J. LeRoy Johnson

Head Study

2007-03-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

This was an in-class head study using the ol' Wacom tablet in Photoshop. I love drawing, but since I'm used to a normal pencil this was quite a challenge (since I can't use the side of the lead). Anyway, good times.

Wired

2007-03-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

This was for illustration friday, using the digital oil paint technique. I created the brush and had fun with this tri-level interepretation of the word.

One of Life's Mysterkeys

2007-03-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

For Illustration Friday's "hide" theme. My keys always hide from me. This is in-progress, I haven't finished the painting yet but am excited to do so soon. I really am actually; I have started to enjoy painting digitally after gaining mileage on a master copy assignment we did which I am going to post shortly.

Huntsman-esque Practice

2007-02-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

Practicing the digital packing tape technique for digital illustration class. Dedicated to Wade Huntsman, apple-painter extraordinaire.

Gotcha

2007-02-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

This was for Illustration Friday, the word to illustrate being "Communication." I painted it all on photoshop, using only the channels palettes, which is a tough technique in some ways; for this image, however, it was quite ideal, since I wanted to use the blending together of two colors to portray the harmony and understanding that two people can experience through good communication. When somebody finally understands another person, it doesn't matter what the subject, they do not ever have to be completely disagreeable. They can always, as the chiche goes, "agree to disagree." The important part? Understanding. I love the quote that reads, "There are two kinds of people in the world: the people you love, and the people you don't know."
As for the title it's based on a common response to someone who has just been understood: "So, what is your point of view on that subject?...oh okay...I gotcha."

Master of Gravity

2007-02-19T16:16:00.000-08:00

(Please click and enlarge the picture, this is really blurry as is.)

To illustrate the word gravity this week I decided to use subject matter that is more close to home and portray symbolically the Fall of Adam and the Savior's redeeming arm that lifts him and all men who will from death. The technique is a digital scratchboard method we just learned in class that I enjoy though it is somewhat time consuming. I would like to eventually render this in oils as a more realistic style painting.

Keep Reaching

2007-02-19T09:31:00.000-08:00

Scratchboard technique in photoshop. Very interesting, could be pretty fun. This was a quick exercise done in class (on Valentine's Day). Lots of people spend a long time reaching for a balloon like this. My roommate just was able to finally stop reaching and get hold, for now at least, and Im excited for him.

Toys Play Too

2007-02-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

Its been fun to experiment with textures. This was one of the first things that came to my mind when I heard the word "crash" for illustration friday. I used to be in marching band too so its close to home...good times.

Eye like this style!

2007-02-07T15:59:00.001-08:00

We learned a fun technique here. I am interested in using these techniques to do color comps for oil paintings, and either paint over them (you can print this on canvas I hear) or use them as simple reference and planning helps. It is really nice to be able to do this with the appropriate texture, brush sensitivity, etc.

Bean--Sprout!!

2007-02-03T15:43:00.000-08:00

This was a fun one. I'm finally starting to actually really enjoy this digital painting stuff! This idea came pretty quick. Wouldn't it be great if that worked? If we only all had the faith of a little child...anyway, I appreciate all your comments and would welcome suggestions on technique, etc.

Oil Experiment

2007-02-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

We are painting in Photoshop now in my digital illustration class. I actually did a drawing and scanned it in then painted over it and remembered...you really don't see too much drawing in a thick oil painting like this. Anyway, it was fun. I didn't miss the turpentine.

Red Rover Red Rover... Send the NRRL Right Over

2007-01-31T12:06:00.000-08:00

Do you remember that game from elementary school? I sure do. And one day I hope they get grown men, former NFL superstars and the like, to form a "National Red Rover League." Hey, it could happen. And when they do, they already have their logo, nice and done up to match other sports logos most people are familiar with (the NBA, Major League Baseball, etc).

By the way, Red Rover can actually be pretty intense, not to mention dangerous (everyone would probably have to dress down like hockey goalies to play without broken bones every time). In fact, I used my roomates as reference for this so I could draw the back figures correctly, and after shooting the photos I decided to try and run through them like back in the good ol' days. On the second try, I landed my quadriceps (the muscles above my knee) hard into my roommate's knee. I was limping the whole night and next day. But that's okay--I was just taking one for the team.

Descension of an Idea

2007-01-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

This piece was done using both Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. I have learned that I absolutely LOVE illustrator's drawing capabilities. I had no idea how powerful it was. I messed around drawing this head out of my head and then drew my hand. I was going to be holding a donut but it didn't fit. Then this idea popped into my head, and I got excited working with lighting and other style features of photoshop. I hope that this becomes a good omen for me and allows me to think of a lot of ideas throughout the semester. A symbol behind this piece is the fact that we may get a million brilliant ideas, but if we're not reaching up, grasping them, and taking them down to actually use, they don't do us too much good.

Super-Spot!

2007-01-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

Sometimes even when you're not a superhero, somebody wants you to be! Spot kind of got thrown into that predicament. This peice was my first real shot at an illustration done completely in Adobe Illustrator. I am excited to learn more about this technique.

2 - Intro to Illustrator

2007-01-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

This was our second in-class assignment for digital illustration, an exploratory assignment to be done completely in Adobe Illustrator. I enjoyed getting refreshed on how to use clipping masks and especially enjoyed creating and using brushes with the brush tool, as I'd never really experimented with that before. I need to keep working at it to get a better feel for it because I could see how this could really be a powerful tool especially for children's book illustration.

Pac-Man Polka (Illustration Friday)

2007-01-15T10:32:00.000-08:00

Pac-Man became big in the early 1980's, and whenever I think of the 80's I think of people wearing polka dot pants and shirts with other crazy colors.

1 - Cubes in Illustrator

2007-01-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

This was my first assignment for Digital Illustration. I used BSU colors. Originally I was going to have it outside at sunset, but realized it needed to be in a room, thus, I decided one wall would be a big window.

2007-01-08T15:50:00.001-08:00

This is my first blog. Here I am posting something! Wow. How about that there. Oh, for corn sakes there.