Ralph Bakshi: Meeting my Cartoon Hero!

Ralph Bakshi, Q+A'ing after a screening of his film Wizards. Drawn by me, signed by Ralph!
Wondercon, 03/17/2012

“When it comes to art, if you question yourself, it could go either way. So don’t question yourself, I’m a great believer in that. All the second-guessing’ll kill you. When you start wondering about what it is that they want to hear, that’ll kill you. As for the vulgarity in Coonskin—the art of cartooning is vulgarity. The only reason for cartooning to exist is to be on the edge. If you only take apart of what they allow to take apart, you’re Disney, you’re doing illustrations, or children’s books.”- Ralph Bakshi, from an interview w/ Metroactive.

There's a saying that goes, "Never meet your heroes". All too often, if you are lucky enough to meet 'em, you'll just be bound for Disappointment Hotel: reservation for one. Sure it's happened to me a few times...

But not in the case of Ralph Bakshi.

I can go on and on about Ralph, his films, how much of an influence he/they have had on me and my own cartooning... but I don't want to bore you. Rather, why don't you check out my various Bakshi inspired blog postings, or read my CNN interview about Ralph? You'll find out how much of a deep and profound impact and inspiration this man, his films, cartoons, paintings, and art has and continues to hold on me for 30 years! I am NOT Kidding.

My beautiful girlfriend, Ava, has a great write up on her blog about our Wondercon 2012 encounter w/ Ralph. You can check that out at her blog.

Ralph was gracious, gentle, hilarious, witty, charming, and well... Ralph!

I felt like I was meeting a no-holds barred Santa Claus. And on my birthday, no less!

Best birthday ever!

It's no secret that one of my ultimate dream goals in life to work & collab w/, or to be mentored by Ralph someday. He's one of the last, true, DIY originals, and it would be an honor!
Hell, I'd even settle for an art studio visit!

Ralph- I'm ready when you are. ;)

Thank you Ralph!
-Jeaux Janovsky

Original Cartoon Heroes: "Tex Avery" Behind the Art

Doing research on Tex Avery for Original Cartoon Heroes, and I cannot for the life of me find any good photos of him online. Too small, or he's looking away from the camera. I even tried my local library branch, but the 2 books I needed are in Reference and not available for check out. Bummed!
Luckily, Fred is ordering me the books off of Amazon! Thanks Fred! :)
In the meantime, here are a few studies of Tex I did.
-Jeaux

Original Cartoon Heroes: "Betty Boop" Behind the Art

Betty Boop art originally posted April 7th, 2008 for Channel Frederator.

Got Betty Boop on my mind tonite as I'm working on Original Cartoon Heroes.

She was a cutie patoot!

my version just makes her look all drugged out, but at least she's a cutie drugged out patoot!

-Jeaux

Original Cartoon Heroes: "Bakshi Studies" Behind the Art

For those of you not in the know, I've been working on a dream freelance project w/ Fred Seibert of Frederator on a postcard tribute series, named Original Cartoon Heroes.
Fred & I came up with a list of Animation Legends, and I'm very proud to pay tribute & give homage to these Greats in my style.
Above you will see my studies for Ralph Bakshi. The only one of the list who is still with us, still painting, still drawing, still stirring the Animation stew (and adding a lot of pepper and hot sauce while he's at it!)
Ralph Bakshi is a hero of mine, and I am pleased to say that he's using an early incarnation of my Original Cartoon Heroes tributes as his personal Facebook Avatar still! For that, I am honored beyond belief!
I can't wait to share the new version I've done w/ him!

Thank you Ralph.

Thank you Fred.

Thanks to Cartoons.

-Jeaux Janovsky, a true Original

Original Cartoon Heroes Sneak Peek

an Original Cartoon Heroes Sneak Peek by Jeaux Janovsky

“It’s all about the pie eyes.”- Jeaux

(Working on a “dream project” right now!)

