jenesis

Another one for Halloween

2011-11-01T03:18:00.002-04:00

Zombie's 1st brain. Proud parents. :)

2011-04-24T16:03:00.002-04:00

Here's a quick study I did yesterday. I like to use the lasso tool alot, as well as modify brushes, to get things the way I want as quickly as possible. It's a fun and easy process and forces me to keep my layers clean and organized..something I'm slowly getting better at. :) More soon!

Hello Hello

2011-04-16T19:35:00.003-04:00

A quick painting. It's all I got...for now. :) More on the way.

Blog reconstruction

2011-01-28T22:56:00.010-05:00

I finally did some redecorating on my other blog/portfolio site. Betcha didn't even know I had another one. Anyway, I added some new work so check it out! jen-draws.blogspot.com.

Also, here is a piece I did a while ago...still not really finished with some things but thought I might as well post it anyway. Kinda just experimenting with these last couple of posts. :)

Dracula

2010-10-15T13:05:00.002-04:00

Expect more of these soon. :)

Sunday

2009-09-23T21:48:00.008-04:00

wow. 2 posts in the same month. i'm on a roll!! ;)

s'more sketches

2009-09-16T23:45:00.005-04:00

Some stuff

2009-08-29T12:07:00.009-04:00

Airport-New Orleans

Quick study downtown

Attitude

2009-08-12T21:45:00.000-04:00

some sketches

2009-07-18T11:26:00.000-04:00

This little bug was found crawling around on my desk lamp. I love bugs when they are cute and harmless...of course he just looks cute and harmless. Who knows what he might have been capable of, or might still be capable of...

The other is a just a sketch from my sketchbook. I might even paint it one of these days.

Hey there world, it's been too long.

2009-06-03T00:04:00.015-04:00

Yes, I know it's been about 75 years since my last update. I will make it up to you with these. More interesting things to come, promise! I really do this time.
Trying something new.. very simple 15 minute thang.

I'm rusty but I'm going to start doing this more often.

You shouldn't smoke but painting people who do is ok, I think.

My puppy. Total beach bum.

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T16:41:00.003-04:00

A witch....in for the night.

Haven't had a whole lot of time to do anything new because I've been packing things up and getting ready to move. Yep, I'm moving to San Francisco!! I'll be working for a fun little studio called Planet Moon Studios. They're working on some really exciting things and I'm happy to be joining them.
Now, I just need to find a place to live!!

2008-10-02T13:36:00.004-04:00

Started this one out in Painter and finished it in PS. No story to it really. It started as a small thumbnail and just kept getting larger.

"ancient Stonefish ruins"

2008-09-17T15:28:00.004-04:00

Here's a quick speed painting that took about 30 minutes. It's part of the ancient "stonefish" ruins..a very sacred place that lies in the most remote shallow depths of the under water world. I'm sure you've heard it, right? Or not since I just made it up...I think. Just be careful where you step.

sketches

2008-09-15T17:36:00.005-04:00

Sorry about these monthly posts. I do have some free time coming up now so I should be posting more often. These are just some sketches from my sketchbook. Nothing special, just wanted to share. :)

And Then They Were Gone

2008-08-14T18:58:00.003-04:00

Studies

2008-08-07T21:00:00.008-04:00

Just playing around with some brushes and textures. These were meant to be super quick studies but I got carried away in my own excitement.

rainy day

2008-06-15T13:21:00.006-04:00

I'm not dead

2008-06-02T17:42:00.005-04:00

Forever...that's how long it's been since I've posted anything new. I do have some good excuses. I was in Singapore for a few weeks living it up beachside. It was an amazing place despite the oven-like heat and humidity that hits you like a wall the minute you walk out of the airport. I adjusted quickly though and took advantage of the pool, the cool ocean breezes, and the 40 cent ice cream. I would definitely go back again so long as I can tolerate the 25 hour flight that leaves you with the worst pain in the butt. That all goes away though once you get there and see that you're in paradise. I miss it already! the smell of food, the shopping, walking and riding the train instead of driving, and the diversity of cultures that all live peacefully together. (4.5 milllion people on an island that's only 3.5 times bigger than D.C.) Claustrophobics beware!
Anyway, I wish I had some cool things to post from my trip there besides pictures. All I have is this... a quick study from my sketchbook that I played around with in PS. Not very much of a memorial to my vacation.

speedpaint and hands

2008-02-28T15:03:00.006-05:00

I don't do enough of these speed paintings but I should do more because this was fun. I wanted to keep the colors somewhat muted and limited and concentrate on the mood and atmosphere. I started with using gray tones and then set the mode to color and dabbed bits of reds and greens here and there. I usually find it easier to work that way so it's become a habit. Oh, this was
roughly about an hour and a half.

