Lambda Photography Workshop

    A few days ago I participated in a creativity workshop at the Houston Lambda center, and went on a little photography tour of Market Square in downtown Houston.  Blistering swampy heat aside, I was able to capture some really cool scenes in some very unlikely places.  Mostly I wanted to use this opportunity to try out some abstract photo techniques, especially non-standard aspect ratios and extreme close-ups of contrasting shape and texture.  I have always been fascinated by the fact that you can look at something every day but not really notice the depth and beauty of it's lines and textures until someone photographs it.  Then all of a sudden it becomes something beautiful and creates not only a new perspective on a space, but becomes a conduit for what the individual sees in his mind's eye.  You normally don't think that something as mundane as a manhole cover or a fan can be beautiful until you're laying on the ground at odd angles, getting up close and personal with some rust.  And even if you look at a photo and it seems uninteresting, you can do some fantastic things by cropping it in crazy aspect ratios and focusing the image on the sometimes small area of the photograph that is unique..
    Above are a few samples of what I came up with, and there are many more where that came from!  What I am taking from this experience is that when coming up with a composition, or looking for a way to express your vision with a camera, don't be afraid to tilt it and get so close to your subject the lens is practically resting on it.  Then just snap away, even if it means using 20 pictures on one subject.  The more compositions and angles you explore, the more you have to examine and play with later.  The results will most certainly surprise you!

Metal Sculpture Progress

Hooray!!!! The most difficult part of our sculpture is finally
complete. Now with the form finished we can begin the final
decorative touches that should tie everything together. We will be
running a grinder over the welds to smooth them before applying some
bright green patina'd copper leaf to them. And finally, to give it
some depth, we will add various sized steel squares, patinad like a
red bronze, to either side for some contrast.

Summer Drawings

Went to Gavin's family's lake house up at Lake Livingston yesterday to
chill and get some relaxation in. One of the things I love most about
summers is the chance to just relax and do some sketching without any
pressure. Lakes and oceans are a common subject for me, since I've
lived by water for most of my life, and my I suppose maybe it's
because I'm a water sign, but I've always been drawn to water. In any
case, it gave me a reason to practice using procreate, this time
trying to get a nice India ink feel.

My super secret delicious Fourth of July cupcakes!!!!

Every year for the Fourth of July since before I can remember, my mom
has made a flag cake with homemade whipped cream icing and a flag
pattern made out of strawberries, blueberries, and bananas. It has
always been my absolute favorite cake and I eagerly wait for it every
year. This year I'm going to Gavin's lake house and I decided to
change the recipe a bit and make flag cupcakes for a little pre-4th
treat. While I couldn't do the two layers with whipped cream and
chopped strawberries in the middle, I did bake chopped strawberries
into the yellow cake and just alternated the toppings (with plenty of
leftover cream to gorge myself on, might I add). All in all they look
to promise delicious bite sized amazingness, and i hope they love the
as much as I do.

Metal sculpture in progress

Latest update on the progress of Gavin's and my first metal sculpture
commission. We finally found a form that works and are moving right
along on the welding and bending. So excited about the pipe bender
Gavin found that works like a dream. I'd say we are only a few weeks
out on completion of the project.

Manica Depressiva

Sketch of a drag performer, one Miss Manica Deppresiva, at the Houston
Lambda Centers Miss Lambda fundraiser. These events are amazing for
character inspiration and never fail to leave your brain overloaded
with so much sensory information you won't be able to help yourself
but whip out your sketch pad and scribble something down. Once again,
this was drawn in my Procreate app with a pogo stylus. Fantastic
stuff!!

Starburst iPad painting

So the painting app I use on the iPad 2, procreate, recently had an
update which made it even more the best painting app for the iPad in
my opinion. It now has the ability to utilize "wet" brushes, which
will smear and pick up pigments of color that the brush stroke
crosses, much like Corel paint. They even added new sections to the
brush editing menu that allow you to change the load and amount of
wetness the brush will have. Also, much to my utter joy and
amazement..... You can use blending modes in your layers!!!! (I may
have peed a bit in my pants on this one...shhhh!!!!).
It's limited to multiply, screen, add, lighten, and exclusion at the
moment, but it's a huge step in the right direction :D. All these
improvements plus a fantastic redesign to their GUI and menus and an increase to hd resolution to their already phenomenal resolution make this definitely the number one art app to
have for any iPad user with an interest in art. Now we just need to
figure out some way of convincing Jobs to put in the software for
pressure sensitivity...come on baby!!!

