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Variable-Edge — Don't Call Her Frances...

Published: 2011-10-27 22:55:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 2592; Favourites: 98; Downloads: 69
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Description Another character sketch done on a receipt. This time, since I had some time to kill while waiting for my sister to finish with a meeting, I actually got around to inking this one.

I found that when I have projects requiring a specific skill, I need to do a side illustration that allows me to practice that skill. In this case, I have some painting, and I have a lot of inking to look forward to, so gotta keep sharp!

Since I've been doing some Cartoon Network characters as of late, this time around I chose Frankie Foster, from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. (Yeah, yeah, another redhead...!)

I'm concerned with my ability to draw directly on my tablet. I don't have reliable pressure control, so my lines aren't as dynamic as others get to be. That also affects my opacity and flow options, getting stuck with single settings that I have to adjust manually. But if there's one thing I learned about having limited means, it's finding ways to be creative with what I have!

Most of the basic shading was done with brush settings at 50% Opacity, with matching Flow. When I started to smoothen down the gradations, as well as doing direct color painting, it was with a 70% Opacity and less than 10% Flow.

In a change from my other paintings, I actually set up the base color layer first, then worked on the shading underneath afterwards. Normally it's the other way around, but I had the benefit of having scanned lineart first, so doing the color flats was easy to do right away. It still didn't look quite right when it was changed to the Color layer mode over the grayscale shading, so I upped the saturation to where it is now. I also duplicated the lines and colored most of those with the exception of Frankie's eyes and eyebrows.

Still need to tweak my personal workflow, but it's slowly getting there!

Pencils and ink on a store receipt!
Colors on Photoshop CS3 with a Genius G-Pen 450

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends and all related characters tm Cartoon Network
Original Art by Jon Mallari
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Comments: 17

Prince-Kawaii [2012-02-15 23:04:30 +0000 UTC]

Never knew she wore the powerpuff girls shirt!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Variable-Edge In reply to Prince-Kawaii [2012-02-16 04:12:36 +0000 UTC]

Neither did I, until I read around, trying to find out what the pattern on her shirt was! After that, it was, "How did I not notice!?"

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Prince-Kawaii In reply to Variable-Edge [2012-02-16 20:32:16 +0000 UTC]

That's just funny how CC did that!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Izcalli2006 [2011-11-01 18:43:44 +0000 UTC]

AMAZING, AWESOME, FANTASTIC WORK!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Variable-Edge In reply to Izcalli2006 [2011-11-02 22:22:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Izcalli2006 In reply to Variable-Edge [2011-11-03 04:47:16 +0000 UTC]

No problemo!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hfdoll [2011-10-27 23:59:25 +0000 UTC]

This is one of the best Frankies yet! Holy crap! You have captured the very esscence of what Frankie is through your lines and colors. I tried one of those tablets, and I HATED it. You use my finger on my laptop, or a mouse on my desktop when drawing. By the way - my middle name is Francis (male).

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

Variable-Edge In reply to hfdoll [2011-10-28 16:39:28 +0000 UTC]

The tablet does take some getting used to, but the learning curve isn't too steep; I just had to get used to the "texture" of the tablet surface. Prior to getting the tablet my coloring was done with a mouse and some considerable use of the polygonal select tool.

I'm glad you enjoyed my interpretation of Frankie. It was fun sketching her out!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

hfdoll In reply to hfdoll [2011-10-28 00:00:44 +0000 UTC]

*I vice "you." typo

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Izcalli2006 In reply to hfdoll [2011-10-28 04:00:07 +0000 UTC]

YES, THATS RIGHT!!!

Traslate Please: ES UN TRABAJO MARAVILLOSO!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Cassini90125 [2011-10-27 23:46:41 +0000 UTC]

WOW. This is one of the best Frankie pics I've seen in some time. The design, the color, the shading, everything, it's amazing. Absolutely gorgeous. Excellent, excellent work!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Variable-Edge In reply to Cassini90125 [2011-10-28 16:40:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much! It was challenging, getting the colors just right.

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Kristadidileey [2011-10-27 23:01:34 +0000 UTC]

GAAH I LOVE FRANKIE!!! This is awesome.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Variable-Edge In reply to Kristadidileey [2011-10-27 23:04:46 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

veronica-the-fox [2011-10-27 23:00:35 +0000 UTC]

wow this is awesome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Variable-Edge In reply to veronica-the-fox [2011-10-27 23:05:16 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

veronica-the-fox In reply to Variable-Edge [2011-10-27 23:06:26 +0000 UTC]

Your welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0