Drilling Illustration

2012-02-28T10:27:00.001-07:00

BUZZFX completed this drilling illustration for a local oil services company. The illustration shows the drilling process. If you would like us to create similar works for you please contact us today!

2D Animation Test

2012-02-15T14:25:00.002-07:00

We are doing a simple 2D animation project and this is a first test to see how the arm movement is working. Lot's of excitement and more to come from BUZZFX. If you would like to hire us to do some artwork or animation we can be reached at: www.buzzfx.ca

2012-02-11T12:21:00.001-07:00

Drawing - The Foundation for Great Art!

The Importance of Drawing!

As a digital artist I rely on many different mediums to tell a story. I may be working digitally on the computer, painting, sculpting or building a 3D model, but regardless of the medium used I always rely heavily on my drawings and sketches as a preliminary source or reference point for my final work. Drawing allows me to capture the (MOI) moment of inspiration and to refine my ideas long before committing to computer or canvas.

Drawing also allows me to work out different views and scenarios (thumbnails) quickly saving me valuable time on the computer or canvas. The ability to draw well is so important because it is the foundation for the final artwork. Unless you have a good drawing as a starting point the final art will be noticeably flawed.

With a good drawing as a foundation the artist can concentrate on adding more detail and color into the drawing and the artwork will hold up. Adding detail and color to a poor drawing will result in artwork that is noticeably flawed. Remember, the foundation must be strong.

I Thought This Was Supposed To Be Easy!

Some people believe that if you are an Artist you can automatically draw well but this is a common misconception. You may have been born left-brained and have a natural creative ability but this doesn't mean you were born with the natural ability to draw well. Like anything else, it takes work.

Every Artist I've known, including myself, has had to go through the sometimes painstaking process of learning how to draw and working really hard at improving their drawing skills. Sure some people are more left brained than others and they are born with more natural ability when it comes to art and drawing but it still takes a lot practice to master the art of drawing.

"Some people believe that if you are an Artist you can automatically draw well but this is a common misconception."

If you are just learning to draw don't become discouraged at how much work it may be. When you first put pencil to paper your efforts may seem futile, but don't give up. Starting anything new can be daunting and overwhelming, but with patience, practice and time you will improve.

I remember when I first started drawing I would spend hours drawing with only marginal results. I'd be lucky if I came away with anything I was proud of and often had more frustration than success, but after consistent time in the saddle so to speak I found that I was not only getting better at drawing but also enjoying it a lot more. Just like any other skill, it takes practice and a lot of work, but with time you will be successful.

Location! Location! Location!

We've all heard how important location can be in Real Estate, well believe it or not the same holds true for the drawing. The location or "where you draw" can be as important as "what you draw". Let me explain.

Where you draw can have an influence on your productivity both positively or negatively. Feeling comfortable and inspired by your surroundings is vital to getting those creative juices flowing. Trying to draw while sitting in a cold dark basement may be inspiring for some but for most people it isn't unless maybe you're drawing vampires or something.

Get out into the sun or go into a well lit area and find a comfortable chair and then draw. Your surroundings also play an important role in determining how creative you feel. Some people like to draw in peace an quiet and if that's where you feel inspired then more power to you.

I work alone most of the time so I personally like to draw at coffee shops where there is some white or ambient noise. I like to get out and hear the "buzz" of people as it really puts me in a good mood and I find I do better work in this environment. Find out what works best for you. You'll find if you are more relaxed and in a better mood then you will create better work.

Lower Your Expectations and Increase Results!

Don't set your expectations so high as to guarantee failure. I'm not saying you shouldn't have great aspirations of being a super great Artist. I think it's very important to reach for goals and to try to achieve your best. What I am saying is be realistic about your abilities when you are first learning to draw.

A lot of new artist's place unrealistic expectations on themselves when learning to draw and then they feel discouraged when they can't draw as well as they think they should so they quit. Start with the basics and small goals and work up from there.

Remember when you were an infant you didn't go from laying in a crib to immediately walking. There was a long period where you learned how to crawl, then as you got stronger you learned how to pull yourself up to the coffee table. Then after lots and lots of practice you were able to walk. It was a wonderful feeling but it didn't happen overnight.

The same holds true for drawing. If you expect to go from drawing stickmen to amazingly detailed and anatomically correct superheroes overnight then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. With the advent of the computer and digital art I see too many artists today who lack the basic skills in anatomy, color and composition but are too impatient to take the time to learn them properly or even at all.

Good drawing skills will come but only with lots of, practice, time and patience. Start by learning the basics and slowly challenging yourself and you will be surprised how fast you learn.

Keep It Simple!

When you are learning to draw it's best to use the "KISS" principle meaning "Keep it Super Simple!". By keeping it simple you will learn faster and increase your chance of success because you will be able to grasp the principles behind the theory. Rather than just following rules, knowing "why" something is done a certain way will help you to more easily remember it and place more importance on doing it properly.

How To Overcome Burnout!

I find drawing to be a lot of fun. I find it relaxing and I look forward to doing it every chance I get, but we all have those days when things just aren't working like we'd like them too. Maybe you've tried and tried, but you just can't seem to get that hand drawn properly. Or maybe you've hit a dry spell and the creative well is dry. There are times when drawing may not seem like a lot of fun. It's very frustrating and it happens to both Novice and Expert Artist's. So what do you do in those situations?

Well there's a few thing you can do. On those days when it's just not going well I find it's best to just take a short break. Sometimes if I've been drawing for awhile I just know it's time to take a break. Some of the signs that tell me it's time for a break are: losing concentration, losing interest in what I am drawing or running out of ideas. These are just a few hints that tell me it's time to take a break.

