Steve Somers Art

In the Pre-Dawn Darkness there is a Beast

2012-03-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

We all remember the dramatic events of December 10th, 2010 that paralyzed Milwaukee's Marquette Interchange for six hours. Some people thought it was just two people in a stolen truck and the police response was overkill, but what our simple human eyes failed to behold was the transdimensional beast that had laid siege to the fleshy human minds inside. It takes special training and special equipment to see these things. You need alien sensitive robots, armored humvees and obscene amounts of artillery to keep Milwaukee safe. Safe from any space monster or ghastly scientific mutation that would turn itself invisible and invade our state to become a burden on our Badger health care system. You can thank your creator for this elite squad of first responders, they are the jedi of our town.

May the Police Force be with you!

Eleni's Greek Spot

2012-03-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

Eleni - Digital

This sketch seemed to call for a decorative background design like something Alphonse Mucha might do, but once I added it it ended up looking more like a religious icon

Here are the steps that led me to this.

stage 1

stage 2

stage 3

stage 4

stage 5

Decorative Motif created in Illustrator

Hot Child In The City

2012-03-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

I was only planning on drawing the face for this one, but then I'd be denying you the rest of the centerfold.

So here's the whole enchilada.

Click to view in glorious detail

Omnibiotic Spontaneous Lifeform Generator Part 2 - the Sequel!

2012-03-06T10:34:00.000-08:00

I wanted to delve deeper into this creature and get to know more about it. So I made a sequel. The Omnibiotic Spontaneous Lifeform Generator part 2. Is the biorganic trunk structure entering the creatures body to be consumed and assimilated as the creature flails it's engorged tuberosities in spasms of ecstacy OR... perhaps the structure is growing outward from the creature? I guess it could swing either way.

Omnibiotic Spontaneous Lifeform Generator part 2
click on image to view larger

In terms of medium though, this is a totally different picture than the first one. I wanted this sequel to fall slave to the digital overlord. So I painted it in photoshop, using every gimmick, tool, and adjustment layer available to knock this baby out with the quickness. In the end, I'm not sure how much more effective it is compared to doing it as an oil painting, but it did go much quicker and it gave me options that helped to develop the character and mood of the scene in ways that are a total pain to do traditionally. (Like adding an inch to the canvas)

You can see the steps below. It started as a sketchbook page, then I warped a few radial fills to give me some basic tones to start from, did some rendering and assigned color adjustment layers to begin separating the characters from the background. Then I threw in a couple photo textures to enhance my background, flattened my image and began the final rendering pass.

right click "open in new window" if you want to really zoom in

March Madness

2012-03-02T10:31:00.000-08:00

It's March, the time when loathsome shapes seep down from the dark stars. The time when great Cthulhu and his hordes, emerge from green slimy vaults and send out at last, after cycles incalculable, the thoughts that spread fear to the dreams of the sensitive and called imperiously to the faithful to come on a pilgrimage of liberation and restoration.

Cthulhu 2012 - click to see larger

by the way.. if anyone out there has an extra ten grand laying around, I would love to be able to take more time off my regular gig making mascots and focus on illustrating the entire story for publication. Anyone? Ten Large?

Book cover proposal

Ann Margret Monday

2012-02-27T12:48:00.001-08:00

Ann Margret - digital sketch

I've always had a crush on girls with that 50's pinup look. Like a Gil Elvgren Painting. Ann Margret, Elizabeth Montgomery, Dawn Wells and Diane Dixon all have that perky radiance that I don't see enough of these days.

This one started out a lot weirder than it ended up (see below), it had some creepy large eyes, but in the end I just wanted to see if I could pull off a cute, pinup style image.

Progress shots of the portrait - click to view larger

The view from the couch

2012-02-24T10:00:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple sketches done on the laptop during movie time.

First one is Stephanie with Mofo, watching crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

This next one was from some adult sharing site where people upload sassy pictures of themselves and their partners, I just couldn't resist drawing that face. As I drew this on the laptop I was watching Predator on VHS, and then "Tower Heist" (which is okay, sort of a light hearted Ocean's 11 with an ensemble cast of big names, including Matthew Broderick in a scene that evokes Ferris Bueller.)

Filamanders feel it all

2012-02-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

Allow me to introduce you to the most sensitive animal that ever existed; the Filamander. Unique among the animal kingdom, this tetrapod is as closely related to Mammals and Mollusks as it is to Lizards and Amphibians but it has no tail. What is most significant about the Filamander though is the arsenal of sensory organs it possesses. Its visual system relies partly on its skin to help interpret the world around it through the use of Photochromatophores. Similar to chameleon skin in structure, its function however is to provide visual information from the electromagnetic and ultraviolet spectrum, as well as thermal vision. Its wide flat head functions with a hybrid of radar, sonar, and harmonic echolocation. All this makes it an incredibly efficient hunter that is able to locate tasty worms and insects that may be hiding underground. It also proves quite effective for mating, with males understanding with great acuity what females are feeling and understanding exactly the precise moment to fertilize.

Self-Portrait

2012-02-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've done a regular, boring old traditional self portrait that wasn't part of some other narrative type painting. I also wanted to try drawing from observation on the computer which I hadn't really tried yet. It has always seemed a little counter-intuitive to me to draw something as fluid and organic as life drawing or landscapes on the computer, but after doing this I can see how versatile and useful it would be. If you look at the different stages of the portrait below you'll notice how proportions and colors are much easier to change when it's a digital file, not to mention how much quicker it goes (around 2 hours).

click to view larger.

Various Foxes

2012-02-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

Been busy lately, lots of projects and exhibits are finding their way to me which is wonderful and I hope it keeps up. But while that stuff is in the works here are some other things I've been having fun with.

I drew this while watching the Planet Earth series on DVD.

The "bee-ZAR Tibetan Fox" as David Attenborough describes him.

Had to start a new sketchbook since I filled my other one, this was the first entry.

..and the figure studies continue... These are a great thing to keep yourself painting while waiting for someone to respond to you about a project.

"The undeniable joy of being alive" Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"
click on image to view larger

foot detail - I'm gonna learn how to draw feet if it kills me

Did you ever make something and then forget that you made it? Or somehow convince yourself that you are doing something "just this once"? It's a miracle of the human mind that we can engage in a certain type of behavior under certain conditions that we would otherwise avoid. For me I tend to forget about many of the things I've made if I don't see them after I made them. Such is the case with these full rear view figure studies. Each time I've told myself "I'm just going to paint one from behind in a provocative pose just this once to get it out of my system." Then I paint it, stuff it away with the other paintings and forget that I've made it. After finishing the painting above it occured to me I'd been here before....4 times now in the past couple months apparently, see below.

A visit to Kolorax

2012-01-31T06:44:00.000-08:00

This is an experimental quick "tour" of Kolorax, utilizing a very crude form of animating with photoshop layers.

