Microsoft "Cortana" (not a Ford Cortina).

I created storyboards for a Microsoft "Cortana" advert starring BMX ace Danny MacAskill. The final ad is available to watch right HERE (you tube). Once again, that's me creating images for Microsoft, a fairly big deal and hopefully a platform to get more storyboard work.

Cortana is described as "an intelligent personal assistant on Windows Phones, PC's and tablets." Conversely I used pretty much the oldest media in human civilization in order to help THEM visualise an advert that probably cost many £millions to make.

I don't use a smart phone or a tablet so this is was all news to me... nor have they sent me one for my efforts!

There are 15 frames in total, created with pencil and a brush pen. My preferred method is to fit three frames on one sheet of A4 paper with each frame at 16 x 9cm ...conforming to the now standard 16:9 ratio. This leaves room for any notes on the sides, for either the client or for me to clarify the action.

Got it? Good!

Rainbow Frite

Where will you find a load of transsexual super-villains on a wet Wednesday morning? Here, that's where! More specifically here, LINK if you go and order the book right now.

The author is Armani Prinsloo, the 

illustrator is me.

Featuring characters such as Vladiman Poo Tang, Diet Popstitute, and Frite's overuse of the word "betch" (you'll end up saying it, trust me.) Perhaps the most insane thing I've illustrated since "The Adventures of Bastard." ...Actually it's a close tie. 

The story features villains on top of villains.

Similarities to real life unsavory persons purely 

coincidental of course *wink, nudge.

BE SURE TO LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE FOR OTHER PICS AND POSTS, ALL SUPPORT IS HUGELY APPRECIATED. HERE!

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja "Hero" Turtles

Remember the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Well, let's face it, we're not allowed to forget those green bastards. Except that over here in the UK, they were called "Hero" Turtles until some time around the mid 90's. ...That small fact, we UK residents would be allowed to forget, were it not for some man-child without a proper job reminding you.

Anyway, last summer I had the joyous task of creating the collector's cover for Starburst Magazine issue 403 and it turned out to be Turtles themed.

I wanted it to look like the original comics, with the all white eyes and yet acknowledge the cartoon with the blue, orange, red and purple of Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael and Donatello respectively. ..."Transformed from the norm by the nuclear goop" as the rap goes.

Also, the scribbles remind me of a child going over his older brother's comic with a felt tip.   

 Just to prove I'm not making it up. ^

The Apes of Wrath

 "Damn you all to hell!"

Followers of my Facebook page will know about this, however, there are extra bonuses in this blog, including a tutorial below - sort of.

I have just fulfilled an ambition: front cover of Starburst Magazine (out now!) It is the UK's longest running magazine of "cult" entertainment, beginning with a Star Wars cover back in the 70's. Speaking as someone who likes science fiction films, comics, horror (well, parts of) and several other things of that ilk then this is a big deal for me.

Little over half a year ago I did a Rocket Raccoon (Guardians of the Galaxy) poster for the very same mag, so I must have done well with my scribbling for them to call me back for something more prominent. The cover in question is the alternative Planet of the Apes cover. Which I like to think of as the retro apes cover; there is another cover which acknowledges the new movie Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (a title which sounds like it needs shortening.)

I'll go through the process for anyone interested.

1) Scamps (or sketches) I only made two...because I don't always (if ever) think a ton of sketches is a good idea, preferring one or two at a time. Anyway the one they went for was this:

2) I created the elements separately. This allowed me to move everything freely in Photoshop. So the apes and background elements such as the Statue of Liberty were drawn by hand and scanned in, looking like this:

3) Drag the elements together on screen and colour them. The rocky backdrop was done with a mouse. So I sent them this (minus signature):

4) Lastly they added their own magazine logo of an appropriate colour:

Ta-Daaaaaa!!!! - I have my copy.

After Eden

Promotional work for music group "After Eden."

Involved creating a logo and turning a photograph into a comic-book style image. Tools used: ink and pencils including some tracing. The group have a Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/weareaftereden

 The band with logo...

...And the logo on it's own.

Keyman Vs Death

A mock-comic book cover for a corporate insurance company. 

The "Death" concept was mine; the brief originally was that a businessman was ill so "Keyman" was to save the day (...essentially wrestling the company profits from all the red tape). I felt I needed to draft in a villain in order to make it work as a single comic book cover.

Tools used: pencil, paper, brush pen, photoshop. ...That is all. So, if you own a business or corporate enterprise, check them out http://www.life-finder.co.uk/. In fact if you're rich and powerful, commission me whilst you're at it!

Keyman punches Death in the face.

One can't help but think of He-Man  

(because Keyman sounds like He-Man)

and Skeletor (because he looks like Death).

Alice and the Invaders from Wonderland

Tres important announcement!

Alice discovered Wonderland as we all know, but what would happen if its kooky inhabitants found the rabbit hole and invaded Earth?


Intrigued?

Myself and author, Bret M. Herholz are currently "crowd funding" to support the creation and publication of a graphic novel. It will be drawn by me! Click ---> HERE <----to go straight to the Indiegogo page. For the uninitiated crowd funding is a way of sourcing funds from you, the interested public. Donating can lead not only to the product being made but also exclusive rewards.

The Graphic Novel "Alice and the Invaders From Wonderland" is a great concept and I'm keen to get stuck into something of this scale. IMPORTANTLY you can not only donate to the project but also purchase some artwork along the way. Prints and postcards featuring character designs by both myself and Bret (he's a fellow scribbler in his own right). All proceeds will be piled into the production costs.

Here is an example of one of my original character designs currently up for grabs:

Original art. Ink on A4 paper.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! 

Click HERE to view the page.