I'm interested in pricing/exploring options with airbrushes. I would really like to paint my muntjac and dragon sculptures, but I just can't bring myself to do it with a paintbrush. The muntjac, being furred, could probably looks nice, but I'm afraid to take a paintbrush to the dragon for sure.

So, for those of you out there that are familiar with/use/own airbrush systems, what do you recommend? Tips? Advice? Warnings?

Current Mood: curious

I've been doing just fun little 1 hour things in painter. Trying to get familiar with the program. It's fun to be able to color without wasting art supplies ;)

( One More )

Current Mood: artistic

In addition to the Blogspot blog, we've now added a LJ Community for your convenience!

science_show

Hope to see you all there! :)

This community is for the UStream show that combines the artistic talent of Jennifer Miller (nambroth) and guest artist Amber Hill (vantid), coupled with the biological narration of Jennifer Campbell-Smith (sage_goat).

What we hope to do here is encourage an appreciation for the biology of various animals as well as the process that goes into illustrating them (thus "scientific" for the biology and "illustration" for the art created). We hope this show not only gives you an appreciation of the artwork, but also enhances the beauty of the illustration with the knowledge of just how complex and unique the animal depicted is.

The show is every Tuesday night at 9pm EST here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/scientific-illustration

Current Mood: cheerful

I was contemplating a website for the show, but thought a blog would be a better idea and would encourage audience participation.

Here is the link: http://scientific-illustration.blogspot.com/

I'm having a blast with this show, and I hope our viewers are enjoying it! :)

Current Mood: happy

Tonight we are featuring the

New Caledonian Crow

In large text in case you want to know. Join us tonight at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nambroth's-nonsense

For more Scientific Illustration with mustard.
Remember: These shows are only an hour long. They run from 9pm EST - 10pm EST.
While SageGoat is talking, please hold your Questions and Comments for when she asks for them. Treat the chat room like a classroom during these times :} Or it will just get too chaotic!! The narration is TEXT based, not audio.
This is INTENSE painting for nambroth, so please don't be upset if she misses a question or comment during the show itself.

Feel free to spread the word if you know someone that might like to join.

So the show seemed to be a success tonight! We did it on colugos and had around 48 viewers! All are welcome for next week's showing.

nambroth

Current Mood: happy

I'm looking for someone interested in a Fuji FinePix Z3 digital camera.

Stats:
-Only 6 months old, in near perfect condition.
-Comes with literally everything we bought it with, including the computer connector, charger, user manuals, etc.
-5.1 Megapixels
-17.1x Total Zoom (3x optical, 5.7x digital)
-Picture Stabilization
-1G XD card included (bought separately)
-Sliding lens cover that turns camera off and on.
-Video Feature.
-Color listed as Blue (but it's more of a purpley-grey).
-Price: $65 (or best offer)

( Pictures Under Here )

Current Mood: hopeful

Okay, I colored the sketch.



Can't say I'm overly thrilled about the coloring on the deer, but I'm not bothered by the background, which is a start. I didn't put in too much contrast because he's in a shaded area. Hrmmm...may tinker with this more.

Current Mood: accomplished

Working on a few sculpey things, but too lazy to photograph them ;)



This is a sketch for a piece I'm going to force myself to color (i.e. the scary part).

It's a Reeves' muntjac. The background is really faint, but I set it in a forest clearing in the UK, rather than Asia.

Also, please click the eggs :3

Current Mood: nervous

Would love clicks :D

Current Mood: hopeful

SageGoat was unsure of his decision to go through the portal. He looked back, holding his breathe, his heart already running back to his home, his world, his familiar prairie. The BlackBird called to him from overhead, "This way!" SageGoat looked at his shoulder, the mark still rested on it, taking the place where a gunshot wound should have been. He exhaled, letting out a snort and shook his head of thoughts that urged him to sprint home. The mark was there for a reason, he thought, and he walked toward the BlackBird.

( More art... )

Current Mood: busy

Crow says, "YUM! Peanuts!"


Oviraptor says, "I been 'spectin you."

Current Mood: amused

So wolf_nymph and I are colossal nerds and have made characters based in the Marvel Universe. Her character is an awesome mutant named Kinsey (aka Spark) that is pictured below.

I decided to (with her permission) copy the simple color and color scheme style of the character sheet. So if you like how it's set up, Nymph was the design-master of that one.

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

I haven't decided if she's a mutant, non-human, or just a person with "powers". Probably going to be ambiguous whether or not she's a mutant, but her origin is a bit of a mystery.

Her powers are to summon animal "spirits" and use them like a tool-kit. At the moment she needs something that's made contact with specific animals in order to "summon" them. At first she used parts (claws, hair, blood, etc.). With more training she is able to just use stones (I'm still deciding whether or not they will be round stones with markings or fetish type stones) that have made touching contact with the designated animals. Eventually she learns how to summon some without any tool (but again, she's had personal contact with them). She's companions with raven (imagine that! lol) and wears a necklace with his insignia so she can summon him any time. Raven is how she flies (it surrounds her, like in the drawing). She is able to use the animals "spirits" as themselves or as an encompassing "shell" like raven.

Her origins are still being worked out. She's not exactly sure where she is from and was raised by foster parents in the southwest. She discovered her abilities as a child (they only felt natural to her) but didn't realize they were unique until high school, when she hid them and practiced on her own.

She relates to the Marvel universe in a couple of ways. I'm thinking Dr. Strange takes her on as a pupil to help organize and hone her abilities. He teaches her to summon spirits without relying on the stones. She uses Stark technology when she first decides to become a "super hero". She ends up starting a mentor-ship relationship with Tony because of her interest in technology and engineering. He tries to put her through school for technology training as her foster parents can't afford college for her.

Unique aspects of her character are that embodies a very natural/primal connection but also has an extreme interest in technology and uses both side-by-side. Her story line and dilemmas will deal with what it means to intermingle technology and nature as well as the struggle between the idea of the human animal and human destructive machine. Her origins lie in this and she will work with Emma Frost and maybe Xavier to figure out exactly where she came from. It becomes clear later she was not birthed by human parents.

She is recruited for the Initiative after the Civil War and is given a state assignment (perhaps Alaska).

Yes, this means she's a fan character and probably won't go anywhere, but Nymph and I are having an absolute blast bouncing ideas around and playing with these characters :P

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

Character and images copyright to Jennifer Campbell
Tony Stark/Dr. Strange/ Emma Frost/ Xavier/ etc. copyright to Marvel



A drawing of wolf_nymph's character Kinsey (aka Spark).

I really suck at drawing humans and I hate drawing tech...so...I hope this goes to show Wolf Nymph that I care, lol ;)

You can read all about Kinsey at the below links:
Kinsey Ref
Spark Armor Ref



And I drew a "sexy Munti" picture. I figure he'd fancy draenai ladies, because they are rather cute ;) I put it behind the cut because it may not be safe for work...who knows :P

( There be a troll behind this cut (and draenai). )

Current Mood: accomplished

Thought I should update this thing :)



A character "Animus" that I'm developing at the moment. I've been sketching her like crazy, but I still suck at humans. I'll give more of a description of her later once I have something comprehensive written out.




My WoW character Munti. Decided to draw what he would look like after he retires from the wars and becomes a long-braided hermit.

Enjoy.

Current Mood: awake

I'm trying to do at least on of these a night to keep the creative juices flowing. Here are a few I've done. Some are a result of opening up one of my animal encyclopedias to a random page and doing a rendition of whatever species was on it (not meaning copying the picture).


Caribou


Muntjac


Great Blue Heron


Elephant Shrew


Giraffe

Current Mood: calm