Since the launch of this web site, I have been receiving a flood of emails. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I do read every one of them. However, due to the large amount of inquiries, I’m usually unable to respond individually.

Please check this Q & A page often if you have emailed me or have any questions. I will try to answer them on this page, and it will be updated regularly. The following are some questions I get asked often.

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1. Painter Brushes

Q: What brushes do you use in your paintings?

A: I use the same 10 brushes about 99% of the time. I've tried and occasionally used others but these are the staple brushes I work with on a day to day basis. I use Painter 6 primarily, but Painter 8 brushes are included that I've found do basically the same thing. I've also included the closest Photoshop brushes, which I use occasionally when painting in that program.

Painter 5.5 / 6	Painter 9	Photoshop
Pens: Scratchboard Tool	Pens: Scratchboard Tool	Paintbrush
Brush: Camel Hair Brush	Brush: Camel Hair Brush	Pencil
Dry Media: Square Chalk	Dry Media: Square Chalk	Paintbrush
Water Color: Broad Water Color Brush	Digital Water Color: Broad Water Color Brush	Paintbrush (mode: Multiply)
Airbrush: Digital Airbrush	Airbrush: Digital Airbrush	Airbrush
Water: Grainy Water	Water: Grainy Water	Blur Tool
Water: Water Rake 5.5	Water: Water Rake	Blur Tool
F/X: Glow	F/X: Glow	Paintbrush (mode: Color Dodge)
Erasers: Eraser	Eraser	Eraser
Dry Media: Square Chalk Eraser	Dry Media: Square Chalk Eraser	Eraser
Water Color: Wet Eraser	Digital Water Color: Wet Eraser	Eraser

The brushes I use are as follows:

Camel Hair Brush (5.5)
I use this as my primary drawing brush- it has great thick-to-thin strokes. Scratchboard Tool has similar qualities and can be used to substitute Camel hair brush.

Dry Media: Square Chalk
This is my primary block in brush- thick lines, thin lines- anything I need. Go into the Brush Editor and adjust the spacing so it's continuous.

Water Color: Broad Water Brush
Use this for glazing.

Water Color: Wet Eraser
Use this to tighten up your watercolor strokes before you 'dry' them.

Digital Water Color: Wet Eraser
Photoshop: Eraser

Airbrush: Digital Airbrush
For blocking in and creating atmosphere- usually on a layer, then erase out the foreground.

F/X: Glow
For lighting effects.

Water: Grainy Water
For smudging, softening harsh lines.

Eraser: Eraser
For erasing, mainly on layers.

Water: Water Rake (5.5)
For softening harsh areas, creating a painterly effect.


Download My Painter 6 Brushes*

Download Painter 5.5.BRS

The only brush I've really 'created' or heavily modified is a Square Chalk brush that I converted to an eraser. I love the way the square brush looks and having it as an eraser too allows me to draw something on a layer and then erase back into it.

*Some of the brushes are useable only with the proper Painter Brush Library (*.BRS) file loaded.
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2. Wacom Tablet

Q: Is a 12x18 tablet crucial to creating the wide vistas shown on your site?

A: 12"x18" Wacom tablet is not necessary at all. That's just what I use at work. It’s better for your health and protects your wrists and tendons if you are doing it continually for 10 hours a day as I do. At home, I have a 6"x8" tablet, and all my personal / freelance work is done on it. When I'm on vacation, I even use a 4"x5" on my girlfriend's laptop. A larger tablet is a great investment if you work long continuous hours. You're using more of your shoulder and elbow, so it's much easier on the wrist. It will not affect the quality or accuracy of your painting.

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3. Prints for Sale

Q: Do you ever plan to have any prints or work for sale?

A: None available right now. I mostly work commercially, and the employers and clients own my work. Maybe for my personal work someday. If they become available, the information will be posted on this web site.

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4. Art Schools

Q: I was wondering if you had any information on places to study to become a concept artist.

A: I can only recommend schools based on my personal experience, but try these links.

AWN Animation School Database
Core 77 Design School List
Design Studio Press Links

Also, find out about the artists who've had training in the field and are happy with the education they've received. However, no amount of education can make you successful if you don't keep at it. I've learned a lot of what I do after school, but it wouldn't have been possible without the solid foundation.

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5. Working Resolution

Q: I noticed that many of your paintings are done in the same aspect ratio. What dimensions do you typically like to work at?

A: Generally, I start the painting by blocking in on a 1500 pixel across canvas so I can quickly use large brushes (ease of working). At work, I start with an image that's 1500x640 pixels across which is a 2:35 aspect ratio which is what Star Wars is. I block in the painting at this resolution because it's quick, when I need more detail in there I uprez it to 3000 pixels, sometimes even 4500 pixels across and finish it out- that's how big my images usually are.

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6. Tablet Position

Q: I was reading that you rigged your tablet to your chair. I am curious to know how you did that. I've got the same chair and would love to have it set up the way you described.

