Mark’s Sketchblog: The Art of Mark Haldane

New Website

2012-01-13T03:38:00.002Z

Now that it's 2012 I thought it was time I finish my homepage. I abandoned the previous, unfinished one in favour of something with a neater design and one that's a little more phone-friendly. I.E. not Flash. Anyway, check it out: www.markhaldane.com

Testing Mobile Uploads

2012-01-07T14:28:00.002Z

Go-go is So Yesterday

2012-01-07T05:03:00.006Z

I trying to sketch some famous faces from memory instead of sleeping like a sensible person. After drawing her face, however, I couldn't think what to next. She changes looks more than a chameleonic metaphor (...meh heh heh...) This somewhat dated version of her is all I could remember.

24

2011-12-25T01:31:00.004Z

I was going to try and do advent pic 24 before bed, but I've been out this evening and now it's Christmas. I don't want to rush another pic and I don't want to be cranky and sleep deprived tomorrow. And since my pics have nothing to do with advent, really, so I hope you'll forgive me if I finish the series with the final two pics on Christmas evening or boxing day. I hope you'll have plenty of things to distract you tomorrow anyway. Have a good one!

Advent | 23 | Bill

2011-12-24T01:32:00.002Z

Advent | 22 | Han

2011-12-24T01:31:00.001Z

Advent | 21 | Dead Men Tell the Trails

2011-12-23T00:42:00.002Z

A bit of a speed painting. I didn't bother with any reference imagery, so my medical and forensic art graduate friends will probably be quick to spot the inaccuracies in this drawing. I've spotted a few myself now, looking back on it.

Advent | 20 | Remains to Be Seen

2011-12-22T01:19:00.001Z

Advent | 19 | Han Gliding

2011-12-21T17:35:00.002Z

Advent | 18 | Seen the Light

2011-12-21T01:17:00.002Z

Advent | 17 | Captive Audience

2011-12-19T23:51:00.004Z

Advent | 16 | City View

2011-12-19T17:53:00.003Z

Advent | 15 | Dream a Little Dream of Me

2011-12-17T23:02:00.003Z

Based on this.

Advent | 14 | Flamer

2011-12-16T16:12:00.002Z

Fan Art

2011-12-15T16:16:00.002Z

I've just realised that in the years I've run this blog, I've only got two posts tagged with "fan art". I so rarely draw other people's stuff now, I've always tried to focus on my own. But I probably should do more of it, it's a good way to learn.

Simpsons, The

2011-12-15T15:43:00.008Z

Some 10-second scribbles. I'd really love to animate these characters if I were allowed to loosen them up from their model sheets. I love the early characters where Matt Groening's style (or at least some sense of cartooning) can be seen. None of the later characters are any fun, with their realistic hair styles and evenly-proportioned faces. They look so unrewarding to draw. Nothing abstract or stylistic about them. Celebrities playing themselves on the show now are the worst. They try to transform them into their simplistic style but without any caricature, so they're just unrecognisable without "Wow, it's _____ ______ from ______ __ ___ ______! What are you doing in Springfield?". Maybe they're afraid of offending their guest stars with any kind of exaggeration in their drawings? It wasn't always this bad.

Then, and now.

Advent | 13 | Hairbrained

2011-12-14T21:36:00.003Z

Detail:

Advent | 12 | Prometheus

2011-12-14T00:25:00.001Z

Advent | 11 | A Trip to the Moon

2011-12-12T23:34:00.005Z

Detail:

Advent | 10 | Skeletons in the Closet

2011-12-12T01:26:00.001Z

Advent | 9 | Lit a Fire Under Him

2011-12-11T02:59:00.008Z

This was originally just a rope bridge over a canyon, because a rope bridge never fails to put me on the edge of my seat. But it just wasn't interesting enough to look at, and guy-I-don't-have-a-name-for-yet just wasn't standing out from the ground. Rocks, plants or water could have helped, but they're too calm and pleasant - as if hanging off a bridge didn't already make the scene dangerous enough. Lava also adds an additional element of "where is he, and what is he doing there?"

Also, I've decided to switch to four fingers for these guys. The more realistic I draw hands, the weirder it looks to have just 3 fingers.

Advent | 8 | Grotesque

2011-12-09T00:17:00.002Z

I'm not sure what I was channelling here, it just came out.

Advent | 7 | "I Don't See Him in Here"

2011-12-08T22:00:00.003Z

The Invisible Man is only invisible as the air around him.

Advent | 6 | Freezing Bridges

2011-12-07T23:02:00.004Z

Was rather dissatisfied with yesterday's picture, so I decided to do this one in a different style. It works better for this sort of thing - scenery and natural forms- and it is a lot more therapeutic to paint. The more cartoony style its a lot more precise and requires a lot more attention to detail if you're doing a complex scene.

