THE ART OF SAM LOTFI

RECKLESS Preview! Part 1

2012-02-25T17:11:00.002-06:00

So here's the SNEAK PEEK at the RECKLESS short story I mentioned (pick up a copy of the HOT INK ANTHOLOGY from CCP Comics to get the lettered pages and enjoy the whole story).

http://ccpcomics.com/comics.php

RECKLESS Preview! Part 2

2012-02-25T17:05:00.002-06:00

So here's the rest of the SNEAK PEEK at the RECKLESS short story I mentioned (pick up a copy of the HOT INK ANTHOLOGY from CCP Comics to get the lettered pages and enjoy the whole story).

http://ccpcomics.com/comics.php

Hot Ink Anthology Cover!

2012-02-25T16:59:00.002-06:00

I did the cover art (pencils/inks/colors/logo design) for the NEW HOT INK Anthology!

So this is what i mentioned at the end of last year from CCP Comics! It's a collection of short comic book stories from all the great writers and artists of CCP Comics - including yours truly! There is a short story from my upcoming book RECKLESS in it! I'll be posting the pages soon but they'll be unlettered so you gotta pick up a copy to get the whole story!!! Enjoy!

Hellboy commission...

2012-02-25T16:55:00.002-06:00

I love the hard personality & attitude that he wears on his weathered face, just a working man!

Been a awhile...

2012-02-23T23:17:00.001-06:00

Hey guys & gals! So things have been crazy busy in the best way! I'll be posting some of what I can soon but in the meantime heres a peek at some great reading material! If u haven't read these comics yet, you NEED to! See y'all soon!

Wiz World AUSTIN Comic Con! Nov. 11 - 13!

2011-11-11T00:54:00.002-06:00

Hey guys and gals,

My next show will be in AUSTIN, TX! Wizard World AUSTIN Comic Con!

November 11 - 13 (Friday - Sunday).

If you weren't there last year, you missed out on a GREAT show - so BE THERE this year and swing by the CCP Comics tables in Artist Alley to say, "Hi". I'll be sitting with the CCP crew this year and will be drawing like a mad man if you're interested in Commissioned art - sign up early to make sure you get yours.

AND

I've got some New Prints and artwork as well as a NEW BOOK - Its all a surprise! I wanted to do something special for those you come out to the show to see us. Those at the show will be the first to find out what the secret book is! So swing by and get your copy while they last!

I understand that not everybody will be able to make it out so I'll be posting all the details about the NEW BOOK and NEW Art/Prints and how you can get your copy AFTER the Austin Comic Con.

Long Live Pencil and Paper!

- Sam

Burning the candle at both ends...

2011-08-21T16:44:00.003-05:00

I'm still here guys and gals... sorry for the lack of updates but I've been burning the candle at both ends for a while now & I gotta say, the Rocky Balboa soundtrack is a BIG motivation. Unfortunately, due to non-disclosure agreements I can't talk about any of it until the appropriate time, so suffice it to say I'm working on 2 sizable projects right now, one in comics (with complete creative control handling pencils/inks/colors) AND the other is a big video game project. I can't say anything else. But until I can get back to a regular update schedule again, I will update the blog when I can with more artwork. Enjoy these sketches for now... au revoir.

ACE! This Weekend! June 24th - 26th!

2011-06-22T21:25:00.003-05:00

Hey guys,

My next show will be at the Albuquerque Comic Expo in New Mexico! June 24th Friday - 26th Sunday! Come out and see the show, there will be lots of great guests (click the title link above)!

I'll be chilling with the CCP Comics crew, swing by the table and say hi or if you wanna pick up anything you might have missed at the other cons.

I sold out of the RECKLESS ashcans at the houston Comicpalooza show, but no worries, I'm restocked and they are available (and it comes with a free sketch!) I've got some great art prints to choose from and a new Jonah Hex print as well (see above).

Hope to see y'all there!

Well...I haven't disappeared!

2011-06-09T00:39:00.002-05:00

Hey guys, no worries, I have NOT disappeared!

