Todd Quackenbush
About: A professional graphic designer who is also illustrating a children’s book, "Wally & Koala".
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May 
When Todd’s friends need a Sharpie®, they don’t bother asking him if he has one. He’s learned his lesson about always having one in his pocket.
"I’ve ruined many loads of laundry in exchange for a constant volume of work. In other words, I’ve been painting and drawing my whole life."
Todd’s involvement in the professional world of illustration has only been since 2003. He attended art school for just a year at PNCA, but finally graduated with a BS in Graphic Design, which is what he does professionally.
"Which is great because it allows my work as a freelance illustrator to stay untainted by clients (most of the time)."
Todd claims that his biggest accomplishment thus far was when he recognized and defined his personal style. When he was younger, he always thought artistic worth was based on the ability to do photo-realistic rendering. Obviously, this isn’t the case.
"When I figured this out, my abilities and interest in my work took off."
Todd is in the process of illustrating a children’s book (Wally & Koala), an experience that has been really fun and rewarding for him.
"I like to jump around in the story and work out the scenes I really like, then go back and fill in the holes. This was a new challenge for me, as "cute" and "child appropriate" drawings are not my usual repertoire. What no blood spray?"
His experience with a WACOM tablet started in 2003. However, it wasn’t until about a month ago that he fully came to appreciate the Power of the Pens.
The saying," April showers bring May flowers" is one that fits most of the country’s seasonal patterns, but here in Oregon we like to linger and hold onto the dark rainy season for as long as possible. So I decided to do a piece that had a splashy/rainy theme instead of flowers for our month of May. Also I had done a series of drawings which featured an old sea captain who had on these great boots that I wanted to do a detail of.
Previously I had mentioned that my most significant accomplishment as an illustrator was identifying my personal style, which is a loose quick set of curves and arches that loop back on themselves. This curving form only comes out when I sketch on paper, so that’s where I start. Far away from the computer. Whew. I like to have my sketchbook with me and pull it out immediately when I feel some inspiration. So with a rough outline of the concept and it’s forms, I go back into the sketch and add clean heavier lines where I felt like they need to be, but making sure to leave and emphasize the construction lines of the underlaying sketch. Once I feel like the drawing has enough line work done, I will scan the drawing and open it in Illustrator (I place it as the top layer and set the blending mode to Multiply). Next I would normally choose a color palette, but since this was a continuation from another series, I already set one up. Here’s where the Wacom pen comes in! Using the line work of the sketch as guides, I use the pen tool to draw "fills" adding color and depth under the outlines of the sketch. Throughout the rendering process I like to see if the colored fills are making sense visually, so I will continually hide and reveal the top layer sketch. Once the fills are done I am left with a evenly colored piece that was obviously done on screen. BUT! The original hand done line qualities of the sketch are preserved and built off of.
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Tell us what you think. The artist, their work. We want your input.
did you know may is the month of my birthday? did you pick it for that reason? oh i thought so.
your sea captain is the coolest!
Todd, your artwork is great. And your story is just like the story of my life: always a sharpie and a notebook in the pocket. Can you imagine then day when we’ll have handheld eNotebooks (say, called “PalmTop”) with digital pens in the pocket and at least a month-lasting battery? Sounds like sci-fi, huh? See me at http://www.spaceart.us
Love your artwork. I had a photography teacher named Quackenbush back in high school (1975). Wonderful teacher, wonder if he’s related!!
Greaat Job! congratulations
that is ingenious, it gives me so many new ideas
I really find your drawing to be wonderfull.
Thanks for the kind words everyone. It’s nice to have people besides my Mom say, “You’re pretty ok”
are the sketchy strokes from your original hand sketch or did you create that in illustrator? love the colors you used. completely reminds me of rain outside-makes me shiver.
I agree with the others your artwork is great. In the past few days I have begun my journey by creating my own artwork to digitize for my embroidery projects.Thank you for the inspiration.
Being a native Oregonian I can see why you chose this subject matter, great choice and I love the piece. Being new to “the pen” your description of your work flow is very helpful, keep doin’ that thing you do!
‘The saying,” April showers bring May flowers” is one that fits most of the country’s seasonal patterns, but here in Oregon we like to linger and hold onto the dark rainy season for as long as possible.’
lol, too true! And then the sun comes out and it’s like ‘Omigod, mommy what’s that big yellow thing in the sky!’, right?
Anyways, this is way cool! Keep it up!
Your style of sketched free hand lines combined with the neutral palette you’re using here really melds together well with your subject.
It seems as if the boots almost form, along with parts the splash, and water reflections– a swan?
I congratulate you. You’ve found your (attractive) style. What you comment on the how-to seems obvious enough, yet this application for “multiply” is not something I’d thought of. I will use this and am getting ready to draw right now.
Thank you Wacom designers, admins, or whomever thought this section up.
I see people like yourself and strive to be as talented. Its exciting to see work like this done digitally. I will save and try to reproduce just to see if I can come close to yours. Thanks.
Todd,
You are so awesome. I love the splashy rainy boots and the sea captain who inspired them.
The bluey gray icy colors are so appropriate.
Great work!
Todd,
)
Once again you have created something spectacular. The many steps and techniques involved in this piece amazed me. It’s wonderful art and we are all so lucky to have you in our family. (Not just for your fabulous art either!
love your art, but you know that! i remain a little concerned about the blue shirt…it is neither striped, earthtoned or belt sanded. i do, however, like boots.
First, Mom’s always right and we know that (and Dad agrees) but as parents there is a serious lack of objectivity, This is great validation that she IS RIGHT!
You are very talented. Yea, and an awesome snowboarder to boot (har, har).
Your art is fabulous – that is a given. What I am most impressed with is your enthusiam at your desk. I am going to try that move here next time someone makes a 6-figure gift!
Love,
Amy
Todd, this is fabulous!!!! Reminds me of the Cape! Very proud of you, congratulations!
Wow, thanks everybody. I’m all warm and fuzzy.
Todd, your talent is evident-keep it fresh with that pen and ink-it works well!
Todd,
nice style… do you have an online portfolio? I’d love to check it out.
Thanks for some great stuff.
Ammon
Todd, what a nice style! (of work, for sure)
Francois
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