I'm still a day behind, but I keep starting these pictures late and then I have no juice left to start another. I need to start early one day to catch up. Ideally I'd like to do 3 in one day, so the picture is up at the start of the corresponding day.

Advent | 5 | Something Overlooked

2011-12-06T23:54:00.002Z

A quick one.

Advent | 4 | Spell Check

2011-12-05T21:00:00.004Z

I didn't have time to finish colouring this one yesterday and I've been busy today. Advent pic 5 is on the way now. I should add that this guy is a bit of an occult enthusiast, a would-be wizard even, should the title pun go missing.

Advent | 3 | Fetch

2011-12-03T23:59:00.004Z

Relevant reading...

Advent | 2 | Ure Mine

2011-12-02T23:55:00.008Z

I liked using light in three different ways to depict each character.

Advent | 1 | Icebreaker

2011-12-01T22:46:00.003Z

Haven't painted for a while, feeling quite rusty. I was totally "how the heck..." when it came to painting the aurora, but it turned out quite good. The boat, however - which I expected to be easy - proved tedious and tricky.

Advent Drawings

2011-11-27T13:50:00.003Z

To try and get out of my rut and into drawing again, I've decided I'm going to do another series of Advent illustrations - a new picture each day of December leading up until Christmas. I didn't have a theme last year, but I'd like one this time to help connect them all. My top idea at the moment is to make it about The Yeggmen (an inappropriate working title for a comic I've been developing), and have each picture based on a story idea, almost like a cover shot, or just have some kind of illustration that'll help define the the characters and setting a little. What do you think?

If you have any other ideas for a theme, post a comment!

Brian

2011-11-22T20:21:00.004Z

I'm watching some testimonies on The Leveson Inquiry and doodling Brian Leveson. He has a distinctive face which is fun to draw.

Yeah, good luck with your work, I'ma have a snooze

2011-11-15T22:51:00.004Z

Something I scribbled on a long train journey after the pub on a piece of scrap paper on my lap. I might do a better picture based on this, as I really liked the contrast between these two girls.

Colour

2011-11-11T23:06:00.005Z

Some more meddling. Inspired by the restricted colour palettes of old computer games.

Something Dark This Way Dwells

2011-11-11T22:36:00.004Z

After failing with making a new avatar I just started some frustrated doodles, which quickly became this.

Me

2011-11-11T22:32:00.002Z

Decided to make myself a new Twitter icon, but it turned out I didn't like how it looked scaled down that small. Now I don't know if I like it or not.

The Poles

2011-11-10T22:58:00.004Z

Since completing my Masters course I've either been working or doing nothing, beyond a bit of writing and development for future ideas. But that's not drawing, and I'm trying to get back into doing that regularly. These are a few post it doodles I did while watching Frozen Planet. I'm feeling incredibly rusty and uncreative - here's hoping I can beat it.

Smelling like a Brewery, Looking like a Tramp

2011-10-26T03:46:00.003+01:00

Doodles on a Bank Letter

2011-10-26T01:26:00.005+01:00

Something I've been doing the past few hours without really realising. Excuse the personal information marker-penned out.

Light Paint

2011-10-24T19:44:00.002+01:00

Improvements

2011-09-01T01:56:00.006+01:00

After reading about the Star Wars Blu-Ray release I got to thinking that some of my own work is not as good as it could be, and I decided to go back and revise some comics that just didn't work as visuals alone.

I'm sure the fans are going to love it.

Conflicting Ideas - Full Film

2011-08-27T17:50:00.002+01:00

"An artist's rivaling creations fight for his attention."

The culmination of my year in MSc Animation and Visualisation. A short film that combines traditional 2D animation with live action with some VFX to boot.

Conflicting Ideas - Behind the Scenes

2011-08-23T12:10:00.001+01:00

A short look at the production of my latest film which combines 2D animation with live action, in which an artist's prior creations exist in the same world he does - but not peacefully.

See more of this project here: http://upsidethebox.blogspot.com

Conflicting Ideas

2011-08-21T22:10:00.003+01:00

Conflicting Ideas

2011-08-20T19:57:00.003+01:00

A few stills from my latest film, which I just did the finishing touches on yesterday. It's not available to watch yet, but shall be premièred at the Dundee Masters Show next Saturday.

Trooper's Helmet

2011-07-23T02:47:00.005+01:00

I was always concerned that Trooper's backwards cap came across too retro. I don't know why I never tried giving her a colander before. Totally what an 8-year-kid playing space marines might do.

