FRIDAY AFTERNOON!

Your average Friday afternoon in midtown.

Things are just creeping along here in the citty on friday afternoon.  Nothing much happening.  Figured I'd slap some photoshop on a craft paper doodle.

Hope you dig,

P

Celebrating 85 years of Popeye

Hey all. 

Here's a photo of this image I made to honor Popeye's 85th Birthday.  It appeared at the Hero Complex Gallery over in L.A. last week.  It showcased with a slew of other fantastic Popeye tribute artwork that you should definitely scope out if you feel the urge.

"Measuring the Forearms of Formidable Might"

The image was mounted directly onto a chunk of Maple wood for presentation but began with a digital file.  It was a compilation of sketching and Photoshop brush work all coupled together with my desire to make something loose and natural feeling.  Sorta like an old photograph from some bygone era.

Looking back, I really relish the line work in this image and how it effected my selections on this rough comp sketch.

My original pass was kinda direct, and I felt it was a bit too simple.  So, I wound up changing some stuff about.  I added an additional figure (which I'd been considering) and modified the layout a tad to try and carry the gag a bit further.

Removing the line work was my original game plan.  I kept feeling that it tied things together rather nicely.

I'd wanted to try and make the painting feel like the Fleischer Studios approach of using modeled set type backgrounds, with animated characters filmed over top.  I'd even considered making the figures look more like cel drawings with a heavy outline.  In the end, I liked the softer quality of the lighting within the shop, and I could only get that without using really dark outlines. 

Also, I tried to fit in as much as possible within the image that would, make the image a little more narrative and meaningful for anyone that wanted to get close and have a closer look at the image.

The Two Tailors are specific folks.

A proper pedestal for the sailor.

A rather familiar figure on a fashion type pin up calendar.

I put a fair amount of time into it and am pretty satisfied with how it came out.  Certainly I ran into some bumps along the way.  But, in retrospect I feel like I've learned from this image and can use that knowledge to make even more cool stuff in the future.

Thanks for checking this out.
I yam what I yam, and hope you dig it.

P

P.S.  As always many thanks to the shows organizers for letting me make some art and share in another awesome show.

I paid this doofus three bucks to hold my artwork, so I could take a photo of it.

Going on a QUEST!

Wait a minute...
Look at your watch, calendar, sundial, ect.
I'm posting AGAIN!

I've been doing some gallery work in my absence from the blog here and figured I'd share some of that here.

I always liked to imagine that the hero was just whistling the tune while, he marched about on his quest.

About a month ago I was involved in the second installment of a Video Game themed show in Brooklyn called 8Bit & Beyond 2.  I'd been involved with the first show and was happy to be invited back to participate.  After much deliberation I figured I'd draw inspiration from my very first 8bit RPG.  Dragon Warrior.

I just remember hours of grinding levels, and listening to the over world audio looping infinitely.  certainly, a favorite of mine.  Aside from illustrating some lovable Slime Creatures, with a nod to Akira Toriyama.  I also tried to work in a bit of music, because the games soundtrack is pretty great.

I'm relatively happy with how the image came out too.
It's a similar process to how my Hellboy image was made a few months back.  However, things went far more smoothly during this artworks execution due to some much needed simplification in my workflow.  Hell, even a few things that seemed like mistakes at first wound up lending a nice texture to the finished image overall (seen below).

A Warrior Wandering Whilst Whistling Within the Overworld.

Looking at this image again has me thinking about playing the game again sometime soon.
I sorely miss playing a good RPG.
 
Hope you dig,
P

Witness Protection..

Been so long since a post, and I am sorry about that.

I'm still drawing, doodling, and scribble scrabbling.
Will shoot to share more soon. 
Because it keeps me honest.

Hope you keep digging,
P

HELLBOY turned 20!

Hey All,

It's been a while.  Just wanted to share this with you and say that I'm still drawing every day.  Even though my regular posting has recently fallen off the wagon in a  most spectacular fashion.
I still carry the clipboard and burn through printer paper. 
I still dissect brown paper bags and cover them with marker and felt tip pen.
I've even started learning and practicing some new mixed media Illustration processes and have done some work for gallery shows.  Like this one...

HELLBOY: Gremlins in the Gears.

 

Color is a little closer to correct in the top image.  I had better lighting.

Most recently It was in celebration of HELLBOY's 20th Anniversary.
The work is hanging with a bunch of other amazing work over at Hero Complex Gallery, in Los Angeles.  But, I'll share it out here for those who (like myself) had to miss the show completely.
Bit of a bummer, I hear that Mignola was there for the opening night festivities.

Hope you dig,
P

Water recreation MODOK...

Well,

Chalk up another year of March MODOK Madness for me.  It's been Seven years since I sat down in a pub with my good friend Brendan, and we decided to dedicate a month to MODOK.

So, really quickly I'd like to thank Brendan for making this something to look forward to every year.
I'd also like to thank all the artists and fans out there who devote their time and skills to the celebration of our master of MINDBLAST.   The artwork you send every year keeps the month interesting and inspiring.  I salute you all.