I recently exhibited at the Dallas Comic Con and Comicpalooza in Houston back to back weekends. I'm cranking out pages for RECKLESS right now. You'll get a chance to see the pages in the upcoming CCP Comics Anthology that will be debuting at ACE:

http://abqcomicexpo.com/

Don't worry, I'll also post the RECKLESS pages from that anthology RIGHT HERE ON THIS BLOG SOON!!!

So things have been SUPER busy for me lately, to say the least. I'll be back soon with updates on the Dallas Comic Con and Comicpalooza; both cons were AWESOME and I've got some great pics to show! Stay tuned!

Dallas Comic Con May 21-22!

2011-05-18T21:20:00.001-05:00

Hey guys and gals! My next convention appearance will be at the Dallas Comic-Con THIS WEEKEND! I'll be exhibiting along with CCP Comics and doing sketches, commissions, etc... I also have some of the Limited Edition RECKLESS Ashcans left,so swing by and pick one up before they go by by... And of course I'll have art prints available as well! See y'all there! CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE TO SEE THEIR SITE FOR MORE INFO.

Free Comic Book Day @ Austin Books & Comics

2011-05-10T20:25:00.003-05:00

Free Comic Book Day was AWESOME! I had a blast doing sketches for everyone! We got a break from the sun to get some A/C and record another episode of CCP Comics Un-Bagged Podcast (you can listen to it at ccpcomics.com under downloads). (Yes, that IS the Hulk's crotch in the background... get your mind out of the gutter). We had a special guest on the show, Austin Books' very own Sidekick Girl! And the sketches above were 2 of the ones I had the most fun drawing!

Bayou Comic Con RECAP!

2011-05-04T23:25:00.002-05:00

Hey there! Just wanted to give you guys a RECAP of the Bayou Comic Con in Lake Charles LA! I was exhibiting there with the CCP Comics Crew and we had a BLAST! The highlight of the trip was recording the very first CCP Comics Un-Bagged PODCAST!!! With guest ROB GUILLORY (artist of CHEW from Image Comics). I've met and talked with Rob a few times before at previous shows, but we had an awesome time chatting it up at the Bayou Con! Listen to the podcast at the CCP Comics website under "downloads". ALSO click the title link for this post to see the Bayou Comic Con PHOTO ALBUM on my Facebook page! The above drawing is a commission of Hellboy I did for a fan.

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY Saturday May 7th 2011

2011-05-04T22:52:00.002-05:00

Hey there! Check out this News segment we did here in Austin for the upcoming FREE COMIC BOOK DAY Saturday May 7th 2011. I'll be at Austin Books along with other CCP Comics artist to sign books and do FREE sketches! That's right I said FREE SKETCHES! Visit us at Austin Books to get your FREE COMICS & FREE SKETCH!
http://weareaustin.com/entertainment-story?nxd_id=142846

Cyclops Sketch Cover

2011-04-25T23:41:00.002-05:00

Hey Hey!! I got my hands on some Marvel Sketch Cover comics... pretty sweet deal. For those that don't know, its a regular comic book except its got a blank cover so that you can buy the issue and have your favorite artist draw a cover for you. Lots O' Fun!

SNIKT! SNIKT! Can Opener!

2011-04-18T19:41:00.002-05:00

SNIKT! SNIKT! Whatever happened to the cigar smokin' brown suit Wolverine? I miss the early Wolverine, John Buscema, John Byrne, Paul Smith, Mark Chiarello (covers), Barry Windsor Smith, just to name a few guys that contributed to the character - back when he was actually mysterious, the best at what he does, and only 5'4".

"Gamma Blast"

2011-04-12T00:23:00.003-05:00

Growing up as a Marvel Comics fan, one of my favorite characters was (and still is) the Incredible Hulk! The madder he gets the stronger he gets! There's NO stopping this guy!

Artistically, the two biggest influences on this character for me are John Buscema and Dale Keown. These guys drew the most dynamic and powerful images of the Hulk bursting off the page! Whenever I think about the Incredible Hulk its always a drawing done by those guys - I was inspired by their great work when I did this illustration.

More doodles...

