Gavin McCarthy
@artbygavin.bsky.social
Artist, Illustrator, Art Director, Designer, Husband, Father.
Today's Painting Study
"Three billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day"
This piece totally has nothing to do with current topics concerning technology... yep!
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
"Three billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day"
This piece totally has nothing to do with current topics concerning technology... yep!
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
August 29, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Today's Painting Study
"Three billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day"
This piece totally has nothing to do with current topics concerning technology... yep!
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
"Three billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war Judgment Day"
This piece totally has nothing to do with current topics concerning technology... yep!
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
Getting back to my painting studies. This was from a photo I took a while back. I really liked how the blue sky and yellow traffic light contrast with each other. I also love the chaotic cable management.
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
August 29, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Getting back to my painting studies. This was from a photo I took a while back. I really liked how the blue sky and yellow traffic light contrast with each other. I also love the chaotic cable management.
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
#paintingstudy #digitalpainting #skilldevelopment #illustration #art
Back from touching some grass... and trees... and lakes... and rivers...
You get the idea
You get the idea
August 20, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Back from touching some grass... and trees... and lakes... and rivers...
You get the idea
You get the idea
Got a moment to get outside, touch some grass, and sketch some plants. It was an absolutely beautiful day and I didn't want to pass at the chance to enjoy a bit of it.
#sketching #pleinair #pencildrawing #urbansketching #naturesketching
#sketching #pleinair #pencildrawing #urbansketching #naturesketching
July 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Got a moment to get outside, touch some grass, and sketch some plants. It was an absolutely beautiful day and I didn't want to pass at the chance to enjoy a bit of it.
#sketching #pleinair #pencildrawing #urbansketching #naturesketching
#sketching #pleinair #pencildrawing #urbansketching #naturesketching
A few sketch studies over the past week focusing of energy and movement. Trying not to get caught fussing with details and keeping my attention on areas where motion and energy, both active and potential, are communicated through drapery and anatomy.
#illustration #skilldevelopment #sketchstudy
#illustration #skilldevelopment #sketchstudy
July 15, 2025 at 8:37 PM
A few sketch studies over the past week focusing of energy and movement. Trying not to get caught fussing with details and keeping my attention on areas where motion and energy, both active and potential, are communicated through drapery and anatomy.
#illustration #skilldevelopment #sketchstudy
#illustration #skilldevelopment #sketchstudy
New Work!
Oh No!
Don’t Drink The Kool-A.I.d
It seems machine learning and generative media is EVERYWHERE these days. It is added into our digital products at every turn, even when no real signs of it being wanted or needed are there.
#art #illustration #editorial #humanart
Oh No!
Don’t Drink The Kool-A.I.d
It seems machine learning and generative media is EVERYWHERE these days. It is added into our digital products at every turn, even when no real signs of it being wanted or needed are there.
#art #illustration #editorial #humanart
June 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
New Work!
Oh No!
Don’t Drink The Kool-A.I.d
It seems machine learning and generative media is EVERYWHERE these days. It is added into our digital products at every turn, even when no real signs of it being wanted or needed are there.
#art #illustration #editorial #humanart
Oh No!
Don’t Drink The Kool-A.I.d
It seems machine learning and generative media is EVERYWHERE these days. It is added into our digital products at every turn, even when no real signs of it being wanted or needed are there.
#art #illustration #editorial #humanart
New Work!
Sardines
A reflection of how it currently feels to ride transit (specifically streetcars) here in Toronto. Many times when riding on the TTC, I could not shake the image of a crowd of commuters crammed into a rusty sardine can.
#art #illustration #editorial #puclictransit #TTC #Toronto
Sardines
A reflection of how it currently feels to ride transit (specifically streetcars) here in Toronto. Many times when riding on the TTC, I could not shake the image of a crowd of commuters crammed into a rusty sardine can.
#art #illustration #editorial #puclictransit #TTC #Toronto
May 30, 2025 at 4:25 PM
New Work!
Sardines
A reflection of how it currently feels to ride transit (specifically streetcars) here in Toronto. Many times when riding on the TTC, I could not shake the image of a crowd of commuters crammed into a rusty sardine can.
#art #illustration #editorial #puclictransit #TTC #Toronto
Sardines
A reflection of how it currently feels to ride transit (specifically streetcars) here in Toronto. Many times when riding on the TTC, I could not shake the image of a crowd of commuters crammed into a rusty sardine can.