-Jeaux

Behind the Art: Ub Iwerks, An Original Cartoon Hero!

Ub Iwerks art originally posted March 17th, 2008 for Channel Frederator

More "behind the art" of my postcard tribute series, Original Cartoon Heroes for Frederator Studios.

-Jeaux

Original Cartoon Heroes

Chuck Jones art originally posted March 24th, 2008 for Channel Frederator.

I've recently been commissioned by Fred Seibert to create a series of postcard tribute art of Original Cartoon Heroes, based off a few Refrederator illustrations I did a few years ago while working w/ Fred on Channel Frederator in NY.

I've been having a blast creating the recent pieces and it's been rekindling my love affair w/ cartoons again.

This will be my "Love Letter" to Cartoons.

Thanks Fred!

Keep your eyeballs glued here, as I'll be posting other Original Cartoon Heroes images, sketches, and behind the art goodies.

http://lunchbreak.frederator.com/

-Jeaux

Goin' on my 10.

Animal Sounds Promo
-Jeaux

Hobobotics!

Here's a sneak peek at some Hobo-Hotness for y'all!

Got the A-OK to post this as this is not the final Hobo design for a super secret surprise in my pal Whit's Animator Road-Trip film: Dreamworld!

What's Dreamworld? Here's the DW trailer, the DW Tumblr, and stuff I've mentioned before in the past about it.

Gotta get back to the Freeeeelance!

by the by- I am available for freelance of any artistic sort.

Illustration, Comics, Animation, character design, storyboards, comedy writing, etc.

If you are, or if you know of anyone, looking for any one of those things that need to be filled, send them, or yourself, my way.

My info is over on the side-bar, under my name all up in my profile.

Thanks friendletons!
-Jeaux

ARR!!!

Done w/ cartoon series development freelance project.

Moving onto the next one: Cartoon Heroes!!!

I have other things in between this too, in the Jeaux pipeline.

Steady as she goes, mateys!

Sailing the freelance seas, full speed ahead!

Oh, the image above of Barnacle Billy? That's from an original, quirky idea by myself & my pal, Whit Hertford. We aren't sure in what form Peg Leg Punx will be manifesting itself into... be it cartoons, comix, board games, trading cards... but ye can be sure you'll hear about it here first ye bilge rats!

(Producers & people w/ $$$, are you interested in Peg Leg Punx? Have an idea for where it can fit? Write me @ jeauxj at gmail dot com and lemme know!)

While you're thinkin' about that, why don'tcha take a look at our other project: Life After Myth?

LIFE AFTER MYTH - trailer from Whit Hertford on Vimeo.

I am available for freelance of any artistic sort. Illustration, Comics, Animation, character design, storyboards, comedy writing, etc.
If you are, or if you know of anyone, looking for any one of those things that need to be filled, send them, or yourself, my way. My info is over on the side-bar, under my name all up in my profile.

Avast!
-Jeaux

Good to be the King!

Yo,
Couple good things poppin' off in the Jeaux pipe-line:

My Joe Murray/Kaboing Congratulatory Piece wound up on his personal journal on none other than my Birthday, March 17th!!!
Here's what he had to say:

You can check it out here too! http://joemurraystudio.com/blog/?p=2711
Pretty cool, eh?
It was a very great way to cap off an already epic & great birthday! Many thanks Joe!
You should go check out Kaboing TV, the 2nd episode of Frog in a Suit is out for your perusal.

I'll also post it here, cause Joe is just so darn nice for posting about lil yours truly!
I'm finishing up on a bit of freelance back to back. Wish I could show off a few glimpses of sneak peeks from the projects, but I'd better keep em under wraps for the moment. I'm sure you'll be hearing about them, soon as I get word I can spread some images and info around.

I recently had a great time on my birthday, Mar.17th-18th, spending it at Disneyland and staying at the D-Land hotel w/ my gf, Ava.

