deviantART: by:jjohnson http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:jjohnson&section=today deviantART RSS for by:jjohnson en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:08:08 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png Ugh http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/28203924/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/28203924/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:10:05 PST Etsy - Sketch Blog - Twitter - Donate me.

Artist block... it sucks. :<

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]]> *jjohnson Figure drawing http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/26743777/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/26743777/ Fri, 21 Aug 2009 21:41:05 PDT Etsy - Sketch Blog - Twitter - Donate me.

It's been awhile since I have devoted serious time to studying the figure, doing still life, or depicting landscapes and backgrounds. This is probably one of the longest times I've gone without going back to the basics of drawing and I feel that this has caused me to lose my edge. My drawings are not flowing from me- the process feels forced and tedious. So I'm going step back from style and practice realism for now. Some time will be devoted to gesture drawing in particular to gain my confidence back in making marks on the paper. Right now I've gone back to the bad habit of doubting what I put on paper and end up erasing it several times, in effect killing the life of the drawing and turning it into something dull and boring.

I really want to go back over my figure drawing abilities and brush up on my knowledge of anatomy. One problem that I am having is figuring out how to apply what I know about human anatomy and translating that into a manga/comic book style. It's easier for me to draw the human body realistically, with plenty of shading and detail, than to strip it down and try to express the same idea in a much simpler style. How do you depict the figure convincingly without the aid of all those details? I'm still trying to figure that out.

I think it's important to go back over the basics of drawing and redo some of those exercises we either learned in school or on our own from the local library/bookstore. When you are able to successfully draw according the rules again and realize that you still have that ability to fall back on, it can be a real boost to your self-confidence as an artist. And then you don't feel as bad if the style you're going for isn't working out just yet. It seems that way to me, anyway.

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]]> *jjohnson Yay http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/26210807/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/26210807/ Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:00:04 PDT Etsy - Sketch Blog - Twitter - Donate me.

I had a good few days of nothing but drawing. I will upload results later. I hate having to scan my artwork- it's such a boring, uncreative process and so technical. >_<

I'm trying to get back into reading books and such. I've gotten behind- I could have read several books by now. Darn it all...

I still need to scan my recently completed sketchbook and upload those drawings. I don't want to wait until I have two or three sketchbooks piled up because then it'll take forever to sort them. O-o
I don't know about anyone else, but I have always enjoyed looking at the rough work and sketches from other artists. There is usually some kind of raw energy in sketch work that I find fascinating and it's kind of like watching an artist draw up close.

BTW, please don't peer over the shoulder of an artist while they draw, even if they say its okay. It's weird to draw with someone looking over your shoulder and it's kind of annoying. If you must, then please sit down next to the artist at least a couple of feet away to provide some creative space. Thanks ^-^

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]]> *jjohnson Deviantart subscription http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25986000/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25986000/ Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:13:48 PDT Etsy - Sketch Blog - Twitter - Donate me.

Since a deviantart subscription for three months costs about what I would spend to eat out, I figured I would go ahead and get it and try it out again. The last time I got a subscription we didn't have so many features and customizations that they have now. Oooh journal skins.... o-o

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]]> *jjohnson Wooh! http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25780249/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25780249/ Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:49:55 PDT

Thanks for the support. ^-^

]]> *jjohnson Transformers movie http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25627780/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25627780/ Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:39:13 PDT
...

I feel like crying now. ;-;

]]> *jjohnson Learning to draw http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25205001/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25205001/ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:36:27 PDT

They helped me and can be found here: [link]

There are other websites with scans from his books, too.

]]> *jjohnson Whee http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25187861/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/25187861/ Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:24:34 PDT
Now I have this stupid cold and my eyes hurt so badly that I can't focus enough to draw or read, the two things I love to do the most. And I keep getting aches and stabbing pains all over my body. I am in constant pain. I just want to stay in bed all day.

]]> *jjohnson Still making comics http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24992786/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24992786/ Thu, 28 May 2009 07:16:09 PDT
]]> *jjohnson Comics http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24880452/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24880452/ Thu, 21 May 2009 19:40:04 PDT

I like drawing in pencil, though I don't think I'll try using a black color pencil again. It seemed like a good idea for 'inking' but the effect looks like a crayon mark to me- I don't like it. Back to drawing! >->

]]> *jjohnson Working on prints http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24701860/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24701860/ Mon, 11 May 2009 11:37:53 PDT
Oh well, back to sketching and drawing!

