Aaron Rossell Illustration

Giant2

2012-02-01T21:10:00.000-08:00

My friend Nick asked me to reintroduce my Giant character as a cameo of sorts in his picture book he's working on. It was a lot of fun, and I hope to develop some more scenarios with our curiously furry giant.

Life

2012-01-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

Minimals

2012-01-20T22:42:00.000-08:00

Mooner

2012-01-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

Ink and Digital 2012.

scretches

2012-01-08T21:33:00.000-08:00

Girl with hair

2011-12-07T14:34:00.001-08:00

wife dog grass cloudz

2011-11-29T21:16:00.000-08:00

wife dog crochet yarn scythe grass scribble clouds fill

Tree slice man shapes windows woman seeing nipple lines

snake eyes

Making notes

2011-11-01T10:41:00.001-07:00

sketch-time...

Always Sunny caricatures

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Always funny in sillydelphia. Where's Frank? oops. coming.

caricature practice

2011-10-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

jazz sketches

2011-09-19T08:31:00.000-07:00

Founders and Hopcat, two breweries downtown that have jazz performances every Sunday evening. Also they offer discounted brews to people in the service industry! (me!) I hope to do this regularly.

Finished!

2011-09-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

I'll be exhibiting this work at the Pyramid Scheme for ArtPrize.

"Suddenly the beast arose from the waters," 2011. Acrylic on paper.

prog rock

2011-09-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

...still progressing.

detail

2011-09-03T20:50:00.001-07:00

progress shot, felt good about painting tonight.

The beast emerges

2011-09-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

Making some progress. Acrylic so far, Rives BFK paper.

doooodle

2011-08-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

I got a light table so I am trying some layered drawing applications to see what effect the process can have. So far it's just a more tangible version of photoshop... might have some potential though.

ink and pastel

ink and digital

digitally colored ink

Developing a beast

2011-08-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

Been doing some Photoshop sketching to develop my idea for a piece I'd like to enter in ArtPrize 2011. My venue is the Pyramid Scheme, a new and totally rad bar / music venue right in the middle of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Here's a progression of thoughts. The last images are acrylic with some digital adjustments... I'm liking where it's going so far. More to post soon.

BUY BUY BUY

2011-07-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

I added a few images to my Society6 page, please take a look! If there's any artwork of mine you'd like as a print, a t-shirt, hoodie, or even an iPod / iPhone skin, email me and we'll set up a sale!
http://society6.com/aaronrossell

Beach Party

2011-07-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Escape

Society6

2011-06-24T00:02:00.000-07:00

Added a few pieces to Society6, so you can BUY MY STUFF now! Prints, and ipod / iPhone skins. Looks pretty sharp! Buy! Cheap prices!

Blanks

2011-06-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

Painting acrylic flowers on canvas shoes takes a LOT longer than I anticipated.

These will be up for silent auction along with 50 other local artists' shoes to battle it out. Most of the proceeds go to benefit the construction of a new skate park for all those skaters who want to obey the law and have fun doing it! Come down and put down some money, GR skaters!

GreenLion Gallery

Elsie roaching

2011-06-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

Been a while since I last posted-- my blog had many technical bugs in need of gassing.
Here's my dog lying on the futon. Watercolors on watercolorpapersketchbook

Highland Park 1

2011-05-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

I will try to get out to the park by my house and do plein air drawing / painting this summer. This is #1:

"A Forest"

2011-04-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

Entry for upcoming show based on the band The Cure. My piece is taken from lyrics in the song, A Forest. Odd song.

Wabbit

2011-04-14T21:55:00.000-07:00

Almost finished-- just a little doodle. Hooded jacket needs revision. Still working on my digital skills.

Hook changes

2011-03-04T09:34:00.000-08:00

Made a few changes to this piece based on excellent suggestions from the folks at VLP. I tried redrawing a pirate ship, but really liked the mysterious element of its absence. A few highlights here, a size change and color fix there, I think I'm set with this one finally.

Digital vs Traditional

2011-03-02T10:49:00.000-08:00

"A Musician" 2011

Here is a loose, textural scan I had experimented with. The next image is a digital painting. I'm still working out the pros, cons, and in-betweens of my illustration media. I like the slickness in certain areas, but I like the roughness of my painted image. Looking for a balance.

