8/28/2008 - Inking with Illustrator
Posted by KirkGuy
Well, this post is for _abl_.
I do not leave many of my old posts, but take them off. _abl_ had asked to see the Wolverine I inked (over Ed McGuinness pencils) as proof that one can ink in Illustrator. Though this is proof that such can be done, I find that people who can ink well, can do much better with a real brush then what I can do with Illustrator.
The one thing that makes this possible in Illustrator, is that I did it on a Cintiq (Monitor that you can draw directly on). Looking back on this image, there are ways it could be better. I think it would also go quicker with a real brush then what I did here with Illustrator. But since I dislike inking, Illustrator helps me with the ablity to go back and change/fix things.
Here is the full image:
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8/26/2008 - Battle Damaged
Posted by KirkGuy
Wow, been awhile. I guess these images reflect my mood about my drawing of late and my ability to be disciplined at it.
Life with a full time job that requires more then 40 hours some weeks, family time and kids involved in sports, a house that requires work from time to time, and finding time to exercise can really fill up you time.
Some times this drawing can be so trying, I would like to just chuck it all and quit drawing all together. But then there are the times when I just let thing be what they are, quit stressing about it, and I really enjoy drawing.
So like many things in life, one day at a time and let things be what they are. Sort of like faith. Leaning on the Lord at times when we are at the end of ourselves.
The above is Matt’s Starblast character after a big fight. Preview of page 12. Have a good day. - Kirk
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2/7/2008 - Time for the 60s
Posted by KirkGuy
Been busy crazy, hectic the past two weeks. Should be slowing down here soon.
Getting close to the 1960s time for StarBlast in my page progression, so time to start drawing him this way more. Now this build is not correct, but just messing around as I have not had much time to draw of late. I like the body language of the center pose. By this time in his career, he is getting somewhat cynical.
Oh by the way, we got 10 inches of snow on Wednesday. Everyone at work left at 2, but I stayed because I had stuff that had to be done that day. Work is not much fun when everyone else is gone. I didn’t leave till five. I can drive in just about any conditions. Snow is no big deal. Infact, it use to be more fun to drive in the stuff in the days of rear wheel drive. Oh I miss those days. I would lay on the gas around every corner and be fishtailing all over the place. Front wheel drive stinks.
Oh well, we all have to grow up, don’t we. Take care all - Kirk
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10/31/2007 - Boo!!!
Posted by Tiramisue
HELLO INTERNET!!!! =D
So... yeah... 'Been a while, hasn't it? ;) I've been sitting here trying to come up with a funny reason why i haven't posted anything in 4 billion years, ..but then i figured that's exactly what you'd all expect. As if coming here with kitties wasn't predictable enough =P
Here's something you may not be expecting, though: i have uploaded 2 RARE pencil tests from the Iron Giant. You'll want to check those out before WB tells me to take 'em down.
(( 'Good to be back ^_^ ))
♥Sue
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8/15/2007 - Big Robot Little Bear Painting
Posted by wignke
My wife and children are out of town this week and I figured that this would be a fantastic time to do some old fashioned painting. It's pretty rare that I pick up a real paint brush and usually when I do it's only to make a small little piece. I decided to go big this time and that really the only thing I decided before I started painting. I'm one of those guys that ususally does a ton of sketches but this time nothing was done before the paint brush touched the board. I decided to take pictures of the process too. I started with a simple background and added a tree line. 
Things were going well at this point so I decided to add more trees and a foreground. I then decided that I wanted a big robot in the background. At this point I realized I had made a mistake as trying to paint in something behind the trees was rather difficult and the robot shape I chose looked like a big phalic symbol. I nearly gave up at this point, but I decided to press on. After fleshing out the robot a bit more, I started to feel okay with the piece. I was having fun so that seemed more important than what I was actually producing. 
At this point it became clear that the robot needed something to do so why not have it destroying things with it's lazer eyebeams. I also needed someone or something running in terror, so I painted in Angry Bear. Bear is a character for a comic strip I have been working on for a while. He instantly became my favorite part of the piece. 
I finally added arms and tightened up some things and decided it was "done." 
I don't consider myself a serious painter nor is this a serious painting, but it was a lot of fun. I have mixed feelings about the results, but hopefully this will lead to something more in the future. For those curious, I used acrylic paints on illustration board. I have a ton of brushes and it took me a while to find which ones were working for me. This final picture is of my tools. The tupperware thing has been with me for a long time and there are layers and layers of paint in that thing going back to 1993. It's one of those comforting things to have around when creating. 
