King Designs

A recent project completed. For a group in Pennsylvania. A friend of mine in that corner of the country organizes a model train show every year. This year he asked if I would be interested in creating artwork for the event, I was honored so I took the chance! This was the end product. A ink sketch of an old steam locomotive. My friend created the text. This was very fun, and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity!

Ink is the medium I first taught myself to draw with. As time went on and I learned you could watch/observe videos and images online of other artists I used that to my advantage. The term “self taught” is a bit redundant when you think about it. In today’s world not much can be taught through your self. There’s; the Internet, books, videos, instructional formats in packaged lessons or simply looking at something, and trying to copy it. To understand what the original creator was thinking when they first drafted the example. You are reverse engineering it, from there, you take what you figured out and use it in your own work. These are all ink pieces of revisiting my roots in art. With new skills and a fresh thought process, I’m pushing the boundaries of what I once knew with ink!

My first major art piece of 2019. Full gouache painting of my uncles 67 C10. The same truck I drew as a Pixar cars character with my 74 Bronco. I am really digging this medium! I used to not be a painter or ever thought about trying it....but now I think I found a new favorite! Teaching myself what I Can and researching/schooling myself on the Internet.

Carpentry has always appealed to me. My grandfather was a carpenter when he was in his youth. As his dad, my great grandfather, was a finished carpenter; he could build everything in a house; the structure, the Sheetrock, cabinets, doors, everything. I don’t have the space or the means to buy expensive lumber...but I have access to pallets from my work. And a local lumberyard has pallets they discard occasionally I can pick up. We needed a cabinet for our laundry room, I researched how to build one, and I tried it. This was the result. It’s not perfect for proffesional, however I am proud of the result. Now I want to build more!!

My uncle and I both have classic vehicles; he has a 67 Chevrolet C10, I have a 74 Ford Bronco. Since I moved he has taken guardian ship of my bronco until I can bring it home. All the while he bronco, affectionately called “ The BEAST” and his Chevy have gotten to know each other quite well. I imagine them in the Pixar Cars universe has two old grumps swapping stories and reliving their youth under a shade tree. Waiting to be back on the road someday soon. So I drew this for my uncle as a Christmas present. As a thank you for always being a big part of my life. And yes, for watching my bronco! Haha, merry Christmas everyone!

This was a very fun commission! My Pixar Cars inspired pieces were leading up to this final piece. it is much more loose and cartoony than the individual sketches of each truck as I learned and improved upon mistakes and leasing sketching them out individually. This piece is now at its new home awaiting to be unwrapped by the lucky owner (who has no idea!) I hope they enjoy it as much as I did creating it.

Another rough sketch. This is of a scene for a theme park Idea I’ve been playing with for the last 3-4 years. A small personal project of mine. All done with a bic pen on sketch paper. The seawall is inspired by the wall at Galveston Texas. Sort of a early 19-20th century vibe. With European influence.

A couple more Pixar inspired pieces. 52 Chevy and a 36 Ford. Absolutely love the styling of these trucks! And it was fun to try figuring out how to exaggerate some of the features and what to personify. Love love love the movie franchise. Then again I’m pretty biased to anything Disney..... I drew these up with micron fine liners and gray tone markers all on gray toned paper.

I’ve been wanting to further develop my metal working skills. I’ve only done a few welding projects; for high school assignments and some stuff at work. Recently I was given a welder and plasma cutter, both 220 volt machines. Now I want to go all out and do my own truck bumpers. These sketches are of what I plan to build. All done with a good ol’ ball point pen and my imagination. Function over form. With a bit of desire....when I can set up my workshop with electricity I will start collecting scrap steel to put this together....no telling when that will be 😂

Working on a late commission for a friend. It is a illustration of a model locomotive for his Model Railroad. This one is almost done, some more coloring with Prisma’s and chalks. It’s a ink drawing painted in Gouache over top, then prisma’s and chalk over that. Created a really cool effect! And a wonderful blend of colors.

Back to the cars theme for Inktober. This was for my fiancé; someday she dreams of owning a Toyota Tacoma. Even though my partial to my little bronco, I have to admit these trucks are pretty slick! Drawn with a micron fine liner and gray tone marker.

My third Inktober piece. My roots in drawing stem from history books and photographs of tbe old west. Always been partial to western art. This piece was done with copics on brown toned sketch paper.

My second #inktober contribution! Another #pixarcars inspired piece. My former #Ford dubbed Ol’ Red. She was my grandfathers truck. He bought it brand new in 2004, grew up in it, eventually it became my first vehicle. Unfortunately had to retire her earlier this year. So I wanted to have something to remember her by. And this is how I imagined her in the Cars Universe.

Trying to participate in #inktober this year. I’ve missed a few days but have maintained at least a few days out of the week to draw and post. Took a nod from my favorite #Disney #Pixar movies #pixarcars. My fiancé and I were trying to figure out what vehicles we would be in the cars Universe. So I picked my #EarlyFordBronco! Drawn with some #Micronfineliners and a gray tone marker. Was great fun!