Week 5: Simpsons Bullies

I love the Simpsons. More than any parent, teacher, or book, the Simpsons shaped who I am today.  

Which I'm sure my mother loves.  So when the chance to draw some secondary characters came up, I couldn't get my head out of Springfield.

I've also been doing show flyers for the past few years, and I can't get my head out of there either, so it's probably best to look at this while listening to Kyuss. 

Check out the process here, and go spend some cash on a print here, if you want to help me build my Simpsons action figure collection. 

Tim W4: 1980's "Cartoon-gasim"

Well, better late than never, right?...guys..heh...o'boy, anywho, on to the art (almost).

I couldn't pick just one cartoon character from my childhood to draw (I loved soooo many) so I drew as many as I could in the "time allowed" (yes, the irony of that statement is not lost on me). This piece started as a drawing in my sketchbook, then scanned, and colored in photoshop. 

If you want to see the ink drawings, and uncolored computer art check it out here on my personal blog timswitalski.blogspot.com, I'll wait for you to get back.....

hmmm-hmmm-hum-hummming (waiting noises continue)....

ah good you're back, that was cool right? I thought so too. Now on to the Art (I know, I know, what you're really here for right). Enjoy!

Hey, you, yeah I'm talking to you. You should go here to check out this drawing in all of its super-sized glory: timswit.deviantart.com

Week 5: Spotlight on the Supporting Cast

You've already drawn Spider-Man.  You're pretty good at drawing Batman.  And when you say James Bond, everyone knows who you're talking about.  But none of these characters exist in a vacuum.  Every one of these are supported by a variety of cast members, some of which are just as interesting as they are.  Those are the people we are drawing this week.  Throw out all of the superheroes, the sidekicks, and the main villains.  Look to their left and draw one of the many characters that support them.  Maybe someone that you thought never really got their due.  So stop thinking of Spider-Man and start thinking of Aunt May.  She's a nice lady.  You should draw her.  

Topic is open to any source you choose: books, comics, TV, movies, etc.  Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

The Banana Splits..errr The Banana Bunch

I grew up watching The Banana Splits. Every Saturday morning I'd huddle in front of the t.v., bowl of Captain Crunch or Quisp cereal..and this was the show. It was pretty much just quick gags..Four guys..or gals...dressed in animal outfits doing an hour long variety show. The show consisted of the four anthropomorphic musicians playing rock music, running into walls..or each other, being smacked, hit with mallets or punched by unknown assailants, (Although their arch nemesis The Sour Grape Bunch was usually behind it.) Along with this were quick cartoons and live action adventure shorts...Danger Island, The Three Musketeers, Arabian Nights and a slew of others. Fleegle, Drooper, Bingo and Snork...
As with all good rock bands...I've always envisioned them slipping into typical rockstar...habits. The band still together.
You can get a gander at the inks over at my blog..http://www.chelzostudios.com/

Week 4: The Three Spheres: Pete, Pete, Artie

 

I struggled for a log time trying to figure out which kid's show to riff on.  I honestly don't remember watching too many kids shows, although I do remember watching Robocop a lot.  But then I realized just how much Nickelodeon I consumed.  

I spent a full night watching You Cant Do That On Television reruns, but couldn't come up with any good Barth compositions. So, I chose good over evil and went with Pete and Pete, a show that despite the time it was released was a beacon for everything great about growing up.  Not to mention most of what was good with the nineties too.

Honestly, this one got a way from me, and I really wanted ink and color it straight, but this whole "draw as much ridiculous stuff on the page as you can" style I've been rocking lately is hellish on time.

Keep an eye up @ www.randolphcrider.com for a more straight laced version of the pencils, but in the meantime enjoy the rock poster goodness.

PIPE!

Week 4: Ba-Dum Dum!

I don't know about you, but Levar Burton had a huge impact on my childhood. Reading Rainbow was - and is - a GREAT show. It brought a love of books to millions of kids, including me, and to this day remains one of the most solid children programs out there. I can still recite every word of that theme song by heart. The shape of books may be changing but Levar's message is still just as essential as it was in the nineties: Books are MAGICAL so keep READING. ...But you don't have to take my word for it!

By the way, my illustration this week is just a super quick photoshop sketch because....

THIS Friday! See you there!

Week 4: Zoobilee Zoo!

"Come along with us to Zoobilee Zoo."  I don't remember too much about any particular episodes, but I do have the theme song embedded in my brain (below for your own torcher) and think I may have had a boyhood crush on the kangaroo.  So I thought I'd take a shot at the characters in a bit of an animation style.  Sadly, time got away from me this week and I narrowed it down to one character.  Ultimately I'm not too happy with it.  He ended up looking way more like Barack Obama than I ever intended.  If I were to take a second pass at this, I would probably try to push it further and make it a direct caricature.  There are some hand problems too which are making me real close to proclaiming that I will no longer draw hands without a reference for as long as I live.

The one thing I am kind of happy with is its my first try at simulating a "marker look" while still working completely digitally.  I found a site with some pretty interesting brushes and may be trying some different styles in future pieces.  All in all, I learned something from this piece and I think its important that I try and take something away from everything I work on.

You can see the original sketch over at my personal site: Mayor Ben Sketch
Marker Brushes: Premium Pixels

-Ben
Personal Blog: Still-Reaching
Twitter: NeedYourDisease

Week 4: Meow, Meow, DESTROY THEM, Meow

Don't know how many of you might remember the Purple Panda from "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" but he use to creep me out. Some guy in a Purple Panda suit, unmoving mouth and eyes, talked like a robot and came from space. Here, check him out. It got me thinking, if the Purple Panda was the first wave of some alien invasion who would be his collaborator? Who would aid the Purple Planet's invasion of Earth for a chance to hold sway over it's unsuspecting denizens? Henrietta Pussy Cat of course.