She's more than a woman, she's also an Aardvark

2012-01-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

All too often we forget what a deadly assassin the Aardvark can be. Named after the greek Orycteropus afer, it is a nocturnal burrowing animal with hoof like claws and a taste for vengeance. With it's cold steel, and deadly aim, this naked destroyer will let nothing stand between her and retribution.

Click on image to view bigger

Bouncing Kahuchus

2012-01-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Kahuchu are an interesting species in that they are not distinct seperate creatures but a collective organism born from one of the living Mountains on Kolorax. Each of the creatures have no individual mind or head to speak of, rather the Mountain controls their actions. Whenever the surface of the mountain is damaged or broken, a portruding cavern begins to form and sap is released, which later becomes another Kahuchu. With it's highly rubberized anatomy, Kahuchu's spend their day bouncing around the surface of the mountain, returning to their cavernous nooks in the evening.

Jessica

2012-01-23T09:33:00.000-08:00

This is a portrait of my sister-in-law, Jessica. She has the type of striking features that are ideal for drawing and painting.

Jessica - Oil on Bristol, 17" x 11"

This drawing below is also Jessica and it was for a t-shirt. Which you would think would be a simple thing to order, but no. Never underestimate the ability of automated ordering to completely overcomplicate and totally screw-up something as simple as printing this line drawing on a shirt. Next time I'll use a permanent marker instead.

Jessica - Vector Line drawing for t-shirt

Spacebird

2012-01-20T08:08:00.000-08:00

We return to Planet Kolorax this week to investigate a peculiar species of bird.

Click on image to study the Agnora Bird in greater detail

Floating at the cusp of the methanoid haze, the Agnora bird is but one of the many energy converting organisms that support the vast biodiversity and peculiar elasticity of atmosphere surrounding Kolorax. Utilizing an external circulatory system the Agnora is able to inflush magnesium and explume colorful chloramine crystal contrails in it's wake. These contrails do not dissipate but rather coalesce in orbit and can be observed as rings around Planet Kolorax. Observed here for the first time, we see up close the delicate tracery of veins and delicate spongy flesh that keep the bird aloft as it navigates the gas with an almost imperceivable twitching of exposed vertebrae.

All babies are cute

2012-01-16T09:54:00.000-08:00

Finished up my Morkachuga studies this weekend with some headshots and a study of a sleeping infant.

for the latest Creature Forge challenge on CGHub.

By any other name

2012-01-13T14:22:00.000-08:00

Certain people have a talent for lighting up a room and making everyone smile, I know such a person and her name is Rosie. Of course my sketch only gives the tiniest sliver, the remotest hint as to how joyful, funny and inspiring such a person is, but it's a start.

Rosie - digital sketch

...and in other news, this monster has new shoes. I wasn't satisfied with the clunky design from the waist down in my initial design so I put him on a workout plan, and now he's ready to dance.

MORKACHUGA

2012-01-09T09:20:00.000-08:00

Working on the Jungle Giant Challenge at CGHub. This one requires an adult and infant version of the same creature .. so if I stick with this design, I'll need to make a cute baby version of this, but I'm still uncommited to this dinosaur look.

Prone Cobra

2012-01-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

detail of painting

Here is another Yoga pose. This time it's Cobra, which is a good pose to relieve your back if you spend long hours hunched over paintings like I do.

The Model, Wenona, began skydiving at age 16 but at age 17 during her 259th jump she broke her sacrum(lower back), pelvis, and had a compound ankle dislocation that crushed her fibula. She returned to jumping 6 months later with a leg brace. a metal plate and screws support where her fibula was crushed. She credits Yoga for her speedy rehabilitation.

Wenona Prone Cobra, Oil on Bristol 11" x 14"

SNOWMOTHER

2012-01-03T10:33:00.000-08:00

This was supposed to be for the latest Creature Challenge on CGHub, but I didn't start mine until the day it was due, so it was no surprise that I missed the deadline. I thought it'd be amusing to do an Abominable Snow-MOM instead of Snow-MAN... But Stephanie kept calling it SNOWMOTHER.. which I like because it sounds more ominous...

Started with a bic pen draing in my sketchbook

Scanned and painted it in photoshop

Orthographic turnaround sheet that goes with the concept.

You know what fun thing is about doing Orthographic turnaround sketches? Whenever you make a small change in one view, you get to make the same change in EVERY view. It's like making the same drawing over and over and over again.

Painted Marsh Ungulate

2011-12-29T14:01:00.000-08:00

This was something I did for a Creature Activity that Mike Corriero initiated on his Facebook page. I like the idea of rogue creature competitions springing up in random corners of the internet, so I joined in. What was interesting about this one was that you couldn't see what the other artists might be doing, so you don't realize just how lackluster your drawing might look in comparison until they're all posted. I still think I have a long way to go before my creature skills are where I want them to be, but I always enjoy making up new beasts.

You can see the two design variations I was picking between. The alligator looking one was my first thought, then I emailed it to Mike and his feedback shaped the bottom version.

Floating Yogini

2011-12-20T07:31:00.000-08:00

This is Yogini Wenona in a modified supine happy baby pose, which is usually done laying on the floor, but without a background it looked odd, so I have rotated it counter clockwise and now she floats. My wife is a Yoga teacher, so it's almost inevitable that my figure studies include a few Yoga poses.

I was watching a figure painting tutorial by Scott Waddell as I worked on this, and trying to incorporate some of his methods.

Wenona Supine Happy Baby, Oil on bristol 17" x 11"
click on image to view larger

One area I've been trying to improve on in my figures are the feet, and these aren't too bad.

click on image to view larger

A World Ruled by Frogs, Crying Men and Strong Women

2011-12-08T07:50:00.000-08:00

First this week, I'd like to introduce you to a new species that most likely ruled our planet in some forgotten age.

Ascaphus Maximus, digital 10" x 7" 300 dpi

Ascaphus Maximus - At a peak height of 23 feet, this towering Amphibian is the only bipedal terrrestrial frog that breeds by internal fertilization. The specialized tail is an extension of the cloaca, and is used both to insert sperm into the females cloaca, and prevent her escape. During breeding season, spring and summer, males produce a bellowing, sonorous croak which can be heard for miles, and is often mistaken for landslides, flooding or earthquakes by the untrained ear. The Ascaphus is highly intelligent and has proved to be a valuable ally to equatorial hunting tribes. However they can be temperemental during the breeding time, and have been known to eat the occasional human, particularly those who find it amusing to mock an unsuccessfully breeding male.

Next is a portrait. This model is another unsuspecting participant from “The Artist is present” by Marina Abramović. The faces in that set never fail to inspire when I need some portrait. practice.

Fred Murphy, oil on Paper, 14" x 11"

...and finally, yet ANOTHER figure study. This is from a new set of motion studies on Posespace. Of course I picked probably the least active pose, but I really liked the stance. I keep doing these partly for enjoyment, but also because I feel it is the area where I need practice.

Ana Standing, oil on paper 14" x 11"

39 and feeling fine

2011-12-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

A few more lovely ladies this week, first we have Art Model Michaela from the Czech Republic.

