October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween everyone!!! We are watching my VHS tape from 1986 where I taped Garfield's Halloween Adventure and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Part of the charm is watching the old commercials. And, one of the best is the McDonald's "Scared Silly" with the dressed up Chicken McNuggets puppets. I love that one. It just brings me back to my childhood. So, I figured I draw those little guys because I'm sure they don't get much love these days. Enjoy! Happy Halloween!

Finished Size: about 6" x 4"

October 30, 2009

If Charles Schulz drew The Great Pumpkin...I think he may look something like this. I attempted to draw it in the style of Schulz. Whether I succeeded or not, it doesn't matter. I just wondered what he would have looked like if he was ever drawn. Happy All Hallows Eve...Eve!

Finished Size: about 4" x 5"

October 29, 2009

I just can't get enough of "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" this month. So, after watching it again on the train on my iPod, I wanted to sketch the climactic scene...minus Linus and Sally. I just always liked the look of Snoopy's silhouette against the moon in the pumpkin patch. Happy stuff.

Finished Size: about 5" x 4"

October 28, 2009

I wanted to do something with color on that black paper, so I went with my standard "Halloween" imagery. It was a fun 20 minutes just screwing around with the color pencils...seeing the nice purple and blues popping off the black background.

Finished Size: about 6" x 5"

October 27, 2009

Happy Birthday Dad...on your second birthday you are celebrating in Heaven. I only hope that you are pain free and happy. I wish to see you again, but that won't be for quite some time. I still can't even look at a picture of you...as it hurts too much. So, I'd like to draw your portrait someday, but I will just need some time before I can physically do that. But for now, I wanted to at least have a birthday cake for you...as lame as that sounds. I know things will get easier in time, but I will never stop thinking about you..and wishing you were here. I love you and miss you dearly.

-Your Son, John

October 26, 2009

Today I decided to sketch on black paper with Prismacolor Pencils. It is a totally different way of thinking when doing something like that on a black background. That's the way I usually do my paintings as well, (like the X-Files ones). You have to work from dark to light, and the color really pops. But, I haven't done that in a long time, so I just used a white pencil for this sketch...just to get in that frame of mind again. It was a quick and simple exercise, but I like the look of that white popping off the black paper. I'll do something with color soon on those sheets because it is just too much fun.

Finished Size: about 6" x 7"

October 25, 2009

Scarecrows can be pretty creepy, and after seeing a couple dressed as them last night at my sister's party, I felt like drawing one. I'm done with the classic movie monsters, and I needed something "halloweenie" to draw...so they gave me the inspiration. Thanks...people whom I don't know. I think the lady was a gym teacher.

Finished Size: about 3" x 3"

October 24, 2009

This is Meester Schpooky from Spookyland. Created in 1998 by my brother-in-law, David, Spookyland is the perfect place to get tidbits, nuggets and other info on horror films. My favorite section is the Ten Second Horror Movie Reviews...the perfect place to see if that old movie you just rented is really worth your time.

So, if you like horror movies, and want to learn some more about them, head to Spookyland. You just might surprised about all the new things you learn. Enjoy!

Oh, and this is NOT stretched by accident. He looks like this when you put your cursor on him on the site.

Finished Size: about 1" x 3"

October 23, 2009

I was never a huge fan of the Friday the 13th series. But, I watched them anyway. Jason never gave me the creeps. I just enjoyed all the corny ways he murdered people...especially in 3-D. But, here he is. I'd say that in modern times, the big 3 are Jason, Michael and Freddy...and they all spawned many crappy sequels. But, the originals for each were fantastic.

Finished Size: about 3" x 3"

October 22, 2009

Nightmare on Elm Street. I saw this when I was 7...and I probably should not have. This movie gave me nightmares, and the music sent chills down my spine. And...I will always love it. Freddy scared the crap out of me for years...before he became a complete horror caricature with stupid sequels. In 2nd grade, I drew a picture of his knives-glove, and it was a hit at school. My dad made copies of it on legal sized paper at his work, and I gave them to my friends...who hung them in their rooms. That was one of the first instances that my artistic talent became something that people desired. After that, it was, John, can you draw me this, etc. It was fun. What else can I say. But really...a second grader handing out drawings of Freddy's knives?

