Totally Mad

Enjoyed receiving Mad’s latest collection entitled “Totally Mad, 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity.” Lucky enough to have received a credit (always nice to see my last name spelled correctly,) and the inclusion of my
“Angry Birds” cover from last Summer. An equal, if not greater thrill being placed right beneath the  art of one of my Mad fave’s-of-all- time, Sergio Aragones. Came with a nice letter from Editor, John Ficarra, with a footnote saying the title debuted on the NY Times bestseller list for graphic novels.
Graphic, Yes! Novel, Yes!

Adobe Ideas, Updated to Version 2.5!

Wahooo! Christmas just came early!
Adobe just updated their mobile app:
"Ideas" to version 2.5! Hot Dang! (Can you tell I’m Giddy!) Note the new tools: a brush tool that simulates pressure sensitivity by tapering the end of strokes, a pen, pencil, marker,
AND a paint bucket! Oh Yeh! (And, of course, it’s still native vector, so you can export and open in Illustrator on your archaic thing called a computer or PC, oh, I forget...) I was just thinking recently how I haven’t used Ideas on my iPad in quite a while. Well, it looks like that might have just changed! Maestro, bravo! BRAVO!

“Haunt” for Illustration Friday

Recognize any of these cast of characters from popular American paranormal/ghost shows? The two from top and bottom are the seasoned ghost shows, while the middle is newer. Still loving “Paper” iPad app. Just updated today with a mixer color area and a much needed color palette where you can save colors. Still love the feel of the ink pen together with the water color brush. Can build up color sketches really fast. Over the last months, I’ve been sketching while watching TV. Ghost and paranormal shows are great for the variety of expressions presented. I hope I’ve captured some of those and still kept the feel loose and spontaneous marks. I think that’s what I like about “Paper.” It forces you to just dive in. Simple, uncluttered interface.
If I don’t dig what I’m working on, I quickly create a new page and move on.
Happy Halloween Yall!

VeriFone info graphic

Some jobs are innately challenging and this super detailed info graphic for VeriFone was certainly no exception. Fortunately, all went well, under the circumstances, and working with Bryan Nixon and Monica Arms at Frederick Swanston was a pleasure. This illustration went thru many alterations and revisions in a very short period of time, which is not surprising for this type of “info packed” illustration, but, everyone involved kept their wits about them, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the final result. Thanks to Bryan and Monica.

Hubbell Heroes comic book style Illustration

As you might tell from these consecutive posts, I have to change gears quite often from project to project. Always keeps things interesting and challenging. That’s how I like it. Going from a highly detailed corporate Info graphic to a comic book style illustration, to a city seal is a perfect example. This particular project for Sage Creative and their client, Hubbell Power Systems, is a good “illustration” (no you-know-what intended) of how my line of work always requires constant education. Not just staying on top of techniques and applications of particular approaches to style, but also constantly learning something new about a company, for instance, and their product line(s.) The variety of products Hubbell manufactures are all around us every day and usually go unnoticed, until the power goes out, or a balloon drifts off course and lands, ouch, in the tangled land of power lines. I’m not sure I could pass a test on specific products they make like bushings, reclosures, transformers, arrestors, enclosures, insulators, or anchors and foundations, but, I sure have a bit more appreciation for what goes into making and maintaining them. This illustration in the style of a comic book was used in an employee team building exercise. The speech balloons are left intentionally blank, to be filled in by team members. Each super hero was created with a specific skill relating to the repair and maintenance of Hubbell products. Thanks to Russell Rivers and Kay-Lynn Czarnecki at Sage Creative Group.

City of Norcross Official Seal

Designing an official city seal can be a challenge. Knowing in advance that it will be used at a size of 1.5 inches square, and embossed, makes for some unique design considerations. Working with Susan Wuerzner, the City Clerk and HR Manager, I believe we met the challenge of combining “official mark,” and decorative, but serious, and functional, to come up with an equitable seal. As you can see from the image containing some of the initial rough sketches, I was striving to explore some variety and break from the traditional circular symmetry. Although the final art ended up being more traditional, and symmetrical, I was pleased with the final result. The cap “N” was suggested by Norcross Mayor, Bucky Johnson, and ties in with a cap N used on signage throughout the city. Thanks to Alan at Külla Publishing / Alpha Graphics in Suwanee, Georgia for the referral.

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Illustration Friday: Sky

Playing around with "Paper" app for the iPad. Always love the loose, ink and watercolor feel you can get. very paired down app, but forces you to go with what you put down, think through your marks, but, at the same time, stay loose, if that makes sense.

