Sketchbook: Euro 2012

So most of my vacation week has been taken up with working on art projects, some light housecleaning (no, really honey...I am), but a lot of it has also been spent watching the Euro 2012 first round matches. Here are a couple of impressions I've taken away from them.

First is a sketch of Rivery, a player for the French National team.

He seems to be a very unhappy fellow. He is usually yelling at the opponents...or his teammates...or the referees...or really anyone who dares make eye contact.

And this is a sketch done of Blaszczkowski (geez...Poland just LOVES that alphabet, don't they?). This was just after he scored a blistering equalizer against a powerful Russian squad.

It's been a lovely week to not be at work.

Sketchbook: Tony Awards Edition

I watched the Tony awards this year for the second time in my life. The first time was last year when I stumbled across them being hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. I thought "eh, sure...he's funny. I'll give them a shot". Best decision. Not only was he brilliant, they made me want to go see some live theater. I still haven't but the desire is there.

So fast forward to this year. The other day, I got a new ink brush/pen thingie and have been playing with it to try it out. So while I was sitting there watching the Tony's I was doodling away in my sketchbook. These are the best results.


This one was the first one I did. They were doing a song from "Ghost: the Musical". Yep. THAT "Ghost". The Patrick Swayze one. Don't know if Whoopi is involved or not.


This was a performance from "Jesus Christ Superstar". Seeing this song made me realize I have no idea what that thing is about.


This is Ricky Martin in "Evita". That's about all there is to that. It's Ricky Martin in "Evita".

And this final one is my favorite...


"Nice Work If You Can Get It". I just liked the way this one worked out.

Personally Helpful

Sometimes what I do comes in handy for personal reasons.  The other day I got a card from my alma mater advertising Alumni Day at a Braves game.  I wanted to know if any of my friends and family were going so I whipped up this...

...to ask them on Facebook if they were going.  It's a mountain lion (our mascot) in a Braves uniform.  A little more fun than just asking everyone, I think.

Taking a While...

It's been too long!  I am working but I am falling down on my posting duties.  Apologies.  I've had this one done for awhile but I was holding it until I submitted it to my favorite dino themed magazine publication, Prehistoric Times.  This one is a bit special as it is one of the dinosaurs featured in my museum, Giganotosaurus.

I drew him (her?  I'm not supposed to engender them at work) with feathers as more and more discoveries seem to support this possibility.

Still not sure about "Thunder Chickens"...

Dusty

Watching a concert film of ZZ Top this morning I felt the need to grab the old sketchbook and whip out a quick sketch of Dusty Hill. And here it is...

Lawd, I do love that "Little Ol' Band from Texas"!

Dark Shadows contest

So in the course of trying to find more of an audience for my art, I finally looked into the deviantArt website. I'm still feeling out that whole process and have only been a part of it for a month or so, so I can't even truly give a complete critique of the experience yet. More to come on that later...

However one of the things they do have is a slew of contests. Differing themes and such and it seems to be a fun way to get people to do art. I'm always for that. But this one came up a few days ago that intrigued me. The upcoming film version of the old television show Dark Shadows seems to be sponsoring a contest to do a portrait of Barnabas Collins, the soap opera vampire. An old friend (the Cap'n from previous posts, to be exact) had introduced me to the character years ago. As I recall, it was a very odd, campy thing but it also didn't seem like that was the mood they were shooting for. It just kind of happened. Sets falling over during a shot and the director apparently saying "ah, to heck with it. THAT'S A WRAP!" and just leaving in the footage of the falling sets. However there seems to be a lot of folks who are not happy at all with the intentional comedic twist director Tim Burton seems to have given this current incarnation. Ah well, to each his own. I myself, think it looks kind of funny but I also don't have childhood remembrances tied up in it.

 So I came up with an idea for a Barnabas portrait and here it is...

The niftiest thing is that the finalists are to be judged by Tim Burton himself. (Okay, so the NIFTIEST part is the Hollywood prize monies offered, but still...Tim Burton looking at your stuff would be pretty cool, too.)

Mid Week Update

I promised more boxing pen and ink goodness and here it is...





These were also taken from sketches and photographs from the tournament I attended with friends last year.

Enjoy!