When The Apes Take Over, My Loyalty Will Be Rewarded
Anyone who’s watched the Planet of the Apes saga unfold (either the original franchise or the reboot) knows that one day, in all likelihood, the earth will be ruled by hyper-intelligent primates while increasingly less-capable humans fall from their position at the top of the food chain. In preparation for this, I’ve begun honoring our future ape overlords by respectfully illustrating a portrait of their leader, Proximus Caesar. Here’s a breakdown of my process.
“The bath towels in this motel are too small!”
Whether I begin a rough sketch of this charismatic and menacing antagonist traditionally or digitally honestly depends on what tools are in front of me when I start. If I’m comfortable on the couch, the sketchbook will do. But generally things are easier to modify if I drag my ponderous bulk over to the computer and work in a drawing app.
At this point, I could still turn him into Mojo Jojo.
After landing on a pose I like, I pull in more reference photos to refine the likeness. And it’s just this care I display in rendering details that will likely earn me a cozier position within the new ape society when they take over. I aspire to a job cooking their meals or cleaning their domiciles. I imagine I wouldn’t last long if I have to tend their fields or pull their carts in the hot sun. I’m not built for heavy labor. Recall, if you will, how much I enjoy my comfortable couch. Plus, my fishbelly-white skin crisps up to an intense lobster-red in the sun.
Tracing my digital printout onto watercolor paper with a lightbox
Once the digital sketch is complete I use a lightpad to transfer my digital printout to a piece of heavy watercolor paper. I wonder if the apes will appreciate artists any more than my fellow humans do now. Judging from the clips I’ve seen of the new movie, Proximus Caesar certainly seems to enjoy the respect and adoration he receives from the frightened masses gathered at his feet. If I play my cards right, maybe I could be some sort of official artist for the ape regime —painting portraits and sculpting statues for the apes the way renaissance artists labored for their patrons. Honestly, I would even settle for a position as some sort of court jester.
The tooth on this cold press paper is rough on the tiny nibs.
The pencils are inked with pen and brush. Microns fine liners are my go-to mostly because of the wide range of nib sizes. But the Pitt Artist pens are just as waterproof and the pigment just as black.
That one guy in the seventh grade who could grow a full beard
For the brushed inks, I go with the Dr. PH Martin’s Black Star ink. It’s deep black, matte, and waterproof. It’s also not too expensive. And with the coming ape revolution, hanging on to my resources is important. Once the apes destabilize the economy banking will become a forgotten convenience. When credit cards and paper money are worthless, the multiple mason jars of spare change I’ve saved over the years might be traded to the apes to be melted down as spangly adornments for their vestments and armor. I know what you’re thinking. Melt the coins into weapons! Resist the apes! Fight! Please, keep suggesting those things to me. The more names I add to the list I hand over to the apes, the better standing I’ll achieve.
Taped down the image so it wouldn’t buckle during the wash
The wash is just the same ink, watered down. I don’t always lay down an ink wash under the watercolors, but with a dark, gritty piece like this, it helps to add texture and mood. And it establishes a nice range of values. I also wanted the background sky to feel foreboding, and a rough ink wash helps give the impression of storm clouds or smoke from the nearby pyres. I imagine those of you who chose to resist the apes will find most of your possessions burning on those pyres. Not me. I’ll be living in the lap of luxury, cleaning the ape toilets and dressed in the finest burlap loincloths.
Those half-shirts guys wore in the ‘80s, am I right?
The final step is the watercolor. I have a nice palette of Daniel Smith colors that stay vibrant over the inks. As I haven’t seen the movie yet, I don’t know where Proximus Caesar lays his hands on that orange-red yoke or the brassy-gold crown, but they make a perfect counterpoint to the ominous green sky I want to place him against. Look at this magnificent ape. Powerful. Regal. It would be wise to show your respect now, before the apes run ragged over the human civilization.
“What a wonderful day!”
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes opens up this week. If you’d like to see me put together this illustration of that movie’s villain, Michelle and I recorded my entire process for this week’s video. If you do check it out, make sure you like and comment. I’ll put in a good word for you with the apes.