10/26/09

MAGICIAN

Done for the upcoming CTN-X program/sketchbook: a limited edition booklet filled with art and info by animation professionals, that will be available at the convention.
  • CTN-X Animation Expo

  • Digital



    Preliminary sketches
    Ink

    10/10/09

    PAUL JULIAN

    There have recently been posts online featuring the work of artist Paul Julian (1914-1995). I've gathered some examples into one big post. In addition to his work in animation, Julian designed titles for some live action features. Of those films, Dementia 13 also happens to be one of Francis Ford Coppola's earliest works.

    PICCOLI (1953)















    THE TELL-TALE HEART (1953)







    SWAMP WOMEN (1955)





    NOT OF THIS EARTH (1957)



    ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS (1957)



    DEMENTIA 13 (1963)





    THE TERROR (1963)





    THE HANGMAN (1964)






    7/3/09

    JUNE 2009

    ELECTIONS IN IRAN


    RIP MICHAEL JACKSON (1958-2009)


    RIP FARRAH FAWCETT (1947-2009)


    MEGAPIRANHA DISCOVERED
    (Megapiranha Paranensis) 4X bigger than modern day piranhas/lived 8-10 million years ago/a link between today's flesh-eating piranhas and their vegetarian cousins, pacu.


    COLOR COINCIDENCE
    I went to the Georgia O'Keeffe show at SF Moma and saw this lady viewing a painting. I did a double-take...she was the painting.
    Digital

    6/15/09

    UP COLOR SCRIPT

    A closer look at the color script (done January-March 2008).


























































































































    Digital

    *ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of PIXAR/DISNEY*

    5/29/09

    ART of UP

    Here is some of the development & production work I did on UP (2005-2008).

    ELLIE'S MURAL
    After finding they cannot have children, Carl & Ellie make Paradise Falls their life goal.

    Gouache

    CARL & ELLIE
    One of the goals for the Prologue was to evoke the feeling of childhood and innocence, with story & design.

    Gouache

    Gouache

    Digital

    A DAY IN THE LIFE
    Explorations of old age and loneliness. The idea was to keep Carl isolated within the frame and suggest loss with composition & light. The film deals a lot with loss and letting go of the past.


    Digital




    gouache/digital

    CARL IN COLOR
    Character Design: Daniel Lopez Munoz
    Design Sculpt: Greg Dykstra

    I painted and photographed this sculpt to see what Carl might look like in different lighting. Bryn Imagire (Shading Art Director) painted other sculpts exploring healthier complexions. She also made models of the house, plants, and rocks, to impart a tactile quality to the digital work.


    cast urethane/acrylic

    CLOUD TOWERS
    Digital

    On UP I made some animated tests using After Effects as a way to take static images further. Using music and sound also helped the tone of a scene or idea.


    Digital

    Exploring the way light might change in a room as the house travels through the clouds.


    Music by Nelson Riddle
    Digital


    Music by Maurice Ravel
    gouache/digital


    Digital

    DESKTOP DIORAMA
    I made these figures then photographed them on my desktop. The smallest figure is the size of a grape. It was a way of arranging and finding interesting compositions in 3D. EFX were added in Photoshop.




    Digital
    Figures: balsa wood/wire/acrylic

    TEPUI STUDIES






    Digital

    The weather can change within minutes on top of a Tepui, from eerily foggy to sunny and back. This is a moment in the film, when Carl sees Paradise Falls (Angel Falls in real life) for the very first time.


    Music by John Williams
    Digital

    TEPUI RESEARCH TRIP
    I had the opportunity of visiting Venezuela with some of the other crew members. Tepuis are large, flat-top mountains that rise out of the jungle basin. They are so tall that certain species of plant and animal only exist at the top, a mile above the jungle floor.




    Nat McLaughlin (Environment Artist) left and Ronnie Del Carmen (Head of Story) right. This gives a sense of the topography on Roraima, the highest of all the Tepuis.

    TEPUI MAP
    This map was made after we returned from Venezuela and charts the course of the main characters and obstacles they encounter. Muntz's hangar lies at the middle of a crossroads, between the bird's nesting grounds and Paradise Falls, an important path Carl must take.

    Gouache

    TEPUI & JUNGLE STUDIES
    After returning from the trip, we were inspired to illustrate what we saw. A challenge in CG is conveying how something feels, over how it looks in reality. Research trips can sometimes be a plus and a minus: the plus in that visiting a place surpasses what you gain from photos alone, the minus in being a slave to the reality.

    Imagination and feeling should dictate everything...









    gouache/digital

    STYLING STUDIES
    These were done for our 'looks' test to get a sense of where we were headed stylistically (stylized to more naturalistic).