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6/6/2007 - Messing With Perspective
Posted by wignke
Okay it's become very rare when I post on this blog. Truthfully it's been awhile since I've had anything to post. Half of my current job is doing marketing and the other half deals with document imaging. Well the latter half is really taking up most of my time these days. The image above was started quite a while ago but I was only able to put in a few minutes here and there on it. It is finally finished and I am pleased. This image is taking a step in the right direction for my style. For a while I've been illustrating in the cartoony/retro?/flat style. There are plenty of illustrators who look similar to that, so I've been trying to really push the perspective recently. I'm still using flat characters, but I'm trying to put them in extreme views. It isn't perfect yet but I'm finding it interesting and hopefully so will you.
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3/23/2007 - Fan Art: Order of the Stick
Posted by wignke
Back in college I played a few games of Dungeons & Dragons. I had never played before, but had a grand time and made some good friends through the experience. One of those friends introduced me to the Order of the Stick by Rick Burlew about a year ago and I have been hooked ever since. Though I don't play D&D anymore, the strip brings me back to that fun time. One doesn't need to understand the game to enjoy the strip, but it does help especially in the earlier strips. The link there will take you to the first strip.
The above picture is of the leader of the Order, Roy Greenhilt. For those not familiar with the strip, yes everyone is a stick figure. I've attempted to follow the design of the character yet still throw my style of doing things in there. I don't think any of the characters would translate into non-stick form, at least in my mind.
I am still trying to decide where I am taking this blog and it's lack of posts. I really like to do more with it. Originally I started it so I could participate Illustration Friday, but that has really fallen by the wayside. I'm a big blog reader and most that I enjoy seem to run one or two major themes. I have yet to focus on what those themes are for me, so things will continue to remain random for awhile.
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2/19/2007 - California Part deux
Posted by Nofret
Starting the third week in Burbank, and still haven't found a good cheese place. OK, Trader Joe's is pretty good, but I am missing all my favourites. Why must I be this cheese addict!!
That being said, I am getting back in shape as everything seems to be around 20-25 minute away on foot- groceries, work, etc. That's good :)
Loving the people I am working with; a very nice, very talented bunch. I am learning a lot. I've just passed the very first deadline. Hopefully will reach the next one with not too much trouble either.
I've been noticing these signs a bit everywhere in the studio- first aid and Earthquake kits. Guess it is something seen often here in Cali, but that is a weird reminder for me as to where I am now...
(and for those unfamiliar with Avatar, the girl in the closet is Toph- she controls earth)
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2/8/2007 - California on my mind
Posted by Nofret
Made it!
After trouble with paperworks, that delayed my trip to LA for a few days, I am finally settled in Burbank, staying with a friend. Work on Avatar has barely started for me, and this is how it felt last Friday, my first day...;)
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2/1/2007 - Updates to the website!
Posted by wignke
I recently updated my website. I cleaned up the design and flow and added some new images and a new section featuring my design work. Please drop by and let me know what you think. I've also added a random image code to the index page so feel free to refresh a few times to see what pops up. 
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1/22/2007 - Big News!!
Posted by Nofret
Allright, finally ready to announce this (big nervous breath intake):
In one week from now, I will be joining the talented crew of Avatar, The Last Airbender, and help with the storyboards.
You've seen me post a lot of fanart about it recently - and most of these were done BEFORE I was even contacted. I've just been a big fan of the show for a while, and you can bet that was one opportunity I had to take (I just hope I can do it justice, worry beads just thinking about it!)
At first, I wanted to keep this quiet. See, I've been having a lot of fun with the rest of the Avatar fandom artists...and I didn't want it to change. I love this crowd, I love their work, I'm having fun with them! But let's face it- many of them would find out eventually, and I didn't want to cause any anymosity with a "why didn't you tell us!?!" accusations or...whatever. I can't judge people's reaction in advance. It may be good, it may be bad.
And keeping it quiet almost felt like I was lying sometime. I didn't like that at all.
I hope you guys will still let me crawl amongst you, let me keep doing my little parodies and comics for fun...cause I am still one big Avatard!!!