"Michaela", Oil on stretched Canvas 12" x 12"

Next up is Lexi with some Wonderland accesories. Her smile reminded me of the chesshire cat.

"Wonderland Lexi" - Oil on Canvas, 14" x 11"

and here she is, the headless pinup.

"Headless Pinup" - Oil on Paper, 14" x 11"

...and while watching Jurassic Park on VHS this past weekend I wondered about the part where they used Frog DNA to compensate for the missing DNA info in the Dinosaurs. What if it went the other way and Frogs grew big as Dinosaurs?

Mandy Monday

2011-11-21T08:31:00.000-08:00

Painted this while watching the Untouchables and Ghostbusters II on Saturday Afternoon.

Mandy - Oil on Canvas 12" x 16"

November Nudes

2011-11-18T11:57:00.000-08:00

When in doubt, make more pictures of pretty women. Not that I'm in doubt over any particular issue, I just like making them. Here's an alla prima oil study of Trisha on some scrap canvas, no preliminary drawing or underpainting. Trying to get it right the first time with colors. But it's more like golf, the first stroke gets you close, the next a little closer, etc.

Click on images to view larger.

Trisha, oil on canvas

Here's digital cool down from the other night. I always hear artists saying they "warm up" with a figure study. So why not use them as a "cool down" before bedtime?

Becca -Speed painting in photoshop, 30-45 minutes

And my sketchbook is filling up with these girls, keeps me occupied whenever I plop down on the couch to watch a movie.

Sculpify

2011-11-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

Here is the cooked and painted sculpt from the previous post. I started with clear gesso and then worked in some light fleshtones with acrylics. Next time I do one of these I think I'll try using doll hair instead of sculpting the hair and see how that works.

While I'm at it, here are a couple other sculpey pieces I recently made as gifts.

This little "Bearhearts" was for my brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Sarah's, wedding, and while doing the research for it I discovered that the term "Bears Kissing" has a very different meaning for some people. Go ahead, google it, you'll see.

This steampunk vampire duo portrait was for my friends Ian and Renee's wedding, which was held this past Halloween.

Jenni Sculpture

2011-11-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to sculpt one of these figure studies for a while now, so I decided on a standing pose in sculpey, about 8 inches tall.

Finished Sculpt ready to be cooked

Wire understructure and first stages

detail views

Preliminary drawing for sculpt

Now I have to cook and paint the sculpt. Hopefully nothing goes badly.

Expedition: Kolorax

2011-10-28T07:59:00.000-07:00

Popular theory holds that life can only exist in certain "Goldilocks Zones". Areas of the universe with the same ingredients and conditions which support life as we know it. But what about life as we DON'T know it? We assume life requires, at the very least, three key ingredients in order to occur; A liquid, an Energy Source, and Biogenic elements (or acids). We assume a planet capable of supporting life must somehow mirror our own; we assume too much.

For an example, I submit to you object KLRX 25r6-24, nicknamed "Kolorax". Kolorax is a planet which calls into question all our quaint earth-centric notions of life as fragile, unique, and infrequent among the stars. For Kolorax supports a endless variety of creatures in an environment that is in perpetual atmospheric and geological flux. Prepare to discard any preconceptions you may hold about what constitutes "life" as you know it. Open your eyes to a world of unparalleled wonders. Open your eyes to Kolorax.

click on images to view larger

My entry for the CGHub 50th World Challenge.

Update: My work was chosen as the winner for this, and will be featured on the new creature forge activity banner, and I am just tickled pink about it.

Exhibits

2011-10-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

I currently have some of my newer creature work on display at Art Bar in Riverwest now through Nov. 1st as part of the FEAR 8 exhibit.

I'm also exhibiting some pieces in the MIAD Alumni Exhibit this weekend

Here's the schedule for that:

Preview Party, Thursday, October 20, 6 – 9 p.m., $20

Friday, October 21, 5 – 10 p.m. &
Saturday, October 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., free

Cake Lady, Bobo and me

2011-10-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Debbie, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

I finally got my friend Debbie to sit for a portrait. She has this look that I knew I wanted to try painting. She was watching Fight Club and fighting her allergies as I painted her, which is probably not her preferred look, but for me it was perfect.

Also did more work on Bonnie's portrait, although I still may enhance that background some more, or darken it. Just love that look on her face.

Bobo drinks her Juice, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

And finally, another figure study. Since these nude studies I've been doing lately seem somewhat voyeuristic at times, I thought this would be an appropriate piece to add to the group.

Peeping Steve, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Humans and Non Human Worlds

2011-09-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

Worked on a couple portraits recently, this first one is a study I was using to help demonstrate portrait painting to my wife Stephanie. It's from a snapshot she took of her sister. Stephanie still needs to finish hers, but I hate leaving projects sit half done, so I finished mine.

(click on images to view larger)

Allison Head Study, Oil on Bristol, 17" x 11"

This is one I'm still working on, another painting of Bonnie whose face is just the most entertaining thing in the world to me. I had my cat in there at first, but it distracted from that smug sneer, so I deleted her.

Bonnie in progress.

These little figure studies on paper continue with Carolyne and Mandy.

Pregnant Women have the nicest hair, it's like a shampoo commercial.

Carolyne, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Mandy, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

pencil study of Carolyne

I've also started working on the 50th World Challenge on CGHub so my computer painting skills don't get rusty. Starting with a planet this week, and in the next several weeks exploring possible environments and alien creatures to populate this new world, Planet Kolorax.

Kolorax, digital 9.38" x 17.637" 300 dpi

Nude and Dangerous

2011-09-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

detail of Becca packing Heat

Some recent Figure Vignettes on Bristol paper

Becca Packing Heat, Oil on Bristol, 17" x 11"

Jenni from Behind, Oil on Bristol, 17" x 11"

Jen B with Dragon Cup and Space Tabla, Oil on Bristol, 17" x 11"

After doing a few more of the smaller 17" x 11" vignette studies on paper, I wanted to do one on canvas that was closer to life size with two figures in it. So I went with Art Models Jenni and Misha from Posespace.com for that one. The size difference between them, the eye contact, cast shadows and confluence of intersecting diagonals made it interesting to paint.

works in progress on studio wall

Jenni and Misha, Oil on Canvas, 60" x 36"

Feet can be tricky to paint, and it's tempting to avoid them, but that's just being lazy.

Here are some oil sketches from the tuesday night figure group over at MIAD, and some other recent figure studies.

And finally, this curly headed beast man with his child was sitting in my sketchbook waiting for me to color him up in photoshop which seemed like a fun thing to do after all these figure studies.

Profiles and Silhouettes

2011-09-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Some more oil studies on Bristol Paper from the last week. Click on images to view larger.

Mandy Profile, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Jen B Profile, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Jen B Standing Profile, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Luana, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Endless Tear Recycler

2011-09-01T09:57:00.000-07:00

For those who want to cry forever....

Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"
© Stephen Somers 2011
click on image to view larger

Omnibiotic Spontaneous Lifeform Generator

2011-08-26T08:23:00.000-07:00

Detail of painting, click to enlarge

This painting began with a few standard questions:

What might a human being look like with radial symmetry instead of bilateral?
By what process do creatures become complex multi cellular organisms with multiple interacting organs?
Were our organs at one time separate and independent organisms?
How are animals like plants?
How is horizontal gene transfer possible in a single generation?
Is there a giant multi headed person at the center of the earth responsible for all biodiversity on the outer crust of our planet?
If so, what other worlds has this Omnibiotic Spontaneous Lifeform generator colonized?

In order to find answers to these questions I took a trip to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. Gathering a host of pictures of the plants, bones and and creatures that interested me, I returned to my studio and played a slideshow of these images as I drew.

Some Specimens from the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan

The paper I drew on was some leftover folded bristol, and as I drew it became equally interesting to integrate the folds into my design.

While this drawing wasn't exactly a roadmap for my painting, it provided the landmarks I hoped to see along the way and helped refine the questions I wanted to explore in the final piece.

To me there are two distinct ways to draw, and these are terms I am transposing from Science, the first is the Inductive Process -- contour line drawing, gradually moving your pencil along the outlines of a shape or idea, going bit by bit, inch by inch, improvising and guessing the way to go. The second is the Deductive Process -- Beginning from large generalized shapes, or vague theories and gradually refining those down to specific details. For this one I started with the inductive route, just setting down the final outline immediately and relying upon intuition to guide me.

For imaginative work this approach allows my mind to relax so that I can free associate and indulge tangents without the baggage of reality to slow me down.

From there I hypocritcally discard my bohemian intuition, roll up my sleeves and switch to the old reliable deductive approach. I set down my first layer of dark red acrylic paint to figure out how I want the lighting and establish the volumes of the shapes.

Then came the layers of oil paint to refine colors and clarify the individual pieces of the creature and it's surroundings.

At this stage I get some input from my wife that "the background could use something" and I agree.

Painting in process

This gives me the opportunity to return to an inductive approach and freestyle some plants in the background. I'm still undecided if this added interest or simply cluttered up the composition. But I found the answers to my questions, and those answers were of course, more questions.

Here is the Final (?) piece. It looks like he found that missing ingredient to create the next lifeform.

Omnibiotic Spontaneous Lifeform Generator,
Oil on Bristol 18" x 24"
click to view larger

Beccas and Frances

2011-08-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Still having fun with the figure paintings. Tried one with two views of the same model and an ornate platform that probably isn't very comfortable to sit on....

Becca Twins, oil on Bristol 11"x17"

....and then one that is somewhat caricatured, and kind of resembles Frances McDormand.

Pretty Girl on a Stool, Oil on Bristol 17" x 11"

Figure Paintings

2011-08-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

Contemplating a radiant veil - Oil on Bristol 14" x 11"
Click on picture for closer view

With the recent deaths of 2 of my favorite figurative artists, Lucian Freud and Jeffrey Catherine Jones, I've found myself reviewing their work and reinvigorating my own interest in figure painting.

Here are some more samples of the studies and figure paintings I've been working on lately. I picked up a few more art model reference books and chose poses I liked. I particularly like the Art Model series because it gives you 24 views of the same pose, which is really nice if you've ever been in a figure drawing class and couldn't get the view you wanted, or if you're making a sculpture.

Niecy - Oil on Bristol 11" x 17"

Betsy - Oil on Bristol 11" x 17"

Even more Figure Studies

2011-07-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

Some people like doing crossword puzzles, but I like doing figure studies.

Here are some more from the weekend.

Tree of the week 2

2011-07-12T08:13:00.000-07:00

Tree in Doctor's Park - click on image to see full size.

Figure Study-thon

2011-07-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

I picked up The Nude figure, a photo reference for artists last week, which I didn't think I'd like at first, but ended up really enjoying, and not just for all the lovely models. When doing figure drawings without a live model I like having the entire figure to work from, well lit and seperate from a background. The photographer for this book was Mark Edward Smith. I started sketching these in the van as we drove around on the weekend, and spent the rest of Sunday hiding from the heat and drawing more of them.

Amy

2011-06-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

Full name: Amelia Mildred

Qubao houshen

2011-06-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to find out this week that Ai Weiwei had been released, but sad to learn that he isn't allowed to speak freely. Of course, I cannot presume to understand the complexities of Chinese culture or it's laws, but it seems to me that if you use terms like "sovereign country under the rule of law" you are implying that it's not much fun to live there. "Sovereign" is after all, another term for Monarch.

I had been working on this portrait sculpture of Mr. Ai when I heard the news. Next I will paint it and begin to use it in a number of ways which I have yet to determine. After doing the painting of him, and now the sculpture, I began to forget the controversy and all the noise surrounding him and went back to simply figuring out the elements that make him look the way he does. It's really a very interesting face to consider, with shades of intensity, joy and wisdom about it. Can't wait to see what he does next.

Update: Here is the finished and painted head

Why bother with Ai Weiwei?

2011-06-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

In my artwork I usually have zero interest in political events, or public figures. The internal world of ideas, concepts and people I actually know is where my mind usually resides. But every so often something draws me out of my little fantasy world of naked ladies and alien worlds....

Such is the case with Ai Weiwei. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Mr. Weiwei is a prominent Chinese Artist who was taken into custody by Chinese authorities at the beginning of April for dubious reasons and hasn't been released from custody yet. Read all about it on Free Ai Weiwei.org . His artwork frequently comments on human rights and criticizes government policies. As he states: "If artists betray the social conscience and the basic principles of being human, where does art stand then?"

So yesterday, local arts advocate Mike Brenner, shaved his head in the style of Ai Weiwei to show support and help bring attention to this issue because the Milwaukee Art Museum is currently hosting a major exhibition of ancient Chinese art. I heard about Mike's performance and quickly produced this painting to help participate. Since he did that I've read about a hundred scathing comments aimed at his motives for doing it. I think his motive is to bring attention to the issue, and I'd say he succeeded. Hopefully there will be more local events aimed at bringing attention to Ai Weiwei's situation in the coming months as my hometown museum hosts this major exhibition of Chinese Art and Artifacts. Otherwise Milwaukee appears oblivious, backwards and indifferent to major events in the Art world, and to human rights in general.

Working on my Ai Weiwei painting

Finished for now, may add more later.

Across from Art Museum near the site of the O'Donnell Park disaster.

Free Ai Weiwei T-shirt

Media looks on as Mike shaves his head.

I'll leave you with one more quote from Ai Weiwei:

"If there is one person who is still not free, then I am not; if there is one person who still suffers from insult and humiliation, then I do. Do you understand yet?"

Pinky

2011-05-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

I started this figure yesterday with oil directly onto some heavy bristol paper. Decided not to do a preliminary drawing or underpainting this time. Skipping that part can lead to weird proportions and lack of symmetry in the same way a contour line drawing can, but I like that. It seems more like the way we relate to each other. Not always from the general to the specific, but immediately specific, and minute to minute. Plus the colors seem to be a little richer when I think of it as tiny interlocking areas of color.