“Mirror” for Illustration Friday yall

"Mirror Mirror on the wall, who's the fairest... wait! what's that!? a Fly!?, I'll show him!....."

Sometimes you get the fly,
sometimes the fly gets you...

Identical

Illustration Friday subject this week:
"Identical." I was halfway through this when I remembered poor ole' Charlie Brown and the Kite Eating Tree. Could this be a subconscious resurrection of a repressed memory of a past cartoon life experience? A portal of equanimity inducing arbor-osity infused airborne random-osity? Or maybe it's just in difficult times or not, we're all more alike than we often realize. Happy Thursday Friday. Go fly a kite.

“TALL” for Illustration Friday

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind being somewhat tall. I have found it funny, though, how really invisible you can be while being over 6' 4". Especially in a crowd. When most people are eye level to your mid section, that’s what they see. Whether it’s that old stain from the usual couch meal, or just the latest expanse of girth above the belt, what more “average” height people see of a tall person is akin to a blank canvas. I guess it just goes to show, like that line from the old “Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts” books, “The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.” If people can’t see or hear your “mouth part,” or look you in the eyes, you might as well be invisible. From my perspective, though, that’s not always a bad thing.

Teacher. For Illustration Friday

Finally back on track after a couple of weeks of general busy businessiosity. (Look it up. I should start my own Dictionary.)
Fortunately, I could do something quick and expressive on my iPad.
Almost forgot about “Paper” app by “53.” I've had it since it came out in the spring. http://www.fiftythree.com/paper
It’s very paired down and simple and elegant. I love the way the little
sketch books open and flip through. (I’m thinking it might be fun to actually try and make a little “flip book” in the app and see what would happen as you scroll back and forth. The app is almost over simple, though, with a very limited color palette for instance. But, I still like the feel of pen and ink and loose watercolor. Not for high res either.
Oh, and the “Teacher” image. Not sure what part of the subconscious that came from. Maybe the part that saw a brief bit of the Little League World series the other day. Absolutely fun stuff to watch if you've never seen it. The range of maturity both physically and mentally is a joy to see.
The awkwardness still underlying the advanced baseball skills makes for
“anything-can-happen-and-usially-does” excitement.

ReFresh it up

Wow, the importance of getting enough sleep is never more apparent than when you aren't getting enough. Sometimes I wish I was like that little battery. Just plug me in overnight and I'm juiced and ready for the next day! “Refresh” for Illustration Friday. Dang. I just realized that it's STILL Friday. It's been a while since I actually did the I.F. on F. T.G.I.F! O.M.G! P.D.Q! A.S.A.P! L.O.L! B.F.D!

Space... The final....

I haven't used Adobe Ideas on my iPad for a while, so, I thought I'd try it out with whatever came to mind. Hope it leaves alot of "frontier" for the imagination.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Pssst .... Secret.....

Secret message. Remember that game where someone would whisper a “secret” message into the ear of the person next to them, and they would have to repeat the same message to the person next to them and so and so on? This is nothing like that. Just joshin.' Yes it is. Sorta. For Illustration Friday.

Faded

Ah, back in the day. The jeans could'nt get more faded. Or maybe they could.

Duuuuuude.

The Little Kernel

-"Hey, Pop!, lay off the corny faces, your steamy hot antedotes are an earful to such a wee little kernel!"

YIPPY! WE WON AN “IPPY!”

The Children’s Book I illustrated last year, “The Lonely Parrot,” just won a 2012 Independent Publishers Association Bronze for best children’s illustrated e-book! Yippy! Congrats to author, Lisa Kelley!

http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1486&urltitle=Book%20Awards

http://www.thelonelyparrot.net In itunes, search “The Lonely Parrot." For celebratory reference,
see animated jumping kitty in my last post below. Boing! Yay! Boing! Yay! Boing! Yay! Boing!

JUMP little kitty!

Jump! for Illustration Friday. I couldn't resist. My first little “animated” Illustration Friday entry. I read this week's subject: “Jump,” and immediately thought of an experiment in “squash and stretch” bouncing motion in the “Animation HD” app on my ipad. Weeeeeee!
Yahoooooo! Just insert your own “boing!” sound effect. Enjoy. (And I guess he lost his tail whilst doing all that jumping!)

Heights

Heights for this week's Illustration Friday. As usual, or maybe to say, as more often than not, the best way for me to dive right in is just go with what first comes to mind.
This week was no exception. I'm not even quite sure exactly what the big eared critter in the balloon is, maybe a little aussie blue pup, just with a lighter coat. Could be the beginning of a fun little story. Created again, mostly, in Procreate app.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Bu-bba! Bu-bba! Bu-bba!

