I haven’t posted vector stuff here before (so I might as well start way back in the archives). This was drawn the loooong way (for a slow guy like me, anyway)… with Illustrator’s pen, pencil and shape tools… no filters or live trace. So… there’s that.
These tracks were located behind a renovated depot that housed an architectural firm I once worked for (they designed the building on the left). I could just glance out the window and see trains rolling by… not too shabby, eh?
Milton Waddams: “…and I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were merry, but then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn’t bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it’s not okay…”
– Stephen Root – Office Space
About this image: digital media – vector art created with Adobe Illustrator
Refrigerator Magnate 
Nice! I really like the colors.
Thank you very much, Laura!
I used a reference photo I’d taken to create this, and I had a lot of fun messing with the color balance…
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Cool! It’s like reality but… more colorful. It reminds me of being on LSD and watching trains. They seemed like moving walls at the time. Like maybe TRON light cycle leavenings. The classic TRON of course.
Now I think I’m having a backflash. Is the monitor breathing?
Thank you very much, sir!
Hahaha… I’m not sure what your monitor is up to, but mine is yelling at me to clean it already! I think it’s about ready to declare it just can’t work under these smudgy conditions!
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This one has always impressed me! The detail is insane… especially for a vector drawing!
P.S. I miss living right by the train tracks. I liked the sounds of the trains… except for the occasional horn blast at 2 am directly outside the window. Those could be a bit startling.
P.P.S. Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler…
That’s just because I spent an insane amount of time working on it… but it was fun, so that’s something, right?! Thank you very much, Annabelle!
HA! Yeah, we really had to strain ourselves to hear those whistles, didn’t we?!
I was told I could use it when I was collating…
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If you could just move your desk downstairs . . . that would be great . . . okay?
I told, I told Bill that if they move my desk one more time, then, then I’m, I’m quitting, I’m going to quit. And, and I told Don too, because they’ve moved my desk four times already this year…
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It’s really hard to believe that’s not a photograph. Your artwork is amazing.
Thank you so much, Nigel!
I basically used Illustrator to trace a photo I’d taken to create this one… it was a lot of fun, but it took me a very, very, very long time!
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Amazing. . . as usual. 🙂
You are always so kind, Ms. F…
thank you!
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Very nice!
Thank you, sir!
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It is absolutely amazing, what people can do by hand. Gorgeous!
To be completely honest I did use a computer to draw this – it’s done in Adobe Illustrator. It did take me many, many hours, though, because I used Illustrator’s drawing tools to create this rather than a filter or live-trace. It’s kind of fun to make something like this every now and then!
Thank you very much, S.D.D.!
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I agree w/ Annabelle. The sound of the train is soothing, save for the horn blasts. And it IS hard to believe this isn’t a photograph. Inky, you have so much talent!! So glad you share it via this blog. But I seriously think you need to put out a book.
That is very true, Dishy… I enjoy the sound of distant train horns, but when you are right next to them… wowza!
You are always so kind, Dishy, thank you very much! I really do hope to be able to make a book some day… I figure if I keep working one it I’ll come up with enough… random stuff! 🙂
I love you artwork, so realistic…looks like a photo. Your amazing, Bob!
Deb xx
It usually looks a bit more realistic at a smaller scale (so I’ve got that to help me out)!
Thank you so very much, Ms. A!
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You DREW that??? Amazing! 🙂
It was drawn in/with Adobe Illustrator, though…
(although it’s not a filter or live-trace – so took me a ridiculously long time… )
Thank you very much, M.P.!
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“These tracks were located behind a renovated depot that housed an architectural firm I once worked for” Notice past tense. Probably fired you for staring out the window all day.
Hahaha… I did stretch the truth about that part, a bit. My desk was located in a cluster of cubicles in the middle of the room (someone must have known better than to give me a view) and I was usually too busy to want to walk over to the window, anyway. I could hear the trains, too, though… they would literally shake the entire building… it was pretty cool. Now give me back my stapler! 🙂
I admire your ability of showing usual things unusual ways. It’s real talent 🙂
Have a great weekend 🙂
That is very, very kind of you to say, Ms. B – thank you!
I hope that you have a wonderful weekend as well!
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I’ve never had the opportunity to mess with Illustrator, but I’ve seen stuff from it, and compared to what I’ve seen, this is darn impressive Mr SIG… Very impressive indeed…
I really like playing around with Illustrator, FS… it’s kind of relaxing in a way (of course it takes me FOREVER… but that’s just more time to relax, right?)!
Thank you very much, sir!
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You drew this? There is so much detail in the train cars. I like the graffiti. Have you ever painted graffiti before on a real train car?
I did draw it, Mel… but on a computer (using Adobe Illustrator). It’s kind of fun to mess around with sometimes.
I’m not a tagger (I’d feel bad doing that without permission), although many things I’ve seen are ridiculously impressive. The ability to control spray paint like that (in an uncontrolled environment) is really amazing! 🙂
You clever thing!
Hahaha…. well… something like that!
Thank you very much, S.E.!
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Beautiful!
. . . and it’s not OK because if they take my stapler then I’ll set the building on fire…”
Thank you so very much!
Mr. Lumbergh told me to talk to payroll and then payroll told me to talk to Mr. Lumbergh and I still haven’t received my paycheck and he took my stapler and he never brought it back and then they moved my desk to storage room B and there was garbage on it…
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Best. Movie. Ever! 😆
Not too shabby!
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Great work ! Today a stapler showed up in the classroom desk drawer and it is not leaving the room. There, a stapler reference and a drawing pun, not bad.