#art #illustration #editorial #puclictransit #TTC #Toronto
New Work Wednesday!
The Great Escape
The weather is getting nice, the birds are singing, and the trees are in bloom. Time to touch grass!
#art #illustration #editorial #hiking #mentalhealth
The Great Escape
The weather is getting nice, the birds are singing, and the trees are in bloom. Time to touch grass!
#art #illustration #editorial #hiking #mentalhealth
May 7, 2025 at 7:42 PM
New Work Wednesday!
The Great Escape
The weather is getting nice, the birds are singing, and the trees are in bloom. Time to touch grass!
#art #illustration #editorial #hiking #mentalhealth
The Great Escape
The weather is getting nice, the birds are singing, and the trees are in bloom. Time to touch grass!
#art #illustration #editorial #hiking #mentalhealth
New Work Wednesday!
Stick Season
One album that gets me through the winter is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season. The whole collection is an amazing distillation of growing up in a small town and all the feelings, troubles and memories that come with it.
#art #illustration #noahkahan #editorial
Stick Season
One album that gets me through the winter is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season. The whole collection is an amazing distillation of growing up in a small town and all the feelings, troubles and memories that come with it.
#art #illustration #noahkahan #editorial
April 30, 2025 at 8:45 PM
New Work Wednesday!
Stick Season
One album that gets me through the winter is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season. The whole collection is an amazing distillation of growing up in a small town and all the feelings, troubles and memories that come with it.
#art #illustration #noahkahan #editorial
Stick Season
One album that gets me through the winter is Noah Kahan’s Stick Season. The whole collection is an amazing distillation of growing up in a small town and all the feelings, troubles and memories that come with it.
#art #illustration #noahkahan #editorial
New Work!
Run Kitty Run!
Cooking up some fresh stuff and playing with some new approaches. Let’s see where this goes!
#illustration
Run Kitty Run!
Cooking up some fresh stuff and playing with some new approaches. Let’s see where this goes!
#illustration
April 24, 2025 at 1:53 PM
New Work!
Run Kitty Run!
Cooking up some fresh stuff and playing with some new approaches. Let’s see where this goes!
#illustration
Run Kitty Run!
Cooking up some fresh stuff and playing with some new approaches. Let’s see where this goes!
#illustration
New Illustration!
I really love creature features. Especially ones with sea monsters and even more so when the narrative is unexpected and captivating. Needless to say, I absolutely loved Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water.
#illustration #filmposter #art #theshapeofwater
I really love creature features. Especially ones with sea monsters and even more so when the narrative is unexpected and captivating. Needless to say, I absolutely loved Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water.
#illustration #filmposter #art #theshapeofwater
December 20, 2024 at 3:40 PM
New Illustration!
I really love creature features. Especially ones with sea monsters and even more so when the narrative is unexpected and captivating. Needless to say, I absolutely loved Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water.
#illustration #filmposter #art #theshapeofwater
I really love creature features. Especially ones with sea monsters and even more so when the narrative is unexpected and captivating. Needless to say, I absolutely loved Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water.
#illustration #filmposter #art #theshapeofwater
This was a good year for me artistically. My work is going in a direction I am very happy with, I am sketching more regularly than I have in years and I was even lucky enough to participate in a couple of shows.
I am very excited to see what 2025 has on the horizon!
#artvsartist2024 #artvsartist
I am very excited to see what 2025 has on the horizon!
#artvsartist2024 #artvsartist
December 17, 2024 at 6:26 PM
This was a good year for me artistically. My work is going in a direction I am very happy with, I am sketching more regularly than I have in years and I was even lucky enough to participate in a couple of shows.
I am very excited to see what 2025 has on the horizon!
#artvsartist2024 #artvsartist
I am very excited to see what 2025 has on the horizon!
#artvsartist2024 #artvsartist
New Illustration!
Lost Cause
Modern job hunting is no joke. Applicant tracking systems, resume filters and ghost job postings, employment searches can often leave an applicant feeling isolated and helpless.
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #jobsearch
Lost Cause
Modern job hunting is no joke. Applicant tracking systems, resume filters and ghost job postings, employment searches can often leave an applicant feeling isolated and helpless.
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #jobsearch
December 13, 2024 at 9:10 PM
New Illustration!
Lost Cause
Modern job hunting is no joke. Applicant tracking systems, resume filters and ghost job postings, employment searches can often leave an applicant feeling isolated and helpless.