]]> *jjohnson Club http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24530732/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24530732/ Fri, 01 May 2009 13:13:04 PDT
:icontraditional-artists:

]]> *jjohnson Scanning http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24459108/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24459108/ Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:28:59 PDT

I like drawing the ocean. It almost takes me back to when I would sit on the beach and just watch the waves come in and feel the breeze in my hair. No other setting puts me at ease the same way...

]]> *jjohnson Books http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24325462/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/24325462/ Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:32:40 PDT -<

I am also trying to open a store at Cafe Press- it doesn't look that great but I am still working on it. It can be found here- [link]

]]> *jjohnson Featured http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23520293/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23520293/ Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:00:38 PST [link]

and here [link]

Yay ^-^

]]> *jjohnson Character Sheet http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23442291/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23442291/ Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:40:57 PST
]]> *jjohnson Whee http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23400164/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23400164/ Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:23:46 PST
]]> *jjohnson Drawing again http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23231532/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/23231532/ Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:18:18 PST
]]> *jjohnson Photoshop vs Corel Painter http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22730495/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22730495/ Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:16:39 PST
Illustrator is the most time-consuming of all of them. It takes me forever to straighten a crooked line out. >-<

]]> *jjohnson Mocha http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22671470/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22671470/ Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:07:46 PST [link]

You can view the rest of their gallery here - :iconlylla4:

This is really cool! I've never had anyone do fanart of my characters before. :D

]]> *jjohnson 2007 sucked http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22617019/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22617019/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:25:51 PST
...on to 2008 sketches!

]]> *jjohnson =P http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22573990/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22573990/ Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:09:26 PST
Spilling sweet tea on folder containing old sketches - not so awesome.

Thank Zen for the rubber stamp tool in Photoshop!

]]> *jjohnson Sketch Dump! http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22403648/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22403648/ Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:56:15 PST
]]> *jjohnson Update http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22040686/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/22040686/ Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:20:15 PST
I've been reading instead of drawing lately- mostly fiction and philosophy. I tried to find books about Francis Bacon but the only one I found was at Barnes and Noble and the translation wasn't readable. I'll probably go back and read more Greek and Roman literature- I never get tired of them.

]]> *jjohnson Whee http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/17957071/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/17957071/ Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:13:42 PDT
I have started writing a rough draft for my comic. Maybe it will be created after all.

Peace.

]]> *jjohnson More drawings! http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/13960472/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/13960472/ Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:02:08 PDT
]]> *jjohnson drawing http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/13214213/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/13214213/ Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:18:24 PDT
Copic markers-

If anyone knows a store in Middle Tennessee that sells copic markers besides Hobby Lobby and Griffen Plaza, please let me know! Otherwise I have to go online to get more colors and I'd rather not pay shipping. Also if anyone knows where I can get used copic markers or ink refills or accessories, let me know! jjohnson_00@hotmail.com

Thanks!

]]> *jjohnson College major http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/12631645/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/12631645/ Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:11:54 PDT
I'm going to major in graphic design and minor in illustration (or psychology). I hope I do well. :D

]]> *jjohnson One year http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/12137214/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/12137214/ Sat, 10 Mar 2007 22:15:23 PST
I haven't had as much time to draw as I would like but college life keeps me busy. I get to mess around with my copics some and can still finish one or two pictures. I'm working on another one right now- hope it turns out good.

]]> *jjohnson School time http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/11453664/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/11453664/ Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:31:20 PST
]]> *jjohnson Creating comics http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/11327659/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/11327659/ Fri, 05 Jan 2007 17:11:28 PST
I wish there were classes I could take that were about how to draw and make comics. >->'

All the art classes at my college teach the traditional and fine art type of stuff and then you got some graphic design classes. Figure drawing is important, by the way! It's very important to practice to draw real people even if you're doing manga or comic book style art. We should have those classes, definately. BUT, I wish we had classes on the side that taught things such as comic drawing and how to make your drawing tell a story, how to do story panels, comics, etc.

