Monday, March 19, 2007

Drawing a Flying Pig

Did my blog really need another flying pig? Probably not, but this one kind of happened on its own. On Saturday I decided to make a video showing the transition from "blank piece of paper" to "finished, colored, character sketch" and put it on YouTube for the world to yawn about. After setting up our video camera on the kitchen table and pressing the "record" button, I realized I still didn't know what I intended to draw. Turns out the "flying pig" is my default sketch... so here he is.

And no - those aren't special effects. This is actually how I hold a pencil. You'd think they would spend a day in pre-school or Kindergarten teaching kids how to hold a pencil. By the time my third grade teacher tried to correct me, it was too late. I was already hooked on my self-taught, semi-retarded, freak way. I like it, though... mostly because my thumb doesn't have to work at all. It can just hang out while the rest of the hand does the work.


34 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK..that is seriously the coolest thing ever. I am such a geek...I seriously LOVE watching things like that. I am a DIEHARD "Bob Ross" fan. For some reason, there is something seriously relaxing about watching him paint "happy trees." And it was the same watching you draw. Maybe it was the elevator music in the background that helped. I just about dozed at the end there....and not because you were boring me. LOL! Watching the process of your drawing is VERY COOL! I am still absolutely in awe at what a natural you are at this. Living proof that some are just BORN with it. Thanks for sharing this!!!

Digital Scott's Illustrationblog said...

Wow, very impressive!

Anonymous said...

Oh my crap Shane...I just watched/listened to "Don't Call Me A Dummy" and just about wet my pants. So hilarious....and I can't believe how awesome the video is. You guys did a great job. Love your cameo next to the toilet. So are the "dummy" the whole time? Impressive puppetry. LOL! I just forwarded it to a ton of people....it's hilarious! LOL! That's some serious talent!

David Malan said...

I think it is interesting that you removed all of your nailpolish and aren't wearing any of your turquoise jewelry for this video. Looks like you can draw well without the jewelry too, I lost a bet.

Tim Bye said...

Impressive stuff! I've never seen anyone that fast at colouring!

Todd Oman said...

That was really fun to watch and it gave me a great idea for a new tv station. The Art network where you can watch people draw and paint all day long. You should do more of these, very cool stuff.

Wendy and Warren said...

I love to watch you draw!!!as much as I love to knit.
When I go to babysit the granddaughters next month I will pull it up for them to watch too.
Hope you do some more live drawings in the future.

chris chua said...

sweet dude! nice confident linework:) Keep up the great work!

Adrian Ropp said...

So THAT'S how to draw a flying pig!

Incredibly cool, compadre. More please. PLEASE!!!!!

zohner said...

That's freakin' amazing! I can't believe how easy you make this look.

Kellie said...

I am impressed with how clean you work. I am pretty heavy handed and require more than one pass.

Some people like that you know.

Great video

Andy Latham said...

Hi Shane, this is a great video! I put a post on my blog asking people to contact me with any YouTube (or other) videos showing people's drawing techniques.

If I get any more people's efforts, would you mind me linking to this along with them? I thought it would make a good learning resource.

Cheers!

Ryan Wood said...

That's a terrific post, Shane! Thanks for showing your process, it's fun to see the lil pig come to life. Great stuff, mister!

Joe said...

You draw really fast.

Unknown said...

very kind of you to show off your process! Always wanted to sit down and draw with you , so this was a very special treat! You rock!!

Jo Bling said...

Shane, this is great mate, lovely to see you at work.

Oink!

Kloosli said...

That's stupid, pigs can't fly.

Anonymous said...

That was amazing, I couldn't do that in an hour let alone a few minutes and I really enjoyed the music as well. What was that?

KEVSU said...

OK...now you're talking - a video of you drawring. More of this, please...(not so I can steal your style or anything or that I am asking you to grow a beard and an afro and put me at ease while you paint/draw.)

S.T. Lewis said...

Thanks, everybody. I'll probably do another one of these sometime. It was fun... but next time I'm going to figure out a better way to position the camera. The tri-pod made it so I had to sit three feet from the paper... not my normal drawing posture.

Andy - feel free to link this from your blog if you want to. And the music is from a wonderful film called "Bottle Rocket." I love the Mark Mothersbaugh soundtracks. Go, Devo!

Unknown said...

Great video...I love flying pigs, I see them often.

There is a cool tripod that has leg you can bend and wrap around things (desk lights etc.) If I can find the link, I'll send it to you.

Nathan Lindsay said...

since I made the "holding the pencil weird" comment to your face before reading your commentary, I don't really have anything else to say.

Oh, I like how you draw.

Blogerts said...

Don't let that teacher bring you down with her pencil rules, man. You're free. Free to expand your mind and find new and better ways to hold things. I saw a guy once who holds his pencil with his feet. Nobody told him to change. Probably because he didn't have any arms.

You're a good drawrer.

Jarrett said...

The hand of Mr. Lewis himself?! Do you moisturize?!? Alright, enough of that. Very cool to see you draw man. There's always room for pigs, especially pigs drawn like this. GReat stuff as always.

What DO you use for such smooth skin? ;)

KEVSU said...

This video blew my mind. Seriously.

Anonymous said...

Hello from Italy!
I really learn so much with this video.....thank you indeed.
Amazing work!
Cata.

B Beach said...

This was really fun to watch, great idea and great drawing!

PromoGuy said...

I think that bendable tripod is called the "GORILLAPOD" - you can find it at amazon.

Anonymous said...

I hold my pencil in the exact same way! Everyone has always told me to hold it differently but i can't, it is like writing with my left hand, my writing/drawing gets really horrible. I just wanted to say that and how awesome you are at drawing!

Ben Reynolds said...

That was really cool to see. I have a question: For your final line work on the drawing is it vector (aka illustrator) or is it just tight pencil that is coloured afterwards. Would love to know..thanks. Good work!

S.T. Lewis said...

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I thought it was funny that whoever holds their pencil the way I do posted that admission under "anonymous." Excellent. Good to know I'm not the only one, though.

And, Ben - sometimes I use a line trace in Illustrator to get clean lines, but on this one the lines were just how I cleaned them up with a pen. The colored image is just a scan of what I did with ink.

Hopefully I'll find the time and the desire to do another one of these soon. Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

studerdoodle said...

fun to watch. Here in Cinci we have a flying pig marathon. http://www.flyingpigmarathon.com

Thanks for posting.

Anonymous said...

I also hold my pencil in the same way as you and anonymous although no-one has bothered to try and teach me otherwise. I like the way i hold my pencil though, woo for (sort of) originality!

Anonymous said...

omg you are awsome at drawing but i think you should show how to draw flying piggys step by step i mean i want to draw it!!!! hey dude do u think flying piggys are real cuz i keep telling my friends that flyin piggys will rule the day one day they think that im kidding but im dead serious!! :) any ways well ya peice
From,
Flyin piggys rox 101

lol