    Digital

    We wanted to use light theatrically, as a way to selectively indicate detail.

    Digital

    Another study in selective detail. The idea was that depth of field could simplify the jungle, allowing backgrounds to go softer and more impressionistic, so the eye could focus on the foreground.

    Digital

    After coming back from Venezuela I arranged pictures to music, to capture how the place felt. It can only be taken so far with a single image. With a sequence you can convey more meaning. After looking at the photos with music the sunrise seemed like a natural climax. The color reel contains a few finished shots.


    Music by James Newton Howard
    digital/gouache

    CHARLES MUNTZ
    Muntz was originally based on Howard Hughes, the aviation pioneer who became a recluse in his later years. In an earlier version of the story Muntz was obsessed with the Snipe eggs, which could reverse old age like the fountain of youth.

    Gouache

    MUNTZ & HIS DOGS
    When a story is in early development..anything goes.




    Colored Pencil

    DIORAMA STUDIES
    These thumbnails were done in preparation for our CG 'looks' test. The goal was to solidify our treatment of organic environments as well as make a setting in which the characters could interact.




    Digital

    DIORAMA FRAMES
    This CG test was the resulting work of many departments and taught us a great deal. I brought these frames into Photoshop and added some atmosphere and efx, which the Lighting Department used to tweak the final shots.



    Film renders/Photoshop pass

    COLOR SCRIPT ACT I
    The first pass color script for ACT I. Others were also done for ACTS II & III. These are very simple, but help give a sense of the film's tone, which is taken further with lighting keys.




    Digital

    FINAL COLOR SCRIPT
    This was my last assignment on UP. I tried providing more lighting information than the abstract scripts, which are more for tone. Other artists also contributed greatly to the lighting design of the film and the Lighting Team led by Jean-Claude Kalache did a super job.

    Digital

    *ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of PIXAR/DISNEY*

    2/27/09

    SEX & SCIENCE

    This work is a continuation of an earlier posting, ANCIENT MODERN, which is all part of The Ancient Book of Sex & Science. This is my second collaboration with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg and is shaping up to be a very inspiring book and show. There is no Sex here to speak of, but plenty of Science-Fantasy.

    Back to Mars
    9" X 15"
    Gouache

    The First Expedition
    10" X 15"
    Gouache

    Martian Lunar Spires
    10" X 15"
    Gouache

    Martian Still Life with Chalice and Memory Stone
    10" X 15"
    Gouache

    Martian Still Life with Light Shard
    10" X 15"
    Gouache

    Studies for Sculpture : Future Warrior

    Digital

    Quartz Crystal with LED lighting

    Martian Concert Hall
    Digital

    Sci-Fi Toy Concept

    Digital

    10/3/08

    DREAM WARRIORS

    A GEEGAR COLLABORATION for a book based on A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 : Dream Warriors. The characters have powers in their own dreams. But, most aren't strong enough to defeat Freddy Krueger. Quotes are from the movie.

    PETE GRAHAM: Drawings
    LOU ROMANO: Color
    PAUL MAES: Neck-guts design






    ink/digital

    10/1/08

    ART of THE INCREDIBLES

    Here are some other samples of Incredibles work I did (2000-2004): Development, color/lighting design and DVD bonus materials.

    EARLY DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION DESIGN

    THE INCREDIBLES
    This is more of a gag drawing. But, when it's early days anything goes...

    Colored Pencil

    BOB AT WORK




    Gouache

    E SCULPTURE
    Digital

    EARLY VILLAINS


    Gouache

    E's WORLD
    Gouache

    Digital

    LIGHTING THUMBNAILS
    These were done during and after the color script design and were meant to be a springboard for the lighting department.


































    Digital

    JACK-JACK ATTACK
    Lighting studies for the BONUS DVD short.






    Digital

    MR. INCREDIBLE & FRIENDS
    Styling and film aging studies for the BONUS DVD short.







    Digital

    *ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of PIXAR/DISNEY*

    9/12/08

    *THE POE GALLERY*

    A series based on tales by EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-1849). 15 tales / 30 illustrations / and 15 linoleum-block prints.

    METZENGERSTEIN (1832)



    MS. FOUND IN A BOTTLE (1833)


    BERENICE (1835)



    LIGEIA (1838)



    THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1839)



    WILLIAM WILSON (1839)



    THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1841)


    THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1842)



    THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1842)



    THE BLACK CAT (1843)


    THE TELL-TALE HEART (1843)



    THE OBLONG BOX (1844)



    THE FACTS IN THE CASE of M. VALDEMAR (1845)



    THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (1846)



    HOP-FROG (1849)

    Thumbnails
    Digital

    Block Prints 8" X 10"
    linoleum/ink

    *GREEK GODS MONSTERS & HEROES*

    A series of 40 paintings based upon Greek Mythology.

