Graphic Park - Affordable, Quality Website Design, Flash Animation and Custom Graphics

Click below for answers to commonly asked questions:

How long does it take to do a project?
Can you work with clients not in your local area?
Can you work with clients outside the United States?
What types of work can you create?
How do I get my graphics once made?
Can I link my website to yours?
How are your pencil drawings done?

Q: How long does it take to do a project?

A: Graphics can often be done within 24 to 72 hours - assuming the work requested can be humanly made in that time and our schedule is not booked by a prior commitment. Websites can be done within one to four weeks in most cases. top

Q: Can you work with someone not in your local area?

A: Yes. In fact, we have never even met most of our clientele in person. However, this is up to how the individual client wishes to conduct business. Often, it is easiest to converse via email. top

Q: Can you work with clients outside the United States?

A: Yes, but there is usually a small additional fee for international checks. The amount varies depending on where you are from. top

Q: What types of work can you create?

A: Virtually any kind of still or animated formats used on the web (in 2D or 3D), Flash animations, background imagery, banners, photo retouching, original pencil illustration, streaming audio, MP3s, streaming video, Adobe Acrobat documents and music can be created amongst other design elements. top

Q: How do I get my graphics once made?

A: We can simply attach it to an email when we are not working on your website directly.

We can also send them via Fed Ex on CD, Zip disk or standard floppy if needed. top

Q: Can I link my website to yours?

A: Absolutely! Feel free to use this banner for the link itself. top

Q: How are your pencil drawings done?

A: I am very often asked, particularly by other artists, about what techniques and kinds of drawing materials I use in generating my illustrations. Although I have used different kinds over the years and have gotten very similar results, I generally use a hard smooth illustration board like the kind put out by Letramax - 2000 or 4000 series (I have yet to truly figure out the difference between the two, outside of price).

From there, I use standard drawing pencils ranging from 6h, 2h and 2b hardnesses (the "h" I'm guessing stands for "hard" while "b" somehow stands for "soft"...). In fact, I once used nothing but regular old common No. 2 pencils for all of my work and got virtually the same result. I prefer now to use a harder pencil for the light, subtle shading, while using the softer pencils for the darker areas such as the eyes and hair. These put less wear and tear on the surface and give more control as well.

I also use a white or sometimes pink rubber eraser (although it can leave pink on your drawing surface) for the more heavily laid-down areas of pencil. Sharp wedges of these can be made with a razor blade too which help in making sharp-edged erasing. For the softer, more subtle areas, I dab onto the surface with a kneadable eraser (this resembles something like non-sticky chewing gum).

I do not rub or smear with the kneadable eraser (or the rubber ones if I can avoid it) as this can cause the pencil to become more difficult to work with later. I also do not rub or even touch the surface with my fingers or hands at any time during the process. This leaves oil on the surface which is also difficult to work with.

Since the drawing surface is so hard, smooth and durable, I am also able to scrape off pencil lead with a razor corner or edge. This is great for creating sharp highlights on the eyes, lips, nose and particularly the hair.

Shading is achieved with a very sharp pencil, a lot of patience and strict attention to the subject you are drawing from.

I begin by drawing an outline of the head and features as precisely as I can get them (this saves much time on trying to correct the proportions later after the shading has begun). From there, I will grind some pencil lead off a pencil with a razor or pencil sharpener and use the dust with some tissue or cotton to roughly lay down the base areas of light and dark shading. Then I will take the kneadable eraser and clean it up and bit while refining the shading by getting the lighter areas more in tune. Bear in mind though that this is not the "secret" to my shading technique. This is but a few-minute step that exists only as a shortcut to laying down a lot of pencil in a short amount of time with minimal wear to the surface. From there, I really get down to work while methodically and painstakingly detailing every millimeter of the drawing surface until I am happy with it (which never happens).

I always work from photos. The bigger the photos, the more detail, and so the better the drawing. The head should be at least 2 inches - one inch is really pushing it, but I've done it successfully before.

The size of the finished drawing is usually about 5x7 or 8x10 inches. The average head size being about 5-6 inches. The business card image shown amongst the pencil drawing pages was drawn the actual size of the final business card.

I've drawn portraits from anywhere between 2 to 30 hours depending on the size, difficulty, etc.

An art instruction book on Perspective, entitled A New Perspective by Steven Aguilera has also been written. Information can be found at www.perspective-book.com.

I hope that helps! top

* All prices are subject to change. Initial deposits are not refundable.

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