Then there are these hand studies. I'm terrible at painting and drawing hands, fingers, fingernails, etc. so I thought I should start focusing on that area a little more. Somehow it's always the last thing I worry about when it comes to figure painting or drawing and character design. It's always the part that is lacking the most too and ultimately the whole piece suffers. So, these were just some quick studies drawn in photoshop ranging from 5 minutes to 10 minutes per hand. Next time I know to use a pencil.

Happy Valyntynsday

2008-02-14T14:51:00.003-05:00

sketch

2008-01-30T19:11:00.001-05:00

This was a sketch in my sketchbook...just felt like coloring.

I couldn't sleep so.....

2008-01-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

I painted these owls for you. I could've maybe painted sheep but owls are way better. God, I'm such a nerd.

RIP Mac

2007-11-27T16:34:00.000-05:00

My Mac crashed after a long and loving 5 years and so did my heart when I thought I lost all of my work. It wouldn't turn back on no matter how hard or long I pressed the button so my friend built me a super computer instead. Now I have OSX, Windows, and Linux all living together in harmony. Don't know what to do with all 3 yet but I'm sure there will come a time. Here's a quick study I did in Artrage since I can finally use it.

Study

2007-10-12T00:05:00.000-04:00

I love doing quick studies of paintings from the masters. Maybe not an old master but this is a copy of a painting from Malcolm Liepke. I added some things that weren't in the original though like that red texture. I think its extremely beneficial to really study how others paint and use color etc. Its also a lot of fun!
This was around 2 hours done in photoshop. Dammit I need to get away from that program but its fun to try and make it look like paint. Next time I'll use the real thing. I've caught myself a couple times reaching for my Command E (eraser tool) key while sketching on paper. :|

Crackalactic

2007-10-03T20:40:00.000-04:00

I finally made it to figure drawing last night! It's been a loong time. I find it so relaxing though and its a good way to clear my head. It is good to be going again and I can't wait till next week. If I had more time I'd go every night. Its a full class though so I usually have to make the best of the view that I have. Anyway, this was done in close to an hour. I'm a bit rusty. Things are maybe looking a little unaligned though in the butt-crack area.

Looking Glass Wars

2007-09-11T22:32:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited that I get to post this! I thought I would have to wait a long time. I've been designing characters and creatures for the brilliant and amazing Frank Beddor and his company Automatic Pictures. If you haven't checked out The Looking Glass Wars you can visit the website at lookingglasswars.com. These books are amazing and I'm thrilled that I get to be a part of it. Read them and you will understand!!
Anyway, this creature is called a Tuttlebird. I love anything that illuminates.

my 7th grade teacher.

2007-08-31T18:24:00.000-04:00

This one started out as a doodle then I noticed how much it was starting to look like my 7th grade Social studies teacher, Mrs. Oday. She was always reminding me to sit up straight and to stop doodling, but really I think I might just have been her favorite student. She would always wear something lime-green and her sweaters always corresponded well with her pants. Luckily, I didn't listen to her about doodling bit but I think maybe I should've taken her advice on posture. My back is shot.

I could live here

2007-08-24T15:00:00.000-04:00

Still have some issues I'd like to fix. The big mountain is flattening the whole piece and driving me crazy. I'll fix it soon though.

