Kitty Cat Katie and Gracie - Movie Poster

Here is a group shot of the neighborhood kids and animal friends done as a movie poster type of promo. This image has been used on a number of promotional pieces - a brochure, an investor's informational packet, and most recently the OodlesUnlimited.com website.

Oodles of Logos

Here are some logos generated for Oodles Unlimited, Oodles Films, Kitty Cat Katie and Gracie, and Orbie for Orphans (a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping kids without parents.)

Orbie the firefly has become the mascot for Oodles. He's the wise sage that literally and figuratively illuminates situations for the kids. I think he's kind of like Yoda.

Character Development - Animal Friends

Character Development - Kids

Rough Model Sheets

Here are some rough model sheets from early to mid-development. Some of the sketches are not included because they weren't close enough to the character. These images show Gracie and her best furry friend Kitty Cat Katie.

Kitty Cat Katie and Gracie

I've been doing some work for Oodles Unlimited developing some character properties for market. "Kitty Cat Kate and Gracie" is the name of the project and I will be posting a series of images in (roughly) chronological order. 

This artwork of "Gracie" is done by Charlotte Ström who developed the first graphic images for this neighborhood of kids and their animal friends.

I am very lucky to be working directly with Hal Brown and his wife Stephanie on this project. Hal originally developed the characters and is now preparing to bring them to market.

Communication Strategies

Here's a digital painting for use by my friend Diane St. John as a self promotion image for her consulting business.

Detail showing some of the brush textures used for the foliage and the rocks.

Bonsai!!!

I'm working on a new submission for Threadless Ts. I'm not sure if I've worked out all the kinks yet. Please feel free to comment.

Epidemic

I am on a roll. I had this idea for a t-shirt while reading "The Tipping Point." The author puts forth the notion that a small shift in circumstances can set off an epidemic (social, or otherwise.) As I was walking down our street, I saw a circle of mushrooms. and 'boom' there it was.

As I was working on it, I realized that there are political and environmental messages that are hard to avoid. These were unintentional, but none the less, the mushrooms do look like mushroom clouds (or is it the other way around?) and the center of the mushroom circle is somewhere around Asia Minor. There is no soap-box here. I just thought it would be a fun image.

First Threadless Submission

I just uploaded my first Threadless T-shirt submission. Check it out. 

- Cheers!

Painting Sarah and Jack

As the painting started out, I became aware that the subjects were too far to the left of the canvas. So, I re-blocked in the elements to make a composition that I was happier with. If this were only an illustration project, I may have forged on without consideration for the canvas. However, I have a feeling that this may end up on a wall in my house, and if the composition was off-balance it would have bugged me every time I looked at it.

After working a bit this morning, things are starting to look more resolved. In fact, at this small resolution, it look almost finished. Well let me jot down my self-critique notes, and we'll see how it shapes up.

1.) I'm using a brush that's too small, it's getting "fussy" in areas.

2.) Jack (the dog) is a bit too pudgy.

3.) Shadows on grass need to be resolved into landscape. Right now they are too much of an element.

4.) Detail in woods (hints of light areas behind trees, etc.)

5.) Tighten up "portraiture"

Self Portrait Head Sketch

A page from my sketchbook. Dated February 20, 2008.

New Publicity Head Shot

Yesterday, my wife did a photo shoot for me for a new publicity head shot. The background was added after-the-fact in PhotoShop. I'm doing my best to look like a respectable citizen. Some day, I'll be as cool as James Gurney and wear goggles, with an uber-serious look.

Katie

Head study of Katie. Rendered in the digital paint of PhotoShop. The reference for this pose originally came from a photo shoot for a character being developed for "Kitty Cat Katie and Gracie." - But I thought it was very charming in its own right. 

I hope to do some head studies from time to time. I've been especially inspired by the work of Steve James. Definitely worth Checking out.