Zoo "People"

I recently went to the zoo and it was so hot the animals were nowhere to be seen.  I decided to sketch the other animals walking around.  I always end up drawing the people at the zoo because I find them to be an interesting lot.
These sketches were done fairly quickly and I started using a large sketchbook(9x11) and Copic marker!

Gaze 

No Souvenir

Teddybear head

Tough kid with visor

Umbrella haad

"you mean to tell me that those monkeys can't jump over that railing and attack us?"

Taking pic of the flowers

Grandma walking kid 

Guy with camera

Hawaii five old

Holding up the fence

More Storyroom doodles

Brave!

The new Pixar movie is upon us soon and I'm really excited to see it.  The best precursor to watching the movie has been reading the Art of Brave written by my good friend Jenny Lerew.

Ill be honest, I never read these books because i'm usually captured by the art and I'm just a slow reader in general so I skim.  This book I'm reading and the writing moves so well that I'm captivated by the story that Jenny tells.

I found myself wanting to know the next story point and the next and the next.

All of us in animation have gone through processes like this but Jenny writes it with great tension and humor painting a world that sounds exciting and primordial.

Oh yeah, and one more small little thing.  This book is chuck full of amazing paintings, character designs, Storyboards, who'd of thought Storyboards would be celebrated so much?  Jenny has really made a book that gives more and more every time I open it!  It's a definite must have book!

Hat's off to Jenny Lerew and the Pixar team of amazing artists and filmmakers for such a great Art of book!

Story room doodles

just for fun on good ol' paper.

Observational Drawing

I want to share my impression of what it means when I say observational drawing.  

Many times people can get the idea that observational drawing means to literally observe every nook and cranny of the object or model.  Wrinkles, cracks, knuckles, follicles, pours, nose hairs or whatever can be seen is put into the artwork.  

I think there can be a place for such detailed type of artwork but when I teach the idea of observational drawing I teach the study of story telling through drawing.  That’s the most important part of it all.  If the drawing conveys story and meaning it’s that much more valuable as a piece of art.  

We need to connect with the meaning of our drawings.  If there's no story or meaning to the drawing that was supposed to be from observation then theres less interest by the viewer.  it becomes lines smudges and medium on paper rather than impressions of moments captured that evoke an emotion or reaction.

That’s my goal in observational drawing.  To capture a story or a meaning that makes you think or inspires you to feel something.  One thing I definitely do not do is force anyone into a particular style by forcing details into their art that don’t tell the story.  

the key is what are we observing?  the Story or literal detail that can add up to no meaning?

Don’t let style define substance.  

These one and a half second sketches were of my wife in P90x mode.  I tried to convey the energy in the effort and I thank her for letting me show these.  Frankly I should have joined her.  I could stand to loose a few pounds haha.

Juuust a few more...

Some SketchKrawl works

Went out to the Grove and had some good drawing time.  Join me on the next Sketchkrawl!

2012 Caricature show up at Disney

 If you all have a chance to see it, do it.  John Musker is a monster! I snuck a few in.  Here ya go!

John Musker

Barry Johnson

Chris William 

Clay Kaytis

Dean Wellins and John Ripa

Don Hall and Joe Mateo

Jeff Ranjo

Jeff Ranjo

Jeff Ranjo

Jeff Ranjo

Jeff Ranjo

Jim Reardan 

Leo Matsuda

Lissa Treiman

Marc Smith

Mark Kennedy

Paul Briggs