study vector brush

**handrawn** · 24 January 2008, 10:12 PM

this is a study of part of Heath Robinson's frontpeice for The Camp Followers from Bill the Minder

it was done in creaturehouse epression 3

I limited myself to the one brush only, the one brush size only and a 'speed drew' it - ie just drawing the line in one go, no erase or back track, no real stopping to think too hard. Garphire 3 tablet.

It took 30 minutes.

I cannot post the original as it is copyright, and know of no legitimate copy on the web.

oh for xara to have vector brushes like these, but I promised not bang on about that, sorry.

I have attached the E3 file [zipped] for those with E3 - and xar file for those without, for those who might be interested. The drawing was ported from E3 to xara as ai7.
The xara file is a bit big 1.25MB
The E3 file is 234KB
.

**handrawn** · 26 January 2008, 10:42 AM

and with the outlines switched out [duh....]

I like this - it would be a different line style - but the best digital 'inking' for me that I have found so far....

**steve.ledger** · 26 January 2008, 10:45 AM

Steve, on which OS have you installed E3?

**handrawn** · 26 January 2008, 10:52 AM

Hi Steve

XP home edition SP2 updated to latest criticals.

**zaphodeist** · 27 January 2008, 03:26 PM

That's really good Steve

My introduction to Heath Robinson was via Professor Brainstawm books - they weren't the same when somebody else took over the illustrating

John

**handrawn** · 27 January 2008, 03:59 PM

Thanks very much John - I was very pleased with the way it came out and I appreciate your comments.

Reason for choosing this was it's a piece of art that has been close to my heart since I was 6 [a long time ago] - very very familiar - so it was an excellent benchmark for me.

Professor Branestawm - wow thats going back a bit too, but no doubt a young lad such as yourself was reading reprints

**zaphodeist** · 27 January 2008, 04:14 PM

I wish they had been first editions £££!

Puffin versions only. My Dad had half-a-dozen first-edition Ronald Searle's (including two St Trinians) but I think a relative snaffled them when I wasn't looking!

Yeah, I think you've caught Heath-Robinson's style to a 'T'

And that fish is typical of HR's humour: studious human with angling gear and the quarry is a few feet away laughing

John

**handrawn** · 27 January 2008, 04:34 PM

Sadly my copy of Bill the Minder is the 'cheaper edition' - mind you if it was a first, I don't think I'd dare open it.

Ronald Searle - another genius - got lots of his book - he and Gerald Scarfe were the people I wanted to be when I first started doodlin.

If you ever get to see the original of the camp followers - you will see that there are fish all the way round.
One thing about the style - common at the time [1912] -there's a lot of white space [blank paper].
Used very effectively here - you don't need to draw water or waves, just a few ripples.

Thanks again for the comments.

**zaphodeist** · 27 January 2008, 04:56 PM

£695! I like to keep books in good condition but what's the point if you can't enjoy them ?! Not found illustrations yet, except for a tv cartoon version

- I'll have another look around after Time Team

John

**handrawn** · 27 January 2008, 05:19 PM

ah the TV version as I recall didn't really have a lot to do with Bill the Minder the book - but more to do with the 'strange contraptions and machines' that WHR became famous for later on.

you have not seen this then
http://www.peterharringtonbooks.com/stock_18290.asp