Cartoon School

So, I have been wanting to get involved in the informal online cartooning school that John Kricfalusi, creator of Ren & Stimpy. I finally took the dive and did my first lesson. I won't post the lessons here, since I created a separate blog just for them. However, I will post a link when I have done a new lesson. Feel free to leave comments on either blog.

http://cartoonclass101.blogspot.com/

Experiment in Watercolor

So, I am not much of painter. Part of the issue is that I don't have a great deal in patience while creating. When I draw with a pencil my strokes are instantaneous. When, I use pens, color can be added as soon as I close the lid of the previously used pen. But with paint, you have to be careful about mixing colors that you don't want mixed. While our nephew Kohl was here visiting, I took him to Venice. While there we found an artists' little store. Her walls were filled with watercolors. She had full size originals mixed with various sized reproductions. I noticed that her watercolors were different. They weren't the washed out paintings that I have seen before. I noticed that she used a black outline and then she colored it in with watercolors. It looked like a black pen, since the line was perfect and completely uniform in every stroke. I asked her why the watercolors didn't make the ink run when it came in contact with it on the paper. She said its because she found the perfect pen finally. It is a waterproof, fade proof pen by Uniball. She told me that she had a spare pen that she would give to me. When she went to look for it she realized that she had left it at home. I took a picture of it and looked for it at stores once I got back to Verona. After only four stores, I found it!! At a store three blocks from our apartment. So I gave it a whirl.

The character below is a new character that I came up with recently. Angie and I were out to lunch a couple weeks ago and I saw this statue in the window from across the restaurant. Because we were on the other side of the restaurant I couldn't completely make out what it was. But I thought it looked like something, so I made a quick sketch of it in my notebook. I looked at the statue on the way out and laughed because it was completely different than my drawing and what I had seen in my head. I am also putting the original sketch I made of him.

Right now, his name is Bog. He is part of a comic book idea idea I am working on called "The Year of the Bog", that is unless I change it.

Brinkley, First Sketch

Here is a quick sketch of our new puppy, Brinkley. I worked on it over a couple days, and didn't look at him for most of it, so it is by memory. Later, I will do more sketches of him, while looking at him. If you want to see the real Brinkley, head over to my new blog set up for him at http://apupnamedbrinkley.blogspot.com.

Best Wallpaper Site on the Web

So, in case you are ever hunting for the best wallpaper for your computer's background, look no further. Go to Smashing Magazine at http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/01/30/desktop-wallpaper-calendar-february-2009/. This actually points you to the February 2009 submissions, but you can search for past months and download versions sans calendars. They look very sharp and come in a variety of flavors. I plan on submitting some to them some day, if they are still running the program. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

Halloween Hijinks

Happy Halloween!!!! Here are a few pictures from tonight and things that Angie and I made throughout the month of October.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #31

And finishing off the October Monster Madness is monster #31, the Wolf Man. Aawoooooooooo!

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #30

Monster #30, shows us what happened after Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall....he went on the warpath! Only one monster left.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #29

Coming into the final stretch is a madly demented jack in a box, monster #29. In August, I got to visit a restaurant, which when growing up was a childhood favorite later closed. The restaurant was "Jack in the Box". I'm not sure if it would have been one of my favorites if the mascot looked like this one.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #28

And bringing some class into the final week is monster #28, a tip toeing Frankenstein, tipping his hat to Young Frankenstein and Peter Boyle's version of the monster.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #27

Myself, I am not afraid of clowns, but I know several people who are....this goes out to you., monster #27.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #26

Hiding behind the closet door is monster #26. Those eyes.....

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #25

Here is ghost number #25, which is my version of a classic cartoon ghost.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #24

Aaargh, ahoy is monster #25, a ghost pirate. Working on this one, I had one of those happy accidents. I made a shadow of the ghost figure then colored a ghostly blue. My plan was to place it behind the ghost, but then in moving it I accidentally put it in front, which subdued the ghost and made the glow that much more effective. I liked it so much that I used it for another upcoming monster afterwards.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4. I used a shadow colored ghostly blue made from an outlined ghost pirate, then I moved it in front, giving it the glowing effect.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #23

This is monster #23 a living mummified dog wrapped in toiltet paper.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #22

Here is something you don't want to come across in a corn field...monster #22, a living scarecrow!

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #21

Here is monster #21, which is my rendition of the Boogeyman.


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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #20

Coming in at #20 is today's monster, it's the Invisible Man.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #19

Not every monster is a classic one. Monster #19 is actually a big ol' bullfrog. And to an ant, that bullfrog is one of the most terrifying sights it could come across. Monsters depend on perspective.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #18

Did anyone ever hear this little bedtime diddy....

Good night,
Sleep tight,
Don't let the bed bugs bite!

Well, here is monster #18, Bed Bugs. Did you know bed bugs are real??? I don't want them in my bed, that's for sure.


Here is a weird little clip of a snail saying the quote from above about bed bugs...
http://cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/snailshalloween-25.m3u

From the CD at:

http://cdbaby.com/cd/snailshalloween

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #17

Here is a halloween classic. A witch riding her broomstick with a full moon.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #16

Here is monster #16, which is the Horned Flying Monkey. I had the flying creatures from the Wizard of Oz in the back of my head when I was drawing this monster.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #15

This is one monster I have been excited to work on. It is inspired part by any good haunted house, but also in part by one of my favorite spooky halloween themed movies of all time, that is The Ghost and Mr. Chicken. Here is monster #15, the Mad Organist.