Harpist2

2011-02-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

I've exhausted so many thumbnails for this drawing... here's a value / color study. I'd like to attempt traditional media as much as I can stand before going digital. Coming soon! (hopefully)

weird update

2011-02-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

So this is one of those weird outcomes from an idea you get first thing after waking up in the morning. It's Eckhart Tolle as a Troll doll Enlightened Hindu guy. Layered several different techniques I'm experimenting with for fun, it is by no means a final illo.

Not sure why I wanted to do this. At 26 I'm finally learning the art of shaving, I guess I felt a need to express it illustration-style. I hate the background, just needed something quick.

Hair Care

2011-02-18T11:02:00.000-08:00

harpie

2011-02-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

weird sketches

2011-02-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

It was one of those days

Envy

2011-02-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

2011

couple sketch pages

2011-02-09T21:43:00.000-08:00

Sketch Up

2011-01-23T18:52:00.000-08:00

wow, it's been almost a month since I posted anything. Well, here's some sketches from the past week!

Great gesture tool!

Experimenting with watercolor over acrylic. Also found out about Lifting Preparation. Awesome.

BATMAX!

2010-12-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

x-mas gift for nephew, acrylic on wood

Hook Update

2010-12-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Made a couple changes, corrected some size issues, and popped some wonder into it. I feel better about it, and think I'll leave it where it is.

Also, I recently found out that the book I did a cover illustration for this summer did well enough to go to print. So I picked up a copy!

Here's a commissioned painting I just finished. Can you guess what it is?

Acrylic on wood. 2010

Captain James

2010-12-16T10:18:00.000-08:00

What was he called before Peter cut his hand off?

Not sure if this is finished-- I meant to do some color adjusting and fix a few details but I kind of like the stage where it's at. What do you think?

update

2010-12-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

Charcoal practice from last week. Starting to find a balance between quickness, accuracy, and value tricks. More to come!

Sketchy

2010-11-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

Finished off the sketchbook I got from the 'lost and found' at work.

doodles and 30 second poses from this Gesture Drawing Tool

1 and 2 minute poses from same site above.

Open Life Drawing at KCAD. (yes, she had a sore neck afterward)

Lady Jack at Dr. Sketchy's

None of my 5 minute poses were worth anything. 10 minute "Dinosaur" contest won me a prize.

"Passed out after a night of shimmying" I imagined champagne would have been involved.

real live models!

2010-10-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

Drawing girls, horses, and things...

2010-10-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

Here's some recent sketches.
Girls are a delightfully challenging topic to practice drawing. I'll draw guys next, although it may not be as delightful.

--------

These are from tonight, more VLP models, about 25 minutes each:

2010-10-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

"self portrait with alcohol eyes"

charcool

2010-10-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Things I drew today:

This was done after a recent Francis Vallejo drawing.

I'm trying to learn to draw better by copying those who are better at drawing than me.

This was done a few weeks ago but I was embarrassed by the poor attempt at introducing some color (the brownish yellowish green. ugh. )

Illustration Friday "Old-Fashioned"

2010-09-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

"Old-Fashioned"

I wanted to stay fresh with this, so I quickly made a rough ink sketch, photographed it, and briefly laid in some color in Photoshop. Added a few details later in the day, and called it done. I tend to overwork things and thought this would be a good exercise in keeping it loose. Did this for the weekly contest blog, "Illustration Friday"

working

2010-09-23T19:03:00.000-07:00

"The Last Smoke"

watercolor, digital overlay

Not sure about the break in the clouds...I don't think I like how it comes in contact with his head. Also the sharp silhouette may need to be detailed better. Any other suggestions?

im on a plane

2010-09-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

on the road

2010-08-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

putting down a few ideas... here's some sketches

sketch update

2010-08-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

First time using a nib in years. After watching Francis Vallejo's demo I thought I'd give it another shot.

I need to slow my mark making down. This will be hard for me because I am addicted to coffee.

Super Nephew

2010-08-13T21:11:00.000-07:00

Painted this tonight for my nephew's 6th birthday tomorrow. He likes Mario Bros. Who doesn't? Had fun painting this.

Undertow, A Crime's Story

2010-08-10T16:30:00.000-07:00

Book cover work finished in July. Now on sale! Undertow - A Crime's Story
See the painting here.

Buy on Kindle!

fig2

2010-08-04T11:33:00.000-07:00

More pastels from VLP models

Sidewalk sign

2010-08-01T21:13:00.000-07:00

Sign for Wealthy Street Bakery

fig

2010-07-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Work in progress

2010-07-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Cover illustration sneak peek. Don't have clearance to show the full image yet. Painted for a few hours today--felt good. Haven't done an illustration like this in a while.

