I’d like to try something a little different this August on Muddy Colors and engage you in my process in a more direct way.

Below, you’ll find a full page of sketches pulled straight from one of my sketchbooks. Each individual sketch is numbered so you can reference it. What I would like you to do is take a moment, look through these eight sketches, and choose the number of the one that speaks to you the most and comment here.

This will serve as your vote for which piece should be taken forward to the next stage.

 

 

The plan is simple: once all the votes are in, I’ll take the “winning” image and fully develop it into a polished, finished drawing.

This completed drawing will be featured in the next MC post I share here in October, but I won’t be stopping there.

The journey will continue as I push the piece further, evolving it into a fully realized painting. Along the way, I’ll be documenting the process in detail, including work-in-progress shots, breakdowns of the materials I’m using, and notes on the media, tools, and techniques that are shaping the final result.

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 1

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 2

 

I am going to tally the votes here on Muddy Colors though I will share throughout my other social media platforms. If only one person responds with a vote here, then that single choice will automatically become the piece that moves forward. If there happens to be a tie between two or more sketches, I’ll break the deadlock with a simple coin flip or dice roll. You get the idea.

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 3

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 4

 

Also, as you look through the photos below, you’ll notice my custom sketch format templates. These are made with my own 3D printer and tailored specifically for my workflow. I use these templates to create precise, proportionally accurate sketch outlines that match standard sizes, including 9×12, 18×24, 1×1, and 12×24 formats, among others.

(also included is my breakfast… for scale I guess)

 

Allen Williams_Desk Sketches

 

These templates make it incredibly easy to jump into a composition knowing the scale will be consistent from sketch to finished work. It’s a small detail, but one that makes a big difference in keeping my process efficient and my final pieces in the right size and proportion (though I will occasionally (and frequently) break out of the box).

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 5

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 6

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 7

 

Allen Williams_Sketch 8

 

The votes will only be tallied here on Muddy Colors though, as I said before, I am going to post the images throughout my social media posts so people can come here and vote!

Tell me what you think, what you like, what intrigues you about one of these and what YOU think I should work on next.

Enjoy!