More workbook stuff.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Hangin' Clothes
This is a piece I drew tonight while watching television.
I couldn't decide whether to paint it or not.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sketch
Here's one of the sketches I was able to make while laying in front of the fireplace this past COLD weekend.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Editorial cartoon
Here's an editorial cartoon I had in Sunday's Chicago Tribune.
It's on a local topic: The Illinois governor attached a provision onto the last-minute public transportation funding package that allows all senior citizens to ride public transportation for free.
This maybe the first watercolored editorial cartoon I've ever done for a newspaper.
It would be interesting to see if I could pull that off five or six days a week.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Drawing
This is a little illo I did today for another SRA test. Inked with the good ol' Pocket Brush Pen.
TRON
We watched TRON tonight, my second time since seeing it in the theater twenty-five years ago. It actually held up really well. And my eight-year-old said it was the best movie he's EVER seen. Even better than The Incredibles. The only thing that could be better is if he actually got to zap inside a video game himself.
Apology to Tom Cruise
I've been feeling a little bad about my post making fun of Tom Cruise and his religion. I've fallen prey to the popular notion that it's okay to pick on Tom and Scientology. I should know better than that. Really, Scientology is no weirder than most religions; it's just a matter of the culture we grow up in that determines what is normal and what is not.
Sorry, Tom.
Sorry, Tom.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Color
I love all the colors. What fun, but I can't imagine the pain in the tuckus it was to clean them all up!
This was a commercial for Bravia.
The song is "Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez.
Some pranksters just pulled this same stunt by launching a half million rubber balls down the Spanish Steps by Holy Trinity in Rome.
Sketchbook Pro
I downloaded the trial version of sketchbook last year and had just about forgotten about it, since most of the features lock up after a short while. But I did a little sketching in it again today and remembered how really great it is for sketching. It has a very natural feel to it. So I'm mulling over the purchase again. Especially since I hate scanning.
You should really check out the program. It's designed for tablets specifically.
Tom Cruise - Scientology
Tom Cruise is touting himself and other Scientologists as "authorities on the mind" in a new video made for the religious group, while the theme for Mission: Impossible plays in the background. Hubbardian slip? I don't know. But it sure seems like it would balance out the United States presidential primaries if ol' Tom was running.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monster
My eight-year-old son the Drawing Dragon painted this in Art Rage. I was proud of how he used paint strokes and broke away from "drawing" with paint. I thought he achieved some nice effects. A chip off the old blockhead!
An Undone Fairy Tale
I found this picture book at the library and the kids and I loved it! Its very original, wonderfully illustrated and just a lot of fun. I can't say anything else because it would give it away and spoil the surprises. Highly recommended!
Archie Sunday
I love finding old Bob Montana art on ebay . I only wish I could afford it! I would cover my studio walls with these.
After decades, Montana is finally being credited with being co-creator of Archie. No public proclamation, but it's at least in the indicia of the comic books.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Brian Selznick Wins Caldecott; Laura Amy Schlitz Wins Newbery
Congratulations to Brian Selznick for winning the 2008 Caldecott Medal.
It’s the first time that a novel has won the country’s top prize for illustration, and it’s also Scholastic’s first Caldecott Award.
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
The 2008 Honor books included:
And congratulations to Laura Amy Schlitz for winning the 2008 Newbery Medal!
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.
The 2008 Honor books included:
Monday, January 14, 2008
Snoopy
Okay, imagine that a new Snoopy stamp is about to be commissioned and we get to vote on the image to be used: The "young" Snoopy or the "old" Snoopy. Which one would you vote for? For me, no contest. It would be the "young" Snoopy.
I find it almost criminal that they would choose to "lock in" the shaky-lined way of drawing Schulz had in his later years. The man had perhaps the cleanest and most-emulated inking style of all time during his peak in the Sixties. I can understand (but not agree with) the marketing logic in having an artist recreate the shaky Snoopy after Schulz's death. But to make it the Final Snoopy is a travesty.
What brought this on? Burger King is doing Snoopy toys... make that "Snoopy by Schulz®" toys. Retro-looking, most of them. And I think to myself, "I wish I could let myself enjoy this." But it saddens me to see Snoopy sans Schulz. We see what Ted Giesel's widow has allowed to happen to his creations. The Snoopy stuff is handled a little better, but it is still mostly about some not-Schulz artist drawing shaky Snoopys for Met Life and Burger King.
Why do I care? Because Charles Schulz made me.
Mona Lisa Identity Revealed
Will the real Mona Lisa please step forward?
The woman behind the smile has been revealed. German researchers say they can prove conclusively the identity of the subject for Leonardo's most famous painting. However, I prefer a little mystery in life and don't want to spoil this for you, nor ruin Nat King Cole's awesome song. So if you want to find out, you'll have to do it yourself.
Meantime, here's my drawing of Lisa's eye. How about them peepers? What's the big deal about the grin?
Texas UFO
Several people have reported spotting a huge UFO in the city of Stephenville, Texas. Some eyewitnesses say it was a mile long. Authorities say it was an illusion created by two airliners. Who has it right? Do you believe in extra-terrestrial visitors? Do we humans trust our eyes more than we should? Is this a fuzzy latest photo of the UFO or a cool painting? Are classic rock stations going to ruin any chances SETI has?
Happy 50th Birthday!
They're the original Blue Man Group ...
It's the 50th birthday of Belgium's largest export, the Smurfs!