    POSEIDON

    ZEUS

    HARPIES
    All 14" X 20"
    acrylic/gouache

    8/25/08

    *ANNABEL LEE*

    An animated short film based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe (1849) of the same title.

    COLOR STORY REEL (2:25)

    Performed by Basil Rathbone
    Music by Igor Stravinsky

    "Annabel Lee" from The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection by
    Edgar Allan Poe, performed by Basil Rathbone and Vincent Price
    (p) & (C) 2000 HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
    Used by Permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

    "Orpheus - Ballet in Three Scenes/Scene I: Orpheus"
    Performed by Esa-Pekka Salonen and The Philharmonia Orchestra
    Courtesy of SONY BMG MASTERWORKS by arrangement with
    SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

    "Orpheus - Ballet in Three Scenes/Scene II: Dance of the Furies"
    Performed by Esa-Pekka Salonen and The Philharmonia Orchestra
    Courtesy of SONY BMG MASTERWORKS by arrangement with
    SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT


    THUMBNAIL STORYBOARDS


    Ink

    COLOR STUDIES
    Digital

    INSPIRATION



    Pebble Beach, CA.

    7/29/08

    ABSTRACTS

    NO. 1

    NO.2
    6" X 6"
    Gouache

    7/18/08

    YETI

    This piece was part of a group project with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg. We each did a monochrome, sci-fi inspired painting from which prints will be made and sold at Comicon. Next year we'll release more sci-fi work in The Ancient Book of Sex & Science, a companion book to Myth & War.

    8 3/4" X 11"
    Gouache

    7/8/08

    SOLO JAM II

    These were done for fun. I started with the mermaid, which was based on an acrylic painting my friend Rob Gibbs and I were jamming on July 4th. I was trying to recall what we had painted the next day with this digital study. Then, I started drawing and painting the other ideas, stream of conscious.

    INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL


    DOH-NKEY


    JOKER


    DANCER


    WALKER


    MAITRE D'


    FRIENDLY


    MATADOR


    ATOMIC BLAST


    MERMAID
    Digital

    7/1/08

    3X4

    These were done for a group project with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg. Each of us agreed to do 4 paintings using the theme of 3. In this case, 4 illustrations of 3 organic things. We're planning on putting all of them together in a book.

    3 GEMS


    3 FORMS


    3 PLANTS


    3 FISH
    All 10" X 15"
    Gouache

    6/3/08

    BB & ME

    This was my submission for the Totoro Forest Project. The proceeds from the art show and catalogue will go towards saving the Japanese forest that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's film, My Neighbor Totoro. totoroforestproject.org

    If I was a kid, I'd want my totoro to be a giant bat that could fly me around. I love bats, they are the only mammals that can fly. Flying squirrels don't count, they glide. But they're cool too.

    10" X 15"
    Gouache

    2/1/08

    PHOENIX

    10" X 15"
    acrylic/gouache

    1/12/08

    BUGS : PART II

    BLACK WIDOW
    10" X 15"
    acrylic/gouache

    GREEN BUG
    7 1/4" X 15 1/4"
    Gouache

    THE CYCLE
    9 1/2" X 14 1/2"
    Gouache

    1/11/08

    OLD DRAWINGS

    I found these the other day. The Tony the Tiger drawing was taken to final paint (previous post). I did these for my friend Nate Pacheco, who was pitching 50th anniversary ads for Tony and Toucan Sam.


    10" X 12"
    Pencil

    12/13/07

    ICARUS

    7 1/2" X 10"
    pencil/colored pencil

    10/25/07

    BUGS : PART I

    THE BACK DOOR
    8" X 14 3/4"
    Gouache

    MANTIS & ANT
    8" X 14 3/4"
    Gouache

    PIGGY-BACK
    8" X 10 1/4"
    Gouache

    10/19/07

    STAGE DESIGNS


    ink/pencil


    Digital

    PLUTONIAN ICE STORM

    8 1/2" X 15"
    Gouache

    Preliminary sketches

    10/5/07

    ANCIENT MODERN

    Some artwork for a future book and show: THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX & SCIENCE. I'm doing some small 3D pieces and paintings, the idea being that these (below) could be art or relics from an ancient Martian civilization.

    MARTIAN SCULPTURE


    15" tall
    foam core/hot glue/modeling paste/acrylic/gouache


    MARTIAN CARVINGS 01 & 02

    9" X 12" X 1"
    balsa foam/acrylic/gouache

    These are insect studies from a previous post and an upcoming bug-themed show. But here, they have also worked as ancient Martian hieroglyphics.



