Bird Brain

I wanted a break from the sequential work and decided to tap into my true artistic self...At least as far as my Art style goes. Here is today's picture. Name that bird... Ostrich!

Sorry for the shadow. It is 6 degrees centigrade and for a Canadian winter, that is simply equal to a heat wave. So that is why the shadow is heavy. I took the photo outdoors after I finished with the penciled feathers. Of course I still have to wear a cozy sweater. The sun takes care of the rest. Maybe a family walk to the park is in order. Hope the kids done mind the melting ice off the monkey bars.

-Enjoy.

March over here

I'm looking forward to spring. The sunny days and the long walks are going to be great for me. Still plugging away at a project too. These sequential pages are hell. I never thought I would be so involved in a time sucking project. Still, the publisher has offered to do a fare bit. So I might as well tough it out. I'm almost done with the work from the penciling side. Still Inking and lettering to be done.

Because Neil told me to

I spend many days hoping to be discovered and truly find a single opportunity to shine. Since no one like to help me reach greatness, I spend far too much time networking and looking for a single moment of glory. This illustration was created in the hopes that I might gain a bit of influence in the world and make a mark where I can earn a bit of a living doing what I love to do. Here is hoping Neil picks me at least this once.

-Enjoy

Calgary Crisis...

I was tramping about the downtown core looking for work opportunities and to my great dismay I counted 12, yes 12 buildings with for lease signs on them. I'm not any kind of expert on economic development, still if I was to hazard a guess, I'd say Calgary is turning into a sinking ship. If there are any billionaires looking to set up shop, Calgary, Alberta may have the best prices or location ratio in the country soon. Look here to build your corporate shop.

- Still no job offers my way either.

Sequential Block

I'm trying to get a small project going. The writer I'm sure is waiting to see what if anything is happening on the project we chatted about. The problem is that I have hit a wall. The creative wall. I really can't get the work done due to a block and perspective drawing is a challenging thing.

Life is challenging, but I'm pushing through. I hope I can get at least one page out this week... Not so easy to do. Still... Have to try.

-Enjoy.

Family Day!

Thank goodness for breaks.
I love having a bit of time to focus on family. It is always nice to see a bit of fun coming our way once or twice a year. I'm starting to think, next to Christmas, family day is the next best holiday of the year.

Time for me...

Taking on projects that are interesting to read but not to draw can be a difficult thing to do. Grabbing resources I realized that many artist avoid backgrounds just to get the work done and out. In my case I also have to try and meet deadlines that are pretty brutal. I hate putting out work that is not up to my personal standard. Some times you just have to get things done.


Today I decided to do what I want to do in the way I want to do it in. So two sketches that have jumped from my head and on to the page are a bird. Kind of like a heron. The page curled so the beak looks shorter then it really is in real life. The other was a long hair barbarian guy... Kind of lion like. I just night try to grow the hair out to look this way.

Not happy today...

To much and to do and to little time.

- Back at it... Head has to stay down and I need to just push through.

Orwell 1984...

I spoke to a writer about a comic project based on the work of Orwell 1984. This is a good read and filled with complex ideas that have to be true today. This work was written in the 1944 war time too. Well the tale I'm working on is based on the extension of that tale and takes us to 1985... I can't share much more except that it is going to be just as good as the original tale, in comic form.

Here is an excerpt of art from a page rough....













This is going to be an independent published piece with a tight deadline. Very different from my regular style just to try and make this happen. Wait and see how far along we get on this...

-Enjoy!

Everyday I pray...

Well not really pray. I was reading notes children have written to god. One of the funny ones was by a little girl who wrote..." Hi God, some times I think of you even when I'm not praying."

This made me chuckle because I think I needed a reminder that so many things are out of my control. This innocence of thought and ideals slanted to a singular belief system that really fails in the face of capitalism and democracy. It is a real wonder that we can survive at all when the real world is so opposite of the idealist beliefs. Yet so many people strive to there own level of perfection while disregarding the belief system they are instilled with at such a young age.

Everyone wants a better world - Unfortunately that better world is for themselves and not others. Equality can never exist. That is the truth.

No Art Posts today. The shoulder is far better, still the stretching is helping but I can n longer continue to over work the arm. Art is on hold until I have more comfort in the joint.

- Enjoy

Time Creeps up on Us!

I now know why many career athletes stop playing around the age of 40. I'm not 40 but I'm creeping towards that number. As the years pass by i feel the body telling me to ease up on the weights and focus more on other aspects of body care. Flexibility is easy when your young, strength is hard...when your older strength is easy and flexibility is hard. That is the first sign that your body is aging.

Last weekend I suffered a strange shoulder injury. I'm sure it is related to a high school injury that became aggravated in my sleep. The should locked up and I can only assume it is tendonitis of the shoulder. I'm slowly getting mobility back but it has been sore. Just now the pain is easing up.

Will I go see the Doctor. No not for a shoulder joint. I know they will say one of three things. Rest will be one recommendation. The other is Surgery, after many expensive checkups and x-rays... then I'll have to rest. The third will likely be prescriptions or injections to reduce the swelling. A money grab. .. I think I'll rest and save the money.

Of course I'm not the resting type. I've been stretching, staying away from the weights and doing a bit of simple yoga from a TV program that seems to focus on upper body moves for elderly. I have to say, it seems to be working for me. I can almost fully lift the 50 pound dumbbell today.

Will all the whining aside, here is the art... then back to resting the shoulder.

This is a space illustration done from a website with a user interface letting you paint with colors. I tried for a Space illustration.

Vexing Devil... MTG and the last one is a Rejected Cover color comp...for a RolePlaying game.

scare-crow

Well I was going to do the birds but then I did the creatures, then I went to a traditional then I remembered a robotic theme then I bounced about some more. Here are my days illustration.

-Enjoy

Shock - Art Wash

Playing with another eye illustration. Ink Wash and colored pencil. Interesting results.

- Enjoy

old ball point pen and ink...

I did this awhile back. I remember thinking that the Borgs are not as menacing as they could be. Very subtle on star trek. So I made my own version. This particular sketch was to make the Borg look more like a pirate raiding party then the robotic depictions on the show.

Sigarda

Today I'm posting something a bit different. I'm sure the MTG folks know this card. It is arguably one of the best angels for many formats of play. I actually love this card. What many players don't like about this card is that the art is not as detailed as the other angels. It is a cool imposing pose as Sigarda descends from the sky.


What I did was create an alternate art for the card in my comic style. I thought that the art Director at Wizards of the Coast might want to see something different. I of course don't think I'll hear back due to the painted quality they want. Still, I wanted to share what I could do in a span of 10 days,  With Time avalible. Hopefully the Wizards of the Coast staff turn back to a comic style art form so that folks like me can contribute our talents to the greater mix of card art creating.


Here is my art suggestion below.