2011-04-04T22:35:00.003-05:00

Here are some recent doodles... the St. Patrick's day doodle I did to illustrate how goofy people can get about drinking on St. Patrick's day; all in good fun! The bottom one is a caricature of a friend, you know who you are! Tee Hee!

Draw night warm up...

2011-03-28T23:16:00.002-05:00

Staple 2011 was awesome! Met lots of great people, artists, writers, fans etc... Just want to thank everyone that came by the table; I had a BLAST! The above is a draw night warm up sketch. I usually draw someone or something from life to help me loosen up.

Staple 2011!

2011-02-17T00:46:00.006-06:00

Alright Austinites! My next show is gonna be a local one: STAPLE March 5-6 Sat & Sun, 2011! Swing by TABLE #58 and say "Hi", I'll be debuting some NEW ART PRINTS as well as the RECKLESS Ashcan Preview Comic & the DEAD ROBOT #1 Comic Book! I will also be taking commissions so sign up early to make sure you get yours. Look forward to seeing y'all there!
For more info check out:
www.staple-austin.org/ OR just CLICK the Title Post!

New Orleans Comic Con 2011 RECAP!

2011-02-01T22:47:00.004-06:00

I want to thank everyone for coming out to see us at the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con 2011! It was AMAZING! Great atmosphere, great people, and GREAT cajun food! The DEAD ROBOT #1 issue debuted and SOLD OUT of its limited edition print run! The RECKLESS ashcans were flying off the table and I had a blast cranking out sketches! We had the best time and we look forward to going back!

Wizard World NEW ORLEANS! January 29-30, 2011

2011-01-24T01:04:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! Well things are kicking off to a great start for 2011!

Just wanted to give everybody a last minute reminder, that I will be exhibiting cajun style at the Wizard World NEW ORLEANS Comic Con next weekend, Jan. 29-30 (Sat - Sun), 2011.

Swing by and say "Hello!" For more info please see the previous post (December 15th) below.

You can also CLICK the TITLE LINK ABOVE for more information.

See y'all there!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2010-12-24T18:22:00.002-06:00

Wishing you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wizard Comic Con New Orleans!

2010-12-15T19:58:00.004-06:00

My next convention appearance will be at the Wizard World NEW ORLEANS Comic Con! January 29th and 30th (Saturday & Sunday).

I will be exhibiting along with Capstone Comics Publishing!

Those of you who missed out on the first print run of the RECKLESS ashcan, no worries - there will be a second print run. So, you can pick up your copy of the RECKLESS ashcan at the NEW ORLEANS Con!

I'll also be debuting the variant cover I did for DEAD ROBOT #1 issue, and of course I'll have my Star Wars print as well.

I will be taking a limited number of commissions at the con, so get there early and sign up if you want an original piece of artwork.

I'll keep y'all posted on the booth number and map as soon as that info is available. So keep an eye on this blog for more updates.

CLICK the title link above to go straight to the Wizard New Orleans Con site!

Wizard Austin Comic Con was GREAT!

2010-11-16T21:15:00.004-06:00

Wizard Austin Comic Con was GREAT! My best show so far!

Here's the nutshell report:

The RECKLESS Limited Edition Ashcans SOLD OUT! (Those of you that didn't get one, no worries. There will be a second printing, I'll let you know as soon as they're available.)

My Star Wars Print was a hit! (See above image)

And I had a blast drawing commission sketches for lots of folks. Here's one of Clark Kent that I drew which was inspired by a fan in a Clark Kent costume at the con, and he looked a lot like Christopher Reeve as well.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that stopped by to say hi and helped support RECKLESS. I really appreciate all of you and it was great meeting so many of you awesome people. I also want to thank all the artists/illustrators that I had the pleasure of meeting and talking shop with for being so gracious with their time, you guys know who you are - it was fun, lets do it again next con.

Well, it was fun being out of the vacuum for a weekend, but its back to the drawing board for me!

