Friday, October 7, 2011

Page Three, Part One


We're back!  After a long hiatus, I have dusted off our sketchbook and it is in the mail to Raena in Texas!  I am excited about the possibilities of this page.  I have a definite idea as to where I would want the page to go, but I am going to keep my mouth shut.  Because I need to see what Raena will do.  Because isn't that the idea - feeding off of each other's creativity?

This is a very special sketchbook. When I pick it up, I am always a bit uptight, because I want it to be good work for Raena, and I know I don't want to mess up the page. So every time I am pushed to try to achieve extra quality. This time I based the picture on a "Creative Commons" photograph at flickr.

The smart thing to do might have been to draw on a separate page and use carbon or something (like I hear folks sometimes do), but I frankly don't know how to do that and I get a bit tired redrawing the same thing. I like the freshness of a first drawing. I did pencil it in first though.

I started at the feet. Initially I was trying to measure visually to get everything just so. I concentrated so hard on the proportions that it was a mess. Finally, I just erased it and gave myself permission to sketch. And that is when the drawing worked. It doesn't look exactly like the girl in the photo here [It is a beautiful photo by Jonas Hansel of a Cambodian girl], but it works for the page, and that is what matters. This is what "adapted" and "derived" means. I toyed with changing the colors of the clothing, but I rather liked the feel of it, so I kept the colors the same. I was trying for a picture book-style feel.

Raena - So glad you're back! Hope you enjoy it, and can't wait to see what you do!
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25 comments:

  1. Linda RothOctober 7, 2011 at 5:20 AM

    Sweet drawing Dan. And you're right--get that a gal telling a guy he's right--too much thinking destroys a drawing, but makes the second attempt fall into place. The feeling of the anatomy of the figure under the clothes is excellent. She's a real little girl on her way to something great.

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  2. Cathy HoltomOctober 7, 2011 at 11:32 AM

    It will be interesting to see what Raena does, it looks like there is a story to tell!

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  3. AlexOctober 7, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    I wanna say.... "IT'S ABOUT TIME!!!" but I can't because I get in and out of hiatus like a sorority get on and off the cellphone while driving around campus.... ^^
    But I'd love to see where this is heading to(Raena always have a way) and it will definitely be an interesting ride

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  4. MelissaOctober 7, 2011 at 1:26 PM

    So glad to see this going again!

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  5. AnonymousOctober 8, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    First time here.. and I love it. Wonderful sketch!

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  6. jennaOctober 8, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Great drawing! I'm interested in what will happen next.

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  7. AnonymousOctober 9, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Well Dan...you've only been and gone and done it...! It's a cracker. So lovely. Why do I get the feeling Rupert The Bear is just round the corner? Wait a min...I know what it is...it has a Arthur Rackham feel about it.
    Beautiful.
    Stew.

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  8. martinepittetOctober 9, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    So glad this blog is on its way again !
    Lovely little girl with such a nice smile on her face ! Looking forward to Raena's following step !

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  9. Celeste BerginOctober 9, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    wow...cool! I would put a big elephant behind her haha. Maybe Raena will now steal my idea j/k

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  10. MariOctober 10, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    This is so exciting, and Im so glad you two are back. The little girl is great, love the texture look on her clothing. Cant wait to see what Raena will do : )

    Mari

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  11. Ellen BurkettOctober 10, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    Okay, here I am...giving it a try. Let's see if it works! BTW I changed my mind...different kinds of pigs is better than ducklings. Okay, I'll shut up. I don't know why blogspot won't let me post on some sites and not others. Sometimes I can't post on my own and almost never on one that I am a co-author of. Go figure. (Probably because I used a preposition at the end of a sentence.) :o) I just noticed it isn't recognizing my blog identity. Phooey

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  12. UnknownOctober 10, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    Well Dan, I got the book in the mail several days ago and I just didn't have time to come comment like I was itching to! It is a really, really beautiful sketch! When I first saw it, I was thinking something like 'the jungle book'...maybe that is what was mentioned above, not sure as I'm not really familiar with the movie.(?) (I've only seen the trailers.) I think I need to show her daydreaming about something...hmmm....off to think this through! I also really like her placement on the page...leaves me so many possibilities! This one is going to be fun!

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  13. TimareeOctober 12, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    Sheep. Sheep following the girl would be my first take but that is so common isn't it. Or is it? Hmmm, we'll see what Raena comes up with. I can't wait.

    You did great on this Dan. I love how you placed her ready to leave the picture. So many possibilities. I'm glad you left the red and yellow outfit. I rather like it 'cause I like my soda to pop - wait, that's supposed to be on another blog. Oops. Gotta get out of here.

    Huh! The captcha is gagglet so is Raena going to do a gaggle of geese?

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  14. bettyfromtexasOctober 12, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    So many different directions for this to take!! It'll be fun to watch the progress! I am glad you guys are baaaaaaaack!!!!

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  15. Celeste BerginOctober 12, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    so how long do we have to wait to see part two? I'm anxious to see it!

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  16. UnknownOctober 16, 2011 at 4:15 AM

    This is a great painting. Can't wait to see the finidhed page.

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  17. Krista/RucaOctober 16, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    Oh, the possibilities. Fantastic drawing, full of life and motion.

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  18. debra morrisOctober 16, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    Great Dan, looking forward to the next installment Raena

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  19. AnonymousOctober 18, 2011 at 2:10 AM

    Looking forward to seeing where this heads!

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  20. CharlotteOctober 20, 2011 at 1:23 AM

    This is such a good idea- look forward to seeing what appears next...

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  21. DeborahOctober 23, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    So glad to see you guys are back at it and I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  22. kazumiwannabeOctober 24, 2011 at 9:54 AM

    Oh, she's so cute! Her movement is great, well rendered! Neat drawing, Dan!

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  23. ClareOctober 25, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    Hi Dan & Raena, I was wondering Raena, where do you post most of your work? Do you have Flickr?

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  24. ClareOctober 25, 2011 at 4:26 PM

    PS: I want to say Thank you too for your comments on my blog. I appreciate you feedback and support!!!

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  25. Dan KentOctober 25, 2011 at 5:05 PM

    I truly appreciate all of your comments so much! Thank you for visiting. This provides us sufficient motivation to finish this page in less than 18 months! ;) (Actually nowadays I'd love to treat it like a hot potato & get more done sooner - eh, Raena? Oh the pressure..we will see.) Clare - The link to Raena's work is under P-Art-Ners heading at the top left of the blog. Stew - Thanks for introducing me to Arthur Rackham (and for the comparison!)

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