Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Z is for Zacchaeus
Alright cats and kittens, I have a request for some input. I've pretty much decided that I want to kick my illustration career into high gear and I'm focusing on children's books. I'm working on building a portfolio that focuses on that market and this image is one of the samples I've finished. It's for a little kid's alphabet bible kind of thing. I'm trying something a little different (probably so little that only I will notice) and I would like some opinions on the piece. I don't know how many people read this blog, so I'm not sure of the response I'll get, but something about it doesn't seem to fit for me and I'd like to hear what your thoughts are on it.
Don't worry about hurting my feelings either, I can take it.
Thanks!
Monday, December 11, 2006
Saturday, December 02, 2006
I made this.
Here's a little job I did for work. It's my first illustrated cover for the magazine, and I'm really happy with how it printed. I was a little worried that the colors wouldn't print so well, but they turned out great. Our magazine rarely has illustrations, especially on the cover, so this was a special treat for me.
The concept was that it should have the feel of a cover to an old detective novel or pulp magazine without depicting the imminent demise of some "saucy dame". Of course, said dame still needed to appear on the cover, and we still needed the tension of those old books, so this is what I sketched up. I think it's pretty successful.
So, if you live in the Northern Ohio area, pick up a copy of Northern Ohio Live, on the stands now, and support my children. Come on, it's only 350¢!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sasquatch Redux
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Macho Nacho
I just saw Nacho Libre for the first time the other night and the whole time I was watching it, I wanted to draw Nacho. Luchadors are always fun to draw, but I could relate to Nacho. He's a hero to the orphans. That's not the reason I could relate to him, as I'm not a hero to the orphans, I can relate to him because I'm kind of fat. Not super fat or anything, but it would do me good to take up jogging. Or maybe wrestling. Hmmm.
On the whole, the film was good. I wouldn't say it was great, but it was entertaining. I do think it was much better than the overrated Napolean Dynamite because it actually had something resembling a story structure and wasn't just a bunch of one-liner's and improv skits strung together.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Look what I got!
Meet my brand spankin' new daughter, Noelle Elise. She's incredibly cute and awesome and cuddly and amazing. She was born about a month earlier than her due date, much to our surprise, but she's perfectly healthy, so we're happy she arrived when she did. She's an incredible blessing.
Now, with two children, my dad power has doubled. I'm practically unstoppable.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Illustration Friday: Ghost!
It's the Poop Ghost!
Crude? Yes. But it makes me laugh. In fact, from now on, when I am in the presence of someone who passes gas, I will just think it's a little poop ghost escaping.
And I will laugh some more.
The photo belongs to my brother, Matthew Crowther, the photographer. Used without permission.
Sorry I cropped it so much Matt.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
Illustration Friday: Trouble!
Birfday Invite!
Monday, October 02, 2006
Friday, September 29, 2006
Illustration Friday: Quiet
When one encounters the Great North American Yalp (see fig. 1-17 above), he is struck with fear at its imposing stature and grotesque features. Indeed one would think such a beast would unleash a ferocious, blood-curdling howl into the night air, when in fact, the creature is quiet as a mouse. All who have witnessed this beast in the wild have reported not so much as a, "peep" escapes its jaws when it opens them.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Sandman!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Do the Messaround
More messin' around with shapes and textures. Usually I define everything in my illustrations with thick black lines, so using shapes and shading to define edges has been fun. I think I can try to merge the two, kind of like the Sasquatch Wearing Underpants image a few posts back.
This is based off a drawing I did about a year ago. I'm happy to see it get some life in color rather than sitting around a simple line drawing.
Old, but I like it
Friday, August 25, 2006
Illustration Friday: Run
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Shapes and Textures
Hey there! I did this today after seeing the work of Johnny Yanok here http://www.johnnyyanok.com/ and I wanted to play with cool shapes and colors too. Seriously, this guy's stuff is really awesome, and quite inspiring.
Overall I'd say I'm pretty happy with the result. I may do a different version of the little girl because something about her just isn't sitting right with me. I don't think I can trust her.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Friday, August 11, 2006
Illustration Friday: Play!
Captain America
I was never really into Cap as a kid. I'd pick him up from time to time, but it wasn't one of those books that I really got excited about. Recently I started reading the old Cap stories in Marvel's Essentials and I have to say that I've really fallen in love with the character. Old school Captain America stories are super fun, and the issues penciled by Jack Kirby are amazing.
For whatever reason, I have a hard time drawing a realistic cap, but I did manage to crank out this little cartoon sketch. I know you can't feel the love coming through this somewhat unflattering cartoon portrait, but it's there.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Spelling Bee
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Melonhead
Ok, first post in a long time, I know. I've been taking a little break from the visual arts as of late, trying to figure out exactly what I should be doing with my life. I think I have figured it out, so check back for updates on the meaning of life, the purpose of mosquitos and other fun, timely topics.
Oh yeah, this guy has a big head and he was fun to draw.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Friday, April 28, 2006
Old Timey Portrait Theatre
I love old time portraits of people. Like the ones from the Civil War era where everybody looks pissed off, even in family portraits. I was looking through some books about sailing in the 1860's and there were a whole lot of crusty guys that looked like the drawing above. I imagine I probably have some relatives who look like this guy. I hope so anyway.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Brain Maze
Here's another illustration for the magazine I work for. This is my first real digital painting. I did it in PhotoShop based on a sketch I had drawn on paper. I'm glad I finally had the chance to put my Wacom tablet to good use. Stylistically it's a big departure for me since it isn't cartoonish at all. It really couldn't be since it will be accompanying a pretty heavy article about a teen struggling with mental illness.
I can't say that it's a really great piece or anything, and I have a lot of problems with it, but overall I feel like it's a success. I'm kind of amazed I'm saying that since I suffered about three anxiety attacks while trying to complete it. You know, typical stuff, "why did I agree to do this, I totally suck, there's no point in trying, maybe I should get a job at the fish hatchery..."
So if you live in Ohio and wanna see how this sucker looks in print, chack out the May issue of Northern Ohio Live magazine, on the stands... sometime shortly after we get the thing done.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Two Mo' Monsters
Friday, March 24, 2006
Atomic Monster
Monday, March 20, 2006
Been A While
I know it's been a little while since I posted anything, but I've been pretty busy. I just haven't been busy drawing. Mostly I've been writing scripts for some comics projects, which has been pretty fun. I did get a chance over the past few weeks to draw these 4 guys. I work as a designer for a local magazine here in the cleveland area and from time to time I get the chance to do some illustrations for it. These hearts will accompany a short story about cardiac health in the April issue. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out, especially the running and smoking hearts. They're my favorites.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
More Mega!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Jonasuarus Rex
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
The Monster Who Ate Everything
Friday, February 10, 2006
Sketch Block
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Sleepwalkin'
Monday, February 06, 2006
Monster!
I didn't draw this guy today, but I found him in an old sketchbook and decided to post him. I think he's a pretty cool monster in a simple sort of way. I'm developing a story right now about a guy who is forced to hunt monsters. A lot of monsters. I think this one will be called up from the sketchbook farm team to play in the storytelling majors.
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