More woodburnin'

2010-07-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

This is a private job for a friend, who is giving this to his father. It's going to be a whirligig. There is two-piece arm not shown which will move back and forth, propelled by a windmill, giving the illusion that he's sawing. Not an original idea but it's a fun project for sure.

news

2010-07-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm posting again, which must mean there was another Dr. Sketchy's!! Indeed there was, alas I was limited by lack of effort and a good seat. Nevertheless, the sketches:

Dr Sketchy's

2010-05-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Works from the night:

"Draw the ladies as eager beavers"

"Draw the ladies as Sarah Palin"

Gestures got a bit messy:

"draw the ladies as one of the faces of Mt. Rushmore"

"Papers?"

2010-05-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

A sketch...ah, but a sketch.

Wyeth copy

2010-04-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

I think the thing I learn most from using pastels is patience. You really can't paint over areas where you made a mistake. I spent about 60 minutes on this NC Wyeth copy tonight:

moleskine

2010-03-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

Also here's some more pastel figures from VLP

Repin copy

2010-03-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of the first Ilya Repin paintings I'd seen and I really liked it. I imagine Francis Vallejo is the one who brought it to my attention on his blog. Repin is definitely a fine choice for an illustrator to do master copies from. I decided to sit and work out a detail in pastel...I got about 60 minutes into it and had to leave for work. I may do more of these, it was fun!

do do do

2010-03-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

looking out my backyard

figs

2010-03-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

LAGQ_GR

2010-03-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

I was invited to see the L.A.Guitar Quartet last Saturday night. It was a wonderful setting to take my sketchbook---although I had a lot of gawkers distracting me. What an amazing group of guitarists, though....

pastels! (again)

2010-03-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

Did this one this afternoon after watching a Mark English demo (of the same pose actually). 30 min. I'm getting more comfortable with the medium, and understanding the simplistic method much better.

From a few days ago. I wish I had stopped putting in so much white on the mid-section...this turned out kinda neat.

This last one--I did a few days ago--is a retry of an older VLP pose. I started having to push hard with the lights and got frustrated...ended up putting a huge white stripe down the back. I thought the most successful area was the thigh and shadowed torso. Still learning...

PastelFigure

2010-03-03T10:19:00.000-08:00

passingtime

2010-03-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

Loved ones and a winter scape.

DrSKETCHY'S AGAIN

2010-02-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

4Babes@DrSketchies:

"Draw the ladies as evil / good fairy-tale characters"

"Draw the ladies as Soviet Propaganda posters"

I also drew a nice picture in the community book which made the rounds through the crowd. I didn't get a picture of that. Thanks for looking!

morning work

2010-02-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

Pastel, first step.

Pastel, second step. Other girl is ink / graphite.

This sketch, basically taken directly from the still of an amazing Youtube video, is a preparation for a group show soon at the DAAC. The theme / title is "Humanature".

This is what I worked on last night. If it's not already obvious I was struggling pretty heavily. The paper choice is odd, but I thought it would work well. It's called Yupo, a polypropelene ultra smooth stock. It was holding the ink well in some areas, but other spots (where I used a gum eraser) were not taking it. Aside from that--I couldn't quite get comfortable with the shape of the tiger. I might attempt to restart this one...we'll see.

past hells

2010-02-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

I'm forcing myself to learn to use pastels better--I've always loved great pastel artwork, but could never achieve similar mastery of the medium as my peers. Today I sketched my lovely wife again. It was a quick 25 minute one before work, using ink and brush followed by pastels on some cheap paper stock. The pattern effect was unexpected, but not unwelcome.

detail

figs

2010-02-22T17:31:00.000-08:00

Pastels can be tricky...that's all I want to say.

Morning Sketch

2010-02-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Just sketching the wife.

Warm Ups Work

2010-02-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

I never used to consider warm-ups to be that necessary...but lately I find that I can't draw without practicing for a while. Here's some drawings of butts, backs, and general nudes. Enjoy!

This is the self-portrait follow-up to the nudes drawing. I haven't painted my self-portrait since 2005 I think. I see much improvement (5 years later--sheesh!).

