlefield 3

2011-10-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

I've been slacking to get in full dosages of entertainment. Usually I come home, spend time with the fam and once everyone is tucked off and sleeping, I sneak out and study for a few hours. Well these last few weeks ive been sneaking off and playing Batman Arkum City yesterday I had an opportunity to go to the midnight release of Battlefield 3 once I got it home I as quite disappointed but this a blog about art not videogames, which until about 2 weeks ago could be said about my life. I feel behind the 8 ball and have really disappointed myself. So tomorrow you will see new, sketches, and designs. Today I meet with a local indie comic book company to see if I am a good for for an artist there. I'll keep you all posted and let you know.

Until then, thanks for the patience and understanding.

Ttys.

Oh check out Jessica Hickmans ( power kitten ) Its pretty good stuff and the pencils are amazing!

Byakuya Kuchiki one of my 1st commissions for Matt.

2011-10-09T10:15:00.001-07:00

Day 2 Chapter two's

2011-10-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Caricature Theories - Chapter 2:

The principal of push and pull
The triangle theory in relation to the eyes and nose area
Introducing a large shape will make the area around it smaller
Eyes, nose, forehead, ears, lips (as a shape), face shape jawline, hair shape, these are the building blocks and things we look for

One Point Perspective - Chapter 2:

A horizontal like that connects two of the receding lines ( orthogonals ).
Pull lines toward the vanishing point

6 months in, about time to review.

2011-10-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

So these next 30 days Ill be spending time reviewing over the information that I have already read. So basically re reading 2 books a week accompanied by my personal notes. Here is where I will keep my notes at accompanies some shots of things I have trouble with. Just a refresher. my goal is to start my career as a professional Illustrator by the age of 28. These next few postings are more for me but if you find them helpful awesome.

So here we go.

Vanishing Point Chapter 1
- What is Perspective?

Closer objects have bolder colors, as well as more contrast between their lightest and darkest areas.
Your characters need fully developed environments with which they can interact and environments that affect them.
The horizon s an imaginary line representing the boundary between the ground and the sky
Vanishing points, usually located on the horizon line, are the other key building blocks for a successful perspective drawing.
Diagonal Vanishing Point (DVP): A special vanishing point placed to find lines at the 45-degree angles to the main vanishing points. The DVP is very useful in making sure squares are actually square.
Magic Spot: A spot in a perspective drawing that can be used to find new vanishing points that are consistent with the established ones.
5 Types of perspective: one point, two point, 3 point curvilinear perspective ( 4 point perspective, curvilinear perspective ( 5 point perspective)

Perspective drawing for comics is half believable realism and cinematography.All camera angles fall into different types of perspective drawing.

A Caricaturists handbook Chapter 1

Caricature as defined in the dictionary: A representation, especially pictorial or literary in which the subject"s distinctive features are peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect.
When something is exaggerated, it jumps out at you and tells you something.
We are drawn to the immediate impact because the communications here, although non verbal and graphic, is clear, concise, and to the point.

Full Plate but room for more.

2011-10-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

So as you know lately I've been on this hardcore art kick since the beginning of the year, and I'm happy to say, the self study has come leaps and bounds. Artistically I'm coming to find out that I'm not interested in drawing the things that I once were. It seems now it's more toward the hardcore comic book / children's book crowd. I love creating peoples and posing them around the stage, I enjoy learning about gesture drawing and proportions. It's just really good stuff. In this blog I will list out all of my study materials, for those who don't have the time for school and that are interested in self learning.

Note. All of these books and tutorials deal with traditional Art.

Drawing Dynamic Hands - Burne Hogarth - Still reading.

Dynamic Figure Drawing - Burne Hogarth

Figure Drawing without a model - Ron Tiner

Force - Michael D Mattesi

Figure Drawing Design and Invention - Michael Hampton.

Mythology - Alex Ross

These books were very informative on how to look at the human body. The next posting will be the videos and audio books used to help with the process. I have 6 more months of anatomy after that I began my year of color and color theory self teachings. Right now I am using copic markers rather than prisma but what I truly want to get into is watercolor. Hmph we will see.

