SHANTH ENJETI

Comic Artwork Up Close

2012-02-08T19:10:00.000-08:00

"Speakeasy Studios" Tonalism, Caseins, and a Cavalcade of Books

2012-02-08T16:27:00.000-08:00

A collection of books that I am studying and drawing inspiration from. John Singer Sargent, Alphonse Mucha, and (at the bottom of the photo) Thomas Wilmer Dewing's beautiful Tonalist work.

Here are two casein paintings, as well as the many tables and stands with books and paint that surround them (a better look at the N.C. Wyeth book obscured in the first photo as well). I started reworking the painting on the left (my first attempt at casein painting) in order to try and shift it toward the Tonalist look I love in Thomas Wilmer Dewing's work. Nicholas E. Jainschigg, who shares the space with me, introduced me to a wonderful book on Tonalism given to him by a friend and co-worker. I am also roughing in the background in the painting on the right, to show the airship the figure is standing in. Before they are both completed, I intend to bring in some more elements that are reminiscent of Jean-Léon Gérôme's Orientalist work and its period detail.

Here is a closer look at both paintings as they stand at the moment. It has been a steep learning curve, but I am enjoying the challenges and new opportunities for exploration that these two paintings are bringing.

"Speakeasy Studios" Work

2012-02-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

Sneak a Peak at "Speakeasy Studios"

2012-01-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at the studio where I create my work. High ceilings and lots of inspiration in the form of art books, wall art, and the landscape paintings of stablemate Nicholas E. Jainschigg.

A page of sequential comic art that I am drawing, currently on my desk at the studio.

Lastly, is an image showcasing the biggest influence on a painting I posted a while back. Many have noted the obvious similarity to the pose and look of the figure in John Singer Sargent's "Madame X". The painting I am actually inspired by is another version of the painting titled, "Madame Gautreau (Unfinished)", in addition to referencing the work of Thomas Wilmer Dewing, N.C. Wyeth, Alphonse Mucha, Jean-Léon Gérôme, and Manfred Schatz.

Studio Logo

2011-10-30T11:34:00.001-07:00

"Airship Queen" caseins on masonite (in progress)

2011-10-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

Raw Scans of Black and White Art

2011-07-22T09:38:00.000-07:00

Before I desaturate the image, adjust the levels, and clean the art with the eraser tool, this is what the scanned image of my black and white art looks like.

Creating an "Immaculate Reality": Researching History, Applying Technique, and Creating a Fantasy

2011-07-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

For this personal project, I'm setting the scene in Chicago circa 1921. I needed to use a grand theater to open the narrative, and my research led me to The Chicago Theatre and the movie palaces of Balaban and Katz. Like most artists today, I start with searches on the internet. My initial search was for Chicago theaters 1920.

After finding some images of The Chicago Theatre's exterior and interior from 1921, I composed a page by warping and scaling the images in Photoshop, and printing the composition in the method I discuss in my previous posts. The 1920's have always been an obsession, and it is important that the work I do be informed by an understanding of the period's history. When I began my research, I had no idea who Balaban and Katz were, and on top of that I had two low resolution images of an ornately detailed theater that I wanted to use as a backdrop.

The next phase of my research led me to the book "The Chicago Movie Palaces of Balaban and Katz" by David Balaban. What I found in the book is the real research. Everything surrounding the creation of the theater and the people behind it. I also had the high quality images I needed to bring the setting to life.

Above is the page in its initial phase. The final illustration will require that the scene take place at night, and will require a change to the lighting of the reference image I started with.

Digital+Traditional Media and How I Experiment

2011-06-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Above is an example of a technique experiment. As many of you know, I am a big fan of Douglas Fairbanks and his silent adventure films. This vintage poster for his film "The Black Pirate" is a fun image that shows the aesthetic of the time, but I want ted to try painting into it to strengthen its value and color, and above is the original poster with my first attempt of working into a printout of the poster with traditional media.

