a pop of color

Though this blog could use some color.

No, I am not posting this because I'm a fan of Ironman. =) I actually made this as a possible design for shoes. Anyway, I used sharpies on this. Always felt intimidated by colored felt tips but Sharpies are pretty easy to work with. Although I still need to get used to them just a tad more. They seep in a little too much into the paper which was annoying since I usually use both sides of my sketchbook page.

Also finished a draft for a Michael Jordan portrait, possibly, to be painted on shoes, but I'm not posting it because I'm not happy with it. Pretty much my day involved making the MJ draft, painting headphones with skulls for another customer and sketching out designs for Brandon Boyd inspired shoes.

watching all the ground beneath you drop

I didn't quite capture his lazy eye.

This picture was drawn on one of my most favorite books. I got inspired by an artist who's name totally escapes me right now, but I found him on Etsy. His works were done on antique books and it looked really nice so I decided to give it a go. 

The crisp white sheet on the book helped to make the drawing stand out and I also love how the text is embedded in it. Got any idea who this guy is? 

challenge no.3: Draw a bag, wallet or purse

Yes, that ballpoint is the culprit.

I told you I'd post a new drawing today and I mean it. Of course, it's unfinished but I have a pretty good reason. As you can see, I was nearing the end of it when my new (bought the other day) Faber-Castell ballpoint stopped working. It's included in the picture so you can see the culprit and hopefully avoid it if you are ever working on some important piece.

Anyway, it's still full of ink but it just won't write anymore. I bought only one of its kind. Also, if you notice, this is the first time I've actually done something in blue ink. At first, it looked a bit odd and I simply didn't like it but I've grown to love it somehow. I'm also sort of proud of this drawing. It's nowhere near perfect but it's definitely an improvement from my previous ones especially when it came to the hatching and shading. I'll try and post it again once everything's done, but for now, enjoy!

ps. If you're wondering what has inspired me to try out pen and ink again or simply start drawing/sketching again, check out andrea joseph. =)

procrastinating yet again...

I still can't decide whether I like this piece or not, but one thing's for sure, I miss drawing people.

I promise I will post something new tomorrow. But I was just a wee bit nostalgic when I saw this old pastel portrait of a little girl that I made way back. Resolution isn't so good since it was obviously taken with a low end camera years before. Of course, I have no clue what happened to the original painting. I think my mom just mistook it for useless crap and threw it away. Oh well..

new ballpoints

My weapons of choice.

Okay, so I'm sort of cheating today and skipping out on my sketch-a-day pledge. I did get some new ballpoints though as well as a new book by Chuck Palahniuk (as if that's any consolation.) I'm not sure whether the book is any good but he's a good writer so it'll probably be interesting at least.

As for the ballpoints, I got several cheap ones from Faber-Castell (black, red and blue) in different nibs, one from MGS (no, I don't think it has anything to do with Solid Snake), and a bright pink one ( I couldn't resist) from a brand called Leone. Hopefully I can get some nice work from these. I'm still looking for a sepia toned pen. I'm not sure if it's available here since I couldn't find it at the bookshop earlier.

light my fire...

Done in 2 hours, in between naps, snacks and frustration.

Yes, I also can't believe I used that as a title. Anyway, love the Doors though, but that line has become quite trite. Anyway, the challenge for today was to draw a lamp. Pardon the ink blots and pencil lines. I am still using the same pen (HBW, not HBV) since I haven't gone out of my "lair" to hijack the bookstore, maybe tomorrow. Been at a lull lately, but it's all good since it's giving me a chance to sketch again. Can't say I'm proud of the results but hopefully I'll get there.

stickin' it through 'til the end

My 3 year old Converse. He's thinking of retiring soon. 

There are plenty of reasons why I don't like this drawing but I'm posting it anyway since I promised myself that I'd get back to sketching again by creating "one sketch per day," ahem, starting yesterday. ( I know, I know...this is already overdue) Anyway, been customizing shoes for awhile, and incidentally, the first EDM challenge is to draw a shoe, so I guess it's only fitting that this becomes my first (drawing) post. 

