John-Paul Balmet

Long Weekend Inspiration 1.2012

2012-01-31T01:29:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from an inspirational and refreshing weekend away.

Lucasfilm Animation Charity Auction 2012

2012-01-25T20:54:00.000-08:00

This is a small 4"x6" drawing I did for the Lucasfilm Animation Benefit Art Auction 2012. There are some fun pieces by cool artists there, so stop by if you have some spare time!

Flying Dream

2012-01-23T01:56:00.000-08:00

This was supposed to be a digital comp painting for an acrylic piece I was working on for a charity auction. It didn't pass muster though. The idea comes from a dream I had. While it has the feel I wanted, it doesn't have enough story within the frame to warrant taking further.

I think good illustration is like a good story. An illustration that works should hold the viewer's attention and answer the classic who what where when why how questions. Right off the bat, there are problems with this comp. Who is this falling person? Are they falling or flying? Why are they glowing? Are they a man or woman? Girl? Boy? Human? When is this? Where is this? Too many unanswered questions and I find that it's purely an image with a "feeling" and not much else.

Static Notes

2012-01-18T23:14:00.000-08:00

Static was the culmination of a few short stories I have played with over the last couple years. I wanted to do a whole story from beginning to end in some format on the blog, but I procrastinated out of fear and laziness. During one of my random sketch doodles I found an image that seemed to work with the premise of two characters lost in a snowy, dangerous world. The other posts sprung from there and borrowed elements from my other stories. The goal with Static was merely to tell a story using clear visuals and minimal dialogue. I am very glad that I have the whole thing up here and done, and I know I want to play with more ideas soon. I still haven't dialed in how much writing I need versus how much I need to show visually, and I still have to play with things like narrative voice.

I really appreciate people's encouraging comments along the way. Thanks everyone! It's great to know someone is watching. Now, on to the next idea!

Static 24

2012-01-18T12:06:00.000-08:00

"Coordinates came in from a zoologist tracking polar sloths. He found one of his tagged sloths dead and tried to track the poacher. It took a while to find its way up to Central."

"Central wants to confirm visual."

"Check on visual confirmation. Touching down in five."

"Copy."

"Tell them the northern lights are really something. I'll send back a picture."

"That can wait Captain. Issue one is investigation of B team's whereabouts. Keep us posted."

"Will do."

Static 23

2012-01-17T17:18:00.000-08:00

Static 22

2012-01-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

*click*

Static 21

2012-01-06T02:04:00.000-08:00

YOU SEEK POWER. I AM THE POWER YOUR PEOPLE DREAMED OF BUT NEVER UNDERSTOOD. THE SOUL IS ETERNAL, AND I CONSIST OF MANY SOULS. I SHALL NEVER DIMINISH.

"Still, you're stuck down here."

NOT FOR LONG. PREPARE TO BECOME ONE WITH THE MULTITUDE.

"Not so fast asshole. You might have got Jensen, but you won't get me. This charge grenade should see to that."

YOUR FEEBLENESS AMUSES ME CAPTAIN. THERE IS NO ESCAPE. YOU CANNOT KILL ME.

"It's not for you, it's for me."

Static 20

2012-01-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

CAPTAIN, YOUR FRIEND AND THE OTHERS HAVE GIVEN ME STRENGTH. THEIR ENERGIES FEED MY OWN. I WAS TETHERED DEEP IN THE EARTH FOR EONS, BUT WITH THE LAST SMALL ENERGY FROM YOU I SHALL PULL FREE. CONSIDER YOURSELF HONORED.

"So it was you who wiped all the crew down here out? And what, you 'absorbed their souls'? What did you do to Jensen?!"

Static 19

2011-12-29T22:03:00.000-08:00

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

"JENSEN!"

Static 18

2011-12-29T17:25:00.000-08:00

"C'mon..."

"Hurry up Jensen!"

"It moved, I can't get a good draw...it's like it's alive."

"Wait...did it just make a noise?"

"I think I might have made it angry"

"Get outta there!"

Static 17

2011-12-29T13:35:00.001-08:00

Static 16

2011-12-28T21:55:00.000-08:00

"I don't know."

"Well find out! Hurry up and get a sample and let's get outta here."

"What about the lost crew?"

"I'm making the call. This place is getting weirder by the minute."

Static 15

2011-12-20T18:24:00.000-08:00

"Damn it, my unit is completely overloaded. I can't-"

"Jensen, something going on here. Forget your toy and tell me what the hell THAT is!"

