Drawing Archives

Geoff McGeoff – Bodaciously Boho

24th February 2021 By EMELBI

This dude, who I have affectionately called Geoff McGeoff, was created on the iPad Pro using Procreate. I was messing around with just one brush. The ‘Syrup’ brush, under the ‘Inking’ menu of brushes. I love hard line illustrations. It’s probably because I have always drawn with pens and markers. This technique in Procreate, using two different colours for the hatching, reminds me a lot of wood cut work. Positive and negative space is apparent in this type of technique.

The beauty of doing this kind of work on the ipad using an Apple Pencil keeps it feeling really organic as if were created with pens on paper, even though it is completely digital. After drawing this BoHo dude I exported the file from Procreate as a PSD document from the iPad into Photoshop on my Mac to further work on the image.

I love the way these two platforms work so well together. It really suits my style and the way in which I work. Such great fun and simple yet bold results. Check out the YouTube video of this image being put together below.

Red Ed – Two Minute Time Lapse Illustration

9th February 2021 By EMELBI

This image was made as part of a new series of two minute time lapse illustrations that I am embarking on for my YouTube Channel. I’ve called this one Red Ed.

As part of this journey, I want to explore a variety of different mediums again and become a bit more exploratory concerning image making. Way back in 1994, I did my Art Foundation where we were encouraged to look at all aspects of creative processes and practices. From Fine Art, Printmaking, Photography, Costume Design, Sculpture…

The list is exhaustive. But it was brilliant and ridiculously informative in terms of enrichment and discovery. One process informed another and thus the understanding of materials became constantly enlightening and ideas flowed in abundance.

It’s extremely easy to get bogged down in one set of processes and stagnate. Due to the fact that I have been working with digital images for so long now, I feel that I need to get in touch with real hands on materials once again and explore mark making in a very real sense. Im looking forward to this journey of discovery and challenging myself to use materials I haven’t used before or indeed materials that I’ve not used for a long time. My aim is to explore a combination and variations of paints, inks, pens, collage, print and whatever other new and interesting materials I can get my hands on. I will still be working digitally and where applicable, I will incorporate the two processes.

Much of my digital artwork starts off as pen and ink drawings and many of the textures I use are hand produced and scanned before using them as part of the digital process. So I am used to creating with real hands on materials, but for many reasons I feel I want to delve a bit deeper into the word of illustration and image making by looking at new techniques and trying out varied approaches to creativity. All of which will hopefully inform and enrich my established creative process. Let face it, it can’t be a bad thing!

The Laughing Boy Project

22nd January 2021 By EMELBI

I was recently invited to collaborate on ‘The Laughing Boy Project’ by the artist and photographer Hersley Casero. Hersley-Ven Casero is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Dumaguete City, Philippines.

He and his partner Toulla contacted me through Instagram just before Christmas and asked if I would like to create my version of The Laughing Boy.
The invite came at a time when I was looking to get involved in more collaborations with other creatives, so the timing of this invite was spot on.

The Laughing Boy Project is a positive ongoing project that advocates the freedom of self expression through art. Art collaborations can be a powerful tool. Connecting people and ideas, towards positive change, on a global scale.

I really enjoyed making this image as my contribution to the project. You can see how it was made as I also put together a YouTube video of the digital illustration process, which you can see below.

To find out more information about The Laughing Boy Project, you can visit www.hersleycasero.com/ or check out the Instagram page to see all the collaborations so far instagram.com/laughingboyproject/

The image I made was hand drawn, scanned and then worked on in Adobe Photoshop adding textures, colour and other graphic elements to arrive at the finished outcome.

Below is the final digital illustration outcome along with the initial hand drawn illustration.

Hands Up For Equality – Silkstone Primary School

24th November 2020 By EMELBI

Here is an art project recently undertaken by the Year 3 children at Silkstone Primary School in Barnsley. They created some interesting illustrations based on ‘Equality’ using the outline of their own arms. The children made their images using words/text to form some strong detail for the inside of their arms. Adding various textures with pens, and colour from a limited colour palette, they came up with these striking graphics. The limited colour palette was used to form a modicum of uniformity throughout the images. The colours are also based on the school logo. This was a great project and I love the energy in the resulting imagery. They’re all so very unique.

Silkstone Primary School was a lovely school to work in. The staff and children were brilliant.

Unique and Equal – Silkstone Primary School

24th November 2020 By EMELBI

These self-portraits were made by the year 4 children at Silkstone Primary School in Barnsley. This project was a creative experience that brought about some inspiring results. Based on their own portrait images, the children explored the line and structure of their own faces, through a series of drawing techniques. These techniques were devised to examine parts of the face that form the true character of who they are. By paying careful attention to the dominant lines, shading and using a limited colour palette, they formed these portraits over the duration of the workshop. It was brilliant to see how these characters emerged over the course of the day. I was particularly impressed with the strong and bold marks made during the painting process. The best comment of the day: “I didn’t know that I was good at art until today.”