Outside Fake Gallery, a location for Dreamworld
The day before my b-day, I spent it by acting in a small scene in my pal Whit's feature film, Dreamworld. IMDB page here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853548/ Met lots of great people on that shoot, and was happy they let me be a small part of it. Whit sorta based his character off of me, so you'll be seeing a bunch of my stuff in it!
According to Dreamworld director Ryan Darst:

"Thanks for coming out on Wednesday. Your scene is already the stuff of legend."

:D
Here's the Dreamworld teaser trailer:

DREAMWORLD Teaser from SNEAK ATTACK on Vimeo.

Got a bunch of other things on the horizon and in the works! Workin' on setting up doin' a bunch of animated music vids for friends once freelance lets up.
One I'm proud to mention is my boy Weapon X, whom I've proudly known since our early days at Blockbuster together. He's layin' down some genuine, true hip hop and I can't wait to see what type of concepts we'll come up with!
Here's a recent vid of his you should all peep out.

Back to the drawing board lab for more Freelancin' Romancin'! BTW, I am available for freelance, so please hook a brother up!
See the side-bar to get in touch, or for more info. ;)
<---------------side-bar
Thanks!
-Jeaux

Joe Murray's Kaboing TV Boings tha Internetz!

Joe Murray, creator of the cartoon hits Rocko's Modern Life & Camp Lazlo, has set his sights on the Internet w/ his online ALL Cartoon & Animation channel: Kaboing TV!

His first efforts there are the hilarious adventures of Frog In a Suit!

Check it out below, or go see it over at Kaboing!

Way to go Joe & major congrats!

If you're lookin' for a cartoona-web series about semi gross fish called FISH POOP Show to be on Kaboing sometime... lemme know! ;)

Suzanne Kasch over at Kaboing's Facebook page recently highlighted Fish Poop Show there!

Thanks Suzanne & Joe!

Keep on Boingin',
Jeaux Janovsky

You can also read this FIAS post o'er at these fine online locations:
Frederator Blogs
The Autumn Society

Off Model!

Click to make the orange cat dude bigger!
Sneak Peek.

Shh!

just a teaser image thingie I cooked up.

:)
-Jeaux

An Open Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

This X-mas a job would be pretty damn rad right about now.

Can your elves work their magic this year for me, please?

oh yea, in case you need my email Santa (and /or potential employers): jeauxj at gmail dot com

if you see anything w/ your peepers or hear anything w/ your ear peepers, lemme know please. (and I mean ANYTHING! Does not have to be an animation related gig.)

Tis thy season to hook Jeaux up w/ a job! :)

Happy Holidays!

XO,

Jeaux

--
Jeaux Janovsky: AKA- NINJEAUX©, AKA- CRE.8.TIVE ASSASSIN FOR HIRE™

Deadly Development Consultant Jeaux Janovsky can help you make a "killing" with any project.

No project is too big or small for Jeaux's unique Samuradical Skills!

頑張ります (がんばります) Ganbarimasu: I do my best.

cell- (ask me for it)
blog- http://www.allofmyheroes.blogspot.com/
pfolio- http://jeauxjanovsky.carbonmade.com/
facebook- facebook.com/jeaux
tumblr- http://lumber.tumblr.com/
twitter- http://twitter.com/jeauxj
deviantart- http://jeaux.deviantart.com/
reel- http://vimeo.com/16423976

Be a pal, and please pass this on to your pals! Who knows--- they might be lookin' for someone like me to hand a job to! ya never know!

Something You Miss! Day #22 30 Day Drawing Challenge!

DAY 22 Something You Miss!

This 30 day drawing entry is supposed to be about something I miss.

I was thinking about how much I miss waking up on Saturday Mornings to watch cartoons when I was just a wee Jeaux. Fish Hooks reminds me of those good cartoons we had back in my day.

I'm currently taking a storyboard test for Fish Hooks and I guess in a way, the something I also miss is having a job.

