Greggry P

I’ve been working on a series of pieces featuring ludicrously over-dressed drag queens doing the housework (my “Domestic Goddesses” series). Here’s the first: Debbie Does Dishes. Hope you like her! (Created on Affinity Designer iPad versions 1 & 2)

Tabemashō (pronounced “ta-bay-ma-SHOW’) is a Japanese phrase meaning “Let’s Eat!” This particular piece is also my homage to the Japanese concept of “kawaii” - meaning “cute”, hence all those adorable little faces on the food decorating the ramen bowl. I’ve been kicking this idea around for a while now, and I finally found the time to finish it. Thank god it’s done now though - those noodles nearly killed me! (Weirdly, this is my second piece featuring noodles - see my previous piece “Kazuko” - I never want to draw another one as long as I live!) Hope you like it!

Thanks Ashcat. The idea is that the leg is visible through a slit in her sarong (see preliminary sketch at the bottom), but glad you like it!

New artwork – a last minute entry for @thetuesdaycollective’s themed challenge of “Pink & Red” over on Instagram. I’ve been getting bogged down in obsessively detailed artwork recently, and so I set myself a challenge of creating a series of pieces in the style of my favourite and most inspirational artists. The idea is to learn how to drastically simplify my work, and learn a wealth of tips and tricks along the way. This piece is in the style of the amazing Mads Berg (if you don’t know his work, you should DEFINITELY check it out), and it’s been really enjoyable to create, and a brilliant learning experience. For example, that lei – at one time I would have felt compelled to create a huge, bushy garland of flowers, each one different, and every single petal individually crafted in vector. It would have taken weeks, I would have been raging throughout, and feeling like I was involved in some sort of technical exercise, rather than feeling the joy of creativity. Fine detail will always have a place in my work, but Mads has taught me that less is definitely more! Anyway, hope you like it!

Currently working on this beast of a piece. Prelim sketch for reference (all characters yet to be added), and video showing detail. IMG_4367.MOV

Finished vector work + original sketch. Enjoy!

Hello! I don’t know if we’re allowed to promote other websites here, but my new site recently went live, and all works on it were created on Affinity Designer for iPad. Please check it out and let me know your thoughts! http://www.gregsavageart.co.uk

Thank you so much for this! Looks like the problem's solved. Apologies if it was something painfully obvious to you - I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to this side of things - but I really appreciate the assistance and it's definitely a lesson learned. Have a great weekend.

Hello Lee, thanks for your response. I’ll try the layer merging (I’m a complete novice at this, so that hadn’t occurred to me), but here’s the Affinity file in the meantime if it helps to shed any light on the issue. Kazuko.afdesign

Hey all - I have an art show coming up next month, and I’m having real trouble exporting the print file for one of my pieces. I gather from the assistance I’ve had on here on a previous issue that the problem is due to FX layers. The suggestion I had to work around the problem was to “rasterise everything”. This has worked on all my other files bar this one, so I’m stumped… As you can see, when I export, it produces these weird white blobs on the subject’s face and neck (1st pic). When I export having rasterised everything, it creates a different set of problems (2nd pic). The layers bleed across one another (see left eye, circuit pattern on kimono collar, and weird blue dot on prawn). It also reduces the resolution so I can’t print in its original size (500mm x 500mm). I’m a complete novice at this, so if anyone is able to advise I’d be really grateful. I’m running out of time to submit this for my art show, so I’m freaking out a bit now! I’ve added a screenshot of the original pic too (3rd pic) so you can see how it’s supposed to look. Kazuko.pdf Kazuko PF.pdf

Morning @stokerg thanks for your help last week. I was able to export all of the files I needed for an upcoming art show following your advice, bar one. As you can see, if I just rasterise everything on this particular piece, it causes further issues. You’ll notice that her left eye bleeds over the edge, her kimono collar patterns do the same thing, and the prawn has a weird blue dot on it. I’ve tried absolutely everything but can’t seem to resolve this. Are you able to advise please? Kazuko PF.pdf

Thank you so much! Sorry for being so basic!

Thanks again @stokerg. I wasn’t sure what you wanted, so I’ve sent you a Tiff file. I’ve also added another piece which is experiencing the same problems, and a screenshot of my export settings. I obviously don’t expect you to sort all my print files for me - I’ve just included it so you can see it’s an issue with all my export files, seemingly. If you’re able to identify what I’m doing wrong, I’d be really grateful.

