Cut Paper Collage, Writing & Spiral

Hi.
Here are a couple of pages from my current sketchbook.

Big New Sketchbook, pages 46 & 47. Steve Franklin, 2016.

On the left, I cut out black construction paper shapes to arrange, rearrange and glue down on the page. Sometimes the figures and the empty spaces reverse roles.  I always consider the empty (negative) space when composing.  Both the figures and the ground is of equal importance.

On the right, I sprayed a simple spiral design over a paged that I had filled with writing. I used an airbrush with transparent acrylic paint (Golden High Flow mixed with Transparent Airbrush Extender).

Hope you enjoy the page, and I hope it inspires you to do your own collages in your sketchbook.  Sometimes a simple black on white scheme enables you to study shape to space relationship. Most of the time, overall simple shape greatly enhances your compositions no mater how complex your details are.

Thanks for viewing and have a great day!

-Steve

Forms and Noses

Hi.
Here are a couple of pages. On the left, I used acrylic paint to demonstrate simple forms.  For the bubble, I mixed clear acrylic with white. On the right, I covered up a page of demonstration noses using airbrush.  The airbrush needed cleaning, so after using it, I had to break it down to scrub it.

Big New Sketchbook, pages 44 and 45. Steve Franklin, 2016.

Thanks for viewing!

-Steve

What the hell is it?

Hi.
I mashed some foamy clay (Model Magic) into a simple organic form, took a picture with my phone then mashed the clay again.  Here are some sketches from the pics on my phone.

Big New Sketchbook, page 37. Steve Franklin, 2015.

Big New Sketchbook, page 39. Steve Franklin, 2015.

Big New Sketchbook, page 41. Steve Franklin, 2015.

Thanks for viewing, and have a great day!

-Steve Franklin

Are You Trolling Me?

This is a silly page. Yes, I like to do humorous pages now and again.

This is in reference to a speaker at an event who was asked questions repeatedly by a student, got flustered and asked, "Are you trolling me?" After the event, everyone was asking each other, "Are you trolling me?" all day long and laughing. Trolling means acting like a troll.

How did I do this page? Well, I did the line work with a fountain pen followed by airbrushing acrylic colors, brushing some thin acrylic colors followed by a thin coat of acrylic gloss to seal the page:

Airbrush colors: Golden High Flow Acrylics mixed with Golden Airbrush Transparent Extender
Brushed colors: Golden Liquid Acrylics mixed with Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid
Are you trolling me? : Molotow acrylic paint marker
Topcoat: Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid followed by beeswax so the pages don't stick together

Are You Trolling Me? Big New Sketchbook, page 33. Steve Franklin, 2015.

Hope you enjoy this page.

Have a great day!

-Steve

Strange Finger Thingy

Hey!

Here's a weird, spur-of-the-moment abstraction. How did I do it?
Well, I started with a thin layer of gesso followed line work with a black Molotow acrylic paint marker then transparent layers of airbrush colors, mixing Golden High Flow colors with Golden Transparent Extender.  I completed it with the line work using the black then white acrylic marker.

Thanks for viewing, and have a wonderful day!

-Steve

Big New Sketchbook page 28, Steve Franklin, 2015.

Me

Inside Back Cover, Old Zeta Sketchbook, Airbrush, Steve Franklin, 2015.

Have a Great Day!

-Steve

Goodbye 2015

Say Goodbye to year 2015.
Today was a normal day yet it is the last day in 2015.
I made this two page spread today. I was inspired by crows in the neighbor's yard across the street. It has been misty and drizzly. They all seemed to be feasting on something, so I took a photo for reference.

Goodbye 2015, New Big Sketchbook, Mixed Media. Steve Franklin, 2015.

 I sketched the four birds using a brown colored pencil then applied masking fluid around each using a cotton swab (had to use a fresh one per bird). Next, I layered indigo blue then sepia via airbrush onto gessoed pages. Next, I rubbed off the mask and sprayed different colors, brushed gesso over many areas, sprayed a layer of transparent airbrush extender then fluid matte medium.  Next, I stamped the lettering and some line work with a black acrylic marker, covered that with fluid matte medium, and was finished.

