RZ Illustration

Next 3 + Spots

2011-12-11T19:01:00.001-08:00

Hello all!

Finally another Potter update,

3 more line-works waiting for final tweaks and color.

And some color work on my spot illustrations - still need a bit more work but they're coming together!
Getting ready for finals so things are crazy. but all around progress is being made and now that several line-works are being finalized some serious painting is about to start around here. All very exciting. More updates to come.

Next 5

2011-11-30T23:10:00.000-08:00

More Potter Project coming soon! Making some exciting progress, for now here's a fun (very quick) challenge I did with the ever awesome Paul of autodestruct:
You find a random photo from the web, and use it as the first panel in a storyboard, then you build from the original image and come up with the "next 5 shots" You wind up with a six panel sequence.

The original idea found:
here
and
here.

And you can see Paul's here.
Once I saw his nice clean layout I stole it.
I just love seeing people's different take on the same project and this prompt is addictive. Go make 5 panels!

Post Service

2011-10-20T13:11:00.001-07:00

Some quick pen/ink - marker sketches from this afternoon, owls!

Snakes and Spots

2011-10-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

My first round of work for the Potter portfolio project! In this post we have...
My line-work and final color test for my Chamber of Secrets cover:

My first attempt at designing spots/chapter title images:

And my some experimental designs for a Quidditch Snitch and a Snidget (info about Snidgets here): These are the first of many,
my sketchbook is delightfully brimming with strange HP details.
For those of you curious why I'm working on Potter themed art I'm simply using one of my
favorite book series as the creative juices while I learn about creating more complex
compositions. This allows me to play with fun subject while sharpening my
design skills and keep me excited about such a big project. Thus far it has been
oodles of fun and I'm very excited about the progress I've made thus far.

How about you blog readers? Any HP objects/scenes you'd be interested in
seeing made into spots?

P.P.P.

2011-10-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to this blog near you...

My Thesis Project. Sketches, Designs, and 12 paintings created by yours truly, aided by my talented and awe-inspiring thesis advisor, the one and only Donato Giancola. Get ready for news and real time posts from the making of...

The Potter Portfolio Project.

Excited yet? You should be.

"Eliza" Book Project

2011-10-09T14:30:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

Well fall is upon us (which means the new school year for those of us still in academia-land).

Now that were back and in the swing of things I have some new work to share from our first big show of the year.

Over the summer we were given the exciting and daunting task of creating an original book, and I decided to take my Victorian-Gothic-Girl (now officially named Eliza!) and take her project to the next level. She now has her own story and first introductory story-book which details her character and how she came to have her orange cat sidekick.

Here are samples from the final project:

I'm very pleased with how this first go at a story-book for her character has gone. There are still a few things that need ironing out but hopefully I should have the whole project available soon and may very well release it has an e-book or bound portfolio that you can order.

Also for your viewing pleasure a photo from the show of my display!

New Book!

2011-10-09T14:04:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

Lots of exciting new projects here and on the horizon.

First - the big project that I was working on with my amazing Scholastic team over the summer:

My Second Children's Book!

"I grew up to be President" written by Laurie Calkhoven, is an exciting educational book about the presidents of the United States, their personal histories, and how they became the great leaders they grew-up to be.

I learned some great things white doing research and working on the art for this book, for example: Rutherford B. Hayes had the first telephone installed in the white house, Abraham Lincoln used to carry around paperwork in his tall hat, and Ronald Reagan loved jelly beans and used to keep a bowl of them on his desk. The book is full of those fun facts, I'm very excited to see this one in print!

Lettering

2011-03-31T20:21:00.001-07:00

Hey Everyone,

New experiment of mine, for the past few months I've been brushing up on my hand-lettering as a fun side project (My sketchbooks have as much writing as they are drawing lately.)
I threw this piece together as part of some promotional material.

New things.

2011-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Well hello there blog readers,
I've been a busy little bee and finally have some updates for you!
I'm *gasp* a mere few weeks away from being halfway though my masters degree program and have been living it up in my big city digs. I have been doing lots of new work and trying new things.
Check out this piece for example, for our school's Health center:

Trying a new style for some of my pieces with a quicker deadline.
Also the return of some favorites! Here's a teaser sample from my next big project, my victorian goth kids are about to get taken to the next level with their own story:

Lots of fun things to come! And lots of new work this summer, I'm working on another book that should be very exciting. Thanks for keeping up with everything!