So wish me luck friends! ;)

Into the frying pan,
-Jeaux Janovsky

To see more of my 30 Day Drawing Challenge entries, CLICK HERE!
Or Here: http://allofmyheroes.blogspot.com/search/label/30%20day%20drawing%20challenge

Meeting Joe Murray!

Back in early October, I was lucky enough to go to a great lecture/Q&A w/ Rocko's Modern Life/Camp Lazlo creator Joe Murray at a local Barnes & Noble bookstore.

The talk was promoting Joe's new book, Creating Animated Cartoons with Character, and it was very encouraging and inspiring.
For those of you who have always dreamed of creating and making your own cartoons, this is a great handy dandy guide to help you get you started and on the right, roller-coasterey, path!

Joe was also kind enough to sign an earlier E-Book version(Ok, so I printed it. I know that defeats the purpose of an E-Book. But c'mon. What are ya s'posed ta do?!?) of his book I had bought back while I was in NY working for Fred Seibert & Frederator. That dog-eared, battered, well-read book kept me company on all those subway rides to and from work.

Here are a few sketch note doodles I did at the event:


Joe said my Rocko was better than his that night! (I think he meant to say creepier?)

Joe also seemed to recognize me from somewhere before, I guess I just have one of those faces or perhaps my own legend and notoriety in the animation world precedes me! Maybe it was cause I was sitting next to my pal from school, Laura Allen. ;)

Here's a few acorns of wisdom I gathered up from Joe.
"There's a show inside you that only YOU can do, that no one else can."
"Stay true to your gut."
"Keep the Execs off the floor!"
"If you don't have story- it won't carry."
"If you don't connect w/ the character- you will check out sooner."
"Nothing is overnight."
"Pencil and brush mileage"
"Stepping stones are not always noticeable until you decide to use them."

Better yet, why don't I let Joe tell you for yourselves!

My buddy, and composer pal, Brian Barrale was in attendance w/ me and recorded Joe's lecture thru his Iphone. It's not the greatest quality, but it gives you an idea as to how fun and genuine Joe's lecture was.
Enjoy!
http://limelinx.com/files/b127b1be9bc70311adaf270c4530da89

Joe was very gracious to his fans who showed up and was truly genuine and welcoming.

Thanks for being so cool, thanks for the cartoons, and thanks for the encouraging and inspiring lecture Joe!

I hope our paths cross again soon!
-Jeaux Janovsky

FAVE TV Show! Day #9 30 Day Drawing Challenge!

DAY 9 Favorite TV Show!

-Jeaux Janovsky


To see more of my 30 Day Drawing Challenge entries, CLICK HERE!
Or Here: http://doubled8.blogspot.com/search/label/30%20day%20drawing%20challenge

FAV Animated Character! Day #8 30 Day Drawing Challenge!

DAY 8 Favorite Animated Character!

-Jeaux Janovsky


To see more of my 30 Day Drawing Challenge entries, CLICK HERE!
Or Here: http://doubled8.blogspot.com/search/label/30%20day%20drawing%20challenge

CTN Xpo '09 Sketch-Notes

These are my long overdue CTN Animation Expo 2009 Sketch Notes.

I met a lot of great & talented people, went to some fun panels, and had a blast. I hope these Sketch Notes convey that sentiment.

CTN X '09 schedule This is my schedule for the CTN Animation Expo 2009. Yes, I color coded it by day.

The Power of Mime- Lorin Eric Salm. Mr. Salm was very nice & funny. Kinda Quiet. ;)

Who's Who in the Animation Pipeline- Angela Lepito. Angela has been on my email list for years and it was so nice to finally meet her in person.

Crafting the Short Pitch- Pilar Alessandra. Pilar had some great information in her great panel. I'd love to check out one of her workshops sometime.