In retrospect, it's been seven great years.  Here's hoping we all see each other for an eighth.

MINDBLASTS for ALL!
Sincerely,
P

A bit more MODOK.

Brendan and I are polishing off another year of MODOK right now.
Then I have some other drawings on my desk to get at.

Hope you dig,


P

Grumpy Ol' MODOK...

I figured I'd tune out an older version of MODOK this time around.  Had fun with the colors for sure.
I've got a few more days of MODOK ahead, Shooting to make the most of them.

Hope you dig,
P

Two MINI MODOKS!

Heya all,

  I summoned up some other tiny MODOK drawings from my big brown paper sheet.  Just little drawings done with a basic black felt pen on a sandwich baggie, with a dash of photo shop on top.  Like i said they were kinda small so I felt comfy posting them together in one post.  ENJOY!

A frumpy moody MODOK with green butt exhaust.

An excitable back lit MODOK mad with POWER!

All that being said. BE SURE TO MAKE SOME MODOK IMAGES.
March will not last forever; a sad fact of nature.
So make some MODOK TODAY, and send it our way. 
Stop on by MARCHMODOKMADNESS.blogspot.com!

Keep on MINDBLASTING!
P

The brown paper DURO-DOK!

I draw on brown paper bags a lot lately.  I've embraced the sandwich baggie is a readily affordable and available canvas for me; the texture and tone of the paper is rather pleasing too. 
This MODOK is one on a page of about 7 or 8 other drawings, and I'm gonna see about posting up all the good ones with some photoshop modifications before the month is out.  Scope um out over at MARCH MODOK MADNESS!

Simple materials + drawings of an awesome character = FUN!

So, Get out and draw a MODOK today.
P

P.S.  I FOUND ANOTHER PAGE OF BROWN PAPER BAG MODOK IMAGES..  I'll probably share a few of them too.

A LITTLE MODOK ON MONDAY.

Here's a little MODOK for your MONDAY MORNING.
Actually I finished it up last night.
Felt pen on a plain brown paper bag with some photoshop on top.

Keep on MINDBLASTING!
P

Thawing out....

Hey all,

Once again it is MARCH!

So the Masterful Mr. Brendan, and myself will be diving into a month long tribute dedicated to our favorite Jack Kirby villain... MODOK!
It's even our Spectacular SIXTH year doing this event and we hope you'll pop on over and visit us at MarchModokMadness.blogspot.com

with MINDBLASTS,
P

It Came from 1984!

"Little Byrne, Big Suit" 10x10  Pencil, maker, bristol & paper collage.

 

 

   Earlier this month I wrapped up this image for a show over at Bottleneck Gallery in Brooklyn.
The only guideline from the gallery was that I needed to reference a movie from the year 1984.  Sounded like fun, and I signed on.
 

   Upon further research I found that there were a bunch of fantastically inspiring films to work with. That one short year between the end of 83' and the dawn of 85' had me considering 12 possible movies.  I had to narrow it down to one image. 

   So, my brain shut down for a time.  Overwhelmed by the options and possibilities that usually send my mind into a spin.  Granted I draw a lot of stuff during this time; mostly sketches.  This often doesn't help, must like having a team of sled dogs all pulling in opposing directions.  After two days of sketching I can be left with WAY TOO MANY OPTIONS, and a deadline that is not going to change.  Gotta find a direction then get into the execution, not the other way around.  Must remind myself to point those dogs in one direction, and then GO.

That aside I wound up making an image based on the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense.
I wound up abandoning a few images and going with something kinda basic.  However, part way through the rending one of my earlier ideas resurfaced.  Had fun with it, and it seems to have gone over well in the show.

Same as it ever was,
P

AN EPIC ADVENTURE BEGINS...

Clicketh the image for a better view.

We'.. it's sorta an adventure.
Just a little marker doodle with some light photoshop teasing and a bit of a narrative.

Hopeth you Digguth it,
P

MARCH MODOK MADNESS 2014 Teaser!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

March is upon you. MODOK calls to you.

Brendan and I are getting things together for this (our fantastical SIXTH!!!) year of MODOK appreciation and tribute.  So, I made this calendar full of MODOK heads to get people in the right frame of mind.

We hope you'll get involved and help us make this March full of maniacal mindblasts!  So, pop on over to MARCHMODOKMADNESS.blogspot.com to get more info, and send us your MODOK images.

We've got 31 days to fill, and it should definitely be more entertaining the college basketball.

Pedro

SHAPE KID!

Have fun.
Draw stuff.
Then be sure that you keep drawing more stuff.

Draw ON!,

P

OFFWORLD!

Hey all,

I'm still here. I'm always drawing. Making images keeps me happy.
Been a little lax on posting of late, for that I am sorry. 

I'll be certain to show you more of what I've been up to in the coming weeks and months.

Hope you dig,
P

ADRIFT!

Spaceguy Stu then realized that his air hose had wandered out of frame.  "Was he breathing now?  Was he even attached to a spacecraft anymore?"  His mind began to wander....dreaming of home.

My mind is adrift in the cosmos today.
So here is some art.