A quick Bubba caricature from my iPad

WAY TO GO BUBBA! Congrats to Bubba Watson on his 2012 Masters victory. My younger brother was lucky enough to get a last minute call to join some friends with passes for the final round on Sunday. We were all excited for him because he's a huge UGA (U of Georgia) fan and graduate and knew he would be cheering on Bubba. (Who played his college golf at UGA.) Much to our delight, Bubba wins the whole enchilada! I got to see his final approach shot to the last playoff green just as I walked in the door from being back in Atl. for Easter. Wow! What a shot! That shot deserved to win him the tournament, and fortunately, he did. Anyway, I haven't posted a caricature in a while, and thought this would make the perfect time.This ones for YOU Dave! Here's a great link to "9 Things You Never Knew About Bubba Watson." Inspiring, funny stuff:
http://www.businessinsider.com/bubba-watson-facts-2012-4

Vocal

“Vocal” for this week’s Illustration Friday. Don’t get me wrong, I like to yell a bit at my spectator sporting events of choice, however, some sports just don’t seem to lend themselves to loud outbursts, in my humble opinion. Take for instance golf. Now, although, I or one of my golfing buddies may scream bloody murder at a missed (or made) shot while on the local public course, I find it a bit odd that certain spectators at professional events like to yell after (and sometimes during) the swing of every player that passes thru.
(Or that they choose to “stalk” thru the round.) Note to screamers: If a professional golfer is on the PGA tour, they already KNOW they’re the “man.”
BTW. Congrats to an amazing victory at The Masters this week for regional area favorite, Bubba Watson. Hmmm. I should do a caricature of him. It's been a while since I posted one.

Return

Not sure where this idea came from. Turned out a bit more “editorial,” than intended. Matter of fact, I hadn't intended it to be editorial at all. I actually gave momma bird-of-prey a bit of a tiny smile, albeit, smirk, because she looked too off-put with the original downturn of the corner of her beak-mouth. Looked way too gloomy. Like I said, I don't know from whence this idea cometh, because I maybe eat at said represented gastro-establishment once a year, max, if that. Anyway, interpret to your hearts content! Let me know what you think. Onward and upwards, french fry eatin' birds o' prey!

Flood-ed, or, er, swamped

A little revenge for the ducks I guess. This is the first thing that came to mind for “Flood-ed, or, er, swamped” for my Illustration Friday entry this week. Not sure where it comes from as usual, but, I think that’s a good thing. The subconscious is much more interesting and possibly revealing than the expected, or obvious, first conscious, literal idea. One of my biggest motivations for keeping a blog, as a professional illustrator and designer, is that I always have an outlet for pure creative freedom. I created this fairly quickly on my iPad 2 using Adobe Ideas (the latest version with the eyedropper tool, yay! finally!) then, took into Photoshop on my mac for quick finishing.

Shade(s) for Illustration Friday

We're all God's chillun, all the same shades of a different hue-- or is that same hue with different shades....on.

Yield

What is it with Elephants and me? Looking back, looks like I've done quite a few. ANyways. Not much to say, just glad I finished this to get posted. Hope you like it.

Excuses, Excuses...

This was one of the many reasons I was busy busy this year-end.
Created the week before Christmas, it was a fun job, but crazy quick deadline. In the end, though, I think it turned out great. It's a company-wide notice for Archers Daniels Midland to send to all of their 40 thousand employees. I did the design, character design and illustration, illustration, and animation.

A very capable Banjo-Pig-Ant

Wow! Time's fun when you're havin' flies! It's been too too long since my last post! Father forgive me... it's been month's since my last post... “Forty Lashes!!!”...... Nooooo! I digress. The Holidays were crazy busy. Then I moved my studio December 31st. So, I think I am just about settled fully back in. I think Illustration Friday decided I no longer existed, because I stopped getting their e-mails. Oh well, I deserved it. I digress yet again.
Anyway.. The Illustration Friday topic this week is “Capable,” and I immediately thought of a lowly ant, powerful enough to lift 50 times his own weight with his mandible alone. Thats some pure Jaw Power! Well, my ant in my illustration does not really even use his powerful mandible, and yet he lifts a banjo playing pig with relative ease. Whilst playing the ole banjo himself! I submitted this one to Guy Francis and Stacy Curtis' “Banjo Pig Blog” site. so, we'll see if he qualifies. http://banjopigs.blogspot.com/
Time will tell. Speaking of time, I promise I won't wait sooo long to post next time!