Two tickets to the gun show

2011-05-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

In a flamboyant display of grandstanding meant to entice a prospective mate, the Male Osawar rears up, both front and back legs as he flexes his killer biceps for the potential partner. The female stares blankly ahead, seemingly unimpressed and giving no indications. It is only when her pouch begins to inflate and deflate in slow building rhythm that the male sees visible results, informing him that his awesome pecs have totally blown her mind and she is ready to love again. But tragedy looms in the distance as poachers silently wait to murder the male for his magnificent hide, completely wasting the years of pushups and free weights it took for the Osawar to get so buff.

Finished up my color version of this creature for the Osawar Challenge on CGHub

Tree of the week

2011-05-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

Trees are awesome, there's no denying it. I always like to stick a tree in a picture if I can. All those strange limbs and knots take me on a visual roller coaster ride with my pen and brush. Just imagine being a bug crawling across this vertical alien landscape, how cool would that be? Yes sir, trees are one of the many features that make this planet so interesting. Every tree has a personality too, you just need to look for it. Go on, LOOK! Some are huge and imposing like an elephant, others are small and wimpy and you can choke them. Go on, CHOKE A TREE! They can take it!

Anyhow.. here's a tree from Lake Park I drew on Sunday, and then gave it a digital paintjob yesterday. This tree was too big to choke, but perfect to draw.

She Who Bites the Beast

2011-05-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

I think this one is nearly complete. It's around 26" x 48", oil on Canvas. I guess a bit more foliage and detailing could be in there. Of course, on the internet at 800 pixels wide, it's not noticeable, but in person is another story.

I haven't determined what type of beast she's fighting there, if it's hostile, or just having fun.

Mating Rituals

2011-05-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

I'm working on yet another creature concept for the latest CGHub creature planets challenge.

Sometimes I get these corny ideas, like the Creature in the back who is posing like a body-builder, and even though I know it's ridiculous, something inside tells me to do it anyway. Why is that, I wonder? What possessed J.R.R. Tolkien to put talking Trees in Lord of the Rings? What possessed George Lucas to put Jar-Jar Binks in Star Wars? When should we say no to a whimsical idea?

Mermaid Mondays

2011-05-16T13:58:00.000-07:00

Shelly the Mermaid - click to view larger

Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis

2011-05-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

She is the Daughter of Typhon and Echidna. Beautiful Nymph child of the Gods, Scylla. Scylla who witnessed her children perish as a result of Hera's jealousy, went violently insane and began to devour infant children whom she tore from their mother's arms. Zeus, in his sadness, placed her within a deep sleep beneath the sea, which was broken by Poseidon who was taken with her beauty. This inspired the jealousy of Amphitrite who turned to Circe for vengeance. Circe then placed magic herbs into a pool where Scylla bathed and up sprang six necks from her back, surmounted by six monstrous heads each supplied with a triple row of teeth. From waist down great gaping mouths and tentacles had grown as her entire form grew to enormous size. She sought refuge in the sea, lurking in a hollowed cliff, attacking and devouring any who pass.

Homer tells us of the great whirlpool: 'Divine Charybdis with a terrible roar swallows the waves of the bitter sea and three times each day she throws them up again.' No vessel could boast of escaping Scylla or Charybdis without loss.

Witness Brave Odysseus and his loyal crew as they navigate these twin terrors through the straights of Sicily on their epic journey home to Ithaca.

(Paraphrased from the Larousse encyclopedia of Mythology and expanded by me)

This was for the "Monsters of Mythology" on CGHub

Floating Brains in a Dense Gaseous Atmosphere

2011-05-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

The atmosphere produced in this heavily biological landscape is a dense gas, nearly a plasma. A researcher explores and extracts rare ingredients for his biological experiments.

Click on image for larger version.

Flushing in Space

2011-04-26T09:27:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what happens when your kid flushes his deceased pet into the cold vacuum of space? Well, if you happen to be near the strange fusion surrounding the Crag Nebula, it is reborn and evolves into an enormous living mass. Easily confused with asteroids they are an aggregate of mineral and organic carbon based deposits. Their mountainous bulk drifting carefree along a line in space so straight as to astound mathematicians galaxy-wide. We believe these creatures ultimately merge to become planetary masses.Giving rise to speculative theories concerning the origins of life on earth.

This started as a couple lines in my sketchbook with a new pen set I wanted to try out. Hours later I covered 2 pages with these asteroid creatures.

This was done for the Creature Planets Gallacrag challenge on CGHub.

Afternoon by the Waterhole

2011-04-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Did you ever make something and then completely forget you made it? That's the case here. I know I made this drawing, probably while I was still in college, but it laid in a pile of drawings for years and was forgotten. But now, thanks to the miracle of digital technology, I can resurrect this crumpled artifact and colorize it like an old movie. So, technically this one was 15 years in the making. Usually I like to work faster than that, but not much.

Beasts of April

2011-04-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

Wow, April already. Been busy lately with new paintings, skateboard graphics, mascots, and exhibits.

First off, I have a couple exhibits coming up:
The first is this Friday, April 15th at Yama Yoga studio
231 E. Buffalo Street Milwaukee.
I'm excited to finally display my "Viridian Grottoes Deep" Painting which was a little over a year in the making. As well as other recent works that evoke the quiet contemplative nature of Yoga.

After that I'll be doing an exhibit at
Eat Cake Milwaukee
4303 West Vliet Street Milwaukee.
Exhibit Opens on Artwalk night, Friday April 29th, and will be up for several weeks

I've made some art for cake deals with Debbie, the CEO of Eat Cake, and it's probably one of the best ideas I've ever had. (so it makes sense that it was actually my wife Stephanie's idea). I'll have some new portraits, mini head sculptures and whatever else looks good next to Debbie's beautiful cakes.

I've also been working with my friend Sam Hitz on some graphics for Creature Skateboards. I've known Sam since High School, and never really realized he was a pro-skateboarder till a few years ago since our primary activities were drinking beer and skipping school to go rock out at our friend Mike's house.

As mentioned in the last post, the Oyster Roast just happened and it was pretty snazzy. It's always a little weird to enter a room and see something I've drawn reproduced all over the place in banners, t-shirts, mugs and even handtowels, but very cool. There was an auction of prints I had signed which I was pleased to see multiple bids on. Hopefully we helped raise plenty of dough to fight Leukemia and Lymphoma. (see pictures below)

Yes, you're supposed to eat this.

The hall at the Harley Museum was all decked out in graphics

prints that were for auction

My friend Linda, lover of Oysters

And of course, the oil paintings continue. Finished up my first Japanese nude, and I'm now getting close to finishing a painting of a dramatic struggle between Woman and Beast.

face detail

I usually work on primed, unstretched canvas taped to a wall, which I later stretch. This helps when you need to lose or gain an inch in your painting.

detail of painting in progress

another detail of the beast in current painting

and finally here's a couple digital sketches of goodtime Linda. She sure likes to have fun.

