LOU ROMANO

ROMAN

2011-08-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

Good Morning

Good Day

Good Evening

ICARUS MONTGOLFIER WRIGHT (1962)

2011-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

(not pictured director Osmond Evans)

This animated short produced by Format Films is based on a Ray Bradbury story and was adapted by Bradbury and George Clayton Johnson for the film. Johnson is best known for co-writing the sci-fi novel, Logan's Run and for writing several Twilight Zone episodes. James Whitmore and Ross Martin, well known character actors narrate the film.

Joseph Mugnaini, who had illustrated many of Bradbury's works and was a close friend did all of the artwork for the film himself. Producer and executive producer were Jules Engel and Herb Klynn respectively, who had worked at UPA for several years before branching out to start their own studio, Format Films.

THE NEVERENDING STORY

2011-05-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

Awesome

More Awesome

KWAIDAN

2011-03-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

Donate to Artists Help Japan:

JAPAN EMERGENCY FUND

Mimi-nashi Hoichi, or Hoichi the Earless is one of some 20 ghost stories and strange tales from ancient Japan. Originally published in 1904, Kwaidan was the culminating life work of Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) a writer of Greek/Irish descent who devoted the last 14 years of his life to living and working in Japan, writing books about the culture and translating into English the Kwaidan tales. These tales also inspired the Japanese film of the same name: Kwaidan (1965)

Hoichi the Earless is the tale of a talented, blind musician who lives with Buddhist priests. One night he's escorted from the temple to give a command performance to a private audience. Hoichi is unaware that he's been escorted to a cemetery and that his performance is for the dead warriors and courtiers of an ancient clan killed in battle.

When the priests and Hoichi discover this, it is too late. To protect him the priests paint his entire body with prayers, to ward off the spirits. They have neglected, however, to cover his ears. When he is summoned again that night, the ghostly escort cannot see Hoichi save for his ears...so he tears them off of the musician.

Final Original

11" X 11"

Gouache

Digital Pass

Time-Lapse (Watch on YouTube in HD)

Preliminary Sketches

Color Thumbnails

Ubazakura (Cherry Tree of the Milk Nurse)

Ubazakura is the story of a milk nurse who sacrifices her life to save the young girl in her care. Before she dies the milk nurse asks the family to plant a cherry tree for her to the god to whom she prays. For the next 250 years the cherry tree blooms on the anniversary of the milk nurse's death.

Oshidori

The tale of a hunter/falconer who searching for game one day encounters Oshidori (Mandarin Ducks). To kill these ducks is bad luck but the hunter is hungry, so he shoots the male. Later that night the hunter is visited in his dreams by the spirit of the female, who escaped. She curses the hunter, tells him he cannot imagine the horrible thing he has done by killing her husband and tells him to go see what he has caused the next morning, at the same river. When he does, the female duck does not fly away. She swims towards the hunter, then tears open her own body with her beak, killing herself...

The hunter shaves his head and becomes a priest.

Yuki-Onna

Two woodcutters are caught in a terrible snow storm. Finding shelter in a boatman's hut the men encounter The Woman of the Snow. She kills the older man, turning him to ice. But she is attracted to the younger woodcutter and spares his life on the condition that he never speak to anyone about what he has witnessed.

The young man recovers, meets a beautiful woman and marries. They have several children and though they are poor, they are very happy. Years later he tells his wife about the night long ago, and the Woman of the Snow. He cannot remember if it was real or some strange dream. Yuki, his wife tells him it was no dream and reveals her true form as the snow witch. She curses him for breaking his promise to her and spares his life only for the sake of the children. In the next moment..she leaves him and the children forever.

All Thumbnails Digital

NEW BLOG

2010-12-28T18:42:00.000-08:00

Over the last several years I've gathered a lot of film images. Whether for composition, lighting or color I use them as reference and general inspiration. I like viewing films in this contact sheet mosaic, like a color script brought to its final conclusion. I've also posted some individual shots. So that each post didn't get too long I narrowed those down to six, a random number but one that made me choose favorites. Visit the blog here:

CINEMOSAIC

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-24T13:24:00.000-08:00

ROMAN LEE ROMANO

Born December 15th, 2010

at 5:55am / 7lbs 13oz

CHRISTMAS CARDS

2010-12-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

Digital

PAUL JULIAN FILMS

2010-07-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Several months ago I posted some images of Paul Julian's ARTWORK . Below are the films and title sequences of that work. Prior to his stint at UPA, Paul Julian worked at Warner Bros. as a key background artist on many Looney Tunes (circa 1940-1952).

