More Seeds

Here are some character concept sketches I did for "Seeds of Change" my summer project with writer Rob Gervais.

They are not specific to the script, I just started to doodle and this is what popped out of my head. I have a hard time drawing women so I thought I'd practice a little. Hope you like them, let me know what you think. Later.
Joe

Change is Coming

If you checked out any of the post on Industry I eluded to working with a talented writer in San Diego. Well Rob Gervais has so kindly asked me to work on another project with him. Rob wrote an incredible story called "THE SEEDS OF CHANGE". He decided to do the project in a comic format and submit it online.

Not only am I flattered that he asked me to do the art work, but I am so fired up to get started on it. The story is such a cool concept. Rob truly has some serious talent and I can't wait to see where it takes him. I'm just happy to be along for the ride on this project. This is my summer project, so I hope to have everything completed by the end of the summer. I'll keep you posted with monthly updates.

In the mean time here are some of the early concepts. Let me know what you think. Later.

Joe

More Industry

Ok are you guys sick of me posting these yet? This will be the last of the Industry posts for awhile. Rob, the writer I'm working with had a few last minute ideas, so I quickly threw these sketches together over the weekend. These are reeeeaaaallly rough sketches. I didn't have much time. My weekends are happily consumed with my wife and kids. So I was pretty beat and couldn't hack the late nights this weekend. I must be getting old. Hope you like them, let me know what you think. Take care.

Joe

Industry Update

Here are some more images for the little Industry project that I'm working on with a buddy in San Diego. I've sketched these rough images from the proposal he wrote.

The image below is just a rough line sketch. This is how I layout am image before I add any detail. W I'm out, I'm actually falling asleep as I'm typing this. Wish me luck. Hope you like them.

Samson

Here is a sketch I did awhile ago and forgot to post it. This is one of the characters, Samson, from my graphic novel that I'd like to finish before I'm 50!! I wrote the rough draft three years ago. I originally wrote it as a screen play then decided it would work better as a graphic novel and I would have more control over the project. Oh yeah, that and I couldn't get any one but my wife to read it. (and she's not a real fan of the comic stuff, more proof that she must really love me. or she just wanted me to shut up about it and get to bed before 3am)

I've always wanted to do my own comic, so hopefully I'll be able to finish it some day. Hope you like the pic.

Sneak Peek

Ok, I know I said I have a bunch of different projects going on. Unfortunately some of them I can't talk about just yet. Buuuuut, I can give a sneak peek. So here is a cover project I'm working on with a very talent writer here in Cleveland. Nothing is set in stone yet, I'm still doing some concepts and waiting to hear back. So wish me luck and I hope you like these rough drafts, or at least the small portion of them that I'm showing.

Take care,

Joe

Industry Project

Here are some images I did this weekend for a little project I'm working on with a friend in San Diego. These are my first rough sketches. They're very basic, just some pencil and ink. I've got a couple things going right now. I'm having a lot of fun working on them. It's pretty cool to do some images for other people when you are just working with the description they provided you with. It's kind of nerve racking while I'm waiting to hear what they think about the images . Speaking of which, let me know what you think.

Take care

Craaaazzzy Busy!!!!

Well, I haven't had much time to do any art work lately. Work has been chaotic to say the least, and I've been having a blast with my family. I usually do some art work late at night and on the weekend. To add to the craziness I recently came to the sudden realization that, well, I am reeeaaallly out of shape. So I've been trying to go to the gym after the kids go to bed. Needless to say this has cut into my art time.

I've been trying to doodle when ever I get a free second. This past week I had a ton of administrative stuff to do at work on top of the normal load. The only positive to admin work is that it usually gives me a few minutes to doodle while my computer is running. So here are a few I did this week. They are quickies, but I had a blast doing them.

The trees are inspired by a story I am reading over for a very talented friend. They are not realated to the story, but popped in my head while I was reading it. I hope to have more about this one in the future. Besides, I've got this weird thing for trees. I grew up running around in the woods, and love the outdoors. I feel at peace when I'm there. Yeah, I'm cheesy, can't help it. Ok enough about the trees.

These random faces are just that, some random doodles. Hope you like them. Let me know what you think.

The "Gruncher"

Well a fellow blogger Tom set up the latest art challenge. He threw the name "Gruncher" out there and said lets see what everyone can come up with. So here is my little sketch of The Gruncher.

The first thing I thought of was a huge massive beast. Then I thought how cool would it be if this big tough name was actually this little unassuming bugger. Then the little guy could actually change into the huge beast whenever he wanted.

I love drawing long ears and putting these black lines and symbols on my characters. A lot of my characters in my next project have the ears and marks. Anyway enough rambling. Hope you like the pic. It's a quicky. I colored it with a few Prisma color markers I have laying around.

If anyone is interested in getting in on these challenges just post a link on either Toms site or my own. Love to see what everyone comes up with. Check out Tom's blog at http://www.traversart.com/

What Drives Me!

Here is a little sample of what drives me. My wife and kids are my life, everything else is pretty much an added bonus. I've been fortunate enough to grow up in an amazing family. I have one brother and three sisters. Even though we are spread out between Ohio, NY and Texas we are all very close. We have an incredible relationship and bond. Especially me and my brother, he's been my best friend through out my life. We owe it all to my amazing parents.