From Designs to Toys- Mitchell Bernal. It was great to learn how Mitchell turned his passion for toys and collecting them into a business he loves doing and thrives in. He created the popular Skeleanimals toyline!

How I Sell the Pitch- Guy Vasilovich. Guy's advice was awesome. I'm a big fan of the shorts he's produced for Frederator, so it was nice to hear him talk and tell his pitching tales and battles. Great, funny guy. I love his art style too.

Anatomy of a Hit Animated Series: The Decision Makers- Ramin Zahed, Swampy Marsh, Jamie Mitchell, Dan Povenmire, Ford Riley. This was another great panel by Disney Creators of Phineas & Ferb, and Special Agent Oso. Their advice was great, and they are smart & hilarious guys.

Getting a Job in Animation and Keeping it- Steve Hickner. Steve Hickner's panel was very entertaining, but sadly, too short. He had some good advice and a great outlook on life.

The Broad-appeal of Animation- Frank Gladstone, Brenda Chapman, Sue Nichols, Kathy Zielinski. To tell you the truth I was still in the middle of waking up while at this panel. Thank god for coffee, and for the fact the panel was very encouraging and insightful.

Developing the Animated Comedy Feature- Steve Kaplan. Steve's panel on the animated comedy feature was fun, as he's a funny guy. Lots of good notes, and things to research in there, if you can read my chicken scratch.

Top: They Got it All, But I Did it All: How to protect what you do.- Glenn Litwak
Bottom: The Power of Improv- Ezra Weisz, School of Improv @ Bang Comedy Theatre, L.A. Glenn Litwak talked about all the stuff that makes you wanna pull your hair out, and Ezra's Improv panel was really good. I'd like to take a few workshop classes there when I can raise up some $.

The World of Appeal (Bill Peet)- Tenny Chonin, Ed Gombert. This was a good panel, it was just too short. Which was too bad. :(

Top: Color Scripting: The Art Directors from Pixar, Disney, Sony- Charles Solomon, Andy Gaskill, Dave Goetz, Dice Tsutsumi, Lou Romano.
Bottom: Spotlight Focus Interview: Harald Siepermann, Tina Price. The Color Scripting Panel was great, but severely crowded. Loved hearing all these guys speak about Color Scripting and the art of. Lou Roman knocked my eyes out. His art, I mean. Harald Siepermann's interview was great. As an aspiring character designer myself, I loved absorbing his great advice and beautiful drawings.

Special Thanks go out to Tina Price & the rest of the moderators, speakers, guests, volunteers, exhibiting artists and professionals for throwing such a fun and memorable event. Glad I was there to soak it up.

You can also find all these Sketch Notes as a Flicker Set on my Flickr page. Feel free to print them out and stick em on your wall!

Stay Free.
-Jeaux

G1988/Under the Influence/HeMan & the MOTU/2010

Cristina & I are proud to announce that we've both been invited to participate in Gallery 1988's Under The Influence group art show dedicated to He-Man & the Masters of the Universe!

It's been getting tons of exposure and traction on popular websites like /film, i09, Geek Tyrant, and Cartoon Brew. Special Thanks goes out to Jerry Beck for plugging me alongside Dan Goodsell & Chogrin!

It's a great feeling to be part of G1988's first show of the New Year: 2010! It should be a real fun night! Apparently, G1988 is even decking out their gallery to look like Castle Greyskull!

Here's a sneak peek at Cristina's great piece for the show, along w/ some pre-concept work on her piece! (i'm a sucka for stuff like that!)






I would've had a sneak peek of mine, but i'm a dumb ass and lost my camera. So, you're gonna hafta make due with reject sketches from me. Yay?








(this one is actually from the year 2002- about 7 years ago!)
I've always been a hardcore fan of He-Man, and I leave you with an actual letter a small Jeaux wrote to the Toof Fairy & a pic my mom snapped with a weird Man E. Faces in the actual 80s!



I have the Power!


-Jeaux