Business Cards!!

After much deliberation (and obsessive font searching), I finally decided on a business card design! I figure since I'm doing real work for people I need to get on that whole professional bandwagon and get my name associated with a business and whatnot :-p Now off to do some more sculpture building wOot!!!!!

Recent Dream

I recently had an extremely vivid dream. Unfortunately, like most dreams, much of it faded away when I woke up. There was this one
image that remained, though. I remember walking outside in my
backyard in the early morning. Just after some kind of fierce summer
storm. The entire world was painted blood red with the light of the
rising sun. I caught a glimmer of color across the lake in the sky
and saw a piece of rainbow that was so bright it appeared to be
metallic, and left spots in my vision from where lighted glinted off
of it. I reached out to grab my camera to capture this phenomenon,
and as I was looking through the viewfinder, I centered on this
magnificent tree. Just as that happened the sun came up directly
behind it, backlighting the scene with a magnificent halo. I just
remembered being absolutely stunned by the awesome beauty of these
events coming together so suddenly and so perfectly. So of course, I
had to grab my ipad and sketch it immediately! I wonder what it
means.....?

Cosmic Dust

I just received my brand new Pogo Sketch stylus for my iPad 2 and
decided to give it a whirl drawing in Procreate. It works beautifully
with the app and allows me to obtain a level of detail I would never
be able to achieve trying to see through my clumsy fingers. I can't
wait to practice with it some more to see how far I can push my art
with the iPad.

Lament

I was sitting on the couch doodling on my iPad and this is what came
out. Dunno why but my thoughts always turn melancholy late at
night...

A Few Recent Projects

Icarus

I have always loved Greek mythology, and there are a few stories that really speak to me. Gavin was telling me about his favorite Greek myth, the story of Icarus, because it related so much to his life, and the symbology of the myth struck a deep chord in me. I feel like it is applicable to so many people in today's world and I just had to draw a concept for it.

He is the son of Daedalus, imprisoned in a tower by King Minos's greed, and who is able to escape by his father's invention of wax wings. Then, overwhelmed by his freedom and ignoring his father's warnings, tries to reach the heavens, causing his wings to melt from getting too close to the sun and plummeting him to his death.

I hope to paint this and a series of 3 or 4 other Greek mythology scenes in oil over the next few months and see what I can do with them. I feel excitement at tackling such a classical theme and trying new things with materials to bring a modern twist to them. Let me know what you think, and if there are any Greek myths that you relate to as well that you feel would be a good addition to the series.

See ya!

Curls

I have never liked my hair: it's crazy, unmanageable, wavy in some places, curly in others, and downright impossible to style. If you think it looks okay now, well you should see it when I wake up in the morning! I have always been jealous of those who can just get out of the shower, shake their heads, and tackle the world looking like they just walked off the cover of GQ. It simply isn't fair.
For those of you who know me, I currently work as a bartender whose job it is to serve, entertain, and relate to the nightlife of my hometown. It is also an unsaid part of the job description that I'm supposed to be attractive and such, and actually, the better I look the more money I make. And for a guy who is as self-conscious as I am, it can be pretty stressful worrying about how I look. Therefore, I have developed the unfortunate habit of grabbing a straightener and yanking on my hair for like twenty minutes trying to get all those damn waves and curls to behave themselves.
Now, it is true that whenever I have been in a hurry and don't have time to waste with all that business, I just go to work looking like whatever. And actually, what completely boggles my mind, is that people compliment me on my hair and all its disorderly curliness. Most times, I just smile and laugh and call them crazy, but I can't help but think that the repetition of this event may actually prove its validity. And what's even stranger, is the question of why it is so hard for me to accept that my hair might just be as great naturally, or perhaps even better, than when I slave over it trying to get it to be something that it's not. Maybe true beauty is just accepting what things are in their natural state regardless of the flaws you perceive to exist, and learning to embrace what is naturally there? No matter how difficult or painful it may be to do so.

