The evolution of the Geeks vs Zombies stage production poster I've been working on. From the first rough thumbnail idea to the recently finished illustration.
Showing posts with label Illustration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Illustration. Show all posts
Drawing Board of the Living Dead
I'm sure there are better ways to spend a Friday instead of illustrating a zombie horde attack, but I can't think of one.
Geeks VS Zombies
My latest project is creating some fun art for an original stage play, coming to The Complex Theater in Hollywood this August. I think the title says it all.
An old friend Roger Mathey, who is producing and directing, asked me to design the logo (above) and illustrate the main poster (which is in the works). The font for ZOMBIES is called Swamp Witch by Chad Savage (and used with his permission), found on his great site Sinistervisions.
Here's a teaser for the play from it's first, sold-out run at The Empty Space in Bakersfield CA.
Do you want to help see the undead become a respected force in the theatrical community? You can support the production by visiting here (and get a copy of the poster plus other perks). In lieu of that, maybe spread the word about the play to your zombie loving friends?
Asputtel Illustrations: Her Mother's Grave
The Asputtel project is coming along. Here are two variations of the hazel tree with her mother's grave - one day scene, one night scene.
Asputtel Sketches: Old Hags
Here's another thumbnail sketch for my recent Brother's Grimm Asputtel project. This one features the vile stepsisters later in life as old blind hags.
One of my favorite things about digital coloring is the ability to play with different hues quickly and easily.
One of my favorite things about digital coloring is the ability to play with different hues quickly and easily.
Ashputtel Sketches
I'm illustrating posters and promo art for a stage production of Ashputtel.
Ashputtel is the original fairy tale of Cinderella by the Brother's Grimm. If you've never read it... be warned! It's not the warm and fuzzy Disney version. I don't want to spoil it, but death, visiting graves, self mutilation, and birds pecking eyes out are big plot points.
I'm in the early thumbnail sketch stage getting some loose ideas on paper. More later.
Ashputtel is the original fairy tale of Cinderella by the Brother's Grimm. If you've never read it... be warned! It's not the warm and fuzzy Disney version. I don't want to spoil it, but death, visiting graves, self mutilation, and birds pecking eyes out are big plot points.
I'm in the early thumbnail sketch stage getting some loose ideas on paper. More later.
Finished Little Mermaid Poster Illustration
Here's the finished art for the Little Mermaid theater production. You can see the initial sketches here. Keen eyed Indiana Jones fans might notice something familiar on the ocean floor (too perfect in theme not to add).
Little Mermaid Sketches
I'm working on another poster illustration for Singapore's I-theater newest production, Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. The first sketch was just getting an initial idea on paper. The show will have a unique take being re-imagined with an Asian aesthetic. The approved second sketch plays off that idea. The final art will also include the treasure and coral reef from the first.
Go Riptides!
Lately, I've been distracted from Halloween prop making and doodling new Para Abnormal cartoons by the day job and other unrelated projects.
One such project request I just couldn't pass on though was illustrating a logo/banner for niece Devin's fall season softball team. Devin turns out to be a tough, but very good Art Director. She's not at all timid with critique and notes on ideas and sketches knowing exactly what she wants with a clear vision. No time was wasted in the creative approval process. I'll work for her anytime.
One such project request I just couldn't pass on though was illustrating a logo/banner for niece Devin's fall season softball team. Devin turns out to be a tough, but very good Art Director. She's not at all timid with critique and notes on ideas and sketches knowing exactly what she wants with a clear vision. No time was wasted in the creative approval process. I'll work for her anytime.
ELVES! They're Alive! Well... Almost.
Numerous months back I posted about the illustrations I was working on for Singapore's I-Theatre production of Elves and the Shoemaker. I was surprised and happy to learn that the puppet elf characters being created for the show are based on the ones I imagined.
So now, half way around the world, puppeteer and all talented Paul Pistore and his crew has been bringing my drawings to life. Paul and I worked together on more than a few projects and TV shows before he moved to Singapore years ago. I'm grateful to him. Not only for suggested me as an illustrator to the theater company, but opening the door that allows us to work together again even thousands of miles apart.
Paul gave me the okay to share some of the process pictures he's been taking.
Change is Good: Part Four
As you can see at the top of this 'ol blog here, after much back and forth, I've finished the new banner/logo and changed the whole blog design a bit. Of course all will be tweaked here or there down the road - mainly because this has been fun to do and I want to keep playing. But I'm pretty happy with it for now and I really should move on to other things.
Next up is complete redesign of the portfolio site with the new logo. I've picked up a few web code tricks I want to try, such as image hover effects and thumbnail galleries. Once that's done, everything might be changed again here to mirror it.
Thanks again to everyone who left critiques, ideas and suggestions for this project. All were welcome and doodled, sketched or pondered numerous times working on this.
