The Arctic Luau

"We're Havin' a Heat Wave... A Tropical Heat Wave"

This image came about from some volunteering that I did this Holiday season for the Children's Mercy Hospital. Every year a group from work goes down and helps to decorate the Hospital for the Holidays. This year there was an added challenge. No fire restrictions; no paper, no lights, no hangy downies from the ceiling, no paper snow flakes, and NO KIDDING. So, a lot of hospitals just gave up and didn't decorate this year due to the stringent restrictions. Somehow our leaders found nonflammable decorations, and window markers.

I was asked if I would help decorate by painting window scenes for the Holidays. I agreed.

I asked what should I use as subject matter or stay away from?

1. No Angels... this is a children's hospital, (the whole death thing would be bad)

2. they would like a snow scene.

3. if you do children, or people, you have to do every race/ type/ creed/ handicapped/ etc... so try to steer clear of that.

4. Try to steer clear of specific "religious" iconography. Keep it light. The kids are away from home at the holidays.

5. Animals are always nice.

6. If you can tie in one of the tree decoration themes, that would be great.

Ok, Snow scene, Animals, (make them cute) and tie in the theme of the tree that the windows are near... This is a piece of cake.

What are the tree themes: Luau, and Independence Day. Those were the ones that were fire retardant that were in the volunteer budget..... Snow scene and Luau? Snow scene and Luau! Arctic Luau... why not? So at first I didn't have the penguins because they were south pole and the polar bear was north pole, but... Hey, maybe everybody was on vacation, or as somebody else pointed out... if the bear can wear a hawaiian shirt, then the penguins can be in the picture. Fantasy is fantasy.

Evil Genius: The Red Skull

This is the second attempt at the Red Skull. He was my first attempt at this topic, and it ended in a massive failure. So, I worked up Grodd to be safe. After that, I had a dose of confidence and so I took another swing. This is the result. I am much happier.

Evil Genius: Gorilla Grodd

Evil Genius is the topic for Drawergeeks... what fun. I had to do Grodd. Make mine a banana dakari... and all hail the big guy, just don't be throwin' no poop.

Frankenfamily

Frankenstein for Drawergeeks, for some training, for some learning, you name it.This is the file that launched a thousand projects. From demos in CS4, to working in Poser again, to really getting off my but and doing some more involved work.

Mr. Sendak, you make my heart sing

Drawergeeks: Topic, Where the Wild Things Are. I Couldn't pass up the opportunity, what with the baseball playoffs and a Drawergeek topic to honor the great Mr. Sendak. He is one of the reasons that I draw today. His pen and ink work is most inspiring. (Although, personally, I still love In the Night Kitchen best.)

Version 3

Ok, one last shot at some introduction of color... staying away from such a cold bluegreenblue. Getting rid of the complimentary colors, this should let the drawing speak while letting some part of color ad to the story as an accent instead of an interruption.

Poison Ivy Gray

Ok, so sometimes the simple way out is the best way out. I was looking for validation from one of my trusted inside critics... and got a "hmmmm" about the color piece. When I showed the halftoned version, that individual felt that the color was not adding anything to the story. In fact it was detracting. I have trouble, because I love black and white illustration. There is a drama, a raw drawing construction that I never get tired of. But I was fearing that my bias was taking over. With a second vote to confirm, I will stay with the black and white version. I feel better now... don't you?

poison ivy

Poison Ivy: for Drawergeeks. Should be a good week for submissions. It will always be good to see how everybody solves the same challenge so differently and creatively.

snow monkey

Snow monkey
For Drawergeeks. The conventional piece that I have planned is not even close to being completed. So, a digital solution will suffice. And snow monkeys are just fun do draw.

Angel

Drawergeeks: Topic, Angels. This one had me conceptually at the very beginning. I had the idea from the moment the topic was delivered, had the technique known, and how it was supposed to look. For once, it turned out for the most part like what I saw in my head. Some changes occured but for the most part... yeah, it was a fun time.

The Borg

Drawergeeks: Topic, Star Trek. In honor of the new movie release this topic for Drawergeeks is to honor Star Trek and all it's branches. I have submitted a Borg. It will be interesting to see who submits and from which era they choose their inspiration. The title above is a hot link to the drawergeeks site itself... check it out this friday.

Space Girl -final

Space Girl: the final as it was supposed to be, I just ran out of time. I couldn't sleep so I have been poking at it and finished it up this morning.

Space Girl

Space Girl for Drawergeeks. just in time for the cut off submission. Whew!

Drawergeeks: Trolls

Finally a chance to do an illustration, and the time to do one. The Fates have smiled upon me.

tiki girl colorized

Tiki: Drawergeeks. I have at least attempted a drawergeeks for Tiki. We shall see how the submissions go. Hopefully a grand turn out will take place.

jack and the beanstalk

Wizards of the Coast AD recognizes Drawergeeks

Jon Schindehette, Senior Art Director Dungeons & Dragons® Wizards of the Coast has a great blog titled ArtOrder (link is in the title of this post.) He has very graciously given a write up on Drawergeeks. Whoo Hoo!!! With visuals and everything. Very very cool indeed. Thanks so much Jon. We all really appreciate it. And as always, keep stopping by every two weeks, with the huge cast of talented folks involved, you never know who will post. It is a great outlet and an honor to be among these gifted people.

Goth Teddy Bear drawing

Drawergeeks: Topic Goth, Mine is late. I was away and did not get this finished in time to send in early. So I got home last night and completed it today. The topic was "Goth" oooooh. So of course I went with a Teddy Bear.

I don't what's wrong with me either.

Drawergeeks: Seasons Greetings

Drawergeeks: Seasons Greetings. And sometimes the time leading up to the holidays can feel like a barrel full of monkeys... especially if you have kids. So, I have tried twice to make a monkey wreath but have failed. So I cheated and made it digitally.


The second submission was the first to be generated. The Snow Angel.

I really do hope that each of you try to find a small bit of goodness in this time at the end of the year. Friends and loved ones do mean so much to me. I care about you all deeply and wish you each a season of uplifting peace.

Drawergeeks: Image Comics- Detective Twitch. I decided to submit the earlier sketch and then did this sketch last night. Big 12 Basketball had me all wound up and I just had to finish it.