WHERE DID I GO?

SO...after that first Star Wars gig, Star Wars Galactic Files Series 2, for Topps I continued on taking baby steps into the world of sketch cards, following up with my next assignment on Mars Attacks: Invasion. I was pretty stoked because I loved the idea of being able to contribute to a new concept adding to the amazing original series released back in the '60s. New bugs, mutants and Martians!

Mars Attacks: Invasion

After that I was fortunate to be asked back for a new set of Star Wars trading cards called Star Wars Illustrated: A New Hope! The set was based on the radio drama from the early '80s. As a kid I would tune in every week and listened religiously to an expanded universe I was crazy to know more about. Yeah, no tablets, phones or fancy gadgets to watch Star Wars back then cept a VCR. With the radio drama you had to imagine what it all looked like in your head! Crazy, right? While working on these I took a trip to the New York Comic Con for the second year in a row to check it out and see what it's like. One day I'll maybe make it in their artist alley so I wanted to see what I might be getting into. My hotel was coincidentally next to the Topps building and it seemed like maybe something was coming full circle with my artwork. Something...in the Force. For once I was working on a professional gig and was travelling to NYC and working on these cards in the big city! A tiny slice of my ultimate dream to live there and pursue my artwork!

Star Wars Illustrated: A New Hope

So at this point I'm rolling along and after coming back from a trip to NYCC, I decide it's time to move on from my pretty all-consuming job at the time and find something to balance out the time I was going to need to dedicate to my artwork. I took two months off at the holidays and found something a lot less involved. During my time off I reached out to other trading card companies, sending emails with samples of my cards and landed a gig with one of my favorite companies called Monsterwax. My first set was Legendary Lovecraft. While I was vaguely familiar with the works of Lovecraft I had no idea how amazing and influential his writing was until I jumped into reading it all. A great deal of modern horror sci-fi has roots in his ideas from Alien, Predator, The Thing and so much more. To see how much of the movies I have loved my whole life were influenced by Lovecraft blew me away. This dude was the real deal! Some of his descriptions are pretty crazy detailed but it was an awesome challenge trying to capture his vision in that set of sketch cards. The really cool part was that there was little visual reference or illustrations for Lovecraft stories so I had to interpret these creatures as faithfully as I could from my head. These cards have a lot of personal value to me because I did them at time when things were changing in a big way for my artwork.

Legendary Lovecraft

From Antarctica it was back to a galaxy far, far away! Star Wars Chrome Perspectives was really nifty! The cards were smaller and they were inserted into a framed card which created a really beautiful collectible! I'm a nut for monsters and aliens so I had to draw Hoover, a Swamp Snake and other obscure creatures for the set!

Star Wars Chrome Perspectives

SWCP Final Product with the frame (AP Vader in Flames)

From this point on I had some down time between card sets and decided to submit samples of my work to be considered for the Star Wars Celebration Art Show in Anaheim. But that is for another post! For this entry, I'll just say that I made it to the concept round which was really cool but I didn't make the final cut. That was an experience in itself and I learned a lot from it. Working on official Star Wars sketch cards for Topps qualified me for eligibility as you can only submit if you have done work for Lucasfilm or one of their licensees. It was a tremendous opportunity to have some really cool people see my work that just doesn't happen every day. I learned so much that I want to write about all of that separately. I've never found any real documentation of artists experiences who have the opportunity to be considered for a Celebration Art Show. So for anyone thinking about going for it one day maybe my experience will help in some way. But again, that's for another post some other day.

Back in the saddle for more sketch cards, I had two sets for Monsterwax back to back with Monsters & Maniacs followed by Dinosaur Galaxy! Monsters & Maniacs I felt really was some of my best work. I hit a stride in the middle of those cards and they might be my favorite sketch cards to date. I think my line work really pops in those! Dinosaur Galaxy was another big leap with composition as I added more backgrounds and multiple creatures. Both sets had some fun colors too!

So here we are now!

I just wrapped three new sets! One is Star Wars Illustrated: The Empire Strikes Back and the other two I have not been given the green light to show my work yet. Both are my first sets for new companies I hope will lead to many more exciting projects down the road.

