A Quaker Diary.

Maureen Fleming: BLACK MADONNA

2012-01-05T06:55:00.000-08:00

Oh my dior: Lady Umbrella tshirts!!

2012-01-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Oh my dior: Lady Umbrella tshirts!!: Happy 2012 for everyone! Hope this year is full of happy moments, love, health, wealth and fashion for you! I want to show you a really int...

Joe Baron Design Presents The Designer's Blog: Zombie Attack Owl 11 x 17 Print by Quakerninja

2011-06-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Joe Baron Design Presents The Designer's Blog: Zombie Attack Owl 11 x 17 Print by Quakerninja: "I came across this print done by Quakerninja and I thought it was a cool illustration worth posting. It's 11' x 17' glossy print. Quaker's ..."

The artcast network

2010-01-21T05:40:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that I have joined the Artcast network.
What is it? A site started by Childrens illustrator Dani Jones for artist that do live broadcast from there studios on streaming sites like ustream. If you would like to commission a sketch card of your favorite heros, please stop by one of the shows and help support my fellow casters.

If you would like to see what this is all about the best way is to search for the hashtag #artcast on twitter.

My show will be Fridays at 5pm pst
but I get on more often then that, search for the #artcast as that is what I use to announce when I am drawing live.
Hope to see you soon.

Help my pick what color combo you would like to wear most.

2010-01-21T05:39:00.001-08:00

Here is a quick poll, This will be one of the designs I hope to release later this year. I hope you like it.

The Agreeable Mr. Filagree Treadless submission.

2010-01-21T05:32:00.000-08:00

Hello I have been absent from the blog for a while, I have a few announcements coming soon including the relaunch of my website, posters for sale, and some new shirts.

First things first if you could take a moment to sign up, or sign in to threadless and leave me a vote of 5 I would really appreciate it. $10,000 up for grabs and 4 days left to vote. A win here would really help launch my brand, a loss would just mean it's going to take me longer to come up with the funds I need.

Thank you so much for your support.
Newman

If you want to be extra helpful, please use the new addany button below to this post to share this with your facebook, myspace, twitter and other network friends and family.

2009-08-04T20:50:00.001-07:00

You have all been so nice I'll try and break down what's going on with my new style.

The more sophisticated the starting shape the more refinements I can make later.

For random shapes, the results very, often times I just dump it and start over.

Here is one of my warm up exercises.

For this style I think differently then when I draw with traditional ink. I try to create a fence for the design first then let loose inside. It allows for a sort of stream of conciseness while still maintaining all the characteristics that make what I am trying to draw recognizable.

It's a bit to random at the moment, I rely on symmetry to generate additional shapes to play in.

1. I'll draw the left half first keeping the right side of the doodle vertical and open to avoid crossover. I make a continuous sweeping stroke to create some areas for positive and negative space. The outer edges are intended to be general facial points, cheeks, chin, brow line nose ect. I am in essence drawing the middle first.

2. Then I'll reflect and copy to see how it lines up, then change the color on the right half to gray and lock it.

3.Then I switch back in forth between thinking of the design as a whole, and working on the left half refining things and adding detail. I'll repeat step 2 several times to see what happens, and guide my process.

4.I continue to work both sides of the drawing, letting the shapes compete for most interesting, and helping the shapes along with distinctive marks nostrils, eye balls, "C" shaped, parallel lines to form some curves, banding or stripes.

5. At some point I will group the two and treat it as one shape, then begin blending the middle where the two join, and adding differing marks to either side to change the balance as needed.
(if I am happy with it I skip this step and begin coloring)

6. I work in grayscale first, and add colors last. This is to ensure that when I do pick colors there is enough value and contrast between them so that they are interchangeable. Shading and lighting are reversible.
(not really but I pretend they are, it adds to the whole feel)

I use a neutral gray background, and begin with a white or light gray base covering all of the interior line work.