Chucking Out Time

2011-07-02T23:00:00.005+01:00

It's been a while since I've updated this blog. Haven't had room on my mind for anything outside my masters project, which is in the animation stage just now. I'll try and get some more stuff up soon once it all starts taking shape.

Drawing in 3D

2011-05-14T00:20:00.003+01:00

An experiment in MS Paint. An experiment I would call a success. The first time I've ever drawn a three-dimensional picture. I've taken 3D photographs and I've converted 2D images to 3D, but drawing in 3D is something else. I wonder where I could take this...

You'll need red/cyan glasses for this, of course.

Max & Tracker

2011-05-09T12:57:00.001+01:00

I rather liked drawing today's comic.

D'ARK Explosion

2011-05-08T15:46:00.002+01:00

Some 2D effects animation I did for an undergraduate film. The environment here it only a temporary render for layout purposes, it's not the look of the final film. No sound effects or camera shake were added for this render, but will be added in the final composite of the film.

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T00:00:00.001+01:00

Gravity Shift

2011-03-10T19:10:00.005Z

I was watching Inception while doing some work this afternoon and felt like experimenting with some photos. I wouldn't mind doing something like this one a more ambitious scale, maybe doing a whole set. Just to see how much I can do without any rigs or post trickery. Getting the angle of the camera would do a lot to help, however I fear the lighting is always going to make it hard for the mind to accept as being real.

What I really like is the depth of space. A few weeks ago I was realising that even a small room seems dangerous big if it was turned on its side. Just a few steps across a room could turn into a dangerous fall.

Pub Sketch

2011-03-01T00:43:00.001Z

Lenses

2011-02-26T19:41:00.002Z

Cast

2011-02-24T00:10:00.003Z

Stand-ins/references for animated characters in my current live action/animation crossover film. Certainly is fun to draw this big after drawing so many small comic panels. It's also nice to see the result matches the small drawings quite well.

Sketchgroup

2011-02-20T22:08:00.002Z

Pancake

2011-02-20T01:47:00.001Z

A doodle in Uni to try out the Wacom Intuos 4.

Observational Drawing

2011-02-08T02:32:00.002Z

Busked Out

2011-01-28T17:43:00.005Z

Something I doodled in my back pocket notebook in a lecture theatre yesterday and rather liked.

Moonrise

2011-01-20T20:04:00.005Z

I noticed the moon low in the sky last night, and seeing as how today was a relatively clear day I got ready to watch the moon come up again. The thin layer of cloud made it extra interesting.

Lyle's Party

2011-01-05T05:00:00.000Z

Close up of the first panel of this strip for those interested in a little visual detail.

Playing Dead

2011-01-04T22:47:00.001Z

Another Year Gone

2011-01-01T18:01:00.007Z

I made a post last January, looking at how long I've been using this blog and counting up the number of posts. This year I've made more posts than any of the previous years, however take away the Advent pictures and it ends up about the same as last year. On average I post 65 times a year. That's just over 5 posts a month, or at least once a week.

Let's see if I can do more stuff this year and improve my skills.

2011

Additional: I do worry about eventually running out of space on my account. With all the blogs I've made over the past few years I've used up 7.93% of my allocated picture space... Maybe they'll increase the size in a few years before I run out. If not, time to start paying/deleting. Hope I can swing $5 a year...

Advent Drawings

2010-12-26T04:08:00.002Z

Granted it is winter, but I'm seeing a distinct lack of strong, warm colours. Maybe that's something I should experiment with next year.

I didn't get a chance to draw a Christmas picture on Christmas Eve or Day, sadly, but I shall try and do something on Boxing day to cap this off. Would that be too late?

Advent Drawing 24

2010-12-25T05:15:00.001Z

Advent Drawing 23

2010-12-24T18:15:00.001Z

Advent Drawing 22

2010-12-24T04:40:00.000Z

Advent Drawing 21: "Christmas in the year 2525"

2010-12-23T02:44:00.006Z

Heading home for the holidays and the socialising this brings pushed me a little behind. So here's a bonus alternate version!

Advent Drawing 20

2010-12-22T04:28:00.002Z

Santos and Snowman: Toyz n the Hood

2010-12-21T17:08:00.003Z

Happy Holidays! from axisanimation on Vimeo.

Santos and Snowman treat us to their 'Toyz n the Hood' story!

Season's Greetings from everyone at Axis and Flaunt!

