Jake LaGory- illustration

The Man Inside the Monster. Digital painting. 2017.

Testing the waters for a new coloring book concept based on whacky/fictional dinosaur/bird hybrids (Paleobirds). Not sure yet if I have the desire to begin such a big project nor if the audience is there for such a thing, but I wanted to try some new tricks and refine the style nonetheless. 

For three bucks you can instantly download a PDF of my coloring book and print/color the pages ad infinitum!

Courtship in Red. Oil on Panel. 12x16″ 2017

#wip #oilpainting #archaeopteryx #courtship #paleobirds

Photoshop

Lady #paleobird #archaeopteryx #courtship #sketch #wip #illustration

Weekend #wip. #paleobirds #archaeopteryx #courtship #sketch #dinosaur

Despite herculean efforts, progress simply can’t be made.

I’m really proud of how these turned out. They’ll make a fabulous stocking stuffer, although at this point I can’t guarantee they will arrive before the 25th.

Only 48 hours out of the box and I can already see how much this new tablet monitor will change my work flow. It feels so good to be directly in touch with my digital work for once. #digitalart #digitalpainting #wip #illustration #thatloomingfeeling

Got the 3rd edition proof in the mail of my #cryptozoology #coloringbook. Paperback bound (no more staples!), full letter size, and single sided pages (no more marker bleed and easier page removal). Full order on the way=on sale soon!

Attempting to strike a balance between creepy and cute for this dude inspired by #archaeopteryx. #creaturedesign #sketchbook #thatloomingfeeling #wip

As you can see, the vast majority of the work is done in the black and white shading phase. I use the “Real Oils” mixer brush from Kyle Webster’s Megapack brush download. It’s hard to overstate how much these tools have expanded my horizons as a digital artist. I really enjoy watching the image slowly come into focus with increasing detail and complexity and to watch how certain features change over time. Once I’m mostly finished with shading, I set the value layers to multiply (under blending settings) and color on another layer underneath them. This approach can limit the range of color and leads to an overall darker look, which wasn’t a big problem given the setting for the series and how it allowed me to focus on texture and light source. I like to keep each major subject/portion of the canvas on its own layer so that I can manipulate them separately. This is also apparent in how the number of layers increases drastically toward the finishing point of the painting.

Part 7 of my speculative biology paintings that depict imaginary deep sea creatures. Next week I’ll share an animation that shows my process from start to finish. Prints available soon!

Slowly but surely coming into focus. Pretty happy with the texture on this gurnard in the #grisaille layer. The prey in the latest #digitalpainting in my series #aphoticzone. #wip

Value underpainting complete on a small piece that will relaunch an older concept using some new (to me) oil painting techniques. Going to try glazing over the b/w layer to provide muted color, but first need to let this dry for a while. A process remarkably similar to my digital technique. #oilpainting #grisaille #thatloomingfeeling #selfportrait #liquin #tinybrush