How to use this Page

Howdy! Welcome back for another weekly post! Wow!

I just added some new work to the site, and I will blog about one piece this week and the other commission next week. Give me a break; I have to spread it out or I'll be writing all day.

In a recent commission from Miami Herald, I was asked to do a section cover illo concerning the economy's effect on Florida charities and non-profits. In a nutshell, donations are down as folks are hesitant to give money. As such, charities are having to try alternative methods of securing enough funds such as directly soliciting and cutting budgets/programs. I won't be showing sketches as I may want to use them for a future assignment. Final artwork:

I like the image; its simple and to the point. It changed slightly from the sketch in that I added the spotlight.

Also, in a great turn of events (and thanks to Scott Brundage showing my portfolio), I am now being represented by Richard Solomon Artists Reps. I won't say much about this as I think Richard and company has some future announcements planned concerning their roster and direction. I look forward to working with them and hopefully bringing in some advertising campaign work as well as any new commissions and collaborations!

Enjoy the Day,
Chris

Vintage craftbook 1978

Whenever there are photos of young kids in vintage books, i always think of what their current age would be and how they will look now, what they are doing and if they themselves still have a copy of that book somewhere in their bookcase. Is that weird? That my thoughts go there?

If i would be better at woodworking and if i had a work space that could handle heavy working like that, i would definitely make on of these kids body length measuring things. I love the design and the pretty flowers and ladybug painted on it. For my US friends: don't be confused, those measurements are obviously marked in centimeters.

I've heard a number times over the years that one of the most common mistakes an amateur writer makes is spending too much time in the beginning getting to the action. More than once, I've heard that beginning section of a book, often filled with introductions and mini-histories, as a "front porch." And more than once, I've heard recommendations to get rid of it.

Prologues are one of the best examples of a front porch that weathers a lot of flack. Most insist you either get rid of it, or simply call it "chapter 1". No one reads prologues, some have even said.

When I wrote my first book, I hadn't heard much of that. That book had a prologue. My wife read the book, of course, and kindly informed me that, while the prologue was written well, I didn't really need it. She just wanted to get to the action. After thinking about it, I agreed, and axed it.

The end, right? Not really. Since then, I've come across a number of books that have been published with a prologue. It makes me wonder, if so many are so steadfastly against the notion, how on earth did an editor allowed it? In one case that I read, I would have just called it chapter 1. In the case of the book I'm reading now, it sounds a lot like the prologue I tried to write for my first book, and frankly, it doesn't need it. (It should be noted, that I am otherwise thoroughly enjoying the book I'm currently reading otherwise.)

Still, despite the precedence, I think I'll avoid it—for the time being. But I will continue to wonder if there is ever a good time to use one.

My focus for this show was to grab five artists at Disney who recently went through the Talent Development Program at Disney and talk about how they got there and what it’s like to work at the studio. My guests include Story Artist Jeremy Spears, Visual Development Artist Lorelay Bove, Rough Inbetweener/Jack of all Trades Joe Pitt, 2D Animator Sarah Airriess, and CG Animator (and Animation Mentor alumni) Kira Lehtomaki.

Derek Yaniger
I've enjoyed this guy's work for some time. I love how simple they are (especially with only a couple of colors), but so fun and expressive. I normally tire of the "retro" style pretty quickly these days, but I can't get enough of this guy.



Vincent Joubert
This dude is the complete opposite, but just as wondeful. Big, detailed, painterly, whimsical. (Lovely sense of lighting, too). I'm not sure what he does, exactly, because he's French, and well, it's been 12 years since I studied French in college. But he definitely has a kiddie sensibility, and besides, his work is just awesome.

I painted Young Frankenstein with his first monster, FrankenTeddy, and his little dog Frankie. I think Young Frankenstein would have worn PJs with his lab coat over them.

Young Frankenstein and FrankenTeddy

This was the first thing I thought of for this week’s Illustration Friday topic, so I decided to go with it as a b/w cartoon:

Ewwww, germs!

If you can’t read it, the germ is saying, “Eek! Ghosts!”

Quick sketch that turned into The Other Mother from Coraline...creepy

Comedienne Merrill Markoe mashed up a Peter Lorre track from “M” with a Hanna Barbera cartoon, did her own English translation, and added some music by Andy Prieboy. And now it’s all so clear…

It’s ime for some self-promotion, y’all. : ) This past winter (or spring?) I worked on a leveled reader entitled, Susie’s Bad Day Blues (written by Arjun Chatterjee) for Oxford University Press. Susie’s Bad Day Blues is one of  a number of graphic readers OUP has put out recently. Mine is quite traditional in it’s execution, [...]

If you're a Twilight buff and think you're up to some trivia questions, here's another chance to win a copy of Lips Touch! Sponsored by the good folks at Scholastic, it's a contest over at TwilightersAnonymous.com. The questions are specifically about the wolf pack. If, like my niece, you are "team Jacob," you probably have a good shot at winning.

Sample question: What specific fur color does Quil Ateara have in wolf form?

I don't know! Do you know? If you do, go HERE and enter. Contest is open until October 16, 12 pm PST. Have fun :-)

Meanwhile, here is some photography homework:

While I’ve been focusing most of my energies on my greeting card lines, I was delighted and privileged to be able to provide illustrations for an article published by Words of Peace Global.org, a site promoting Prem Rawat’s message of inner peace. His message has made a huge, indescribable impact in my life, and it was a fantastic experience for me to use a talent that I have and love to help in this effort. You can click here to view the article online, or you can click here to download the article and see the other articles available.

© admin for It's a visual..., 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 2009, article, colored pencil, figure, Illustrations, pdf, red, rose, words of peace, words of peace global

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

I've been sick with something for the last few days. The first day of it was awful...spent most of it in the bathroom...the next day I was just a bit weak and very cold and then further on that night, I had a fever...today I'm still a bit weak, but am eating...in the meantime, there is a project that desperately needs completing sitting here....

Above is a recent piece that is my literal translation of a song by The Fleet Foxes, which shares the same name. I explain it a little more, and have a video of said song on my blog. Thanks.

-Brad

The Watercolor Wednesdays prompt for this week is to imagine Frankenstein as a child, so I painted Young Frankenstein with his first monster, FrankenTeddy, and his little dog Frankie. I think Young Frankenstein would have worn PJs with his lab coat over them.

Young Frankenstein and FrankenTeddy

My secret weapon for tough contract negotiations...

*Thank you to Risky the Studio Assistant for posing for this important photo. You earned your doggy snack.

Hey all,
I saw the challenge topic this week and had to put this up.

Granted, I've had this around for a couple of months, but I thought it appropriate. I have an idea that I'm gonna put together for a new piece for this, too, featuring the Ghost who Walks, but as a place holder, I think this works. This is a sketch card (2.5 in x 3.5 in).

I'll be at my home base bookstore, the great Children's Book World this Saturday at 11 am!! CBW is celebrating 20 years of being one of the best indie children's book stores in the world. Come by and say hello!

I'll be signing along with my pal Gene Baretta who will be there with his new book, Neo Leo! Because Gene is an even bigger Wyeth fan than I am, I've posted one of the reference photos that I took for Storm in the Barn. You know Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World? (of course you do). Well, this is the barn from that farm. Yep.