The Journey to the Promised Land Begins

Pack your bags and say goodbye to Jerusalem, because we're going to the promised land. Check out the blog and like it on Facebook. Gonna be a long journey but I think it will be fun...and ultimately worth it for all involved.

The comic book series will be perfect for Latter-day Saint families looking to provide wholesome and edifying entertainment for their children, as well as provide an excellent and non-intrusive way to share our beliefs about the Old and New Testaments with our friends and neighbors.

The Troupes of Oz

The fallen circus world of Oz is filled with all kinds of vagabonds and runaways. Among them are many that didn't make it into MGM's classic movie. My version stays way truer to the original book while embellishing them, like the whole story, with the same inspiration that inspired Frank L. Baum: the circus!

I haven't written bios for all of them, but here is what I've got. This project is being closed so it is what it is.

Winged Monkeys - Primate Cannonballs

Their one-way ticket is controlled by the possessor of the Golden Cap.

Quadlings (Glinda/Red Top)

Four-armed fire-wielding clumsy oafs. You can always trust them to blow something up...accidentally.

Zey are German.

Freakshow (Emerald City/Green Top)

8’8”, 425 lbs. big enough for you?  Or would you prefer to see the bearded lady?

Munckins (Wicked Witch of the East/Blue Top)

Living Tunisian architecture.

They are so in tune with each other they can finish each other’s sentences. Their collective brainy horsepower won't get you very far, though.

A change

This is an asset from work that didn't make the cut due to some miscommunication, so I got permission to post on the blog. I've done hundreds of these things, and most are not very glamorous.

The Wicked Witch of the West

A gluttonous hag that gave up on kindness long ago...shortly after her first ballet class.

Filthy, nasty, dirty, wicked.  This sickened, over-stuffed gaucho violently abuses the Winkies to fill her bottomless pit. The mountainous leftovers rot where they lie, making her Yellow Top an amorous compost of liverwurst and sauerkraut casserole gone rank. The morbid irony is her demand for spotlessness--which her minions half-heartedly attempt in her presence, but instantly “respot” when her back is turned.  The ignition switch for her anger flips and the cycle begins all over again.  This witch has become one with her domain, so coated in muck that her true self is lost in the filth.  But sometimes, very rarely, she can be seen dancing like a ballerina in private.  Could it be her wickedness is only grime-deep?

Miss O'Riley

Miss O'Riley

A beautiful Irish saint.

Miss O'Riley is too regal to marry.  Too kind, too beautiful, too educated. She runs a local orphanage in Boston, and though she has a policy not to play favorites, one little girl and her black dog win her heart. Miss O'Riley's ultimate joy is to place this special girl in a family home...halfway across the continent.

Uncle Henry and Auntie Em

Em

A strong-willed, weathered plainswoman who has never had children.

Dorothy’s happy laughter causes Em to scream in fright when she first hears it.  This gray woman is highly sensitive to her own lack of color.  There are two generations--and half a continent of culture--between Dorothy and Em, and they both know it.  Not only this, but Dorothy refuses to work, which is the one virtue that Em clings to and binds her family together.  Will strong-willed Em and bull-headed Dorothy be able iron out their differences?

Henry

A powerful, if aging, man that is determined to be a good father.

One of the first American homesteaders, Henry knows virtually nothing else.  He works hard and he loves his wife.  Neither of which, however, will be enough to help Dorothy become a part of his family.  He finds himself trying to learn to love--to change--in ways he never before considered.

New Hobby

Works fried me, so I needed to do a personal piece. Although I am not ecstatic to be embarking on another long, hard project, I think that this one will be worth it.

The Collector

This is the collector that comes a-calling after the death of Dorothy's parents. He plays a very minor role in the film. He's only in two shots and doesn't say anything.

Susanna and Teddy

Theodore

A poor but dedicated husband and father.

A city boy with few advantages in life, Teddy at an early age knew he had little more to offer anyone than the clothes on his back.  As such, he invested in himself: his courage, his personality, his humor.  He overcame his shyness and won the affection of his dream girl, Susanna.  Together they raise a special daughter who’s talent and ability intimidate them immensely.  Nevertheless, he makes great sacrifices to provide food, shelter, and a high-quality, if not high-income, lifestyle for both of them.

