Post It Note Doodle #4: So Smokey
I can’t seem to stop doing these Post-It Note Doodles. This has been an interesting and refreshing exercise – actually putting pencil to paper, which I really haven’t done in a very long time, since I’d become so reliant on my Wacom tablet and Photoshop.
So here’s the latest installment in this series.
This one is a somewhat androgenous character, inspired in large part by Tank Girl, but also bearing more than a passing resemblance to 2D from Gorillaz.
Post-It Note Drawing #2: Sly Smirk
I liked the way my last Post-It note doodle came out when I photographed it at high-resolution and posted it here larger-than-life sized, so here’s another one.
I really miss doing Photoshop drawings, and I hope I’ll get my hardware/software setup back up and running soon.
I picked up a used Macbook Pro recently, which I’m hoping will be a great new tool for me. I still need to get it loaded up with the programs I use… and that could take a while… hopefully not too long.
At least I’m posting drawings again! :)
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Year of the Dragon: A Drawing Exercise
2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
It’s been a long time since I drew a dragon. I used to draw them quite a bit when I was a kid, but it’s been a while for sure. I heard that 2012 is the year of the dragon, and a friend at work suggested I draw a dragon for the blog, so… here it is.
Jack-O-Lantern: A Drawing Exercise, Halloween 2011
Happy Halloween 2011!
I didn’t get around to carving a real pumpkin this Halloween, so I figured I’d at least draw up a Jack-O-Lantern instead.
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This: an Illustration
When I’m asked to create illustrations for themed blog entries, the process – and the result – can sometime be pretty sketchy. But this time, when asked to do an illustration for a Dreams-themed blog, the idea and the image came together really nicely. That’s not to say that the idea came immediately… it didn’t. But when it did come, it was clear and complete, and I could see it in my mind… which really helps the drawing process.
There are a lot of ways to represent dreaming… but I really liked this one. It’s that innocent – and I think pretty universal – dream of just wanting to be with that person who makes your heart feel like a brightly-colored crayon drawing.
And that’s what my honey does to me… she makes me feel like a crayon drawing :)
I’m just living the dream ;)
Vrooom – BEEP BEEP! Best car drawing evar ;)
Craig @ Cutting Edge DJs asked me for another drawing… to go along with another blog he wants to publish… a list of his favorite car-themed songs…
When he asked, I was really busy… and really tired…
But rather than saying “No” or “Maybe next month” I decided to have some fun with him… and I sent him this :)
He wasn’t impressed!
It still makes me laugh, even as I’m writing this.
LULZ
Chasing the Rabbit 3: Character Design Exercise
Another version of the White Rabbit character design.
Here I think I succeeded in eliminating the “creepy” feeling of the previous version (which seemed to really bother some folks) and he’s still more sleek & charismatic than the original “dirty bum” version… and most importantly, there is definitely the sense that he’s not at all safe or sweet… but somewhat sinister and dangerous instead.
I think this is a good base for me to move forward with this character design… more to come soon, I hope.
Zombie ‘Nom’: drawing exercise
When the Zombies come, I plan to be ready. I’ve read the books… I’ve watched the movies… I’ve played the video games… So armed as I am with all the necessary training, I fully plan to survive.
But you know what they say, Zombies laugh while men make plans… And I realize that even after all my intense preparations, there is always the chance that one of the filthy Undead will catch me offguard and put the bite on me.
In that event, I go to my backup plan… to be the most awesomest Zombie evar.
And yes, I will eat your brain… but it will be your honor.
Headshot, Zombie Down: an Animation Exercise
Here’s another animation exercise done in Pencil.exe. Yeah – it’s a bit gory… but if you’re gonna draw zombies, then you’re gonna have to scramble some brains now and then.
I know I’ve complained about the buggy-ness of the freeware Pencil 2D program, but I really love the rough, sketchy feel it allows you to create. It’s like drawing with a PENCIL… lol. If this program got some serious funding behind it, it could be straight-up awesome!
This is by far the most detailed animation I’ve done in the Pencil 2D animation program to date.
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Gunshot: an Animation Excercise
gun shooting animation pencil test
Here is another quick animation exercise. I did this one because I wanted to work out the shape of a handgun being held along with the action and rhythm of a handgun being fired. I exaggerated the muzzle flash and the kick for effect.
Like the rest of the animations I’ve posted so far, this one was done in the freeware program, Pencil 2D. One thing I love about this program is the awesome “sketchy” feel it allows me to get… as opposed to Flash, which has this annoying tendency to smooth out my lines too much. The best hand-drawn animation program I’ve used to date, is Toon Boom. But I fouled up my install many months ago, and I haven’t gotten around to repairing it.
