wrong turn

I don't know if I have already said this, but I drew toons for a running magazine published here locally. This is one of the toons, illustrating a story about a marathon runner who missed his turn and ended up somewhere out in the boondocks! He obviously ran more than the 26 mile marathon. I liked the composition with the high-tech (exhausted) runner, contrasting the relaxed, pipe-smoking hillbilly. Then, colored in photoshop created some fun depth. A short stint as a professional toonist!!

discovering gravity

Okay, it has been pointed out to me that I have already posted "Chemo-girl." So, I was just reviewing a little bit so you don't lose track of what I have done!

Now this toon was a special present for Joel on his 21st birthday. I researched and placed many quotes from his favorite philosophers. It is acutally kinda hard to read, but my goal was to use the written portion to create visual texture. I think I accomplished that, but this would be a good concept to try again sometime. I really like the character, walking along, pondering the cosmos, about to discover that gravity works (falling apple). He is rather R. Crumb-ish.

The concept is really quite simple, but one can spend a long time looking at it, trying to get the quotes. By the way, my favorite quote is by R. Crumb himself. Try to find it.

chemo-girl

Here is one of my photo shop toons. I had this printed on a t-shirt for my sister-in-law to help her spirits while going through chemo-therapy.

I really like this because it is empowering, bright, shows a lot of action, and just makes me feel warm and fuzzy!!! How hip can you get, while losing all your hair, and one breast???!!!! This is hip!!

the photo shop coloration really helps punch out the colors, and shows the third dimensional quality, the roundness of the figure.

Fun stuff...

tae kwon do kick

So, it is high time I update my tons of toons. I scanned in a couple of fun images. This is one of them. This was drawn about 6 years ago, when Maryn and I were both red belts in tae kwon do. Obviously, this is a portrait of me holding the board while Maryn executes a great running side kick. Yes, it is exciting to jump and kick a board, but is also exciting to be the board holder!!! Fortunately, Maryn's kick was precisely in the middle of the board, and my fingers lived to hold another board!!
This image grabs me because of the action, and the shadowing of the primary characters. But it also shows distance by including the masters, who are the ones giving the test. Those are the three guys sitting at the table in the background.
These belt tests were always nerve-wracking and exciting, and the board breaks were full of victories and failures. There were countless young students who did not break their board, but would tear-up as their hands or feet would quickly hurt like hell!! The key was to regroup, breathe, think about the technique to get the job done, and DO IT!!! Not so easy when your hand feels like it has been broken into a hundred little pieces.