Static 14

2011-12-19T15:27:00.000-08:00

"No life signs, but huge energy readings. I have no idea where the source is. The scan shows this whole level is hot, but this energy pool has been offline for a while. I don't get it..."

"A lot of help you turned out to be. Looks like we'll have to do this the old fashioned way, room by room."

Static 13

2011-12-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

"What the hell is this Captain? This was an outpost? You knew about this!"

"Central gave us a mandate to investigate after the last installation ceased communication two months ago. This was a hush-hush development site. Theoretical stuff. They mentioned plans for a deeper extraction, but Central never heard from them again. We're here to case the place, get a sample, and scan for survivors."

"There were no survivors..."

"That's what we're here to find out."

Static 12

2011-12-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

"...You son of a bitch. I've never heard such insubordination. I ought to leave you here on this frozen rock. You can study it all you want. How about that?"

"I don't think so. You don't know anything about extraction or containment. You don't even know how to take samples. You NEED me."

"What do you want Jensen?"

"I want you to use more caution and not shoot everything you see. I want to know why you're so excited about what's down there. This isn't just an energy well. What did central command tell you that you're not telling me?"

Static 11

2011-12-12T14:34:00.000-08:00

"Captain, you have no idea what you're talking about."

"What was that?"

"You don't know this terrain like I do, you're rushing into--"

"Shut up. You are a soldier, you follow orders. This is my mission and you will respect my command."

"You keep reminding me. There's something very wrong about this whole thing. No one knows what's down there and the risks are very real. The energy levels are so high we could be blasted or poisoned on contact. You talk about doing my job, I AM doing my job. I'm trying to keep us alive, but you seem interested in getting us killed."

Static 10

2011-12-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

"We're coming to a junction, then a steep drop. At the base should be the payload..."

"Alright Jensen, now don't get squirrely on me like you did topside. Keep your head when we get down there. There's no time for tourism. We get in, we get out, we go home. Got it?"

Static 09

2011-12-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

"The readings are off the chart. There's something big down below the surface."

Static 08

2011-12-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

"We're losing daylight. What does the scan say?"

"It looks like the signature originates deep within this formation."

Static 07

2011-12-06T23:38:00.000-08:00

".........there's a strong energy signature emanating from that fungal structure. That might be it."

"Alright, let's move out."

Static 06

2011-12-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

"Are you crazy! That's an endangered species!"

"Are gonna do your job, or do I have to put you down as well?"

Static 05

2011-12-04T20:24:00.001-08:00

Static 04

2011-12-04T19:26:00.001-08:00

Static 03

2011-12-02T13:37:00.000-08:00

"Simply amazing Sir! A great polar sloth!"

"Is it hostile?"

"Not at a distance, but really, this is quite extraordina--"

Static 02

2011-12-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Static 01

2011-11-30T14:16:00.001-08:00

"I can't get a reading Sir, there's too much atmospheric distortion."

"Wait, did you hear something Jensen? Sounded organic."

"Sir, I think we have a visitor."

Million Year Picnic

2011-11-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is from the sketch I did for the Martian Chronicles story "The Million Year Picnic". This is sort of just a lunch doodle and certainly not in traditional media, but I'm glad I got around to it.

Admiration Maternelle Study

2011-11-23T02:07:00.000-08:00

Workyard

2011-11-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

Doodlin!

Lost in the City

2011-11-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Quick doodling at lunch trying to get some drama in the frame.

Little Farm

2011-11-18T12:10:00.000-08:00

Playing with light and more color.

Block Alley

2011-11-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

Playing around with compositions I am not accustomed to, and trying to think more in terms of big areas of value using only a square brush to keep things simple.

Oldentown

2011-11-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

More scribbles.

Stairmaster

2011-11-15T17:01:00.000-08:00

Just playing around, trying to get inspired.

All Hallows Eve

2011-10-31T22:28:00.000-07:00

Or as my mother used to sometimes call it, "dress up day."

Rift: Ember Isle Designs

2011-10-31T00:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some designs I did a while back for the Ember Isle in Rift. They were real fun to do, especially the spirits.

Small Gouache Sketch (Ivory Tower)

2011-10-26T22:57:00.000-07:00

This is a quick sketch I did during a lunch break. This is the last of the pages in my small watercolor sketchbook. On to the larger one!

The Devil's Sooty Brother

2011-10-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration I did for a Grimm's fairytale ebook my friend Jehan Choo is putting together. I can't wait to see what the other artists created.