The poster was printed onto a 11 inch by 14 inch sheet of Canson Bristol Paper on the textured surface side using an Epson Stylus 1280 printer. The color is being applied using Pelikan opaque watercolors.

This initial phase of work is not too precise and is largely about reigning in the value and color. The background work was done in order to lower the contrasts and make the overall value lighter, while the foreground elements were darkened to try to add to the depth. The color, specifically the bright reds and warm notes in the background have been cancelled out with less vibrant colors to allow for the distant ship to appear farther away.

The key elements to notice are the figure's darkened back arm and tattered fabric against the water with less contrast. The color of the arm has also been made a warmer reddish hue that allows for it to pop off the greener water.

I was also able to track down the original promotional photo used to create the poster that I will use when I work into the figure with more detail.

Warming Up and How I Work

2011-06-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Here's an image I'm using as a warm-up before I start any technique-heavy work. My approach to this image mirrors a technique I use on my black and white sequential work. This work is done on a Canson bristol-like paper that they use in their comic art line of paper. The paper was originally developed in Turkey and handles a variety of media exceptionally well. It also has the unique ability to be run through my old Epson Stylus 1280 printer which is essentially the same as this printer.

For this work, I scanned in the ancient photocopies of some of my college work, printed them in a very light grey on the Canson paper, and now I have a pristine surface that is ready to be inked and have additional pencilling done on it if need be. If this was a comic page, I would be doing the same process with my rough layouts being enlarged and printed instead.

Following this part of the process, I use Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. I tend to use the range of grey brush-tips that they make, starting with WarmGrey III 272 and then Cold Grey 232, and a dark grey (235). I use the black brush-tip as well as the black size XS pen tip (the smallest size). The panel borders are done with a black size S pen tip.

What make these pens so extraordinary is the fact that the PITT artist pen's ink is waterproof and does not bleed or smear when I lay washes of opaque watercolors over my ink lines. The pens also allow for the paint to absorb into the paper under the ink, which waterproof India Ink resists. If I want to add additional lines (and I always do) over the washes once they've dried, the pens do this with ease. I always use a blowdryer between washes for technical work to speed up the drying process.

This brings me to the paint I use on all my illustration work: Pelikan Opaque Watercolors (24 set). On images like this, I use only the black and mix it with a tube of "Zinc White" Windsor Newton Designers Gouache when I want an opaque grey. For images like this, where I'm not doing large washes, I use a round-tip Cotman watercolor brush size 2 or 3.

I also use that same tube of white to hatch into darker areas and line with white using a small round-tip watercolor brush size 0.

The image above is on a 9 inch by 12 inch sheet of the Canson paper.

"The Gunsel Geist" Final

2011-04-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't had a chance to pop this out of the frame and scan it sooner. For all of you who are interested, here is the final with the 1920's wallpaper pattern framing it in.

"The Gunsel Geist" at the RISD Museum

2011-03-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Shanth Enjeti Circa 1998

2011-03-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

My senior year in college I created a lot of work outside of homework assignments to showcase my abilities as a draftsman and sequential storyteller (such that they were my senior year in college). When I tell my students that I did not have a cell phone (not to mention a "smart phone") and that the only way anyone would see my work was if I mailed it to them or showed it in person, it always amazes me how different the world is today.

I had not taken a digital class when I graduated and I did not own a laptop or computer. I used photo copiers to reproduce my work, and this is an example of what I would mail or hand to editors my senior year (1998). Looking back at these pages of sequential art, it is amazing to me how far things have come. These pages that showcase a battle of a cyborg "Stonewall" Jackson and a heroic Abraham Lincoln make obscure references to Civil War history and used technology inspired by locomotives that seemed absurd to many teachers (not all) and made little sense to editors at the various publishers of the day.

If I had been creating this work now, invariably I would have showcased it on the internet and had an understanding that I was making work within a genre that even in 1998 had a name: "Steampunk."

There is something extraordinary about this current age in which we are living where there is an audience for any idea available and accessible to the young artists and creators of the world. Of the work I completed while at college, these pages stand as my favorites. It seems appropriate to let them see the light of day (or the screen) as a tribute to my affection for them.