Acrylic on canvas board, 5"x7"

Figure Drawing 2

2010-02-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

Although I feel really good about a few areas in this piece, overall it was really frustrating. Not very successful--yet in the end I am more excited about continuing this process.

VLP Figure Drawing

2010-02-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

Rusty attempt at figure drawing via computer image ala VLP using Mark English's method. Critiques?

James Blackshow Shaw

2010-02-16T20:19:00.000-08:00

I got to sit front row to see James Blackshaw last week. I knew it would be a pretty chill concert so I took me book. Here's the one drawing of him I did, whilst zoning out to his ethereal plucking.

The opening act was a musician I hadn't heard of, Jon Mueller, who surprised (re: shocked, bored, angered, astounded, and bewildered) everyone with his performance (which consisted of 40+ minutes of a single trill rhythm on a snare drum.) (you had to be there) During his performance I went on a roller coaster of emotions, all the while contemplating the sounds, the methods, and the concept which he demonstrated wholeheartedly. When he finished, after thanking the silent crowd, one audience member sort of laughed like we'd just witnessed a ghost that no one was talking about...then HUGE applause roared. Then died down. Then Jon stood up--again the audience was completely silent--and walked off stage. Sweet.

figures...

2010-01-31T18:30:00.000-08:00

The last one is my wife's great Aunt, getting her hair did in the living room. After feeling less than successful with my portraits done at the school I went for Aunt Donna and felt better about myself. Enjoy! Feedback welcome! Thanks for looking!!

sketch update

2010-01-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Mike Patton(s)

2010-01-13T12:01:00.000-08:00

Here's my entry for the conceptual portrait contest on the VLP. It is due today, did it all in the past two days--I should have made better use of the time allotted, but a part of me wanted to test my ability to bang out an illo in a short time period.

Watercolor wash and graphite on primed bristol paper, tweaked in Photoshop

sketch update

2010-01-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

Posemaniacs.com and imaginary portrait

Self Portrait...60 min.

This is a photoshop master painting copy I'm working on. I wish I knew the artist's name...forgot to save the jpg with a name. Anyone know?

Still not sure what to do for the conceptual portrait contest. Without proper internet at home, I may have to work harder to get this done with the references I need. Oh well--at least I have some sketches to show.

allenginsberg

2009-12-23T20:31:00.001-08:00

working on conceptual portrait of allen ginsberg

Stuff, things, etc.

2009-12-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

I have been somewhat artistically inactive lately, but I'd like to mention something I'm really proud of. I just found out that my contest piece for the VLP won second place! It's so honoring to have incredibly talented professionals judge my work as worthy. After dismissing most of the art I made during 4 years of art-school I'm on my own as I try to become a better illustrator...BUT I do have help and encouragement from the peers and instructors of the Illustration Academy, et al.

I just added a fine and inspiring art addition to my home/studio, pretty excited about that. Thanks Francis!

I have been sketching a bit, to keep my hands and eyes in touch. Here's a sample page featuring a lazy greyhound and a baby cypress (my scanner is no more, and can't find the camera.)

**Found the camera**

I'd like to credit shorpy.com and Chicks and Bikes for supplying some sweet photos on a regular basis.

art sale!

2009-12-05T14:39:00.001-08:00

original artworks by me! I'm Aaron Rossell! affordable creations!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/aarossell

first professional commission

2009-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

I just found an image of the first paid commission I ever did as an illustrator. It was half-way through my senior year at Kendall College of Art and Design. Someone had posted a want-Ad for a wedding photo painting as a Christmas gift. I applied, as did a few others in the 3rd floor studio where the ad was posted. They liked my work and gave me the job, and the photos to work from. I chose the one they liked best, did minor tweaking to the composition and color, and made an oil painting! I think I remember spending about 9 or 10 hours on it. On the day he came by to pick it up I realized I forgot to take a picture of it for personal portfolio---so I had to use my mom's crappy camera to snapshoot this awful pic:

Upon reflection (although I shouldn't try to study such an awful photo) I think the hands could have been handled better. There are some confusing elements creating illusions of extra fingers, or super long thumbs. And the little whites of the nails / rings are a bit distracting. But not too much...what do you think?

DRSKETCHY'S GRANDRAPIDS MICHIGAN

2009-11-28T20:34:00.000-08:00

Lots of fun again. Won a role in the model's upcoming film.

Dr.Sketchy's GR.