I resisted the urge to add my favorite color that I always use: quinacridone/nickel ago gold.
Golden High Flow Acrylics used:
Golden Airbrush Transparent Extender, Indigo, Sepia, Green Gold, Quinacridone Magenta, Hansa Yellow Medium, and Phthalo Blue (Green Shade).
Other Materials:
Golden Acrylic Gesso, Golden Fluid Matte Medium, Molotow Signal Black Acrylic Marker, Daler Rowney Art Masking Fluid

Studio desk with sketchbook.

Happy New Year!

-Steve

Airbrush Pages: 36-39

Hello, wonderful person!
Thanks for visiting this page.
Here are pages 36, 37, 38 and 39 of my old Zeta sketchbook.

Old Zeta Sketchbook pages 36 & 37. Airbrush. Steve Franklin, 2015

Above, I just started free drawing with an airbrush.  I use an Iwata Eclipse HP CS.  The brush needed cleaning, but I just wanted to continue working with it.  I use Golden High Flow acrylics mixed with Golden Airbrush Transparent Extender. Since the colors are strong, I make them more transparent with the extender.

I haven't been using airbrush for the last week, because I've been thinking of making some sort of tent with PVC pipe and clear plastic, with a fan to blow out the paint particles.  I've been using a mask, but the last time I worked on a painting, I got carried away and noticed that the whole room was hazy from paint particles.  I thought that this would be bad for the dogs who love to hang out with me, so I decided to lay off the airbrush until I deal with this issue.

I did some research and saw everything from a giant garage painting booth for painting cars to the small table ones for people who paint scale models.  I've decided I need to make a smaller version, like the one for painting cars,  one that I can step into, like a two person phone booth size. In the meantime, I can work with other art media.

Below is my dog Annabel, my mixed breed rescue, enjoying some ice cream.  On the right, I just began doodling and mixed watercolor with colored pencil. I also added a bit of white gesso here and there.

Old Zeta Sketchbook pages 38 & 39. Airbrush. Steve Franklin, 2015.

Bye for now!

-Steve

Sketchbook pages 3 & 4

Worlds, pages 3 & 4. Acrylic. Steve Franklin, 2015.

Here's a two page spread from one of my current sketchbooks. Here, I used a doily type stencil in an early layer.  I can't remember exactly how many layers I sprayed, but I'm definitely using several. No planning--just doodling with an airbrush. I do notice that I'm getting quite dark but I guess it's okay for a sketchbook.  I always remind myself that sketchbook pages should not be perfect.  If you want every page in your sketchbook to be perfect, then guess what? You will never fill one.  The goal is to get pages done then move along to the next one.

Finally, Color!

Architectural Abstraction. Acrylic on paper. 9"x 12". Steve Franklin, 2015.

Here, I imagined some organic type of structure.  I really enjoyed laying down layers of transparent colors, once again with an airbrush.

Squares. Acrylic on paper. 9"x 12". Steve Franklin, 2015.

I mixed this one up by spritzing water and made a drippy mess.  I enjoyed making this one!

Squiggly Shapes. Acrylic on paper. 9"x 12". Steve Franklin, 2015.

Here, I emphasized shapes, textures and color layers I like.  For awhile I took a pic with my phone and used part of it for my phone background.

More loose pages

Elephant Trunk. Acrylic on paper. 9"x 12". Steve Franklin, 2015.

Here's another monochrome sketch. As one can see, I like motion and texture.  I often like drawing weird stuff.

Spiral Thingy. Acrylic on paper. 9"x 12". Steve Franklin, 2015.

Here's yet another loose sheet sketch.  This time I added a soft glaze of Dioxazine Purple.  By the way, I use Golden High Flow Acrylic paint.  I mix it with drops of water, and Golden Airbrush Transparent Extender.  Yes, I really enjoy using Golden paint.

I don't want to get too technical.  I enjoy painting transparently because I'm new at airbrush and am more interested in the image and will mix media when necessary.

Abstract Train

Train. Acrylic on watercolor paper. 9" x 12". Steve Franklin. 2015.

Here's a loose sheet of watercolor paper that I composed using an airbrush. (Iwata Eclipse HP-CS)

I like this image because it shows motion in it.  It makes me think of Aerosmith's Train Kept A Rollin. (No, I don't limit myself to listening to only one type of music, so please don't type cast me based on what music I listen to.) I enjoy sketching with airbrush, but I still love texture, like the type I can make with brushstrokes and layering thin glazes of different color.  But sometimes, it's better to keep it simple, showing value (blacks & whites) only.