Grant Alexander

En Plein Aire + Sketches

2008-05-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

Plein aire painting from a month ago with Sergio. 8x10 Canvas. Accompanied by some sketches.

more Colors! DS painting

2008-04-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Almost forgot about these. Done around the same time as the earlier bunch. Thanks again Josh for letting me borrow it. I need to get my hands on one.

Done while waiting for the bus after work one evening. I love the green yellow transition between the brilliant orange glow and the muted turquoise of the sky. It was so faint, but definitely there. What a wonderful effect of light in nature. I would never have thought to put that in there, that's why it pays to paint from life, even if it's on a DS, it's about the observation.

Two studies of the same spot on two different days and times. This was great fun. This is a view of the bay in San Rafael from the comfort of a boardroom at work.

back on the bus

2008-04-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Finally, getting back into a sketching routine. Watching folks on the bus. What a crowd.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2008-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

pen and digital

Been away for a while, busy with work, birthday's, and some drawing here and there. I also recently finished a fun class with Stephen Silver through Schoolism.com. It was a very positive experience for me. Re-charged the ol' battery!

oekaki

2008-02-21T23:42:00.000-08:00

Drifter

2008-02-13T16:44:00.001-08:00

What a beast...

2008-02-01T19:00:00.001-08:00

Hmmm. Just for fun. Eh.

COLORS! painting

2008-01-13T17:07:00.001-08:00

So everyone knows about COLORS! for the DS. I borrowed a friends this weekend and will have it for the next week!! It's quite fun and really forces you to keep it simple. Here are a few of my attempts. Thanks Josh!!

Happy New Year!

2007-12-30T15:25:00.000-08:00

Digital PS

I was inspired recently by illustrator Joe Bluhm, to paint this caricature. He's got some great podcasts with video demonstration's, check him out. Looks like he's having a ton of fun.

Wasn't a fan of the Hellboy film adaptation, but I like the grotesque forms of the costume they made for Ron Perlman's already strange face. Aside from Sin City and 300(some people will hang me for that one), I haven't seen a comicbook-to-film translation that I cared for.

Happy New Year everyone! Here's a few of my steps.

Happy Holidays!!

2007-12-22T14:09:00.000-08:00

Lithograph on rag paper

Well, it's that time of year again. Did you do all that you set out to do this year? I know I didn't. But I did accomplish a few goals and am feeling an overwhelming sense of satisfaction and growth. I'm looking forward to continued discovery and learning in 2008. I'm extremely grateful to have found a great place to work and grow this year. I look forward to the continuing inspiration and excitement I find in the artistic community all over the web. Thanks all and best wishes to you and yours! Happy New Year!

Christmas came early for me this year. I preodered this much anticipated book by Hans Bacher and it arrived last week. It's a bible on design! So much is jammed into the pages, but of course with great style and composition. Hans has produced an extremely useful and beautiful edition that provides a focus on what is truly important in production design while highlighting great examples of the craft. I haven't been all the way through it yet because I'm waiting for some quiet moments to get lost for a few hours.

(EDIT: some more images for Arnie)

alias sketchbook

2007-12-16T01:13:00.000-08:00

I've been frustrated with how jerky linework can be in photoshop so I decided to give Sketchbook Pro a try. WOW! It's so nice. It really allows for precision especially with long archs, which when using PS more often than not end with jerky blobs. Can't wait do more with it. (Color was done in PS.)

Performers and those who enjoy them

2007-11-22T21:53:00.000-08:00

Sketches of players and watchers from months past. Dolores park concert and a jug band during sketch crawl. Started a new job recently which I am enjoying immensely!! Concepting all day long. Been working on Steve Purcell's Sam and Max game. What a blast! Happy Thanksgiving All!!

AMPAS show in Beverly Hills

2007-11-04T15:42:00.001-08:00

So myself, Sergio , Arnie and Brian headed down to L.A. this past weekend for Nathan Fowkes color workshop which was great! Nathan is an exemplary production artist with lot's of enthusiasm.

We also had the chance to head over to the "The Art of the Motion Picture Illustrator" show at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Man it was inspiring. Just the kind of stuff I needed to see. William B. Major, Tyrus Wong and Harold Michelson's work was on display. Work from such films as "The Graduate", Cecille B. Demille's "The Ten Commandments", "The Birds" and "Bambi" to name a few.

