Exit Wounds

This is concept art for a new project of mine. I'm going for '80s anime throwback without really knowing what that entails, except for a vague image of a pink-haired broad floating around my memory from childhood. The idea is she's this totally empowered, strong-willed female protagonist, but if that were the case, wouldn't her arms be proportioned correctly?

Comic-Book Time:

(click to enlarge)

Here Be Dragons

I'm a terrible colourist but I gave it a go anyway, for shits and giggles.

This is a sketchbook protest of a collection of characters from my dreamscapes. I didn't fuck up any of their likenesses too badly, but it was more memorable in my head.

 I like the turtle though. Turtles are cool.

September Claims Another

I begrudgingly attended a meeting with Castelli the other day, and had the chance of pitching a concept for a student activity diary. They sent back their formal criticism of my design, ripping my heart to shreds in the process. Now I'm alone and bleeding into the woodwork of the stairwell.

I should probably invest in some kind of stain-remover.

Exit Wounds For A Prince

This is a panel from an in-development five-page webcomic project I've assigned myself. I'm putting too much effort into detail that won't be noticed (this image takes up a ninth of a page in proper format), but it's started now, so there's no use changing the art-style. Obviously, there are issues with anatomy in this panel, particularly the guy's arms and the exaggerated female features - which is a comic-book convention I really despise, but included anyway like an idiot just to appeal to the demographic - but I like the expressions and the way the angle includes both characters, so I guess it showcases the highs and lows.

I give it three crushing disappointments out of five, and my official seal of approval.

Comic Books Are For Kids

So, I just read Charles Burns' "Black Hole" and was blown away. While its allegorical nature is somewhat anvillicious, the sexual imagery and nuanced dialogue makes an incredibly powerful experience to read. I strongly recommend it. It's a great addition to an often flat storytelling medium.

The following are two of my favourite pages:

(from Black Hole #6)

(from Black Hole #5)

Suburban Dreams, Teenage Screams

Tonight's Sketchbook Protest is brought to you by the letter "Y". As in, "Why? Oh, eternity, why?"

Is there really no true sweet relief?

(Answers on back page)

Concerning Disappointment

This is some casual design work featuring an attempt at contemporary blackletter. It really came about as an attempt to develop a handwriting style to match my affected personality, but I think it works on its own merit, too.

An Introduction To Your Uneventful Existence

This is a design for a potential iron-on T-shirt. My intention is to wear it to a christening. I think the way the type betrays influence fromGothic script is pretty interesting, and the Victorian flourishes are a nice touch. I hope they like it.

Monsters Of Us All

This is my latest sketchbook protest, scanned and coloured to beautiful perfection. It's a concept for a childrens' picture book. This one's the story of a jealous little girl who decides to stick a sharpened pencil in her brother's ear.

Slight issues w/ lens glare and texture distortion, but it achieves its intentions regardless.

Indifferent Features

This sketch is a proclamation of my love of late '90s sadcore dressed up in a Daniel Clowes inspired visual style. I've always been impressed by Clowes' ability to capture the ugliness of human beings, and yet somehow present a sense of genuine compassion alongside it. So this is my homage to his work, featuring horrible wallpaper-esque screen-tone colours to appropriately mimic his wonderfully unattractive style.

Music To Fall Asleep To

I assume it would be relevant to share this music video, directed by French animation company CRCR, of the song "Ghosst(s)" by electronic musician Lorn. The sheer artistry of the production combined with the eerie instrumental piece manages to convey, with relative simplicity, a utterly tremendous feeling of abstract hopelessness. It honestly chilled me to the bone.

Nothing like a bit of existential terror on a Thursday.

Beginner's Mind

So I started experimenting w/ Sketchbook Pro and came up with a character design for an animated sitcom. Unfortunately Adult Swim weren't interested.

(screentones added in photoshop)