Some Animals Are More Equal Than Others

2011-10-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

I don't know what the Occupy Wall Street movement represents, but I do know that SOMEONE has to get angry about the current situation. I'm especially peeved that in addition to the subprime mess, bailouts, too-big-to-fail, and the credit crisis, banks are still operating with impunity and no one is in trouble. Goldman Sachs also helped Greece to mask their debt woes so they could gain entry into the euro..and look what happened. I'm not anti-capitalist, far from it. Nevertheless, the nonsense has to stop and guilty parties must be held accountable.

The whole situation reminds me of the final chapter of Animal Farm.

Weirdo of the Day 13

2011-09-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is the last Weirdo of the Day. I wanted to do thirteen off-the-cuff quick sketches that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I normally work in a realistic fashion, but I thought this was a good opportunity to go big. I like some of the results, and it was nice to do something random. I have a project in the works, so I may turn my attention to that for the time being. Maybe the Weirdos will make their return eventually.

To Beep or Not To Beep

2011-09-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Cartoons aren't what they used to be. Warner Brothers cartoons such as this classic exemplify a kind of tasteful insanity that seems absent from the airwaves today. The legendary Maurice Noble co-directed this, and if you look at the layouts, they are very dynamic. The designs are elegantly stylish and they give you a great mood. Story wise, the timeless gags build on one another until the level of absurdity skyrockets with the catapult at the end.

Weirdo of the Day 12

2011-09-12T02:13:00.001-07:00

Rauch Brothers September 11th StoryCorps Animations

2011-09-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

These are very powerful and touching. Check them out here.

Weirdo of the Day 11

2011-09-09T10:45:00.001-07:00

Chairlift: Inspirational Music

2011-09-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

I love these guys and their videos! Very interesting sounds and visuals to get me inspired when I need a jolt.

Weirdo of the Day 10

2011-09-08T10:30:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 09

2011-09-07T13:35:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 08

2011-09-07T00:24:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 07

2011-09-06T14:22:00.000-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 06

2011-08-31T13:56:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 05

2011-08-28T23:35:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 04

2011-08-28T15:19:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 03

2011-08-26T15:07:00.001-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 02

2011-08-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

Weirdo of the Day 01

2011-08-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Long Beach Weekend (Taking an Art Break)

2011-08-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I took a trip to Long Beach, CA to see my best friend and his wife. One of my favorite times was when we walked around on the beach at sunset with our feet in the warm water as the tide came in. Northern CA has much colder water, so it was a treat to put my feet in without dealing with the bone chilling temperature.

I also loved the Mexican food joint my friend took us to. It reminded me of my favorite taco spot El Grullense E&E in Redwood City, except this place had a drink called vampire blood. Naturally I had to try it. Even the server was scared of its power.

Congressman Dunothin

2011-08-06T15:38:00.000-07:00

Master Study: Steve McCurry 7.2011

2011-07-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

Photographer Steve McCurry is one of my very favorite artists. Many know him for his arresting portraits, especially the hauntingly beautiful portrait of an Afghani girl. I believe that the pictures he creates are on the same level or, in some cases, superior to the best work of the old master illustrators and painters. I always love studying his pictures and I discover new information each time I do. This is a very quick study from a portrait of an Indian man McCurry photographed in 1997.

Big Day at the Beach

2011-07-19T04:06:00.000-07:00

Hanging out in Carmel over the weekend.

Rift: Waves of Madness Update

2011-06-11T12:58:00.001-07:00

There is a new update to for Rift coming soon called Waves of Madness. The update centers around a cursed dwarven fortress, a creepy cult and the dragon god of water. I designed the Murdantix, Lord Jornaru, and Akylios bosses for the patch as well as first room of Hammerknell with the big dwarven head in it. It was a lot of fun to work on this stuff, and I'm pretty happy with the work that the Trion artists did to make it come to life in the game. You can check out an E3 run-through of the dungeon by clicking the picture above.

Mr. Grossman

2011-05-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

Playing with gross-out subject matter since I usually don't. This came from playing in photoshop trying to get a similar effect to smearing acrylic all over my sketchbook, searching for randomness.

-Jim

2011-05-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

I found this written on a pole in Redwood City as I walked to dinner one night. I thought, "What kind of person would write that? Who is this Jim?" For some reason this guy popped into my head. I am sure the real Jim is a lovely person. This Jim is not (that's what he tells everyone anyway...)