Ha!
Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler…
That is very kind, thank you!
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Are you like Roger Rabbit or something?
Oh and give back the goddam stapler for crying out loud!!!!!
HA! Did the ears give it away?!
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lovely lovely lovely
Thank you so much, N.M.!
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This is so cool! I love the colors. And, I really like the graffiti you included on the trains. Nice touch!
Thank you very much, Ms. D…
I had a lot of fun messing with the color balance on this one – maybe too much fun!
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Yes! I love it. When i enlarged to get a better look I realized that the sun (?) is vaguely apparent in the upper right hand corner area. The colors are really great. Didn’t quite understand that last paragraph but that’s neihter here nor there. 🙂
I’m happy you noticed that, Lynn!
I’m going to say it’s the moon, though (just because the main light source appears to be coming from the opposite direction – I suspect people would totally bust me up over that).
Hahaha… yeah, the last paragraph is a quote from ‘Office Space’. The vague connection to what I’d written has to do with looking out windows. I only put those quotes in for back-up because my writing is usually awful and it gives readers a chance to comment on something else (if they don’t know what to say about my image(s).
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And, in this case, it gave US a chance to comment on something IN ADDITION TO your gorgeous images. 😀
That is terribly kind –
thank you so very much!
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🙂 Main light source, only an artist would say that. That’s something I didn’t even consider. Saw Office Space twice and both happened to be the same episode. I hate it when that happens, funny show though- just can’t relate.. Your writing is great but that’s coming from somone who’s writing is mediocre at best. 🙂 (not fishing for a compliment- just a fact.
Eh, I don’t always notice that sort of thing either… I’ve just spent a lot of time staring at this one!
I’d say you’ve got that last part switched around though, Lynn – I always enjoy reading your pieces… writing (and reading) mine are such a chore… ugh!
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I noticed the graffiti on the trains right away. It looks very detailed and I’m amazed that you drew it…or whatever that vectoring stuff is 😀 I’ll look it up! 🙂
Thanks very much, Mary!
I’m really not where I’d like to be with my vector abilities just yet… some examples you’ll find out there are just ridiculously impressive!
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You are amazingly talented, SIG. I can maybe manage a stick-figure doodle, and even that is hard for me. May your vectoring continue.
That’s very kind of you, Mr. H… but I’m not sure I believe that second part at all! Even though a guy with your skill shouldn’t be allowed to put down his camera for long enough to mess around with this stuff, anyway! 🙂
Very strong colors – quite overpowering in their intensity. I think that’s good work.
The moment someone says freight, I start wondering where it’s going. I just love railroads. ‘The L & N Don’t Stop Here Anymore’ is a track that captures the death of the railroads so poignantly – (I prefer the Michelle Shocked version but Johnny Cash is great). This is a shot that makes me wonder if the railroad is still there and serving its community. 🙂
Thank you so much, sir! I’m happy to hear you liked this one!
So true… it seems like many railroads are dying out. I believe this one is still in operation, though. I think these tracks are primarily used by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (and I think they haul a lot of grain and coal, etc.) but please don’t hold me to that!
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Very nice once again. It’s hard to go wrong with trains, even new ones.
Now get back to work!
There’s just something about trains, right, Binky!
Hahaha… I guess… if I HAVE to!
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So this is a drawing not a photo??? Amazing work & the colours are great.
P.S. I’m still waiting for the day when Spilled Ink Cartoons springs back into action. Just sayin’…
This is basically a computer generated drawing I made from a reference photo. Or… something along those lines.
Maybe some day… it might be quite a while though.
Thank you so much, Tony… you are always very kind!
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you are very talented with the pen and pencil!
Eh…
I’m much better with the delete key!
Thank you very much, U.M.!
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Weeeeeeeird. I really thought this was a photo at first glance. On second glance, it looks like an animation for a trippy Middle Eastern film. The graffiti on the train is my favourite part, but I love all the details!
Thank you very much, U.M.!
Not the sort of thing that’s too difficult to do, but it is very time consuming… for slow-pokes like me, anyway!
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Damn! I thought it was a picture at first! Well done!
Just a bit of digital smoke and mirrors, I guess!
Thank you very much, sir!
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OOOOOOOOOOHHH!!! Colorful and cool- Love it!!! You are a box of surprises my friend!! 🙂
Ha! The colors are almost like one of those eye test things! I probably should have handed out sunglasses at the door!
Thank you so much, Juana!
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I can not believe this is not a photograph! The detail is truly amazing. Might be my new favorite! 🙂
That is very kind of you to say, Y.A.W… thank you!
I’m so happy you liked this one!
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I’m with Nigel on this – it’s so good it looks like a photo (except that the colours are better). I don’t have enough patience with a pen/stylus digitally, so I use a mouse – which I find better for me – and in fact I use smudge, burn and dodge more than draw or paint. I’d never have the patience for something like this, though. It’s great! 🙂
That is terribly kind of you, Val, thank you!
I’ve never used a pen/stylus, either (although I’ve always wanted to give it a try)…
I tend to do a lot of burning and dodging, too, I guess… especially in Photoshop.
Thanks again, Val!
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It was a long trip down here to make a comment on this one, but luckily I used the lift so no problemo… This piece of artistry that you have crafted is very good my friend, the colouring is vibrant and the end result is a worthy offering also…
Have a wicked rest of weekend now my friend…
Androgoth
That is very kind, thank you!
I had a lot of fun playing around with the color balance on this one…
it’s definitely been modified quite a bit!
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