Wizard World AUSTIN Comic Con UPDATE! Booth# 1120

2010-11-10T22:08:00.003-06:00

Hey guys & gals! Last minute reminder that I will be exhibiting at the Wizard World AUSTIN Comic Con at the Austin Convention Center THIS WEEKEND (Nov. 12 - 14). So I finally got my booth # info from Wizard World.... unfortunately, the floor map they provided was a low resolution one. I drew in the RED ARROW leading to my booth in case you're having a hard time reading those "tiny" numbers.... I will be in ARTIST ALLEY aisle 1100 booth# 1120. You can click the title post link for a list of all the artist/creator guests that will be exhibiting and their booth #, its in alphabetical order by first name. See you there!

Dead Robot #1 Variant Cover art

2010-11-10T21:53:00.002-06:00

This cover illustration was done for a new upcoming comic book called DEAD ROBOT created by McLain McGuire. It's published by Capstone Comics. This is the DEAD ROBOT issue #1 Variant Cover, I had a lot of fun with this one. I was inspired by a lot of the 1950's sci-fi movie posters.

RECKLESS sketch

2010-11-07T02:39:00.002-06:00

I'm back! I've been busy gearing up for the Wizard World Austin Comic Con and I'm also in the middle of putting some other projects to bed. So spinning plates would be a good description of what I've been doing lately, but its definitely EXCITING! I thought I'd throw up this character sketch I did from my upcoming graphic novel, RECKLESS. I was asked to draw something in a friends traveling sketchbook and since I've had RECKLESS on the brain for a while, it seemed appropriate. If you get a chance or if you're planning to attend Wizard World Austin Comic Con, stop by and say "Hi"..... I'll keep y'all posted as soon as I get my table/booth # info....(still waiting on them...) Keep drawing and remember, Long Live Pencil & Paper!

Wizard World AUSTIN Comic Con! NOV. 12 - 14 (FRI - SUN)

2010-10-16T21:36:00.006-05:00

WIZARD WORLD AUSTIN COMIC CON 2010! NOV. 12 - 14 (FRI - SUN) will be my next convention appearance. I will be exhibiting at this years Wizard World AUSTIN Comic Con in ARTISTS ALLEY, you can look for my (ahem) handsome face there; booth # info will follow shortly. I'll be there to promote my new upcoming original graphic novel called "RECKLESS". I will have the new RECKLESS LIMITED EDITION Ashcan (Preview Comic) & Sketchbook available there. And I will also be taking commissions for original sketches. Look forward to seeing you there! I'll have my booth # info for you as soon as I get it. CLICK the POST TITLE LINK ABOVE FOR MORE INFO.

Something Fun for October!

2010-10-12T20:53:00.004-05:00

October is finally here and we are about half way through it already! YIKES! I drew this recently while hanging out with some friends during 24 hour comic day. While I wasn't able to participate in the event officially, I did do some drawings and cheered on the fellow artists as they cranked out their pages. It was an awesome time. Enjoy the October themed drawing and remember, LONG LIVE PENCIL & PAPER!

100th POST!!!

2010-10-10T16:57:00.004-05:00

100th Post! WOW! I've finally done it! It seems so long ago that I started this blog and considering my average time of updating, its about time! Well, better late than never. It feels good, I gotta be honest. And while I know 100 posts really isn't that big a deal to most regular bloggers out there, its a big deal to me. I started this blog for fun and to keep anyone out there interested, updated on what I'm doing artistically; an online sketchbook if you will. I want to show the progression of whatever projects I may be working on, unfortunately due to Non Disclosure Agreements, I have to wait until it has been announced, released, or published....

Those of you who have been waiting to see more of my upcoming original graphic novel RECKLESS, I promise I will post some really cool stuff that I'm excited about as soon as I can.

I really appreciate everyones patience. Unfortunately, sometimes life brings you interruptions or it brings you action and adventure, either way, updating a blog has to take a back seat when those things come up.

Thanks again everyone. Above is The Goon, I wanted to draw a character I've never drawn before. Enjoy. And remember LONG LIVE PENCIL & PAPER!

ZOO Sketches!

2010-09-21T23:25:00.004-05:00

Hey guys and gals! A few weeks ago, me and some of my animation buddy's got together to draw at the zoo. It was my first visit to the Cameron Park Zoo (in Waco, TX) and I've gotta say it was a very pleasant zoo. Not too big and not too small with LOTS of shady spots throughout the whole place. I definitely recommend it if you're ever passing through and get the itch to draw some animals.