Like I’ve said before, Pencil 2D is great for short exercises like this one, but it’s not at all suited for full-length scenes – let alone an entire film. But as I churn out more and more of these little quickies… I start to wonder… what kind of short film could somebody actually create as a sequence of 5-second & 10-second clips? Hmm… that’s something to chew on… for me anyway… *
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Gnarly Scar Dude: a Character Design
I was poking around the harddrive of my laptop, looking to do some house-keeping… you know – clean up old files that I have no use for anymore, reorganize the stuff I’m keeping, etc… and I found this guy.
If my memory can be trusted, I’m pretty sure I drew this character in Flash using my Wacom tablet. It’s possible that I did this in Toon Boom, but I don’t think so… this has the look of Flash. It reminds me though, of how each program is like its own medium – and each one of them requires a different approach to be able to create satisfying drawings. Yeah – I’m pretty sure I drew this one in Flash.
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Got Walking Dead? Kill the Head!
The Walking Dead on AMC. Sweet.
I was turned on to the comic (or graphic novel, I guess… I’m never sure) around a year or so ago. I loved it right away.
The combination of the brilliant story written by Robert Kirkman, and the striking illustrations by Tony Moore, just really does it for me. Both the story and the drawings in The Walking Dead are direct and efficient, without ever appearing to be anything less than Kirkman’s and Moore’s very best effort… on every page and every panel.
Maybe it was foolish of me, but I was a caught off-guard when Frank Darabont’s TV version chose to use a different opening sequence than the one from the comic. I guess the opening sequence in the book worked so well for me that I couldn’t imagine anyone feeling the need to rewrite it in any way. I mean the screenplay AND the storyboard/shotlist were all right there… why wouldn’t you just USE them?
But once I got over my surprise – and reset my expectations – I was able to thoroughly enjoy watching the show.
I mean, when was the last time any of us had the opportunity to watch a TV series about Zombies? And this series is going to based on some top-notch source material… it would be a real waste not to enjoy the ride.
Here’s another Zombie drawing, in honor of the Walking Dead on AMC. DVR – RecordSeries – Check.
Remember… always kill the head.
When They was Fab… (work in progress)
The Beatles are a great story… ever since I was a kid I’ve had a fantasy about being there with Paul, Ringo, George & John scrappin it out on stage way back in those early days in Hamburg. Here is my interpretation of that fantasy.
This is a scaled-down version of the work in progress – the actual drawing is 19×25 inches… looking forward to having a print made and framed.
Here are some close-ups of the Boys (where you can see a little better how unfinished this is just yet)…
SIR
PAUL McCARTNEY
THE INIMITABLE
RINGO STARR
YOUNG GEORGE
HARRISON
JOHN
EFFING
LENNON
.
iF i WeRE KInG
If I were King…
I’d wear this crown…
And do great things…
And have a lot of fun…
…so I’d think.
Illustration done as commission for Cutting Edge DJ’s blog
http://www.cuttingedgedjs.com/blog/2010/10/07/who-is-the-future-of-pop-royalty/
The dog says “WOOF-WOOF”
Call me a dog… go ahead. Won’t bother me none.
I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren’t certain we knew better.
They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love with no moral restraint, and they do not for all their marvelous instincts appear to know about death.
~George Bird Evans, Troubles with Bird Dogs
I’m a World-Famous Animator… sort of
It’s only natural that my love for drawing and my love for music would come together as a love for animation, and – – – Oh… I didn’t mention that I dabble in animation…? And I forgot music too? Huh – weird…
Historical Note: I’ve been told that the KO Title Sequence was the first ever Animated Theme Song intro of any YouTube Channel… And while I’m not at all not sure how true that really is… it’s still really cool that I’ve been told that!
===> * * * WATCH THE VIDEO… IT’S SHORT, I PROMISE! * * * <===
Well, I guess I just figured that the Opening Sequence for KatiesOpinion made that kind of obvious… I mean, you do remember KatiesOpinion – right…? What… NO…?!? Why that’s preposterous!!! EVERYONE knows KatiesOpinion! On what planet do you spend most of your time?!? I mean seriously – WTF!?! Why don’t you try pulling your head out of your – – – !!!
I know, I know… of course I’m just kidding. I know KatiesOpinion was never THAT big… But it was kind of popular… back in the good old days… waaaayyyy back when in the olden times of 2006-2008
Sean Gallo Designs 