Hi @stokerg - thanks for your response. Actually, my original screenshot is a bit misleading. The artwork was created in CMYK format with printing fully in mind. The screenshot I've used here is actually a screenshot of an RGB version of the document from Insta - so the colours look horribly garish). I only used it to show how it should appear, as distinct from how it is appearing. The issue I'm having is the white blotches that are visible on the exported PDF from the CMYK document (see final shot) and lack of colours on some feathers. It's obviously something to do with my export settings, but I'm not sure what I need to do to stop this "whiteness" appearing...

Hello! I’m a complete novice at this, so would really appreciate if someone could point out what I’m doing wrong. In short, I’m trying to export a print file for this picture (export settings screenshot included), and I’m getting the result in the final screenshot. Like I said, I’ve no knowledge of this area of affinity, so I’m sure I’m missing something really basic. If anyone can advise I’d be really grateful.

Quick vector doodle: Violet. Struggling a bit for inspiration at the moment, so did a quick Malika Favre-style thing just to keep my hand in (based on the attached photo)whilst I wait for my next big idea to land…

Fun little caricature inbetween larger projects.

Wow - this is really lovely Stuart! (and you’re far braver than I am - I’m far too lazy to tackle Inktober!)

My second piece to celebrate the Mexican “Dia de Los Muertos” (Day of the Dead) festival is called “La Danza Azteca”, and is intended to reflect the Aztec origins of the festival, and the troops of dancers known as “Concheros” who dance in public spaces throughout Mexico to honour the traditions and rituals of their pre-hispanic culture. My Conchero wears a headdress depicting Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain, water, and fertility, and a necklace bearing the image of Mictlantecuhtli, the God of the Dead and ruler of Mictlan, the Aztec underworld. As usual, I’ve included some detail shots and the original concept sketch, if you’re interested. If you like what you see, please also check out my earlier Day of the Dead post “La Calavera Catrina”.

New vector work – Dia de Los Muertos I: La Calavera Catrina Today the famous “Day of the Dead” festival begins in Mexico. Definitely NOT to be confused with Halloween, the Day of the Dead is a three-day riotous explosion of colour and joy, where people all across Mexico honour and remember their loved ones and keep their memories alive. This spectacular festival is something I’ve been fascinated with for years, and seeing it first-hand one day is definitely on the bucket list! I’ve created two pieces to celebrate this festival, and my first one “La Calavera Catrina” (The Elegant Skull) is based on the traditional female costume for the Day of the Dead. La Catrina is known as the “Grand Dame” of the afterlife. She wears marigolds in her hair - believed to lure the dead back to the world of the living for the duration of the festival through their powerful scent and vibrant colour - and a collection of skulls representing the souls of the departed. She also wears the Sacred Heart crown, to represent the fact that the festival takes place across All Saints Day and All Souls Day – two minor holidays in the Catholic calendar, the quetzal feathers represent her native Mexican heritage, and the roses are an obvious nod to Frida Kahlo. I’ve also added some detail shots, the outline, and the original concept sketch. Hope you like them! I’ll be posting my second piece, La Danza Azteca, separately, so if you like what you see - keep a look out!

My friend - a Huge Prince fan - celebrates a big birthday next month, so I’ve created this as a present. Hopefully he’ll like it! Prince.pdf

New piece – Kazuko. I’ve always wanted to draw a “cyber geisha”, and my initial idea for this was much more anime inspired (set against a towering futuristic cityscape, drenched in neon, maybe in the rain?) However, whilst I was thrashing out my preliminary sketches, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all a bit clichéd, and had been done a million times before by far better artists than I. Instead, I wanted it to be much less dramatic, and far more subtle. I liked the idea that you wouldn’t necessarily realise she was an android at first glance, and that it was only as you examined her more closely that the details would jump out at you: the seams on her arms, , the circuitry under her skin, the pixel pattern on her kimono, the robot prawn. I’ve no idea whether my attempt at subtlety works or not – you’ll have to be the judge – but in any event, here she is. Hope you like her!

Thanks all for your lovely, supportive comments! They're all really appreciated!

Excellent stuff! Well done!

Slow progress on this one, but here are a few more details I’ve recently completed. Aiming to finally have this finished by the weekend.