Martian Rider

2011-05-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't help doing this guy. He's based very very loosely on the story Night Meeting. I cheated and did it digitally because I just wanted to get it done. It's not really an illustration, just a fun painting, just because. I wonder if The Martian Chronicles inspired David Bowie to think about "spiders from Mars?"

Switch

2011-05-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

Some experimentation with blurring, cropping and whatnot. This is the result of listening to a lot of Girl Talk mixes, watching the Fitz and the Tantrums "Money Grabber" video, and grainy iPhone photos shot in the dark. I'll get back to business shortly.

Hipkid

2011-05-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

This was from a design that was languishing in my sketchbook. I imagine him rolling through Silverlake listening to ironic New Kids on the Block/Metallica remixes.

The Last MC Thumbnails

2011-05-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

These will be the last stories I do for the Martian Chronicles personal project. I think each illustration has been a good learning experience in what to do, but more importantly what not to do. I'm excited to get to work on these last stories-- And the Moon Be Still As Bright (one of my top two favorites), The Martian, and The Million-Year Picnic.

The Earth Men Final

2011-04-27T01:57:00.000-07:00

This is the final for this chapter. Getting it done was like pulling teeth. There were a lot of things that went wrong during this painting, but I'm very happy to have done it. No fear of failure!

I wanted these guys to have an almost caricatured confidence. They seem in the chapter to be the typical "USA #1!!" Americans. Unfortunately they meet less than hospitable locals who don't care much about them or where they supposedly came from.

I'm going to skip around from now on to three or four more chapters and that will be it. Next!

Down on the Farm

2011-04-22T17:32:00.000-07:00

Just having some fun with some painterly aspects of Photoshop CS5 I seldom use. I may start using them more.

Waterhouse Master Studies Acrylic!

2011-04-16T14:28:00.000-07:00

I'm gearing up for some new illustrations, and that's what the little Martian Chronicles pieces and old master studies are really for. The temptation to do things in digital is very strong because of the ridiculous speed advantage. Studies like these help.

The Earth Men: Color Thumbnail

2011-04-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Yes, I combined acrylic and digital for this comp.The finished one will be in acrylic only! I want the piece to have a snapshot quality, so I needed to play with depth of field. Instead of fooling around in the dark trying to "blur" in acrylic, I figured I should just blur the damn thing in photoshop. Now I know what edges to lose and soften. Comps in photoshop are infinitely faster than acrylic, but I still like the randomness and, in my mind, superior color that traditional affords.

Digital Rust: Bedouin Digital Quick Paint

2011-04-12T00:23:00.000-07:00

I was doing some research for the Martian Chronicles and came across a photo online that reminded me of one of the stories. I don't know who the original photographer was/is, but I simply had to do a quick sketch. Simpler and faster is the mantra with digital (probably everything I suppose.) No time for fussiness.

USA: WTF?

2011-04-08T13:54:00.000-07:00

Most of my job is about creating fun fantasy escapism. Film doesn't just have to be babes, guns and robots (not that those are intrinsically bad.) Government shutdown possibilities looming, I ponder this old clip. Kapra was known for his optimism, for better or worse.

Hikers

2011-04-05T01:13:00.000-07:00

Quick one in the ole' sketchbook.

Mugabe

2011-03-31T00:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone is focused on Gaddafi for now, but this dictator is heinous. He also has a weirdly shaved philtral dimple which ends up looking like a hitler 'stache.

The Earth Men: Thumbnail

2011-03-23T12:47:00.000-07:00

This is a thumbnail for the next chapter in the Martian Chronicles. It comes after many other thumbnails were tossed out and I received some good critiques from coworkers. This will be one of the last few chapters that I do. Unfortunately, I don't have the energy or the desire to do all the chapters. Frankly, some of them just don't excite me from a picture-making standpoint, and I have a lot of other ideas that need to get finished. One thing this whole endeavor HAS done is make me use traditional media more, and make me really focus on my compositions. There have been bumps along the way, but I really enjoy jumping in and trying something new.

There are a few more chapters that I really want to paint, so I will get to those after this then move on to a personal project I have been tinkering with for a while. I'm starting to do random doodles with acrylic and watercolor/gouache in my sketchbook, so some of those will end up on here from time to time.

Paint Doodle 3.23.11

2011-03-23T09:27:00.001-07:00

Just foolin' around

Yosemite Winter

2011-03-07T23:43:00.001-08:00

I spent last weekend in Yosemite with my wife. The valley looked amazing as usual and seemed to change throughout the course of the day. One minute it was clear, the next grey and misty. I can't wait to go back.

