Wind-down sketch

I have recently been volunteering at a shelter for troubled youth and it makes me feel like this.

V

"What flavor would you like?  I have lightning, death, and horror."
"I have a special application process if you want to be a truly terrrrrific ice cream eater."

The drawing didn't turn out as well as I would have liked on this one, but when you only have 1.5 hours to pull one of these together--from beginning to end--you win some and you lose some.

Another one of my personal favorites

Goda the pastry deliverer

"Dough, of dough nut?  There is no Thai."

Splato

Splato's Volcan family perished at Pompeii.  It stresses him out a lot.

Nose Goblin

My brother's friend Ryan likes to tell his little girl stories about nose goblins that will catch your finger if you stick it up there long enough.  They are like mountain climbers and cave dwellers at the same time.  He wanted me to draw one and here it is!

Evening wind-down sketch

Last night I was doodling and drew a new version of The Little Mermaid.  It's inspired by one of Glen Keane's sketches.  My Ursula ended up looking more like Izma, but hey, it was my first sketch.

Spice Merchants

These characters were written like they were drug lords (and addicts) and I loved it.  They go around giving away free samples to get people addicted and then of course bleed them dry from money.  But they've gotten a little hooked in the process, and sooner or later it will take its toll, but for now, happy day!

Dumbdillius the Deaf

"What's that sonny?? You think I'm gray?  Speak up I can't hear you!"

Your eyes do not deceive you

You are really looking at a paraplegic R2D2 and a C3P0 midriff.

The Rowdy Ramblers

Three brothers now a wrestling/gladiator team:  Arty Ar Ar, the Woooooooolly Mammoth, and Hercules.

Grumpus the Grey

I did a lot of parodies of big films.  How this fits into ancient Rome I'm not really sure.  But it's going in.

Personal Fave

This potter doesn't have much going for her at first glance--she's poor, not very attractive, and isn't very talented in her chosen profession.  But it's her PASSION that makes you envy her when you meet her.  You know she's in love with her art, in love with her husband, and in love with life--even though it hasn't given her much and she probably will never amount to much in the world's eyes.  Yet she knows exactly who she is and is not only content, but happy and excited about it.  I've met some individuals like this and they humble me completely--they definitely have figured something out about life that I am still working on.

Gotta love angry women

This one was just fun so I decided to post it.  Nothing makes me happier than a short, angry, bra-less protestor.

Yes, that's a special edition machine gun egging chicken.

I mean, what would you do if it was shooting out eggs that fast??  And by the way she's calling a taxi with her foot.

Even drawing it was a hassle...

Tamers

You get three guesses, but hopefully you only need one.

A snobby rich woman

This woman has very few reasons to be as puffed up as she is.  She is crabby and ornery most of the time because her husband doesn't pay any attention to her--and hasn't, for years.  She forces her servants to keep the place spic and span.  She's never been sure of herself and it's only the wealth of her husband that has given her any sense of self-worth, and if it were to disappear she would be dropped to the lowest of the low.  Nevertheless, her redeeming value is an inner desire to have the children her husband never allowed. She's been forced into abortions all her life--and it's the reason for her tragic weight.

Assassins

 

Assassins and ninjas always get hammered for being so cliche so I tried to spice these guys up.  And one's a woman!!

The Sisters of Fate

Hi there!  Karen wanted me to post more and with 100+ designs and racking up I guess that's a viable option. 

 

Bad Day

Somebody had a bad day.  I, however, have been having great days doing 100+ character designs for a social networking company based in Atlanta.  Look for Roman Taxi on Facebook soon.

I have also moved back to Utah (working remote for now).  I had to keep quiet about it because I surprised my girlfriend.  Sorry to friends out there who haven't heard from me on the blogosphere...I will be commenting on your new stuff soon just been busy lately.  If you follow my blog and I don't follow yours (you'd know cause I'll send you comment now and then) just post the blog in the comments and I'll add it to my list.

Mike out.

Environment Ideas

Maria Mercer's advice...

So if anyone needs a good art critique my sister nails it every time and can tell you everything you need to do to improve the image.  It's really quite amazing.  Her advice and 15 minutes of work revealed this image...if you flip it back and forth with the previous image you can see the improvement.

Homecoming

Here's my next step in the sci-fi journey I've embarked on.  This is an original work.  Still has issues but my control is slowly improving.

Sparthmulation Dos

Yet another.  This was less of an emulation and more of a master copy for educational purposes.  Compare to this image Sparth published on his blog.  Hopefully this study will help me to master this style more quickly and efficiently.

Vehicle Model Sheets

The next step of the vehicles project for Hi-Rez studios.  Eventually they've got to hire me...

Grave Robber

If my grave ever gets robbed, I want it done by this guy!

Sparthmulation

This is an image in the style of Sparth, or Nicolas Bouvier.  A little more successful than past attempts.

Shameless Emulation

One of my favorite artists is David Colman.  There's a blend of technical knowledge, bravado, and good taste in his artwork that makes him, I feel, one of the best.  He recently posted a buffalo sketch which I emulated today as my warm-up.  What's crazy is he's only a year older than me, but the quality gap between us is pretty astounding.  I'm getting there!

Vehicle Thumbnails

Just some recent vehicle thumbs.  Just trying to see how fast I can do a full-fledged thumb with colors, concept (yah each thumb has an idea behind it), and character-based design.  It's based on the character classes of Hi-Rez Studios Global Agenda.

Georgia

Miss Sorenson came to visit me in Georgia and here's a little evidence of her stay.  The trip was all I could have hoped for and more.  The only stars that didn't align was our timing on seeing a rolling Georgian thunderstorm, but rest assured it will happen on the next trip!

CTN Expo

Hey Randall Sly at Character Design Blog just talked about the CTN Expo in late November.  I'm going to this and am looking for interested parties that want to share a hotel room for the two nights (around $250 for the two nights).  I am ok with sharing a one bedroom with up to 10 people (did it once at a convention and it's not that bad as long as there's enough floor space to sleep...not that that happens much at these things.)  I will be booking my room within the month so get back to me soon.

Transport Landing

Some people are wary about posting less than professional work but I figure if I'm less than professional then there's no reason to hide.  Who knows?  Maybe it will help someone down the road.

Perspective drawings normally kick my butt but this one turned out...alright.  I have had to untrain my mind from what perspective books teach is "perspective," however.  If I figure it out in the next little bit I'll organize my thoughts and post it, but just go to Rad Sechrist's how to blog for a primer.  The main thing is to think about it in terms of principles rather than mathematics.

Birds

More weight-lifting.  This session was 3 hours.

Ye Olde Sketchbook...

Just weightlifting.  Trying to figure out the whole digital drawing dilio.  Digital sketchbook stuff is always fun.

Ocean spray

This image inspired by an upcoming vacation to Savannah, Georgia.