SJSU Part 2

We met at SJSU again for another look at some of the costumes in the costume shop. This time, heavy material was the focus and we got to draw several renaissance outfits including this one which looked waaay better than horrible drawing I had time to do.Here are some photos from our visit. These were fun to draw and I really gained a deep respect for the skill and craft that goes into making these theatrical costumes not to mention what went into the real things.I got the opportunity to wear this Renaissance robe. That's right friends, Jeff Jackson-the nuclear holocaust of fashion.
As a thank you for opening up the shop to my students and myself, I baked brownies for Debbie and Rita in the shop. It turns out that these brownies not only didn't kill anybody but were good enough that I was asked for a recipe and so here it is, thanks again ladies.

For lack of a better title (other than The Antichrist of Weight Watchers Brownies) I am going to call them 'chocolatechipnutbuttermarshmallowbrowniekrispys'. You can make up your own title.

fudge brownie mix 1 pkg (2 eggs, 1/4 cup oil, 1/4 cup water)
1 bag mini marshmallows
chocolate chips 1 1/2 cups
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (Jif is always better for baking)
1 tbs butter
1 1/2 cups rice krispys
13x9 pan

mix and cook brownies as directed on box. I like the fudge-y-er brownies from Duncan Hines but whatever is on sale or use what you like. (I haven't made brownies from scratch in years-who's got time for that?)
cook about 25 mins (see box)
check for done-ness with toothpick allow to cool

sprinkle marshmallows on top of brownies, I know it says a whole bag of mini marshmallows but dang, that's a lot of marshmallows-I just use enough to cover.
bake another 5-10 or until marshmallows golden brown, allow to cool

While brownies are baking, mix chocolate chips (I like Ghirardelli milk chocolate morsels but use whatever suits you), peanut butter and butter in sauce pan and melt completely on low temp

add Rice Krispys to chocolate mixture
spread on top of marshmallows

The Chocolate mix should still be warm enough to spread easily with a spatula or wooden spoon. I don’t worry about the Marshmallows mixing with the chocolate, though I do believe that the original recipe says should be three layers; brownie, marshmallow, and chocolate. If you want to do it that way, allow the chocolate mix to cool and then spoon evenly on marshmallows.
Allow to cool completely or place in freezer for 15 minutes before cutting into 1.5"-2" squares.
Enjoy!

Hanging Folds

Hi,
We've been covering basic folds in class and here some lecture notes regarding two types of hanging folds. The first and probably the easiest are called Pipe or Tube Folds. These folds happen when material has one point of origin while the rest of the cloth is effect by gravity's pull. Curtains, capes, and dresses show these type of folds.

I love marble statues, especially classical examples. I would love to possess the ability to make stone look like cloth. Take time to look at statues that exhibit drapery to see what to simplify and leave out. Here's Perseus with some pipe folds...and Medusa's head and a sword and not much else but those pipe folds sure are cool.Here's how to get started drawing in costume drapery. The first step is to recognize and draw the figure supporting the cloth underneath. Now you certainly are not expected to render the form under the material, just understand the planes that provide support. Though I have gone a little overboard in the next series of drawings, I hope you get the idea. Let's take an American icon-the Statue of Liberty. I have drawn her according to volume of her arms and neck, taking into consideration the accepted body type of a female from the late 1800s.I then found the direction of the topmost portion of the toga that covers her.

The cloth is thick and spills off the shoulder, here it's effected by gravity and angles toward the weight leg.

Then it is just a matter of seeing how much cloth is making its way down her trunk. Notice how it falls down to the left foot or area of most support. Look at the compression of the pipes as it comes in contact with the hard masses of the body.

Fill in the details. There are at least three layers of cloth covering the form but look how close they come in contact to right side of the body following the weight of the body.

Here's the topmost drapery rendered to obscure the figure. I know the shadow paths of the figure and cloth are going different directions, that was intensional to separate the two. If you don't see that, why not? Plot them.

Just the cloth for less confusion.
Here's a reference picture.
The other easy hanging fold is the "Hanging Sheet" or Diaper Fold, so called because they create a look like the material is hanging on a line to dry.
Here are some examples in marble that express pipe folds as well.

I don't really know what these two folks are doing here, but that is some crazy drapery sculpting. Look at how the 'cloth' spills down their backs accentuating the forms below. Hanging Sheets to the left, pipes to the right.


Now go draw your togas, folks.

A Trip to SJSU's Costume Shop

Howdy,

So I took my costume rendering class over to San Jose State to visit the Theater Department’s Costume Shop for a day of rendering drapery. I had a blast and thank Debbie for graciously opening the shop's doors to us. I’ll post some pictures if I can get them from students, mine didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped.

Shown is my take of an example from the 1770s. Yes, I would wear this and I’d look damn hot in it too! Also a lovely dress from the turn of the 20^th century. Sorry, not much drawing from me as I spent the time working with the students, perhaps they can show their good stuff.

We return next Monday for more, stay tuned.

