Happy Earth Day! (from The Intrepid Pug Explorer!)

[ click images to embiggen ]

Sometimes you're just doing an Earth Day drawing and you create a new character.

He's super serious here.

The Intrepid Pug Explorer @2015 CS Jennings

Chewie, at the beach.

Finding Dobbins

Happy 2012

A version of this was to be 2011's Christmas card. I drew the owl and everything. Then there was a last minute rush of clients clambering for end of the year projects, so the cards never went out. Will start this year's card in July. Lesson learned.

Con Sketchin : Smokey Bear

The Smokey Bear PSA's were an important and nostalgic part of my childhood. After finding a sweet vinyl Smokey (AT THE CON!), it was time to try my hand. Don't think for a second I am done with this project. (Sketches posted in chronological order.)

[Click image to see larger.]

"Trip"

One of two pieces for Domy’s ‘Monster Show.’ (Oct 29–Dec 8, 2011) First time working in watercolor in years.

Monster Art 2 : The Hill, Rough 1

S’almost October! Time for drawing some monsters!

I did something different with my line this time. Instead of blowing it out and making it look almost vector, I retained the pencil line characteristics. (I played with the multiply and levels to get it where I want.) I am really happy with it. Going to move forward with it.

Rough: Paul Bunyan, Ax Riding

As I move into deadline land, 3 weeks to the final of the second Jacob Wonderbar book, I won't be doing many finishes for the blog. As with most everything I've done here in the last two months, I wanted to take concepts further. Here's a quick sketch--it's got obvious problems, foreshortening on that arm, for one--for a Paul Bunyan drawing. It's called Ax Ride.

ball point pin (click to enlarge)

Medieval Adventurer Koala, Full String

You may have seen below, I was drawing some pugs, and there was a koala, who ended up being a medieval adventurer koala. I did a couple of drawings that night. (If you want to see any of the images larger, just click on them.)

The first koala. 

 

 The second koala is all action packy. The next day I started thinking about what he was wearing, the sword he was carrying, that sort of stuff. So, after pulling some reference, and talking to a friend who specializes in drawing fantasy stuff, I did some sketches.

 Having those things nailed down, I sat in a coffee shop sketching with a friend and did a composition with the koala. Later, I colored it. (That's an eucalyptus plant on his cloak there.)

 The drawing, really, is a rough. It's a character shot, nailing down what his outfit looked like, etc. The environment color was proof of concept. It's not the final composition with the character.

 Here is a rough that puts our fellow in peril. It adds some architectural details to the background. However, I am happy at the point I have reached with the character and so will stop here for the time being, so this drawing is going to wait. (And I want to do a finish on that owl and its bicycle.)

Proof of Concept

Owl on a bicycle. (More to come.)

Dumb Koalas

Sometimes, you are trying, and failing, to draw some pugs.

When all the sudden, this koala medieval adventurer shows up.

And then you think, hey, what if, like, he was jumping all climatically and stuff.

Mr. Bones Plays the Blues

(A repost of an old piece, per request.)

Owl Be at the Beach

Paul Bunyan : Finish

It's Paul Bunyan Day! So here's Paul and his ever present faithful ox, Babe! (Click image to see bigger.)

graphite & digital

According to the Paul Bunyan Wikipedia page,Mr. Bunyan's origins are a bit convoluted. It is generally agreed that "10,000 Lakes of Minnesota were formed from the footprints of Paul and Babe while they wandered blindly in a deep blizzard." Over in Wisconsin, they say Rib Mountain is his final resting place. This was pointed out to me by a friend from Wisco who is always quick to point out things to me relating to Wisco.

Paul Bunyan : Line and Color

It's Paul Bunyan Day!

I love folklore and Paul is definitely my boy.

Here's line art. Finish coming later day.

graphite & non photo blue

... and here's the finish! (Actually scanned, not an iPhone photo.)

graphite & digital

Making Wookie, or, Chewiepalooza

I dig Chewbacca, but I'd never drawn him. Today I decided I would.

graphite & digital

The finished Chewbacca.

But I started with this earlier in the day, a quick warm-up sketch--with worse rendition of his crossbow evs. "I believe I will revisit this subject," I said.

red pencil

And later, on the way to final, without reference. (Just playing with how the pieces go together.)

graphite & non-photo blue

Wrinkle in Time: Mrs Who, v1

ball point pen

Recently reread Madeleine L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time." I was mulling over Mrs. Who in my sketchbook. Here's a couple of quick sketch ideas. (Not there, but on the way.)

Wrinkle in Time: Mrs Who, v2

ball point pen

Been trying to find her for months, & then there she is.