A few notes:
This happened really quickly- passed a storyboard test in December (while having a leg infection, drawing in the hospital waiting room...). Got it right (ouf!!!), and had about a month to prepare.
As I write these lines, I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what is going to happen in season 3. Nothing, nada, nyet. I am as in the dark about the story as the rest of the world, and am looking forward to see what will happen, like everybody.
Please, do not ask me to give you secrets of the show once I know a bit more. I will be under contract, and that means the Confidentiality Clause must be upheld. I will be sworn to secrecy. I really wish I could tell you, but it will be professionally impossible. Sincerely sorry about that.
So there, cat is out of the bag.
Miu!
(below, little goodbye card I did for my friends at work...still can't believe I'm going, feels like something will happen and it will all get cancelled or something)
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1/17/2007 - Doodlelly
Posted by Nofret
Yeah yeah, more Avatar schtuff. Sorry about that
It all started very seriously, practicing battle poses, when it quickly degenerated into a Calvin and Hobbes moment.
I don't control these characters, and they let me know any chance they get.
(on another note, I am happy to say that my grandma and grandpa- both over 85- are enjoying playing with the Wii. For the moment it's just the bowling on Wii Sports, but I may get them the bass fishing game soon)
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1/10/2007 - Fun Times!
Posted by Nofret
Got so many things happening at the same time...and most of them I can't talk about yet. Corporate secrecy and all that, you know the drill.
And that means there will be a small hiatus on the mini comic Horus, as I will recharge my creative batteries.
I've kept doing silly Avatar comics and put them on the DA account-
http://rufftoon.deviantart.com/
One of them is actually starting to grow into a bigger thing than I thought- an Avatar parody, doing an hommage to Leo Ortolani's Rat-Man at the same time. (Leo Ortolani- genius Italian cartoonist whose writing and comedic timing was the biggest inspiration I had in the past 10 years- now if only his books were translated in English!)
So after the Harry Potter project, here's the start of the retelling of the Avatar's story...
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12/23/2006 - Long-Awaited Wii-turn
Posted by Tiramisue
Boy, have i had my hands full these past few months :P
(( Rob let me have my christmas present 30+ days early ^___^ ))
November 19; Nintendo Wii Launch Day: 'That late night/early morning, we had discovered quite a multitude of enthusiastic Nintendo fans clustered around various stores in Glendale and Burbank. At 3am, prior to opening, most spots were ALREADY filled; i'm talking HUNDREDS of people in line... all Wii systems called for at 2 Targets and 1 Best Buy. After a bit of driving, we decided to scope out the Toys R Us on Victory Blvd... It was an eerie pitch black dark parking lot; no working street lamps; no nearby lit businesses..and the line was only visible once we were mere feet from the store's front door. As we drove by, several members from the line approached the car and welcomed us....and we were ( somewhat ) grateful they weren't undead rotting hillbilly corpses.
Rob and I decided to join the party; Howie teleported over shortly after :D
 Then, at 8:30am, the TRU store employees started handing out tickets... (( we were nerds #16 and #17 )) Then, just one hour later, our group was escorted into the store, and very orderly might i add.
No  or  , so yay!
Everyone in our campout got a Wii; no one left unhappy :) Rob got me the System + Zelda + Monkey Ball + Classic Controller + extra Wii-mote.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz> The main game is GREAT!!!.... 'Wii controls are superior to the analog, imo! Oh-so-clever progression of levels, too: ya got the Jungle, then Desert, then..you guessed it... the snow level, and so on. /:) Unfortunately, 90% of the multiplayer party-games have clunky controls and seem very uninspired / half-assed thrown on there. I picked this as our 2-player wii game, but i honestly can't recommend it for that. It's all about the 1-player mode.
(( <3 YanYan ^_^ ))
Twilight Princess> 'Controls are top-notch; gameplay is near-perfect. The way I understand it, this game was pulled from the GC line-up, and thrown onto the wii without very much ( if any ) graphical adjustments. The colors are desaturated and muddy and there is some bizarre lighting and glowing filters around the characters. A more streamlined style with a simpler pallet would be better suited for the wii's capabilities. 'Going the photo-realistic route does not impress like it would on the 360 or the PS3; component cables or not. I'm really missing the Windwaker / Minish Cap look... but the majority demands "mature Link" ...aka Hyrulian Tiger Beat Centerfold Link. Hahaha, OMG BADASS GROWN MAN IN AN ELF COSTUME!!! Despite all my frustrations with the art direction, it's an absolute MUST HAVE game. If you own a Wii, you really need Zelda.