Major's work (Below) stood out for me. Beautifully simple watercolor set studies. With the glut of over rendered and underwhelming "concept art" these days it's nice to see no nonsense solid design and draftsmanship from veterans of classic cinema. The show runs through Dec 16, so go see it already.

Major has a book coming out I believe. Hans Bacher's book will be out soon as well. Can't wait.

Tyrus Wong's studies for Bambi are so exciting and surprisingly tiny.

Michelson's board and set designs were solid and clear something I admire more and more.

Theatrical

2007-10-04T08:16:00.001-07:00

A whimsical, theatrical/stage set design. Digital

Exploring shape, atmosphere, mood, counterchange. Had alot of fun with this. I think I'll do a few more.

More Bus Sketches

2007-08-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

Just got back in town from a mini-vacation down to Orange County. Thanks to everyone for your kind comments on my last post. It's always exhilarating and scary trying new things. But if you don't stretch then you don't grow.

I've also just learned of the recent passing of Mike Wieringo, a super talented comic artist. It shocked me. I didn't have the opportunity to meet Mike and was by no means his biggest fan, but just hearing that someone at the top of their game with so many followers was cut down in his prime really puts the fear of god into me. It's just so tragic. To think it could all be snapped away. More reason for me to get out there and make my dreams a reality. I hope we all do. Who knows what's around the corner. Here's to Mike!!

Musicians

2007-08-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

ONE

2007-07-31T22:37:00.000-07:00

I almost missed my blog anniversary! It's been a whole year. Wow. It's been a great one. Up, down and sideways movement. I'm really looking forward to what's next. I'm busily getting my portfolio ready, adding things and removing others. Let the cards fall where they may, I'm going to keep chugging along. Thanks to everyone who has visited and commented it's truly been a blessing to feel the support of the artistic community. I'm outrageously inspired by all of you so please keep on doin' what yer' doin'.

Best Wishes!

En el autobús 2

2007-07-15T00:19:00.000-07:00

Blue

2007-07-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

Cabezas

2007-07-06T00:01:00.001-07:00

En el autobús 1

2007-06-26T22:29:00.001-07:00

Christmas Carol

2007-06-08T21:03:00.000-07:00

Some recent designs for class, The Ghost of Christmas Present. I have a few more I will put up.
I thought it'd be neat if I made him into a jolly woman instead.

Commuting

2007-06-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

About the only drawing time I've got these days is back and forth to work. So I make due. The bus is testing my patience, it shakes like all hell and fights your normally steady hand. Most times I can't get down what I want before my subject leaves, but there are those rare occasions when I capture the essence of something. Those moments are pure joy.

I survived...

2007-05-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Friday was the big day. All the family was in town for the ceremony. It was a little sad and somewhat anti-climactic for me. Maybe it's because deep down I know that this is but a brief moment on the road. But despite that I believe that ceremony and rights of passage are an important part of any culture. Marking our milestones and progress seems to give weight to the journey we are all on. Not to say we've arrived, but to appreciate where we've been and to look ahead at where we will go. It's been a great experience for me and I'm excited to see everyone go off and become or do something great with the tools we've been entrusted with. I was surprised to hear Jim Brown (actor/NFL star), Bill Russel(NBA hall of famer) and Dan Macaw (California Impressionist painter) all give inspiring and wisdom filled words to the students.

I hope to go forward from this point and surround myself with the kind of people who will help encourage and challenge me to continue to grow as a human being and as an artist.

I want to thank everyone who has visited and commented. Your words are confirming and supporting. I look forward to what's next for all of us on our various paths. I wish everyone fullfillment, humbleness, success, friendship, zest for life and every other wholesome, edifying thing I could hope for.

La chaim! To Life!

2007-05-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

Had a fun and tiring time with all the sketchcrawlers of San Francisco. Saw some beautiful sights on the Filbert steps. I'm going back to paint there! We stopped in China town, it was a smorgasbord of wonderful faces to draw. Met a lot of new folks and was really impressed by some of the sketchers. The benefit auction at Maverix was a hoot. Bid wars ensued as Ronnie held on for dear life trying to win the Uesugi original. Lot's o' great art up for bid and for a good cause too. I donated a couple of sketches and thankfully someone donated some cash for one of my meager offerings not sure what became of the other. Anyways, it was great to get out among the masses.