Ciro Art

Ellis Island Illustration

2011-06-05T21:35:00.001-04:00

I hope I win! :]

Higher

2011-05-06T00:33:00.002-04:00

2011-02-02T22:27:00.003-05:00

This was an illustration of the letter H done for a Thank You card for which a different illustrator was assigned a different letter in the two words "Thank You". My letter had to symbolize art, so I illustrated myself making art from art. You could say, I made art of myself making art from art:D

Here's the sketch. . .

Old Souls and Open Roads

2010-10-15T17:58:00.001-04:00

sleeve illustration for a mix cd i made

Hamlet

2010-10-14T00:38:00.001-04:00

2010-06-19T16:06:00.003-04:00

2010-03-17T21:40:00.001-04:00

This piece was influenced by a lot of things. First and foremost by an upcoming show that I wanted to be a part of and have something new and original for. Second, I wanted to really get the flesh tones right - so I really focused on getting these right in this piece. Also, I wanted to create a few pieces targeted to a younger audience. This being the first I hope it does that. oh and also, owls are just awesome. enjoy!

tiny little robots

2010-03-07T20:13:00.001-05:00

here's my submission for the tiny little robots contest + a detail image. The tiny little robots contest was the most recent of the area 221 blog contests and I had lotsa fun drawing my submission. I decided to go with something literal and straight-forward, using the scale of the hand to make the robots appear smaller.

I'm happy with the colors (can't go wrong with orange) and composition. Overall its my favorite of my own pieces. It took about 20 - 30 hours in total on photoshop. As always, I hope you guys enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed making it;]

Girl Feeding Ducks

2010-03-01T09:47:00.003-05:00

Here's my most recent piece. and the link to the stock i used is here (thanks naamonet!). I'm happy with it. completed in photoshop, took about 30 hours all in all. The water was the most frustrating of all the elements, so I made a custom brush just for it and I hope it looks good. Also the dress gave me a tough time too - it was very fun and as always a learning experience;]

new ciroart icon

2010-02-20T14:26:00.001-05:00

new icon, just for a change from the one i had with the monk robe on;]

Or Give Me Death

2010-02-20T11:42:00.000-05:00

This is the first piece I have completed with a cool color scheme, rather than the warm tones I am accustomed to using. It was very difficult but needless to say an excellent learning experience. I struggled A LOT, all in all this piece took me about 40 or so hours to complete. All done in photoshop.

sketches from my sketch book

2010-02-19T11:29:00.001-05:00

sketches from my book. one of my new years resolutions was to finish at least one sketchbook this year. I'm terribly undisciplined when it comes to keeping a sketchbook and sticking to it.

rough

2010-02-08T10:13:00.003-05:00

The value of expression is immeasurably relevant to everything you and I touch including, but not limited to, artwork. This is something I have to relearn again and again. I'm so attached to playing it safe and sticking to reference that often my pieces lack an emotional energy that can only be exposed through loose, rough, sketching. So, my most recent brushes do more than apply textures, I try to make it so that they apply the characteristics of traditional mediums that move through matter with less control than do digital mediums. Here's my most recent work-in-progress.

sketch

2010-02-07T01:32:00.002-05:00

sketch

2010-02-04T00:40:00.001-05:00

2010-01-15T00:27:00.000-05:00

This is a piece that I did to kick off the new year. I looked to see if anyone had already done it and was surprised to find that there was no planet of the (babes) parodies. This took a total of about 20 - 35 hours in photoshop. I used reference for Charlton Heston's face and for the costume which is still not 100% accurate. Also I used some reference for the trees and bushes because I cannot draw those kinds of things off the top of my head. I hope this pieces brings you some laughs!

non stop

2010-01-04T23:42:00.003-05:00

I've been at it all day, drawing, reading, running, eating, writing. . .trying to stick to my resolutions. The drawing is coming out great, i can't wait to show you guys, its called "Planet of the . .." and it will be one of two of my spectrum entries this year. I hope I get in! I'll keep ya'll posted.

