Today I found a sketch I did a wee while back. It was part of some character development for a graphic novel idea a friend of mine had. It is, as a project (for now), rather dormant, but when I saw the sketch I decided I was fond of it, and started to ink it. Then I coloured it. Then I started listening to The D (that's Tenacious D to most filthy commoners), got somewhat inspired and ended up with what you see here.

I had fun. But I wish I was a rock star.

Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can't Lose.

To anyone that has seen the show Friday Night Lights, this will make complete sense. If you haven't, then I suppose it probably still makes sense, but check out this link which will neatly sum up the show for you in under one minute. The series can be a bit schmaltzy in parts, but I am a real sucker for the lip-trembling, locker-room orations and the heart-on-sleeve sloppy team-spirit sentiment of it all. (You are dead inside if you don't).

Anyway, pre-season training has started at my local football team (The Mighty) Stromness Athletic F.C. and whilst working on some altogether more practical posters for the club, I suddenly thought of the Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose line and ended up producing this just for a bit of fun.

Available as the following wallpapers for anyone who may be interested.
Image 1: iPad
Image 2: iPhone
Image 3: 1024 x 768
Image 4: 1680 x 1050

CAN'T LOSE!!!

Poo Fairy

I suppose really that in my line of work, most of the jobs I am asked to undertake are peculiar in their own way. 'Tis a peculiar profession, after all. But now and again (mostly again) something really odd comes along that snatches the proverbial biscuit.

Such as a Poo Fairy.

It's hard to ignore an email which contains the words "poo fairy". It just sort of demands to be explored. Within, the Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme explained that dog poo is a real problem across our shores here in Orkney. Furthermore – and somewhat inexplicably – it seems many dog owners actually go to the trouble of 'bagging' it before then tossing it to the roadside nonetheless, thus creating a festering little package of stink that far outlives the obvious and unpleasant problems generated by even 'au naturale' dog poo. Who would do that!? It beggars belief. (Sometimes I am proud to be a cat owner).

Anyway, this character will appear on information boards posted along some of Orkney's many fine coastal walks. So take heed. And if you should witness a dog owner attempting to increase the half-life of an abandoned pile of dog poo by swaddling it in a plastic bag, you have my permission to strike them deliberately and repeatedly around the face and throat. (Though probably not the permission of the SFLPS, it should be said).

Altair (again)

And here he is after another hour's scribbling...
I hope to take him further and ink or paint him, as I am reasonably happy with it at this stage. No promises just yet though.

Altair

It has been a while since I posted anything up on here... mostly due to me being away in Italy on honeymoon for most of July and August (which is one of my better excuses, it must be said). Anyway, I am slightly ashamed to admit that whilst strolling around Florence and Venice – and though I did genuinely soak up a great deal of 'real' history and culture whilst there – I found it astonishingly difficult to not think about Assassin's Creed 2.

So to cut a dull story short: since returning home, I have had a deep urge to draw some Assassin-like figures (is that a worry?). And here is the start I made on the seriously awesome character of Altair (who is from the original game, I know, ye pedants).

Col-Erase on paper, 1 hour.

Cowboy Sketch

Yeah I know. More cowboys.

I don't know why they so often manifest themselves in my psyche, and have chosen just to accept that it is the way I is. For now at least.

Anyway, I was messing around with some new Photoshop brushes I acquired and this sketch was the result of a 15 minute cerebrobric session late last night. An obvious departure from what I have been sharing on the blog thus far, but this slightly darker tone seems to be where my head is just right now. I had intended to re-visit it at some point today and develop it/finish it off, but in the cold light of day I quite like it as it is for some reason. So I thought I would throw it up on here.

ABCeasy

March has been an insane month for me with loads of projects all bottlenecking in the last week ("Deadlines dropping like cluster bombs", is how a friend of mine brilliantly describes such moments).

Mostly though I have been busy working with a(nother) friend of mine, Tim Bryans over at Spotflick Ltd, on designs for an App for the iPad. Exciting! Can't give much away as it is still currently in development, but by way of an apology for no postings recently I have decided to share a sneak peek at one of the images. I have got quite attached to this little robot. He is officially nameless, though I have always thought of him as a Douglas.

Off for a short break as of tomorrow. Looking forward to being sans pencil for wee while.

