Category: Art: Watercolor

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

“Answers Magazine”: White Blood Cell Art

This past summer I was contacted by Daniel Stelzer, Art Director for Answers Magazine, to possibly work on an illustration assignment for them. I had not seen Answers Magazine before, and learned that it is a magazine that deals with scientific issues and other worldview topics all from a biblical perspective. It is the periodical produced by the Answers in Genesis organization, the folks that are behind the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.

Dan had sought me out having seen some of my previous work created for a series of Bible lessons for kids. He said he wanted me to create five pages of graphic novel-style illustrations all about the details of how a white blood cell works. The graphic novel thing I understood because I’m a cartoonist, but also because I’m a cartoonist, I couldn’t figure out why he wanted me to do serious science art. After a pause on my part, I said,

“You’ve seen the work on my website, right?”

“Yes.”

“And you don’t want me to put funny faces on the cells?”

“No.”

“It’s just straight up micro-biology illustrations?”

“Yes.”

So, the challenge presented in this assignment was intriguing. The white blood cell process had to be turned into a panel-by-panel “story” so that it would be more readily understood by the layman picking up this magazine. I decided to accept this mission, knowing full well that the magazine might disavow any knowledge of me should I screw it up.

They provided rough thumbnail concept sketches of what they wanted, and since I don’t happen to have a microscope of my own, they also sent some great reference material to help me along. We were dealing with real science and nothing of fantasy, so it had to be right. This meant we had MANY discussions back and forth discussing each step in my creative process which included rough drawings, tight pencil drawings, a rough color pass, and then final color. Changes were made along the way to make sure some things were more accurate while others were more understandable.

Stylistically, the Art Director liked my previous work with watercolor, but also liked the sophisticated computer coloring found in many graphic novels today. So, I had to come up with a hybrid of methods to pull off a look that was both slick and organic. The art ended up having an inked line as you would see in comic books, with a coloring job that combined traditional watercolor paint and additional Photoshop work. I thought the combination of methods turned out pretty good….

White Blood Cells
The splash page of my five-pages of illustrations detailing how white blood cells work. “Answers Magazine” laid it out with the type. (CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE A LARGER VIEW.)

If you’d like to see a little more of my work on this project, including some preliminary stages of the art, you should check out Answers Magazine on Facebook where they posted some extra steps in the process of this article.

Or, if  you’d like to order your own copy of the magazine with all five pages of the published art in it, it is available now in the Oct-Dec 2010 issue. Just go to Answers Magazine‘s website and contact them about ordering this special issue!

Categories
Art: Inking Art: Photoshop Art: Watercolor Comic Books Illustrations

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 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 23 – The Arsonist

I grew up in Florham Park, New Jersey where the fire department was valiantly staffed by volunteers – not an uncommon phenomenon in the East Coast suburbs. To think that these guys were ready and willing to run from wherever they were to help a family in need in that way was and continues to be phenomenal. They are trustworthy heroes all.

THAT being said, I wouldn’t trust this particular “fireman” one bit…

The Fireman
Actually, it does seem to be a rather clever way to enjoy some BBQ, don’t you think?
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Character Designs Illustrations Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 19 – Coffee Break

The daily routine of a job can really wear on you. Hour after hour of doing the same task affects you mentally, and even physically. Every now and then you need a good coffee break to let your system reset for the next round of whatever monotonous routine you have been hired to do. Whether it be scaring children, hiding your car keys, or even making bumps in the night, monsters need these coffee breaks, too.

Coffee Break
Herb enjoys his coffee break before having to go back to beating someone senseless with his tail. Nice work if you can get it.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Character Designs Monsters

2010 Monster Month: Day 15 – Ladies’ Night

Ladies, it’s Friday night, the work week is done. Time to let off a little steam and have fun with your girlfriends, right? You get together and talk about whose boss is meaner, who ate who, how many kids you scared that week, how Larry in accounting sneezed and lit the files on fire – you know, all the usual stuff a monster would experience in the average week.

The original “sophisticated mama”.
Categories
Art: Colored Pencil Art: Watercolor Character Designs Monsters

Happy Father’s Day

My own Superpop (perhaps with a little artistic license on the physique) with his new Father’s Day grill. (And no, the flag is not on fire – it’s behind the grill.)

When it comes time for gift giving, why do fathers fall into a stereotype that they are hard to shop for? It is probably why the common Father’s Day gift is a tie because the kids don’t know what else to get the man who seems to not have a single need (not that he needs another tie, either). Plus, if your father is the primary breadwinner, all the money you have to spend is his anyway.  When you grow up into adults, you now have your own hard-earned money, but the need to find the perfect gift for Dad is still a challenge.

This year, I and my three adult siblings all faced this common dilemma, but we decided to attack it together. Mom and Dad moved out of our childhood home last July where they had a built-in grill. Now, that sounds more glamorous than it really was. The grill was there when they moved to that house in 1974. Usually you had to clear it of wasps, then you would turn on the gas and light the single burner with a match, put your meat on the one small rack inside hoping this time the rack didn’t fall down onto the lava stones, and it had a wooden shelf off the front that Dad made (and was now weather warped) so you had a spot to rest the plate. Highly unglamorous.

Since that utilitarian grill could not be taken to our parents’ new home, the folks have been grill-less for almost a year now. We banded our forces together for the cause of good to spring for a decent grill. Grills come in many sizes and varieties now, and the new house deserves to have some open flame and smoke out on the deck.

A week ago my sister gave our dad the money so that he can choose a grill he’d like. All is now right and good in the land, so long as a fire extinguisher is close at hand.

To all you fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day. Especially to mine.

Categories
Art: Watercolor Caricature Illustrations