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Some Guys

I did these wacky portraits in my inking class. Veronica brought in hilarious photos of random people and had us use giant brushes and large paper (18" x 24") to create these. The objective was to work fast and have fun - so they're far from perfect. I was just trying to stay loose. 

I'm sad that it was our last class! Veronica is an amazing teacher and I hope she will be teaching more adult classes at WAM. She encouraged us all to work outside our comfort zone while keeping it fun. Ink is a pretty unforgiving medium, so if you get really uptight about it you will drive yourself crazy. Granted, I'm not going to throw out the advice I once read, "Think before you ink," because that's important too especially with a comic page. But it's good to find a balance. 

Rough Draft - Comic Cover

I've been working on a cover for my new book of collected comics. This is the rough concept design. The characters won't be 'see-through' as they are here - I was just trying to figure out placement. In case you can't read what's under 'Hot Donut Salad,' it says, 'and other strange concoctions.'

Next step is to draw it in pencil and then ink it. Then color it in photoshop. I think the background is set. I like it. It has the groovy vibe I'm looking for. Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated!

Film Pick...Look at Me

I rent French films in bulk to work on my French listening skills. So I never know quite what I'm getting. Once in a while I stumble upon a gem such as this. 

What it's about: Lolita Cassard, the main character, is a self-consciously overweight vocalist in music school. Her father, famous writer Etienne Cassard, constantly dismisses her and anyone else who's not advancing his career. He's the film's "bad guy," through and through. Yet all of the characters, though not as callous as Mr. Cassard, share his cold, opportunistic behavior to some degree. They're all stepping on someone to get to something better.

Why it's good: It's well written. The plot masterfully weaves the different characters to each other. The casting, directing, and acting are flawless. Husband and wife writer/directors, Agnes Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri, also star in the film. They're the team responsible for Oscar-nominated film, The Taste of Others, which is great, but I like this one better.  

Wheelin' and dealin'

I've been training indoors with a cycling team since the beginning of November, which definitely helped me get through the New England winter, but now I can't wait to ride outside! Yay Spring!

A Leprechaun Can Come in Handy...

This incredible cover art is by artist Kurt Schaffenberger.

Russian Freak Show Trading Cards

My rough design for a line of Russian Freak Show Trading Cards, featuring people with unfortunate and bizarre deformities. For the kids!

I'm going to make about 3 of them. Trading card size is 3 x 5" but will display larger (12 x 20").

Survey Result! What is this guy doing?

An overwhelming majority voted on my 3/5/10 survey that the guy with the red gloves is scolding someone for being short... AND, as it turns out, you were right! Well, you were partially right. He's actually scolding several individuals for being short.   

Dress for success...

Hey look! It's me! 

9 or 10 years old...

AND, from my own personal collection... 

Wacky Packs! '70's era bubble gum packs with stickers that satirized commercial brand products. Kids used to plaster them all over their dressers, closet doors, etc. (We weren't allowed to do this at my house). These are a few of my favorites. 

Learn Danish in 30 seconds or less!

Congratulations! 

You've completed our Danish Language Course! 

Or was that Icelandic? 

ANYhoo, what this blog post is really about is Dave Berg's comic "The Lighter Side," which was one of my favorites as a kid.  I remember being fascinated by how well he captures facial expressions and body language and I liked how schmaltzy and tacky his characters were. 

I was surprised to learn that so many people dislike this comic for being square and middle-of-the-road. That may be, but I still think it has a lot going for it. First, it's cohesive and it flows as a series even though the characters are always different. Seriously, think about how difficult it would be to not only do that, but do it well. What holds "Lighter Side" together as a series is the way Berg told these little stories: in a consistent, unique, and uncluttered style, and always in 4 - 6 (often) borderless panels.

My early comic work

My mother found this piece that I did when I was eleven years old, in which I tell the worst joke ever...

I didn't know that I was drawing chickens back then too! 

Portrait of the artist as a young snarck...

This week I'll be writing about early comic work and influences.
As such, this was my childhood and adolescent bible...

As a kid, I thought this book was the most hilarious thing EVER. I loved the format of multiple possible answers, and that you could write in your own. I poured over Al Jaffee's illustrations for hours. I was fascinated by what made them work. I loved the over-the-top physical gestures and facial expressions, including those of the blase-moron-question-askers...  

Survey...What is this guy doing?

We have no idea and need your help! Use survey buttons at top right. Thank you!

Gettin' friskety

In this week's ink drawing class we experimented with frisket. I had never used it before. It would be good for drawing snow and rain. I was trying to find different ways to spread it on the paper. I found that a popsicle stick worked pretty good. 

Are you sure?

Stuff in my studio.

I might need to get out more...

Inspired by these, I tried making my own insane fruit and vegetable figurines. I didn't go hog wild with facial features and appendages because I was too cheap to spend $3.19 on freakin' toothpicks. And I just worked with what I had in the house: ripe banana, minneola skins, onion skins, dried fig, red potatoes. It's not a medium that I plan to work in extensively. But I like the idea of it. It's so pathetically lame and awful that it's hilarious. You have to try it. 

Mother and child at the beach...

 

Queen Potato...