Producer & Director - Lucy Teire
Layout & Animation - Mark Haldane
Character Design & Compositing - Weerawat Mungkung
Background Painting - Reza Dolatabadi
Sound Design - Audiojigsaw
Voices - Jeremy Hitchen
Music - Deff Syndicate

Advent Drawing 19

2010-12-19T08:00:00.000Z

Advent Drawing 18

2010-12-18T21:01:00.002Z

Advent Drawing 17

2010-12-18T18:13:00.001Z

Advent Drawing 16

2010-12-18T16:37:00.001Z

Advent Drawings...

2010-12-18T00:04:00.003Z

...Are coming soon! Just finished a job I was doing which took up all my time. It was meant to be released today but there was some issue that needed resolving so it looks like it'll be out on Monday. More on this, on... Monday.

Advent Drawing 15

2010-12-17T13:06:00.001Z

Advent Drawing 14

2010-12-17T03:51:00.002Z

Advent Drawing 13

2010-12-17T03:43:00.002Z

Advent Drawing 12

2010-12-13T04:03:00.002Z

Advent Drawing 11

2010-12-12T04:56:00.003Z

It's going straight to the patent office once I figure out the return journey.

Advent Drawing 10

2010-12-11T05:17:00.002Z

0.1mm pen tip proved too big and the paper was a little too absorbent.

Advent Drawing 9: "Relative Heat"

2010-12-10T03:43:00.003Z

Advent Drawing 8: "Where Cadavers Come From"

2010-12-09T22:55:00.007Z

Advent Drawing 7: "Whisky"

2010-12-07T19:50:00.003Z

Advent Drawing 6

2010-12-07T05:12:00.000Z

Advent Drawing 5

2010-12-05T11:59:00.001Z

If I have time, I'll do two tomorrow.

Advent Drawing 4

2010-12-04T18:01:00.002Z

There's so much more I would like to do to this picture, but alas I haven't the time.

Advent Drawing 3

2010-12-03T10:00:00.002Z

Be sure to check out Lynsey's Game Advent drawings too!

Advent Drawing 2

2010-12-02T09:30:00.002Z

Other Advent Artists

2010-12-01T23:58:00.005Z

I'm not alone in this art advent task! Be sure to check out Sarah's 'Madvent' (one picture made from 24 daily drawings) and Tom's 'Advent of Game'.

Advent Drawing 1

2010-12-01T18:33:00.003Z

Here's my latest challenge: I'm going to do a picture a day chronicling the run up to Christmas as I experience it.

Elwood in the Kitchen

2010-11-30T17:06:00.004Z

A rough first test for an effect I'm going to be using for my Masters project. There's a lot wrong with it but I discuss it all on my other blog: upsidethebox.blogspot.com/2010/11/first-compositing-test.html

Stepping Back

2010-11-27T19:32:00.003Z

I just made a new banner for this blog, and at the same time changed the name from "my sketch blog", one I only kept because I liked how the words fitted together. I've had it for four years now, time for a change. Remember when the blog used to look like this? Simpler times...

Sunday Sketchgroup - 14-11-10

2010-11-22T00:58:00.002Z

Miniatures

2010-11-19T02:53:00.011Z

Something I started a while ago and realised I'd never posted online...

I made these by imitating a very shallow depth of field (along with a few other effects). It was inspired by this video:

gottardo nord from fb1 visuals on Vimeo.

I don't think I'm going to invest in any tilt shift equipment, but I'm interesting in trying it out with video using the same digital effects I used for these photos.

None of these photos were taken with this effect in mind so some work better than others. I need to do some research & experimentation, but I thiiink telephoto shots work better than wide ones when it comes to reducing the perceived scale. Or the position of the camera might be more important - shots looking down rather than straight on.

Time Displacement

2010-11-16T23:16:00.005Z

Playing around with time displacement effects on a flat piece of footage. No compositing.

Life Drawing 12-11-10

2010-11-12T12:13:00.001Z

Making of Trooper

2010-11-11T01:41:00.007Z

A behind the scenes look my degree film Trooper. As part of the submission we had to produce a 'making of' film documenting the production process. A few folk have expressed interest in seeing it so I've uploaded it.

This was made right at the end of production when I was pretty worn out, so much as I tried, I don't sound very alive. Maybe I'll hire a narrator to re-do it...

Making of Trooper from Mark Haldane on Vimeo.

Some More Life Drawing

2010-11-09T04:50:00.003Z

Sunday Sketchgroup

2010-11-08T02:29:00.004Z

Most of my drawings from today. The first two pages didn't scan right (ink/contrast issue) and weren't good enough to warrant a redo.

Arms

2010-11-06T01:34:00.002Z

I've got some more drawings from this class and the previous one, but they're on A3 paper so I won't get them here till I get access to an A3 scanner or get them in good light for a photo. Or I could scan them as two A4s and stitch them together, but that's not happened yet.