Category: Character Designs

Merry Christmas 2010

Well, another year has come and gone. Living here in Los Angeles, Christmas has a way of sneaking up on you. I blame the weather. Sure, we have had some frigid temperatures here of 40º, but usually that’s at night for a week here or there. As I write this, it is 2:30am and only 52º outside right now. So, not having cold winters gives Christmas a chance to tip-toe up through December without one being entirely aware.

That being said, I am a bit behind in getting my Christmas card art created. With having some recent freelance, then being sick for a week, it was looking like the card might not happen this year. That would have been a personal tragedy because if memory serves, I have prepared a fresh & tasty original Christmas card every year since 1995.

I know what you are thinking. “If you know Christmas comes every year, why don’t you do the art in August?” My answer to that is, “If you think warm LA winters hurt the mood of the holidays, try dreaming of a white Christmas in August!”

That being said, I finished the art on December 18 by the hair of my chinny chin chin. This year inspiration came by way of the great Christmas hymn O Come All Ye Faithful. It was originally written in Latin, but thankfully years later it was translated into English. (I spared you the Latin.) Set to a soul-stirring melody, the verses of this song celebrate the story of Christ’s birth and what it means to those who trust in Christ – the “faithful” to whom the song speaks.  Also included is the Bible passage found in Matthew 11:28-30 that seems to compliment the message of the song nicely.

So, presented to you here is my 2010 Christmas card celebrating the birth of Christ whose sole purpose was to die for the sins of man. Can you truly be counted among “the faithful”? It is my prayer that you and yours may experience the joy of Christ this Christmas by trusting in Him.

O Come All Ye Faithful

O Come All Ye Faithful lyrics

Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Bible Art Character Designs Illustrations Self Portrait

2010 Monster Month: Day 31 – The Joyful Beast

Last year, as part of my Drawn & Quoted series,  I created a pencil drawing of a wide-eyed fuzzy monster that just exuded optimism (If you’d like to see it again, just CLICK HERE!) It received wonderful reaction from folks. It is fun to know that such a positive pencil drawing elicited such a positive response. I got to thinking that perhaps this purveyor of positiveness should see the light of day in full color!

So, fresh from my drafting table just today comes this turquoise Joyful Beast in living watercolor paint and colored pencil:

Optimistic Monster
The pessimist in me thinks the monster is noticing his own reflection in the mirror, while the hopeful optimist in me thinks he’s met his perfect match. What do YOU think is floating his boat? Leave a comment!

Well, here we are – Day 31 of 31 days of Monster Month – a fresh and tasty brand new monster drawing each day in the month of October. I truly hope you have enjoyed looking at each creature as much as I have enjoyed creating them. There will be other monsters here on the blog now and then along with other art that keeps me busy, so please visit again to see what is new!

Have a safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 30 – The Nag

We all have them in our lives – a person who is there just to suck every last bit of childlike wonder we have inside. They say things like “You wouldn’t eat THAT would you?” just as you are about to take a bite. “Those haven’t been in style since MC Hammer!” as you are walking around in your favorite pants. Or “You can’t drive BACKWARDS on the freeway!” when you clearly are navigating your vehicle quite well on your own.

All I have to say is, don’t let them bring you down!

Sea Monster
There’s always a killjoy in every sewer, isn’t there? Sheesh.
Categories
Art: Inking Art: Photoshop Cartoons Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 29 – The Kitty Killer

For those of you who have been following my Monster Month drawings, you will have noticed that I tend to lean toward the cartoony and humorous style of beastie. That’s my nature – a glimpse into my inner core if you will. Last week I was issued a challenge by an artist whom I deeply respect as he is quite an original himself. Ralph Steadman wrote “As a rule, monsters have got to be almost so obscene they need to be scary – too scary to look at.  Avoid the cartoon monster- smell the sweat!!!”

After giving Mr. Steadman’s mandate some thought, I came up with this toothy monster. What is scarier than an otherworldly creature who preys on sweet innocent little kitty cats? (Yeah, I know – I had to get something cartoony and humorous into the picture, too.) Ralph, this one’s for you.

The teeth are one thing, but that horrendous halitosis will kill you first every time..

Well, I know the above monster doesn’t necessarily smell of sweat, but it’s a step in the right direction. In order to make my drawings more sweat worthy, perhaps I’ll have to think of scarier things to get in the right mindset. My current mental scare tactics aren’t working – tactics like what if you have to squelch a burp in church, or getting up to the register at the grocery store only to realize you left your coupons at home.

Then again, for some of us, those thoughts can be pretty hard core scary.

Categories
Animals Art: Drawings Character Designs Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 28 – Miss Muffet

…along came a spider that sat down beside her…

Little Miss Muffet
That reminds me - I'm fresh out of curds and whey.
Categories
Art: Inking Art: Photoshop Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 27 – 5 O’clock Shadow

I have a beard. Primarily I have a beard because I lack a fondness for shaving. Shaving is a painful inconvenience. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with a little facial fuzz. It sprouts there on it’s own, so who am I to hinder its existence.

Now, this fella, on the other hand, has issues with his stubble – it’s sharp. I suppose that is prone to be the case when your “stubble” is really yellow horns protruding from your chin. A standard razor can’t do the trick on this one. He probably needs a hedge trimmer to cut through those barbs. The only trouble is they grow back in overnight and the routine starts all over again the next morning. Actually, now that I think about it, you had better steer clear of his 5 o’clock shadow as well.

Blue Goat
Of course, after Hank shaves, he uses refreshing Aqua Velva even though it stings.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 26 – Bed Bug

Talk about a BED BUG problem…..

Bed Bug

This past weekend I spent several nights sleeping in a hotel in the Phoenix, AZ area. While the room appears clean when you first arrive, you always wonder what those cleaning ladies may have missed. With the current bed bug scare in the United States, you hope desperately that the preceding traveler didn’t leave behind little guests of their own that enjoy room service.

Thankfully I didn’t have bed bugs (that I know of), but it still didn’t stop me from sketching this drawing right there in my room of what could have been. Oog.

Categories
Art: Drawings Art: Inking Cartoons Character Designs Monsters Random Doodles Sketchbook

2010 Monster Month: Day 25 – Treevesdropper

Remember kids, it’s always safest to go into the woods with a buddy – preferably a buddy larger than yourself to increase your chances of him getting attacked first so you can get away…

Tree Creature
This can’t be good.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Drawings Character Designs Illustrations Monsters