Little Yoda and Little Spock

When I was a kid, I loved comics like crazy. It started off as a ‘reward’ thing – namely, that if I ever went to the Doctor or Dentist and was well-behaved, I’d get a comic book. I instantly became the bravest kid ever! Seriously, even today my blood pressure DROPS if I head in for a check-up! Wish I still got the comics though...

My favorite titles were Fantastic Four, anything that Jack Kirby released and what was called Marvel Two-in-One. This teamed Ben Grimm (the Thing) with various other heroes and/or misc. peoples. I loved the changing dynamic, which was also true of Marvel Team-Up (same approach with Spider Man, who I couldn't stand alone but in the team ups he was cool).

So this illustration is my own attempt to bring together two 'iconic' and 'wouldn't it be neat if...' characters. I learned a couple of things:

1) Drawing Yoda is very fun. He will appear again (I’m already wondering if it would be too sacrilegious to make up things like Poe + Yoda = Poeda);

2) You can get some good texture if you pastel the colors and scan them into the computer in ‘pieces’ and then later line them up. But it’s tough if your scanner sucks. Mine does.


Little Yoda (close-up)

As mentioned, Yoda was a real blast to draw. This is more Episode 2 or 3 Yoda as I wanted him ready to kick ass and take names (I mean, lead by example and protect the Good Side of the Force). Also a lot of the new ‘Clone Wars’ series in him, which is a must watch if you’re a fan of the story-line for Star Wars (helping fill in the time from Anakin being a pretty bad-ass Jedi up to his change to a Sith Lord).

Also as I mentioned, Yoda’s coloring comes via two separate sets of soft pastels (including various adjustments) as well as some minor software work (light saber, etc.). His skin has lots of shades of green as well as hints of brown and yellow. Fortunately, this means I was able to use my morning face as a guide.


Little Spock (close-up)

Spock was originally intended to be some kind of combination drawing with Captain Kirk. But Kirk is so - well to be honest - 'plain' you can't really caricaturize him. And I didn’t want to use the old clichés of William Shatner’s EVENTUAL weight gain and hair loss.

Again coloration with pastels and some bits added in via MSPaint. I went with the darker hair, too, which I hope combines well enough here to be seen. At home, since I go back and forth from my office computer to my lap top (different functionalities often for same programs owing to age), I saw it on one computer but not so much the other. So in the office, the texture shows up great (Spock’s ‘comb lines’ were always really strong), on another it just looks black. But it’s there I promise, along with his invariable 5 o’clock shadow and surprisingly full lips (such a handsome boy, if only he'd smile more...).

Live long and prosper!

Little Oktoberfest

Now if my notes are correct, this is the 200 Year Anniversary of Oktoberfest. Wow, if you calculate all the beer that has been consumed during that span, you come out with a figure that indicates that was a lot of beer!

The 'official' Bavarian Oktoberfest has actually been held 177 times, which somehow seems a bit low to me in terms of 'only' 23 cancellations. Maybe I'm confusing 23 years of war with the number of years the French have spent the past 200 years surrendering (oh yeah, I went there mon ami!!).

Despite having lived within reasonable distance of there for nearly 20 years - I've been to Munich several times and think it’s fantastic!! – I have never been to Oktoberfest. Truth be told, I don't really ever intend to go either, for various reasons. To each their own.

Font is Herzog Von Graf (Oktoberfest not being 'Germanic' enough, go figure). PROST!!

Little Hippies

I saw this great drawing of a hippie the other day on 'Non Sequitur' by Wiley Miller and this has been in my head ever since. I wanted to do two 'original' hippies, who would I guess now be in their 60's to 70's at least. Wow!! And I can still remember getting tear-gassed at a peace rally. Ok, I was in my stroller but still!!

I found some great textures to use including for the hair (she at least has a lot of Vanessa Redgrave in hers) and also the clothes and more.

A lot of these patterns are from my pal 'Joe Smith', who you can either find on FB or wait a few weeks for his interview on my blog. I think I borrowed snippets from at least 5 of his works, including the flower in the hair. His stuff is awesome with a capital awe and I love seeing what he does each and every day!!

Font for background is 'Hippie Chick' and 'Gosford' for the signs.

Remember: Make War, Not Love... no wait...

DJ Little Ziggy

OK, I have to be totally honest with you: this did not start off as a DJ. I was actually going to finish the 3rd of my pirate series, even though 'Int'l Talk Like a Pirate Day' was by this time long over and I could only just barely feel the effects of the traditional rum.

Well, despite a pretty good sketch of ‘third pirate’ (sounds like the credits for some poor schlub still waiting on his big breakthrough in Hollywood), my first ink-over came out – hm, how to put this delicately – let's just say it would have embarrassed Freddie Mercury and perhaps even not made it into Elton John’s closet. Or out, either way.

The 2nd attempt came out very 'pimpy' so that wasn't right either. So I've got a pirate all drawn up and on file that needs some work again one day. Either that or I just need to draw in a decent manicure because he looks simply FAB-oohlala-lous!!

I then started this, just sort of free sketching. The 'afro' surprisingly enough came from a photo shoot of a CAUCASIAN model that caught a lot of flap for her 'black face' photo spread. The rest just sort of happened.

I would note that I’ve never seen a modern DJ at work, so his 'station' was seriously winged. In this case someone wrote in to tell me I had the bass and other bits backwards as no self-respecting DJ would have set his, uh, settings that way. I don’t know how accurate that is, but I do think it looks like a pretty good cash register.