These films, however, and his titles are my favorite pieces he created. The Tell-Tale Heart is probably the most well-known of the group. I found a DVD copy of The Hangman from a UK vendor. Although the print is scratched, it's the best color reproduction I've seen.

The title sequences vary in quality but were compiled from the best online and DVD sources I could find. This post was a way to have the films available in one spot for inspiration.

THE TELL-TALE HEART (1953)

FILM TITLES (1955-1963)

THE HANGMAN (1964)

BRADBURY AT 90

2010-06-16T01:05:00.000-07:00

A commissioned illustration for Written By the magazine issued to members of the Writers Guild of America (West) every other month. This summer issue celebrates the life and work of Ray Bradbury who turns 90 this August.

I'm a huge fan of Bradbury's work, so this was a dream project. Thank you to Roger Allers, who recommended me for the assignment.

10 1/2" X 13 1/2"

gouache/digital

Some slight adjustments were made to Ray's face for the final cover. At (left) is the original gouache. At (right) the digital pass.

THE MANY FACES OF RAY

ROUGH SKETCHES

There is so much to pull from Bradbury's writings, but in the end I opted to keep the piece simple and contain most of the story references in Ray's coat, making him the Illustrated Man.

In 2007 Bradbury received the Order of Arts and Letters medal (above), the highest cultural honor bestowed by France.

COLOR THUMBNAILS (Digital)

Final layout (left) and alternate version.

GALLERY OPENING

2010-05-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you to those who attended the art opening Friday night at Gallery 1988. Here are some pics from the prep and opening...

(l to r) Dice, Lou and Soosa

Decorating the walls with some spot paintings.

Some of Dice's wall paintings...

some of Soosa's.

(l to r) Soosa, Dice and Mei (Dice's wife) prep the food and drink tables.

MOUNTED SCULPTS

NAUGHTY BITS

2010-05-18T03:22:00.000-07:00

More pieces for the upcoming Cuter Than Stranger show.

DINGLE-DANGLE

4" X 4"

Gouache

HAPPY FROG

4" X 6"

Gouache

COCTEAU HORSE

4" X 6"

Gouache

THE MONSTER SQUAD

2010-05-17T02:39:00.000-07:00

The completed series inspired by the 1987 film of the same name.

DRACULA

FRANKENSTEIN

THE WOLFMAN

GILLMAN

THE MUMMY

All 6" X 6"

Acrylic

WORK IN PROGRESS

2010-04-30T01:25:00.000-07:00

These are some projects for an upcoming show at GALLERY 1988 in San Francisco. Cuter Than Strange will be a 3 man show with Dice Tsutsumi, Soosa Kim and myself which opens Friday, May 21st @7PM.

Some of these projects were started 2-3 years ago and taken about halfway. They seem appropriate for the theme of the show, so I'm going to finish them along with some other pieces.

ZOMBIE SCULPT

This was sculpted in clay, glazed and fired in a kiln. But I didn't like how it turned out so it sat around for a while until I had the idea to use it for the above vignette. Since it is only a bust I thought I'd mount it on a small mirror so it looks like the zombie is rising from the water behind the rabbit (sculpted last week). I repainted the zombie with acrylics.

BAT BUST

This was sculpted, molded and cast in plaster 3 years ago. I painted it last night and will mount it on a pedestal. Maybe I will put some little wings on him. These small sculptures are fun to do. It reminds me of making dioramas as a kid.

THE MONSTER SQUAD

A couple of years ago I saw The Monster Squad (1987) for the first time. It's a very entertaining movie. The lead monsters in the film are Dracula and Frankenstein. The others have supporting roles but they make a good looking group. Frankenstein and The Wolfman have yet to be finished.

