Feed Me!

Hey folks, here's a sketch I had some fun with today. I wanted to bring in more gesture and pose emphasis than my usual stuff. Here are a few folks I admire for their ability to capture in gesture story, character emotion, & intent right as the pen hits the paper. http://drawger.com/stevebrodner/ http://pascalcampion.blogspot.com/ http://haraldsiepermann.blogspot.com/ http://www.peterdeseve.com/ Gorgeous isn't it! Miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep. I'll post some more finished work soon....

Sketchbook-Hatching new ideas daily

I have a bunch of resolutions that respond to some great feedback from friends, and piers at CTN animation Expo. I feel like I'm setting New Year resolutions too early, but I've got no time to waste. I'm hatching a few goals here for the record. 1) Quality weekly posting on the blog 2) Daily purposeful sketching 3) Two new portfolio pieces per month (some may be client work, but I'll post what I can 4) Finish the color script for my Jumbo production my February 5) Finalize charater designs for Jumbo and share the process. What are you...

Here comes CTN-X!

I'm marching off to California this weekend for the first Creative Talent Network Expo in Burbank. It hosts some intense talent and amazing opportunities for all skill levels and interests in the animation industry.What makes me go? I'll be introducing myself to the industry center, I want to find out where I can strengthen my skills and respond to portfolio criticisms and challenges from piers. I'm also going to meet my idols as people not bloggers.There's a lot to be said about developing specialized skills to make the pipeline as productive as possible. I'm not sure where my skills...

Character Design with Chris Oatley

Aloha, this week I had a blast recording a podcast episode with DTS artist Chris Oatley of Chris Oatley's Artcast. If you haven't checked out his show... shame on you, . We talked shop about continuing artistic development, networking strategies for the entertainment industry, and character development technique. I'm constantly learning from the great talents everywhere, here are some things I picked up recently. Feel free to leave your own criticisms and suggestions. I started developing some sketches for a Sci-Fi concept. Chris took one look and sent me to a great resource The Skillfull Huntsman, the book that...

Feelin' Peachy - Tutorial

Welcome to my first blog tutorial. I'll cover a little bit of my thoughts and my process for creating an ad I did with an "color editable spattering" technique for a regular client of mine. The technique is great for quickly creating variations for color keys and comps.The challenge was to create a dynamic Welcome to Atlanta Top Ten list, while using the assigned cliche of a Peach.I'd been fascinated by late nouveau / bauhaus posters and also the Ratatouille posters uber talent Eric Tan-borrow from the best. I wanted to create a technique that would give me the...

Sketches: Factory and Feast

I couldn't help posting these sketches and offer some sage advice from today. No mind-blowing drawings, but it's part of what I did today.My mother-in-law took the family to a buffet tonight, where I met the gentleman in the sketch.He had an entire plate full of steak and then several other plates as well. A "Wide Mouthed Bass" shirt he wore suited him I thought; he made a great character to sketchAdvice #1Now, I'm not Mr. Universe but I need to say, if this drawing resembles you...Put down the FORK!The second sketch is a nearby factory I did during...

Colored Expressions

What do you do to exercise your lighting muscles? Here's my weak attempt as promised. I am pleased to have flexed a few muscles but feel I could have tried to stretch more in regards to dynamic lighting. I used no reference for the lights.Please let me know of any skill refining exercises you know of; continual growth, that's what life's all about....

Expression Sketches

I have been up late tonight working on color keys and needed something to relax. SILLY FACES! I like the hyper-extension of the features, but know I need to work on economy. I started to do color variations but started nodding, I'll try to post them before the end of the week....

Personal Project- Rough JUMBO development

Aloha friends-For those who have wondered what's been cooking in my studio, I'll let you in a couple projects since they're not for any client. I'm posting a couple of animation backgrounds-still very rough- to keep myself motivated and to fish for feedback from my superiors PLEASE.I'm developing a collection of backgrounds for my entertainment design portfolio with some much appreciated guidance from Lou Romano, and Glen Harmon- Thanks again guys. I hope to have 4 more backgrounds completed shortly.These are from a story I'm developing based on the famous JUMBO elephant. I have childhood memories of the Jumbo...

IF Impossibility

If you could split your personality into various separate characters what would they look like? This impossible gathering is a triple self portrait- no not the monkey. Sometimes I take myself too seriously ( the guy in the middle) and fail enjoy life to it's fullest.I sure wish I would have planned more for the background....

IF - Fleeting

Life is fleeting- from the nest to a final rest. This is a quick still life I'm working on to refine my digital painting techniques. I'm trying out some amazing Photoshop brushes from Chris Oatley, a generous and thorough illustrator. I'm learning as I go and there is always so much to learn! If any of you have pointers/suggestions I'd appreciate any feedback.Enjoy...

Plein Air & Plain Feet

For those of you who thought I was dead, your almost right. I'm working like a dog these days on development for a film project, it feels great. Here are a couple images to keep my 3 three rabid fans happy.The first is a plein air sketch (1.5 hrs) of some clouds that couldn't hold pose for very long but were great to work with. I'm trying to really flex the ole' draw-quickly-from-life muscle lately and find that my reliance on reference has left me slightly atrophied. I'll post a few of those sketches soon.The other is one of...

Sampling for Kelly

Thanks to a former storyboard teacher, Kelly Loosli, who asked to see a sampling of my regular work.I did these backgrounds for a short that Kelly was putting together a number of years back, they were created following the direction of Peter Sakievich.Here is a random gathering of some unedited sketchbook images. As a man sketcheth so is he! I've been working on bringing in more shape based caricature to my work, so every day I fill a page with something-right now there are a lot of elephants for a story I'm working on.The collage is a style sampler,...

Spring Time is coming!

Spring time should be just around the corner, but today it snowed again. I can't wait for winter to give way as buds bloom and new life is everywhere.I did this illustration based on a poem The Magic Piper by F.L. Marsh.There piped a piper in the wood Strange music-soft and sweet-And all the little wild things Came hurrying to his feet.They sat around him on the grass, Enchanted, unafraid,And listened, as with shining eyes Sweet melodies he made.The wood grew green, and flowers sprang up, The birds began to sing;For the music it was magic, And the piper’s...

IF: MLK others pale in comparison

I couldn't help but post this drawing today as the U.S.A. celebrates the life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. a brave peace fighter for human rights. He was murdered for teaching that people of all backgrounds, colors, beliefs, etc should live in equality with freedom from fear and the right to pursue greatness without limits. It's hard for me to teach my kids just how wonderful Rev King's life and teachings really are.Every year we watch his "I have a dream speech", if you have a moment please watch it.The drawing was done years ago and is full...

IF: Resolve to Draw Better

There is no skill more valuable than the ability to draw well (personal definition: effectively render what you see); my subjects may change & my style may evolve, but my ability to draw well can only be enhanced as I practice, critique and refine my work.I started the new year by deciding to draw this portrait for some dear friends of mine. It's of the family's son who's in Brasil for two years. Doing "Thank you" drawings is a way that I'm forcing myself to do observational drawings more. No matter what your resolution, back it up with some...