Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Great Ak

Forget Rudolph, The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus is my second favorite Rankin/Bass Production right next to Mad Monster Party. So when asked to contribute some further art to Rick Goldschmidts upcoming Portfolio Anniversary I chose The Great Ak from the stated story.
 Something about that design grabbed me, perhaps its the giant wooden antlers he wears or the Awesome Silver Axe he wields which by the way chopped enemies easily in two in the original book written by Frank L. Baum and not produce lazer beams to minimize angry parents wrath against violence on the screen. Still its a great show I try to watch it every year and really enjoy all the Designs of the Woodland Spirits probably R/B Greatest TV special.

Friday, September 21, 2012

A September Weekend

This what my weekend will entail, Wild Wild West Season One, Tex Avery book and Strong Iced Coffee in front of my Laptop.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Willy McBean

Some New Art from yours truly for my pal Historian Rick Goldschmidt who is releasing a 15th Anniversary Edition of his book "The Enchanted World of Rankin/Bass a Portfolio" Looking forward to seeing it.
Its Due out at the end of November I believe look out for it HERE
Talking about History I've been studying American, mainly the Civil War and different parts of that Country. Interesting stuff  Looking forward to seeing my friends again next year in 2013 and visiting a few more places.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Paging a Page

Finally had some time off from the Laundry to work on Lord Fancy and I've almost finished page 3. Page 3 you Say? Hard to believe why it took so long to write and draw like almost 18 months. I think my greatest Mistake was showing the original first 2 pages of artwork to my Art Friends. They Loved them so much how could I continue the story to such great feedback. Would it all be downhill from there? So I procrastinated over them, just sketching that same goddamn page number 3.
I spoke to a Big Named Editor interested in Lord Fancy about a year ago and I didn't hear anything back which I thought that he really didn't like it. ( I recently found out that he had some personal things to deal with at the time and comics weren't a top priority) So I guess this further cemented I suck.
Well now page 3 is almost done with no obvious redesign again. I can begin Pages 4,5,6 to 30 or whatever page count the story comes to. I cant believe I wanted to be a comic artist a long time ago.
I have a Greater respect for my pals who work in that industry and that may be the reason why Dave Stevens only ever did 2-3 Rocketeer Books. He wanted them to be Good not get washed out in Volumes.


Friday, July 20, 2012

Rejected

Heres a Rejected tshirt design, that didnt get past the sketch stage.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Damage Control

A little over a week ago, in the Middle of Winter I put the heater on to warm up my Flat. When I returned an Hour later my Room was Full of Black Toxic Smoke and the Floor was well alight. If not for the fact the floor was concrete underneath the carpeting, it would have taken the whole house, my family's house. Sometimes I put the heater on and go to sleep for a few hours and I was lucky to decide to go and eat first. Damage was Bad we have had the Insurers in to Assess the damage. I will not be back in the flat again for the rest of the year. A lot of my Lord Fancy and other artwork, my Toys and professional artworks (stuff from actual pros) were damaged or destroyed. Not really by the fire but the Smoke & Ash that was created Humidity set in and it was like a it had been raining inside the room. Further stuff was damaged. No doubt there are some of you whom say I deserved it and perhaps yes that is true.


I'm starting again from scratch with everything my life everything. Since starting my new Job at the Laundry I am changing I dont hate it anymore, my artwork is taking a backseat and its nice to have a steady job and nice income. I no longer really care what 'Professional Artists' think of me. When I needed them they weren't there for me Instead they chose to turn their backs & Pretend I did not Exist. I've been on the Outer for awhile now. With a new Job I'm looking forward to seeing my US friends again soon and thats all that matters Friendship, the people you can rely on.

I hope to get back into art stuff soon, it is in my blood.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

No You Did Not?

Yes, I Did. I'm sick of being on Social Welfare, I'm now working at a Commercial Laundry here in Hobart. I need the Cash the miniscule amount of money I'm making right now off my art is not even enough to buy me lunch. I'm taking extra shifts, I'm being looked down by fellow artists who are, you know, actually somewhere in the Professions I want. My Dog still needs his Operation to be paid for I want to stay in LA for a bit. I can't do that on a Dime unless I live with the Homeless and I dont want too do that. So Please don't judge me on this, I am an Epitome of what an artist is STRUGGLING, CREATIVE, DEPRESSIVE & Wanting to Make a Difference.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Toy Story Jessie

If Anyone at Pixar Animation, Dreamworks, Blue Sky, Cartoon Network or even an Independant Animation Studio's Sees this Blog I WANT TO WORK FOR YOU!!! 
I Will pay my own way! Help Spread the Word!


Also I've added my Twitter Account to my Blog Now for those who don't have it.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Avengers Assemble!

This review is SPOILER FREE it's my initial thoughts and not indepth.