Oh! I am also working on two other sets I can't say anything about yet either. One I could say is a follow up to a set I've done before and the other is such an honor to be involved with because of the history of the set. I promise it will be really cool stuff!

Then there's an awesome secret project for an online comic I have the great fortune to be involved with as well. It's a humbling experience as it's with some amazing writers and artists headed by my own personal Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yeah, can't say anything about that one either.

For more current news on what I am up to, check me out on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/tyrantdrawnwest or for ALL of my artwork you can always see my work on Deviant Art here http://tyrant-1.deviantart.com/.

Stay tuned as I delve into the world of commissions and conventions. Woohoo!!!

Thanks for the support!

 

 

 

 

Rollercoasters Move Forward!

Yeah, I know there are some that can go backward...but whatever!

 

I have been away from the Blog forever so I thought I should add a post to catch things up!

So much has happened since delving into the world of sketch cards and while I could tell u about all kinds of ups and downs and twists and turns the rollercoaster has made, I'll just share what I have been able to take from the ride so far...hope it doesn't come across as preachy...ALL of these thoughts r based on some event or circumstance I've experienced that were a kick in the head...and my head just about turned to mush! lol

•  sometimes things r taking shape beyond your ability to know or see them...have a little faith it is still happening...because when it does happen u will feel like a knucklehead for thinking it wouldn't
• never give up...never give up...never give up...and make sure you never give up
• follow your instincts...even if something wonky happens u were probably telling yourself to do it because u needed to learn from it to move forward
• there will b ups and downs so don't get stuck on the down part for long because it won't stay there...really
• there r people looking out for u
• get feedback from the people who support u...the key word being "support"...u know who they r...the ones who help u move forward...they see what you can do and what u need help with
• believe it will happen (kinda like the first thought above but this is about believing...listen to the things Yoda says)...even if it doesn't happen when u want it to...there is a timing for everything
• don't psych yourself out or try to defeat yourself...u r absolutely the worst person that can talk u out of doing something (if u think the world is against u why join them?)...especially when u know it's what u need to do...so do it
• trust in the timing of things (as noted above)...things don't always happen when u want them to but when they r meant to happen
• keep moving forward...crash and burn or whatever epic fail u find yourself wrapped up in take inventory and move along...and realize that just might happen again (and again) before u get where u are headed
• reach out to people who know and have been there and listen to them...u don't know everything
• acknowledge those who have provided opportunities for u to move forward and make sure they know u appreciate what they have done for u...but don't be creepy...lol
• pass on what u have learned and help who u can help...pretty sure u didn't get where u r without a hand or two and whoever did was kind enough to do the same for u...and it's just what u gotta do

I don't know that I do all of this all of the time but I try to remind myself...the rollercoaster moves forward. (Yeah, I know the backward ones...WHATEVER!)

A Day Long Remembered

The 12 inch Darth Vader was the only thing in the world I wanted for my 5th birthday. We looked and looked and could never find one. I sat on my bed looking out of the window waiting for my dad to come home that day. I remember seeing my dad pull into the driveway carrying a present wrapped in green shiny paper with a big white bow. 

When I was a little kid I would draw Star Wars pictures. Darth Vader with a glowing lightsaber or TIE Fighters chasing X-wings. Big space battles with a Death Star and explosions everywhere...with the sound effects of course as I drew them. My mom and dad always told me one day maybe I would draw pictures of Star Wars for new movies and books and all kinds of stuff. They planted a seed in my head.

It's always been a dream of mine to draw Star Wars officially in some way shape or form.

Last August my wife and I attended the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando. She is the best and has always supported my art. When I saw Troy Alders from Lucasfilm would be reviewing portfolios, I had to go for a day or two, and she said lets go for the whole event. She is amazing! We were first in line for portfolio reviews!

As events unfolded going to see Troy reminded me of Neo going to see The Oracle in The Matrix. My only expectation was to see what advice he would give and hope he wouldn't tell me to keep my day job.

He was a super nice guy and had encouraging advice. He suggested I stop by several of the companies at the show and have them take a look at my work. He said my work was clean and very stylized and should be able to find work with someone there. That my style was suited for comics, t-shirts and also to maybe work on a larger scale (very cool cause I also paint murals).

