I find it important to share with you a bit of my process when it comes to putting together a themed gallery show and how I translate my original concepts into original pieces of fine artwork as well as refining them into digital graphic outputs for prints, tee shirts, and other printed products. As I put together my Hobo Eaters: Agents of Chaos show for February 2010 I was able to document the process and can now shed light on the toil of time, blood, sweat, and joy that goes into each character design.

For the intro to my process I am going to breakdown how I created Cascade Vagabond which was one of the first characters created from the theme. Cascade Vagabond not only was created as an original piece of art but also ended up as the winter 2009 shop deck for Snowboard Connection.

All designs begin with a light pencil sketch to define the linework that will eventually be the parameters for inking and coloring digitally:

After a sketch that defines the characters details I move on to hank inking the characters with Pigma Micron pens on vellum:

Here is a side by side view:

After inking I scan the image and vectorize it in Adobe Illustrator. Once all the character is vectorized I move on to adding colors and gradients:

Below is the final image put to product. In this case it is a pro line skateboard. See the blog archive for more close up details:

Here is a breakdown of how I created Rubix Dude who is another character from the Hobo Eaters series:

Here are some close up shots of the materials and process:

The original piece was done utilizing the sketch by projecting on wood, tracing, hand inking with brush, and painting with wood stain and finish:

The fact that the above piece is hand inked makes it the “original” and one and only. I can create variations on this design by utilizing the sketch and inked drawing, but every new edition will be different. No one version is alike since I ink by hand using brush and pen. Some versions sit on finished wood, while others are absorbed directly into the grain of the wood piece.

Below is the digital version with added hues, gradients, and tones that make it very different from the original:

Last but not least I printed up limited edition tees of Rubix Dude by printing transparencies from the vector output and screen printing to garments:

I still have a few of these limited edition tee shirts available. Printed on silver AA fashion fit tees. Please contact me if interested in purchasing!

To continue this thread the following will be most of the characters from the Hobo Eaters: Agents of Chaos series. As to not be redundant I am simply posting the details of the sketches, inked versions, originals on wood, digital versions, and any products created with the designs. Enjoy!

The Shambler:

45 Mack:

Blood Life:

Coded:

Ol Timer:

Rocket Rocker:

This design actually started in reverse. I did a digital rendering in Corel Painter which I then vectorized in Adobe Illustrator and added halftones. This design was eventually picked up by a Seattle skateboard company Nomadic.

Bummin & Runnin:

This design started as a pencil rendering which I then scanned and added a couple layers of highlights and midtones. It was originally created for soft goods production and ended up on tee shirts which are available from Portland OR based Tilteed.

As this post has become lengthy with photos of my process from concept to finals and even products I am going to put the rest of this series of characters in the following post regarding the Hobo Eaters show and series…

Here is my latest design for Nomadic Skateboards Seattle 2010 line. Originally titled Rocket Rocker (now Sky Rider) it was my inner ghost trying to be released that went into this killer deck design. Breezing though the air or carving out some pavement, this phantom is dropping the dynamite to explode into the skate shops near you. Available from Nomadic Skateboards and through various retailers in the Pacific Northwest.

I got the green light on designing the latest skateboard shop deck for SnowBoard Connection. This rad deck just released this week. I properly titled it CASCADE VAGABOND paying homage to the Pacific Northwest and our rainy city of Seattle. The concept is a subcultural-undergroundish all-round action sports dude that fully embraces the street qualities of the skating culture.

Here is the Seattleite gripping the reigns or more like the fab of his hoodie. The rider is god-like, hence the Shiva-ish arms. Tatted and knarly he encompasses the streamlined yet grungesque charicature of this cities youth and “counter-culture”. Sno-Con cleverly enhanced upon the fingers that so readily grip his parka hood. The mid-arms with hands outstretched to feel the rain which pours from a happy cloud which adorns the “King” crown.

The character is also a twisted “yetti-style” mug. His bearded face and hair-like arms are not just a reference to the mountain beast but many o character of this rainycity. His expression is one of power and strength which hearkens the attitude of the skate/ski culture as well as the integrity of SnoCon.
Around his neck and arms are his accessories. The rings, ropes, chains, leather, and scarves that accent his features are all there. The lower hands strategically express “NW” (not gang-signish!). It is kinda hidden and yet there in your face. This is a true rep of the Pacific Northwest in general.

Drop by your local Snowboard Connection or hit them up online and get em while hot off the deck press!