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #jobsearch
Lost Cause
Modern job hunting is no joke. Applicant tracking systems, resume filters and ghost job postings, employment searches can often leave an applicant feeling isolated and helpless.
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #jobsearch
A couple portrait studies from this week. Keeping my tools simple to help build a sustainable habit, as it really is the key to learning.
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration #skilldevelopment
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration #skilldevelopment
December 6, 2024 at 8:10 PM
A couple portrait studies from this week. Keeping my tools simple to help build a sustainable habit, as it really is the key to learning.
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration #skilldevelopment
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration #skilldevelopment
Vulture Funds
Working on more editorial pieces while trying to explore new themes. For this one I wanted to capture the cold indifference of vulture funds (a form of investing that seeks advantages in companies nearing bankruptcy)
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #financialillustration
Working on more editorial pieces while trying to explore new themes. For this one I wanted to capture the cold indifference of vulture funds (a form of investing that seeks advantages in companies nearing bankruptcy)
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #financialillustration
November 29, 2024 at 5:24 PM
Vulture Funds
Working on more editorial pieces while trying to explore new themes. For this one I wanted to capture the cold indifference of vulture funds (a form of investing that seeks advantages in companies nearing bankruptcy)
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #financialillustration
Working on more editorial pieces while trying to explore new themes. For this one I wanted to capture the cold indifference of vulture funds (a form of investing that seeks advantages in companies nearing bankruptcy)
#art #illustration #editorialillustration #financialillustration
Seems to be the place to be. Guess I'll start off with a few sketches
I've been trying to do some regular portrait studies in pencil. Nothing fancy. Just drawing and learning.
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration
I've been trying to do some regular portrait studies in pencil. Nothing fancy. Just drawing and learning.
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration
November 28, 2024 at 8:28 PM
Seems to be the place to be. Guess I'll start off with a few sketches
I've been trying to do some regular portrait studies in pencil. Nothing fancy. Just drawing and learning.
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration
I've been trying to do some regular portrait studies in pencil. Nothing fancy. Just drawing and learning.
#pencildrawing #portraitstudy #illustration
I'm back from some sun and sand with the family. I made sure to bring a sketchbook with me to try and get a sketch or two in because I love drawing palm trees.
Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the year ahead.
#sketches #inkdrawing #palmtrees #sketchbookdrawing #drawing #illustration
Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the year ahead.
#sketches #inkdrawing #palmtrees #sketchbookdrawing #drawing #illustration
January 22, 2024 at 8:40 PM
I'm back from some sun and sand with the family. I made sure to bring a sketchbook with me to try and get a sketch or two in because I love drawing palm trees.
Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the year ahead.
#sketches #inkdrawing #palmtrees #sketchbookdrawing #drawing #illustration
Feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the year ahead.
#sketches #inkdrawing #palmtrees #sketchbookdrawing #drawing #illustration
A study of... just one more thing.
(sorry, I couldn't help myself)
This has been a solid year for me as an artist. Never forget to take a minute or two to draw just for the fun of it.
Thank you to everyone for all the support and encouragement.
I wish you all the very best in the new year
Cheers!
(sorry, I couldn't help myself)
This has been a solid year for me as an artist. Never forget to take a minute or two to draw just for the fun of it.
Thank you to everyone for all the support and encouragement.
I wish you all the very best in the new year
Cheers!
December 22, 2023 at 2:48 PM
A study of... just one more thing.
(sorry, I couldn't help myself)
This has been a solid year for me as an artist. Never forget to take a minute or two to draw just for the fun of it.
Thank you to everyone for all the support and encouragement.
I wish you all the very best in the new year
Cheers!
(sorry, I couldn't help myself)
This has been a solid year for me as an artist. Never forget to take a minute or two to draw just for the fun of it.
Thank you to everyone for all the support and encouragement.
I wish you all the very best in the new year
Cheers!
Today I am experimenting with mixing the energy of sketching with ink with some digital painting techniques to render it out. I am continuing still playing with my approach to portraits.
The main focus is finding a balance.
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #mixedmedia
The main focus is finding a balance.
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #mixedmedia
December 19, 2023 at 9:18 PM
Today I am experimenting with mixing the energy of sketching with ink with some digital painting techniques to render it out. I am continuing still playing with my approach to portraits.
The main focus is finding a balance.