Among the companies at the show, Topps was one of the ones he really suggested I go see. I was so stoked he said Topps. You see, I collected Topps Star Wars cards since I was that little kid in the picture above. Lots of Star Wars cards and lots of bubble gum. Two of my favorite things as a kid! I also collected the Galaxy card series religiously and was inspired so much by all of the artists on the set. I was fortunate to meet many of the artists at the Celebration and learn how they got into the industry. Super cool people and very kind to share their experience and advice.

My next stop at the Topps booth started to bring things full circle. It's all really too much to write in this entry but another encouraging portfolio review and some emails later...I have completed my first set of sketch cards for Star Wars Galactic Files Series 2.

When I got the invitation I read it like fifty times before I woke up my wife. I actually thought I clicked on the wrong folder. I thought it was an old email and I wasn't looking at my inbox. I thought it was also just a notification the series was coming out. No, it was an invitation to be a part of the series doing sketch cards. I ran downstairs like a little kid at Christmas. I told my wife. I called mom and dad. This was real. For real, real. I was going to draw Star Wars. I couldn't stop shaking for the next three hours. I also couldn't sleep that night.

I could not have done this with out a lot of people behind me along the way. Mom and dad are the best for encouraging me and believing in me. My wife is the best for being there to support me. My best pal Roger [link] who taught me so much I can't even say, has always been a huge inspiration. I also have to say thanks to Joe Hogan [link]. Dude has inspired and encouraged me along this path the last year. Joe's journey really made me think I could do this. Allen, your time is coming man. Thanks so much to all of you who have followed and supported my artwork and all of the kind words and inspirations you have shared.

It's been quite a journey to this point. I can't thank you enough and can't wait to share more of the journey ahead. 

So here are two sets for Star Wars Galactic Files Series 2:

That kid in the picture above. That's how I feel right now. Today I finally get to tell the world I drew Star Wars. 

It will be a day long remembered.

-Chris

GRIZZLY GHOULS FROM EVERY TOMB

Zombies.

Rotten dead bodies, severed limbs or any kind of gore disturbed me on a level I can't explain as a child. I think because to see stuff like that wasn't right in a certain way. I mean, your intestines go inside you. Not outside of you and certainly not for someone to eat. Same with blood. That goes on the inside, not on the outside.

When I was a kid I remember seeing Michael Jackson's Thriller video and it really freaked me out. Seeing these dead people dance around was a kind of contradiction I couldn't wrap my brain around. These were things that scared me. It was creepy but they were dancing crazy and it was pretty cool. Those two things weren't supposed to go together.

In recent years the whole zombie thing has grown in popularity. While these creatures run around with their shirts off or shredded they aren't the pretty people like werewolves and vampires have turned into. A shirtless zombie probably has torn flesh, a lung hanging out and a broken bloody protruding ribcage.

I know everyone is nuts for Walking Dead and I've tried to watch it. Only problem is every time I turn it on it's just a bunch of sweaty, dirty people making mean faces at each other trying to figure out how to avoid the zombies. From what I have seen it should be called Talking People, not Walking dead. Out of the six times I have tuned in, I saw one five minute segment with actual zombies in it. It was a barn full of zombies that all got shot in one big group. Some chick stuck a scythe in a zombie's head and that was awesome! But then they all started talking and arguing again and I got bored.

So, if you like zombies, whether they are the dancing kind or the kind that eat your brains, or got infected by some virus, or are the ones people just talk about, here are some recent sketch cards I was working on. For me, I just like to draw them. These creeps are drawn in pencil and inked on a 2.5 x 3.5 inch sketch card.

I hope you dig...dig, like you like them...not like dig them up.

Spent the last few days looking over some old posts going back over the last year and I didn't see this pic anywhere. Maybe I've missed it but I don't see it.

MR. FREEZE

My Cat Ate It

So I did this drawing of Jabba and really dig it. I plan on getting around to painting it in watercolors.

I usually throw whatever pic I'm working on in a folder and lug it around before I throw it in my portfolio. I think this pic is shaping up to be a pretty good one. Apparently so does my cat Jack. I left it out after getting distracted by whatever. He started to eat the corner of it and I found out too late. I've since restored it and have kept it away from him.

Boba Fett's Prize

I thought I would scan and post it before he goes into ninja stealth cat mode and finds a way to eat the rest of it.

