Breath of Embers

"Loch"

8x10, watercolor and ink

These are the pieces did for the Breath of Embers show at Gallery Nucleus. The pieces are available for sale at the store website. 

"Stock"

8x10, watercolor and ink

Dragons are infamous for snatching fair maidens from their castle towers. While it's true that maidens are a wyrm's favorite meal, they are far and few between. A plump aurochs is the most plentiful prey, particularly for the Draconis Dreadlochsi, or common Scottish Dreadloch. 

"Smoking Barrel"

8x10, watercolor and ink

These plein air paintings, drawn on the spot in actual dragon territory, attempt to capture the behavior of the common Dreadloch in his natural environment. It took a while for the farmer and I to coax a dragon close enough to my easel for me to paint, but the art was well worth the wait! 

19 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE LX: JUBILANT VAN HELSINGS

When you've survived the depths of macabre that Abraham Van Helsing has, there isn't much jubilation left in your soul. Here the professor is, absolutely elated at having rid the world of its last sparkly emo vampire. Abe may not be the kind of guy you'd invite to a party, but he's the first one you want there when you notice one of your guests doesn't cast a reflection in your living room mirror.

If you have any Jubilant Van Helsings, let me know and I'll post them below. Otherwise, you can join in October 21st for...

CHADES CHALLENGE LXI:

 WICKED TREES

Colleen "The Bride" Madden

Guillermo "Van Helsing" Martinez

Lauren "Mistress of the Night" Kvalheim

22 days...

"Breath of Embers" Teaser

This Saturday is the opening night of the "Breath of Embers" show at Gallery Nucleus. Swing by and check out some amazing dragon art. Here's a peak at my submission.

Don't mess with the bull, my friend...

23 days...

Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

 "The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

I was just saying the other day how Steve Jobs is this generation's Walt Disney. Steve may not have been a filmmaker or professional storyteller, but like Walt, he was a visionary and a dreamer.

In 1986, Steve bought Lucasfilm's computer graphics division. The Graphics Group, which was soon renamed Pixar, was just another high-end software company at the time, working for medical and government agencies. Pixar would have most likely flourished as a tech company, but Steve could see that Ed Catmull and the other Pixar founders were still storytellers at heart. He took a chance, and invested in his friends' dreams.

Thanks in part to Steve's vision and support, Pixar is now the most successful animation company in the world. The culture here at Pixar still reflects much of Steve's forward-thinking, trail-blazing attitude.

Thanks for your brilliance and generosity, Mr. Jobs. I think I'm going to go order an iPad now.

Steve Jobs' Commencement Speech to Stanford University: 

"How to Live Before You Die"

24 days...

"Persist" on KCRW

My little letter to Willie Downs' Animator Letters Project got some air time this week on KCRW. Check out their website to listen to the whole show, which includes an interview with Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter (unfortunately not related to my portion of the show).

On a completely unrelated note: Happy Birthday, Mom (she's the one on the left)!

My mom loves Halloween, so my brother made a "Halloween tree" for her a few years ago. I've made it a tradition of getting her a new tree decoration each year on her birthday. If you guys have any good ideas for  this year's Halloween decoration, leave a comment! Grazie!

26 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE LIX: FERAL SPIRITS

"He's looking at me, Ray."

Slimer may not be "feral" in the wilderness sense, but he's not your typical domestic specter, either. Really, I'm just excited about the upcoming theatrical rerelease of Ghostbusters. Plus, Slimer is fun to draw.

If you have any feral spirits, let me know and I'll post them below. Otherwise, you can join us October 7th for:

CHADES CHALLENGE LX:

JUBILANT VAN HELSING

 Adam "The Goats with the Most" Rosette

Guillermo "Dances with Wolves" Martinez

Tim "Teen Spirit" Luecke

Austin "Spirit Animal" Reinkens

Colleen "Mad Tea Party" Madden

Zane "Teen Spirit" Yarbrough

36 days...

The Adventures of Batman and the Bloser

As promised, here is the season three premiere of Dick Figures, complete with their new nemesis, the maniacally monochromatic mastermind, Earl Grey (voiced by yours truly).

 

Thanks to my pals Zack Keller and Ed Skudder for letting me contribute a character to their sick little world. I'd love to make this guy a reoccurring villain, so be sure to leave plenty of YouTube comments demanding more Earl Grey. Hot.

39 days...

Dick Figures, Season Three

This Thursday, the world as we know it will forever be changed by the season three premiere of YouTube's No. 1 animated series, Dick Figures.

This Thursday, folks. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hear my awful British accent.

42 days...

Sounds Crazy, Let's Do It!

My friend Emma is a compulsive filmmaker. I enable this expensive habit of hers in my own small way, by animating the title bumpers for her production company, "Sounds Crazy, Let's Do it! Films". Her latest endeavor, Sweetpea, is currently up for funding on Kickstarter. Most of the production cost goes to my exorbitant fee for these bumpers. Please contribute so SCLD FiIms can continue to have the highest quality animated titles. Thank you. 

Bumper for Hitchhiker:

Bumper for Horizon:

Can't wait to animate the bumper for Sweetpea. I'm thinking shark rodeo...

47 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE LVIII: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Let's face it, the whole thing was the hat's fault. While we're on the subject, is it just me or does the sorting hat bear a striking resemblance to Oogie Boogie? Okay, it's not just me.  

If you have any contributions, let me know and I'll post them below. Or you can join in September 23rd for: 

CHADES CHALLENGE LIX: FERAL SPIRITS  

Guillermo "First Class" Martinez

Colleen "Homeroom" Madden

Sara "Senioritis" Babbitt

52 days...