Next up is complete redesign of the portfolio site with the new logo. I've picked up a few web code tricks I want to try, such as image hover effects and thumbnail galleries. Once that's done, everything might be changed again here to mirror it.
Thanks again to everyone who left critiques, ideas and suggestions for this project. All were welcome and doodled, sketched or pondered numerous times working on this.
88 Days 'til Halloween: Portrait Preview
Well, this can be considered my first official countdown to Halloween post. Most of my spare time now will be devoted to this year's display.
A new project in the next couple of weeks will be creating a series of 5 - 8 ghoulish watercolor portraits to frame and hang inside the house. Once done, my plan is to also make them available to order as inexpensive posters and prints in standard frame sizes should anyone want to use in their own decorating this year.
More details soon, but in the meantime here's a sneak preview of one portrait on the drawing board now- Sir Vincent DeGhoul.
A new project in the next couple of weeks will be creating a series of 5 - 8 ghoulish watercolor portraits to frame and hang inside the house. Once done, my plan is to also make them available to order as inexpensive posters and prints in standard frame sizes should anyone want to use in their own decorating this year.
More details soon, but in the meantime here's a sneak preview of one portrait on the drawing board now- Sir Vincent DeGhoul.
Elves and the Shoemaker Part III: The Finished Poster Art
Here's the finished poster art for the Elves and the Shoemaker Itheatre production in Singapore (running from October 28th to November 13th). I decided to give the main poster an actual storybook cover look with fancy scrolled edges made up of shoes and their laces.
This completes all the illustrations needed for this project. To see the other ones visit Part One and Part Two.
Some news. I was just asked to doodle up 360 views of the elves for their resident puppet maker and performer (and an old friend) Paul Pistore so he can actually create the ones I illustrated. Pretty cool.
This completes all the illustrations needed for this project. To see the other ones visit Part One and Part Two.
Some news. I was just asked to doodle up 360 views of the elves for their resident puppet maker and performer (and an old friend) Paul Pistore so he can actually create the ones I illustrated. Pretty cool.
Change is Good: Part Two
Some of the great comments from folk's sharing critique, thoughts and ideas about my planned logo change mentioned keeping the fun and personality of the one now. Thinking about it has lead me back to an old illustration and design I created as a business card and used 10 years ago. I just might revisit this idea and update. Maybe. We'll see. Gears in my head still spinning.
The card front was an homage to late 70's and early 80's Marvel Comics I grew up reading. The card back was my resume, but as if a Johnson Smith Company mail order ad from the era. Click on images to enlarge.
The card front was an homage to late 70's and early 80's Marvel Comics I grew up reading. The card back was my resume, but as if a Johnson Smith Company mail order ad from the era. Click on images to enlarge.
Change is Good
It's time to get rid of my old logo/banner above. I'll miss it, but change is good.
Originally, it was never meant to last more than a month. A few years back I was counting down to Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull here and made the banner in theme just for fun. Before too long I became very attached to it and started using variations for my portfolio site and other self promo stuff. I decided to leave it be for the Raiders' 30th blog-a-thon as I doodled and thought about new ideas.
In the next few weeks the blog's look may change daily as I experiment with possible logos and layouts. I still want to have something that can be used for all my self promo stuff. At this point I'm leaning more towards a "steampunk" old world look, but hoping to explore many other themes before it's done.
Here are some really rough concepts so far...
Raiders' 30th: Evolution of a Movie Poster
Richard Amsel's iconic Raiders' poster illustrations from rough sketch to the theater lobby.
Old Pirates On Watercolor Tides
My love of Pirates should be no secret to those who have sailed these treacherous blog waters with me for awhile. It began long ago when I was 14, maybe 15 on our family's first visit to Disneyland and discovered Pirates of the Caribbean. That trip had a profound creative influence on me. Here's a pen/ink and watercolor from those days in 1980 hoping to be another NC Wyeth or Howard Pyle.
I had even sketched the idea first. Not a real surprise though, swashbuckler drawing was a daily occurrence then (along with barbarians and unfinished attempts at submissions to Marvel comics).
I had even sketched the idea first. Not a real surprise though, swashbuckler drawing was a daily occurrence then (along with barbarians and unfinished attempts at submissions to Marvel comics).
Return of the Boogeyman
I colored one of the Boogeyman sketches I posted about a little while back. I'm always trying to trust more in my pencil drawing with added color as finished illustrations. The sketchy lines have more life to them than anything inked (well, at least with my current inking skills).
Fun Fact: Disney thought this too. Taking advantage of new technology in 1961, trying to retain that unique penciled vitality, the animation drawings for 101 Dalmatians were Xeroxed onto clear cels for the first time before coloring as opposed to traditional hand tracing and inking.