I had a great couple of days working at Silkstone Primary School. A smashing little school. The staff and children were fab.

Chikket Imps

20th November 2020 By EMELBI

This scrumptious bunch of impish lovelies are part of an ongoing illustrative project. I am interested in the uniformity of the illustrations. I follow a particular set of rules in the creation of each of the characters so that they relate to each other in a very particular way. Also in the way in which they have been placed in the exact same environment. That said, my aim is to make them as different to each other as possible without straying too far from the set of rules I have imposed upon the process. They are a lot of fun to create.

I will be adding more imps as they are created, so check back here for updates, and see how this little family is grow. Each initial drawing gets cleaned up in Adobe Photoshop and converted to an .eps vector file in Adobe Illustrator, after which they all get coloured on Adobe Photoshop. I have made three videos showing the colouring process. These are up on my YouTube Channel. You can find them at the bottom of this page.

Super Quick Illustration

9th July 2020 By EMELBI

My wife asked me to do a quick continuous line illustration for a presentation she’s doing over Zoom. It had to be a self portrait and done quickly, almost without thinking. (Fig 1) She then asked me to take that initial drawing and embellish it with texture shading and form etc. Again, I had to make these graphic additions really quickly. (Fig 2) I then photographed the resulting image on my iPhone 11 Pro, sent it to my iMac and ran it through the usual clean up process eventually converting it to a vector graphic so that the line was nice and clean. (Fig 3)

Then in record time gave it my usual graphic, texture and colour treatment to get a finished outcome. Very rough, and extremely quickly. I quite like the outcome. (Fig 4)

This whole process was done in about 40 minutes.

What I most love about the creative process though, is that fact that this image didn’t exist when I woke up this morning. Out of necessity; helping my wife out with a graphic she needed, I now have this little illustration. I love what I do.

Here are some other versions of the finished image after having run them through the filters in the app RNI Films on my iPhone 11 Pro. Just for a bit of variety.

Created with RNI Films app. Preset 'Kodak Gold 200 v.4'

Created with RNI Films app. Preset 'Agfa RSX II v.2'

Created with RNI Films app. Preset 'Agfa Optima 200 v.3 Faded'

Created with RNI Films app. Preset 'Agfa Vista 100'

The Unusual Suspects – Nous Trois

9th July 2020 By EMELBI

During this lockdown period I have been getting around to one or two things that I have been meaning to do for ages. There seems to be a lot of stuff that one puts on the back burner until there is time to address whatever it is that needs addressing. Some of it is house maintenance, of which I have done a fair share of late, but also there is always a backlog of things that build up where graphics and file maintenance is concerned. This set of images being one of those jobs that I have eventually got around to doing.

These three characters were images that I painted on large panels of hardboard about 16 years ago. They were about two meters high. The paintings unfortunately are long gone. I don’t even remember what happened to them or whether they still exist in the world? Over the years I have sold stuff and given stuff away. I know these weren’t sold, but where they went is a mystery. Anyway, I only had a set of low quality .jpeg photographs to prove they ever existed at all. (Fig 1).

I have always loved these three characters. Individually and together as a triptych, as they were meant to be at the very start. I have taken those low quality jpeg images and cleaning them up, running the graphics through Adobe Photoshop and then Adobe Illustrator, using the image trace function to bring them back into the fold so to speak (Fig 2). Now I have got high resolution digital versions of the very same images as they were painted all that time ago.

Not a big job, but time consuming nonetheless. But I’m glad that I got around to doing it.

‘The Unusual Suspects – Nous Trois’ – In Digital (Fig 3).

(Fig 1).

(Fig 2).

(Fig 3).

Symmetry and Negative Space

9th July 2020 By EMELBI

A quick exploration of negative space and assumed negative space within this symmetrical image of a dude on a BMX. I love how art and design can take you on a journey beyond the obvious just by using colour and form. I’ve always been fascinated in the exploration of colour relationships and how colour can completely change to mood of an image, while fundamentally, the structure of the image or graphic stays exactly the same. Of course playing with these structure and exploring their dynamics usually leads to new and fresh ideas and keeps the creative juices flowing.

Codsall Middle School – Portrait Illustration Workshop 2018

7th December 2018 By EMELBI

Here are some of the images that the pupils at Codsall Middle School in Wolverhampton produced during a recent portrait illustration workshop. The images are derived from their own portrait photographs. They learned to look for dominant parts of their features to pull out their true character. These are a handful of the images that were produced on the day. It was hard to pick the images for this blog as they were all so very good. There were 138 year 6 pupils that I worked with on the day. The workshops were a lot of fun and I always love to see young people creating great imagery and learning new skills. I’m sure you will agree that these images are just fab.

Sketchbook Images – December 2016

12th December 2016 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Some quick sketches from a recent sketchbook. Number six was drawn by my 4 year old daughter. I added the kiss speech bubble. We work collaboratively some times. Children’s unbound creativity is a wonder to behold most of the time.

