Friday, November 27, 2015

Found art interpretation - Bunny!

This little critter has been rattling around in my brain for a while now, so I finally committed him to digital pen & ink.  Every time I would come to the Academy of Art's building at 540 Powell St., I'd see this little "bunny" in the residue of a long-gone sticker that was on the side of the entryway.  I would see him clearly any time I glanced there, it was just evident to my mind.  So, in what will likely the the first of many such indulgences in creative pareidolia, I present my vision made manifest!




Monday, November 23, 2015

CTN Expo was a blast!

Just got back from the annual animation gathering (and highlight of my year) CTN Expo in Burbank!  Not being one to make a lot of posts to my blog while on the go (what does this blog look like, twitter?!) I finally have a chance to post my thoughts on the overwhelming-but-fun convention that comes but once a year.

CTN has become almost a "family reunion" of sorts, a chance to see friends and colleagues that I may keep touch with via Facebook but rarely get to spend time with face to face.  I think it's that and a lot more for many of us animation artists, both professional and aspiring.  Comic-Con long ago became an overwhelming orgy of all manner of pop culture, comics and animation seem almost secondary to all the big tentpole movie hype, cosplay, and toy & game exclusives.  None of that goes on at CTN (despite some feeble attempts by marketers to do so on occasion.)  This is a place, an ever-more-crowded place, for people who care about the art of animation and storytelling to learn, network, and party with their own kind.

It may only be three days a year, but in a way it is the longest weekend of the year.  I only wish it could take place in a venue that can accommodate all of us, the tents and small rooms just don't cut it anymore!  But for whatever frustrations and failings there may be, CTN still remains the best place to meet and learn from other animation artists.  I hope it continues to be the gathering it has been for a long time.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Getting set to go APE!

Well, the time has come for me to get back into the fray of comic conventions.  Yep, I'm going to be at the upcoming Alternative Press Expo (APE) con!  This year will be a bit different for me and a lot of my fellow artists, since Comic-Con International has transferred the ownership & operation of the convention back to Dan Vado, the fellow who first started APE over 20 years ago!  With that change, there has been a change of venue; APE will be held at the San Jose Convention Center on the weekend of October 3-4

My illustrations, books, stickers & tees (and me!) can be found at Table 237, right in the center of the convention hall.  Hope to see you there!



Tickets to Alternative Press Expo (APE)
Get your tickets now at: http://www.alternativepressexpo.com/#!tickets/cq53

 San Jose Convention Center - Saturday and Sunday October 3rd & 4th

Saturday, September 19, 2015

My latest sketches from Dr. Sketchy's!

If you live in the Bay Area (or even other major cities around the country) you should check out Dr. Sketchy's life drawing events.  There are branches in many cities, but I only recently started going to the San Francisco one, held at Chicken John's space in the Mission.  They are scheduled roughly every other Tuesday night.   Here are a few of my most recent sketches!







Saturday, August 29, 2015

A few nude sketches from Kroeber Hall workshop

I haven't had too many opportunities to do life drawings of nude models, what with my schedule and the limited amounts of such workshops convenient to me.  These are a few I did at the Friday night life drawing workshop on the UC Berkeley campus:







Saturday, April 25, 2015

Life drawings - clothed figure

Some recent life drawings from the character design clothed figure drawing workshop at the Academy of Art.










Saturday, February 21, 2015

Animal drawing at the Oakland Zoo



It's been a while since I've posted any updates, so I though I'd share some recent sketches I did on my visits to the Oakland Zoo.  While it's overlooked by a lot of people, I say the Oakland Zoo is the best one in the Bay Area, and it's especially cool for drawing tigers and elephants, with up-close enclosures that give you some great views.  Plus, they've got a great Bat House, which is always a plus in my book!