The exhibits are great, you can get pretty close to the wildlife there and its great for drawing/sketching/photos/etc. The lion sketch I did from behind a glass, I was about 3 feet away from the sleeping lion with his back to me and then suddenly he woke up, turned and faced me like he was looking for a snack. So I tried to capture the intensity in his eyes before feeling very uncomfortable and slowly backing away. Enjoy the sketches and remember: LONG LIVE PENCIL & PAPER!

Theme: Where Are They Now?

2010-09-03T01:23:00.003-05:00

This was a fun theme to play with, "Where are they now?" Its kind of a "What if..." image and I've always wondered how batman would get along if the Joker died. Man, the Caped Crusader sure let himself go!

Art & Fear

2010-08-26T22:07:00.004-05:00

Hey guys, I've been kinda busy with RECKLESS and since I can't show y'all anything yet; I'm trying not to leave the blog empty or alone. So, I thought I'd let you in on what I'm reading currently. I've actually read this book before, but I'm RE-reading it coz its just THAT GOOD!

ART & FEAR by David Bayles & Ted Orland is by far one of the most inspirational and informative books I've ever read! Its only 118 pages and yet this small book is such a SATISFYING read! What's it all about you ask? Well, in a nutshell:

"An artist's survival guide, written by and for working artists. The authors explore the way art gets made, the reasons it doesn't get made, and the nature of the difficulties that cause so many artists to give up along the way. This is a book about what it feels like to sit in your studio or classroom, at your wheel or keyboard, easel or camera, trying to do the work you need to do. It is about committing your future to your own hands, placing Free Will above predestination, choice above chance. It is about finding your own work."

Trust me when I say, if you are committed to pursuing your passion in art either professionally or even for personal reasons. You MUST read this book. It really helps you see past your excuses and get past your obstacles and helps you be the artist you want to be.

Here's an excerpt (one of my favorites):

"The sobering truth is that the disinterest of others hardly ever reflects a gulf in vision. In fact there's generally no good reason why others should care about most of any one artist's work. The function of the overwhelming majority of your artwork is simply to teach you how to make the small fraction of your artwork that soars. One of the basic and difficult lessons every artist must learn is that even the failed pieces are essential."

It sincerely made a big difference for me and improved the way I approach my art now. Go ahead and pick it up. It's a quick read, and I'll bet you'll be RE-reading it soon after you finish. Just click the link above. And enjoy!

What do you mean they're out of donuts!?

2010-08-23T21:33:00.002-05:00

Quick sketch of the day... 5 - 10 minutes. Theme: "What do you mean, 'They're out of donuts'!?

I've been doing these quick sketches recently as little warm up exercises... I just pick any random theme and go for it.... whatever comes to mind, anything goes! Enjoy.

Quick sketch: Procrastination...

2010-08-22T20:43:00.001-05:00

Procrastinators Unite!... tomorrow... Just a fun quick sketch.

Bite Sized Tutorial: Leading Lines_1

2010-08-11T22:16:00.004-05:00

Hey guys, I figured since I can't talk about RECKLESS much right now, I'd give a little tutorial. That way I'll be able to keep posting stuff and y'all don't have to wait too long 'til the next post.

So today's bite-sized tutorial is about composition; specifically about leading lines. Some of you may know this and some may not, either way its something I've always found really interesting and fun.

So here we go: Leading lines are used a lot in most strong compositions. Whether its on film, animation, or comic books. Learning how to use them will make a world of difference.

Below are 3 examples (Screen shots from the AMC show: Breaking Bad). The first is a wide/long shot of the protagonist in a desert. Natural landscapes are easy to use for leading lines if you just use a little creativity, but in this case when the camera is looking down on our protagonist who is feeling helpless they chose to use the RV to lead your eye to our protagonist.