Font is flower bold. It's amazing what you can find when you put in key words in the font section (in this case 'groovy').

Little Pirates

Little Pirate, uh, Girl

At the very last minute on the night before (Sept.18th) the 2nd most popular holiday of the calendar year, I got the inspiration to do some pirates for ‘International Talk Like A Pirate Day’. Aye, I just wanted to remine m’mateys and all ye landlubbers, ta gi' us some o' yer best arrr's!! Aarrr!!

OK, I’ll stop.

Well, as is usual, I got way too into the research, and way WAY too picky about the details. After several false starts, I finally went with a brave lass as the first example of what was originally intended to be AT LEAST 3 pirate-like persons. Not sure why I gave her a Mike Tyson tattoo, but there you go.

One colleague said she reminded him of Geena Davis in the movie ‘Pirates’ (I think it was called ‘Cutthroat Island’ in the States). I had to look it up, but I did find at least one similarity. No, better said, two.

Extra credit question: what ever happened to Matthew Modine? There for a while he was really big in the movies, but I swear I don't think I've seen him in forever. You'd think he could at least get a reality show gig or something...

Font: Black Beard. And it really is a holiday, I promise!! LOOK HERE -> 'X'. Get it, 'X' marks the spot? Oh ha ha, I crack myself up some times!!



Little Blackbeard

Blackbeard is actually a pretty famous pirate from back 'home'. With a range of nice isolated barrier islands, he apparently loved to hide out and stash treasures all over the place. Not sure nowadays how true that was, but hey, it made the tourists happy.

By now, it was the actual holiday day itself... and I was only on the 2nd of the 'pirate series' and feeling a bit stressed. I really did intend to try and complete the trifecta, but my cat personality took over and I went for the nap instead.

Font: rapscallion (mod.)


For what happened to the third pirate in the series, read the next entry!!

Little, uh, Super Chicken

Our first actual request (or proposal, however you want to put it). A friend mentioned making a Super Chicken, or even a Super Egg, and so I did both!! I just wish now I could remember how it came up in the conversation (I love my friends, such an eclectic bunch!!).

Background is from Hubble Telescope (Orion System).

UPDATE: Okay, I looked up where all this came from. A friend had linked in a blog that was primarily about a family's wacky adventures raising chickens. Hilarity ensuing and the whole shebang, I promise you. But this particular post was about the fact that apparently their house is haunted, including more than just thumps in the night or teenagers trying to get away with murder.

So anyway, as usually happens when serious topics are raised on Facebook, there were some bad puns exchanged including along the lines of laying an egg and needing a Super Chicken to come to the rescue.

Well, to say the least that's all I can remember without reaching that level of chemical influence again. Darn state-dependent memory. Sure wish I could recall bits of college, too...

Little Super Galatic Space Chicken

Evil doers and Rodential Raiders of Hen Houses everywhere: BEWARE!! I mean, just check out the abs on this guy (sorry, could only fit a 4-pack on him).

Well, if I can toot my own beak here for a moment, I think my shading is getting better.

I might actually be dangerous if I ever crowbar open my wallet and get some real tools to use!

Little Robin's Egg

Hee hee, this was then the 'egg' part. I got silly and decided to de-evolutionize Robin into his earlier persona. Talk about unborn potential though, wow!! (My 10-year old son even commented at one point, 'how do you know what powers he has?' I also had to explain the coloring, go figure...)

Again, good shadowing Ziggy, pat pat... or should that be toot toot?

Enjoy!

Little Monty Python (Holy Grail)

This just may be the first of many Monty Python ‘tributes’, but I was just in the mood to illustrate one of my favorite scenes from my favorite movie of all time!! The brave King Arthur triumphs over the Black Knight, and is now ready to continue his quest with his faithful man-servant Patsy in tow...

The background I created here is supposed to be a kind of rendering of the actual scene, done in soft pastels. It was tough because if you know the movie, it’s just sort of a series of grayish tones.

The font is 'Cast Iron' which matches quite closely what the original series used.



Little Arthur

Ah, poor Arthur, doomed to have the downfall of England on his shoulders and a 20-year sentence for manslaughter to serve out. This is just one of the classic quotes from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'.

I think though I made Graham Chapman's face sadder than it should be, which even my son pointed out right away. It could be because I'm still bummed that he passed away.

Font is none other than 'King Arthur'. I love looking for fonts!!



Little Black Knight

He is invincible! Well, it's only a flesh wound! Well... we'll call it a draw. What a riot.

However, using the ‘mini-man template’ and then drawing armor and especially helmets on this pattern led to some odd dimensions. Well, at least I got to color in lots of gory blood!!

Sorry can't remember the font but it wasn't 'Black Knight' (some Gothic type, the name will come back to me). It was something like ‘Smash Your Brains In’ or similar. Dang and I wanted to use it again.



Little Patsy

It is hard to do a character that doesn't stay the same person all the time in the film.

He’s a bit mucky looking because he's supposed to be a bit more covered in, you know. It’s just because obviously King Arthur is immune to such imperfections. I LOVE HIS LITTLE COCONUTS (wow, that's something I haven't said in like, 2 or 3 days)!!

Font is a bizarre one called Coconut Split (again coconuts = hilarious!!). It looked sloppier in the previews than it came out, I was going for that 'serf' like writing style. You know, sign with your ‘X’ on the dotted line. Bloody peasant...