I haven't figured out my goals quite yet, but it is leaning into the comic world.

Also these past few weeks I have taken a break from studying such artists as mike mayhew, and Alex Ross and have now set my sites on Frank Frazetta . That one started with Netflix and my curiosity. While reading the description I seen cult classic. After watching that amazing movie, I Imdb'd the cast and found frazetta. Frazetta has been skating around the edges of my artistic life painting and creating some of my favorites.

28 Day Challenge.

2011-10-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

One day I will proudly be able to open a blog with our starting " well its been awhile" well all that aside, Things have been going pretty great. Family and house is in order, my daughter was selected for team in a pretty prestigious dance school and oh yea the art, why you guys really come :). Well yesterday I was thinking, I am a Christian, I love comics and art, why not combine the three? Most things that come of out the christian wood works are soft and gentle. With no direction and dedication to the arts, I was wondering what would happen if I took the information I have studied, the things I enjoy and applied it to the Word of God, what would happen? The 28 Day Challenge inspired me to do these works. Oh, if your interested in what the 28 Day Challenge is, check out Word of Faith.

I plan to do alot more work than these few I did back to back last night. Im getting alot of positive feedback from friends and associates. Check them out. I hope you enjoy these.

Comission Ready Jon

2011-09-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

Where to Start? Married life has been great so far. Can't wait to see what 20 years brings us, anyways, enough with the mushy stuff. I had initially given myself 2 years to get ready to go public with my art but after hundreds of hours listening to audio books, studying the human anatomy, and sooo many sketch books. I think I am ready to show the world that I am an artist. I can now confidently draw my thoughts on paper. Thanks to Leonardo Da vinci's notebooks and Alex Rosse's amazing comics to inspire me. Without my wife I wouldn't be here so fast at all. Now im still studying, the pursuit of knowledge never ends but I will now be taking commissions. Speaking of Commissions I have been asked to draw an 11x17 Shera vs. Superman. that I'm really looking forward to.

I am open for Commissions, and my prices I believe are pretty reasonable. Please allow 1 week for completion and the shipping fee is in the costs of the overall project. Here are the prices.

8.5x11 / no Color - 10.00

8.5x11/ Color - 15.00

11x17/ no Color - 100.00

11x17/ Color - 125.00

Sketch cards - 10.00 ( that includes color and non color )

These are the prices for licensed( superheroes, cartoons etc ) characters.

For Concept Art that you have full rights to - 75.00 b/w only.

email all inquiries to jwallace.artist@gmail.com

Well check back for more updates soon, I hope all is well,

-Jon

p.s. here are some drawings from over the weekend.

So ive noticed.

2011-08-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

Well the title to this blog is My journey to be a better artist. Ive shown you work that I have done but I have not properly recorded my methods. Later today, I will be going thru everything that I have read and watched for the last 8 months. It will be a lengthy post. Also, on stumble, i came across a video that i had done myself when I had issued creating hands. Check it out.

Digital Painting - Draw 100 from matt kohr on Vimeo.

My little girls birthday! So here are some Pictures I gave her :)

2011-08-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

Sketch Card Stock!

2011-08-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

Womanthology, over 100,000.00

2011-08-08T06:27:00.000-07:00

Glad to be apart of Womanthology. A while back while searching the net, I came across a Kickstarter project called Womanthology. Its a book and in those pages lay some of today leading female artist. Just getting married, I have a daughter now and she is very into art. So of course I had to jump on. I did a small donation that gives me a copy of the book along with a printed sketch book of "un published" works. Im so Excited to actually be a part of something. So when this book is printed Ill be proud to give it to my daughter. Props to Renae De Liz

The deed has been done!

2011-08-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Back to your original scheduled Postings. So In the past few weeks I finally got married and the wedding was fantastic. I walked in the "The imperial march" The bride was walking in on something with funk in it. we had around 260 people show up, It was a good time.

