Elevate His Man Cave: Bold Artwork for the Modern Gentleman
Giclée Prints from Masonite Originals
About the Process: “From Doodles to Fine Art”
Step 1: The Sketchbook Phase
Each of these stylish and moody Ladies begins with a simple, loose drawing in my sketchbook. I used zero references and pulled them entirely out of my head. All work is done by hand using no A.I. I was going for an edgy, sultry appeal that would work well in a “man cave” context. I use a non-photo blue pencil (Col-Erase 20044). This humble pencil has been a staple in my toolkit since my animation days at Marvel Productions LTD, where I first learned to storyboard. I still reach for these by the box. My creative routine often involves afternoons at my favorite brewery, sketching freely over a Hazy IPA (hey, semi-retirement has its perks!).
Step 2: Refining the Vision
Once I’m happy with the sketch, I scan it and enlarge it onto bond paper, allowing for greater detail. I then use a sharp, black wax-based Prismacolor pencil to tighten and refine the figure, adjusting the pose, adding definition, and enhancing the rendering.
Step 3: Transferring to Canvas or Masonite
With the final drawing in hand, I start the painting process on gessoed masonite or canvas. And here’s where a new approach I’m doing kicks in: this technique allows me to maintain the integrity of the rendering when transferring the image to the surface. I begin by scanning, mirroring it, and outputting it onto bond paper. Then, face-down, using a soft acrylic medium, I transfer the image using a brayer and then wash away the bond pulp. This maintains the utmost detail of the wax pencil while offering a significant leg-up as I begin the painting process and, eventually, the finishing touches. The monochromatic palette and strong character designs are ideal for nitch marketing of collectors looking for unique, story-driven art pieces.