THE BIRD SHOW

2010-04-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

These pieces were done as part of a group show with artists Ben Adams, Ben Burch and Nate Wragg. Each of us designed a layout for one of the four seasons, then painted every season using our respective layouts. It was a fun exercise. To see all 16 paintings visit: LUNAR BOY GALLERY

SPRING BREAK

Layout by Lou Romano

SUMMER BATH

Layout by Ben Burch

BLUE FALL

Layout by Ben Adams

WINTER FIRE

Layout by Nate Wragg

All 12" X 12"

Acrylic

ANIMALS

2010-01-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

HOLMES & WATSON

5 3/4" X 10 1/4"
Gouache

COOKIE & BEANIE : FEAST

10 3/4" X 14 3/4"
Gouache

Preliminary sketches

CAROL

2009-12-28T14:47:00.001-08:00

My friend commissioned this painting as a Christmas gift to his wife. Carol, a Japanese Chin, is their dog.

9" X 12"

Gouache

REFERENCE

The real Carol and Huntington Park/Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, CA. (Carol's favorite outdoor location).

DIGITAL ROUGH

Same color with minor adjustments to Carol.

ROUGH SKETCHES & IDEAS

Pencil

CTN-X 2009

2009-11-15T23:34:00.000-08:00

Here are prints I'll be selling at the CTN-X animation expo (November 20-22). Color prints are on 13x19" Epson watercolor paper and B&W pieces are 9x11" hand-made prints based on short stories by Edgar Allan Poe.

Come by for a print and/or to have a book signed. Sunday @5PM I'll be part of a panel on color script design along with Andy Gaskill (Hercules, The Lion King), Dave Goetz (Rapunzel, Meet the Robinsons) and Dice Tsutsumi (Toy Story 3, Robots).

The panel will be moderated by animation critic and historian, Charles Solomon.

CTN-X ANIMATION EXPO

Limited Series Color Prints: $40

Limited Series B&W Prints: $20

Durga / 3 Plants / 3 Fish / BB & Me / Tony the Tiger & Friends

Metzengerstein / William Wilson / Ligeia / Tell-Tale Heart / House of Usher

MAGICIAN

2009-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Done for the upcoming CTN-X program/sketchbook: a limited edition booklet filled with art and info by animation professionals, that will be available at the convention. CTN-X Animation Expo

Digital

Preliminary sketches
Ink

PAUL JULIAN

2009-10-10T10:32:00.000-07:00

There have recently been posts online featuring the work of artist Paul Julian (1914-1995). I've gathered some examples into one big post. In addition to his work in animation, Julian designed titles for some live action features. Of those films, Dementia 13 also happens to be one of Francis Ford Coppola's earliest works.

PICCOLI (1953)

THE TELL-TALE HEART (1953)

SWAMP WOMEN (1955)

NOT OF THIS EARTH (1957)

ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS (1957)

DEMENTIA 13 (1963)

THE TERROR (1963)

THE HANGMAN (1964)

JUNE 2009

2009-07-03T15:21:00.001-07:00

ELECTIONS IN IRAN

RIP MICHAEL JACKSON (1958-2009)

RIP FARRAH FAWCETT (1947-2009)

MEGAPIRANHA DISCOVERED

(Megapiranha Paranensis) 4X bigger than modern day piranhas/lived 8-10 million years ago/a link between today's flesh-eating piranhas and their vegetarian cousins, pacu.

COLOR COINCIDENCE

I went to the Georgia O'Keeffe show at SF Moma and saw this lady viewing a painting. I did a double-take...she WAS the painting.

Digital

UP COLOR SCRIPT

2009-06-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

A closer look at the color script (done January-March 2008).

*ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of PIXAR/DISNEY*

Digital

ART of UP

2009-05-29T01:37:00.000-07:00

Here is some of the work I did on UP (2005-2008).

*ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of PIXAR/DISNEY*

ELLIE'S MURAL

After finding they cannot have children, Carl & Ellie make Paradise Falls their life goal.

Gouache

CARL & ELLIE

One of the goals for the Prologue was to evoke the feeling of childhood and innocence, with story & design.

Gouache

Gouache

Digital

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Explorations of old age and loneliness. The idea was to keep Carl isolated within the frame and suggest loss with composition & light. The film deals a lot with loss and letting go of the past.

Digital

gouache/digital

CARL IN COLOR

Character Design: Daniel Lopez Munoz

Design Sculpt: Greg Dykstra

I painted and photographed this sculpt to see what Carl might look like in different lighting. Bryn Imagire (Shading Art Director) painted other sculpts exploring healthier complexions. She also made models of the house, plants, and rocks, to impart a tactile quality to the digital work.

cast urethane/acrylic

CLOUD TOWERS

Digital

On UP I made some animated tests using After Effects as a way to take static images further. Using music and sound also helped the tone of a scene or idea.