Boy, how things have changed. I'm glad I was able to enjoy things like that. Hey, I turned out well, right?

Finished Size: about 5" x 5"

October 21, 2009

Leatherface, from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), is another "modern" monster. Funny. The "classic" monsters were "real" monsters. The recent ones are creepy human killers in masks. Interesting. Anyway, I like how this came out....face skin mask and all.

Finished Size: about 5" x 5"

October 20, 2009

Halloween. 1978. The one and only. It's my favorite horror movie, and I've seen this more times than I can count. I listen to the soundtrack almost on a religious basis every October, and I've been Michael Myers every Halloween (to give out Candy) for 16 years (my wonderful sister bought me the mask when I was 16). I have many wonderful memories of scaring people over the years, especially in college. The other Halloween movies? Don't care for them too much. The original will always be the best. But, I have to give Rob Zombie kudos on the first remake.

So, I think I'm done drawing the "old" monsters. Now, I think I can add the more recent entries. And, I figured I'd start with my all-time favorite, Michael Myers. He has "the blackest eyes...the Devil's eyes."

Finished Size: about 5" x 5"

October 19, 2009

The Bride of Frankenstein. The first zombie in movie history that was beautiful. She would probably be in poster form hanging up in young boy's rooms...if they made them back in 1935. I really enjoyed drawing this one. It came together nicely. Makes my quick "creature" sketch yesterday look like crap.

Finished Size: about 6" x 4"

October 18, 2009

This is a loose sketch of The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Nothing too special. But, it's still an iconic monster. So...he made the cut.

Finished Size: about 4" x 4"

October 17, 2009

Bela Lugosi's Dead. Yes. But, he still is the coolest Dracula (1931) in movie history. This was a very quick sketch, but I don't think it needed any more. Almost done with the iconic movie monsters.

Finished Size: about 4" x 4"

October 16, 2009

I guess he is a bit hokey, but for 1941, I'm sure this was pretty cool back then. Lon Chaney Jr. brought The Wolf Man to life, and I'm sure we have all seen his image many times...and in many forms as he portrayed so many monsters over the years. This drawing took a bit longer (about 20 minutes) because of all the hair and detail. But, I enjoyed doing it so much that I could not stop.

Finished Size: about 4" x 4"

October 15, 2009

Ah, the ides of October. Here is Karloff as the Mummy (1932). I think I might draw the rest of these old Monsters...even if the Wolfman looks hokey.

Finished Size: about 3" x 3"

October 14, 2009

I've always enjoyed the iconic look of the old monster movie villains. Boris Karloff's Frankenstein is my favorite. So, being in the Halloween spirit, I decided to sketch him. I like the feel of this one, and I love the way the old black and white movies had to use harsh shadows to really push the drama (since color was not an option).

Finished Size: about 3" x 3"

October 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Chris Carter! I was and still am a huge fan of The X-files. 1013 productions (Carter's B-Day) has been on my brain for many years. So, today, I felt like drawing the Flukeman from the season 2 episode, "The Host." It was one of the coolest monsters they created. Also, in honor of The X-Files, here are a couple Acrylic paintings that I created about 11 years ago in my illustration classes at NIU. Fun stuff. I'll get back into painting again soon.

Finished Size: about 5" x 4"

*Paintings below appear blurry as they are scans of real (circa 1999) photographs. I haven't taken any nice digital photos of these*

October 12, 2009

I've been on the Halloween kick, and we watched my favorite cartoon last night, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. My favorite scenes are when Snoopy crawls around the French countryside. And, this image is my favorite, mostly because of the colors in the sky. I only had an ink pen handy, so that's what I used to sketch it. I like the feel, anyhow.

