Tag: drawings

Pirates, Black Sails, Inktober

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This Inktober happened to coincide with the previews of the last season of Black Sails, and fans like myself who can’t believe we’re saying ‘the last season’ know it’ll be a great finish. Meanwhile, there really is no better excuse to draw some pirate-themed art, and with the Inktober challenge this month I thought it would also be a great chance to test out some grey-toned markers for the first time. I decided to use a combination of 3 cool-toned grey markers from ShinHanart, and I must say I’m already hooked on these beauties.

Here are 2 pieces that I have done so far for the challenge. Both were fun to do, but required some surprising amount of research for such a small project. I quickly realized my knowledge of the colonial era, or rather everything from clothing to utensils of the 1700s was limited. That was solved with some web-browsing and more excuses to re-watch seasons of Black Sails.  🙂

Stroll by the Docks, microns & markers on paper, 6×10″, 2016.
Barbecue & Flint, microns & markers on paper, 6×10″, 2016.

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As perhaps one the earliest anti-heroes, Silver’s a definite favourite of mine.

Leading up from the beginning, I found Season 3 to have really developed the character of Long John Silver to a likeness to that in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.  As with all of the cast, I was of course impressed with Luke Arnold’s performance. Therefore, as I recalled scenes with a certain parrot of Silver’s from the book, I knew I had to incorporate her into a piece related to the show & actor somehow…and I thought why not as a drinking buddy? 🙂 Well let’s hope she doesn’t take a sip…I’m keeping my fingers crossed that if this is going to be a finale, we will see a glimpse of the beginnings of Treasure Island. The appearance of the parrot ‘Flint’ would definitely give me a chuckle.

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Breakfast of Champions

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I finished this piece up recently and I thought it might be nice to share some progress shots along the way. This one was another personal project that I had an idea for a long time ago, but never found the time to sit down to see it through. I was glad I finally got to put it to paper. With Halloween around the corner, it seems I finished on time to show this one. All inspired from my nephew’s love of pancakes, everyday.breakfast-of-champions_2016_shaima-islam

from prelim. drawings to colour stages

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Angel Wings

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Some studies in the sketchbook from a little while back. I remember drawing a lot of angel wings in my teens, as anime-manga fanart demanded 🙂 …little did I know things start to look very different as your art progresses. I ended up looking at many bird wings and was still unsatisfied with these sketches, perhaps more practice in the future?

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Love of Hockey

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As a Canadian, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise when I admit to being a huge hockey fan. Saturday Night Hockey has definitely become a ritual for me, as well as for my family and friends. Finishing all your work just before the weekend so you have absolutely nothing to do before the clock strikes 7pm, is amusing to some but guaranteed to be a very serious notion for others!  😀

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I started creating Hockey art as a fun way to support my team the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in general all other NHLers I was a fan of. As seasons went by I found myself trying to get more creative in the way I represented certain players; whether it was through their personalities, nicknames, or their goalie masks.

Optimus Reim, Microns on Paper, 11×14″, 2014
Ready for the Catch, Microns on Paper, 11×14″, 2016

The very first artwork I did was of goaltender, James Reimer. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Optimus Reim’ by Leafs fans, I was determined to create a piece that was bit more heavy on the details than I usually went for. To have Optimus Prime from Transformers was of course and option for this piece, but I thought it was rather too simple and obvious. I ended up choosing a rather curious and confused Bumblebee, and ended up loving the piece I did of my favourite goalie.

WIPs

With the Leafs not making the playoffs for a couple years now, I would have to be satisfied watching other teams compete and get inspired from watching their goalies in action. There were 2 that stood out for me; Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen and the Sharks Martin Jones. I especially had fun creating the piece with Andersen, and wanted to include the aspect of Lego blocks from his mask; and I thought it only fitting as he is Danish. The concept for both Andersen’s and Jones’ drawings were to include some ‘additional’ help to their already superb abilities.

Hockey art is definitely a different turn from the usual fantasy art that I do, but it nevertheless improved my abilities with a micron pen. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do more after the Reimer piece, but people seem to enjoy them, and I’ve grown quite fond of making them.