My First Book

2010-07-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

Well it's out on Amazon so I can now share a sneak peek of my first big project, my first children's book! Go check out a bigger version of the cover and book info: Click Here

And Here are some clearer examples of my character spots:
I'm a huge nerd when it comes to historical research and accuracy so working on these characters and their spots was right up my alley. This was such a fantastic project, I hope to do many more things like this in the future!

Junk-Yard Dog

2010-07-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

Cleaned up and updated this painting of 'Max' the dog - Photoshop

Portrait

2010-07-08T17:53:00.000-07:00

No sugar, no spice, and nothing that's nice - Photoshop

Little black rainclouds

2010-07-05T12:35:00.001-07:00

Some new sketches of my Gothic kids! Some general activities and an angry family portrait, they must not like cameras.

In the Clouds

2010-06-23T13:12:00.001-07:00

Wow a finished picture! Hopefully the first of many more posts now, just finished a large project which I will post about soon! :) Happy summer everyone!

Autumn Swirls

2009-10-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Another art'nouveau inspired sketch, more directly Halloween based this time - just got some pumpkins from the store today and couldn't resist!

"New" Art

2009-10-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Studying art nouveau right now and couldn't resist playing around with the style.

Snail'mobile 2.0

2009-04-14T17:00:00.001-07:00

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away I had drawn a snail/motorcycle cross - decided to give it another go - Photoshop

Thought

2009-04-06T15:51:00.000-07:00

A little abstract thought/creature/thing - photoshop

Venice Variations

2009-03-30T13:18:00.000-07:00

Some more environments, this time experimenting with lighting - Photoshop

Mr Floppy Ears

2009-03-13T15:08:00.001-07:00

Colored one of the Bassets I drew a while ago - Photoshop

Cat, Dog, Mouse

2009-03-09T18:27:00.000-07:00

Playing with Pastel Brushes - Photoshop

Stripes

2009-03-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

-Photoshop

Painting the Roses

2009-02-26T11:39:00.000-08:00

Some Alice in Wonderland art.

Panda Turn Around

2009-02-26T11:37:00.001-08:00

Working on more panda design work - a 360

Night Light

2009-01-12T14:10:00.001-08:00

An environment - Possibly for my goth kids, sort of creepy a Victorian parlor.

Project Panda - Environments and Props

2008-12-15T08:58:00.001-08:00

Some Environment and Prop Design for the world of my Red Panda - Photoshop

Project Panda - Trees

2008-12-15T08:53:00.001-08:00

Working on my plant design skills, some basic trees to get things going. Designed for the world of my red panda - ink and photoshop

Project Panda - Creatures

2008-12-15T08:49:00.001-08:00

Some creatures I designed to fit into the world of my red panda. - Pencil and Photoshop

Panda'monium

2008-11-19T12:27:00.001-08:00

Some more red-pandas, playing with expressions.

Flying Ace

2008-09-26T14:22:00.001-07:00

Hey art! Caught a nasty flu that hung around for about a week, finally around and about again. Different sort of Halloween sketch, always loved 'The great pumpkin' when I was little - Snoopy copyright to Charles Schultz of course!
\**Another random dog sketch - German Shepherd

Lost in the forest

2008-09-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

Little Red Riding Hood - Different twist to the story
-Photoshop

Puff

2008-09-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

A little dragon from my sketchbook today.

It's a jungle out there...

2008-09-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

Been working on some animal studies, here's a sampling from my sketchbook.

Dog Days

2008-09-05T13:58:00.001-07:00

After I do a bunch of serious studies I always feel the need to draw something silly to balance everything out! Some big eyed dogs: a Boston terrier and a Pug.

The joy of painting

2008-09-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Continuing with an art challenge I had been a part of did these shape/color studies. Lots of fun and very educational. Nice to paint loose for a change. As per the challenge photo-reference was used, these images were not made for commercial use or distribution and the image contents are copyright to their original photographers.

Lions and Tigers and Bears

2008-08-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

Some random animals: a fox, a lemur, and a hot dog *ba dum tish*

Why the long face?

2008-08-19T16:26:00.001-07:00

Some Basset Hounds! I love how wrinkly they are with their droopy eyes.

Hog's Warts

2008-08-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

Random drawing impulse, Big fan of Rowling's amazing books!
-Pencil

'New Friend'

2008-08-13T17:52:00.000-07:00

Hey check it out! Sexy Goth Girl via Autodestruct! Thanks man! Decided to have some fun in retaliation and use one of his monsters here until I get the chance to do some better fan art.