Configuration Charlie

2011-03-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

I decided to revisit my Space activity Vehicle and play with possible configurations it could assume based on what was implied in my first drawing. Now I really want to make this into a toy.

Ladies, Pigs and Outer Space

2011-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

It's been about a month since the last post, and I've been working on several things (when I'm not complaining about the Wisconsin Governor, that is). First is a Sci-Fi landscape I'm still trying to finalize. Here's a couple detail shots.

and the whole piece:

It still feels like the composition is missing something. I actually had a nice spaceship painted in there for a while, but it wasn't working, so it was wiped off before the paint could dry. Here's that spaceship:

I've also been slowly adding to my gallery of painted ladies. Here's a lady with a little monkey friend talking to their little fishy friend.

And here's a figure study of my friend in her swimming suit, as opposed to the birthday suit you see in most figure studies.

While on a walk recently, my wife and I saw a sign with a Chinese proverb that read "Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come" which reminded me of this painting -- perhaps I should add a singing bird instead of the random floating blue shell that's there? Maybe the shell is a bird?

Here's some better scans of the last 2 portraits I was working on -- I always like portraits that have a little bit of crazy eye going on...

I've also just completed this year's Oyster Roast Poster. I've done these for several years now, but never posted them. This was actually the second illustration I completed for this. The first one, of a nude pig posed as Venus DeMilo was found objectionable by certain members of the committee. But it's a good cause, so I don't mind going back to the drawing board.

And of course the Mascot drawing and sculpting continues, which I can't post too much of due to copyrights, non-disclosures and all that fun stuff - but here's an idea of a few...

And finally. here's the painting currently in progress... I'm probably listening to "This Godless Endeavor" by the band Nevermore... great album.

Space Truck and some figure studies

2011-01-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here's another space vehicle, as my jouney into Sci-Fi unfolds. I used to have a plastic space shuttle toy when I was a kid and it had this same kind of boxy white look to it. I'm sure I was channeling my fond memories of it as I drew this.

After putting in all those space plants, and detailing their little space suits I wanted to escape the computer and do some oil studies. Here are some naughty figure studies and a portrait. I'd scan them and post bigger shots, but you'll have to attend my exhibits for that. Lately I don't even bother with an underpainting or preliminary drawing because the oil paint sits so nicely on the bristol and dries almost as quick as acrylic in the first few layers. It goes much quicker, and I'm sure it looks less tight-assed than when I plan out and measure everything.

I don't really know who the guy is in this portrait, but he was attending an exhibit at the Guggenheim. So if you know him, send him an email and say "Hey, some guy painted your picture."

Interstellar Craft

2011-01-07T09:50:00.000-08:00

Been working more in the Sci-Fi Spaceship genre, and watching hours of Sci-Fi shows and movies. Lots of Space 1999, Buck Rogers and older shows like Flash Gordon, Commando Cody. Movies like Battle beyond the Sun, 2010, and this other obscure film you may have heard of: Star Wars. I'll leave them playing in the background as I'm drawing. Helps set the mood.

Here we have a top view of a small attack ship. Done mostly in Illustrator, and then textured and detailed in photoshop. Still need to do a front and side elevation of this in case it ever becomes a 3 dimensional reality.

..and here's your average space battle, done with some quickie models done in sketchup, and then more photoshop.

click on images for larger view

Halo of the Abyss

2010-12-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

I've been a sci-fi nerd lately, watching anything with spaceships or unneccesarily complex vehicles. Fans of the Thundrebirds series might recognize the influence of Thunderbird 5 on my deep space lighthouse vessel here. Did this for a design challenge on CA.

click on image for larger view

Adding new tricks to my trickbag

2010-12-13T10:12:00.000-08:00

2010 was a year of trying new media for me. First it was oil paint, then polymer clay, digital canvas printing, mascot costumes etc... and now some more computer tricks for the digital art. For this scene I was experimenting with creating basic shapes in Illustrator and then pulling them into photoshop, and free transforming them to fit, they quickly give that sense of scale and detail that takes so much time to draw otherwise.

click for larger view

Here are the shapes in illustrator:

I've also just started experimenting with ZBrush a bit so I can add that to my arsenal.

This piece started as totally random shapes and strokes in ZBrush, with the mirroring option to give it symmetry. Then I pulled that into photoshop and drew on it for a few hours. I think it would make a nice Death Metal album cover, or back tattoo, possibly a velvet painting?? I'm still a total ZBrush virgin, but it's one of those programs that digital artists and illustrators should be familiar with, and I'm about 4 years behind everyone else getting started.

click for larger view

Portals in the Haunted Wood

2010-12-13T07:41:00.000-08:00

In the haunted wood at the edge of our lands slumbers an ancient power. But the lady of the woods, who normally sleeps within the ancient tree of legend, has been been awoken by the bumbling antics of a Forest Satyr. As she wanders the forest, floating in her ethereal mist, portals begin to open in the forest floor. These portals create a link between our world, and other dark dimensions, releasing primordial beasts to ravage our world.

click for larger image

I was working on this one the last week or so, trying to compose a long, wide image. Something that could be used as a wraparound cover, or broken into multiple details..

Aren't we supposed to be on that ship?

2010-12-09T13:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a scene I was working on last week, not sure what the story is yet. Maybe these guys are being abandoned on the planet, maybe they're just observing a passing ship... that's a job for a writer to figure out.

Those curious alien landforms are actually based on some hoodoos I saw when I was in Canada last year.

Here's a detail shot of the little space buggy they drive around. It's those little details that really chew up some time, but they're fun to draw.

Freak Wave - La Vague Scélérate

2010-11-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

My work is being featured alongside the writings of Jérôme Bertin in the second volume of Freak Wave - La Vague Scélérate, a European art publication, compiled by Anne Van Der Linden and Olivier Allemane. This beautiful art book is ripe with provocative and arresting images by artists such as Yoko d'Holbachie, Anne Ven Der Linden, Clovis Trouille, Sue Coe, Laurie Lipton and a host of other artists and writers. I'm very excited to be included...

Rescue Operation Part 2

2010-11-12T07:53:00.000-08:00

So here's the completed painting. The original painting was made by artist Vic Prezio for the pulp WOMEN-IN-WAR from November 1959, and can be seen here.

I've been using oils for all of this year, and although I still love acrylics, I like that oil forces me to stop occasionally and let it dry. I also like doing these Pulp Illustrations and pretending it's the 50's, and I'm working on trashy magazines.

Rescue Operation Part 1

2010-11-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

So this is the next in my Pulp Men's Fantasy remakes. In this one we have a trooper busting in to rescue a woman who is being victimized by an evil Mason. In the original it was the Nazis that we're getting gunned down, but I just can't bring myself to use swastikas in a painting, I just want to focus on the action without the distraction. I also wanted some authentic guns this time, so I went with an M-16 assault Rifle and a Desert Eagle .50.

This is the drawing and acrylic underpainting. Next I'll begin with oils and refine colors and lighting.