Digital

Exploring the way light might change in a room as the house travels through the clouds.

Music by Nelson Riddle

Digital

Music by Maurice Ravel

gouache/digital

Digital

DESKTOP DIORAMA

I made these figures then photographed them on my desktop. The smallest figure is the size of a grape. It was a way of arranging and finding interesting compositions in 3D. EFX were added in Photoshop.

Digital

Figures: balsa wood/wire/acrylic

TEPUI STUDIES

Digital

The weather can change within minutes on top of a Tepui, from eerily foggy to sunny and back. This is a moment in the film, when Carl sees Paradise Falls (Angel Falls in real life) for the very first time.

Music by John Williams

Digital

TEPUI RESEARCH TRIP

I had the opportunity of visiting Venezuela with some of the other crew members. Tepuis are large, flat-top mountains that rise out of the jungle basin. They are so tall that certain species of plant and animal only exist at the top, a mile above the jungle floor.

Nat McLaughlin (Environment Artist) left and Ronnie Del Carmen (Head of Story) right. This gives a sense of the topography on Roraima, the highest of all the Tepuis.

TEPUI MAP

This map was made after we returned from Venezuela and charts the course of the main characters and obstacles they encounter. Muntz's hangar lies at the middle of a crossroads, between the bird's nesting grounds and Paradise Falls, an important path Carl must take.

Gouache

TEPUI & JUNGLE STUDIES

After returning from the trip, we were inspired to illustrate what we saw. A challenge in CG is conveying how something feels, over how it looks in reality. Research trips can sometimes be a plus and a minus: the plus in that visiting a place surpasses what you gain from photos alone, the minus in being a slave to the reality.

Imagination and feeling should dictate everything.

gouache/digital

STYLING STUDIES

These were done for our 'looks' test to get a sense of where we were headed stylistically (stylized to more naturalistic).

Digital

We wanted to use light theatrically, as a way to selectively indicate detail.

Digital

Another study in selective detail. The idea was that depth of field could simplify the jungle, allowing backgrounds to go softer and more impressionistic, so the eye could focus on the foreground.

Digital

After coming back from Venezuela I arranged pictures to music, to capture how the place felt. It can only be taken so far with a single image. With a sequence you can convey more meaning. After looking at the photos with music the sunrise seemed like a natural climax. The color reel contains a few finished shots.

Music by James Newton Howard

digital/gouache

CHARLES MUNTZ

Muntz was originally based on Howard Hughes, the aviation pioneer who became a recluse in his later years. In an earlier version of the story Muntz was obsessed with the Snipe eggs, which could reverse old age like the fountain of youth.

Gouache

MUNTZ & HIS DOGS

When a story is in early development..anything goes.

Colored Pencil

DIORAMA STUDIES

These thumbnails were done in preparation for our CG 'looks' test. The goal was to solidify our treatment of organic environments as well as make a setting in which the characters could interact.

Digital

DIORAMA FRAMES

This CG test was the resulting work of many departments and taught us a great deal. I brought these frames into Photoshop and added some atmosphere and efx, which the Lighting Department used to tweak the final shots.

Film renders/Photoshop pass

COLOR SCRIPT ACT I

The first pass color script for ACT I. Others were also done for ACTS II & III. These are very simple, but help give a sense of the film's tone, which is taken further with lighting keys.

Digital

FINAL COLOR SCRIPT

This was my last assignment on UP. I tried providing more lighting information than the abstract scripts, which are more for tone. Other artists also contributed greatly to the lighting design of the film and the Lighting Team led by Jean-Claude Kalache did a super job.

Digital

SEX & SCIENCE

2009-02-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

This work is a continuation of an earlier posting, ANCIENT MODERN, which is all part of The Ancient Book of Sex & Science. This is my second collaboration with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg and is shaping up to be a very inspiring book and show. There is no Sex here to speak of, but plenty of Science-Fantasy.