Celebrate Detonate

2009-12-22T21:36:00.004-05:00

scribbling and testing out a new brush I made. The model for this is JaneJayne from DA (thank you!). I tried several different color schemes before coming to this conclusion. This sketch helped clear up some artist's block I've been having. I don't know when my next post will be so just in case, Happy Holidays to all and thanks for visiting my blog:]

finished

2009-12-13T11:52:00.001-05:00

Heres the finished result. In total this took about 15 hours roughly.
The model used for reference is Bienchen-Stock from DA:
http://bienchen-stock.deviantart.com/

sci fi chick

2009-12-11T13:07:00.001-05:00

a work in progress

subway scene

2009-12-04T11:24:00.001-05:00

10-16-09 sketch

2009-10-17T09:12:00.003-04:00

justa sketch i put together last night - nothing special. I might tighten or I might not we'll see how I feel. Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Hunter of Herbs

2009-10-05T18:10:00.005-04:00

This started as one of those concepts I just had to get out of my head and on to paper (or photoshop rather). This took me about 25 - 30 hours on the tablet over the course of a weekend.

The narrative is simple. A woman going out into the forest to forage for medicine. The message is just as simple: the natural world around us is abundant with all the things we need to live from.

The model used for reference is Bienchen-Stock from DA:
http://bienchen-stock.deviantart.com/

Also, its frightening to know that for the last 5 years I've been saving files in photoshop incorrectly! I know can you believe it? Well here's the scoop on the right way to do it:
http://www.viget.com/inspire/the-mysterious-save-for-web-color-shift/

2009-09-25T14:03:00.001-04:00

This is a painting I did referenced Bouguereau's Work Interrupted as reference for the background (did not trace, referenced). For the model I referenced Mrs.Dollaway-Stock from Deviant Art, she provided the very lovely dress, pose, and umbrella. All in all this took about 20 - 30 hours to paint which is about twice as long as i normally spend on any painting. This was done completely in Photoshop and I hope you will enjoy.

References:
MrsDollaway-Stock:
http://mrsdollaway-stock.deviantart.com/

Bouguereau Work Interrupted:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_%281825-1905%29_-_Work_Interrupted_%281891%29.jpg

Nude Study

2009-09-20T14:23:00.000-04:00

need some ref. for the bg, but done with the figure

Air Wok

2009-09-17T14:26:00.002-04:00

This is something I've always wanted to do but never really put the time into. The concept is a futuristic Chinese Take Out place clearly not getting much traffic. Hit by the future recession?

Death By Desire

2009-09-11T02:21:00.003-04:00

This piece took me about 15 hours all in all. It's somewhat of a follow-up to my Concept City done in early 2008. Much thanks Shifty J for providing some of the custom brushes (Midnight City set).

mustang vs. messerschmitt

2009-09-09T11:45:00.000-04:00

2009-08-02T18:36:00.000-04:00

yep

2009-08-02T18:35:00.003-04:00

Blue - J

2009-07-21T18:03:00.003-04:00

The last few months I've been super busy between my day job, mischief, and the jersey journal - which I recently had to depart from for a position at Spek Studios in Brooklyn. Needless to say - nothing I produced there was portfolio-worthy material so there was nothing for me to really post here. My position at Spek should allow for plenty more creative breathing space and I should be able to get the ball rolling as it was earlier this year. Here's a sketch to kick off a new phase in my creative career as an Illustrator, Designer, Animator . . . and whichever medium I may choose to express myself in.

we are ____.

2009-06-23T00:56:00.002-04:00

The Crash (wide)

2009-05-29T17:13:00.001-04:00

shiney

2009-05-11T15:46:00.001-04:00

cute + cute

SADIM Highlights

2009-05-10T22:53:00.005-04:00

The clock is ticking as we slowly make our way into the 11th day of SADIM (Sketch-a-day in May). Each May of every year Area221 members complete one sketch for each day of the week, some fall behind others make it thru all 30 days. Here are some highlight submissions on my part, to view all submissions from all members please visit the blog at www.area221.blogspot.com

Portrait of Ella Rue

2009-05-10T22:40:00.003-04:00

When Ella Rue saw my 'Origins' Self Portrait, she knew she had to have one some day. So after several months of finding references, sorting thru thumbs and images, its finally come together.

A cue rack and dart board may create a playful, drinking game environment, but Ella plays for higher stakes at the poker table where she sternly places her royal flush on the table. She washes down her smirk with a dry martini.

To learn more about Ella Rue, please visit ellarue.com.

It's been a while

2009-04-09T19:14:00.002-04:00

Hey good people,
I just wanted to keep you guys all informed on whats up. I'm currently working on several projects as well as selling some prints and exhibiting in a few shows (one in Jersey City and another in Union City, NJ). I just finished my second Photoshop workshop at New Jersey City University 'Capturing Color'where I shared EVERYTHING I know about managing color in Photoshop. I'll take a minute some time next week to keep everything here and on my main site ciroart.com fresh and up to date.