Tree in Grant Park

2010-10-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I paint something completely innocent and normal, and usually it ends up hanging in my Mom's house. On this occasion I was enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon in the park with my lovely wife. She did Yoga and read as I painted.

Two Timing No Good Dirty Dog

2010-10-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

This painting is the first in what I hope will be a series of Pulp Men's Fantasy inspired subjects re-enacted by myself and some friends (Linda and Bonnie for this one). The painting I'm basing this on was originally painted by Earl Norem for Man's Life magazine back in the 60's and can be seen here:
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=492054&GSub=78695

Pictures at an exhibition

2010-10-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

The last couple shows were a lot of fun and a little nuts, here are some pics for those of you who couldn't make it.

Here's a little Sunbear

These are the eggs someone threw at us as we were outside the Art Bar exhibit. They must have thrown a couple dozen eggs and missed with every single one. Pathetic egg throwing art haters.

Here's some creature paintings in Art Bar

MiniMask Display at Art Bar

I dig the way Art Bar displayed these, they have an ideal space for some of my darker pieces.

Dolly Party for Cthulhu

More creature paintings at Art Bar

A spirited Art Critique with two of my biggest fans

Setting up the Last Laugh show at the Milwaukee Art Museum (photo by Jeff Sadowski)

A local Journalist expressing her affection for the Milwaukee Art Scene

I laugh, I love and I grow.... (photo by Jeff Sadowski)

Here are two sample humans to give a reference for the scale of the sculptures.

More visitors enjoying the display.

This is a shot of the Documentary film Mark Cherek produced for the Art Museum exhibit.

Here's me and Steph collecting heads in a bag at the end of the Last Laugh show. (photo by Jeff Sadowski)

FEAR 7

2010-10-14T06:30:00.000-07:00

FEAR 7
FRIDAY OCT. 15th
at ART BAR
723 E. Burleigh
Riverwest Milwaukee, WI

This Friday Night the Beast is Released!!

Come see my newest Creature paintings and One of a Kind Doll masks at Art Bar for their 7th Annual FEAR exhibit.

The exhibit opens Friday October 15th, from 5pm til Bar Close, and runs through November 4.

Musical Guests: Uncle Larry and the Dead Superheroes

I'll be down there having drinks and enjoying the music, hope to see you there!

Who Laughs Loudest?

2010-09-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'll be a part of this exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum on September 24th. It's another one night thing like the Francis Bacon and Martin Ramirez exhibits. Trying to branch out from my paintings this time with some 3-d work. These events are always fun, and even sorta fancy so if you're in Milwaukee on the 24th stop by and Party Arty.

Who's a cute widdle baby!?!

2010-08-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

Parents devote a lot of resources to raising a child — food, time, money, love — and those assets are usually in finite supply. All animals, humans included, are hardwired to spend wisely, devoting the most energy to the offspring most likely to yield the highest genetic payoff; healthy, beautiful offspring are the best bet of all.

Drazkotella

2010-07-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'll start working on something and it goes on a tangent and never returns. Which is fine when you're just working for yourself. I imagine an art director would be like "Hey, that's great! You're fired!"

I was actually going to make yet another Cthulhu picture when this head emerged from the background I was drawing... I saw a little area and thought "Gosh, what a keen head that would be if I clipped it out and added some teeth and an eyeball"

So then that grew and changed and instead of a gigantic Sea monster I ended up with this little lizard guy. But the main thing for me was using overlay layers and getting super picky with skin details. Not sure if I'm done with it.

Even more Cthulhus!!

2010-07-06T07:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple more Cthulhus from the 4th of July weekend. Some day I should do a more complete view of R'lyeh, since I don't think this does justice to Lovecraft's description of the "non-euclidian" architecture present in that "poison city of madness".

As I was working on that one, I was also working on this one below. Which seems to be a good way to work for me. When I'd get a little burned out on one, I'd switch to the other. The approach is a little different on each one, this one started in my sketchbook.

Ravening for Delight

2010-07-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

After vigintillions of years great Cthulhu is loose again.......

Björk unmasked

2010-06-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here's another Creature Planets entry. My Fiance was looking at this while I drew it and said it looked like Bjork, so I went with it. Here's my explanation:

The seventh full length album from Icelandic singer Björk, “Xeemean Phoenix” takes her collaboration with husband and Performance Artist, Matthew Barney, which began on the highly ambitious Drawing Restraint 9. to unimaginable new levels.

Following an intense Japanese Tea Ceremony centuries old, Björk transformed her physical body into a transdimensional being known as the Xeemean Phoenix, so named after the ancient snow beast that protected her Icelandic birthplace.

With a voice that shakes the marrow, Björk proves yet again that she is not only a vocal force to be reckoned with, but also a creature of potent physical prowess. Take a listen and you’ll see why music IS the savage beast.

The Stranger

2010-06-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

Well we all have a face
That we hide away forever
And we take them out and show ourselves
When everyone has gone
Some are satin, some are steel
Some are silk and some are leather
They're the faces of the stranger
But we love to try them on

-Billy Joel

Chicks and Robots

2010-05-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

For this figure I started with just oil on bristol, no primer, no preliminary drawing, just straight into the painting. I like how the oil slips across the surface, and is soaked in a bit.

For this one below, I wanted to recycle some material we threw out at the billboard shop (we toss a lot of material and it breaks my heart). So I started with a still from a video sample I got off Abby Winters dot com. The robot just sort've worked his way in there.

Guy with a Mustache

2010-05-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here's another foam sculpt I was working on. When the rest of this guy is put togerther he should be pretty recognizable. But I like it this way, in his beige foam anonymity. Just a guy with a mustache..

Here's another, more cartoony style sculpt. Craig drew this one.

Slap Tailed Screamer

2010-05-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Slaptailed Screamer is a relative of the cat family. It has the unusual evolutionary advantage of self-regenerating intestines that double as vocal chords. The Screamer starts at a low and murmuring growl, which grows in volume for several minutes until it begins slapping it's twin tail pads together and issues forth a scream of such intensity that it actually forces out part of the intestines that will later regenerate. Current scientific theory posits the notion that they do this for no better reason than to be totally annoying.

Figure Studies

2010-05-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

I decided to take a break from digital painting and keep experimenting with oil painting, and what better way to study oil painting than through figure studies? I'm finding that my approach with the oil isn't much different than the way I use acrylic, except there's some opportunities with drying time. I also see why most oil painters avoid black in their pallettes -- mixing complements to get darks is much easier with oil -- acrylic not so much...

Foam at the mouth

2010-04-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

Here's another Foam sculpt for a mascot head I worked on.
I was working from a drawing by Craig (the senior mascot designer).

It's a doggy.

2010-04-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple more activities I tried last week.

A large Chimera Monster, "Heronimera" -- for the Heron Heads.

An Oceanic Research Vessel

Coatyland

2010-03-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

When will the Mountain finally be scaled?
When will I feel that I haven't failed?

