Free Time Sketches

Hello my friends. I haven't had time to post on my blog here in quite a while. Today I am starting a series of posts about the ball point pen (the good ol' Bic Cristal!) which I have been producing when I have downtime at my day job, I'm stuck in a meeting, or lunch break. Most of these characters are from a children's book concept I have. It is a film noir detective story, that's why all the characters will be wearing fedoras, and in suits and ties.

I had never used a ball point pen for shading until a few months ago. To me pens were used for inking comic book style hard line artwork. I was taking notes in a meeting, and began doodling a character off to the side(just like back in my school days). I found I was able to lightly shade, and build up to darker values similar to how I work when creating a pencil drawing(my usual method of operation). I was easily able to show a definite light source, and get a good range of values. It is definitely a loose style, in a sketchy kind of way. One obvious drawback though, there is no erasing. Once a line is on the paper, it's down there for good.

Since these are just character sketches and not intended to be final art to be published I haven't worried about cleaning up all the loose lines. It has been an interesting (to me anyway) method to investigate, in other words "It's Fun!" So these sketches have come from brief snippets of time I get, and are produced using the supplies I carry with me at my job every day: a bic pen and a little lined notebook. I have found that despite the pace of my life, creativity still finds a way to seep out. I think it helps keep me sane. I thank the Lord for the gifts He has given me.

This character is called Cornered Gator. Most of the characters are tough guys, caught in a confrontation with the main character. Gators are one of my favorite characters to draw (if you've known me for long you know I have a gang of usual suspects that show up on a regular basis).

I hope you enjoy this sketch, and the ones to come. I will try and post a new one every few days. May God richly bless you my friends, until next time.--Ryan