Former Student! At the Disco!

2011-02-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

Andrew Fogel, a former student and friend, and his work as a member of the 'steampunk' performance group The League of Steam were featured in the newest music video for the band Panic! At the Disco. From The League of Steam's official site:

"It is our pleasure to share with you a new project we’re tremendously excited about – the music video for Panic! at the Disco’s new single “The Ballad of Mona Lisa!” Produced by Brandon Bonfiglio and directed by Shane Drake, the video features a spectacular Steampunk style, much of which was influenced and created by your very own League of S.T.E.A.M!

When the Grammy-nominated band Panic! at the Disco wanted to feature Steampunk as a main element in the music video premiere of their highly-anticipated single, they quickly contacted the League of S.T.E.A.M. for input on realizing their Steampunk vision. From props and wardrobe to background actors and set dressing, the League was able to help with numerous aspects of production."

Below is a still from the video showing Andrew in character in one of the opening shots. Congratulations, Andrew!

Nicholas E. Jainschigg Painting Blog

2011-02-16T19:47:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Nicholas E. Jainschigg, a fellow teacher, landscape painter, and the artist I share a studio with, has started a blog showcasing his incredible landscape paintings. He's put the first image up, and it is one of my absolute favorites. You can visit the blog by clicking HERE.

In "The White Room"

2011-01-30T16:29:00.000-08:00

The photos below were taken with my iPhone in the studio that Nick Jainschigg and I share that we have dubbed "The White Room" in an act of sublime laziness. With our hectic schedules, we're seldom there at the same time, so it was a rare treat to have the opportunity to swap recent book acquisitions and converse between sessions at the desk and easel.

My desk.

Nick's landscapes viewed from the white sofa.

Nick at work.

Wrapping up "The Gunsel Geist"

2011-01-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

I'm currently wrapping up this image that is an idea I had for a serialized sequential story about a pulp hero that takes place in the 1920's. The original finished art will be on display at the RISD Faculty Biennial in the RISD Chase Center this February.

Below are two posters that inspire the illustration pictured side by side.

Here are some of the the famous faces that inspired the look of these characters.

UPDATE

2011-01-16T16:24:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that this blog will be expanding, and that as of 2011, my website at Shanth Enjeti dot com is no more. This location will be my main web presence, and I will be updating the above sections in the following weeks.

In addition, my educational web log TellForward will be expanding as well!

Namasté,
Shanth

Giving Thanks for my Artist Brothers!

2010-11-25T07:25:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to take some time this morning to give thanks for my artist brothers who continue to inspire me with their brilliant work. Nick, Kevin, Arvin, Roque, Alejandro, and Bryan, I'm thankful for your friendship and for your inspiring work! Have a Happy Thanksgiving guys!

Personal Project Process Page

2010-11-07T11:04:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to L.A., I visited a friend of mine at his place of work. When we weren't chatting, I was able to get some work done on my painted story. Here it is in progress.

Kevin Mowrer Art Blog!

2010-10-20T11:48:00.001-07:00

Artist, storyteller, and "meta-story" creator Kevin Mowrer has just launched a blog to showcase his technical mastery of content driven form in an exploration of the "Steampunk" genre that is getting quite a bit of notice. As I blogged earlier, Kevin's work is so compelling because it is based in narrative exploration.

Click here and enjoy!

Thank you Wellesley College!

2010-09-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Wellesley College for inviting me this past week to give my lecture on "Mythophoric Character Design." It was a genuine pleasure to spend the afternoon with all of you and my family and I had a lot of fun walking the paths of your beautiful campus. For more on the visit as well as more photos of the event, be sure to follow this link to The Jewett Art Gallery

A special thanks to my RISD colleague and former classmate Clara Lieu. It is always a pleasure, my friend.

"The Tintin Blog" catches me in the act!

2010-09-06T13:02:00.001-07:00

Follow this link.

