Thursday, August 23, 2007

Captain Ahab

Ahoy! 'Ave ye seen the white whale?
Herman Melville's Moby Dick was about Captain Ahab and his mad search for the white whale (a sperm whale), Moby Dick. Ahab was bent on revenge against the whale for taking his leg, his insanity made more poignant for his being a Quaker, a religion of non-violence that would regard revenge as a sin. Ahab had it in his head that Moby Dick was the devil himself. And in his quest for revenge, Ahab doomed his ship and his entire crew (save one) to a watery grave.

10 comments:

Josh (musarter) said...

This is an awesome captain. I love the color and texture of this picture. Ahab really looks crazed.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Great colors in sky and water! Texture too!

Bearuh said...

I love his eyes..Definetly a good touch to the whole pic.... Did you draw this by hand then color it in photoshop? its really good!

mike r baker said...

Thank you. :)

Yes, as usual, the outline is done with a Micron pen on paper. I scan it and color it in PhotoShop. I want do more traditional work but I need to find a place for a workspace. Right now I do all my stuff at the dining room table and I have to clean up and put everything away each time I finish working. When I gat a workspace I'll be doing more painting. Remember, I just started all this in March this year so I'm coming in with few supplies and little knowledge. But I'm a fast learner and I have been drawing at least something every day of my life.

Zari said...

OHHHH Mike...you surprise me! u have been on this only since March....it seems as if you've been painting for years.... your work is so great!

By the way...i also work in a v v very small corner at home, a 60x60cm table and have to clean up everything every time ...uff!...tiresome, the weird thing is that i'm an architect...uff...I design huge spaces for people but can afford a workspace for myself...$ :(

mike r baker said...

I feel for you, Zari. But that's how we start out, yes? We decide, "okay, I'm going for it!" And the supplies and space come slowly but we work with what we have until then. :) I'm a Web guy for the California State University and I feel guilty when I buy a pen. But one day I'll be making money on this and I'll have it all! Heh... I think the only reason illustrators sell their work is to justify spending all their time drawing. :)

Zari said...

oh mike....hope you are right....but till then...we'll just keep draeing and having fun ;)

Bearuh said...

I was just curious.. I really love your work!!! You are very veryyyyy talented!!!!! I think its interesting to know peoples techniques when they illustrate. I have never drawn and scanned a pic for coloring before..I hear alot of people that say they do.. I want to try it out.. it seems to give it an awesome look when finished!!

Thats cool you are a web guy. Im a web girl/UI designer for a home automation system. I have Tons more fun illustrating though!! In fact if I could find enough work around here for illustration I would do it in an instance.

Hehe.. when I make the atc cards I sometimes make them using a tiny spot on my computer desk in front of my keyboard.. or I make them on the floor. lol

Zari said...

Mike...sorry for the repetitive emails...i received yours with 2 hr delay...hope i didn't bother! :)

Absolutely Small said...

That is awesome!