Last week I managed to see the Avengers film just a small perk sometimes of living abroad.
It was Awesome! Probably one of my favorite Superhero movies ever and one I would love to see again in a heartbeat. I have made no secret of the fact I hate the DC movies they are really crap I mean all of them. I am not a fan of The Dark Knight unlike so many other people to me it Sucked the Joy right out of the Cinema and what comic book movies should be about. Comic Movies should be fun, enjoyable and odd laugh out loud banter. Thats where The Avengers ticked all the right boxes for me.

I am trying to keep this spoiler free, but since this is a Joss Whedon film there is to be expected death. And there is also joy in the Comic Book elements I felt as though I had been transported back to my youth where I was an Avid Avengers fan. So much so that I got all the single hero issues just to see what was going on in their own universe within a universe.
In the 90's I collected Captain America, Thor, IronMan and Hulk. So to see all these people come together in a real fashion and work together is something to truly behold. The Threat is there Loki and His Mysterious Alien allies. Something to which is greater enhanced by the obligatory end of main credit sequence mini epilogue. Something that banged me for six and I mean banged many fans who were in the theatre didnt process the meaning it took me a second 'Who is THAT!'OMFG.
Now to the characters All do an amazing Job, of course Tony Stark takes a major role while the others are slightly off in the background. This is understandable since not only did IronMan begin this new Franchise the one we always wanted but it's the MAJOR star. The Stand out of the Minor characters was Hulk namely Bruce Banner who we await with exasperated breath for that forgone conclusion of Transformation. You may disagree but Hulk does not work well in his own movies in a team environment however you love him much more with surrounding character fearful of what could happen when the Big Guy comes out.
While Thor, Cap, Black Widow and Hawkeye do what they do and we wait for their next movies.
Now the Stinker Character award goes too, Nick Fury I'm sorry I've never been a fan of Samual Jackson he is just Samual Jackson and he is not needed in this film However since their are no Aftican American in this film he has to be in it doesnt he. That said Don Cheadle War Machine character would have fit the bill perfectly and can you imagine two Iron Suits kicking Ass?

Well that's it for now on what my initial thoughts are on this movie. Whedon did a good job of preserving the essence of the comics which all we could really ask for right?

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Melbourne Supanova 2012

I decided to go to Supanova Melbourne this year, for one last roll of the dice. I've always thought Armageddon was Better for an Australian Convention but in recent years they have been quite CRAP(except for the Doctor Who guests). Their Security has left ALOT to be desired and I really am considering not returning this year. But Supanova actually arose to be a much better look around now they have moved to a bigger Venue. Saying that their Greatest failure has been the Location of the Venue previously the only way to travel to it has been by Tram and let me tell you last year the tram was so heavy with geeks it refused to move. I'd joke about that but its 100% true. They even had to get Tram security to remove everyone off the Tram so it could start. But I Digress This year They added Train Services which was 200% better and more convenient.

This will be my Final trip to Melbourne for this year I think and so I bought a few things to inspire my room and imagination. I had set myself the goal to find 'Naughty and Nice the Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm' It was their I hit a snag, everywhere I visited to ask they had no copies I mean Anywhere. You can't even buy it Online SOLD OUT even that faithful friend Amazon has no Stock. So I went around Supanova asking if they had it, No, No, No. Until I got a yes from Alternate Worlds store guy there was one problem it was not at the convention but in their public store. Crap!! he gave me his card and I walked away. After some shopping I decided to look at the card (they had another store only two suburbs away from where I was staying) I gave the store number a call........

ME: 'Hi Yeah I'm after this book by Bruce Timm'........

Alternate Worlds Rob: 'Oh yeah I sold the last one YESTERDAY!!'

ME: 'Noooooooooooooo' WHIMPER

AWROB: 'Are you Crying?'

ME: 'Sniff' No.

AWROB: 'Wait actually I have two Listed here at different prices I must have sold the cheaper Soft Cover yesterday We only have the Limited hardcover left and its ($$$$$$)

ME: ............. (Wakes Up!)

AWROB: Hello?

 ME: I'll Take It!!

This has to be the most Expensive book I have EVER bought. I Still can't believe I paid that much but a few factors convinced me it was the right thing to do being almost at the end of my Melbourne Trip I am returning home in 3 more days, I've been through ALOT of crazy stuff in the past few months and also I dont want to own/wait for a second printing of the softcover. Ahem, However when I die I am going to be Buried with this Book nobody else is going to OWN it even when I'm Dead. So Don't ask if you can have it you'll have to dig me up and take it from my strong boney flesh rotting eaten hands and then I'll haunt you if you did that.

Oh and I also picked up Modern Masters Mike Allred, Indian Jones Mini-Bust & a Conscience with an Umbrella.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Devil in De-Tail

Was looking forward to seeing my friend Angie this Month, not going to happen now. So heres her Birthday Present she likes to refer to herself as a devil and has wanted me to design it as such. But because of the negative feedback I get from Women on the web in that they feel I give them a 'RawDeal' I've been hesitant to do so as to recieve some more unwarranted Tongue Lashings, This was Asked for by Angie so no complaining.. I'm going to be taking a break from drawing women for awhile however so expect new stuff coming thats not girl related.