A: I have the large tablet, and the bottom of the tablet rests on the right armrest of the chair; the top of the tablet rests on a table which is about 5cm taller than the armrest and about 20cm away from it. It's just sitting there, but it's really stable, and I can rest my right arm on it when I'm drawing. The important thing is that the tablet should be in a position that allows your arm to comfortably rest on it for a while.

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7. Internships

Q: Did you do any internships when you were a student?

A: I wish I had. I didn't do an internship but did some freelancing while in school.
Internship is never a bad idea. It can help you see what's out there and if that's what you want to do. The real key is to keep drawing and work on your portfolio at all times. Your portfolio is everything- it determines how much you can make and what jobs you can get and tells a potential client who you are. Most bigger companies offer summer internships, so refer to their web sites or the HR department.

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8. DVD Question 1 (Audience)

Q: Are the concept art DVDs that you have at Gnomon suitable for someone with no artistic training?

A: Honestly my DVDs do assume a certain level of ability to sketch to be completely useful. But I specifically structured them to be useful even to people who just wanted to know how to get started and start to learn the theories. If I were you I'd buy (or borrow!) one DVD and just let it soak in- I'd recommend the 'Hi-Tech Architecture' as a good one to start with. It starts pretty basically and I talk about a lot of theory and composition and stuff, in addition to the 'wrist tricks' and whatnot.

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9. DVD Question 2 (Content)

Q: I'm getting ready to start purchasing DVDs from the Gnomon Workshop. Since I can't purchase all of them at once, I want to get the most bang for my buck with the first ones that I purchase.

A: When I did my DVDs, I wanted to make sure that they'd be useful and interesting even to somebody with no experience and just wants to get some insight into the industry and the process. If I were you, I'd buy one or two and see how it goes, then see if the others are worth it. The tricky thing about recommending something is that the DVDs each discuss perspective and other issues and techniques- the vehicle DVDs are pretty much straightforward- the Matte Vehicle DVD is an airplane/spaceship demo, and the Glossy Vehicle demo deals with car-like vehicles. The High Tech Architecture DVD talks a lot about one-point perspective, and the Interior Architecture DVD discusses 2-point perspective techniques. The Low-Tech Architecture DVD is another discussion of one-point perspective but focuses mainly on mood and drama and less about perspective per se.

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10. DVD Question 3 (Cost)

Q: I'd like to buy your DVD, but I'm a student and $69 is a lot of money. Can you help me?

A: If I were you and the price of the DVDs is a problem, I would try to see if your University could buy a set for their library. Gnomon offers a student discount at $49 ea. (Academic Pricing)- I know it's not that much, but it might help. I am very proud of the DVDs, I did them to share this profession with others. If that doesn't work, I think you can try and buy a set of used DVDs on Ebay- they are occasionally available.

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11. DVD Question 4 (Designer Bundle)

Q: Gnomon Workshop currently offers Analog bundles, but it'd be great to buy all of your DVDs at a discounted price. Do you know if they have plans for Designer Bundles?

A: Many more analog DVDs came out recently, and I have been getting this question a lot. I think it's a great idea. You'll have to contact Gnomon for that.

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12. Portfolio Submission

Q: How do I submit a portfolio for a concept designer position?

A: To submit a portfolio, do the research on the web, find out where the public relations or submissions request division of a company is, and send them 15-20 pages of your best work. The work will always speak for itself; if it's good then the right people will see it. And, if your work is appropriate for a job opening then you've got the job. That's the tough part; it's usually all about timing. You've got to send the right book to the right people for the right project at the right time. It's a good idea to send in 2 page updates to your portfolio 2-3 times a year to make sure they're keeping you in mind and let them know that you're serious.

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13. Good Design vs. Good Composition

Q: You have commented that "The two most important parts of what I do are Good Design and Good Composition.", what EXACTLY is the difference between Design and composition? I always thought both are similar.

A: Here's the difference as far as I see it and as it pertains to what I do.

'Design' refers to the object or scenario, the content or subject I am depicting- inventing appropriate and interesting form, detail, functionality, and character for whatever it is I've decided to come up with and paint a picture of.

'Composition' refers to the 2d portrayal of said subject matter, manipulating and leading a viewer over the 2d image through the use of contrast, perspective, line, edge, and the overall pattern of lights and darks on the page.

"Good Design" of anything- car or character or architecture or scenario or whatever- can be accomplished without any ability to portray it in a pretty picture; one can 'design' perfectly successfully by building a model or by describing it in detail or through precise but 'dull' blueprints or manufacturing drawings. That's design. Similarly, an illustrator or
painter can beautifully and effectively depict something that involves no new 'design' per se (an apple or a P-51 Mustang or a fir tree or Benjamin Franklin) in a beautiful image that displays "Good Composition".

Good Design: Refers to the thing I'm painting a picture of. Interesting, fresh, and well-conceived subject matter.

Good Composition: Refers to the painting itself. An Interesting, fresh, and well-conceived depiction of said subject matter.