The Boss

2011-03-07T22:06:00.000-08:00

If you have the patience and like searing guitars and heartfelt rock, this video is pretty great. No pretense, just a guy who loves to perform. Another crusty video classic from the internets. Also, The Boss plays Fender Telecasters mostly (my very favorite guitar.)

The Summer Night Final Painting

2011-02-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

This one is done with much help from the new PJ Harvey and Radiohead albums. Next chapter!

Lucasfilm Animation Benefit Art Auction 2011

2011-02-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

This is my piece for the upcoming auction. There is some really cool art from my co-workers at Lucasfilm that will be up for auction as well. Check it out here!

Mind-Fi

2011-02-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

Ever since I read Neuromancer in High School I remain fascinated by cyberpunk themes and motifs. There is a resurgence in the genre, but it is often regarded as tired. Today I was captivated by the HAL-like Watson challenging humans on the Jeopardy game show. Do we stand a chance? I wonder what will happen when the us vs them mentality ends and people just stick the computers in their heads and call it even.

The title of this post was taken from a hilarious sketch from the IFC show "Portlandia."

Battle for Cairo

2011-02-04T01:17:00.000-08:00

Medieval. Brutal. Bloodbath. These were words that were used continuously to describe violent clashes between anti-Mubarak and pro-Mubarak protesters in Cairo. Journalists were rounded up and beaten and state vehicles ran over citizens in the streets. President Obama asked that "a better day would dawn over Egypt." The media suggests that Friday may see the most intense protesting yet.

By the Trash Pile

2011-01-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

This is a sketch I did while out on a bike ride by the 101 freeway in Redwood City. I originally planned on painting the shipping facility further out in the bay that has lots of cool machinery...but I noticed that on the shore near the wetlands there was broken asphalt and concrete overrun with new growth.

Side note, I really love riding my bike...I need to do it more!! (Belated New Year's resolution.)

Lunchbreak Painting 1.3.11

2011-01-03T22:03:00.000-08:00

It was too nice today to miss an opportunity to paint. This is a quick watercolor I did in my little watercolor moleskine.

The Summer Night Final Sketch

2010-12-31T00:04:00.000-08:00

This is the pencil sketch for The Summer Night chapter painting. Finished painting on the way!

Shigeru Miyamoto New Yorker Article

2010-12-16T23:50:00.000-08:00

There is a new article about Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto in The New Yorker magazine here. Miyamoto created and continues to create my favorite games. It's been awkward working in the games industry and getting interview questions for adult or teen oriented games where they asked what my favorite games are and I say, "Mario, Zelda..." Miyamoto's games are to me the purest form of game that I've ever experienced and clearly art in and of themselves. The article reports that Mario and Zelda were created based on childhood experiences Miyamoto had running through the countryside catching fish or peeking in caves in the woods.

The Summer Night: Martian Home Ideations

2010-12-11T00:55:00.000-08:00

Here are some initial designs for Martian homes. I want them to look very organic since the Martians are supposed to be the antithesis of man (I'm thinking of using brutalist architecture for design cues on humans to contrast the loose organic forms of the Martians...hopefully it makes for good visual contrast.) Some of these homes hang on cliff sides, some appear to grow like plants, and some sit on the ground in the traditional fashion.

I've found that I only have time for some quick doodles in my sketchbook at lunch once in a while and weekends. That should still be enough time to eek out a chapter illustration periodically, but they will probably come at an even slower pace. No matter what though, I love working on this stuff!

Lunch Sketch 12.02.10

2010-12-05T15:46:00.000-08:00

My free time has evaporated! Here is a sketch I did during a lunch break. Ballpoint pen in my sketchbook with digital tone.

Society of Illustrators and A New Job

2010-11-29T22:16:00.000-08:00

I recently received word that my work entitled "Pursuit" for the unpublished category will be included in the Society of Illustrators Annual 53 next year. The piece was originally inspired by my love of the novel 1984 and early '70s sci-fi (posted here earlier.)

Today was also my first day as a Concept Designer at Lucasfilm Animation. They play things close to the chest there, so there won't be many(any?) posts relating to work there, but I'm very excited about my new gig.

*The image above is the official poster for Society of Illustrators 53...I didn't do it, but I sure like it!

The Summer Night Color Thumbnail

2010-11-26T22:18:00.000-08:00

This is a postage stamp sized color thumbnail for "The Summer Night" chapter of The Martian Chronicles. I found some reference based on this with better color, so after I do a revised version, I will work on some Martian home designs and get to the final drawing.

