Animated Hummingbirds

I hadn't animated anything in awhile, and I also hadn't tried to export an animated gif without getting awful colors/artifacts all over it via Flash. So I decided to try and animate one of my illustrations for a change, using a few extra steps to get a clearer animation. It was definitely worth trying out! Hope to animate a few other things in the near future.

still version

Open For Business

My new card, that is. Long, long ago right before graduating college, I had swiftly conjured up a business card to use for networking in the world of illustration


...Needless to say, it was barely legible and any text information on it was hard to read due to some watercoloring that went sorely out of control, teamed with my inability to want to remotely Photoshop my work at the time. I believe most people wouldn't even dream of trying to contact me due to the severe eye-strain I may have caused them (deepest apologies to anyone who picked up my card at conventions or was handed one by yours truly). So! This is the new design to contact me by and hopefully it's easier to read, see, enjoy, and... utilize to its full potential.
Currently, I've been working on some stuff for Tiny Mantis, and they're cranking out some games for Nikelodeon. Very fun! I'm not allowed to post any of the work publically, it's exciting nonetheless!

...Too Many Pinwheels...

I had misplaced this file about a month ago and never got the chance to complete this illustration until now.

'Propulsion' is a companion piece to "Compulsion" which can be found here on my site. I'm just glad to have it out of the way.





In the meantime, here's a few random photos from the San Diego ComicCon, some of which were taken by Tony Canepa because my camera likes to make everything look very very... gray. First is the sight of over 100,000 people around the center, followed by lego-built models of R2-D2 and C-3PO, the best looking group of randomly met illustrators for dinner, some original pages of Will Eisners(going for a few hundred dollars to a few grand), and more of our merry band of awesome dinnermates.

Recuperation

I find it hard to keep creating pieces when they're just not working for me. I think I'm discouraged because I really am awful with Adobe Illustrator CS and every job description asks me to be completely fluent in the program. Nevertheless, I'm going to struggle and kick vector art's ass. In the meantime, more photoshop airbrushing practice. This one was a one-day sketch.


There's just something unnerving about doing flat color work and then working with gradients and airbrushing. ...There has to be a better way to mesh the two and I have yet to discover it for myself.

Now. I have 2 weeks before the San Diego ComicCon to color my two comics... and possibly draw up a third. I'm being as optimistic as ever.

Cheers.

More Photoshop

Another one finished. Is it obvious I really enjoy scanning in pieces of paper...?

Just a piece to practice yet even more airbrushing in Photoshop. Another two or so may follow after this one.

Prints Prints Prints!

I have four pieces of work available as prints here! More soon to come.. once I get time to upload it or create some more illustrations. No idea how the colors will come out if they're printed... but I have to sort of trust imagekind and their amazing printing quality. I just found it to be a great way for artists to get their art printed to the mass public and to actually make a profit from it instead of trying to make back the $500 you spent on a massive printer, plus the money for nice enhanced matte paper or photo glossy paper. ...and then factor in the lovely prices of ink cartridges. Phew. My other choice was Boundless but I discovered I had to print and ship my own things.. I just can't afford it!

In the meantime, here's a sketch I'll be attempting to photoshop the hell out of. I've been truly inspired by the AWESOME critters of Bobby Chiu at Imaginism. I've been doing so many fashion infuenced pieces that I just truly miss the whole genre of sci-fi fantasy and all the dimensions people go into. I really ought to teach myself how to properly paint in all the programs available...

Lack of Funds

That's the terminology I'm given by small companies. While I have the potential to do freelance concept work for a video game company now, I am hoping for something more concrete. Full-time being the key words. Freelance work for publication just isn't going my way right now, and I think I can definitely blame myself for not trying hard enough in that department. I look at work by Yuko Shimizu or Rodolphe Guenoden and I become a bit discouraged. I have higher hopes of getting a career in NYC, probably working in Illustrator. While I dislke the program, I believe I can teach myself easily for a job. I used to abhor Photoshop and now I can't seem to tear myself away from it. Funny how programs grow on us like that... I just take a bit of time to resist technology I suppose.