Old Finds and a New Challenge

"Greetings my friends. We are all interested in the future because that is where we will spend the rest of our lives..."
Welcome back, before I talk about the "future", I'm going to live in the past for a moment. I was digging around in a some old boxes in the garage (trying to make room for the new little guy) and I came across this design I did for a shirt sold by Nature Company in 1996.


This, I believe was my first t-shirt for a large distributer and I loved the Nature Company store, too bad they went under. Cute little bunnies for a little girl's shirt. Sadly, this the only version I have as the original was destroyed in the scanning process. A story in itself but not worth getting into at the moment But, I am happy to say that my little girl is just the right age to wear it. So it will get another chance to see the sun, and juice and spaghetti dinners and cookies and peanut butter and jelly and boogers and a whole host of other stuff that finds its way onto little kids clothes. It will be fun to see her wear it. When she outgrows it, maybe I'll put in back into the box where I found it or burn it.
Speaking of the past, here's something I did a while ago which I still like and it gets to hang in my house despite the fact that it is now owned by my brother. Ah those Sith Lords, eh?
Which brings us to this announcement...The next challenge: YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE, GAME, TV, THEATER, COMICS, ETC. VILLIAN! That's right friends; everybody loves to root for the hero, underdog, or Protagonist but what makes it all worth it is to see the antagonist-the villain's- butt get kicked in the end (literally). So here's your chance to pay homage to those hand wrenching, scheming, foul playing, forces of evil conjuring, scowling, condescending, maniacally laughing, monologuing, doers of badness that are so much fun to hate. This can be any sex (or not), from any time period, human or not, and from whatever medium you so desire. How 'bout a due date of July 3...a date to remind us all that evil aliens can be overthrown because they use the same operating systems as we do.
Same specs as the past challenges due on July 3. Let's all get out there and RULE THE WORLD BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ahem...sorry 'got a little carried away. Have fun!

Finally A Chance to Do Something For The Challenge

Hola!
I finally gave myself about an hour to do something for this challenge. I went in the direction a water fairy. I guess they call those sprites but you can kinda see where I'm going here. Had to start with what a water fairy would look like...and what you see really has nothing to do with something that would spend its life aquatically. I broke out my colored pencils-I haven't used these in years-it's like catching up with a good friend you haven't seen in a long long time. this was a very fun diversion from the grind. Speaking of which, all of my classes except one were canceled this semester due to low school enrollment. A major damper on the joy I find in teaching, so I guess it's time to pull out and go on to other pastures. More thoughts on that later. Meanwhile, I am still going to work on this idea so stay tuned. I always find cool stuff around me to look at. Here is my buddy Josh's contribution to this challenge. Neato, yes? No Poprocks or Sharks or anything but still very nice.
I'll have my "judges" look over the examples of greatness and get back to you with a cup o' coffee winner. Or better yet, all of these are so great that I will happily get all of you guys a coffee. So come on down and let's go grab some caffeine on me!
I'm off to Monterey for the weekend, if you're around the area look around for me. Have a great weekend.

That Fairy Challenge...An Update

Well howdy!

So here it is the 19^th already. Yikes, time flies- I never really got a chance to do anything for this challenge…so I’m extending it until MAY 31^st! If you want to do something, now you can. I will get something up here too, promise.

But while we are waiting, lets look at some awesomeness from four wonderful people.

The first is from a fellow member of the SCBWI and diligent attendee of ZSC, Lisa Victoria. You can buy this one too!

The next one comes from a Cogswell coworker and a guy who really cares about the students, Mr. Reid Winfrey! It’s an honor to have something to post from you, Reid.

Here is another and this one’s from a recent Cogswell graduate and a former student of mine, Kyle Van Meurs. A hard worker whose skill and passion will be missed in the halls of Cogswell-good luck Kyle. Remember me when greatness knocks.

Last, is somebody special to my heart, my little girl. She came in while I was working on this challenge and did this drawing. She called it “chocolate”.

But who should win the cup a coffee? (Note: contributers who are related to blogger are ineligible to win) Start voting now, friends or get working on your own. Stay tuned there will be more to post soon.

Fairy Work In Progress

So I finally got a teeny bit of time to work on this challenge and because I was away all weekend (happy Mother's day btw) I decided to pursue the Faerie portion of the challenge. I don't draw faeries/fairies (however you're s'posed to spell it) very often-if ever- so this was kind of fun and easy to do while my kid was napping. Here is a page of exploration that is on the verge of terrible if it isn't already there.I guess I'm tainted with Fantasia/Tinkerbell or other so called Disney fairies so they need some time to make them original...I have a better idea for these little ladies which will be shown sometime soon.

As long as we are on the topic of works in progress, I thought I'd show you what we have in the works. A new Jackson male! Smile little dude!

I know it's a little weird to have these two thoughts appear on the same post but what the heck, he's about as big as a faerie. We just came back from the doctor's and I had to say something. He's healthy so far and seems to be doing well. OCTOBER 2? Got an idea for the name? Let's hear it. For now, let's all keep drawing.

BTW,

Drawing day

is June 7.
More soon.