I AM ZIM!

I had the lucky opportunity to meet the Richard Horvitz, the voice actor for Zim (among many others like Billy from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Daggett from the Angry Beavers, and Alpha 5 from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers!) at ConnectiCon in Hartford this past weekend. I couldn't pass up getting an autographed Zim Photo.

Of course I needed to go and create a Zim sketch:

In other news: I will be at The Brass City Comic Con this Sunday. The show runs 10:00-3:00. I'll have a table with prints, comics, and I'll be doing sketches so stop by!

Glenn The Frog Knight

I know I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I just started playing Chrono Trigger for the first time! This game has all the elements of the 32-bit RPGs that I grew up with - I just never had a chance to play the game on the SNES, and due to the rarity of the actual SNES cartridge I found a Playstation downloadable version. I really like Glenn, I think he's my favorite character in the game - or maybe between this and the last Kermit piece I just subconsciously really like frogs. Who knows?

About the sketch above: I recently upgraded to a printer that will scan and print 11x17 (Hurray!) so I've now started working my sketches in Photoshop, printing them out on a piece of 11x17 bristol board in very light blue ink. After it's all printed I grab my trusty brush pen and ink it. I took a few small liberties to make Glenn look a little more frog-like.

Kermit the Spider-Frog

Here's a look at my newest piece, Kermit the Spider-Frog! I created this one for my art show at Barley Vine (the work will be up there for a little while so check it out!).  I've just added him to my store, anddddd I'm having a sale on prints, $10.00 each, take a look! 

So a little history on this one: 

A couple of years ago I did a sketch of Kermit the Frog as Spider-Man, it was a quick drawing but I always liked the idea. So while browsing some of my old work I stumbled across it and decided it needed a facelift. So I made this piece like I've been making my other recent works, and colored this digitally instead of traditionally. Here's the old one:

Art Show!

Hi everyone! I'll be having art art show at Barley Vine in Bristol, CT. The opening night is Thursday, June 26th, starting at 6:30pm. I'll be there all night (and I'll be selling prints) so come and visit!

Link to the Facebook event

Draw Stuff in Your Own Style

A reminder from my sketchbook. I'll admit it, I can very easily get lost looking at beautiful work by other artists - and think "OH I SHOULD DO THAT!" This is usually followed by frustration as I realize that I can not in fact create work the same way they do. Now don't get me wrong, I think it's great to be inspired by others and good practice to try things out of you comfort zone. That being said, I think it's also important to be realize your own uniqueness and talent and apply that to what you observe and learn.

As for me, I've spent my whole life to get to where I am now with my art. More than likely it will change and evolve as I grow as an artist, but that's a good thing. It's ok if I can't pick up a pen and draw exactly the same way as another illustrator. They already make their art, I need to go and make mine.

Be comfortable with yourself. Draw your style.

Megaman Sketch

Well I decided to do some sketching and who better than Megaman!? I'm still working on Minion card art, but it's really nice to take a break and draw something else for a little bit. I really enjoyed playing the Megaman games on NES as a kid, though I must confess my favorite of all time was in fact the first "Megaman X" game for SNES - I've played that game SO many times, it's just so much fun every time - I even downloaded the copy for my iPad - though nothing beats the feel of holding the SNES controller as you pull the cord just far away enough from the TV to not pull it completely out of the system...and blowing in the cartridge when it doesn't start up the first time.

Oh and it's for sale in my new store!

Minion Art - Pixelated Triangle of Power

I had a ton of fun illustrating this card. It's one of my personal favorites, especially having grown up playing the Zelda games (Ocarina of Time holds a special place in my heart). I remember sitting in front of the television with the NES controller in my hand, I don't think I ever finished the original game as a kid - but I was able to make my way thought the SNES "A Link to the Past". When I popped the "Ocarina of Time" cartridge into the N64 for the first time I was floored, being able to play as Link in 3D! I was glued to that game for weeks until I finished it - and even then I've played it start-to-finish more times than I would care to count.