Holiday Card Sketches (Start to Finish!)

This ugly blue thumbnail sketch was created in Photoshop with my Wacom tablet. 

I then used black to draw on top of the blue. My goal here was to find the best lines from that blue mess above.  

Next, I printed out the digital sketch and traced it on my light-box. The characters continue to evolve. I like my Wacom but it can't beat pencil and paper at this stage.  

I rescanned the image and traced it again in Photoshop. At each step I continue to hone the characters, background and details.

Done!

Geeking Out With Dinosaurs

I was fortunate that my recent trip to California coincided with the San Jose stop of Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience! The 90 minute show consists of life-sized animatronic dinosaur puppets that, if I were 5 years old, would have BLOWN MY MIND!

And considering I'm currently illustrating a series of dinosaur books, I could rationalize my attendance without feeling too geeky.

The puppets are a marvel to behold. They moved with near biological accuracy and when combined with smoke, lights and a deafening roar, well, they're pretty awesome!

Not everyone was impressed; my wife fell asleep.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Summer's Gone...

After the horrid ice storm that ravaged New England this week, I thought folks might appreciate a sunny beach picture. If you hold your ear to the screen you can actually hear the ocean!

I did this acrylic painting for my agent, Portfolio Solutions. It was part of a larger promotional piece that featured each illustrator's interpretation of the theme "toy box".

FYI: I had a big stuffed shark like that when I was a kid–and wish I still did!

Dinos All Around Part 1

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm working on a series of dinosaurs books. Since starting the project, I've become aware of the many dinos that have accumulated around around the house. These pencil "toppers" have been sitting atop the door frame in my kitchen for several years.

Holiday Cards Arrive!

Here's another detail from this year's holiday card. I'm keeping the card under wraps until I have a chance to send them out. I'm one step closer to having the card in the mail–250 cards arrived from the printer today!

Want a postcard? Send me an email with your snail mail address and I'll send one along. Supplies (and stamps) are limited!

You'll find my email address on my website.

Mad Painter

Character Actor Paul Benedict died recently. Who's that? You might know him as Mr Bentley from the 70's sitcom The Jeffersons. He played the crazy British neighbor.

A Google search on Paul Benedict produced this image. I recognized it instantly; memories suddenly began bubbling up from my subconscious. I knew that brush, I knew that bald head–I knew every brush stroke leading up that moment.

A few clicks and I was reacquainted with the Mad Painter, a character Paul Benedict played periodically on Sesame Street. As you might guess, the Mad Painter painted numbers on people (or objects) to comic effect. A great way for kids to learn their numbers.

I'm sure Mr. Benedict helped me learn my numbers, but it was the way he painted those numbers that inspired me. Today, watching Mad Painter clips on Youtube, I became cognisant of the impact this man likely had on my young psyche. I must have been transfixed, watching his steady and confident hand paint all those numerals.

Thank you, Mr. Benedict, for inspiring me when I didn't even know it!