Sketchbook

Review: VR Sketch Transfer

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It's no secret to anyone that's been following Muddy Colors awhile that I am really deeply interested in the psychology around why people become artists, and how becoming a "professional" "full-time" artist affects that. For example, I've written posts on the...

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During my classes online, I’m asked by students over and over again, ‘show me how I can improve my paintings.’ Besides needing to get better at drawing, paint mixing and application, composition, and value control-- handling light is the most overlooked aspect of...

38 Comments

allenmorris on May 30, 2013 at 8:06 am

Simply Outstanding! It's things like this that make me want to push my own forms further.

...Hane... on May 30, 2013 at 9:41 am

I prefer seeing sketches and sketch books much more than finished illustrations 🙂 Amazing works!! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Jo on May 30, 2013 at 10:42 am

Beautiful work!
The beautiful shapes and vibrant colors are so inspiring, they make me want to get creative myself!

Elina`s Bears on May 30, 2013 at 12:29 pm

Wow!!!

Robert Squires on May 30, 2013 at 1:22 pm

Wow, I really love these, Are there any plans to release a sketchbook print for sale? If so I will definitely purchase. Thanks for sharing.

sal on May 30, 2013 at 1:37 pm

Mike- Amazing work! I'm with Robert about the sketchbook. You have such perfect timing- i was looking for a travel watercolor kit and i love the effect on the mid tone paper. Thanks!

Allison on May 30, 2013 at 2:33 pm

LOVE!!!!

Lynell on May 30, 2013 at 3:22 pm

Fantastic! Makes part of me want to hang up my pencil, and the other part of me want to bury my nose in my sketchbook for the entire day. Very inspiring!

John W. on May 30, 2013 at 3:29 pm

Awesome sketchbook! I'd like to hear more about using Acrylic dyes. I've never tried that.

Fabián Fucci on May 30, 2013 at 4:11 pm

This rocked my mind out!! Can't get enough of this!

Tayete García Mazariegos on May 30, 2013 at 6:33 pm

I wonder how you can paint with watercolor over toned paper…tons of layers? tons of pigment?
In any case…very inspiring, it made my day.

Kraan on May 30, 2013 at 6:50 pm

I didn't know you. My really big bad!
These sketches border on something from a mad necromancer/alkimist!
WOW

Where do you use the airbrush?

Rick Hansen on May 30, 2013 at 9:14 pm

From what I understand, he puts the gesso in the areas that he wishes to highlight and then goes over the gesso with the acrylic dyes.

Mediokrates on May 30, 2013 at 9:26 pm

Simply amazingly fresh and vibrant work!! I've been looking for a good sketchbook with toned paper that handles wet media well. Where can I get one just like yours?!

Mike Butkus on May 31, 2013 at 1:10 am

Hey thank you every one! You can order the sketchbooks thru Carter Sexton art store. As for painting with watercolor in my sketchbook, I tend to use the watercolor or gouache (opaque watercolor) very thinly for initial washes and use less water to make it more opaque. To thicken it even further I like to mix either gesso into the paint or white gouache.

Acrylic dyes or liquid acrylic paint are quite common. Com Art Paints are great but have shellac in them and are difficult to draw back on to them without spraying some sort of fixative back onto your painting. Liquitex makes a super low viscosity paint ready to use with the airbrush if you please and Liquitex is great to work back on to with your prisma pencils.

http://www.cartersexton.com
Cheers
Mike

PatternGhost on June 1, 2013 at 1:25 am

Amazing work. I noticed the note on the drawings about them being for a book. Is the book already in print?

Mike Butkus on June 1, 2013 at 1:47 am

Hey thanks, PatternGhost, I'am shooting for the end of the year with a dvd, finger crossed.
cheers
Mike

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Chanko on June 2, 2013 at 1:41 pm

Incredible sketchs!

Tayete García Mazariegos on June 2, 2013 at 5:46 pm

Now that my daughters and son left me some spare time, I spent it trying your technique Mike. I hadn't enjoyed so much since a long long time, even though I just did a quick small doodle.
You may take a look at it here: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rTMjvKgbijk/UauD1jWMUDI/AAAAAAAAGmc/YCkMAGvHifE/s640/130602+-+orc+by+tayete+after+Butkus2.jpg
(sorry for assaulting your thread, Mr. Butkus).

Please, tell us where we can preorder your DVD, and PLEASE, publish your sketchbooks!!! I'd love to own them. Ask Justin G. about his sketchbooks and how well they are sold…

Mike Butkus on June 2, 2013 at 7:25 pm

Thank you Chanko and Mr. Tayete García Mazariegos! And I would be more than happy to see your sketches.
cheers
Mike

Tayete García Mazariegos on June 2, 2013 at 7:44 pm

Sorry, somehow blogspot didn't accept my link to my drawing. Here it is, I hope, a link to my sketch, “after Butkus”.

Mike Butkus on June 3, 2013 at 12:03 am

Great job, I like your colors, drawing and texture. Well done.
cheers
Mike
/Users/mike/Desktop/130602 – orc by tayete after Butkus2.jpg

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Krystal Pistol on June 10, 2013 at 2:05 pm

So motivating! 🙂 I need to go look at some 'acrylic dyes' to help my watercolored sketches pop! 🙂 thank you for sharing!

Riaz Khan Eusouff on July 22, 2013 at 8:45 pm

your work is amazing, I enjoy the level of detail put into each piece especially the last one. Keep up the great work.

JT Parsons on August 25, 2013 at 1:29 pm

Wow this is really awesome, thanks for showing it! Do you rough in shapes with watercolor first and then draw with the ink pen on top? I haven't found a good waterproof bic pen to do this with and the ink smears. Or do you just work with the smearing?

Soyelisa on October 22, 2013 at 6:24 am

where did you get that sketchbook?

Virginia Llorca on January 8, 2014 at 12:18 am

I admire your ability and love your characters.

jawaadart on February 7, 2014 at 1:13 am

Mike Butkus Introduction to Character Design: Know Your Basics.” If you enroll with the link below, you'll also save $10 on your first class! http://skl.sh/1izoj2O

Tayete García Mazariegos on February 7, 2014 at 7:44 pm

Thanks for the headsup, I'll purchase it now.

HENRY TORREGROSA on June 20, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Fantastic

aalejandro ocaampo on December 8, 2014 at 7:36 pm

que buen arte!!

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Unknown on September 2, 2016 at 9:39 pm

What red pencil are you using in the fourth drawing?

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