A Few Famous Faces

Just a little practice thing I did with my ink and brushes earlier this week. I typed "actors" into Google Images on my iPod, and set that up next to my sketchbook at my desk to try and capture some familiar likenesses. The results include Hugh Laurie, Jack Nicholson and Ron Perlman. An odd ensemble, but I am at the mercy of whatever Google picks for me.

Equestria Nightly

Princess Celestia plays a little joke on Twilight to make her feel more comfortable about her first night away from home at Unicorn school.

I decided to draw this comic to see if I was still up to the task of drawing panel comics, since It'd been quite a while since I did them. I broke my embargo against fan art that I'd had going since college since the idea itself was original, as well as cute.


Within days this comic was posted up on Equestria Daily to be viewed by a wider auidence. Thanks Brony Community!

Best Face Forward

After designing a new logo for my new business cards I decided to make a new self portrait so that I could have some original art for the cards as well as I felt the previous portrait's full front angle wasn't working out.

So looking for new ideas but drawing myself in front of a mirror. I almost had forgotten how challenging and how rewarding it is to draw something directly from life rather than conform to the structure of a model in a photo.

Its also amusing to see how even drawing the same head, how it can look radically different from one to the next. Its funny how my first impression of my own face was very tall, chiseled and serious. With the hair part and face fuzz, I kinda look like Flynn Rider from Disney's "Tangled".

Later versions showed more squat cheeks as I tried to squeeze out a subtle smile.

Eventually I got this:

Tryptophan Thanksgiving

SleepCare gave me quite the challenge with a series of holiday related illustrations just  shy of two weeks before Thanksgiving. I cranked this one out quickly so that it could be on the site and have a least a weeks worth of relevance, and hopefully buy me some time to work on the Christmas illustrations.

I don't know why this woman is so thankful for Tryptophan. It this means is that she'll be the one doing all the dishes while everyone else is snoozing. I've been told that the man in the foreground bears a slight resemblance to myself. There might not have been so much similarity if not for the glasses, which I only added because of a Robert McGinnis painting that stuck in my mind while I was searching through my inspirational swipe files for people asleep in chairs.

Have a great Thanksgiving and if you can, use the time off to catch up on some sleep.

Amy

In my last entry I said I was thankful to finally have back to back projects. Well, the projects just keep coming so I don't have much time in between to post so I thought I'd show you a preview of one of my more recent projects.

This is part of a series of portraits I'm doing for the Salvation Army, sort of a follow up to my Angel Tree Illustrations. Hopefully I'll be uploading so more sometime soon.

Well, I'd better get back to work.

Music to Draw By!

Self Portrait, Self Explainitory

Brush Robes

Melodie the model helps me practice with drapery with brushes.

Sketches to pass the time

Well, now that "Zoot" is finished, I'm brainstorming ideas for new, more personal projects since I seem to have some spare time. So I'm currently working on ideas to help pad out my portfolio. In the meantime, he are some sketches I've been doing to keep my brushes in shape.

Zoot Suit

A brush and ink illustration of my Uncle's Dog "Zoot" for his birthday. Which is in May, and I couldn't wait to post. I doubt he checks up on this page so, surprise preserved.

Speaking of surprise, I never had much affection for animals prior but after the squirrels and now this, I find I quite enjoy it.

Aaa to Zzz

My latest illustration for sleepcare.com. This time illustrating the difference between zombies and sleepwalkers. 

Originally I just wanted a side by side comparison with some bulletpoint text highlighting similarities and differences such how sleepwalkers act like their going through their daily routine which zombies return to familiar places based on loose memories. The main idea was to demolish the notion that sleepwalkers walk with their arms out strecthed, which they don't.

My editor latched on the idea of having a woman wake from a dream of being chased by a zombie, to see her husband sleepwalking. I don't know that this is the best exitcution of this idea, but I didn't intend on arguing with the guy who writes my checks, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have fun with this one anyway.

Pets in Bed

Two new illustrations I did for sleepcare.com about pets in bed.

The Horror of Dracula

In preparation for Halloween, I had the opportunity to catch up on the early Hammer Horror movies. I grew up on the Universal Studios Horror movies, and have a close place in my heart (as my movie review blog will attest) that will always be my first choice for a late night scary movie, but I did admire how Hammer presented the famed monsters rather differently, and found myself rather enamored with Christopher Lee's expressive face in his role as Count Dracula.

Curiously, Dracula looks kinda like Ras Al Ghul from the Batman comics, I wonder if Neal Adams was inspired by such films.

Dex Deadfall: Astronaut Archelogist!

A name courtesy of the Action Hero Name Generator, Dex is inspired by the great science fiction art of the past; Al Williamson , Wally Wood, and Frank Frazetta in particular.

Being the last project for the semester it feels a bit rushed in terms of composition and looks very busy. At least I had the opportunity to play with Photoshop colors alongside my traditional brush and ink.

Frankenstein's Monster

I'm fan of the Universal studios monster movies, particularly the Frankenstein franchise. I had the chance to rewatch these movies over the Christmas break and while looking for an opportunity to test out my new brushes, I decided to create my own version of the monster. While I was inspired by Karolff's portray, I made an effort to looking at his picture while drawing. Although I did reference his sheepskin jacket from "Son of Frankenstein", just because it was such unique texture. I went on apply some flat colors in Photoshop. I think it adds a considerable pop.