7. I use a light, mid, and dark gray
each on it's own layer working from lightest to darkest.
I use this order because lighter things are forward and darker things seem farther back.
It's a way of giving it depth or focus.

8. I then group and reflect my color layers to line up with the other half.
Here is what it looks like naked.

9. I use the change color options to randomly see what color combo I like best.
To get to if. Select artwork and click Recolor Artwork (It's the button that looks like a color wheel in the top tool bar.)
Or find it with the main application window. Edit>Edit Colors>Recolor Artwork
From here you can change color order, by clicking the randomly change color order button in the Assign tab.
or manually change color in the Edit tab.

Here are a few of my results.

10. It gets really interesting when you start to repeat the shape and set it to multiply, the stokes become hatched where they overlap and it takes on a stained glass look.
It helps to remember that I am reusing the eyes both as front on view and profile view for both faces on both sides.

New Shirt at Cameesa Pink Gorilla

2009-01-12T21:13:00.000-08:00

I need 25 people to donate $20 to get this printed. The Aubyn Beth shirt is printed and should be up at the shop soon. Thanks again.

Stabb Product Shots

2009-01-07T12:47:00.000-08:00

My first shirt enthusiast post. There are hundreds of these so I'll keep it simple. This is from the Brand Stabb with two b's by RustyEight Designed by heavyprints.

Discount Code Emptees Gets you 25% off

2008-12-25T21:27:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas Everyone, and Thank you for making 2008 a great year for me.

The Birth of a Tee Shirt.

2008-12-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

Part one the birth of a tee shirt. It all starts with the first squiggle. What I am going for is a vague face shape. Picasso had a strange way of merging a front view and profile view in the same head. So by simply moving a nose here and an eyeball there, I can come up with a Cubism look. The lines are mostly ransom guesses at first, until I start to see shapes form, then it's a matter of helping the shapes take form. I have a few strokes that I like to use often, the feathering stroke, and a modified version of stippling. For some reason cross hatching in illustrator feels weird to me, the colors don't blend like natural media. It's like drawing with hairs.

Part Two The color, I lay down a base color, and then try to block out some areas to contrast, then with the third color I add details and try to shake it up a bit, I don't worry about what color I use to do this because I change it in the end with the live paint options.

Part Three I reflect, tweak, blend mode, click, nudge and generally tear the design to pieces. Sometimes this ruins it, some times I get something that I would have never thought of when I started. Thats a good thing in my book.

No Audio so you can listen to what you like.

Did I mention this design is for sale, Give me a holler if you are interested. Thanks Newman

Retro Brush Tutorial in Adobe Illustrator.

2008-12-11T12:55:00.000-08:00

I came off as a little rude in the end, I got nervous. I'm still learning myself.

It's basic, but you can add it to the graphic styles add to text, add a clipping mask over it, make it a symbol and use the symbol sprayer tool, go nuts, the fun parts are the happy mistakes.

Best Slide Show Ever.

2008-12-10T19:08:00.000-08:00

This is a video I did about a year ago. Just a cool way for me to display my artwork. Music by Nathan Johnson.

Work in Progress. Zombie Attack Owl.

2008-12-02T19:12:00.000-08:00

Update: I got some more work done over the weekend. I also got some screen cap gear so I will be making a movie of me inking this. This will most likely be printed for my Quakerninja store, keep an eye out for a presale.

Hello again this is an Owl Illustration I am working on. As you can see I draw the parts separately, I call these parts "design elements". I can move and size parts as needed. This has an added bonus for me being able to save in the symbols pallet, if I ever need wings or what have you to start another design. This particular drawing is inked All in Adobe Illustrator. Shirts are longer then they are wide so I will have to add another design element to the bottom to fill up the space, I am thinking some kind of shredded cloth or flesh, might look cool.

Preorder For Aubyn Beth Guitar Bear Design.