Now on to art matters. The wife Helped me complete a book based on my daughter and its coming along. I will be posting pictures as soon as I can but its about 32 pages of awesome art. Its basically taking everything that i have learned these past couple of months and put it on paper. Here are some early concepts of the main character along with some of the baddies that populate that universe.

I really have to stop apologizing for being away for to long.

2011-07-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

So heads up for you almost married men. Wedding planning is a soul sucking fun ship that does not end until the wedding day. In that case... 2 weeks, until then here is an update. Just trying to get into the sketch card game. Never know until you try right?

Whoo its been awhile.

2011-04-06T06:31:00.000-07:00

Hey all it's been awhile. With work and looking for a house and the wedding...well you get the idea. Anyways. Have been reading Michael Hampton's Figure Drawing - Design and Invention. It's a great book for learning the human body, but I really suggest Riven Phonex's " The structure of man" DVD's over at alienthink.com . Its offering 70 hours of HD video. Riven is a fantastic teacher and he is really good at embedding the fundamentals into your mind. The progress is by leaps and bounds. I'll put up some of my studies soon. As well as everything else goes, I am still planning on starting my career in art when I turn 28, so 2 years as of the 24th. Something in Concept art or Comics. My fiancé is 100% supportive of my decision and well ladies and gents that is why im marrying her. Well Until next time,

Have fun drawing

-Jon

Its been some time but there is improvement.

2011-02-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry, it's been awhile since my last post. I usually use the time I get after work to study and draw or see my fiancé'. Well, the cup has been completely overturned, this journey will be from scratch. Learning the fundamentals and building on those has already made me a much better artist. Instead of going digital, I will be studying in the old ways ( Pen & Paper). This Friday I will be taking up the medium watercolor. The reason for this is because it matches my sloppy style :). Also for the past few weeks, I was studying Xia's blog and purchased a few of his tutorials. The way he explains speed painting makes those practices seems like they could apply using watercolors. Needless to say I am excited. Below I have added a few images from my sketch pad. Note these are pre traditional teachings.

Older Works

2011-01-13T07:36:00.000-08:00

My 1st couple of tries into the speed painting world

Sick attack

2011-01-13T05:49:00.000-08:00

SO, today I am sick. Boss comes in yesterday talking to all the employees, and he is rocking the flu. This is great news and terrible news. The good news is that I can stay home and work on my technique. The terrible news is that I get about 5 - 600 emails a day and when I miss a day it really sucks the next work day. Today, I plan on going back to the basics, looking at how to properly draw the human figure and head. Hope you all are staying safe out there.

Bundle up.

Jon

Quickie

2011-01-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

I just started learning speed painting about 2 weeks ago, It seems like the best way to get your ideas on paper in a comprehensible way. Here is one I did a few min. before Lunch. Its a wounded soldier left behind. I need help on coloring, so for this, Its just an overlay layer with yellow and blue blended together, Hopefully watching more of Xia Taptara tutorials will help with this. Also if your new to drawing and especially speed painting go check out Idrawgirls.com. Amazing community and fantastic tutorials.

Allow me to introduce myself.

2011-01-11T07:25:00.000-08:00

HI, my names "Jon" I'm a 25 year old manager at an IT firm in Michigan, I just got engaged to a woman I never thought myself of marrying but come to find out, am absolutely in love with her and her kid. Life can't be better. I have been into art since I was 4 years old and I no longer do it professionally or hardly at all. So you can say that my dreams along with a huge part of me have died. After these long 5 months of 7am till Whenever the work is done, I have decided to reclaim that dead part by slowly introducing art to it again. I'll do this by sketching whenever I get the chance at work and between the phone calls and visits with the Fiancé. I'm sure you all have lost something dear to you something that you would give anything to have back. For some it's a family member or friend, to others it's something materialistic, but for me, I'm fighting for my other half. The guy who wore hoodies with marvel t-shirts, who wore Johnny Cupcakes hats and old school converse and the guy who used to make a living by entertaining and enticing people with ideas and art. If I happen to fail, I hope not to look back at this blog and think myself a fool for trying, but art is the only thing I really know how to do and I gotta do something.

P.S. I miss running around with my bokken