Life on Polyphemus

2010-03-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

As enormous gas storms rage in opposing bands across the outermost atmosphere on the gas planet Polyphemus, the Great Spot Glider skips across the eye of the vortex with daredevil precision. It's digestive process, a curious hybrid of magnetic resonance fusion which is controlled by giant quill-like projections known as "spiketennas", is fueled by occasional dips into vast oceans of dense helium. This process is also the creature's secondary source of locomotion when vortex surfing is not an option.

In calmer oceans of Gas near the Equator of Polyphemus can be found the Chromadarian, with it's beautiful irridescence from clinging films of petroleum gas.

Strange Habits of the Chlamydron

2010-03-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

Here is another creature for the "Creature Planet" on CGHub

Tactical Bomber

2010-03-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

I don't usually do Industrial Design, but I saw this topic on CA, so I thought I'd give it a shot.My first Tactical Bomber!

What lurks in the Arctic?

2010-03-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

Family Vacation or sign of the apocalypse?

Creature Planet

2010-02-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some new creatures I've been working on for Mike Corriero's "Creature Planet" on CGHub.

Here are some Snarf revamps. Yes, Snarf, from the Thundercats.

Mascots!

2010-02-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

So I have this new gig drawing and sculpting Mascots for people in need of custom Mascots. Here are a couple I worked on so far. The squirrel was drawn by someone else, but I did the carving. The lion I drew, and sculpted. After I do my bit, it goes onto get cast in plastic, fur and coverings are added by the talented team of costume makers at Olympus, then it's shipped off to the customer.

Viridian Grottoes Deep

2010-02-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

This painting has been sitting in my studio for quite a while as I found time to work on it between other projects. 62" x 60" Acrylic on Canvas.

Here are some detail shots:

Jelly!

2010-02-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

This was for the Creature Planet(s) #2 activity on CGHUB.

Who dares leap from Satan's Diving Board?

2009-12-16T11:41:00.000-08:00

Whensoever a truly evil person intends to commit a sin against humanity so aggregious and willful as genocide, it is a great joy to Lucifer. For it is only then that the great Demons of the Annihilation awake to carry out the will of evil men. Their insatiable hatred set against the world of man yet again.

Seen here rising from the 9th circle of Hell at Lucifer's behest. Rage pouring out from the females body in streams of flame that stoke the endless rivers of hell. Soon she and her scythe handed mate will be set loose to indulge in a relentless orgy of doom.

Happy Holidays!

Contemplate this on the tree of woe..

2009-12-07T12:34:00.000-08:00

I did this on friday to play around with texture brushes in photoshop, it still needs some sort of narrative, does anyone have a suggestion? Maybe it's Conan returning to the Tree of Woe years later? Maybe it's a King getting a royal divorce? Maybe it's a suicide? Who knows???

Official Taste Tester

2009-12-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

I'm always suprised at the stuff myspace doesn't let me upload, like this picture. I'm guessing they have some sort of genital recognition software that sees anything pink and bulbous and tags it as porn. This was an experiment with a clay macquette that I manipulated, painted, recolored etc. in photoshop.

The Mandrake of Tintagel

2009-11-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

In his book, the Origin of Species, Charles Darwin would have us believe that all animals are the product of a tediously slow process of natural selection. This theory completely overlooks the clear and obvious influence of Sorcerers, Alchemists and Necromancers in Animal biology. Such creatures as the Platypus, the Narwahl, the Goblin Shark or the Frogmouth bird of Sri Lanka are clearly the product of UN-natural selection and deranged mystical or genetic tinkering. Modern Science has further denied the obvious by declaring certain living things to be plants and others to be animals. Which any Alchemist will tell you is ridiculous.

"Humans are so charming in their delusions. They'll believe the Earth is flat if their neighbor tells them so, and just as easily that it is round without ever having travelled far enough to know for themselves. Why just look at my feathered friend here - is he an animal or a plant? In fact he is an enchanted portal to the fiery realm of the damned."

-Merlin speaking in regards to his "familiar"

Within Merlin's cave at Tintagel lives a creature born of earth and sky brought forth from the darkness and bathed in light. A Familiar to Merlin and conduit into other realms where one may behold the hidden architecture of the universe and the hidden motives of mankind..

Nymphs of Hades

2009-11-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

Persephone's Bane, or the Crimson Orchid of Hades as it is also known, is a rare and unusual flower. They are a natural lure for the ever infatuated Satyrs who are drawn to rare beauty of all kinds. But once a Satyr picks the flower, a beautiful and alluring young maiden appears before their eyes, holding a golden goblet which she then gives to the Satyr. But what the Satyr believes to be wine is, in truth, the pommegranate of Hades and what he believes to be a nubile young maiden is but a mindshadow projected by one of the Nymphs of Hades. Once a Satyr drinks this cursed nectar he sees the Nymph's true form; a hideous centaurian flamingo with a scorpion's sting, twisted and contorted in the flames of the darkness beneath. It is in this moment of horrific revelation which the Nymph will strike the Satyr dead and escape the gates of Hades by drinking the blood of the woodland demigod.

Some oil paint studies

2009-11-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

These are some quick oil figure studies, 15, 40 and 20 minute poses.

Mouligoths Escape from the Moon

2009-10-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Just as Columbus was not the first to discover the Americas, so too was the story with Space Travel. The Mayans had been sending missions to the Moon centuries before NASA made their first space suit. In acts meant to appease unseen deities, ancient Mayan moon worshipper sects had been using volcanoes to launch missile shaped monoliths packed with animal sacrifices directly to their lunar overlord.

But even before the Mayans - in unseen caverns beneath forgotten lunar craters, the Mouligoths had lived and died aeons before the coming of man, but their primal matter still lingered, needing only the proper host material to take form again. Along come the Mayans and give them a veritable smorgasboard of organic play doh.

Recently NASA began a vigorous bombing campaign aimed at searching for ice beneath the moon's outer crust and unearthed (or unmooned) these surrogate spawn of the ancient Mayans and the far more ancient Mouligoths.

click on the above image for a 1024 x 1280 image, perfect for your desktop background!

White Monkey

2009-10-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have been to Graceland, you may be familiar with the white monkey motif Elvis was so fond of. Although that wasn't the inspiration behind my mask project here, I do feel as though I have tapped into the archetypal "white monkeyness" that was the wellspring for Elvis' mojo. Which begs the question; "If you're suckling the teet of the very muse that catapulted Elvis to stardom, why aren't you doing the Ed Sullivan show like he did?" and the answer is simple. Ed Sullivan is dead and David Letterman's too busy explaining the whereabouts of his penis, otherwise I'm quite certain I would be the one who's pelvis is too hypnotic for American TV audiences. But I digress. I still need to make an outfit to match this mask, and I have a half yard of the white fur left. Anyone have a suggestion? I'm blogging to crickets here.

Ingredients for this recipe are:

Cardboard Box
Plastic Packaging from closet lights
One wood dowel, sliced and sharpened in pencil sharpener
lots of tape
lots of staples
paper mache
fur
blonde wig
paint
mod podge (1 16oz. container)