It's your boifday!

So, long time no see. Been quite busy, i have.

Animation course is up and running, and i'm about 4 weeks into it.

Which in turn leaves me with little time for much else! Lots of work..

But that's expected right? It ain't no walk in the park.

The season for birthdays is upon us (is it ever not?), and i've begun to express my love and thanks to my friends by drawing pictures for them. These are my two much loved friends, Ian and Amy. It's a great motivator, as it gives me a goal to work towards, and even at two drawings in, i can already imagine brand new directions in which i can take these ideas. So for this, among everything else, i'm thankful to my friends!

On another note, up until now this has been a blog where i post only my work and my progression. I'm considering mixing it up a bit, and throwing in there some of my own influences, thoughts, and works i personally find inspiring. It might make for interesting reading, and will probably mean i update this blog more often - it seems deadlines are the driving force...

Until next post, keep drawing and be at peace.

Marty xo

New favourite thing

So you can learn a lot from fashion shows. I certainly did. The other night with my beautiful gal, Shayli Harrison http://daintyetceteras.blogspot.com/, we went to visit a friend Christina Bouzios http://bou-themadones.blogspot.com/, who was having herself a stunning little fashion parade. What an incredible collection, from an incredibly talented young visionary. I was lucky enough to get backstage as Shayli was involved with the dressing and styling of the models. I've gotta say, I most certainly have a new favourite thing.

History

Here are some older doodles and characters i found stashed, along with a collage piece i made out of old 'Swamp Thing' comic books.

These rocker dudes date back a couple years now, i find it interesting to see how my own style is steadily changing and developing, and of course how it's influenced by others throughout my different stages of learning.

I can really see the Jamie Hewlett coming through during a particular phase i had..

Though nothing comparable to his sharp designs!

These sketchy pen drawings were done last year, when i was living in that exact house in a suburb called Marrickville. What a trippin' good time i had there... Though 6 people in a 3 bedroom house sure makes for interesting living...

Will trade for real thing.

Something else that gets me sweating is a fine, fast machine... A vintage northern Cali style chopper would be my steed of choice, 80" Shovel motor, hardtailed, skinny skinny skinny...

The details are a surprise!

Ahh if only i had better funding...

For now, i work with what i have.

Here's a chop i created from pieces of recycled wood, furniture, etc.

She don't move very quick, but she sure looks fast.

Hey there laddy

This here's an Australian 'Lad', or for those of you in the UK, a variant on the 'Chav'.

He's pretty self-assured in the fact that he wants to steal from you and/or inflict pain on you while shouting loud obsenities - but i love 'im anyway, gosh darn it.

Now we're getting somewhere!

Hey John! Look what literally just arrived in the mail!

How refreshing. How relieving! More cartoons!!!

Methinks we'll be seeing a lot more exercises from here on...

Stay tuned!

Portraiture, life drawing

On another day, not long back, we had a very patient though sometimes sleepy model come and sit for some portraiture. She's the first drawing up on the top.

I really enjoy drawing faces, more than anything else lately, and i've played around a bit with some facial structures (these weren't real models, just my imagination). I'm interested in attitudes and reactions, but i must also make an effort to explore outside these boundaries if i'm to begin animating.

Studies of mass and balance, form and shape, are paramount!

Bodies! Bodies!

I'm hungry.

Studies of postures, life drawings

So we had a model come in to our illustration class yesterday.

Here are a few examples of our studies. I'm still developing in the areas of proportion and muscle tone mainly though i'm quite happy with the general attitude and stance of the loosely drawn standing figure.

Long way to go though!

I do find it very interesting and a great mental exercise, we're all pretty much exhausted after a 5 hour day of working through these puzzles!

Opening up the sketchbook

And here's where i do most of the brain squeezing, my trusty sidekick... The Sketchbook!

Behold, a few originals pertaining to the previous post. I'll be sure to post up the progression of my work from idea to finished art as often as possible, though for now it'll mostly be 'idea' and not so much 'finished'.

Yeah... Working on that one.

Until next time, stay good lookin'!

Stickers

Man, coming up with a name for a blog is hard work! So screw it!

Good lookin' (that's you), here are some more drawings, these ones with some sticky stuff on the back, for stickin' places... Secret places...

Shh! Don't tell anyone!

A tribute and a new beginning

I was inspired to begin this blog after years of stalking (purely admiring the work of) my fave, John Kricfalusi.

I grew up on all sorts of cartoons, and had all sorts of influences, but the one cartoon that has always had a special place deep down in my loins, as you could imagine, is Ren & Stimpy.

This to me is the perfect animation, these are the heights i aspire to in my everyday thinking, drawing and planning

Since discovering John K. was in fact human and had his own blog, http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/ a few years ago, i can safely say that i'd like nothing more than to work in a team with this man.

The education in cartooning and animation, and life, that i've received from his blog alone has allowed me to grow as an individual - artistically, stylistically, psychologically and culturally.

Here i learned about so many other heroes (and heroines) of mine, including the great Ralph Bakshi and the amazingly talented Katie Rice, who's blog can be found here http://funnycute.blogspot.com/

Herein is my attempt at documenting my long road to what might someday bring me closer to producing such quality work.

I appreciate any and all feedback folks, after all that's what i'm here for!

If you're out there John, i've bought the Preston J. Blair book and i'm on my way to sending you some exercises! For now, here's a bit of a tribute, all doe-eyed and gentle - be nice!