It's because of them that I appreciate my own family so much. Through out my life they've helped teach me what is truly important. I look at my wife and kids and it makes me want to be a better man, and truly give my all in everything I do. I work hard at being a good father and husband, and push my self at work. Some how I find the energy to try and get this art thing going as well. I guess I want to teach my kids to work hard and play hard, but never give up on your dreams. I hope I can pass that down to them.

These pictures where taken by my insanely talented wife. She started her own business two years ago and just keeps improving every day. She's really amazing, and I can't believe how far she has come in such a short period of time. She's is the hardest worker I've ever met and often stays up til 2am then chases two wild kids around all day. She's incredible. Check out her work at http://www.design489.com/This last pic makes me proud. Both my kids like to draw and make a mess. I love when my son wants to hang out with me while I work on book. He's left handed just like his old man. Thank you God for this life! It's the simple things I love the most.

Little Angels and Broken Hearts

Well this one is a tough one for me. I'm writing with a heavy heart. I announced a few months ago that my wife and I where expecting a baby. Unfortunately we lost the baby a few weeks ago. I think we are still in shock. We miscarried a few years ago before we had my son. It hurt then, but we had some warning signs. This time we where caught completely off guard, and where really knocked off our feet.

We are trying to pick ourselves up and return to some kind of normalcy. I know I'm a guy and these things aren't supposed to effect men that bad, but I tell you what; I'm crushed. I can only imagine how my wife feels. She has to deal with the emotional and physical loss. She is a rock, and I'm amazed by her strength every day. I thank God for my son and my daughter every day. They are truly the best medicine, and keep us laughing. We are getting back on our feet, and the kids have no idea how much they are helping. It's the little things they say, the smiles and their laughter that help us through. We are doing better and appreciate all the prayers from friends and family.

I did this picture to help work my way through the loss. I don't always understand Gods plan, but I know he has one, and it's better than mine. So I trust him and just ask him to help us through what ever obstacles come our way. It's just hard when they are so painful. I guess he thought we needed two little angels in heaven to watch over us. So I talk to them every night, tell them I love them and ask them to watch over us. May God bless you and your families. Give your kids a squeeze and remember to appreciate the little things in life. Take care.

Little Hippos

Here are some quick sketches I did tonight. Still trying to work out the kinks.

Pink Hippos and a Random Elephant

Here are some character concepts I worked on this weekend. Hope you like them.

I had some problems with my scanner again. I have to scan the images in as a photo so they don't look so pixelated. Any way for some reason there was a major difference in the color between these two scans. Let me know which one you think looks better. And if any one has some scanner pointers, I'm all ears.

Here is a random elephant. I love drawing elephants. You can do some much with their trunks, and really add to the emotion, depth and movement of the image. Hope you like these.

Next Challenge

Ok, I had a blast sketching some images for Jason's' Challenge. So I came up with another challenge idea. If you you could redo or update one of your favorite childhood cartoons what would it be? I thought about it for awhile, then the Herculoids popped into my head. This is an old cartoon from the late 60s early 70s. It's the cheesiest thing I've ever seen, but there is something about it that I love.

The concept is actually pretty cool. A barbarian and his family run around saving the world with a Dragon, Triceratops that shoots meteors, two blobs that can shape shift, and a giant Gorilla made of Stone. I loved Igoo, the rock ape as a kid he was my favorite. The dragon Zok was pretty cool too. He shoots lasers from his eyes and tail.....sweeeeet.

So I did my own version of how I would update the characters and make them a little more edgy or modern. I would love to redo this cartoon and have the freedom to run with it. So here is my little perspective of the Herculoids: Zandor, Tara, Dorno, Gloop, Gleep, Tundro, Igoo, and Zok.

Sooooo the challenge is on the table fellas, What cartoon from your childhood would you like to redo or update. I'd love to see what you come up with. I had a hard time deciding between Herculoids, Space Ghost and Thudarr the Barbarian, can't wait to see what you guys come up with. I couldn't fit the entire image on my scanner, I'll try to shrink it and scan it later.

Game On!

I was out of town over the weekend with some of my buddies and had some time to sit down and do some art work. I finally got a chance to work on the friendly art challenge from Jason and Tom. The concept was who would win in an all out rumble between super heroes. This was a hard one for me since there are so many that I like, and then I had to have one of my favorites take out another!

So I picked my all time favorite, Superman vs one of my top ten Thor. I figured it would be a great rumble, but in the end Sups would pound the God of thunder. Sorry Goldie locks, but your going down. (I screwed up Supermans face on this one, but liked the concept)

I had so much fun doing this I decided to sketch out a few more. Here is another match up between two different men of steel. Colossus, who is one of my childhood favs vs Steel. A little Marvel DC match up again.

In the end Colossus is the coolest "Steel Man" around (well next to sups).

Here are a few other randoms I did while I was on the plane. I think I had some guilt in taking out Thor, so I had to do a tough sketch of him. Hope you like it. Tom, Jason, let me know what you think. And I have an idea for another little art challenge. I should get the post up by the end of the week.