2008-11-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

Update: Congratulations Supporters we did it. Thank you so much.
I just got word and sent off the file. I will be sure to post a shot of me wearing it. If you would like to be included, send shots to quakerninja@hotmail.com (optional of course)

This is my first design to get fully supported at Cameesa and I couldn't be happier.
I would like to give a special thanks to the whole Cameesa team.
and must of all you. The supporters.

This is a shirt I did for the band Aubyn Beth.
Available for preorder at Cameesa.com

Thanks for helping Cameesa, Aubyn Beth, and me get this shirt printed.

Original Artwork. Is it Worth it?

2008-11-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

$500.00/series at Quakerninja.BigCartel or best offer

Includes_____________________________________________

Top: Sketch face 2002 /series or best offer
India ink, with bic and micron (pens) on Heavy Watercolor Paper 8.5x11in

Bottom: Salvador Dali Salvation Study 2002/ series or best offer
India ink, bic, micron on heavy watercolor Paper 8.5x11in

On the Right-> Lastly Beck Portrait $500.00/series made in 2002

Original Artwork

One of the great things about having *an artist mind, (*This would fill a book to explain)
is a drive to want to learn new things, and try new media every once in a while. Trying new things, has some pretty awesome results seen above.

I did this series in 2002, I only know that becasue it was one of the rare times I dated a work, or lady for that matter.
This has to do with my single minded ness when I draw stuff, I don't like to be bothered on peep, no saveing, no phones, no knockes on the door nothing, as you can see in the video below I didn't save once or lable any layers. This is fine as I am a lone wolf here at quakerninja, but I'm rambling again.

ok Original art to me anyway is
Part One: Stuff that I made with my hands useing natural media, so pens and paper.
Part Two: The number made, in This series I have 3 doodles, thats 3 anywhere in the world ever ever ever feel me.
Part Three: The number of times I can sell it. In this case once and that's it, gone forever, never to be seen by me again.

Pricing Original Work

I don't know to be honest, I price it according to how sad I would be to see the work go, and how happy I would be to eat dinner for once. In the fine art market, this is done by art dealers, much like crack dealers, they have there own code of ethics and what have you. I try not to poke my nose around too much in the auctions, and museum basements.

If you would like to buy these as a group, make me an offer, I might be real hungry today, so you never know.
Contact: quakerninja@hotmail.com

My First Speed Painting demo.

2008-11-19T17:18:00.000-08:00

No Audio so you can listen to whatever you like. enjoy.

Newman here, as you can see I like to go right at it. This is from memory no pictures, or what have you.
Cartoons/Heros are easy to draw becasue there is a style sheet at work, For this guy, the jaw shape, side hairs, cut horns, color, and yellow eyes are all that I need the rest is not that important.

I'll be doing more of these

Day Job uggh

2008-11-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

Not much today. I have day job stuff. I would like to quite and do freelance full time so hire me ok.

Update: I have a website in the works. More on this later.

Quakerninja What am I selling anyway?

2008-11-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

Warning This gets Deep. Grab some coffee and take some notes.

Art For Money is a silly thing. Prices can range from " Free for exposure" to The high hundreds or even Thousands if it's a Video Ad Campaign for a larger client.

I can't believe that I am lucky enough to have a job like this. I really do love what I do, but at the same time it is a job and I need to make a living like everyone else.

The ideal way to sell stuff is as follows Client (Employer) needs a picture on a shirt, Hires me (Independent Contractor) to make a picture on a shirt. We both agree on a price and date for completion. I get money client gets picture on shirt.

This can go wrong in 4 ways.

1. The Client doesn't Pay.

2. I don't give the client the picture on a shirt.

3. The picture on the shirt is not original work.

4. Dispute over wether Ownership of Picture on a shirt is that of the Contractor (Artist) or Employer (Client)

(read article)

But What is it that I'm Really Selling anyway.

Often times I get a client that will be shocked by the price I quote them. This is no fault of the Client, I have on one time or another done the same double take. This is a natural reaction if one views a Digital file as "Just a Picture" and not an investment, or skilled labor service. Just like when the toilet breaks you hire a plumber, when you need graphics you hire a Designer.

