"What If..." Part II

Part two of my three part series, "What if Hell Froze Over?" I call this one "Ice Laden."

Check out this series, and work from other animation industry artists, at the Gallery Nucleus "What If" Show next Saturday, December 10th.

21 days...

Funny Bunny

I know this is out of season, but when Steve Niles posted this image on Twitter, I couldn't help but imagine the next shot of the scene.

I've always thought Joker v. Superman was just as good a foil as Joker v. Batman, and this is eggsactly what I'm talking about.

22 days...

"What If...?" Part I

Gallery Nucleus is hosting a "What If...?" show next Saturday. My take on the theme was "What if Hell froze over?" Here's the first of the three part series, "Faust Bite."

It'll be a cold day in Hell before I paint another theme as fun as this one!

23 days...

Predator goes to an art auction

It's funny where your mind wanders during the morning shot review. 

Of course, Predator always gets what he's bidding for by replicating the voices of the other bidders and intimidating them to back down.

24 days...

Warm-Up Drawing OTD: The Lizard

Slashfilm posted some concept art of The Lizard from Marc Webb's upcoming Amazing Spider-Man, which got me thinking about how I would design the creature.

The design needs work, but I think it's heading in the right direction. I posted the warm-up challenge on Twitter, here's what folks came up with:

Everett Downing

Chris Fraser

Dr. Connors???

Maggie Gevers

He's just lonely is all.

Luke Baker

25 days...

The PIA Mook: 25 Years of Pixar Animation

Every year, the Japanese magazine PIA Mook invites us to contribute art to a special Pixar issue.

Last year's issue was an inside look at Toy Story 3. This year is an all-inclusive 25th Anniversary Issue, featuring interviews with Dice Tsutsumi and Sonoko Konishi (who makes the world's most amazing Halloween costumes!).

I'm not sure what they wrote above my name. My friend Mach says it's either the phonetic spelling of my name, "O-sutin Madison", or "man with very odd obsessions".

Unfortunately, the issue is only available in Japan. So write to your local congressman and demand cooler industry mags here in the states!

26 days...

Earl Grey

My doppleganger, Zack Keller (co-creator of Dick Figures), informed me that my Dick Figures character, Earl Grey, has his own wikipage. I noticed the trivia section on this character is a little sparse, so let me shed some light on this monochromatic mastermind:

-He spells "grey" with an "E" for the same reason he spells "colour" with a "U": because he's not a knuckle-dragging commoner.

-Earl Grey is the mixed-race sire of two royal families, Black and White.

-This supervillain does not move objects through telekinesis. Rather, he "elevates" objects from their working class to a higher station in space/time.

-Aside from high concentrations of colour, Earl Grey's one other vulnerability is a weakness for Twiglets and Pickle.

-Earl Grey has a similar affliction as his cousin and fellow land-holding title-bearer, Lord Tourettes. He suffers from narcolepsy, and must constantly imbibe tea or else pass into a deep REM state.

-And finally: in Season Four, Earl Grey may or may not make an appearance in a Christmas episode entitled "Dickens Figures."

I hope that slakes the wiki admins' thirst for Earl Grey.

27 days...

Chades Challenge LXII: Muppet Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!...it certainly will be for Gonzo the Great if he seals the deal with his lovely turkey friend. If you have any Thanksgiving Muppet designs, let me know and I'll post them below. Otherwise, you can join us December 9th for... 

Chades Challenge LXIII: Explosive Stockings!

Jeff "Gravy Boat" McGuire



Colleen "Mahna Mahna" Madden

Tim "Brought To You By The Letters J and H" Luecke

Sean "Ain't Easy Being Jolly Green" Taylor

32 days...

Whiteboard Drawings

I teach an animation class at the Academy of Art University. At the end of each class, I like to leave a drawing up on the white board, under the projection screen for the next class that uses our room.

The unsuspecting professor goes to raise his projector screen...

...when he is met by a dry-erase masterpiece!

I always expect a thank you written on the white board, or at least a return drawing. So far, no dice.

0 days...The Muppets Are Here!!!

The Electrician

A card for my brother, Andy, who just graduated from electrician school. He now has complete mastery over electricity!!! Or at least, that's how I understand it.

In case you haven't met him, this is my brother, Andy. This year was his first Comic Con/Trickster. He took something like 300 pictures. Mostly of cosplay girls. Goooood times.

Congraduations, bra!

2 days...