BACK TO MARS

9" X 15"
Gouache

THE FIRST EXPEDITION

10" X 15"
Gouache

MARTIAN LUNAR SPIRES

10" X 15"
Gouache

MARTIAN STILL LIFE with CHALICE and MEMORY STONE

10" X 15"
Gouache

MARTIAN STILL LIFE with LIGHT SHARD

10" X 15"
Gouache

Studies for Sculpture : Future Warrior

Digital

Quartz Crystal with LED lighting

Martian Concert Hall

Digital

Sci-Fi Toy Concept

Digital

DREAM WARRIORS

2008-10-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

A GEEGAR COLLABORATION for a book based on A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 : Dream Warriors. The characters have powers in their own dreams. But, most aren't strong enough to defeat Freddy Krueger. Quotes are from the movie.

PETE GRAHAM: Drawings

LOU ROMANO: Color

PAUL MAES: Neck-guts design

ink/digital

ART of THE INCREDIBLES

2008-10-01T19:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some other samples of Incredibles work I did (2000-2004): Development, color/lighting design and DVD bonus materials.

*ALL ARTWORK PROPERTY of PIXAR/DISNEY*

EARLY DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION DESIGN

This is more of a gag drawing. But, when it's early days anything goes...

Colored Pencil

BOB AT WORK

Gouache

E SCULPTURE

Digital

EARLY VILLAINS

Gouache

E's WORLD

Gouache

Digital

COLOR SCRIPTS

Version 1 (2000)

Gouache

Version 2 (2002-03)

gouache/digital

FINAL Version (2003-04)

Digital

LIGHTING THUMBNAILS

These were done during and after the color script design and were meant to be a springboard for the lighting department.

Digital

JACK-JACK ATTACK

Lighting studies for the BONUS DVD short.

Digital

MR. INCREDIBLE & FRIENDS

Styling and film aging studies for the BONUS DVD short.

Digital

THE POE GALLERY

2008-09-12T13:38:00.001-07:00

A series based on tales by EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-1849). 15 tales / 30 illustrations / and 15 linoleum-block prints.

METZENGERSTEIN (1832)

MS. FOUND IN A BOTTLE (1833)

BERENICE (1835)

LIGEIA (1838)

THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER (1839)

WILLIAM WILSON (1839)

THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1841)

THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM (1842)

THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (1842)

THE BLACK CAT (1843)

THE TELL-TALE HEART (1843)

THE OBLONG BOX (1844)

THE FACTS IN THE CASE of M. VALDEMAR (1845)

THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (1846)

HOP-FROG (1849)

Thumbnails
Digital

Block Prints 8" X 10"

linoleum/ink

GREEK GODS MONSTERS & HEROES

2008-09-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

A series of 40 paintings based upon Greek Mythology.

POSEIDON

ZEUS

HARPIES

All 14" X 20"
acrylic/gouache

ANNABEL LEE

2008-08-25T18:32:00.001-07:00

An animated short film based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe (1849) of the same title.

COLOR STORY REEL (2:25)

Performed by Basil Rathbone

Music by Igor Stravinsky

"Annabel Lee" from The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection by

Edgar Allan Poe, performed by Basil Rathbone and Vincent Price

Used by Permission of HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

"Orpheus - Ballet in Three Scenes/Scene I: Orpheus"

Performed by Esa-Pekka Salonen and The Philharmonia Orchestra

Courtesy of SONY BMG MASTERWORKS by arrangement with

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

"Orpheus - Ballet in Three Scenes/Scene II: Dance of the Furies"

Performed by Esa-Pekka Salonen and The Philharmonia Orchestra

Courtesy of SONY BMG MASTERWORKS by arrangement with

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

THUMBNAIL STORYBOARDS

Ink

COLOR STUDIES

Digital

INSPIRATION

Pebble Beach, CA.

ABSTRACTS

2008-07-29T08:48:00.000-07:00

NO. 1

NO.2

6" X 6"
Gouache

YETI

2008-07-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

This piece was part of a group project with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg. We each did a monochrome, sci-fi inspired painting from which prints will be made and sold at Comicon. Next year we'll release more sci-fi work in The Ancient Book of Sex & Science, a companion book to Myth & War.

8 3/4" X 11"
Gouache

SOLO JAM II

2008-07-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

These were done for fun. I started with the mermaid, which was based on an acrylic painting my friend Rob Gibbs and I were jamming on July 4th. I was trying to recall what we had painted the next day with this digital study. Then, I started drawing and painting the other ideas, stream of conscious.

INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL

DOH-NKEY

JOKER

DANCER

WALKER

MAITRE D'

FRIENDLY

MATADOR

ATOMIC BLAST

MERMAID

Digital

3X4

2008-07-01T14:52:00.001-07:00

These were done for a group project with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg. Each of us agreed to do 4 paintings using the theme of 3. In this case, 4 illustrations of 3 organic things. We're planning on putting all of them together in a book.

3 GEMS

3 FORMS

3 PLANTS

3 FISH

All 10" X 15"
Gouache

BB & ME

2008-06-03T11:37:00.001-07:00

This was my submission for the TOTORO FOREST PROJECT. The proceeds from the art show and catalogue will go towards saving the Japanese forest that inspired Hayao Miyazaki's film, My Neighbor Totoro.

If I was a kid, I'd want my totoro to be a giant bat that could fly me around. I love bats, they are the only mammals that can fly. Flying squirrels don't count, they glide. But they're cool too.

10" X 15"
Gouache

PHOENIX

2008-02-01T10:52:00.000-08:00

10" X 15"
acrylic/gouache

BUGS : PART II

2008-01-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

BLACK WIDOW

10" X 15"
acrylic/gouache

GREEN BUG

7 1/4" X 15 1/4"
Gouache

THE CYCLE

9 1/2" X 14 1/2"
Gouache

OLD DRAWINGS

2008-01-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

I found these the other day. The Tony the Tiger drawing was taken to final paint (previous post). I did these for my friend Nate Pacheco, who was pitching 50th anniversary ads for Tony and Toucan Sam.

10" X 12"
Pencil

ICARUS

2007-12-13T15:04:00.000-08:00

7 1/2" X 10"
pencil/colored pencil

BUGS : PART I

2007-10-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

THE BACK DOOR

8" X 14 3/4"
Gouache

MANTIS & ANT

8" X 14 3/4"
Gouache

PIGGY-BACK

8" X 10 1/4"
Gouache

STAGE DESIGNS

2007-10-19T19:23:00.001-07:00

ink/pencil

Digital

PLUTONIAN ICE STORM

2007-10-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

8 1/2" X 15"
Gouache

Preliminary sketches

ANCIENT MODERN

2007-10-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Some artwork for a future book and show: THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX & SCIENCE. I'm doing some small 3D pieces and paintings, the idea being that these (below) could be art or relics from an ancient Martian civilization.

MARTIAN SCULPTURE

15" tall
foam core/hot glue/modeling paste/acrylic/gouache

MARTIAN CARVINGS 01 & 02

9" X 12" X 1"
balsa foam/acrylic/gouache

These are insect studies from a previous post and an upcoming bug-themed show. But here, they have also worked as ancient Martian hieroglyphics.

STEP BY STEP

Final foam core construction.

Build up of Light Molding Paste. Lays down like whipped cream, dries semi-hard and very light in weight.

Course Pumice Gel was applied over the dried paste (to add more grit/rust). Then, the piece was painted with acrylic and gouache.

Preliminary sketch

CYCLOPS & CRUSADER

2007-09-24T11:24:00.000-07:00

Finished paint (before final detailing)

EFX STUDIES

Cyclops 4 1/4" tall / Crusader 3" tall
sculpting foam/acrylic/gouache/feather/glass/metal

ALEXANDER GIRARD

2007-09-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

Alexander (Sandro) Girard (1907-1993) was a designer of textiles, graphics, furniture and exhibitions. He also had a passion for collecting textiles and folk art from around the world. In 1963 he designed and made these wooden dolls to decorate his home. They have been reproduced by the Vitra Design Museum based on his originals.

I purchased some LED lights and played around with lighting and photographing a few of the dolls. The resulting colors were achieved in camera using different combinations of the multi-colored lights. The tallest doll of the three is only about 10 inches.

WOODEN DOLLS by Alexander Girard (1963)

LED lights purchased at IKEA

HANSEL & GRETEL

2007-08-28T17:39:00.001-07:00

This artwork was done for an upcoming group show based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The show will exhibit at the Gallery Met in conjunction with The Metropolitan Opera's production of Hansel und Gretel (1893) by Engelbert Humperdinck.