Dark Portrait

2008-08-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

Something a bit more detailed this time! Photoshop.
-Background from CG textures

On the run...

2008-08-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Hey! A chase scene. Was going to upload this last night but blogger was giving me some problems. Yay for technology that works!

Snips and Snails

2008-08-03T16:28:00.000-07:00

In addition to the little girl, decided to give her an equally devious older brother.

Sugar and Spice

2008-08-02T20:53:00.000-07:00

More character expression work! No big kids mess with her.

Around the mulberry bush

2008-07-31T18:07:00.000-07:00

Working with motion and expression to create 'mood'... more red pandas!
Fun idea I couldn't pass up, thanks Paul!

Coon, Hat

2008-07-30T16:03:00.000-07:00

Two different little projects: a Mad Hatter with a fun biting teapot, and a Red Panda.

Max'scapes

2008-07-28T20:02:00.001-07:00

Summer and Winter, some landscape quickies with Max thrown in for fun.

Yo Ho Ho

2008-07-24T20:36:00.001-07:00

Arrr, another pirate!

Elementary...

2008-07-22T20:05:00.001-07:00

I've always loved Sherlock Holmes, probably somewhat Jeremy Brett inspired.
**More! Expressions are always fun to practice. "It is my business to know what other people don't know..."

Shiver me' timbers

2008-07-14T23:06:00.001-07:00

Arrrr, Now in color!

Little Black Rain-cloud

2008-07-11T19:14:00.000-07:00

Max trying to keep out of the rain.

Space Cowgirl

2008-07-02T17:26:00.001-07:00

Some Sci-Fi! A space worker and mining droid that needed a home, a collection of both loose and tight sketches.

Bolt from the Blue

2008-07-01T19:26:00.001-07:00

Another dude with an interesting job, ever feel like you're trying to catch lightning? I love antique light bulbs and things.

Camomile and Earl Grey today...

2008-06-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Tea Merchant, Mmmm tea.

Stage is set

2008-06-27T20:46:00.001-07:00

Some background studies! Prelims' of some themed areas.
-Photoshop

Twinkle Twinkle

2008-06-25T16:23:00.001-07:00

Some prop experiments to explore the tone of some future scenes... thought light sources would be important in a spooky game so some funky hand torches.

Spooksville2

2008-06-22T17:10:00.000-07:00

Another 360 - floating semi-transparent ghost. Skeletons are always fun drawing practice.** And a slightly more beefed up version - with guidance from 'autodestruct'

Spooksville

2008-06-19T15:36:00.000-07:00

Working on some 360's, for now enjoy a creepy scarecrow. I love Halloween and had lots of fun with the design, so I decided to make him a fake game concept 'haunting,' and I will most likely be making him some fellow scary things and maybe some environments to skulk around in.

Stomp 3

2008-06-16T14:55:00.001-07:00

This charming fellow loves paladins... roasted and fried that is.
-Photoshop

Scenery

2008-06-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

2 Speed-paint building designs
-Photoshop

What would you do for a klondike bar?

2008-06-12T19:20:00.000-07:00

Arctic warrior/shaman guy.
-Photoshop

Stomp

2008-06-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

A bat-orc thing, armor practice.
-Photoshop

Clink and poof

2008-06-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Some more design pieces, still pretty basic - myself I enjoy the idea of the ice mace... freezes whatever you hit so not only is it smashed but it will most likely shatter too.
-Photoshop

Touche

2008-06-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

Some blade design practice, khopesh swords are awesome.
-Photoshop

Specter

2008-06-07T19:31:00.001-07:00

A spectral minion - skeletal warrior. Somewhat horned king inspired.
-Photoshop

Creapy Crawl'ers

2008-06-07T13:13:00.001-07:00

Some ghostly monster animals, a ghost wolf and a fire demon horse.
-Photoshop

Claws and Teeth

2008-06-07T13:09:00.001-07:00

A snarly cat creature inspired by the discovery channel and some of the awesome cat critter designs bouncing around lately. Hey cats with huge teeth and sharp spikes, what's not to love?

Pearly Whites

2008-05-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

Some tooth character designs.

Names and Faces

2008-05-05T16:33:00.001-07:00

I've started a sketchbook to work on my people drawing skills, here are a few of my first experiments!

Wonderland

2008-04-03T11:52:00.001-07:00

Alice in Wonderland - Photohop

Welcome to the Blog

2007-08-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hey Everone!

Welcome to my blog! Here I'll be posting my crazy art projects and assignments. I hope you enjoy!