If there was a class that taught you how to ink with a dipping pen or use screentones, I'd be all over that. :O~

]]> *jjohnson Devious Journal Entry http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/11163232/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/11163232/ Sat, 23 Dec 2006 14:21:29 PST
]]> *jjohnson Devious Journal Entry http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/10827199/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/10827199/ Thu, 23 Nov 2006 19:34:24 PST
So I have decided to go ahead and do any drawing I can think of- no matter how simple or unoriginal. Because I figure I am not going to ever get better at drawing without....well, drawing! It's a phase that I am going to go ahead and push through. Even if the picture doesn't look like I want it to I will go ahead and finish it anyway. I don't know how long this period is going to last- maybe it'll be 15 drawings, maybe 100 drawings. I read in a manga book that in order to be able to produce really good comics you have to have drawn at least 5000 pages worth of drawings. I don't know how many drawings I have done over my life but I am going to pretend that each new drawing is #1 and hopefully, I will become a really great artist one day. ^^

]]> *jjohnson Devious Journal Entry http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/10560743/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/10560743/ Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:01:58 PST
I'm really getting into color pencils. I think my ability to use color is slowly improving. Inking still has a long way to go. I'll have a few more drawings to post soon (yay!). I'd like to use my tablet to do some drawings but someone (and I'm not naming any names) won't give me my tablet back!

*cough* my brother *cough*

=3

]]> *jjohnson more drawings! http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/10348288/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/10348288/ Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:10:41 PDT
I've updated! I haven't had a chance to use my tablet lately and most of the artwork doesn't turn out great on that thing anyway. So here's a bunch of colored penciled drawings which I think are a huge improvement over what I have done in the past. :D

]]> *jjohnson Updates http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/8444017/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/8444017/ Wed, 12 Apr 2006 00:16:13 PDT
I deleted a bunch of journal entries too. I'm going to keep art related stuff on this journal and move all my personal thoughts to livejournal. When I do the livejournal thing has yet to be determined... ]]> *jjohnson wheee http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/6188577/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/6188577/ Wed, 10 Aug 2005 13:45:22 PDT *jjohnson Legends of Batman! http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/3878905/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/3878905/ Sat, 20 Nov 2004 13:39:12 PST
I got triple ripple vanilla road monkey.

Anyway, I was about to take a lick of it, when the scoop fell right off the friggin' cone. I was just sitting there bawling my eyes out, when all of a sudden BATMAN comes swooping down out of the sky!

He landed right on top of that ice cream truck, punched a hole through the roof and strangled the driver while trying to wrestle the steering wheel away from him. The truck swerved out of control into a telephone pole, and burst into flames.

Batman pulled the driver from the flaming wreckage and proceeded to beat the ever living bejesus out of him, the whole time ranting about how no kid should ever have to experience what he experienced with ice cream falling off the cone before he got to have any.

Eventually he tied him up and hung him from a street lamp, but before he left he gave me another ice cream cone!

Batman is so cool.

Yet one of many of the

LEGENDS OF BATMAN!


---------------------------------------

LMAO no I didn't write this (wish I did!). I got it from this thread [link] ]]> *jjohnson yayyy (not sarcastic) http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/3858031/ http://jjohnson.deviantart.com/journal/3858031/ Wed, 17 Nov 2004 14:36:04 PST
Me: "Dad, I hate to ask, but...can we go out tomorrow for my birthday? It doesn't have to be fancy..."

Dad: "Hmmm...we'll probably go out tomorrow, though I'd like to leave in the morning (for the lunch specials). But we'll do something. I wish I could get you a card..."

This conversation probably doesn't mean anything to anyone else but it makes me happy. Even though we can't go to the Japanese place I still like to do something with my family. And it looks like dad will make an honest attempt to spend time with me and make me feel special. <3

I don't know what my brother will do for my birthday. I know he can't afford to do the Japanese place like he originally wanted, but that's ok. If he'd tag along with us to go out tomorrow that'd make me pretty happy. I guess I'm not getting a cake, so I won't be sad if I don't get one. But if I do get a cake then I'd be very, very grateful. Because then I'd know they went through a lot of trouble to get me a cake for my birthday.

My family causes me headaches sometimes but I still love them and enjoy their company. Going out or being together in the house reminds me of the birthdays from several years ago. Mom always put up decorations, made everyone come together, and made a big dinner for everyone to enjoy on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, Easter, and yes, birthdays too. Since she died we haven't done the whole decoration and dinner thing but the coming together... that makes me feel happy.

I don't know- I guess I'm saying that I miss my mom this time of year because she went through so much trouble to make everyone happy. But even though she's gone, dad and my brother are still around to make it special. And they don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on presents or break their backs putting up christmas lights or take me to Disneyworld. Although presents and Disneyworld are *very* nice to have. But...just being around... that makes me happy.

Happy early birthday to me! :D ]]> *jjohnson