ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY (SORROW)

Okay, so it's not a spectacular submission but, I think, appropriate nonetheless. I had originally planned on doing something sort of poignant and meaningful--but, honeslty, silliness just won me over.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY (SORROW)

Okay, so it's not a spectacular submission but, I think, appropriate nonetheless. I had originally planned on doing something sort of poignant and meaningful--but, honeslty, silliness just won me over.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY (SORROW)

Okay, so it's not a spectacular submission but, I think, appropriate nonetheless. I had originally planned on doing something sort of poignant and meaningful--but, honeslty, silliness just won me over.

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY (SORROW)

Okay, so it's not a spectacular submission but, I think, appropriate nonetheless. I had originally planned on doing something sort of poignant and meaningful--but, honeslty, silliness just won me over.

SKETCH DUMP

Here is a sketch I did a couple of days ago... I've been noodling around with some ideas for doing a series/portfolio with some of my characters and monsters etc... I am working on doing a few images of greek/roman gods and goddesses. This is the Roman God Vulcan--god of fire. He is the maker of arms and amour. He also is supposed to be sort of an ugly cuss. Y'all let me know what you think! I really need some constructive comments! I desperately need to get some self promo pieces out... Gotta make some money yo!

On the upside... My parents want me to do a picture book about Francis Marion which will be geared more towards third graders. They're gonna pay me and pretty well I might add. I'll also get some royalties and some pretty awesome portfolio pieces when I'm done.

FLIGHT (ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY)

This, as the caption shows, is a piece I did for self-promotional purposes. I have a thing for flying machines--especially rocket backpacks. Who knows why?

LEARNING IS FUN!!!

Earlier today I was surfing web-related tutorials and came across this great tutorial on creating some killer N.C. Wyeth-looking clouds. I did this while I was on the phone with a client--about 20 minutes worth of work.

There are more awesome tutorials here. These tuts are geared more towards digital artists in the commercial art/motion picture/gaming industry--but the lessons are applicaple to ANY kind of illustration. Craig Mullins has a couple of great tutorials as do several other artists. I spent several minutes today just looking through them. I would invite you, gentle reader, to also browse through this wonderful site and engage in some "tutorial joy."

Cheers all!

A ROOSTER AIN'T NUTHIN BUT A CHICKEN!

As a Clemson, SC native and a die-hard tiger fan, I couldn't resist the urge to poke a little fun at my University of South Carolina brethren (their mascot is the Gamecock). I graduated from Clemson in 1993 with a degree in English. I still think of Clemson as my home even though I have lived in Atlanta for over 6 years now. I grew up going to football games at Death Valley--tailgating with family and friends before every game. Even now, I still get a wee bit emotional when I am amongst the pageantry of Clemson Football. In spite of how morally bankrupt and insideously revenue-driven college football has become, I can't help but swell with pride when the tigers run down the hill...

ALIEN-ATING 2

Just a little sketch for the homies. This is another in the alien/monster series I've been working on. I am REALLY starting to feel the burn to get into something other than just plain illustration. For frequent visitors to ARTSMEAR, this will come as no real surprise. I go through one of these career upheavals a week these days. It's just that I don't really see myself as an animator per se--although I do see myself working with the moving image in SOME capacity. I guess a lot of it has to do with the fact that I was in Borders the other night looking around and ran across THE ART OF ROBOTS. From what I can see in the book, the forthcoming film by Blue Sky Studios looks beautiful. The book features some of my favorite artists and storytellers--among them: William Joyce, Chris Wedge (dir.) and, my man, Peter DeSeve (although his work isn't featured as promintently as others.

These "The Art of..." books have been an obsession of mine since my mom bought me THE ART OF THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. I looked at that book until the covers literally fell to pieces. They are a very special source of inspiration for me. These books--whether they are by the great people at Pixar or Blue Sky or even at ILM, are a wonderful way to get some rudimentary knowledge of how the animation/film industry works... Anyway, I think I have an idea--it just came to me. I'll get back to y'all.

FRIENDSHIP

I am always fascinated by the symbiotic relationships that exist in nature. Something about those little birds perched atop those great hulking, moving mountains... I wonder if they "greet" one another. The bird arrives and says something sort of like, "Morning! Just going to be up here picking ticks and other parasites off for a while. Just give a holler if any areas need my particular attention!" In return, they live in relative safety--unmolested by other animals. I guess it's kind of like the nerdy kid who lives under the protection of the school bully in return for letting him copy his homework. Symbiosis. What a concept!