Happy Halloween

The skeleton illustration is my recent entry for DrawerGeeks. It will be posted there on Nov. 3. They supplied us with 5 actual kids illustrations and our job was to make it our own while staying as close to the original kid art as possible. I built mine off of 2 of the samples. The skeleton from one and the balloon from another. The originals will be posted along side of each artist's entry.

The Champ

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Playing with new textures and cut outs. This was a different way to build my illustration than my usual. The experiment paid off. Each new thing I try brings all kinds of ideas in my head for future illustrations. It's cool how after all the years I've been doing this, each job can be like starting new. The wonder of it all!

sketches

Just some of my recent sketches.

Final (I think)

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Here's the final to a sketch post and a preliminary post below. I have been struggling with this one for some reason. I'm not liking it as much as I want to. I felt like I was getting too close to it so I figured I would just post it and move on. There are parts to it I really like but can't figure out what it is that's bothering me. If anyone sees it, don't be shy about offering some criticism.

Easily Amused

Penelope posted a carnival pick on her blog. She and Michele said stuff that got me all pumped up about the topic. I love the lights, music, smells and magic that boardwalks, carnivals and the circus bring. It really brings out the creative kid in me. I just had to go home and go through some of my photo files after that. So here is some candy for your eyes. Enjoy.

blAcK&OraNgE

Here is my Black & Orange entry. This one was FUN to do. I have so many memories from my childhood. I can still remember how exciting it was to check out the goodies in the gum machine and hope to get a certain one and then after much strategizing, when you lifted the lid and your lucky pick came rolling into your hands... oh the glee of it all. Life was handing Jimmy the winning hand!

Work in progress.

Many times I take a doodle from my sketchbook and work it up to a finished illustration. The original sketch is below in a previous post. Right now I am laying in some under color and texture. I hope you like.

Dim Reaper

This was Ned's day to be dead, but Ned's laughter alerts deathboy to a problem. Grimmy breaks out into a sweat as reality sets in. "What am I going to tell Mr. Beelzebub"? The old excuse, I forgot to change the lightbulb in my shed, was played out. Suddenly, Grimmy's luck changes when Ned dies of laughter. Grim checks Ned's pulse and Ned is dead (that's what I said). Then, the idea of making a killer living in comedy hits him. "I could be a prop comic. Yeah, how about next time I mistakenly pick the broom? Beware, the Grim Sweeper" (ha ha snort heehee dwindling chuckles). He tries to think up more garden tool puns. "Hmmmm. What rhymes with Grim? Hmmmm. I got it! Trim! The Trim Reaper prunes the... nah, that rots. C'mon Grimmy, think...(long pause)... hmmmm... (more pause). C'mon, this is hurting my skull. Dang, if only there were more rhymes in this cursed world". I could have knocked em dead. I guess I'll just go home and change the rotten bulb in the shed".

Dog Scratch

Here's one from my website cuz I can't make it to my scanner to put up my recent sketches. The clock has been winning lately, but it won't KEEP me down for long. There's not too much from my site that I would bring out here but this one is one of my favorites and it doesn't stray from my current look. Got to keep it current. This pup was influenced by Petey on the Little Rascals. I love that dog.

IF: Smitten

Click on image to enlarge.

After doing the cat background on the Trouble illustration, I wanted to revisit the idea of using my flat illustrator art with texture. I also wanted to go with a bright pastel color palette rather than my darker gritty color look. It's fun to change things up and experiment because it takes you down a slightly different road and the adventure and surprise ending are worth it.

My 2nd Book is Here!

I am excited to announce the arrival of my second book. It was finished in March 2006. Here are some samples for your viewing pleasure. There is another sample posted on 9/11/06. BTW: My first book was titled "Suddenly Alligator". When I get a chance, I will post some images from it. Both books are written by Rick Walton and published by Gibbs-Smith.

Okay, enough browsing. Go buy some books! :D

IF: Trouble

Like the previous illustration, I did the sketch, then scanned to photoshop and did all my color and texture in photoshop. I usually block in color in photoshop then go to painter. But I just got a bunch of new "Machine Wash" texture filters from Mister Retro and am totally diggin' the results. I didn't just hit filter and stop there. There are lots of layers and experimentation going on.

I do want to get an upgrade to Painter because the new oil paint tool looks hot. I was reading a tutorial on CreativePro.com featuring an artist who made it look so good. Be warned that his painting skill was high. It wasn't just pushing the oil paint button. I appreciate when someone brings all their skill into the work. Computers get a bad rap in that area with some. It's a tool. And I love it. My only regret is not having an original when I am done.

Quack

Just messing with a sketch, photoshop, textures and type. Everytime I experiment, I learn something new. Who says learning isn't fun?

New Sketches.

Some new sketches. It's been crazy at my day job and crazy at night. Working on another assignment and trying to keep up on the sketches too. Then there is IFriday and Black & Orange and Drawergeeks. The scanner sits there staring at me and whispering, c'mon Jimmy, use me. And I'm like, hey man, keep it up and I'll knock the dust off you. To which it says, now your talking big boy! It's all in love.

Power doodle.

Click on image to enlarge.

Sometimes it feels good to just let my pencil wander and see where it ends up. Like a rolling stone, with no direction home. I needed to stop being so intense for a day. So much of my time away from work goes into my art and the freelance biz developement lately. This blog is just the tip of the iceberg. I have so much on my mind about where I want to go with all my stuff. Working full-time doesn't give me the quality time I want. You know, the best of my day when I am most alert and energetic. My passion for art will have to be the drive I need. I'm not loving the way I feel tonight. I should go to bed earlier than I have been. Jimmy needs rest. Good night my adoring public. All one of you. Ha Ha.

IF:Quiet [with updated detail views]

Click on image to enlarge.

I have sketches to post when I get a chance but all my time was going to this illustration. After the deafening quiet, Harry wishes he could dissapear. Then he gets his wish because his nerves kick off the black swirly ink octopus thing which, as you may have guessed causes him to in essence dissapear from his audience. The crowd applauds furiously. This inspires Harry to ditch comedy and take up magic. And that is the cornball story of how Harry Octopotterpus became a master magician and lived up to his magical name.

UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST
I decided to add some detail views because I was dissapointed with the way you couldn't see the scratches and cuts on the size of the illustration I posted when viewing it on the web. I was especially into the jellyfish and the way the carving and shavings looked. Jellyfish are one of the most bizarre creatures. We have a very cool creation around us to inspire us and dig on do we not?