When I was a kid, I drew lots and lots of Smurfs. I drew a Smurf on my fellow classmates' pocket folders ... either a Smurf or Garfield. I think I can still draw them from memory today.
Most kids remember having G.I. Joe's, Barbies, Star Wars figures, I remember having lots and lots of Smurf paraphernalia.
My twin brother and I had a complete Smurfs bedroom set ... Smurf curtains, Smurf comforters, Smurf bedsheets, Smurf pillowcases and various plush Smurfs....Papa Smurf, Smurfette, Brainy, Gargamel, etc.
I even sent a fan letter to "Peyo" and was rewarded with a signed certificate putting me in charge of our local chapter of the Smurfs fan club.
I remember my brother and I walking around saying things like, "Go Smurf yourself" or "Stick it up your Smurf!"
We drove my mom crazy!
I still love the Smurfs. They're way cool.
So raise your glass of sasparilla juice and have yourself a piece of Smurfberry cake!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Eighth Grade Science Test
My wife got a 96%. I'm embarrassed. If I was in eighth grade, though, I'd be thrilled!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sky Commuter
If you act quickly, you can be the owner of the only existing Sky Commuter! This is just too damn cool.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Franklin Fibbs
Wes used to draw a great comic strip called Franklin Fibbs , with writer Hollis Brown. I hope he won't mind my posting this link, but there are several of the strips on this website, along with commentary, and they're too good to pass up. A toast to those of us who got into comics too late!
Oh, and there are bunches more of the strips at Wes's Internet Presence.
"Never Go to Work" - They Might Be Giants
I think I'm going to pop this into my alarm clock and wake up to this song every morning!
Post-It Note Project
Fiona Harding wants to take the Post-It Note project global on February 1st.
Click here to find out more about the Post-It Note project.
This wouldn't take that much work and it would be fun to take part in!
Hat tip: The awesome folks at Drawn!
Emily Gravett
I ran across the work and website of author/illustrator Emily Gravett. She has a great style and way with words. Her site is simple and fun and easily navigable for children. It features, among other things, a picture book trailer and video. It really makes me want to redo my website, a long-overdue task. . . not to mention get busy on some picture book ideas.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Rejected Comp
This is a comp I did for a project that I didn't get. Wasn't able to convey enough excitement or something. I've realized, though, that the way I draw is the way I draw, and I can't make it into something it's not. Which is cool with me.
Huckabee 2008
I wasn't there when it happened, but it says at the beginning of the year, on the fourth day, Huckabee created quite a stir in Iowa and did good. On the eighth day, his numbers experienced a fall in New Hampshire. What next? We shall see what will come to pass...
John McCain 2008
I do caricatures best when I don't look at anything. I have to have seen the person "live" and have a good feel for the way they look and move. All of these caricatures started out with no reference. For McCain, Clinton and Romney I pulled in a photo to try to get the features more recognizable.
Night Reading
This is a warm-up drawing, colored in Photoshop.
I think I used to be somewhat decent at coloring my work in Photoshop, but since I began watercoloring my illustrations, my Photoshop skills have become rusty and the process seems alot slower than just watercoloring my artwork.
I'll admit, this is sloppy coloring, but it's a warm-up drawing, I'd never let something like this go to print.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Eh
Okay, these caricatures are just getting worse and worse. It's too depressing, and so are they, so I quit! Fini! That's it! On to fun stuff. . .
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
O BAM! O
Obama-bama, bo-bama, banana-rama, bo-bam, O-BAM-A!
Obama shines as the potential frontrunner in the Democratic primaries, even though polls show 97% of Americans don't know if Obama is his first name or last name. Says Mr. Barrack, "It doesn't matter, as long as people vote for one of my names."
Democrats in Iowa say Obama is the man! Well, most... um... a LOT of them do. A little less than half. Actually, we don't know how many people, since they don't vote, but stand in circles and try to rally their neighbors to their side. "Red Rover, Red Rover, let OBAMA come over!" It's a very weird thing, the Iowa caucus. But it's cool.
Line Art
These are a few of several line drawings I did today for an SRA test workbook. Brush pen on 24# printer paper.
Say Goodbye To ....
Joseph Biden and Christopher Dodd
As you can see, I struggled with Joe Biden's caricature.
Good thing he's not going to be President I guess.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Mitt Romney 2008
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has shown he is not afraid to run for President. He has made posters, bumper stickers, and even delivered numerous speeches, one behind a very presidential-looking podium. On occasion, Romney has even spoken with real flesh-and-blood United States citizens. Have no doubt that this man is serious in his bid for the Presidency. Look out, Ron Paul!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Stephen Colbert 2008
Demorepublicratic Presidential Candidate Stephen Colbert: Political Enigma or Publicity Enema? Stephen Colbert announced his candidacy in running for President in both the Democratic and Republican Primaries, but only in his home state of South Carolina. If Colbert makes it on both tickets, how can you lose? After all, More Americans get their news from The Colbert Report than ABC.®
Ron Paul 2008
Is Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul the Defender of the Constitution, or the Delusion of the Constituency? The Shadow Libertarian brings soft punches to the ring but lands them squarely on the nose each time. If Ron Paul fails to come through in the primaries, will he run independently and become the Republican Party's Ralph Nader? Will Ron Paul be the Wild Card in the 2008 Presidential Election or just a Crazy Eight?
The first in a series of Presidential Candidate Caricatures and Profiles, brought to you by the Not-for-Profit Apolitical Inaction Committee, Three Men in a Tub of Righteousness.
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