frequently infrequent

2007-07-19T00:09:00.000-04:00

So, its been awhile since I've posted on here and I feel like a slacker, but oh, I am not. I've been working myself to death and enjoying every second of it. I do make time to see movies, which by the way if you haven't seen Transformers, Harry Potter, or Ratatouille, stop what you're doing and go watch.
Other than that I've been doing a lot of work which, unfortunately, is all top secret, confidential, information. With that being said, I sound important, and I only have one piece to post for your viewing pleasure. I started working on this many months ago and never finished it. It was boring, dull, and and I was kinda stumped as to what I wanted to do with it. So, I finally dug it back out and here is the result. Still not really finished but I felt that I had to post something.
Oh, I've been having strange coincidences lately . So tonight while I was working on a character design and looking up fireflies(or lightning bugs, not sure of the difference) on google something happened that still makes me smile this very minute. As I'm staring at the computer screen at these odd little creatures with lights on their butts, out of the corner of my eye a big flying insect comes full speed wrecklessly hitting me in the side of my head and landing on my book. Scared the crap out of me but to my surprise and relief, walking around curiously inspecting every square inch of the book, is a freakin lightning bug! May not sound too crazy to you, I'm sure, but I haven't seen any yet this year and anything is better than searching Google images to no avail. He chilled on my desk for a while before I put him in a cup and took him outside. I'm sure he thanked me.
Anyway, that has nothing to do with anything but I like coincidences!
Enjoy this piece.

fish/insect hybrid creature

2007-03-23T22:56:00.000-04:00

This is a fish bug hybrid. It can live in and out of water and can fly like a bug and swim like a fish. It also has gills giving it the ability to live underwater. It eats whatever it can catch but mainly flies or fish smaller than itself. I'm working on a story and this is one of the many characters. I'll post more about it soon. Enjoy.

character

2007-03-05T00:45:00.000-05:00

just a quick character. I've been real busy lately so haven't had much time to do any of my own work. i'll try to update this a little more frequently. Enjoy!

sketches

2007-01-25T01:23:00.000-05:00

there must be others. i like drawing characters like this. he's ugly but cute at the same time.

just some randomness.

of or related to the squirrel family

2007-01-17T08:51:00.000-05:00

I'm done complaining about how it's not cold enough to be winter. Now its cold and I want it to be warm. This has nothing to do with the painting above. Just though I'd tell you that.

portrait

2006-12-29T17:17:00.000-05:00

I felt like painting a portrait and experimenting more in Painter...although I should be using real paint instead of digital all the time. I'll get to it soon enough. I've always had problems when working in Painter that when I take it into Photoshop the contrast is a lot darker. I'm sure it is an easy fix but I'm just too lazy to go in and fix it. If anyone knows how to do this PLEASE e-mail me. I don't know if the settings in Photoshop are just too dark or if Painter is too light. It tends to make my darks really dark. I've noticed too that when posting anything on here it's always much lighter than my original. Hope everyone has a good new year!!

Merry Christmas- a nice little card

2006-12-23T19:26:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone. Not your typical Holiday Greeting card but, what can I say, I'm not typical. Hope you weren't on the naughty list.

finally done with that!

2006-12-13T03:06:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it is just necessary to design female warriors with white hair. This is Athena, the greek warrior goddess who amazingly sprung from the forehead of her father, Zeus, fully grown and ready to take on the world. Go girl! Yes weird, I know, but I didn't write it. I don't do a lot of these kinds of characters so this was fun to work on. Most of my work is more on the stylized side as you can see. I enjoy designing layouts for things like this too. Not sure if it's the best layout but it shows what I needed to show. I'll try to post more stuff. I'm getting lazy, I know. Christmas is almost here and it's still in the 50's here in Cincinnati. Damn global warming! How can I get into the Christmas spirit when I only need a jacket to go outside. Lots and lots of watermelon candy canes, maybe!

I'm back

2006-11-27T10:25:00.000-05:00

I think he is going the wrong way. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been in Florida. I don't even have the tan to prove it. I did get a spray tan though that didn't even last a week and I have a ton of sketches from when we missed our flight and had to sit in the airport for most of the day. Overall I think I'm going to start vacationing on a different part of the earth.
This weekend I'm going to Hollywood for a the Gnomon Workshop to see Craig Mullins, Dan Milligan, David Krentz, and other sickly talented dudes do their thing. So Exciting! I don't even know why I unpacked my bags.

Cool Mr Blueshoes

2006-10-29T10:13:00.000-05:00

Gotta love the vintage look.

antique

2006-10-17T21:13:00.000-04:00

I love anything antique and anything victorian. She's kind of elegant but haunting at the same time. I think I might do a series of this stuff. I also think that I need to start exploring more styles though. I don't know that my work is well-rounded enough. Anyway, comments are always nice.

color!

