Lazybones

New Illustration

I've been drawing cats for a good while now. I suppose it's my way of thinking that I own one (which I still want to do). This particular cat with the triangular head interests me a lot though. When I first drew him, he was going to act like an Existential French philosopher cat. Be all deep and serious. Now that idea never panned out, but this moody, disconnected cat had a story. He was a character. Now here he is.

Mitt Romney and Giraffes

So Michelle is all a-twitter now about going to South Africa this March and invited me. I never pictured myself going to Africa, but it would be cool to see a giraffe and ride an elephant. I don't know whether to go or not.

Line up!

I'm always obsessed with how cartoonists and illustrators draw. How'd he make this line? What size are these drawings?! There's part of me that says that I shouldn't care and figure out how to use the tools, but another part of me craves to learn how to draw like that.

It's come to a point now that I've become the most nitpicky about line quality and how should my drawings look? I love splotchy ink, I love fluid brushwork, but I also love fluid lines, and scratchy lines. I've read an interview from Richard Thompson saying that he struggled with the same exact thing. LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT LINE (if it exists). He says that his line would exist between George Herriman and Ronald Searle.

Mine? That's hard. I like lively, action lines. It'd be something between Patrick McDonnell and Bill Watterson. In between there I'd like my line to be.

Above are examples of me drawing and sketching. I like the school bus particularly. Felix looks a bit incomplete maybe. The three sketches of the bumpkin sitting down are done in Hunt 101 Imperial, Hunt 512 ex-fine, and Winsor Newton Series 7 #0 brush respectively. I did all the drawings on copy paper, hence a lot of bleeding. Which is nice sometimes (more often it's not!).

The last sketch I ABSOLUTELY love EXCEPT for that back leg. It's so blobby. Had I nailed that, it would have been the drawing of the year.

New Work

In my ever continuing quest to find the right look, the right line, I've always had to look back on those who came before me.

The first illustration, from a picture I'm working on, is inspired by simple, lively lines like Jules Feiffer. I purposefully used sparse background and simple, but bold color statements. I enjoyed drawing that large man a number of times. It's ridiculous the the size comparison between him and the little girl.

The second illustration reminds me of earlier illustrations I did back when I just started using the pen nib for my illustrations. I was looking at Ronald Searle especially (his work is hard to find online, let alone books in the bookstore!). He went on to inspire following artists like Ralph Steadman and then Richard Thompson.

It's amazing how connected all these artists when looking at their work and comparing. The difference between William Steig's line to Ronald Searle, how Steig influenced Feiffer, how Feiffer influenced Trudeau then Berkeley Breathed but before that Pat Oliphant. I love seeing all the connections everyone had on each other, but then what makes each one unique.

I think most important too is that the drawings are only as good as the subject matter or the story. There's a reason why each artist draws the way they do, and that's because of what they got to say.

New Cartoon

It has been too long since I posted. I will not make excuses, but my blogging rate has dropped by the wayside since I took on a job promotion back in April. Hopefully, now, I can get things on track again and show new stuff and what I am working on!

Below is a new cartoon for Smithtown Matters. This is my generation. Talking about my generation!

Psychology cover

It's been way too long since I posted new work. I've been working too much on my children's artwork and nothing to show there really except tons and tons of sketches. I won't bore anyone with them.

Below is a cover that I have done for an e-book by Jeffrey Rubin. I enjoyed drawing this.

Tuna?

I do enjoy letting my mind wander when writing. I can't help but think, "What if?" for each situation. For example, what in the world would a cat bring to lunch? Would he bring his food bowl? Not really good at being incognito I'd say.

Fall Scene

Ze colors! Ze colors!

Marching Band

In light of no new illustrations from my graphic novel or picture book sketches, I drew this illustration. While drawing it, I reflected upon my experiences in marching band back when. Lately, I am finding my illustrations to be more reflective upon my past experiences. It's most likely a mix of nostalgia and trying to make sense of my life.

In the movie "Midnight in Paris," the actors discuss the idea of nostalgia. When someone experiences nostalgia, they are denying their present state and glorifying another time, era, or place to ease the pain of the present. As I have been going through life, I realize that I myself have always been thinking of being elsewhere. Wherever I am, it is greener on the other side.

I think only through art am I able to make sense of life. Art and literature. I think Woody Allen was thinking the same thing when he wrote "Midnight in Paris" and "Annie Hall" way back when. Trying to make sense of life.

I know this is a lot of thought for a very simple illustration, but it's good to reflect.