The Illustration Exchange

[Jeremy McHugh]

It has been a long while since I posted here talking about pencil drawings that I'd begun doing for my professional work.

In recent months, I've put aside digital tools in favor of watercolors and acrylics for my professional work.

Perhaps, it is a strange migration for a professional illustrator to make, but it has paid dividends in the enjoyment I am experiencing from my work and the results I am getting.
Publishers and my fellow artists have also been pleased by the changes in my work, so I am excited to continue down this path.

an example or two from my growing portfolio:





In addition to my professional output, I produce daily warm-up sketches which are now being performed with watercolors.

I spend between 1 to two hours on these as part of my studio's daily output.
They are a great learning tool for me and tremendous fun to do.
Here's an example or two:





As a working artist, I definitely want to begin offering my work to collectors and any input or advice you can share is most appreciated.

I will soon have a page on my blog/portfolio site that will showcase artwork as it becomes available.
The daily warm-ups will be a constant feature of the site and may prove interesting for folks looking for inexpensive additions to their collections.

I hope you will join me in my studio at
http://mchughstudios.com/studioblog/

It will be a very busy place and I hope that collectors will embrace what I am doing.

I announce blog updates via twitter ( jeremymchugh) and FaceBook :[url] http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1040309609[/url], but if you simply visit my site on most days, you will see something new.

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you out in the internet wilds.

---Jeremy McHugh
_________________
Jeremy McHugh
jmchugh@mchughstudios.com

studio blog website:
www.mchughstudios.com

[Egrove]

I like the artwork, and the daily sketches, but your Webpage is the coolest thing!

As for selling to collectors, - I'm not much help, - I'm not huge on fantasy : / and I'm thoroughly retro.

I'm not suprised you're getting a warm reception from clients/art directors, - I think there is a growing niche for work which is obviously not digital, at least where the book/marketing calls for it. Check out John Harris's painterly style for example, - or perhaps closer to your style the work Les Edwards does under the named Edward Miller - Charcoal, paint, pastels, - but all quite deliberately and distinctively non-digital. I wouldn't give up on digital (I thought the digital prelim for the dragon attack on your webpage was quite stunning itself, and it was an eye-opener for me of how good digital software must be now for you to be able to do that as just as a prelim), but it must definitely be worthwhile having a traditional style and technique as another string to your bow.

Regards

Ed

[Jeremy McHugh]

Thanks, Ed.

You raise good points about digital art skills.
I contend that they are indeed a necessity in illustration today.
At the very least, the ability to properly scan and prepare files for the client.

That is one skill set I will continue to hone.
I've also been finding other ways to use digital tools to streamline my workflow.
I am completing a piece now that I sketched out digitally and then printed onto watercolor paper. I refined the drawing on the board and went to town on it straight away without the need to do a hand transfer. A huge savings in time I can tell you.

I'm glad you enjoy my new site.
I re-formatted my studio's site into a blog in order to allow for the level of interactivity I needed. The aggressive schedule of updates I maintain seemed to call for the current site design.

It's been great for me.

Thanks for visiting and for your kind words, sir.
I'll keep working hard at the drawing board.



---Jeremy
_________________
Jeremy McHugh
jmchugh@mchughstudios.com

studio blog website:
www.mchughstudios.com

[tsrart]

Jeremy -

Congratulations on the return from the Dark Side!

The blog looks great - I like your daily pieces quite a bit. They have a great sense of flow and ease to them. Sometimes that feeling can get a bit "refined out" of finished pieces, so it's good to see the quickies.

(I'm reminded of Michael Whelan talking about one of his more famous pieces, ELRIC DEMONSLAYER, where he mentioned that the final piece ended up being a bit of a disappointment because it didn't end up capturing the energy that the sketch had.)

And I'm definitely more taken aback by the fact that the Greymalkin is smoking . . . .


Pat
_________________
Life is short, art is forever, and the credit card bills to pay for the art last just slightly longer.

[Jeremy McHugh]

Thanks, Patrick.

It's good to be back!
I'm really glad you like the blog and the dailies.

I agree that it can be tough to keep some of the energy that the watercolor sketches have. I am trying to find ways to allow for more of that to find its way into my work.
I am slowly allowing my watercolors to do more of the heavy lifting in my paintings. I am trying to allow more "stroke" to be apparent in the final pieces. I'll keep at it.

This has easily been some of my most successful and enjoyable work and I am excited for the future.

I posted lots of new work for Paizo and Expeditious Retreat Press in the last two days.
I've already managed to sell the Clockwork Mask piece which was pretty exciting for me.

For a former digital guy, selling a piece of artwork is a novel experience to say the least.

I'm trying to save up for Illuxcon 3. Unfortunately, I have a client who has been holding off on paying me for so long that I fear that the show will sell out before I have the funds for Joe Acone and I to go.
Fingers crossed though.

---Jeremy
_________________
Jeremy McHugh
jmchugh@mchughstudios.com

studio blog website:
www.mchughstudios.com