Chuy (pronounced CHEWIE)

Hello. Here's another oldie from the same old project. This is Chuy, the Chupacabra. He's a goat-sucking gasbag...who is, actually, a really nice guy. Give him a chance, won't cha?! (just keep small furry animals away from him around mealtime)

Big Monkey

Hi, Peeps! Thank you for all the warm wishes. First day at the new gig went very well. I met a lot of very nice (and super talented) folks and already learned quite a bit. The hardest thing was sitting there at my new desk...you know, just being in an open cube situation. It'll just take some getting used too...I definitely felt weird about checking email or the internet....which is something I normally do ALL DAY LONG, when working from home. Already though, I totally dig my new cube-mates, Sandra and Kyle. I definitley had my share of questions yesterday and everyone was incredibly helpful. I've already learned a lot of new "quick keys" in Illustrator CS Software! Wooo hooo! Gotta love that. (See, I'm one of those "don't like to read manual" types...so tidbits and tricks shown to me are like golden nuggets)



Here's a drawing of Big Monkey. He's just a really BIG monkey. Kind of an Ashton Kutcher-likes-to-play-cranks and thinks everything is super funny. He shares the house with Nessie, Red and many others. So yes...another old drawing. I think I'll just keep pulling from that particular file until I have time again to draw something new to share. Some of you (drawingboard pals) have already seen these, so I apologize for the repeats!

Thanks again, everyone. It was so nice to read all the (non-spam) comments last night.

Today is....

....my very first day at a new job. The past two years I've worked from home doing freelance for just about every conceivable type of project. I've done concept design mostly: for an animated feature, props, video games and a couple small start-ups needed illustration or other design related work . Before all this, I was freelance but working 3 days at The Jim Henson Company (as an Art Director) Before that, I worked full time there. Soooo, it's been 6 years since I've had a "first day" on the job. I'm feeling some jitters. But, that is normal...right?! Just like the first day of school I have a new outfit, have sharpened some pencils and woke up extra early. I'm both excited and scared.
One reason I'm excited is that I will have regular hours...well, hopefully. I do know that I can't possibly work non-stop like I do at home. The past several months have been unbelievably busy and my personal life has suffered from it. Go figure, huh? The freelance really starts taking off and I take a 9-to-5 job!! Anyway... I'm scared that I will not be "up to snuff" and that I will struggle to keep up with all the talented folks at this new place. But, I can remember starting jobs in the past feeling the same way, so I know I will eventually overcome that...by working hard and diligently. I'm excited to make new friends. But I'm scared that I won't have the same freedoms I've enjoyed over the past many years, like taking off for long weekends or visiting my parents on a whim. I'm excited that I will have a regular paycheck again and hopefully, save some money. I'll miss my "Court TV" and the random breaks I take to scour the web for more lovely things to view. Most of all, I'm excited to learn and face all my new challenges...to learn the tasks of a Character Designer.



I don't plan on writing details about my new job here. This blog is still primarily a place for me to post new doodles and drawings (and sometimes OLD ONES) when time has run out and I don't have anything new. Like today. Today's drawing is of Nessie, the Loch Ness. She comes from the same project as Red, the Black Bear (posted below) so, the drawing is a couple years old. This depiction of Nessie shows her to be a bit of a "Marianne Faithful" sort of Punk. She shares the house with a whole slew of Cryptozoology's finest and spents most her time in the Jacuzzi. No one understands her thick Scottish brogue. Her housemates assume she's brilliant though.

OK! Off to shower and get ready for my "first day"!! Wish me luck!

Illustration Friday: EMPTY

Red. The Black Bear. You might say he's a little "empty". He's sweet as pie, but dumb, dumb, dumb. Bribe him with berries and wine and he'll love you forever.

Ok, sorta cheated this week. No time to draw for Illo Friday right now so I had to dig up something from my files. This lil' character was created (amongst many) for a show I was developing a couple years back. The pitch got good reviews, overall, but it never found a home. waaaaa! My friend Al and I had a great time working on it though. We laughed, we cried and a little like our pal, Red the Black Bear...we consumed much vino too.

Illustration Friday: AGING

A little on the late side for this week's Illustration Friday theme, "Aging". And it's not because I forgot or even a result of being tired (both symptoms of old age) I was simply buried with work. But wait, I am forgetful and I'm exhausted too. Add to that, the numbers. And the numbers don't lie, I am getting older!! Dammit!!

Instead of waxing on and on about aches, wrinkles and those snarky greys...I kept thinking of the song "Young-at-Heart" by ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. Great song. Wonderful song. So, then I started thinking about little kids...and this image came to mind. One of those seldom times where the idea AND the execution came together nice and quick. Which is great, considering my age and all!! ;)