Fade to grey
One of the major issues with the books I like to make is that publishers hate to pay for 4-color printing. It creates a lot more complexity in the production process and drives up the cost of making the book. They then have to decide whether to absorb the cost and hope they sell enough copies to make a profit. Alternatively, they can make the cover price high enough to cover the cost but drive off a lot of readers who can't afford $39.95 for a book. They can also force the author to cover a bigger than normal share of the cost by making his advance miniscule. It's all economic, and as usual, it's a drag for an artist.
One of the advantages of being a cretaive person, however, is that every obstacle is an opportunity. To that end, I have been thinking of other ways to make journals that can be reproduced without losing expression. The past few years of sharing my work on the web has allowed me to become quite adept at watercoloring and to combine pen-and-ink crosshatching with brushwork. In my portrait book, I have been using sumi ink quite regularly and for the next month or so, I 'll be posting images from my regular moleskine journal that I'm painting in shades of grey. I want to try to capture the energy and excitement of my watercolor box in pure tone and will be working with contrast and various sorts of brushes to capture what I am doing, seeing and feeling.
I am working in a variety of ways. I draw where and whenever the moment seizes me. Then if I have a sumi loaded waterbrush with me, I dip it into a little water cup to create various densities of tone. I mix on the palm of my hand or right on the page. I may also finish the page back at home, where I can use my big fat sable brush and official Japanese stone sumi mixing bowl.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
I hope this means you will be publishing a book -- in shades of grey. Can't wait to buy it.
Doris Mouton
Posted by: Doris Mouton | February 18, 2007 09:55 AM
Your art with its linework and color washes remain very easy to view. I enjoy your art and your comments.
Posted by: Terry Banderas | February 18, 2007 10:19 AM
"every obstacle is an opportunity" I like that Danny, and I like these drawings. I'm a color person, so don't like to do just black ink, but this sumi and it's watercolor qualities appeals. I may have to load my waterbrush! cool drawings as usual.
Are we going to see any drawings from your Xmas trip to mexico?
Posted by: Jane LaFazio![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.dannygregory.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 18, 2007 10:22 AM
I like the drawing with the sumi ink Danny. I am not so good with color so this is very inspiring to me. Do you load the waterbrush with straight sumi ink? I am a potter by trade but was turned on to your book, The Creative License, by a friend. Thanks to this I've been drawing quite a bit since July '06. All the best.
----from Danny-----
Ron, I just drop a wee bit of sumi ink into a dish and dip in brush. I use regular H20 to dilute and off I go, It's alittle messier getting it into a waterbrush but I manage and usually have a second one filled with water for lighter greys.
Your pal,
Danny
Posted by: Ron | February 18, 2007 12:47 PM
Black and white? I can dig it! And if you have a book in the theme of black and white, that's very cool. I think that would be a neat alternative for book and art lovers.
Posted by: Tabitha Dial | February 18, 2007 03:03 PM
You're definitely stirring some different settings with your inkwork! Reminds me of the effectiveness in setting mood of the Photo-Secessionist group's early work.
Posted by: Bradley | February 18, 2007 05:02 PM
I've just learned how difficult printing a journal in color can be -- I recently printed my first and printing in color was twice the price of printing in B&W...which drove the price up. It is certainly something that will influence how I draw and color my journals in the future.
Wouldn't it be great if it didn't cost so much more? *laughs*
Posted by: Antha Harding | February 18, 2007 07:05 PM
It's too bad when artists need to vary their methods to meet some external constraint. That said, your monochrome sketches are very effective!
Are you familiar with Paul Madonna? He does some amazing monochrome sketches (ex: http://tinyurl.com/2wuem4 ), and has a book coming out soon too.
Posted by: martha | February 22, 2007 05:17 PM