2006-10-12T16:28:00.000-04:00

I felt like just doing some small color compositions of whatever came to mind. Nothing planned just started out with blobs of color in photoshop and this is what I ended up with. some were real bad but these were the ones that are okay. Also some random character that I thought was worth posting. I've been working on some freelance stuff so I haven't had much time to do anything more serious than this. I'm thinking about maybe getting rid of all clocks and watches in my house. Maybe I can fool my brain into thinking there is more time in a day. Even an extra hour just to curl up on the couch and watch tv would be heavenly.

even more Hopfrog

2006-09-27T17:44:00.000-04:00

Still more from Hopfrog. This is where the King and his council practically force Hopfrog to drink wine. The king loves his practical jokes and takes pleasure in making him drink. Hopfrog is reluctant to drink the wine because it makes him somewhat crazy. This is sort of just a study so I haven't put the hand in there. I'm going to continue with it and I'll post some progress soon.

sketchy fun

2006-09-26T00:41:00.000-04:00

Just a few sketches I did over the weekend. A robot, a quick sketch of downtown before it started to rain, and some characters for a game company. My scanner has been stubborn lately and won't scan things in at the settings I would like. This is my excuse for the bad quality. I've been working on a lot of new stuff so I will post all of it as soon as I can and after I figure out this scanner.

more Poe stuff.

2006-09-21T16:56:00.000-04:00

Oh my poor neglected blog.Another study for Edgar Alan Poe's Hopfrog story. More to come soon.

Speedpainting

2006-09-01T17:27:00.000-04:00

My speedpainting that ended up being about 3 hours. So much for the speed part but I'm learning. It was done in painter 9 which I'm still getting used to. While I love the traditional look you can get with Painter, Photoshop just seems to be more efficient for me at the moment. There are just so many options in Painter that I spend most of my time exploring the never-ending possiblities of each brush and not actually painting. The more I do the easier it will get. Anyway, this one still probably isn't finished and it really has no meaning behind it. I just felt like painting for painting's sake.

2006-08-21T17:59:00.000-04:00

These are some character designs for a story by Edgar Alan Poe called Hopfrog. They were done some time ago but I'm still working on developing the rest of the story. Not enough hours in the day. The jester is Hop Frog, a tormented dwarf and practical jokester who, along with Tripetta is ordered to entertain the King and his entourage and plan a masquerade .

2006-08-21T16:34:00.001-04:00

More zoo studies from the Cincinnati Zoo. Yesterday was the perfect day to go to the zoo. Most of the time it is so hot you can't stand it but yesterday there was a nice breeze and most of the animals were a little more active. You don't learn a whole lot when you go there and draw them sleeping all the time.

animals

2006-08-16T22:03:00.000-04:00

Here are some animal studies. More soon. I wonder if anyone is even looking at this stuff?

2006-08-16T21:46:00.000-04:00

I've already been bad and haven't been updating this as much as I want. Here are some really quick trees. They are weeping willows.(my version) They dip their tops in the water and the water drips and this is why they are called weeping willows. I don't think they look weeping enough so I'm going to work a little more on developing them to make them a bit more sad and weeping. The color prolly isn't helping that effect either. Other than this I went to the zoo yesterday so as soon as I get that scanned in I'll post it.

2006-08-13T01:29:00.000-04:00

Some strange sea life. These quick studies were fun to paint.

I have a blog!

2006-08-12T15:51:00.000-04:00

So today I've been occupying much of my time gawking at everyone else's blogs until like 5 minutes ago when I realized that I don't have one. Sorry for the title of my blog. I couldn't think of anything else. I'm going to try to get some new things on here soon but you're going to have to be patient. Till then you can look at some of my work here. www.jbricking.com
Out to take my dog Kaya for a walk. She's my new husky that I rescued from the shelter. Already chewed up one of my sketchbooks and a paintbrush. Ya think she's trying to say something? I'll post some pics of her soon. Oh and also my work is in a book that I just got today! Ballistic Publishing's d'artiste: Concept Art. Forgot what page but you should check out the book. Insane amount of eye candy. Buy It! Here's the image