AlphaBooks F

I've been working and working on a "How to" book for Adobe Ideas all last week and weekend and nearly forgot I wanted to start contributing to the AlphaBooks tumblr.  The idea behind AlphaBooks is to draw a fictional character from books every week - one for each letter of the alphabet.  This week is F and I drew Frog from Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad series.  

Anyone can participate so come on by AlphaBooks!

Slingshot page 3

I'm excited to get work done on new Slingshot pages.  I finished coloring page 3 and reading that now sure seems like I have a long way to go.  There are a total of 54 pages so I still have a few to go!

A space frog's color palette

I decided today would be the day I actually make a separate color file for Slingshot.  Usually I go back and sample the colors from a previous illustration.  The problem that creates is time because the files are enormous with too many layers and lots and lots of colors.  So today, in an effort to save time and be more consistent with color, I present Slingshot's color palette.  These colors are for his skin, eyes, lips, and space suit. 

New page sneak peak

I'm coloring a new Slingshot page tonight.  I've already added the flat colors and so now I'm working on the shading.  This scene takes place in a busy city with lots of different lighting so this will be the first of many shading/lighting takes!

click the image for a larger look

Slingshot Opening Pages

Whew! I've been working on coloring Slingshot all morning and afternoon today in-between snacks, phone calls, taxes, my son's requests for new video games and so on.  

I thought I'd share the process a bit today.  The beginning pages of Slingshot start in a large, busy, modern, city and instead of one page, the scene spans two pages.  I've left the image a little larger this time so you can get a feel for it.  

I started with the line art:

click for a larger view

I left some white space in the line art (middle and far right) where I will be putting digital billboards.  

Today I've been adding all the flat colors:

click for a larger view

The background layer is a gradient to help set the mood and color scheme for the cities colors.  

Next I'm working on the shadows and highlights.  After that, it will be adding all the special effects such as lighting and the digital billboards.  I've been thinking about adding hovering vehicles to the foreground too which I would draw separately so I can move them about.  Lots of work done, lots to go!