Finished Size: about 4" x 2"

October 11, 2009

Another cartoon-guy. Just happy. A couple minutes of simple lines. I must have been in a good mood.

Finished Size: about 5" x 6"

October 10, 2009

The Boss. And, I don't mean Bruce Springsteen. When I don't know what to draw, I just draw an eye...and go from there. Then, this guy just happened in a couple minutes. The style reminds me of the Schoolhouse Rock/70's genre. He just looks like a boss...with gross smelly-hairy hands.

Finished Size: about 5" x 7"

October 9, 2009

I grew up watching Son of Svengoolie on channel 32. It's a Chicago-thing. Anyhow, I went as him for Halloween a few years ago and got my picture on his show (the one that is my profile image). My co-worker was nice enough to get me an autographed picture of Svengoolie, and I felt like doing a quick 5-10 minute sketch of him today. I like the way it came out. I'm starting to really get the "feel" back of drawing from references.

Finished Size: about 3" x 4"

October 8, 2009

Random Halloween Images. Not much more to it than that. But, I do like the little sketch of the haunted house. The shape appeals to me. I think I'll make a nicer and bigger version of that soon.

Finished Size: about 4" x 4"

October 7, 2009

I was going to draw a Haunted House, but about 30 seconds into it, I didn't want to do it any longer. In fact, I totally lost the image in my head. So, I drew this. An Alien. I always start with the eyes when I draw any face, and then the rest just happens as I go. Did I intend it to be an "80's Alien" from the start? No. I finished the head, and I had no idea how to pose the body.

Add a shirt...80's reference, short shorts, velcro-gym shoes and high striped socks...and wham. 80's Alien. I could see a series of Aliens in the future. We'll see.

Finished Size: about 5" x 6"

October 6, 2009

I used to draw and paint portraits quite often. It's one of the hardest things to do...regarding getting the likeness correct. It's been years since I have tried to just do a simple pencil portrait. So, I gave it a try today...only to find out that I am very rusty. I am about 75% pleased with this. The perfectionist I am would not let me just enjoy this. The mouth gave me a big problem, and it is much harder to draw children (in this case, my daughter) because of all the soft lines on their faces. So, I'm not totally happy, but it's a start on the right track. I'll keep this ball rolling. It feels good drawing again, though. Thank you again, Patrizzia...for getting me to do this.

Finished Size: about 5" x 7"

October 5, 2009

Just to keep the juices flowing, it's always a good idea to sketch a still life. Doesn't matter what it is. In this case, I have this little toy set on my desk at work...showing my love for "It's the great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." This took about 15 minutes...a nice little break.

Finished Size: about 5" x 5"

October 4, 2009

I didn't have much drawing mojo flowing, and I briefly attempted to draw my daughter while she was moving just a bit too much. So, after getting frustrated with the terrible sketch, I drew this instead. When in doubt, draw something stupid.

Finished Size: about 5" x 5"

October 3, 2009

Today, we went shopping at my Alma Mater's book store, the VCB at NIU. I picked up a new little sketch pad and a sweet new pen (The Sakura Pigma Brush).

I wanted to give that little sucker a try, and I did something that I have not done in years. I just sketched something that I placed in front of me. This was an Idol Statue from Chichen Itza (Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico). I only spent about 20 minutes on it, but it felt really good to do it. Sure, it may not be "perfect," but it was fun. The brush pen is sweet, but it does not let me get really fine lines like I love to get with ink. So, I grabbed the new 2B pencil to add some shading.

Finished size: about 3" x 6"

October 2, 2009

Doodled on a 2" x 1.5" Post-it.

October 1st, 2009

I'd like to see what can be compiled in a year of doodling daily. Thanks go to my wonderful wife, Patrizzia, for pushing me to do this. Here is the first.

This little guy was doodled on a 2" x 1.5" Post-it.