Ylla Final Painting

2010-11-03T02:01:00.000-07:00

This is the final painting for the Martian Chronicles story "Ylla." It's about 4"h x 71/4w" painted in acrylic in my sketchbook. I think this is a good format for keeping on track to finish all the chapters in a timely fashion. On to the next one!

Ylla Sketch and Color Thumbnail

2010-11-01T00:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a sketch in my sketchbook based on the thumbnail for this story and a small color study. In the study I added the arm crossing the body. I think I'm going to do something like that in the finished piece. I'm going to pick up the pace on these, so who knows what will happen? I'm just going to start painting them directly into my sketchbook pages over the sketches to expedite things. Too many ideas, never enough time!

Detroit

2010-10-31T23:58:00.000-07:00

I recently took a trip to Detroit and Pittsburgh for a weekend with my best friend. A lot of people asked me what the point was. Without trying to sound overly sappy I've told people we were looking for some signs of hope in Detroit, and I'm a Steelers fan from birth, so Pittsburgh was sort of a pilgrimage.

But back to Detroit. Yes there were crumbling buildings, and yes there were some areas that felt dangerous, but to be honest I've felt more threatened in parts of the Bay Area. Mostly the city seems empty. At least during the day...at night the place comes alive with friendly folks, party people, and great eats. The city has an old school charm that I've never seen before.

We met lots of different types, but the most memorable was a designer for Ford. We met him in a cigar bar downtown and struck up a conversation since we spent most of the day touring the Ford factory and Henry Ford museum. The designer was very optimistic, yet realistic. His most memorable quote was, "When the country has a cold, Detroit has pneumonia." The man was born and raised there and determined to make it better. We left inspired.

We also left on a mission. Everyone at the bar insisted that we have a "coney" at either Lafayette or American Coneys. They were the most popular hot dog joints in town and they literally shared a wall. Naturally the only fair thing to do was try one from each.

Sym-Bionic Titan

2010-10-29T00:51:00.000-07:00

I love the work of Genndy Tartakovsky. I have watched his shows since Dexter's Lab. Samurai Jack was the first show since Batman the Animated Series that I watched religiously. Needless to say, I was super excited to hear that Tartakovsky has a new show called Sym-Bionic Titan. I found the initial episodes to be fun, but not as masterful as Samurai Jack and was mildly disappointed. BUT! I stuck with the show and found every episode improved. The episode "Phantom Ninja" really set the bar high. The latest episode, "Shaman of Fear" brought the awesome I was hoping for. Check it out on Cartoon Network or download it on iTunes! I hope the show does well. I don't want it to get cancelled since it's starting to really kick ass.

Rift: Planes of Telara Lunch with the Art Director

2010-10-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

My Art Director for Rift responded to questions posed by the community in the rift forums. There were a few pictures to go along with his answers. One of them was a grey zbrush model of a creepy monster I designed. I never saw the hi-res model until now. The people responsible for the model did a pretty good job staying faithful to the concept. It looks pretty spot on even if it's a bit stiff in that t-pose. Monsters are tons of fun to design!

The Twins

2010-10-21T02:06:00.000-07:00

I was driving down El Camino Real on the way to the store the other day and I saw a man walking on the side of the road. I said to my wife, "hey, look at that guy! He looks straight out of 1992!" And he did. I had visions of Point Break and Vanilla Ice. My mind started to wander and I thought about a future world with a 90's flair. These two guys are color studies for two characters I'm working on who are assassin brothers. One is a surfer who had to rebuild his arm after an accident and the other drives a very fast car. Both of them do hits for powerful tech companies looking to silence whistleblowers. More on this later...on to the Martian Chronicles piece lingering in my sketchbook.

Ylla Thumbnail

2010-10-14T03:02:00.000-07:00

The second story in The Martian Chronicles is "Ylla." The story is a mix of optimistic dreaming, loneliness, and heartbroken sadness. This is a little thumbnail sketch where I jotted down the idea for an illustration that could show Ylla's longing and at the same time hint at the darkness that is her husband.

The last illustration took way too long...I have many more to go, so I'm searching for a speedier result. Perhaps I'll set a strict time limit and let the chips fall where they may. I still have to properly design the look of the Martians...busy busy busy :)

Rocket Summer Final

2010-09-27T01:56:00.000-07:00

This is the final version for the Rocket Summer chapter. This was a tough one to finish. The first one is done, and I'm excited to get going on the next story!