These are just a few things I have been pondering over lately

2010 Demo Reel

Demo Reel from gunslingers19 on Vimeo.

Here is new polished demo reel for 2010!!! All work aside from the music is done by me =)

Longhorn Beatles

Here's a nice project I did for one of my old Half Price Books coworkers :) His dad's two favorite things are the longhorns and the beatles, so he wanted to give him something for Christmas that combined the two. So here it is, and Merry Christmas everyone!

Only a few sets left!

If anyone is still interested in Christmas cards, I only have 1 set of the Christmas stars left and have sold out of the Fireplace card. Just email me if you'd like a set or two and I'll respond with the payment information. Once again, I'm selling them in sets of 10 for $15 and you can see the images larger here: http://tinyurl.com/35jprfl. Hurry though, because they're going fast!! =)

Christmas Cards!!!!

Here are the Christmas card designs for the year! I'm selling them in packs of 10 for $15. If you would like to buy some, just send me a message at raymond.penajr@gmail.com with your choice and the address you'd like them sent to, and I'll send you the payment info. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Time!

Here is a new template for some Christmas cards. Let me know if you would like one, and where it should be sent to. I'll be ordering about them pretty soon so let me know fast! Also considering selling packs of ten cards each in case you want more than one...but haven't decided on pricing yet. Also, I might do one or two more card designs before it's said and done with, so I'll keep ya updated!

On another note, I might be working with my cooworker Gavin to actual create this Christmas tree as a sculpture piece out of iron and copper, which should prove to be a fun and exciting project! WoOt!!!!!

Jaded

This is my personification of the state of being "jaded." To me, this state is a prison created by your own mind. It blinds you to the potential of good in your life and keeps you bound to a wall of cynicism and pessimism. I show this with the figure cloaked in a hood and trapped inside a decaying room, organically designed and lit with low key lighting to bolster the sense of a dank subconscious space.

Photoshop CS5

So I just got the new Adobe Design Premium CS5 and decided to try out some of the new features in Photoshop. More specifically, the Mixer brush. It's pretty cool how it can simulate real paint: you can adjust the amount of bristles, the thickness, the length, and whether or not the brush is dry or wet. The colors even mix themselves on the canvas as you paint!! I'm really kind of excited to see what I can do with my normal Photoshop texture brushes in combination with the mixer brush. I highly recommend giving it a try =)

Finished Tree Painting

Here is the final Tree sculpture-painting and some close up of details. Gonna do some thinking to figure out the pricing on this baby. Anyone interested in purchasing it?

Concept for a new painting: "Sapped"

I got the idea for this painting last night at 5am while eating with some of my co-workers after work. It's based on my emotional reaction to some events that have transpired over the last week and the perpetual drain I continue to feel while out in the night life constantly. I often feel like such an oddball around people these days with my intense emotional consciousness and deep rooted sense of loyalty and integrity. I don't understand how people can be in a relationship with one person yet play around with others and still consider themselves loyal and in love with their significant other. These concepts totally throw me off balance and as whacked out as it sounds I almost feel like I'm socially retarded. And it's not like it's based on one or two experiences...it's as if the entire world has accepted a flippant and flighty lifestyle of shallow lusts and half-ass promises of endearment. Am I alone in feeling this and doomed to be sapped away by the manipulative predators in the world? I sure hope not.

Lost

Things change. Can't try to live in the past when the world has moved on. So just let it go.

Concept for a tree painting

Here's a concept for a tree painting I want to do. Since my phoenix painting I really have become interested in texture and using different materials placed on the canvas and painted over with oil. For this one I'm actually thinking of stripping bark off of trees and placing it on the actual trunk and then painting over it for some cool textures. What do you think?

Pain

Logos?

I did some logo designs for the game: 1 for the game overall, and two depicting symbols for the two different factions. The tree icon represents the Gaeans, forces of nature, and the one on the right represents Da Vinci's Acolytes, the insane zealots of technology. The designs were highly influenced by another style...maybe too much. I suppose if you can guess it then they probably need to be retouched a bit =P What do you think?