In Related news I watched 'The Smurfs' movie and am still recovering.

I also got to meet a fan of my work recently in Melbourne who's bought my T-Shirts since I began making them 3 Years Ago!! Nice Lady, I like people who make time for others. Not enough of it in my opinion, Until Next Time!!

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Under the Sea

Ok I can say I'm not very proud of this one. But I'll own it.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Snow White

 Here's some Snow White artwork.

What a Nightmare today was, I'm in Melbourne for the Easter Holidays with extended family. I had heard last week of an Impending Clearance Sale that Dick Smith Electronics was having Australia Wide Luckily Melbourne is Full of these stores. While not the Best place to buy Video Games it occasionally has the odd 'Bargain' thats worth getting. So I head in the day before the big sale to just look around and see what the Local Area Store had in stock that they would need to get rid of and it would seem alot of people had the same idea. I thought to myself this Sale is going to Physically Hurt. So I decided to leave Early the next morning and walk getting there 1/2 an hour before Store Opening. Atleast 100 people were lined outside and I knew this was NOT going to end well. When the Doors Finally Kicked Open there was a clamper for the back of the store (where everything was kept). I took one look and thought No Way!!

So I was there for a $100 XBOX360 4gb Console and I can tell you it wasn't going to happen, People when they want something desperatly enough act like Hungry Zombified Hordes. And so I decided the easiest thing to do was to go to the front Counter and find a Shop Assistant. I had noticed that they had the Modern Warfare Limited Edition marked down from $499 to $299 in a glass cabinet and had opted for that (when you put into account a Console, Game, Hard Drive and Controllers its still very reasonable and so that was my decision and its stuff I would have had to have bought anyway.) And to me it was a Bargain.

As I left the store I looked back at the throngs of people scraping for every little cheap Gaming Console, Game and Accessory they could get. When they saw my carrying of an Xbox I was almost set upon. I had to get out of there and fast. I left adrenaline was at an all time high I had narrowly missed being involved in the Rush.

There's been alot of bad stuff on the Internet said about the way the sale was Handled by Dick Smith staff (The Frenzy only began when a Leaked document of the upcoming sale hit the Internet, who is not going to notice a $20 DSi) but some even saying that most of the items that were a part of the sale weren't there to begin with but that the sales assistants had put them away prior to this sale starting for themselves and ebay. I saw no evidence of this, but then again I couldnt see any of the items due to the shear number of people who had hoped for a bargain so maybe they just didnt have any to begin with. I'll never know what I do know is that I got an Xbox360 was out in 5 minutes and I wont be trying for anything like that again. Also before you complain about the fact I spent money and am supposed to never have any money what I did spend was my saving for this easter trip and you know what I DESERVE this!!.

In other news If you know my Facebook page lately you would have seen I was in a recent Dog Attack and my dog Billie who was already waiting on an operation was Hurt as well. We are waiting for him to heal before going forward with his more dangerous Operation. So this will give me time to resave up for it. Hoping to meet with friends while in Melbourne along with posting more artwork so Stay Tuned Folks.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Emperor Underway

The Graphic Novel 'Lord Fancy' is Still Happening, Since I haven't shown anything in a while heres a look at a Villain I created but won't use in the first book. I envisioned him as a Short Statured actor Terry-Thomas type ex-Lord Underway whos ambition is to remove the Queen and become Emperor of Great Britain.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Mister Spock

"Its Life Jim, But Not as We know it!" Been Watching the Original STAR TREK of late. So Heres a Some Nimoy Love!

Also please be patient if the Blog is a bit Out of Whack right now, I'm modifying the design. Including the wonderful new Headline Designed by the Eccentric, Incomparable....uh...me!

Don't Forget I'm looking at travelling to the States to follow my dream of becoming a Character Designer this Year. I would love to visit some Animation studios for the day and also learn American History if you live in the following areas of Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, New York or Washington let me know.

The Dream is Alive.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Year of Travel

This is my first update via the wonderful world of using a phone application with Blogger so let's see how it goes.
Big Announcement time I am in the process of heading to North America this year to visit friends possibly to San Diego for Comic Con but it really depends! Right now I can afford the ticket but not the extremely high Accommodation part and so since we are in the early stages of preparing and scheduling. I thought it would be a great opportunity to yet again open up and see if anyone wants to host me in different places. Right now I'm considering seeing a bit more of the US than just Los Angeles California. Maybe Chicago, San Francisco, Washington or New York! I really want to learn more of American history too maybe visit some Animation studios again so If you work or live in these particular areas, have a place for a Tasmanian Illustrator on your couch for a few days, I would like to hear from you. I Could be there around July in time for Comic Con or better still thinking maybe enjoy some Iconic American holidays like Halloween, thanksgiving or Christmas! Like I have stated I am in the early stages But I cannot wait to see all my friends and fans when I do make the journey!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Happy 2012

Last Year was rough for me, lets try and make this one Better!
Birthday Present for a Friend!