Good Little the Kid

L.E. Phants

2009-11-27T21:51:00.000-08:00

Donating a piece for a good cause:

livingdrawing

2009-11-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

Drew my wife with watercolor and ink while she sat at the computer for a few minutes. I think the turn-out is better than I expected...still some marks I could have put more thought into.
Also I need to stop using my Mac's camera for artwork...

old faces

2009-11-19T16:54:00.000-08:00

Found a great photo on Shorpy.com to do drawings from. Didn't get as far as I wanted, because I kept getting distracted doing different things with each drawing.
Struggled at first to make anything remotely decent, then started getting semi-decent. I have a long ways to go, but I'm hungry for more.

odosketch

2009-11-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

Tried the Odopod. Sketched an amazing image found on The Big Picture

chew toy, other doodles....

2009-11-17T19:34:00.000-08:00

...from the other week.

Our dog got a hold of my book while we were gone for a few minutes. Luckily, and amazingly, the only page she tore out was the last one, which was the only blank page in the entire book. Thanks, Elsie, for being so considerate with your destruction.

Some of the images are taken from Shorpy, like the tattooed girl on the right and the Junior Marines shoveling trash. The self-portrait with a screwed up eye is on the top left--the facing page is an image of Aaron Rosell, a musician with nearly the same name as me.

watercolor sketchbook doodles

2009-11-16T17:01:00.000-08:00

I realized after I started drawing the top image that I was basically ripping off a Daniel Adel illustration I used to have hanging in my studio. Oh well, I guess that happens. Right, Sam Flores?

Metamorphosis

2009-11-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

Recently found some old woodburnings I did for assignments at Kendall. The assignment was to illustrate the opening from Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis I especially enjoy this one because it marks the first live model reference I used for an illustration assignment and it turned out well.

I wish now that I hadn't been so frugal with my resources, because this could have been more interesting in a standard rectangle format. At the time I reasoned the found wood's shape to be a vignette, but it's not...not really.

Contest piece

2009-11-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

I've been working on this contest piece for the Visual Literacy Program. I think it's done, but thought I'd post it here in case anybody has any thoughts on what could be tweaked, or totally redone. I'm submitting it later tonight, so probably won't change much.

The contest is to design a young adult's book cover. The book I chose was The Body by Stephen King, otherwise more popularly known as the film version, Stand By Me.

***Edit***

Made some minor edits before submitting. Lowered the contrast in a few spots, colorized it sepia and faded that a bit.

woodsy

2009-11-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

I was asked to help wood-burn some images into a large sheet of wood on the door of a water-softener insulator. Their budget wasn't very high but I stuck with it and worked out the image the way it was intended after we first spoke.
I hadn't wood-burned since maybe 2006, and my experience with it was limited. I had been using my older brother's cheap crafty wood-burner since I was a kid, and there was only one dirty old tip.
Even after buying a new one with multiple tips it was clear after a couple hours I would need to up the ante. We busted out a blow torch and burned it up.
The plan was to minimally illustrate some items he was picturing based on the natural shapes of the grains and knots in the pine. It turned out to be a lake scene. The photos I took are unfortunately awful...they don't show most of the nuance of the burns values.

He plans on staining the sections outside of the picture, but my job here is done.

These are some sketches I did in front of him to make sure we were on the same page. In the end, the birds were nixed and the waves / sky weren't filled in. The natural wood grains looked magical enough. Can't mess with nature.

portfolio review

2009-11-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

These are some potential images I will use for portfolio review by Wes Burt and George Pratt on Wednesday, 11.4.09 at conceptart.org

down town

2009-10-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

Man, I'll tell ya...I have not been feeling myself lately. I have been sick, however, which is part of the reason for my lack of action.

***

I don't know where I'm going with this rant....I think things will get better as soon as I stop being sick. And there's a contest on the VLP I'm working on. Here's the value study sketch I did today:

I really hope this piece turns out well. I'm going to put a lot of effort into it, with shot references and preliminary studies.

Give me some feedback if you have any!

Sketchbook update

2009-10-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

stuff

2009-09-30T20:15:00.001-07:00

a miniatures work in progress. 6"x6"

"Victoria" Ink on vintage print. 6"x6"

Adopt a greyhound

2009-09-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

I picked up Elsie yesterday. She was being fostered by the vice president of G.R.A.C.E. and she's a wonderful girl. Greyhounds also make for excellent models. Very patient, lazy, beautiful, etc.

gouach on paper, approx. 40 min.