sketchbookpage02

[el coro]

jain: i use an 8.5x11 inch hardbound sketchbook. sometimes canson, somethimes strathmore... i kind of like the cansons better, they're slightly bigger. i use black waterproof brush pens in various sizes to do my linework. for fine lines i use a pilot hi-tec c in .04 and .03 sizes. i then wash the page with letraset tria marker refill ink and isopropyl rubbing alcohol like kind of a basecolor blockin. the reason i use these is because they are alcohol based and do not harm or warp the paper as much as water based media. basic forms and soft gradations are then applied with prismacolor colored pencils, then highlights are dropped in and edges crispened with turner design gouache applied sparingly with small watercolor brushes and a toothbrush for spattering. thats it. this technique moves very fast because there is minimal drying time and not alot of intensive application of medium in any of the layers. you can rock a full color page in a night, though some times it ill take me 2-3 nights if it is a complex piece...

this is a piece from my last book, done in the exact method as above, in a night.(about 6-7 hours) i like birds. they are interesting looking creatures, marvels of design.
http://members.fortunecity.com/coro36/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/birdsketch.jpg

[stephen]

holy ... thats awesome, so damn vibrant...

[nardfrog]

Its really great you have your own section now - you really deserve it, congrats! The bird piece is quite impressive. I think th ecomposition could be stronger but that knit-picky.
The varity of birds on the bottom half is much more vast than the birds on the top (as far as color, shape, etc.) it creates a brake in the piece - its not a big problem, but theres always room for improvement, right.
Keep up the increadablie work, you inspire me.

[JoshuaTheJames]

justin,

Beautiful as always...

-Joshua

[jain]

thanx for the detailed info coro, very interesting! The more I look at your sketches the more fascinating your style and technique seems to me. Haven`t so far seen anyone who uses such a kinda technique. It`s smart and handy and crisp and in every aspect convincing.

Now what I`d really love is to see one of those sketchbook pages in its three steps....first the ink brush, then a scan of the marker wash and finallly the prismacolored end result. Would be totally kickass to see some brake-down steps of your intricate technique.
The finished works are so packed with beauty it almost overstrains my synapses man.

[nil]

these are sketch book pages?! these are absolutely stunning. beautiful

[rubygenesis]

very kewl, even for a sketchbook page the composition is there. :)

[leroy]

these are amazing justin. i always enjoy your threads.
i'm learning a lot just looking at it, thanx.

[zaar]

I really like this one.

You said you used letraset tria marker ink with isopropyl alhocol for coloring. What I wonder is, how many different colors of ink do you use? Please don't tell me that you are sitting there with all 293 colors. Could one get away with just the primary colors and mix them?