Started this sucker yesterday, but had to leave it alone to eat with friends from out of town which was fun, by the way.Visit Bourbon St. if you're ever in CDOC. (No, I do not get free food for this.) Got back late, so had to finish this today. I liked this drawing better yesterday though. The pen I used just wasn't working. It blotted too much and the nib was too thick. (Yes, I'm taking aim at you HBV ballpoint pen!) I guess I'm gonna have to raid the bookstore within the week to get better ones. I left it unfinished. Simply cannot/will not salvage it anymore, hopefully better drawings are up ahead. Oh yeah, these were done on my first Moleskine too, and I am loving them so far!

And it all starts here...

These are my 20th+ pair of custom shoes. Been drawing too many cartoon characters; this was a nice break.

Been planning this mini sketchblog for weeks now but for one reason or another (okay, so mostly it's just procrastination) I haven't been able to put up posts or even get started on my daily drawing challenge. So for now, I'll be posting pics of the shoes I've recently done. By the way, been creating custom shoes for awhile now but don't think I'll be posting a lot of it here. We'll see.

Samoan Maori mixed tattoo for the shoulder

Hi,

In my holiday I designed a new shoulder piece, with a mix of Samoan and Maori/Kirituhi inspired elements.

The top of the tattoo has some nice Samoan arrowhead patterns and other detailed elements.
I made a shading for this piece, which I normally don't, but I guess it looks good on this tatoo design.

I used some really simple Maori koru pattern, to complement the detailed Samoan-style.

This design is not a custom design, so you can order it on my website (nr. 147 in the Shoulder gallery), or right now by clicking the "Buy now" button. You will receive a high resolution image + a linedrawing/stencil for your tattoo artist.

Best regards, Mark Storm
info@storm3d.com
www.storm3d.com

Samoan Maori mixed tattoo for the shoulder

Hi,

In my holiday I designed a new shoulder piece, with a mix of Samoan and Maori/Kirituhi inspired elements.

The top of the tattoo has some nice Samoan arrowhead patterns and other detailed elements.
I made a shading for this piece, which I normally don't, but I guess it looks good on this tatoo design.

I used some really simple Maori koru pattern, to complement the detailed Samoan-style.

This design is not a custom design, so you can order it on my website (nr. 147 in the Shoulder gallery), or right now by clicking the "Buy now" button. You will receive a high resolution image + a linedrawing/stencil for your tattoo artist.

Best regards, Mark Storm
info@storm3d.com
www.storm3d.com

New tattoo designs added to Storm3d.com

Hi!

A few months ago I started working on a new set of tattoo designs. At this moment I created 6 new designs and updated my galleries on storm3d.com.

The first design is for the lower leg, placed on the shin and the sides will wrap around the calf.
The second design can also be used for the calf or shin, but it would look good on the forearm/shoulder as well.

The three designs below are designed for the forearm.

Click the images to enter the tattoo gallery:


























And here is one new shoulder tattoo design:













Any questions? Just let me know,

Kind regards, Mark Storm
info@storm3d.com

New tattoo designs added to Storm3d.com

Hi!

A few months ago I started working on a new set of tattoo designs. At this moment I created 6 new designs and updated my galleries on storm3d.com.

The first design is for the lower leg, placed on the shin and the sides will wrap around the calf.
The second design can also be used for the calf or shin, but it would look good on the forearm/shoulder as well.

The three designs below are designed for the forearm.

Click the images to enter the tattoo gallery:


























And here is one new shoulder tattoo design:













Any questions? Just let me know,

Kind regards, Mark Storm
info@storm3d.com

Daniel Clowes Interview Book

Daniel Clowes: Conversations, edited by Ken Parille and Isaac Cates, was just published by the University Press of Mississippi. The volume collects fifteen interviews conducted from 1988 to 2009.

For more details or to order the book, please visit the Press’s website.

Daniel Clowes Interview Book

Daniel Clowes: Conversations, edited by Ken Parille and Isaac Cates, was just published by the University Press of Mississippi. The volume collects fifteen interviews conducted from 1988 to 2009.

For more details or to order the book, please visit the Press’s website.

Ravyn sexy ink tattoo

Ravyn sexy ink tattoo

Hot thai chick tattoo

Hot thai chick tattoo

Back tattoo

Back tattoo

Samoan inspired tattoo sleeve

Hi,

Here's another project, a Samoan inspired design for the upper arm and shoulder.
One of my customers wanted a Samoan-style tattoo, so only the fills and lines and no further meanings in it. He wanted it to be very detailed and symmetrical.

