16 replies to this topic

[Tom Johnson]

Hi,

I just came accross the discussions on technical Artists and thought I'd introduce myself. I have been working with illustrator David Kimble for 19 years but will soon break out on my own. I did an air-brush cutaway of Wilbur Shaw's 1939 Maserati 8CTF Indy car and will soon do the 1957 Maserati 250F. Also recently did a cutaway of the Pitts Model 12 bi-plane.

I have been working in the commercial field mainly but want to give a go at doing technical cutaways (all by hand) as more of a fine art endeavor. Just have to see if there will be enough interest in such an adventure to make it work.

I want to post a sample of my work but can't figure out how to do it. Any suggestions???

Cheers,

Tom[IMG]http://img46.imagesh...tidetailqs5.jpg[/IMG]

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by Tom Johnson
Hi,

I just came accross the discussions on technical Artists and thought I'd introduce myself. I have been working with illustrator David Kimble for 19 years but will soon break out on my own. I did an air-brush cutaway of Wilbur Shaw's 1939 Maserati 8CTF Indy car and will soon do the 1957 Maserati 250F. Also recently did a cutaway of the Pitts Model 12 bi-plane.

I have been working in the commercial field mainly but want to give a go at doing technical cutaways (all by hand) as more of a fine art endeavor. Just have to see if there will be enough interest in such an adventure to make it work.

I want to post a sample of my work but can't figure out how to do it. Any suggestions???

Cheers,

Tom

Tom, welcome to TNF. I love these kinds of drawings. I can't help you with posting, though, but I'm sure someone will be along shorty to assist you. Do you have a web site that would show your work?

Jack

[Tom Johnson]

Hi Jack,

I don't have a website yet but go to www.2wings.com and on the home page, click on Pitts 12 Cutaway Lithograph which appears under the photo. It's not a car, but will give you an idea of what I do.

Tom

[RStock]

Well , I'm no expert at this , but I'll help you all I can .

First , I assume you have a scanner/printer connected to your computer and your drawings will fit it . If so , you'll need to scan the drawing into whatever your computer uses to store them . I have Windows Vista and there is a photo gallery function . On mine , when the photo gallery is called up , under "file" , I click on "import from camera or scanner" and click again on "scan" . This will load the photo (or whatever) into the photo gallery from the scanner/printer .

From there I transfer it to my photobucket account . Photobucket is a free site , but you'll have to register for an account . I have several hundred photo's stored there myself . There are numerous such sites , image shack and the like , with pretty much the same options and capabilities , so the choice there is up to you .

How photobucket works is another story altogether . There are options to resize the photo and such , which sometimes is a good option . But it also allows you to post clickable "thumbnails" , which are small versions which will allow someone to see a full version when they click on it . I do this so as not to "spread the screen" as large photo's will . It makes it easier for your fellow posters generally . I believe this site is capable of handling large photo's without the spread happening , but posting anything over 650x800 is usually verbotten at most messageboards .

I hope I don't deter you by making it sound very complicated , it's really quit easy , or else I would never had been able to do it . A little practice and perseverance and you'll master it quite easily . If you need anymore advise or help in any way , and you probably will , pm me or make a post here and I'll gladly assist all I can . Good luck and hope to see those drawings soon .

[Tom Johnson]

Thanks, It worked!

[RStock]

Great ! Excellent work . (I mean the drawing , not figuring out how to post it , though that was good also )

[David M. Woodhouse]

Tom,

Beautiful work on the 8CTF. It reminds me of Kimble's Miller 91 front drive cutaway. You have obviously learned from the master.

Woody

[macoran]

I am hungry for more !!!!
As many cutaway artist fans will know, I am a nutter for cutaways !

Your work shows so much, fine detailing.

[alansart]

Very good. A lot of detail, constructed very well.

A lot of time and effort has gone into that - well done

[Jones Foyer]

Hi Tom. I'm an artist and designer myself and have great awe for talented technical artists like yourself, Kimble, Inamoto and others.

I am wondering though why you still talk about using an airbrush with the capabilties of doing artwork digitally. If not the linework, then at least the color...

I used to have a six foot mayline drafting table, boxes of gouache, brushes, boxes of makers, pencils, eraser dust etc... now I do all my work from a 3 foot table on bond paper and all the color and value is done on the tube.

I really appreciate a real analog piece, but today for commercial work- what benefit do you see in it? just curious.

[Tom Johnson]

The answer is simple - I work under Dave Kimble. He still works the old-school way and to get work I must adhere to his work methods. He doesn't even use e-mail. I realised a year ago that we are a dying breed so I finally caved and geared up with a computer. Have all the graphics programs and now it's just a matter of investing the time to get 'schooled up' to learn it all.

Here's a bigger bite of the first cutaway I did back in '89 - Enjoy.[IMG]http://img68.imagesh...tawaysp8.th.jpg[/IMG]

[chuckbrandt]

Welcome Tom,
Love your work. Please post more as you progress. Do some Coopers

A comment on the Pitts 12 biplane... that must be a monster. My father, a former fighter pilot, always refered to the lycoming powered pitts as "more engine than airplane", I can't imagine what it's like with a radial.

Chuck

[Jones Foyer]

Originally posted by Tom Johnson
The answer is simple - I work under Dave Kimble. He still works the old-school way and to get work I must adhere to his work methods. He doesn't even use e-mail. I realised a year ago that we are a dying breed so I finally caved and geared up with a computer. Have all the graphics programs and now it's just a matter of investing the time to get 'schooled up' to learn it all.

Here's a bigger bite of the first cutaway I did back in '89 - Enjoy.[IMG]http://img68.imagesh...tawaysp8.th.jpg[/IMG]

Well, very cool. I'm glad to hear it. I can't be bothered with cleaning an airbrush. Sad to hear about the loss of a lot of David's work in the fire a while back I have the greatest respect for talent like yours.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by Tom Johnson
The answer is simple - I work under Dave Kimble. He still works the old-school way and to get work I must adhere to his work methods. He doesn't even use e-mail. I realised a year ago that we are a dying breed so I finally caved and geared up with a computer. Have all the graphics programs and now it's just a matter of investing the time to get 'schooled up' to learn it all.

Here's a bigger bite of the first cutaway I did back in '89 - Enjoy.[IMG]http://img68.imagesh...tawaysp8.th.jpg[/IMG]

Very nice....Glad to see you've figured out how to post images! I've sent you a PM, by the way.

Jack.

[Tom Johnson]

To Everyone,

Thanks very much for all of your kind comments. One problem with doing this specialised type of work is that very few people understand it and it can make the artist feel very isolated and lonely. Thank God for blogs. It is great to have access to the small part of the population who appreciate this art form and also to be able to communicate with them so easily.

[Martin Roessler]

wow!!! exceptional work!!!
it looks so complicated...i guess i'd lose track
very impressive.....
regards marty

[Tom Johnson]

It looks complicated but what you are looking at is the final result of a series of composite drawings that have been married together to tell the story. Awful lot like building the real thing. You start with the frame, then build (draw) all the systems that make it a car and assemble them all into one final drawing. The drawing becomes the image that gets color rendered with the airbrush.

Tom