What I am really selling is a skilled interpretation of an Idea in a Visual way.

This Idea can come from Me alone (my own imagination) , or the Art Direction of the Client

The official legal term for what I do is selling "Work Made For Hire"

There are nine legal categories for what is considered Work made for Hire. All of them suck.

If you don't beleave me you can read for yourself here.

In Fine art this is Called A Commissioned Work. This is an agreement between the buyer (Client) and Artist to Produce a Work. (Work means End Product) In my case Original Artwork or a Digital File.

The Foundation of what I charge for commissioned works/made for hire has to do with Fine Art Vs. Commercial Art. Design time, Detail, Method of making a work ect. Lastly for whom it is meant for Client side. 100 shirts at $20+ is going to cover more than the cost of printing + my Design fee, and leave plenty for the Client.

Fine Art Original Work.

Fine Art for me is simply the Product of imagination rendered visualy with traditional media. To be clear I mean Visual Arts not Performing Arts although I am a student of both.

(This is my definition of the term. It is quite possible to create Fine Art using Digital methods)

As a Fine Art Dude that means spending several days on one original piece. Painting, Ink Drawing, and what have you. The plus is that the craftsmanship really shows with traditional media. It's harder as an artist to get the composition, color, just so to reflect the proper feeling, no undo button.

The buyer of an Original work gets the satisfaction of being the only owner, and the garantee that it is the only copy of the work anywhere. As the artist progresses and changes in style and becomes more refined, older or dead. The value of an Orignal work takes on added value as a document of sorts in the history of the Artist. The buyer gets an asset that rises in value depending on the succsess of the Artist. As a Buyer you are giveing the artist an income and overall great feeling. Income can be used to produce more projects, and cover expences materials, supplies Frames, ect. Because it is the only one of its kind. Fine Art original Works are Extremely Rare. I like to think that I have a Diamond Mind. (but, I may be bias)

Off Topic: I guess I ought to address this I am the greatest attitude a bit more. Some Creatives can come off as arrogant, My Personal feeling is that most people can't draw or think they can't and because I have some sort of talent that others don't It would be a waste for me not to use it. I Don't mean to be rude, it's just that I don't feel a need to apologize for being special, and I feel entitled to a little appreciation for the things I create in the form of money.

Haveing said that Clients and artist need each other equally and there is a great deal of trust that is needed to avoid the common problems I mentioned earlyer. Communication is key, for both parties. A Contract helps too.

Any given artist can only produce so many original works in a lifetime after all. For this reason the cost is much Higher.

Running a bit long today.

Here is the Price List for Any Clients interested in hireing me.

To make things go as smooth as possible for custom orders I will need an idea of what you would like done.

"a shirt please" is not decriptive, I will need, size of design, color(s), type of shirt, hoodie, tank, polo, v neck, tee, ect what you want on it what the picture will be of. (I can help here if you are unclear, I have lots of ideas)

I am still new to this and am learning everyday. Please have the curtsey to look at my portfolio and see of I am the right artist for you.

Last I will need a reasonable schedule to complete your request. (I need it now, for custom orders is no good I'm afraid) I am just the one guy here at Quakerninja, and I have a day job to boot.

Communication is key Quakerninja@hotmail.com if you would like to chat some more.

More Samples of my work can be seen here.

My Rates I offer

1. A Few Premade Exclusive For Sale Designs. $U.S. 100.00

One free Revision to add name of brand/band or logo.

(design previews, mockups on request)

Client owns Right to reproduce artwork, I can sell design only this one time.

Subject to availability

2. Premade NON Exclusive For Sale Licenced Designs. $U.S. 30.00

I maintain rights to art and can sell to as many clients as I wish.

NO Revisions Designs are as is. (previews, mockups on request)

This is the best deal price wise all designs 4 colors or less, makes printing a bit cheaper.

3. Custom work made to order $U.S. 200.00

What ever you would like on a shirt so long as it is in my skill level to do.

