Yeh, I know

I'm hoping that with the Christmas break coming, and along with it 3 weeks of vacation, I'll actually have some time to draw again.

I sketched/doodled this little guy at lunch today.

Kind of a Snoopy/Bone/whatcha macallit.

Back again?

Well it sure has been a while since I've posted anything drawing wise. A little bit of being busy and a little bit of being uninspired. Happens from time to time with everyone only it was my turn this time.

I been getting small little bursts lately and with a combination of Randall Sly's latest post of Ward Kimball designs and Nate Wraggs designs from the Ancient Book of Myth and War, I've decided to jump in again.

Now these images have nothing on the fellas mentioned above, but you can't hide forever.

Drawn on legal size paper with a green col-erase pencil, painted in photshop.

Inspiring

Check it out. Very dark and rather bleak. But very cool.

http://www.aardman.com/pearcesisters/

An actual painting

I broke out some of my old water colour paints yesterday to paint with my kids.

Most of my brushes have disappeared, leaving me with only two wash brushes. A little hard to get detail with a flat wash brush.

Anyhow the kids had fun learning to paint with something other than the goop they use at school.

The above is my attempt.

And the award goes to

I've just won an Emmy award for Individual achievement in Animation!!!

Wow.

I have spent the last couple of years working on The Backyardigan's, a show that I now AD on, and it is for this work that I have been so honoured.

Janice Burgess(the creator of the show) and the rest of the gang at Nick Jr. were extreemly thoughtful in throwing my name into the ring for consideration. It was an incredible surprise when Janice called me last week to let me know that I had won.

I will be traveling to L.A. for the award, which happens just before the regular Emmy awards, on June 14. I can't wait.

Now all I have to do is figure out where my wife is going to sleep once I bring this little lady home.

Cheers.

Reluctant wizard

I have recently switched positions at work and am now an assistant director on a show called The Backyardigan's. I have been an animator on the show for the past couple of seasons and welcome the new challenge.

A lot of work but very interesting and fun.

As a result I haven't had a heck of a lot of "me" time to doodle.

That being said here's a quick one to hold you over.

and yet another

Here's another...thing.

First

First drawing of the year.( First posted one anyways).

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Well it seems as if I've trailed off a bit towards the end of the year as far as postings go. Hopefully taking some much needed time off will help kick start the engines a little.

One thing that was certainly a kick start was taking the family to the Ontario Science Centre yesterday. What made this a special treat was that the science centre put out their Rowland Emmet display. Being one of my favourite artists it was great to see these again and to be able to appreciate them on a whole new level.

If you happen to be in the Toronto area and can get down to the Science Centre before January 7th, you'll be able to check out these fine machines as well.

All the best to everyone!

New trailers

From Nocturna and Mr.Collieu

Been a while

It's been a while since I've last posted something inspirational. Well thanks to the link on DRAWN, I've been given an inspirational boost.

Check out HOTHEAD FILMS for some great 3D work that's different from the usual 3D stuff.
Of note are there bumpers for E4.

Enjoy.

Interview

Well, well, well. Look who's just been interviewed on Randall Sly's 'Character Design' blog.
Yup, me.
Walk on over and have a look. Not so much for my interview but also for the many other talented artists who've been interviewed and have amazing art and designs to look at.

Thanks Randall.

Interview Here

Wacky

Here's a quicky. You've gotta love old wall paper patterns. They make for great backgrounds.

Busy,busy,busy

Appologies but I've been rather busy as of late. I'm working on a show that has me animating 4 characters riding a unicycle. Fun, fun, fun...

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween.

Kind of a rant plus a drawing too

I guess this is kind of a rant.

Why don't we have more cartoons with heart? Or perhaps I mean soul. What I'm trying to get at is every so often we get one. I would think Ren and Stimpy had heart and soul. You really felt the creator wanted these guys to live. Spongebob's the same. You really feel like you know him, or you want to know him.
Now no offence to the individuals/commitee's who create the rest of the cartoons we see on tv today, but I don't really feel I want to know the characters in the shows.
Heck, if I was walking down the street I might even go out of my way to avoid some of them.

We need more characters with heart and soul and less copying the characters with heart and soul.

My opinion.

Saul Bass titles

Check out the cool Saul Bass designed titles on YouTube.To find more just go to You Tube and search Saul Bass.

My Rant and a Drawing too

I'm going to try something a little different here. For the next few Wednesday's I'm going to post a Wednesday Rant. Feel free to agree or disagree, comment or don't comment. It's just a rant. Something to put out there. So without further ado I present...

School.Enough already.


Why is it that we have so many cartoons that involve school? What's the deal? I mean if I'm a kid and I come home from school, turn on the tv to watch cartoons do I really need to see more school? Is this the only type of shows that appeals to T.V. Exec's?

I have a son in grade 3 a daughter in 2 and my youngest in SK. They go to school and usually have homework when they come home. After we finish the homework (which for a 8 and 7 year old can take a couple hours) we have dinner. After dinner they can watch a little tv. What's on tv? Superhero's who go to school. After cartoons we put them to bed and sometimes my wife will read Harry Potter to them. Guess where Harry Potter takes place? School. (Iknow Harry's a little different but still it all takes place at school.)

Remember when you were young and watched cartoons? Bugs Bunny never went to school. Mighty Mouse never went to school. The Smurfs, Scoobi Doo, and the Blue Falcon never went to school.

SCHOOL SCHOOL SCHOOL!!!!

Of course I know how important school is. And I realize not all cartoons have an element of school in them but hey this is my rant and I say give the kids a little break.

Gruesomestein's Monsters

Above is an episode of Gruesomesteins Monster's.

The show created by Riccardo Durrante and Mark Ackland. It was posed out by Ackland and animated in Flash.

I had the opportunity to animate Home Sweet Home(above).

In all, 5 5minute episodes were done. Hopefully someone will buy them some day.

Enjoy.

A night out

What's this? Two posts in a row?
What can I say, inspiration has shown itself once again.
I recently picked up Amid Amidi's truly wonderful book "Cartoon Modern".
It's everything I could have hoped for and more. I can't put it down and yet I force myself to so that I don't wear it out within the week.
If you like this sort of thing as much as I do please check out Amid's CARTOON MODERN blog.
And if you're interested buy the book at Amazon.com.

In the mean time here's my attempt.
The drawing was done with a black felt tip pen, scanned in and composited onto a swatch of 70's wallpaper.

Run

Run for Illo Friday.