    STEP BY STEP
    Final foam core construction.

    Build up of Light Molding Paste. Lays down like whipped cream, dries semi-hard and very light in weight.

    Course Pumice Gel was applied over the dried paste (to add more grit/rust). Then, the piece was painted with acrylic and gouache.

    Preliminary sketch

    9/24/07

    CYCLOPS & CRUSADER

    Finished paint (before final detailing)










    EFX studies
    ink/pencil




    Cyclops 4 1/4" tall / Crusader 3" tall
    sculpting foam/acrylic/gouache/feather/glass/metal

    9/19/07

    ALEXANDER GIRARD

    Alexander (Sandro) Girard (1907-1993) was a designer of textiles, graphics, furniture and exhibitions. He also had a passion for collecting textiles and folk art from around the world. In 1963 he designed and made these wooden dolls to decorate his home. They have been reproduced by the Vitra Design Museum based on his originals.

    I purchased some LED lights and played around with lighting and photographing a few of the dolls. The resulting colors were achieved in camera using different combinations of the multi-colored lights. The tallest doll of the three is only about 10 inches.

    WOODEN DOLLS by Alexander Girard (1963)

    LED lights purchased at IKEA












    8/28/07

    HANSEL & GRETEL

    This artwork was done for an upcoming group show based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The show will exhibit at the Gallery Met in conjunction with The Metropolitan Opera's production of Hansel und Gretel (1893) by Engelbert Humperdinck.


    IM WALDE (IN THE WOOD)
    11 3/4" X 23"
    acrylic/gouache


    DEM HAUSCHEN (THE HOUSE)
    16 1/2" X 20"
    acrylic/gouache


    HEXENSCHUB (WITCH'S SPELL)
    14" X 20"
    Acrylic















    Preliminary sketches
    All 8 1/2" X 11"
    pencil/ink

    8/17/07

    THE POWERPUFF GIRLS

    I worked on The Powerpuff Girls from 1999-2000. I didn't work in-house during that time but would come into the studio as much as possible to run these thumbnails past Don Shank, who was the Art Director. Once he and the directors approved them I would do more finished keys based on the layouts, which would then be sent over-seas. It was a lot of fun.
















    Layouts by Dan Krall
















































    All various sizes
    gouache/pastel

    *ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of CARTOON NETWORK*

    6/27/07

    BUG JAM

    Bug studies for a future group show at Nucleus Gallery (2008).

    All 5 1/4" X 6 1/4"
    pencil/ink

    6/26/07

    THE NEW YORKER

    As a result of The Ancient Book of Myth & War (see below) the art editor of The New Yorker magazine (Francoise Mouly) invited Scott Morse, Don Shank, Nate Wragg and I to submit ideas for covers. We were given a list of holidays and a lot of freedom to come up with concepts. After submitting thumbnails and receiving notes I was asked to do a final illustration, which was approved for print. The whole process took 3-4 weeks.



    Final original
    8 1/4" X 11"
    Gouache


    Color studies
    Digital

    6/8/07

    JAZZ QUARTET

    A music major at Northwestern University (Josh Moshier) saw my blog and asked if I would illustrate the CD cover of his debut album. The group liked #3 which I worked up into a final painting. Good Luck, Josh.



    Final original
    7 3/16" X 7 3/16"
    Gouache

    Rough layout drawing









    Cover concepts
    Digital

    5/16/07

    SPANKY VS. SAMURAI

    Confronting the BEAST.

    "Wake up! Do not try to humiliate me, Beast."

    ZZZZzzzz

    "I will come back when you are ready."

    5/10/07

    COHEN JAM

    I was asked to participate in this art jam with a young boy named Cohen. His Dad sent me his watercolors in the mail then I added to them and mailed them back. I hope you like them, Cohen.




    8 1/2" X 11"
    watercolor/colored pencil

    5/7/07

    NERO

    This is my piece for SKETCHTRAVEL a sketchbook that is being passed from one artist to another across the world. When completed it will be exhibited at a gallery in France then sold at a charity auction.


    Final original
    8 1/4" X 11 3/4"
    Gouache

    Rough drawing

    Thumbnails

    4/20/07

    SOLO JAM I

    These drawings were done one right after another without any plan in mind. Then they were scanned and painted digitally in the order in which they were drawn. The goal for me was to get ideas out of my head, on to paper and into color as fluidly and as quickly as possible.