Follow this link to see a little of my inspiration from The Ghost and Mr Chicken:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XdqRbIfNgE&feature=related

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - midway

Okay, so we are about halfway through this project of mine. It has actually surprised me how many people are actually visiting the site and checking these out. Apparently, over 150 people have been coming on here in the last month to check out the site! Sometimes, I imagine that no one is reading them....and it is like a little game of play pretend like I may have done as a child. That is...pretending I am writing to someone, when no one is really there. That actually reminds me of a short poem I read recently....

Yesterday upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today.
I wish, I wish he'd go away.

This verse, titled "Antigonish" was written by William Hughes Mearns in 1899. William Hughes Mearns, better known as Hughes Mearns (1875-1965) was an American Educator and Poet. He wrote two books which are credited for fueling the educational trend of creative writing.

Apparently, it was inspired by reports of a haunted house in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. That puts it in a different light!

So, halfway through this project, I wanted to list some of the upcoming "monsters". I won't list them all, since I want some to be a surprise, but here are a few of the upcoming monsters.

- Mad Organist
- Horned Flying Monkeys
- Witch riding a broom
- The Boogeyman

I hope you enjoy them and it puts you in a spooky mood!

October Monster Madness 2008 - #14

Okay so of course this monster #14 is inspired from the famous old story called the "Three Billy Goats Gruff." I remember this being a scary story when teachers read it to us in elementary school. I guess I didn't know just what the Troll was capable of doing. After the pictures I will post the actual story...





The Three Billy Goats Gruff - from Norway

Once upon a time there were three billy goats, who were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all three was "Gruff."
On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll , with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.
So first of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
"Trip, trap, trip, trap! " went the bridge.
"Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll .
"Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff , and I'm going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the billy goat, with such a small voice.
"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the troll.
"Oh, no! pray don't take me. I'm too little, that I am," said the billy goat. "Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He's much bigger."
"Well, be off with you," said the troll.
A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.
Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, went the bridge.
"Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll.
"Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff , and I'm going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the billy goat, who hadn't such a small voice.
"Now I'm coming to gobble you up," said the troll.
"Oh, no! Don't take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He's much bigger."
"Very well! Be off with you," said the troll.
But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff .
Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap! went the bridge, for the billy goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.
"Who's that tramping over my bridge?" roared the troll.
"It's I! The big Billy Goat Gruff ," said the billy goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.
"Now I 'm coming to gobble you up," roared the troll.
Well, come along! I've got two spears,And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears;I've got besides two curling-stones,And I'll crush you to bits, body and bones.
That was what the big billy goat said. And then he flew at the troll, and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the cascade, and after that he went up to the hillside. There the billy goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn't fallen off them, why, they're still fat; and so,
Snip, snap, snout.
This tale's told out.

Read about it at wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Billy_Goats_Gruff
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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #13

Monster #13 has a kind of Wild Thingish look to it. Count that as inspiration, even though I haven't really looked at one of those drawings in years. Here's where you can find out about the Wild Things movie that is coming out in Fall 2009 - http://www.wtwta.net/.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #12

The blob is monster #12.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #11

This is one of those forests that you wouldn't want to have to go through..... monster #11.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #10

And is there something creeping under this boy's bed? Oh it's just monster #10. And here is a great scary song to go with it - http://www.emusic.com/samples/m3u/song/11289595/17522392.m3u - then go buy it at emusic.com, it's by the Tagbacks, and it's called "Under My Bed". I actually drew this first and then found the song after I was completely done with it.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #9

Here is monster #9, which is self explanatory...it's ALIVE!

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #8

And here is monster #8, which is a space alien.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #7

This is monster #7, a gargoyle statue. Does it come alive at midnight?

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #6

This is from one of my favorite spooky stories, Washington Irving's Sleepy Hollow. This is monster #6, the Headless Horseman.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #5

Monster #5, the one-eyed slugthorn.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #4

Here is monster #4, the dreaded vampire bat.

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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

Jack the Pumpkin Head, Tulsa bookstore locations

As of October 2nd, there are two bookstores in Tulsa where you can purchase one of my latest books, Jack the Pumpkin Head. So if you are in the Tulsa area and you want one of my books, go support the two stores locally where you can find it.

They are:
Steve's Sundry, Books & Magazines
http://www.stevessundrybooksmags.com/

And also at Top Hat Magic & Costumes
http://www.tophatmagic.com/

October Monster Madness 2008 - #3

And here is monster #3, Teddystein. Brought to life by a flashlight battery, tweezers and a cup of water.
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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #2

Here is monster sketch numero 2. No idea where the inspiration for this one came from....must have been something I ate.






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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens for this, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

October Monster Madness 2008 - #1

Today marks the start of a personal project for me, October Monster Madness. I will be posting at least one new monster per day for the month of October. So let's start the insanity. Ever wondered what was lurking under the skin of a freshly baked gingerbread man? Well, wonder no more, this one is past his prime....


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Technical details: I used two Pilot Precise Rolling Ball pens for this, one V7 fine and one V5 extra fine. I didn't use any pencil, choosing to sketch with the pen. It creates a more improvisational line. Then I scanned them in and colored them using CorelDraw X4.

Tomorrow It Begins

Well, after days and days of talking about it, the Great Monster Sketch-off begins tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, October 1st, I will post at least one new monster sketch on this blog every day until October 31st. I have already been working on them so I have a buffer in case of any issues.

Just One More Day

Well, here it is at the end of September. Only one day left until the Monster Sketch Marathon. Every day from October 1st until October 31st I will post at least one sketch of monsters on this sketch blog. I have been working on them already, it's been a good project for me, one of discipline and creativity. I'm looking forward to them getting up here.