All rights go to client.

4. REVISIONS FEE* add + $U.S.25.00 per full revision.

Applied If a complete design is not accepted after completion and a Full Revision is needed. Max Three Full revisions, a full revision does not include a change of colors. (colorways)

Complete Design means Print ready File to the specifications that you the client request in the brief. (Full description of what is needed)

ex. Full Revision Means I have to start over. I would charge a Revision fee if you say draw a pony, then get a pony and say can you make that a zombie cow instead. On my end this would mean deleting the pony and going back to square one on a new design, with the same dead line in place. Its a real headache, that can be avoided with some early communication.

If you the (client) Buy the Exlusive pre made design option and would like the design altered to include name of brand/band/ or logo. I will not charge the Revision fee.

Note: This FEE has to do with time mostly, I do not have the time to redo several full designs, This fee is more of an insurance for me than to milk a client.

and it is not the fault of the artist. (ex. If I spell the company name wrong of course there is no charge)

Theory of natural design Progression. Free Form Drawing.

2008-11-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

This is a few muddled thoughts on filling paper with marks that matter.

Do to a crafty use of transfer credits, I have had the opportunity to attend several universities and colleges during my academic days. This has given me hours of boreing lectures to doodle my way through. I find that nothing makes the time go by like taking a bic to a sheet of college rule paper.

I call this filling of paper doodle work and it is one of the foundations of Quakerninja

This "article" is my attempt to go in depth behind some of the styles, and techniques In this head of mine. I have always thought it interesting to hear in an Art History Context, Works described by people other then the artist. Critics as they are known. I shall attempt to explain the How and Why of what I do. No easy task.

This First Technique has served me well. It is The True Form, or Free Style, or stream of conciseness technique. It is loose and full or surprises. I think of it as narrating a day dream with pictures. Like a courtroom sketch artist, only much more bizarre.

Ok starting from left to right and filling a full sheet of 8.5x11 paper top to bottom one soon realizes that there is a lot of ink to go down. I have found that when in doubt drawing a circle can be a great way to fill space, I prefer to work with no sketches, no pencils, no erasers. This has the benefit of making me stick with, or deal with the marks that are put down. I have to commit to what I am drawing, and cope with where the design is going, or think of clever "fixes" for irritating stray squiggles. These Fixes can come in the form of textures that fill annoying fields of blank, or architectural elements, and some convenient geometry.

Much like painting a square room I found early on that I would literally draw myself into a corner. If you look at some early drawing you will see this size of the drawings larger at the top then the bottom corner, this is because I have no Idea what is going to happen when I start. The idea starts to form on its own about a quarter down the page, some shape that with some coxing just might turn into a face, or what have you.

This is a problem and renders the end product useless in a compositional sense.

So I thought why not start at the edge of the page and Draw backwards, from the outside in.

Think of this as taking a silhouette shape and filling in the form. This opens up more blank to fill, and yet offers a boundary that has a pre defined and recognizable shape. The result is something resembling a figure filled with nonsense. When I show drawing in the real world I am often asked. "What is It?" I have no answer to this. My struggle to find and answer to this has frustrated me to the point of abandoning the practice of silly drawings. Saddly I Find it harder to do this style. In truth It is merely a product of real world things blended by my imagination, the forms and shapes could be or indeed are real world things rendered incorrectly, that is to say in a non natural way. They are off the mark just so.

So the drawback (pun intended) is that what I make in this style is of no use to people wanting to know what things are. The plus is that it looks like a drawing meaning that some thought has gone into messing it up. It is not something I could take a picture of, so there is a place for it in art.

I hope this has been worth reading. Thanks Newman

hello web

2008-11-06T20:16:00.000-08:00

Hi I'm Newman I design under the name Quakerninja. I'm going to try some bloging. I'll have some works in progress, tutorials, what I think about art and what it is and why it's important to me. The goal of all this is to make some friends and hopefully get some support rallied up.