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Adventures to Draw - Noir - Week 3

I am dragging this week.  My body got back from a well needed vacation but my head is still in lazy mode.  Being in a tropical local for a week helped inspire me for the noir.  I was able to get some nice photography of Nassau that will help me with the story setting.

I was also accompanied by some great Detectives on my trip.  I have linked one such radio show below for your listening pleasure.

One word of caution. Because this aired in 1948 there maybe some "colorful" language in regards to women and race.  I am sharing this radio show for it's story telling not for it's take on race or the opposite sex.  If you are offended just press the stop button.

Box 13

Now back to work, these first three pages are looking good.  I feel happy in how they introduce the main character and the environment.  It also gives a view into the trouble effecting our detective.

Adventures to Draw - Noir - Week 2

This post will be limited as I am traveling. But I promise next post will have some solid material. I have sketched out the first three pages and things look pretty good. I will share the visuals next week. Until then.

Adventures to Draw - Noir - Week 1

Let's start with a little background.  Ten years ago I was on a boat in the middle of the Caribbean with my lovely wife and a bunch of Texans.  While sitting outside chilling with my wife the idea hit me.  A Detective Noir with a twist.  I wrote down the general story idea while sketching out key moments.  After the cruise, I passed the idea off to Jeff Still who crafted the wonderful script full of details and characters that made it come to life.

With the many abrupt starts and stops over the years, it's about time for me to get this story finished.  This is my process of creating Jeff and my Noir caper.

After re-reading the script I started to sketch out the main characters and rough out the first few pages.

During my page planning sessions I have been watching some classic Noirs such as "Gun Crazy," "The Set-Up" and "Out of the Past".  I have also been listening to old time radio Detective Shows.  The films with the radio shows have been inspiring and educational of the Noir style genre.  Learning about the importance of symbolism, composition and use of shadows has motivated my style for the graphic novel.

Adventures to Draw

With the sands of time slipping through my fingers so has opportunities to draw. Being employed (thank god) and a father of two (thank god twice) I have a lot to be thankful for. I also have a lot on my plate that requires my undivided attention and time.  Drawing has taken to the back burner.

I have decided to use my blog as motivation as well as an accountability resource to get me back to drawing. And drawing the stuff I want (and need). I am going to start a regular post (finally) at the end of each Sunday about my progress, inspiration of the week and future plans or ideas.

The first project, that has been crying out for my attention, is a detective story that was my brain child about 10 years ago.  Jeff Still, an old colleague and respected writer, helped weave my concept into the literary tapestry it is.  Due to me procrastinating, the story laid on the shelves for years (8 to be exact), until now.

Like Dr. Frankenstein, I am ready to breath life into Jeff and my creation.  I hope you come along for the journey.  It will be filled with adventure, intrigue, violence and romance.  All the best ingredients to this illustrative gumbo.

Scare Package '12

Halloween is creeping near.  This year, in ode to the trick or treating season, I decided to treat everyone with a little "scare-package".

Right click and download the linked file of the Scare-Package HERE.  Be sure to open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat to get the full experience.

Since this is the first of many halloween posts, I wanted to start it off with a bang.  Below is a link to download (Right click to download) the audio treats.  Inside you'll find an old time radio program as well as a music track.

The old radio horror is, by far, my favorite.  It is called "The House in Cypress Canyon" and it aired on December 5th, 1946 which amazes me that this was their Christmas show.  The radio show is about a couple looking to buy a house and as it turns out, the house is looking for them.  Anyways, I thought it appropriate to raise it from the dead and give it to all of you as a spooky gift.

Suspense - House in Cypress Canyon

Tea Cozies - Muchos Dracula

In addition to the radio program I have included a music track from my new favorite band, Tea Cozies. The song is titled "Muchos Dracula".  Check out their music video.

Tea Cozies - Muchos Dracula from Tea Cozies on Vimeo.

The illustration is my personal treat for all of you.  Each year I hope to have a Halloween focused drawing to send out.  This years picture is of Mr. Rockabilly Wolfman and friends.  There are a couple pics and one gif showing my process.  This was a mixed media piece using pen and ink, watercolor, color pencil, and acrylic.  

So turn down the lights, lock the doors and get cozy.  Happy Halloween!

Missing from Paranorman

Here is my entree into the Laika Challenge "Who's Missing from Paranorman".  This was fun creating a fictional character who's story intertwines with the Paranorman story.  I wanted it to be it's own tale but still work within the story of Paranorman. I am very happy with the result.

Cory Loftis

I want to be Cory Loftis.

Animated GIFS

Great site for tips on doing animated gifs.

http://sketchadventure.blogspot.com/2012/06/how-to-make-animated-gifs-brief.html

THUNDERPAW

A very cool take on digital/on-line comics.  I am interested to read more.  Check it out here:
http://thunderpaw.co/

HOWLING FURY

For my Fathers birthday I decided to give him back a childhood memory.  He told me about how he used to read Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos when he was a young boy so I searched out and found that Marvel released a collection.  I was eager to buy this for my dad but was hesitant when I saw the cover.  Utter disappoint was my reaction with Marvel for creating such a lack luster image that should draw people in.  So I took it upon myself to create a cover that spoke to the comic itself and the theme.  Here is my finished cover with thumbnails of Marvels and my reference.

Eyeful

Here is my other design that is in the running for the Threadless pin-up competition. Please vote for my shirts!  Thanks.



Score this design: "Eyeful," to help it get printed on Threadless!

Caught a Cutey

Threadless is throwing a competition that I couldn't refuse. A pin-up contest is going on until the 20th of February.  Below is my first entry, it's supposed to be titled "Snagged a Cutey" but I (blindly) named it "Caught a Cutey".  That's what I get for staying up late.

Please check it out and score the design for me, thanks!



Score this design: "Caught a Cutey," to help it get printed on Threadless!

Hobo Lobo

Stevan Živadinović created an amazing webtime story.

A Cat in Paris

Here are a couple clips from the recently Oscar nominated film "A Cat in Paris". It looks amazing! I love the fresh style.

Break the Law

Here is a very serious but beautifully crafted animation.

Happy Halloween!

Since it's Halloween and I don't have any themed drawings to share I thought I would post a fun animation. This is a Donald Duck short that hits on two things I love, Old Time Radio Shows and the classic Disney Cartoons. Happy Halloween!

Pimping Myself

Here are some more promo/business cards for the Forever Darling Fashion Show gift bags. Because of the tight dateline and the amount of gift bags I decided to use a stencil to finish the rest of the cards. I hand cut five different designs and then using red and blue spray paint I stenciled the rest of the cards. Here is the result.

Forever Darling

Below is an interview video for Forever Darling IV. Josh Sapir used and animated my logo in this video and I think it turned out awesome.

Always a Family

This is a gorgeous, sad, and touching remembering of one person who was lost in 9/11 by Story Corps. The animation is wonderfully done by The Rauch Brothers and Bill Wray. They have done more just click the video to find those.