My progressing sketches looked like this:





















And finally the end result:




















Ps. I'm working on an update of my website galleries, to add the latest designs to the galleries. There will be around 7 new tattoos available, one in a mixed maori/samoan style and 5 or 6 in a Maori inspired style with some nice realistic detailed feathers.

I'll let you know when it's ready and where you can find these images.

Kind regards, Mark Storm

Samoan inspired tattoo sleeve

Hi,

Here's another project, a Samoan inspired design for the upper arm and shoulder.
One of my customers wanted a Samoan-style tattoo, so only the fills and lines and no further meanings in it. He wanted it to be very detailed and symmetrical.

My progressing sketches looked like this:





















And finally the end result:




















Ps. I'm working on an update of my website galleries, to add the latest designs to the galleries. There will be around 7 new tattoos available, one in a mixed maori/samoan style and 5 or 6 in a Maori inspired style with some nice realistic detailed feathers.

I'll let you know when it's ready and where you can find these images.

Kind regards, Mark Storm

Tribal tattoo wrapping around the forearm

Hi!

As promised, here's another design projects I have been working on in the weeks behind.
Forearm and leg tattoos (especially symmetrical designs) are my favourite pieces to draw. I really like the idea of a flowing design that is not too complicated, that gives a nice clean look. That is also why I use symmetry a lot.
This design is for a customer from the UK, he wanted a complete forearm tattoo, wrapping around and having a seamless fit.

You can see the tatoo sketches below:

I started with the flowing koru curles and added a line of spear- or arrowheads in the centerline of the tattoo. Then I made some fills with lines and triangles and the 6 small curls bending towards the arrowheads. Finally I added a few stars.

My customer liked some oldskool sharp tribal shapes, so in the second sketch you can see that I added it to the design:


















I get quite a large amount of requests for custom tattoos, so I have to pick and choose the design projects I like best. If you are interested in this kind of designs, for the forearm or lower leg, you can contact me by here.

Till soon!

Oohps, almost forgot to show you the final result :)















Regards, Mark

Tribal tattoo wrapping around the forearm

Hi!

As promised, here's another design projects I have been working on in the weeks behind.
Forearm and leg tattoos (especially symmetrical designs) are my favourite pieces to draw. I really like the idea of a flowing design that is not too complicated, that gives a nice clean look. That is also why I use symmetry a lot.
This design is for a customer from the UK, he wanted a complete forearm tattoo, wrapping around and having a seamless fit.

You can see the tatoo sketches below:

I started with the flowing koru curles and added a line of spear- or arrowheads in the centerline of the tattoo. Then I made some fills with lines and triangles and the 6 small curls bending towards the arrowheads. Finally I added a few stars.

My customer liked some oldskool sharp tribal shapes, so in the second sketch you can see that I added it to the design:


















I get quite a large amount of requests for custom tattoos, so I have to pick and choose the design projects I like best. If you are interested in this kind of designs, for the forearm or lower leg, you can contact me by here.

Till soon!

Oohps, almost forgot to show you the final result :)















Regards, Mark

Maori wood carving design for a spinning wheel

Hi there!

A few months ago since my last post, really busy with renovating part of my house. It's finished now, so now I have more time to let you know what I'm doing and I will try to post a few projects each week.

A month ago I received an e-mail from a customer who wanted me to decorate her spinning wheel with some nice maori inspired patterns, a really nice thing to do next to designing tattoos.
It's done in the modern wood "carving" technique; the drawing will be put on it by a laser, burning it into the wood.
Here's the original spinning wheel.

I created 3 different designs in the same kirituhi style, one for the large wheel, one for the pedals and another one for the arm of the spinning wheel.

Here are the sketches and some of the final designs that I did:














I really enjoy doing these kind of projects, so if you want me to decorate something with my designs, just let me know!


Any questions? Just let me know.

Kind regards, Mark
info@storm3d.com
www.storm3d.com

Bill Murray Portrait for GQ

Illustration of actor Bill Murray for the August 2010 issue of GQ.

Bill Murray Portrait for GQ

Illustration of actor Bill Murray for the August 2010 issue of GQ.