Roque Ballesteros

2010-06-12T21:18:00.001-07:00

One of my best friends from RISD, Roque Ballesteros, was featured in a video about his exhibition at 63 Bluxome Street!

63 Bluxome Street - Roque Ballesteros from SF Spots on Vimeo.

Muircow with Spinal Eyes

2010-05-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Why You Should "Murder your darlings"

2010-05-19T08:08:00.001-07:00

"Murder your darlings," is a popular expression used in creative pursuits. Often translated to the less poetic, "Murder your babies," this expression is used by artists to express our need to be willing to throw out ideas or elements in our creative pursuits that we have grown attached to, because they do not serve a particular work's needs.

As many of you will recall, I painted an image for a personal project that I titled, "Seqouian Muircow."

It was an interesting image, that was competently rendered, but it never felt right conceptually. Worse still, was when I created the character called "The Shucking Squid," from the same story, and it became obvious how uninspired the ideas behind my first pass of "The Sequoian Muircow" were. For a while I tried making small changes to the image, in an attempt to not have to lose all the work I had put in to the painting. In the end, there was no acceptable partial fix, and I solved my problems with a sponge and a lot of blue paint.

Starting from scratch is difficult, but one of my former RISD instructors, Tony Janello (whom I am proud to now call a colleague), taught me over a decade ago how to properly search for an honest expression of yourself. I scribbled in marker and gouache until I started to see forms that spoke to me and I pulled them out of the fog.

The character shown below is what I arrived at.

MUAD'DIB midday day 2

2010-03-02T11:42:00.000-08:00

MUAD'DIB stage 3/end day1

2010-03-01T21:17:00.001-08:00

Just after midnight and my brushes are down for the day. I'm happy with certain parts of the central figure , and I need to resolve and rework others. At this point, I'm still drawing into the painting with markers and making notes. Trying to stay loose, and scribbling over anything that seems incorrect. Nothing is sacred.

MUAD'DIB roughed in.

2010-03-01T06:55:00.000-08:00

Temple Grandin

2010-02-28T14:50:00.000-08:00

MUAD'DIB sketch

2010-02-24T10:35:00.000-08:00

NADIA

2010-02-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

Patroclus Finish

2010-02-13T12:17:00.001-08:00

A Bird in the Hand

2010-02-01T05:11:00.001-08:00

Painting Progression

2010-01-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

Devdutt Pattanaik: East vs. West -- the myths that mystify

2010-01-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

Caseins and Masonite

2010-01-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

This is a new way of working for me. Typically, I use Pelikan opaque watercolors and Strathmore Gemini watercolor paper. My work is typically small, so I wanted to try a new method that would let me work larger. At this point I'm doing experiments to learn what I can and can't do. My watercolors behave similar to caseins, but, when it comes to the way they reliquify, there are some significant differences. This makes washing areas back in value a little more difficult.

The Sumerian Painting in Progress

2010-01-18T13:36:00.001-08:00

Duare of Venus Painting "The Girl in the Garden" Progress

2010-01-18T07:45:00.000-08:00

Revised Dawn of Lambs Study

2010-01-13T12:09:00.001-08:00

Dawn of Lambs Study

2010-01-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

Patroclus Progression

2010-01-09T12:36:00.001-08:00

Special thanks to Kai Carpenter and Leela Wagner for the assist.

Mowgli

2010-01-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

The Venus Paintings

2010-01-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

The Shucking Squid

2009-11-09T21:01:00.001-08:00

Nesting Moth Larva

2009-11-02T09:45:00.001-08:00

Ancient Mystery

2009-09-23T06:09:00.000-07:00

Muircow Calf Nursing in the Mist

2009-09-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Progress

2009-09-16T16:19:00.001-07:00

Interlopers and Slingshots

2009-09-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

Bansuri Music and Lily Pads

2009-09-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Value and Texture

2009-09-12T21:53:00.001-07:00

Sequoian Muircow

2009-09-12T09:27:00.000-07:00