I have always wanted to draw a scene of Boba Fett arriving at Jabba's court to present him with the frozen Han Solo. So here it is!

Looking through some of my previous artwork I felt I needed to put a little more into the images and create some scenes and environments that interested me....and hopefully you...and not just the cat.

Star Wars Episodes 7, 8 and 9

I know this blog is really always about my art but the news of the Lucas/Disney deal has my brain swirling. Considering a good chunk of work I post here is Star Wars stuff it's all related I guess.

I'm hoping the treatments George has thrown together stay away from the novelizations. I know there are people who like them but I think they are a snooze-fest for the most part. Some interesting ideas and characters here and there but not enough to carry another trilogy.

Things I think are a safe bet on Episodes 7, 8 & 9:

• You have read it here first! I am declaring the next primitive aliens will be some bird-like species most likely in Episode 8. Mammal Ewoks in Jedi. Reptilian Gungans in Menace.
• Luke as a similar role to Obi-Wan from the Original Trilogy
• R2 and 3PO will be back.
• I thought maybe Leia would be the leader of the New Republic but have back pedaled on that. As she also has Force abilities hinted at before, would make sense she is part of the foundation of the re-established Jedi. Maybe Lando is in some big shot role instead since he was Mr. Cloud City and a "respectable leader" as Han called him.
• Boba Fett will be back. No doubt with Temuera Morrison donning the armor this time. I think if Han is in there he will kill Fett. Maybe some super showdown of the Millennium Falcon Vs Slave One. Can hear Han uttering some classic sarcastic remark to Chewie (yeah he will be back too) as he says to "punch it!" and a little Thelma and Louise here we go to help save the battle.
• Palpatine always was talking smack about cheating death so I think he will be back in some way. Clone or something else. Unless Maul was brought back in Clone Wars to serve as the big baddie for the Sequels. But I don't think so. Even crazier would be if Sidious was actually Darth Plagueis. I know you are reading this and thinking I have gone off the deep end. When he speaks to Anakin he speaks as though it was someone else. Clearly that could just be the obvious angle he would tell Anakin the story in such away as to not reveal he was Sidious. But what if there was another twist? After all, people aren't always who they seem in these movies. 
• A new Sith Apprentice
• Another prophecy which follows up Anakin bringing Balance to the Force.

These are initial thoughts and none are confirmed or official by any means. I've just been watching this stuff since I was three years old.

Any thoughts?

Zombie In The Box

New York Comic Con was amazing! As great as the show was, the highlight was this box waiting for me back at my hotel.

I knew this box was coming. See, my great pal Roger over at Hey!Roger was working on a new project with a promotional coloring book for the amazing Graphic Solutions Group Inc., which featured some of my monster artwork.

I saw the file before it went to print and was blown away! As I cracked this box open...

...my mind was blown away even further! Staring at me right out of the grave was my zombie!!! That Halloween orange!!! WOW!!!

I was taken back to when I was a kid and how much I loved my dinosaur and Star Wars coloring books!
THIS was my artwork! The quality was beyond my expectations and I honestly got a little choked up.

I sat there and stared at this book flipping the pages with complete amazement. Roger is an amazing talent bringing this all together. Graphic Solutions Group Inc. knocked this so far out of the park with the printing. So far it's like an old cartoon where the ball flies around the world and smacks you in the back of the head! The texture of the pages and the print quality was astounding! Such a quality product it is truly beyond any words I can write here.

I was able to give out a bunch of these at the NYC Comic Con and people loved them! I'm still giving them out and people love them! There is this stunned pause right after I hand the coloring book to them. They stare at the front cover, flip the pages and BOOM! First thing they say to me is what a top notch print it is and how great my artwork looks!

I can't thank Roger at Hey!Roger and everyone over at Graphic Solutions Group Inc. for including my artwork in this promo. Having this coloring book in hand at the show made this a really special experience.

You need design work Hey!Roger http://www.heyroger.com/ is who you need. You got a print job Graphic Solutions Group Inc. http://www.gsghome.com/ will take care of you. Check them both out!

Have a safe and horrific Halloween!