IM WALDE (IN THE WOOD)

11 3/4" X 23"
acrylic/gouache

DEM HAUSCHEN (THE HOUSE)

16 1/2" X 20"
acrylic/gouache

HEXENSCHUB (WITCH'S SPELL)

14" X 20"
Acrylic

Preliminary sketches
All 8 1/2" X 11"

pencil/ink

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS

2007-08-17T20:56:00.000-07:00

I worked on The Powerpuff Girls from 1999-2000. I didn't work in-house during that time but would come into the studio as much as possible to run these thumbnails past Don Shank, who was the Art Director. Once he and the directors approved them I would do more finished keys based on the layouts, which would then be sent over-seas. It was a lot of fun.

Layouts by Dan Krall

All various sizes
gouache/pastel

*ALL ARTWORK COPYRIGHT CARTOON NETWORK*

BUG JAM

2007-06-27T18:53:00.001-07:00

Bug studies for a future group show at Nucleus Gallery (2008).

All 5 1/4" X 6 1/4"
pencil/ink

THE NEW YORKER

2007-06-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

As a result of The Ancient Book of Myth & War (see below) the art editor of The New Yorker magazine (Francoise Mouly) invited Scott Morse, Don Shank, Nate Wragg and I to submit ideas for covers. We were given a list of holidays and a lot of freedom to come up with concepts. After submitting thumbnails and receiving notes I was asked to do a final illustration, which was approved for print. The whole process took 3-4 weeks.

Final original
8 1/4" X 11"

Gouache

Color studies
Digital

JAZZ QUARTET

2007-06-08T19:10:00.001-07:00

A music major at Northwestern University (Josh Moshier) saw my blog and asked if I would illustrate the CD cover of his debut album. The group liked #3 which I worked up into a final painting. Good Luck, Josh.

Final original
7 3/16" X 7 3/16"

Gouache

Rough layout drawing

Cover concepts
Digital

SPANKY VS. SAMURAI

2007-05-16T13:43:00.000-07:00

Confronting the BEAST.

"Wake up! Do not try to humiliate me, Beast."

ZZZZzzzz

"I will come back when you are ready."

COHEN JAM

2007-05-10T21:42:00.000-07:00

I was asked to participate in this art jam with a young boy named Cohen. His Dad sent me his watercolors in the mail then I added to them and mailed them back. I hope you like them, Cohen.

8 1/2" X 11"
watercolor/colored pencil

NERO

2007-05-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

This is my piece for SKETCHTRAVEL a sketchbook that is being passed from one artist to another across the world. When completed it will be exhibited at a gallery in France then sold at a charity auction.

Final original
8 1/4" X 11 3/4"

Gouache

Rough drawing

Thumbnails

SOLO JAM I

2007-04-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

These drawings were done one right after another without any plan in mind. Then they were scanned and painted digitally in the order in which they were drawn. The goal for me was to get ideas out of my head, on to paper and into color as fluidly and as quickly as possible.

PLAYGROUND

VIKING

DRAGON

BABY DINOSAUR

FUTURE HOME

NIGHT WITCH

SPECIAL EDS

CIRCUS ELEPHANT

THE FALLEN

MAN & MONSTERS

FISH TANK

CONCERT

SODA JERK

DRUNK

RED EAGLE

FIGHT

WARLORD

ENGLISH RACE CAR

SWISS RACE CAR

AMERICAN RACE CAR

FRENCH RACE CAR

COMEDY

WHITE BABY

IRON HORSE & SNAKE

GERMAN BANDIT

STONE HORSE

FALLEN CREATURE

HORSE HEAD

DINOSAUR ROCK

All 8 1/2" X 11"

ink/digital

GORGON SPHINX

2007-04-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

11 1/2" X 16"

Tempera

MYTH & WAR

2007-04-03T22:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you ALL for coming to the opening and for your support.

An extra special thanks to NUCLEUS for hosting a great show.

Visit their WEBSITE for photos and updates.

(L to R) Don Shank, Lou Romano, Scott Morse, Nate Wragg

CLASH OF THE DORKS

2007-03-21T18:51:00.000-07:00

A dvd cover I made for my copy of Clash of the Titans using the art of Alice & Martin Provensen and Steele Savage. Ray Harryhausen signed it for me...but said that the cover was "terrible".

PEOPLE AT WORK

2007-03-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

STEPHANIE

7 1/2" X 8"
ink & digital

DON

7 1/2" X 12"
digital

DOODLES

2007-01-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

All 4 1/2" X 5 1/2"
Gouache

SHIELD STUDY

2007-01-05T21:01:00.000-08:00

Digital