Artist Envy

Just posting because I'm trying to justify my existence after having perused a bunch of Avalanche Software artists' blogs, including but not limited to Jason Kim, Tom Scholes, and Jon Diesta. I both love and hate all of them. :)

These are some characters from a story I'm developing. Each of you need to post more often. And Jon, I will look for your laptop on the black market.

Birthday Gifts

Happy Birthday to me! I got a number of presents, but as usual Caleb's was my favorite. He drew me as a lightning wizard and named me Mikern Thundarnos. I was hoping for something more unpronounceable but I was proud nonetheless.

I asked if I could someday redraw one of his many character designs in my own style, and he said "No way in HECK! You try to do that and I'll take you outside and give you a Southern-style WHOOPIN'!"

He's from Alabaman and I'm from Georgia and all Southerners know that ain't no drawin' worth no cans of whoop being broke ope.

Caleb also included some free advice as part of his gift. He prefaced it by saying, "This is the best advice I could ever give you."

He's probably not far off.

Thanks Caleb, for making it a great birthday. I wish more people in life were overflowing with this kind of untainted personality.

A Viking for my dragon to eat...

A Caleb Edwards Drawing

Probably my favorite person in the church I attend is a man who was (really) kicked in the head by a horse as a child. It causes him some physical discomfort, and mental challenges, but as a bonus he's been blessed with out-of-this-world creativity. And who doesn't need a little more creativity in their lives?

He came to me tonight and showed me a character for his newest story. I had to question him about some of the aspects of his drawing, and it has been annotated with his explanations.

I asked him to pleeeeeease bring me more drawings in the future so hopefully I will be able post some other characters.

A fate Weetch

This weetch predicts peoples' fates. She's a character in my friend Matt's role-playing campaign. I still believe that traditional role-playing is one of the best exercises for the imagination. I don't do it much anymore, but when I look at my life a lot of the things I'm best originated in skills developed as a role-playing teenager. That and creative writing.

I'm tired. Off to bed.

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MATT!!

Just another sartorialist post. Practicing new techniques is all. Experimenting...

Roman Taxi Concept Art

Here's some more Roman Taxi concept work. I did 44 of these since last Tuesday...so what, a week and a half? In all it was about two full weeks of work (hours-wise).

My favorite I think is the pimp wagon. I wanted it to be low-rider but alas, we had to concede to the tech team. These are being farmed overseas, hence the notations. Lots and lots of fun, but also a lots and lots of work.

A dragon for my troll to ride...

Wind-down sketch

A troll for my elf to fight. :)

Naomi Klein: Addicted to risk | Video on TED.com

Naomi Klein: Addicted to risk | Video on TED.com

This woman has her act together.

Wind-down Sketch

I should draw more elves.

First Sale!

A good friend, Ryan Schwanke, was looking through my site with his daughter Rosalyn and she liked this image. It's my first print that I can recall that I've made any money off of. Normally I do digital production work.

Been practicing.

A character from the new project. His name is Mr. Giles. He's filled with unconventional wisdom and love. I have about 20 of these but unfortunately I can't post them here...yet.

Morning Warm-up

Sartorialist

My take on a recent Sartorialist post.

Another sneak peak.

I'm not dead set on the style...but here's one of the characters.

Zombie Mosh

I'm very proud to have helped create Zombie Mosh, Menue Corporation's newest Facebook game.  It's in beta right now.  It's very very unique and I love it!  Click the pic to play.  I did environments for the game.  Characters by Chuck.

Full steam ahead!

My next project is underway.  A little bigger than than last one.  Here's a color key.

The Storytelling Begins...

View the storyboards here >>>

I have for a long time been moving towards storyboarding, and this is my first real attempt.  Don't judge a book by its cover because it has nothing to do with Crime Scene Investigation.

While I make no claims to quality, it does come with the official Michael Mercer stamp of "Bet you haven't seen THIS before."

Crits welcomed.

Star Man Master of the Universe and his side kick Princess She-Ra

I have always wondered how Star Wars would have been different if it had been truer to its original movie poster.  What if Luke Skywalker had actually been more of a He-Man Conan barbarian instead of the sissy force-is-strong-with-this-one teenager?  What if his light saber really was 100 ft tall??  And what if Princess Leia really COULD use a gun and she looked great zapping StormTroopers in her Chun-Li outfit and cape?

"Senator...my what long legs you have."
And while he's looking at Leia's legs she pulls out her blaster.
Ker-CHEW!
He falls flat his chest smoking.

Or for Luke:

Obiwan: "A more elegant weapon from a more civilized age."  //Obiwan hands Luke the light saber.
Luke: "RAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!!!!!" //Luke cuts Obiwan in half.  He raises the carcass above his head and screams while the sky turns yellow-green, his muscles bulge, and his clothes are ripped into shreds and blown away by the Tatooine wind.

"Crom lives!"

MIA

This little guy I did awhile ago but he didn't make it to the blog for some reason.  I guess because the image lacks any sort of spatial cues you would have no way of knowing that he was small...I was thinking of what some of the guys at the gym might look like if they were a dragon...but when you think about it, a dragon should have a larger upper body, right?  I mean, what would you do with legs anyway if you could fly?

More characters

We greet this woman after another night of regret.  I have always been greatly disappointed by women that have a gift of physical beauty and then sacrifice real love and real relationships for nights of pleasure and "fun," often retreating into alcohol or drugs to aid them in this quest.  I am even more disappointed in the men that entice women to be this way, or that scheme to get the physical pleasures they desire, or that lack self control in their relationships (or don't see the psychological and emotional need for it).  Unlike some, I do not believe sex or money are symbols of manhood but I believe genuine Christlike love is.

Sneak Peak of Upcoming Attractions

Just FYI I haven't abandoned rewriting the Wizard of Oz, or working on it...I just keep most of it secreto.  This, however, is a sneak peak.  I'm still investigating how to tackle the enormous amount of work I have dedicated myself to, but my philosophy is "steady as she goes."  Ten or twenty years from now I will have a written, designed, and storyboarded film to make!

Wind-down sketch

Returned to my fantasy roots tonight.  I studied horses from life for a couple of days and I think I will do it some more after I memorize more of the anatomy.  I don't really feel like I know what's going on but I had fun and that's all I was going for tonight.  Later.

Gives a new meaning to spaghetti western.

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.