You Have Taken Your First Step Into A Larger World

I think maybe I have seen Star Wars way too many times in moments when I hear Obi-Wan in my head saying things. Of course I don't think that's possible. Seeing Star Wars too many times. Besides hearing Obi-Wan in my head is perfectly normal.

In recent weeks I've jumped into the world of sketch cards. I usually work on a 5 x 7 inch size so it isn't a giant leap to the standard 2.5 x 3.5 inch sketch cards. As an artist it's pretty rewarding creating pieces on such a scale when you make some you really dig.

The biggest challenge really so far was not working on a smaller surface. Finding the right cards and pens to get these images out of my head has been the tricky part.

I've tried cutting my own cards but like having the consistency of pre-cut blanks. I went through several card types made by Strathmore before settling on the 42 pt lightweight vellum finish artist trading cards. They are a bit thicker than what appears to be the standard, but for my own cards is just right, for now. The other cool thing is I can paint watercolors on these without the warping you get from the watercolor cards made by Strathmore.

As for inks, I have used a variety of pens and markers but settled on the KOH-I-NOOR Rapido Sketch 0/.035 and 1/.50 Art Pens. I get the solid blacks without the marker streaks. Of course I discover this about 70 cards down the road. All good though. I still dig em. Oh, and I scored some Copic markers on the cheap so that's been another fun set to play with.

With all that said here are my latest cards. Well, sorta. I've been doing so many I have lost track of what order I've done them in.

My first step into a larger world. Or should that be a smaller one?

Star Wars Sketch Cards

HERDING THE CATS RUNNING AROUND IN MY HEAD

Through my whole life people have asked me how I know what to draw. How did I see the picture in my head? It's kinda hard to explain if you don't experience it. It's like trying to describe something exactly from a dream. You see it but every detail isn't quite there. Certain main things are there and that's the easy part. The rest you can logically kinda fill in. Sorta.

It is elusive. Like herding cats at times.

Funny thing is the idea for the main picture I'm going to write about  started with a dream. Clearly influenced by bubblegum cards from my childhood and some Salvador Dali. Right before I woke up I saw this image. Basically all the bounty hunters from The Empire Strikes Back forming an image of  Darth Vader. So I sketch it up. I started with a basic line drawing of Vader.

Taking one step back before this I did draw a simple line drawing of Vader as the base for the image. Based on the lines I envisioned what lines could be shared lines of the base Vader image. Some weren't there but I incorporated some where I could. Like Bossk's shoulder and Vader's mask.

Once I knew who was going where then I went ahead and fleshed out the image and figured I'd tackle each one separately. I did question if I should maybe try doing this as one big image instead. Yeah, no. 

So I thought Fett would be the easiest. He's awesome and I was really into it.

Yeah well the initial sketch was cool and there are things I really like but clearly his head is off center and his right shoulder is wonky. I also had to reference his rifle because it is different in Empire and Jedi. Image still wasn't working for me.

So I tried this idea and once I finished the line drawing I grabbed some markers and filled it in. Again. the idea has potential but that's not it. Plus the orange background wasn't going to work. Thought was to have swirling clouds around him from Cloud City to help form lines in Vader's helmet.

Then I saw it. I separated the clouds from Boba and I could see it. Here's that moment people ask about. I don't know how I saw it but it was there. Seemed obvious to me. But I had to take the image to this point to see it. I stopped several times and came back to this picture. I knew this other version wasn't it but I had to keep going. Just felt compelled to keep on. 

So here it was. Clouds the same. I realized my dimensions were off and it was boring. So I gave him his rifle and made a smoking barrel instead of clouds. The background for all the other hunters is a blue-green-grey color. So away with the orange.

Now his rifle looked stupid. This looked like a canon. Not a rifle.

Changed the rifle then it was all good.

I colored it up in Photoshop referencing a million pictures and action figures. I found a pretty clean image online and saved it. I opened in Photoshop and sampled the colors for my pallet.  Not only is his rifle different but the  color of his suit and armor is a tinge different from Return of the Jedi.

Still working on the ultimate assembling of the colored versions. But here's the B&W with the whole gang.

In the end I'd say about 70 hours went into this one. Like I said though, still one or two more colored versions to come.

Almost there. Two more cats running loose.

SHARING A BITE TOGETHER

RAAAAARRRRRRR!!!! 