Conchords

Have been watching some Flight Of The Conchords again recently and just fancied doodling a few of the characters. Here is the result of some sketching last week and a bit of Photoshop jiggery pokery from earlier today.

There would seem to be a bit of a theme emerging here involving HBO Television Series characters and me feeling compelled to doodle them up on to my blog. Probably something to do with them all being so well-written and perfectly executed on screen that makes them such good cartoon/caricature material. I think. At some point I will surely run out of HBO material and be forced to diversify, but until that day comes, you'll just have to bear with me.

Alex. Prisint.

I don't really like to talk about my charity work, but…

I posted my original sketch for this little logo the other week, so I thought I may as well share the finished result. Believe it or not I was asked to participate in this event as a, well… participant. I politely declined the offer to don a spandex, sequined suit, opting instead to offer my services as a graphic designer.

I can't help but think it has been one of my better decisions.

Doc Cochran & Dan Dority

More Deadwood. Just a sketch this time: not sure when I'll find time to ink and colour these chaps, so thought I'd just post it now. I tried to draw a couple of the show's female characters this morning but I really struggled for some reason. Just couldn't capture them. Will try harder and see how it goes some other time. Bye for now.

Strictly Just a Sketch

I have been super-busy this week, so all my good intentions of daily warm-up sketches and such like have – naturally – gone to seed. I have also been working on some quite diverse (for me) projects which has made it an atypical, though enjoyable, week of work. This little sketch was done tonight for a logo I am working on for someone. I quite liked the energy of it: all those flowy lines and sharp angles. Kind of 40s inspired, I suppose.

Anyhoo. It's a bit different to the usual, so I thought I'd post it.

Cy Tolliver

Another Deadwood sketch, this time that fiendish rogue, Cy Tolliver.
He may have looked better at the sketch stage in truth, this one seems less cartoony and more caricature-like, but I am happy enough.
On with my day, then, I suppose...

Swearengen

Al Swearengen: The results of this morning's "Cerebrobics" (Cerebral Aerobics) as it is now brilliantly known. (Wish I could claim to have coined that one, but alas no. Well done, Macdonald…)

I am well into these Deadwood sketches now. Cy Tolliver tomorrow, methinks…

Seth Bullock Sketch

To capitalise on my new-found creative enthusiasm, I intend to try and use the first hour of each day as good old "me" time, and doodle anything I feel like, just as a way of getting warmed up. (Think of it as some mild, static stretching ahead of a brisk jog). If the fruits are worth sharing, I shall post them here.

So here is today's effort. I was quite recently chatting with my chum about the wonder that is/was HBO's Deadwood (RIP). Lord I miss that show. Only three series: absolutely criminal. Anyway, the chat inspired me to have a go at drawing the fervent and fiery Seth Bullock. And here he is. (1 hour, Photoshop & Painter).

Sorry, yeah, I've been busy…

If you leave three years between posts on one's blog, is it really still a blog?

A blog (a blend of the term web log)^[1] is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video.

Taking into consideration that I still don't have a website, and that my entries have been anything but regular, I fear that the answer is no. I am, consequently, now at a loss as to know what to describe this page as. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

But – hey! – I'm back!

Here's some more of the characters in development from the same project. I've had a good time playing around with body shapes and scale. It's refreshing to be challenging myself in this way because the style I work with in both my strip The Giddy Limit and most other commissions up to this point have been very samey in comparison. It's been a bit of an eye-opener for me, actually...

Hit the wall running…

Look at me. I have a blog...

Not something I ever thought I'd succumb to… but then again it was only a few years ago when I said I'd never colour my work digitally. Fool.

Nevertheless, here I am. I'm not quite sure in which sort of direction this whole thing will take me, but right now I am hoping to use it as a platform to post sketches and developments from any projects I'm currently working on (this being a more attractive/lazy option than continually updating my website). Incidentally, I haven't actually finished building my website yet, so this is a bit stupid, really. Ah, well… wish me luck…

So to start off here are some character sketches above from a project I am (sort of) working on with my friend Tim Bryans. Tim and his team are hoping to pitch a new animated show based around these decrepit Super Heroes, but it's all very early days as yet, so I can't say too much about it right now. I've had a lot of fun with it so far, though: They make easy targets. (The aged Super Heroes, I mean, not Tim and his team…).