(( I went ahead and "Windwaker-ised" all the characters from TP, but haven't had time to color them yet. I'll post that nerdy bonanza on the drawing board soon... ))
Excite Truck> ( rented ) ...more like not-exciting-enough-to-play-for-more-than-15-minutes-truck. And it has some of the worst music ever.
Red Steel> ( rented ) ...'Not as bad as everyone's saying, but not good enough to shell out $50 for.
Virtual Console> 'Playing stuff like Contra and Toe Jam and Earl with some non-local pals MAY have been worth me re-buying some games i already own...but alas; there's no online multiplayer. TG16 BomberMan ’93 provides a good amount of local multiplayer entertainment @ $6. And it's got "pause screen" soundFX's almost as good as Battletoads :P Nintendo has been consistently adding 4-5 new games to the VC every Monday. For now, I’m patiently waiting for some more obscure releases... 'maybe even some unreleased stuff! 'The ultimate, of course, would be Goonies ( famicom ).
**I've updated my flickr account : more photos from the Wii launch, and some of my nintendo toys on display**
I'm bringing the Wii when i fly home for Christmas tomorrow. 'Curious how the family will like it.... They're usually about as interested in video games as i'm interested in a jar of mayonnaise. ;) 'VERY much looking forward to Christmas with my family :D My flight's in mere hours....*giddy giddy giddy*
Enjoy your holidays, everyone! I'll be back soon with the holiday report + TONS of new drawings.
♥♥♥♥♥ Sue
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12/19/2006 - Happy holidays!
Posted by Nofret
What a freaky month December has been- caught a bad cold and then a leg infection! But the health is coming back to normal, so I should be able to celebrate the upcoming holidays properly...with alcohol! Because of the medication, I couldn't drink anything, and I'm usually not a big alcohol drinker. But dang if the fact that I suddenly couldn't simply made me want to drink more and more!
There also should be big changes job wise, and I may tell more later on. For the moment, sit and wait.
Item 1- Time to start pimpin' !
I'll have a ten page story (art by me, story by J.Torres) in an upcoming Teen Titans Go comic. #40, coming out at the end of February. This is a split issue, where two artists illustrate short stories.
Item 2- Still in total Avatard fan mode, and the season finale got some wheels turning in my head. This joke will go over the head of anyone who doesn't know the show, but what the hey (rough pencils with quick Photoshop colours added on for les cheapness)
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11/16/2006 - The next two weeks
Posted by Nofret
Busy busy time approaching!
FIrst- le Salon Du Livre De Montréal (the Montreal Book Fair), that will have plenty of book authors (over 1000), and quite a few comic book artists as well. The BDQuébec forum has a pretty complete and up to date list:
http://www.bdquebec.qc.ca/forum/detail.php?forumid=20&id=2057&page=1
So many I want to see, with special attention to Jacques Lamontagne (Les Druides) and Jeff Smith.
It's going to be so weird seeing him outside of the usual San Diego- US convention tours and such.
Then next weekend is Expozine- more than 200 participants for this small press fair! Really great atmosphere last time, so I'm definitely looking forward to this year:
http://www.expozine.ca/en/2006.php
On a last note...yesh, I'm still an Avatard. Still having too much fun doing funny comics with those guys. I do wish I'd have the time to do something more...thoughtful, and this is what they had to say (I swear this dialogue just popped into my head!). Quick rough pencils, with quick colours added
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11/14/2006 - Loose Ends
Posted by wignke
I'm just wrapping up some loose ends. This will probably be my last entry for the year. I have plans for the blog and my website for next year and I want to get a jump on them now. It's not like I posted with any regular consistancy anyway.
First up is the completed family tree. I finished this a couple of weekends ago and passed along to the eldest sister who is having it printed. My parents anniversary is only a week and change away.
Next up is a belated Happy Halloween to everyone. Halloween is my favorite holiday. This was a warm-up sketch I did around that day that I never got around to posting. Always remember Wolfman's got Nards.
And finally another recent sketch that is not related to anything. Cheers.
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About Me
The life and times of a freelance illustrator and character designer.
Friends
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• KirkGuy
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• Tiramisue
• wignke
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