Part of a mural idea I have been kicking around forever. I just think this would be awesome on a huge scale.

Makes me think of the scene in Jurassic Park 2 when the two Rexes rip that dude in half. Like you think getting eaten by one is bad. Then you realize it's much worse if they share a bite together.

Is it just me or is the whole idea about cloning just never turn out very well? Especially if you are a Jedi or work in an amusement park.

TYRANNOSAURUS

ZIGGED WHEN IT ZAGGED

I've mentioned before in previous blogs I used to do a lot of watercolors back in the day. Since most of the color did the work, in a sense, I kept my drawings pretty simple. Then there was also a huge influence from Batman: The Animated Series and Mike Allred's Madman comics.

The line work in my images and how it defines my style seems to be a topic lately and I've been discussing how this has come to be such a prominent element for my art.

This latest image of Nosferatu got me thinking. Once I start inking what I see in my head really begins to take a life of it's own. I didn't plan on having the angular shapes in the background. Once I did the big black jacket I realized I had to balance it out with all the white in the image. I couldn't go with a solid black background or half and half. Just would have been too much one way or the other. So I broke it up.

I guess maybe I just see the images on two totally different levels now. Really a third if I go to the next stage to color. That's really all new to me because I used to envision a rough idea of a final image and now I wind up with different versions.

Still, I think somehow the line sticks out even with all the positive and negative B&W going on.

So here you go. Here are two pics and each with the original pencil line drawing and the inked version.

Nosferatu Ink

Nosferatu Pencil

Hyde Ink

Hyde Pencil

STAND IN THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE

Funny how all the bounty hunters from Empire Strikes Back get so much hype for not really doing very much more than standing in line. Don't get me wrong. I love them. Of course countless comics, novels, video games and cartoons have expanded these characters into the bad-asses they are. Represented as such in the movies, not so much. Still, never really knowing who these cats were was part of what made them so cool. For my generation, having seen them on the big screen when Empire was first released (without all the other media tie-ins mentioned above) they looked so cool, deadly and freaky you knew Han was in deep crap now that Vader was sending goons after him. As if it wasn't bad enough Jabba wanted him caught or dead, now Vader was throwing his hat in the ring. Sucks to be Han.

Here are three of the six hunters I have been working on. If you look closely you will see where I am going with this beyond individual pics. I'll need to add some more tweaks to each once they are all complete, but it's getting there. I don't want to be so obvious and point out the "big picture" until all the hunters are complete.

Hope you dig my pics of these cats while they just STAND around in their mysterious deadly coolness.

Makes me think of the REM song. I bet they would like it.

The Rosa Valdez Project: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Mural Part 2

Where to start? One Saturday afternoon I went to take measurements and see what space I had to work with. The room to be transformed into the library has these large windows and there are also doors on the opposite wall. There was also an electrical conduit running along the bottom of the wall. Right way the electrical fixtures and windows posed quite a challenge in having sufficient surface space to paint.

Part of being an artist is problem solving. Whether it's figuring out how to draw a hand a certain way, create a certain lighting in a picture, a specific angle or perspective, what technique to use or what medium to work in, there's always a problem to solve. At some point it just occurred to me to make some wooden boxes to be mounted to the wall. Only problem is I'm no carpenter and I'm not a magician either. Fortunately, the organizer for the volunteer effort, Lezlie Gold, is a seriously resourceful person (and possibly magician mixed in there too). Within no time she was able to provide fantastic boxes just as I had envisioned, only better. Two boxes measuring roughly 4x6 feet and the other 3x3 feet, would be the surfaces I would need to create the murals for the library. As these were mobile units I worked on these at home, later delivering them for installation at the center.

The final murals for the entrance I painted on my days off and a few hours here and there in the morning and afternoon on different days.

In the end everything turned out pretty much in line with the original concepts. I think I got pretty darn close to the look of Carle's work and everyone seemed to really enjoy the murals. It was a great experience and I met some super nice people along the way! Was amazing to see all the kids and volunteers work together and be a part of something that many children will enjoy for years to come.

Entrance

Entrance (View from steps)

Steps

Stairs

Hallway

Library Final Set Up

Caterpillar Box

Butterfly Box

Now I wonder where the next place is my art will lead me to?