Winter

"I run off where the drifts get deeper. Sleeping beauty, she trips me with a frown. I hear a voice, 'You must learn to stand up for yourself, because I can't always be around."

"Winter"
-Tori Amos

Quick Concept Sketch?

Sooo, after researching some examples of concept art, I decided to try my hand at one of those quick color sketches. It's not terrible, and it took me a little over an hour an a half? But it's my first one so it can only get better, right?

Titan on Etsy!!!

My Titan painting is now for sale on Etsy. go check it out if you'd like =)

The Titans

Here is the final race for the Forces of Nature for my game concept, Pangaea. The Titans are the brute force of nature, her ultimate sentinels and watchmen. They are incredibly tough to bring down and can hold their own, even against armies or multiple other minions. They draw their strength directly from the earth, and can therefore manipulate it to some extent and draw on its energy to increase its strength and size. Imagine the way the ground would shake when this guy comes pounding your way!!

Do to my accidentally almost deleting all of the creatures I've been working on, I missed a step or two in the following process sequence...but it's mostly there. Enjoy!

IF- Worn

Meh

Another Pass on the Elemental

So, I decided I was dissatisfied with the final image of the elemental that I posted the other day. Turns out there was a stylistic conflict between the realistic and stylized elements. So I took her back into photoshop and made a smorgasbord of some fire and water images I found on the internet and the original stylized drawings, and came up with this. I feel like the different aspects gel much better than the original, and hopefully I can let this rest and move on to my next project =)

Elementals

The elemental is the essence of nature, combining the energies of earth, fire, and water. She can control these elements and bend them to her will, capable of hurling fireballs, healing and strengthening herself, causing massive earthquakes, and controlling the weather. These creatures are loners by nature, and with their fiery, unpredictable behaviors it's probably better that way. Though their appearance is rare, they are rumored to surface when a threat worthy of their wrath challenges the natural world.

Here's some process:

The Defiant

I finished a character portrait of the forest wizard guy from the previous post. The name of his race is the Defiant, and he is the embodiment of the darker side of nature: fear, decay, plague, etc. He is the evil face of the natural forces combating the technological zealots called the Lexia, brought forth from the bowels of the earth in response to the rapid contamination of the world. They are capable of manipulating our darkest instincts, and can spread disease rapidly, as well as hold dominion over the vile creatures that inhabit the earth.

Here is a bit of my process as I painted this portrait:

Quick preliminary sketch

Big shapes of color to establish light and tone

Clean-up the edges and more in depth rendering with texture before adding the overall texture that enhances the mood I want.

Complete!

Here is the finished painting of my previous post. This may be a bit of a stretch for Illustration Friday, but these two forces are competing for conflicting cravings: one who hungers for natural resources for personal gain, and one who craves to protect those resources.

It always excites me to tackle a project that is different from anything else I've previously done. And, it also turns out that I kind of like the mood and tone of this piece, and will probably explore it further in the future. This doesn't mean that I'm going to be giving up working towards a career in animation, though. Sometimes you just have to face the facts, and right now the fact is there are more jobs available in games than in film, so I'm just adapting my work accordingly =)

New Genre of Working

Work in Progress concepts

So now that I'm applying for all kinds of jobs, especially in the game area, I realized that I seriously need to come up with some work that's geared more for that type of design. From what I've seen, especially with this next generation of consoles, is that realism is becoming ever more important, and that's something that my portfolio really doesn't have.

What I've decided to do is to come up with a concept for a game, and do a body of work illustrating the characters, props, and concepts dealing with that. I've already begun working on this, and came up with a sort of hybrid RTS and MMO type game, complete with 6 races of characters, and have begun working of the design of 2 of them: a cyborg-type human and a forest spirit. Working in this way is actually not very different than coming up with model sheets for an animated character. Very blue-print like. However, the style of drawing is very alien to my hand and it is taking a while to get used to, but I've discovered I kind of like it. Hopefully, I'll finish the big illustration today nd get to work on some of the other characters.