A break can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours depending on what you feel you need so you can come back feeling refreshed and inspired again. I'll get up, even if it's just for a few minutes, and stretch or go for a small walk. Usually I find after taking a break I can come back refreshed or with new inspiration and insight as to how to tackle a problem I've been working on. There are times when you may need a longer break. I've gone for up to a week or two without drawing and I've come back feeling refreshed and feeling more creative.

Another important factor I need to mention if we want to have fun and feel creative when drawing is "sleep". A lack of sleep makes it more difficult to be creative. Everyone needs enough sleep to be effective at what they do but it's even more important as Artist's. The creative process can be very draining and ideas are better realized when we are well rested. We need sleep to be at our creative best and being tired zaps any creativity we may have.

Use Thumbnails!

You may be asking: What are Thumbnails? The dictionary describes thumbnails as: Reduced versions of pictures, used to help in recognizing and organizing them, but they are basically a miniature sketch used to plan out a final larger image.

The great thing about thumbnails is they allow you to define the composition and shape of your drawing before doing the final artwork. This is more easily accomplished at a small scale using thumbnails because less detail is involved and you're less likely to add extraneous or unnecessary details.

Thumbnails can be any size but they are usually only an inch or two in size and can be any shape depending on your image. You can do a number of thumbnails quickly in a short period of time. I can usually draw 10-12 thumbnails on a sketchbook page. When drawing thumbnails be sure to do them quickly and only using simple shapes.

You can also use your thumbnail as a value sketch by shading dark areas and leaving areas other areas unshaded. This is very helpful in determining the tonal values and mood of your final image.

Think In Simple Terms!

It's easy to want to start in on an area of a drawing that interests you but it's best to first plan out your drawing in it's simplest form. Look at your reference image then start to block in the basic shapes using simple forms like cubes and circles. Sometimes it helps to squint when looking at your reference image. This helps to eliminate unnecessary detail and allows you to focus on the basic shapes.

Concentrate on the drawing as a "whole" rather than putting too much emphasis on one particular area of the drawing. You can add detail later but if you don't get the drawing right then the detail in the world won't save the drawing. I've seen so many artist's with super crazy details in their images, but it all falls apart because the anatomy is wrong.

Build it from the ground up. For example when drawing a person draw the pose using only basic shapes until you are absolutely certain that the pose is both realistic and holds up anatomically, then start adding more details. This may seem time consuming, boring or awkward at first but by training your eye and brain to see forms in their most basic shapes you will be making the drawing process much simpler and your will achieve better results.

Another common mistake is to start a drawing in the middle of the page. When I was first learning to draw I would start anywhere on the page without any thought to how much room I needed. I'd get most of the drawing done only to realize to my annoyance that I had not left enough room for an arm or a leg.

Remember that arm or leg you forgot to leave space for! By using only basic shapes you will find it easier to plan out your composition and it will be much easier to make changes when necessary. Some preliminary preparation can save you a whole lot of headaches and frustration in the long run.

When blocking in your forms try using a 7H pencil and press very lightly so you don't gouge the paper. Once your basic forms are in you can start using softer pencils to add more detail.

Pencils - Pick Your Weapon Of Choice!

Ok, compared to some of the cool digital software today a pencil seems pretty bland but don't discount it's usefulness. Sometimes the tried and true tools are the best and that's still the case with the pencil although you can be creative here too.

Try using a colored pencil instead of or in addition to a graphite pencil. I like to use a colored pencil when doing sketches then follow it up with a darker color or ink. Some artists prefer ink markers, pens or fineliners. I even know an artist who does most of his sketching in acrylic paint.

The choices and possibilities are endless so find something that works for you and you feel comfortable using. If you plan to do a lot of drawing then it only makes sense to use something you fell comfortable with and like to use. Anything that helps you enjoy the drawing process is a plus.

I hope this article has provided you with some ideas and techniques to help you improve your drawing skills. Incorporate these tips into your art and you will be well on your way to creating some amazing drawings.

Lorne McLean

Creative Director, BUZZFX

website: www.buzzfx.ca

Lorne McLean is a Digital Artist Living in Calgary Canada and works as Creative Director at BUZZFX. Lorne writes on the subject of 2D, and 3D digital art. If you would like Lorne to write an article for you or you would like to hire Lorne for freelance work you can contact him through his website at: www.buzzfx.ca

Hurst Church Brand Identity

2012-02-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

BUZZFX created a brand identity for Hurst Church in Texas. The client wanted a contemporary logo that could be used in all marketing and media for the church. The Hurst Church "HC" logo can be used with the words "Hurst Church" or separately making the design very versatile. A polished aluminum material was chosen to give the logo a clean and contemporary look.

If you would like us to design a logo or other artwork for you please contact us today. Here are some more logo examples. BUZZFX Logo Examples

548 Camera Test

2012-01-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

A quick animation test for the 548 Movie Project. Finally got the sky to be visible for 360°. This won't likely be the final sky image we use but the camera animation is coming along.

548 Animation

2012-01-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

Here's frame #548 from a new desert animation we're working on at BUZZFX. Had some really good results today and wanted to share them with you. Creating a semi-realistic ground and sky has been troublesome, but today we made some good progress and we're able to create a somewhat good sky and ground texture. Just need to add some trees, particle rocks and a main structure. Keep posted for more!

Snowboard Artwork

2011-12-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Tis the season for snow and therefore snowboarding. We've designed four colorful snowboards but we can't decide which one to use. Help us pick a winner and tell us which one you like?

Lip Sync Test

2011-12-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

A small character lip sync test created by our studio to show different facial expressions. In total we created 16 different mouth phonemes and 8 different eyes for this character. It was a lot of work but a lot of fun at the same time. Click the image to view the animation.

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