Teddy works double shifts in the factories to pay increasing debt they have accrued in their first years of marriage.  Eternally optimistic, he has dreams of one day working in a hotel.

Susanna

A young mother who lives life to the fullest--and teaches her daughter to also.

A sun hat and bare feet are the trademark of this young American mother.  Beautiful since birth, Susanna could have married any man in the city, but she chose Teddy not for his big nose or freckled cheeks, but because he knew how to lead a rich, fulfilled life of memory-making.  Her dream is to be a mother of five, and live out her life having fun with those she loves.

Mr. and Mrs. Tussels

Mr. and Mrs. Tussels

A big softy and a small toughy.

The local police chief Mr. Tussels is friends with everyone near Boston Commons, his home turf.  He keeps the streets safe, strong-arming crime out of town or into prison.  He always thought of himself as tough until he finds himself knocking on the door of a neighborhood girl who has just lost her parents.

Mrs. Tussels, an accomplished seamstress, was acquaintances with Dorothy’s mother, Susanna.

Joey

Joey, the Scarecrow

An imbecile with the occasional stroke of absolute brilliance.

A clown of the scariest sort, Joey’s idiocy is a top-notch comedy act that will leave you groaning for more.  After learning to walk, this nitwit becomes the self-appointed translator extraordinaire for Tinny, the mouthless metal menace.  These two compatriots provide Dorothy dimwitted defense against the sharper fangs of Oz.  Indestructible straw-filled Joey cannot feel pain, and often finds himself dangling happily in the jaws of death.  This scarecrow would give every gram of his whole-grain fiber to save Dorothy, because it was she that first saved him, and, quite literally, taught him everything he knows.  What Joey's brain lacks in horsepower it makes up for with childlike optimism.

His dangling eyes and simplified, puppet-like design make Joey’s on-screen presence hilarious just to watch.

"Joey" is old circus lingo for "clown."

He tries not to move too much, but when he does it is with the finesse of a 1930s rubber hose animation.

Tinny, the Tin Woodsman

Tinny, the Tin Woodsman

An obsessed metal trash can with an axe. Don’t let him wander unsupervised.

With innocent, Ewok-like curiosity Tinny scours Oz hoping to find his lost heart under a rock or in a birds nest--or--yes, scarily enough--even inside somebody else.  He is endlessly curious about other creature’s hearts, but without a conscience of his own he doesn’t know when to stop “axing.” Only his friends can repress his habitual living autopsies of birds, butterflies, and anything that his ADD mind admires.  These nearly-tragic moments provide endless opportunities for suspense, humor, and tenderness.  It is a comedy of what “could” happen, but never does.

Tinny is melodramatic, not unlike a four-year-old.  His lack of a mouth forces him to communicate in pantomime.

Larry

Larry, the Cowardly Lion

A gentle giant who’s dream is to be in a musical.

A lover of raindrops and roses, this whiskered kitten is the flabbiest and gabbiest you’ve ever seen.  Nothing pleases him more than bouncing his big body to the beat.  A poet, a songwriter, a singer, a dancer--any father would be proud...except of course the King of the Forest.  Although his parents have long since passed away, the legacy they left Larry was a tainted pysche--he’s so terrified of failure that he doesn’t even try.  He longs for courage, and to scare people with his roar, but it seems hopeless.  What he doesn't know is that his path to rule the kingdom may be less like the king’s, and more like “the King’s,” than he ever dreamed.

*"larry" is 19th century circus lingo for something that is broken.

The plan for this character, besides adding an incredible personality to the film, is to poke fun at MGM's classic Wizard of Oz. Think Lancelot's trapped prince from Monty Python mixed with Winnie the Pooh.

Bingum Bartolomew

Until I figure out what to do with all of my Wizard of Oz work (which includes 20+ character designs, 70+ pages of script, and much more), here's a character from the film.

Bingum Bartolomew

The greatest showman on earth.
Representing the great circus men of American history, this highly moral, exceedingly dedicated showman will stop at nothing to bring the magic, mystery, and wonder of the world to the lives of its citizens.  The tent is his home and his fellow performers his family.  He invests enormous capital to ensure the circus maintains its integrity, safety, and trust for all involved: viewer, performer, and animal alike.

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.