    PLAYGROUND

    VIKING

    DRAGON

    BABY DINOSAUR

    FUTURE HOME

    NIGHT WITCH

    SPECIAL EDS

    CIRCUS ELEPHANT

    THE FALLEN

    MAN & MONSTERS

    FISH TANK

    CONCERT

    SODA JERK

    DRUNK

    RED EAGLE

    FIGHT

    WARLORD

    ENGLISH RACE CAR

    SWISS RACE CAR

    AMERICAN RACE CAR

    FRENCH RACE CAR

    COMEDY

    WHITE BABY

    IRON HORSE & SNAKE

    GERMAN BANDIT

    STONE HORSE

    FALLEN CREATURE

    HORSE HEAD

    DINOSAUR ROCK

    All 8 1/2" X 11"
    ink/digital

    4/19/07

    GORGON SPHINX



    11 1/2" X 16"
    Tempera

    4/3/07

    MYTH & WAR


    (L to R) Don Shank, Lou Romano, Scott Morse, Nate Wragg

    Thank you ALL for coming to the opening and for your support.
    An extra special thanks to NUCLEUS for hosting a great show.
    Visit their WEBSITE for photos and updates (see link).

    3/21/07

    CLASH OF THE DORKS


    A dvd cover I made for my copy of Clash of the Titans using the art of Alice & Martin Provensen and Steele Savage. Ray Harryhausen signed it for me...but said that the cover was "terrible".

    PEOPLE AT WORK

    STEPHANIE
    7 1/2" X 8"
    ink & digital

    DON
    7 1/2" X 12"
    digital

    1/28/07

    DOODLES





    All 4 1/2" X 5 1/2"
    Gouache

    1/5/07

    SHIELD STUDY


    Digital

    DEVIL DOODLES




    Digital

    11/16/06

    COVER ILLUSTRATION

    THE ANCIENT BOOK OF MYTH & WAR
    9" X 11 1/2"
    Gouache

    11/6/06

    WAR MONSTER

    7 1/4" X 9 3/4"
    Gouache

    11/3/06

    BOOK COVER

    Digital

    RED KNIGHT

    Digital

    8/30/06

    DURGA : INDIAN GODDESS

    Digital pass

    Final original
    10" X 13 3/8"
    Gouache


    Session 2

    Session 1


    Final line drawing





    Preliminary color studies




    Preliminary sketches

    8/24/06

    CENTIPEDE

    2" X 7"
    Gouache

    8/2/06

    MEDUSA STUDY

    7 3/4" X 12 1/2"
    Gouache

    8/1/06

    ARTWORK circa 1994






    pencil/marker/gouache

    7/25/06

    DISNEYLAND TRIP








    Digital photos

    6/26/06

    TROJAN HORSE

    Digital

    6/16/06

    KING

    Digital

    6/13/06

    THE FIRE

    Digital

    6/5/06

    BLACK KNIGHT




    8 3/4" tall
    cardboard/wire/thread/wood

    5/26/06

    KING KADAVER

    Digital pass

    Final original
    9" X 12 1/2"
    Gouache



    Preliminary sketches

    5/5/06

    SCULPTURES

    GREEK


    5 1/2" tall
    clay/metal/acrylic/gouache


    MINOTAUR

    8 3/4" tall
    wire/metal/wood/acrylic

    4/12/06

    CRAYON DRAWINGS


    8 1/2" X 11"
    Crayon

    4/7/06

    STUDIES



    4 1/2" X 7 1/2"
    Gouache

    3/6/06

    PERSEUS & MEDUSA

    8 1/4" X 11"
    Gouache

    2/14/06

    TWO KNIGHTS


    Digital

    2/2/06

    DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

    HELL HOUND


    BLACK DRAGON


    EYE OF THE DEEP


    IRON GOLEM


    PURPLE WORM
    Digital

    1/2/06

    THE DEPUTY

    5" X 12"
    Gouache


    Preliminary sketches

    12/30/05

    INDIAN GODDESS : color studies



    Digital

    MY 3 CATS

    (L to R) Kozmo, Spanky, Rerun

    3" X 8"
    Gouache

    CHESS SET

    Digital


    Preliminary sketches

    11/30/05

    FALLING LEAVES

    Digital

    NATIVITY

    ANIMATION TEST (55 SEC)

    Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams



    Digital

    11/19/05

    BOSTON BIRTHDAY

    Digital

    TONY THE TIGER & friends

    10" X 12"
    Gouache




    Preliminary sketches

    COWBOY

    5 1/2" X 8"
    Gouache

    DARTH VADER

    C3-PO

    CHEWBACCA

    YODA

    BOBA FETT

    All 6" x 8"
    Gouache

    ANIMATION TEST (25 SEC)

    Background art by Scott Wills
    Music by John Williams