Octorok

Just messing around with gouache and Photoshop.

Not a Monster

I almost can't believe it.  But there it is, an illo that's not a monster.  Go figure.

Finally Finished

Wow, that one certainly took a long time. I've been working on some other projects which will be posted here soon. But for now, here's my latest portfolio piece. I rather like this one.

I made this piece for the Brotique Blog.

Another Spot

Rarrrrrrrrghfhghfhgfhtharrrrrrrrr. That's what monsters say when they dance. I think.

I'm trying a new way of planning out color. Instead of doing a straight up color study I just decided to put some little color swatches together to see how I like it. Some people plan out their light source and try and decide whether they want cool light and warm shadows and such ... but none of that really makes sense to me. I just put down what looks right to me.

Penguin Ski

I think his name is Gerald. And apparently he's a Gryffindor.

This one was my wife's idea. More on that later.

Office Pig

Still trying to figure this out. Getting there.

Really Cheap Sketch Book

This might just be one of my favorite sketchbooks ever. It was made primarily from things I found in my home. Just corrugated cardboard, copy paper, glue, string and creative juices (sticky and yellow.)

The string wasn't found; I purchased it... and the hole punch. I found the rest.

This is the beginning.

This is the middle.

This is the end.

This is me actually holding the book in my very own hand (I'm in the print lab at school.) See the extra pieces of cardboard glued onto the cover? They are actually helping with the structural integrity of the book (and they look cool.)

Don't ask what this is about or who that guy is because I just don't know.

Spots

But not on dalmatians.

These are some quick spot illos I did this week. I think I'm getting close to understanding this process. Now I just need to do another 40 or 50 of these so that I can get good at it.

Counting in Chinese

Some more stuff from work. This is a book teaching counting from one to ten in Chinese. Who is more appropriate to teach this than the Monkey King? Nobody, that's who.

In the story the Monkey King is born from a rock and then, seeing he is alone, creates multiples of himself from his hairs. Then he has ten friends. Count them.

Pretty fun idea for a counting book.

Two Posts in One Day? Is This Possible?

Some more stuff I've been doing for the early reader books for the Chinese Immersion Program.  I think my boss was expecting this story to be about two kids and not two owls.  She's cool with it.

Experimental Pork

This is an experiment I'm working on for my portfolio. I've got a bunch of these ink drawings from work (the Chinese early readers) and I want to give them an interesting color treatment that has more appeal than the junky color they currently have. When I get a bunch of these together it will really beef up my portfolio which feels sparse and unfocused at the moment.

Which of these do you like? What's working? What isn't working? Please be honest, this is for posterity.

100 Picture Challenge, Day 2: Love

Have you ever met this girl?  I see variations of her all the time on BYU campus.

Talent Show

This was a fun idea but I'm not sure I pulled off the color quite right. I'm going to take another pass at the color later. Any suggestions?

Foxen

I had a lot of fun with this one. I want to go see some foxes in the wild now.

Behold the Stupid

I was forced into this against my will. This is only partially my fault. Other than that, I offer no explanation or excuse.

Tire Swing

I feel like I'm really starting to get a handle on that elusive beast called "style." It's funny to me that when I stop trying to find my style it jumps out from behind a corner and yells, "Boo!"



I had a ton of fun with this one.

A Bit More Photoshop Compositing

A couple of experiments. I really feel like I'm on to something here.



Hmm, the color went a bit wonky on these. I'm not sure why but they got a bit washed out.

A New Process?

I'm trying out a few new things. First I'm trying to create something cute without being saccharine. Second I'm trying out a mixed media process that I think gives good results quickly. I'm going to have to play with this process to see how far I can push it, but I am pleased so far.