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #mixedmedia
The main focus is finding a balance.
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #mixedmedia
For this year's Art VS Artist, I thought I would review some of the work I have been doing with my painting studies. I am very proud of the growth I have seen in my work over the past year, and I am very excited to see where my explorations take me in 2024.
#artvsartist2023
#artvsartist2023
December 9, 2023 at 1:24 AM
For this year's Art VS Artist, I thought I would review some of the work I have been doing with my painting studies. I am very proud of the growth I have seen in my work over the past year, and I am very excited to see where my explorations take me in 2024.
#artvsartist2023
#artvsartist2023
Today I was playing with pushing some more stylized approaches to quick sketching. This one was about 15min or so.
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #sketchbookdrawing
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #sketchbookdrawing
December 7, 2023 at 7:57 PM
Today I was playing with pushing some more stylized approaches to quick sketching. This one was about 15min or so.
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #sketchbookdrawing
#inkdrawing #illustrationart #sketching #skilldevelopment #sketchbookdrawing
I really felt like getting my hands messy with a quick and dirty sketch.
It can be easy to fall into the more polished styles when working commercially. All the more reason to keep a sketchbook going, and to draw for the sake of drawing whenever you can.
It can be easy to fall into the more polished styles when working commercially. All the more reason to keep a sketchbook going, and to draw for the sake of drawing whenever you can.
December 6, 2023 at 10:14 PM
I really felt like getting my hands messy with a quick and dirty sketch.
It can be easy to fall into the more polished styles when working commercially. All the more reason to keep a sketchbook going, and to draw for the sake of drawing whenever you can.
It can be easy to fall into the more polished styles when working commercially. All the more reason to keep a sketchbook going, and to draw for the sake of drawing whenever you can.
Study of a green plastic cup in the morning sunlight.
Something that caught my eye this morning. The way the light was hitting the cup and refracting in the remaining water made for some interesting shapes.
Remember to take time to look out for the pretty little details the day can send your way.
Something that caught my eye this morning. The way the light was hitting the cup and refracting in the remaining water made for some interesting shapes.
Remember to take time to look out for the pretty little details the day can send your way.
November 16, 2023 at 8:31 PM
Study of a green plastic cup in the morning sunlight.
Something that caught my eye this morning. The way the light was hitting the cup and refracting in the remaining water made for some interesting shapes.
Remember to take time to look out for the pretty little details the day can send your way.
Something that caught my eye this morning. The way the light was hitting the cup and refracting in the remaining water made for some interesting shapes.
Remember to take time to look out for the pretty little details the day can send your way.
I decided slow things down a bit both in approach and subject matter. Playing with a lot of hatching and how the absence of the hatching can create volume in the negative space.
I really love the feeling of drawing with a dip pen
#sketchstudy #illustration #art #skilldevelopment #inkdrawing #snail
I really love the feeling of drawing with a dip pen
#sketchstudy #illustration #art #skilldevelopment #inkdrawing #snail
November 10, 2023 at 9:14 PM
I decided slow things down a bit both in approach and subject matter. Playing with a lot of hatching and how the absence of the hatching can create volume in the negative space.
I really love the feeling of drawing with a dip pen
#sketchstudy #illustration #art #skilldevelopment #inkdrawing #snail
I really love the feeling of drawing with a dip pen
#sketchstudy #illustration #art #skilldevelopment #inkdrawing #snail
Study of a lost dream.
I really loved Banshees of Inisherin, and I thought I would challenge myself to do a painting study of one of the most powerful cinematic gut punches in recent years.
#art #illustrations #SkillDevelopment #paintings #bansheesofinisherin #portraitpainting #films
I really loved Banshees of Inisherin, and I thought I would challenge myself to do a painting study of one of the most powerful cinematic gut punches in recent years.
#art #illustrations #SkillDevelopment #paintings #bansheesofinisherin #portraitpainting #films
November 6, 2023 at 4:38 PM
Study of a lost dream.
I really loved Banshees of Inisherin, and I thought I would challenge myself to do a painting study of one of the most powerful cinematic gut punches in recent years.
#art #illustrations #SkillDevelopment #paintings #bansheesofinisherin #portraitpainting #films
I really loved Banshees of Inisherin, and I thought I would challenge myself to do a painting study of one of the most powerful cinematic gut punches in recent years.
#art #illustrations #SkillDevelopment #paintings #bansheesofinisherin #portraitpainting #films