Beardyman – God Damn I Look Fresh

16th November 2016 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

A quick sketch of the Vocal Beatbox and Musical Noise genius Beardyman.
He posted a video this morning on his Facebook page running a little competition for fans like myself to get involved with. I freeze framed the video and made this image from the freeze frame.

Never heard of Beardyman. Why the chuff not? Check him out here… www.beardyman.co.uk

Art and creativity is everywhere. You just need to look for it.

Story Time

11th July 2016 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

I did a little illustration of my daughter having a hot chocolate before bedtime. We like a good bedtime story in our house. My wife and I collect children’s books, so there is always a good story to hand.

Sketch It!

22nd June 2016 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Here are a recent collection of images. They are a mixture of hand drawn and digital art play.

Mr. Scoper

18th November 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

His name is Scoper.
He has just been hit by cupid’s arrow and is about to fall in love.
Maybe he will fall over first.
It’s hard to know.

Nimble Line Bimble – 09.11.15

9th November 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Nimble Line Bimbles

Taking the pen for a walk.

Nous Trois

21st August 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Found this the other day. It’s a triptych of characters painted on board that I did back in 2007.
I’m not actually sure what happened to them or where they ended up, but I have always loved these characters.

Hue Too

21st August 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Face illustration on A2 cartridge paper.
Berol Pen, Quink Ink, Posca Pen & Biro.

Berol Broad Pen, Quink Ink, Posca Pen and Biro Pen face illustration on A2 cartridge paper.

FeistY

21st August 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Illustration Concept for a poster.

Coffee Morning Sketch

21st August 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Earth Spirit

6th August 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Pen drawing, digitally edited and coloured.

Rage Head

15th June 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Illustrative play – Texture versions

Gomersal Primary School – Funky Character Designs

19th March 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

A fun workshop working with Key Stage 2 children exploring drawing skills and character development. The children got to try many new drawing skills and techniques before starting on their final images. They were also able to experimented with vibrant coloured inks trying out different mark making techniques before adding the fine detail with POSCA pens once the ink had dried. I love the energy in the finished artworks. They are all very bold, bright and a lot of fun.

Self Portrait

5th March 2015 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Yep. That is the shape of my head. From a certain angle of course.

Into the Matrix

28th November 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Pencil drawing and a little iPhone trickery via a couple of apps.
A nod toward the Wachowski Brothers trilogy of films.

Pen and Red Crayon

28th November 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Development of some ideas.

My 2 year old daughter decided to add a few of her own lines with red crayon.
I think it adds a certain jenesequa.
I love it when she joins in with the creativity.

Youth

25th March 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

New Illustration
Messing with the tablet, textures and using a limited colour palette.

This image is derived from a photo that my father took of me when I was about 8 years old.

Gomersal Primary School – Just Draw

6th March 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

JUST DRAW

I have recently been working with a fabulous set of key stage 1 children at Gomersal Primary School.
Together we have been exploring all sort of drawing techniques and having a lot of fun with creativity.

Here are a handful of images that have been produced over the past few weeks. There have been literally hundreds of drawings made, all of which have been amazing.

PORTRAITS

BUGS

‘I Can’ Project – Salendine Nook High School, Huddersfield.

5th March 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Emerging artwork and graphics from the ‘I Can’ blue tunnel project at Salendine Nook High School, Huddersfield. There are some fabulous images being created, both in the form of digital graphics and hand drawn illustrations. I’m working with a great set of students who are producing some outstanding artwork in this urban street art regeneration project. More to come soon…

Cast Away Your Doubts and Fears

20th February 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

New illustration.

Continuing with a theme of images with positive messages,
where the imagery doesn’t necessarily reflect the message.

Let There Be Afro

15th February 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

More creativity with my new graphics tablet.

I’m slowly getting used to how this great bit of kit works.

State of Mind

28th January 2014 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

A positive state of mind makes all the difference!
Keep it positive. Keep a smile. Keep being creative.

Whitechapel C of E Primary School – MONSTERS and HEROES

22nd August 2013 By EMELBI Leave a Comment

Character Illustration workshop with Key Stage 1 pupils at Whitechapel Primary School.

This was a fantastic project from beginning to end. The children worked extremely hard and were diligent throughout. We also had a lot of fun in the process.

We set out to create some characters based on Heroes and Monsters. (I say we, because I joined in also).
The children came up with numerous ideas using Biro pens and A4 paper. They drew an immense amount of material and it was great to listen to some of the narratives that had begun to form based around the wild and wonderful characters that were taking shape.

The tricky part of the project was translating their favourite images from A4 paper onto A1 card in order for it to be painted. I was absolutely flabbergasted at the ease with which they were able to achieve this and in such a short space of time.

The paints came out and there was soon a hive of activity as colour brought extra depth to each of the children’s designs. At times there was such concentration in the classroom that you could have heard a pin drop.

This was a lovely school to work with. Fab staff and the children were brilliant. The results of their efforts are marvellous as I’m sure you will agree.

JUST DRAW

PORTRAITS

BUGS

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