Hope you dig,
P

FredBUG

He is a bug named is Fred,
he is talking about a bed.
Fred talks about Beds.

Hope you dig,
P

FrankenLout

All Shoulders. No Neck.
He's a Frankenscribble.

Hope you dig,
P

It's an OINK.

I once heard a discussion between an this mother and her young son, where they were reading a book about farm animals.  However, rather then calling it a pig the boy called it by the name of the sound it made.  I thing it's pretty awesome.

Hope you dig,
P

Meh-nday.

Mix yourself a coffee and O.J. and get back into the swing with this cat.
Inspired by Brendan Tobin's OFFICE CATS.

Hope you Dig,
P

MEETING CAT!

Here is a cat with his pie chart. 
Discussing PIE, In a Meeting.

Hope you dig.
P

P.S. With many respects to my friend Brendan TOBIN for his wonderful OfficeCAT posts.

MONDAY and the MOB.

Feeling a tad out of it today, tired and a little sore.
Here's some art to keep my spirits up.

Hope you dig,
P

Underground Gentically Altered Combat Trained Reptile..

So,

  I'm back from a whirlwind vacation around the L.A. area.  Getting back into some posting and sharing of artwork here on the blog.  CTNx certainly was daunting, and inspirational.
  Found this scribble of Leonardo and figured it was a good one to put up here and share.  Took a different approach to the Photoshop too.  I look to having drawings that are more narrative in the coming posts.
  Beyond that I'm just trying to ramp up my workflow again.  Shooting for some new goals and such.

Hope you all dig,
P

The Early Man

A Caveman, ON a Dinosaur with a Turtle OVER his head.
You gotta block those harmful UV rays 

Hope you Dig,
P

Eyesight

He was ready for battle, and even in the fading candlelight he was prepared. 
His eyes saw the enemy coming. He had his spear in hand. He was ready.

Hope you dig,
P

Tub Dogs..

Some Dogs in tubs.
Rough drawings from a project that didn't quite happen.

Still fun stuff to share.

Hope you dig,
P

In the mind of this dancing Bear...

I imagine he Just keeps plugging along.  Doing his kick dancing.. Repeating his rhythmic mantra...

Hope you keep going strong,
P

Lounge Act.

Or maybe he was supposed to be a dashing special Secret Agent.
I need to get my stories straight.

Hope you dig,
P

Rodent Ranger...

This guy wanders the wilds.  Having epic adventures and stuff.
I sure do love sketching with the felt tipped pens.
 
Hope you dig,
P

Traveler on Foot.

Pack a bag, and hit the road.
So much to see out there.

Hope you dig,

P

A Klingon State of MIND.

Hey all,

Here's a Klingon with his Bat'leth.  I figured the though bubble would help describe his inner mental workings.  You know, He doesn't like to talk about his feelings.

Hope you dig,
P

Getting all Colloquial.

I'm getting on here for a few more minutes before I catch some fast ZZZ's.
Spent a few minutes coloring this fella here to unwind.  I have looked at a lot of my drawings over the past five hours.  Sorting, Sifting, Batching, Labeling, Compositing, and it's hurting my eyes a bit now.
So, this is just a scribble.  Salvaged from the corner of a sketch page I had in front of me. Might have been the best bit of the whole page.  The shape beard obscuring his whole body was a fun concept.
Might try to revisit that in the future.

Hope you Dig,
P

Car toon Car

Everett was happy with his new vehicle.  It had tons of headroom and a very smooth ride.
I'm sitting here for a few hours tonight.  Digging through a big backlog of images.  I'll probably run some stuff out tonight, and tomorrow.  Just fiddling about.

P

New Green Suit

Bob didn't know what he'd be today... A goblin, a dragon, perhaps even an alien monster.  But, it didn't matter to Bob.  This was is big break.

Hope you dig,
P

Monday SLO' MO...

I'm moving a little slow today after having done a very long run yesterday. Figured this little turtle would probably move slow too.

Have a Good Monday everyone!

Hope you dig,
P

Happy Halloween!

Hey everyone!
I'm around, still drawing... ALWAYS Drawing, in spite of being tad withdrawn from posting regularly.  Flipped through the ol' stack o' sketches and found this Karate Kid inspired Johnny Lawrence type Hoodlum.

I bit I wrote below it has nothing to do with the movie, but it does seem like sound advice.
Wishing you all a safe holiday with unreasonable amounts of delicious
candy.

Hope you dig,
P

HOLY MOLY!  I also Drew this ZOMBIE today!

Crystals of Dungeon Vision.

Glowing crystals increase visibility in even the darkest dungeons.

This is mostly Flair feltpen & marker with a few patches and color mods in photoshop.

Hope you dig, and keep exploring while your at it...
P

Random Scribbletts with MARKER!

Two days in a row!
It's like I'm back on the wagon. Sorta.

I'm weeding through a heap of old images trying to cull out the least stinky drawings I can find in order to share a little bit, and perhaps prove that in spite of my absence that I am NOT a total lazybones.

A little marker work with the Copics in all of these and I framed some of it with a bit of Photoshop stuff. Kept it simple.

Hope you Dig.
P