-Ciro

its never too late

2009-03-17T00:13:00.001-04:00

Friday Sketches

2009-03-08T22:59:00.001-04:00

these were some sketches I put together onnn friday? yeah friday. the one up top is just practice w/o reference. The drawing below is my entry for the 221 contest "Revenge of the Nerds". I didn't want to spend too much time on either of the two so I can develop more character and style in my artwork. I noticed that I tend to over render things at times. This should help prepare me for sketch-a-day-in-may! which is right around the corner.

Red Dress

2009-02-25T01:49:00.004-05:00

dayum

2009-02-25T01:49:00.003-05:00

forgot to post this one. enjoy. if none of these get into eye candy or alluring lines I'll self publish something on demand.

K'naan - ABC's Video

2009-02-23T00:32:00.004-05:00

I recently had the excellent opportunity of helping out at Spek Studios (www.suspek.com) with K'naan's ABC's music video. It was very exciting seeing it all come together in the end, and as a bonus I can now animate in photoshop. This weekend it's The Dream Rockin That Shit and we're playing with dots. Excuse the low-quality, uploading videos into blogger.com seems to do that.

metaliq

2009-02-23T00:30:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to get as many submissions ready for the next Eye Candy by Brand Studio Press. I'm a big fan of Alberto Ruiz's Pinups and it'd be an honor (not to mention great publicity) to get into the next version.

Hit First, Hit Fast, Hit hard

2009-02-18T14:30:00.003-05:00

Lost Empire

2009-02-11T10:20:00.004-05:00

When proposed to submit a piece for the upcoming show here in Jersey City entitled 'TRACE', I was truly confused as to what to enter. Several ideas came to mind but none rational when considering the time required to produce them. So last night while sketching I produced this image of Manhattan. Set in what could be the near future, the entire city is flooded under water, with the exception of the few skyscrapers tall enough to remain unsubmerged. A fishing boat passes across the foreground to indicate that human life has manages to still exist in these harsh new environments. Small Icebergs float the opposite direction in the middleground to create scale and distance.

Blood, Sweat & Tears Cover

2009-01-31T20:11:00.003-05:00

Having so many issues with the ear, this is maybe the 5th or 6th time i've uploading this image. Most of which has remained the same, with the exception of the ear which now thanks to a friend of mine who keeps pointing it out *cough* mano *cough*, will drive me to my grave.

Club City Ghost 2009

2009-01-29T01:30:00.003-05:00

ugh finally i was able to finish something to kick off the year! Between settling back into my old town and settling back into my personal workspace, i should have suspected a creative block was inevitable. But here this is, started out as a streetscape and decided to throw in some characters to add, well - character to this illustration. I hope u enjoy it as much as i enjoyed putting it together. My favorite part is the color scheme and how the reds and oranges really stand out.

I keep having the strangest dream (c)2008

2008-12-26T09:29:00.002-05:00

Winter Cleaning

2008-12-03T06:12:00.002-05:00

If you're a frequent visitor, you might notice things have shifted around a bit. I cleaned out some old artwork and changed the over all color scheme. I want to keep this blog from being a mirror image of my main site ciroart.com by posting more frequent updates, sketches, and just general info on techniques and process you would't get on my main site.

Unleashed

2008-12-01T19:26:00.003-05:00

yum yum, human meat.
This was inspired by a technique Damani Hughes picked up recently, painting over a painting or photograph and loosely referencing it for composition and color.

Demo Poster

2008-12-01T01:46:00.008-05:00

Damani and I really enjoyed the experience of teaching what we know to the students of New Jersey City University. We're excited about doing another live demonstration so if you missed it, theres another coming up in 09'.
design and typography by madelynne delarama

Alluring Lines (latest entries)

2008-12-01T01:36:00.004-05:00

These are a few pinups I did for the upcoming book Alluring Lines, which is still in the early stages of being developed. We're taking our time with this one, we really want to catch some attention.
As for the these two drawings, they were inspired by the work of madelynne delarama who I noticed had a much more subtle, softer technique when rendering women. I was being a bit heavy handed at first, but after taking a closer look at her technique...I minimized my color palette to create more gradual changes in my gradations.