The next shot is a medium shot of our protagonist. Notice how the lines of the desk and ceiling and window direct your attention to our protagonist; he's not in the middle of the shot but just a little off center to make the composition interesting.
The last shot is a close up of our protagonist. You can see how the natural landscape is used here to lead your eye straight to the gun and our protagonist. Some of these leading lines are obvious and others more subtle, but either way they work. Next time you sit down to watch a movie or a tv show, grab your sketchbook and turn off the sound. Pay attention to the composition of the shots and how leading lines are used in all different types of shots. I mention turning off the sound because you can focus better, without being distracted by the show and if you're watching Breaking Bad, then you'll get sucked into it because its a GREAT SHOW with amazing character development and as you can see, great shot compositions.
Well, that's all for now, I hope that was helpful and I recommend you practice sketching shot compositions while watching TV. (All Breaking Bad screen shots are used strictly for educational and study purposes.)

Warm_Up_Self_Caricature

2010-08-02T22:56:00.003-05:00

Hey guys, I've been busy working on RECKLESS and I"m making progress & having a blast. I'll share more RECKLESS artwork and thoughts whenever I can, but for now, enjoy this warm up caricature of yours truly!

Warm Up Sketch_Magnum

2010-07-22T20:03:00.003-05:00

Hey hey! So here's a warm up sketch I doodled digitally. Most of you should remember Magnum P.I. and for those of you too young to remember just click this posts title link and get yourself educated on one of the BEST shows in the 80's! No other show had an intro song as awesome as Magnum P.I. Enjoy!

INCEPTION

2010-07-18T15:54:00.005-05:00

Okay, so as you all know, I don't normally talk about movies on this blog, but when a film overwhelmingly exceeds all my expectations and pushes the envelope in storytelling, and just blows your mind, then I have no other choice but to talk about it! Don't worry! NO spoilers here for those that haven't seen it! I'll sum it up by saying when the movie was over I wanted to stay right in my seat for the next showing. Except it was the last showing I saw, so unfortunately, I had to get up and leave. INCEPTION was a MAGNIFICENT FILM full of drama, character development, emotion, action and just mind blowing storytelling! You MUST PAY ATTENTION or else you'll get lost, but you won't have any trouble paying attention because the story was so entertaining and so clearly told that you are captivated by it. This is totally an EDGE of Your seat movie! And it doesn't feel at all like a typical hollywood commercial crap film, the opposite, it was everything unique and great that an independent movie has to offer with a hollywood budget! It had a singular vision for the story and didn't get mixed up in all the hollywood garbage with too many cooks in the kitchen.

This is by far Christopher Nolan's BEST Film!

Go SEE IT RIGHT NOW and then GO SEE IT AGAIN!

Flexing new muscles!

2010-07-14T19:57:00.003-05:00

I've been pretty busy working on RECKLESS recently & will continue to be busy until the book is done, so I hope you'll forgive the random times of not posting/updating. Anyway, I'd like to keep y'all in the loop from time to time as I make progress with RECKLESS so you can see the journey from concept to finished graphic novel. With that in mind, please understand there are some things I cannot show you before the book is done and other things that I can.

I just wanted to speak my mind for a bit about writing. You could say I've been writing stories ever since I could hold a pencil in my hand, but not necessarily in words, instead with drawings. And over the past years I've delved more and more into telling stories with words and drawings. Writing a monthly comic book for an audience to read issue by issue, 22 pages at a time is different than writing a BIG complete story to be read all at once. Especially if that monthly comic book series is ON-GOING... you have the freedom to let things linger for as long as you want before returning to tie up any loose ends. Not the case with a graphic novel. It must be a cohesive and entertaining story communicated clearly; easier said than done.

That is my goal for RECKLESS because the story is one that is close to my heart.

So, I've committed to giving the story all that it deserves by putting my best into it in a timely manner. After all, you don't ever really finish a story, you just run out of time; those darn deadlines. However, if there were no deadlines, nothing would ever get done. You'd just be working on the same thing over and over again and never reach that "perfection" that you've built up in your head.

So I'm flexing new muscles with this story and treading new territory, the world of words! I'm writing a full script for RECKLESS, which is different than the way I usually work. I normally work from a combination of a story outline with beat by beat events and rough storyboards I've drawn while writing the outline - its always worked for me in the past, however that was for short single issue stories. I feel that I need more for a larger story, hence the full script. At the end of the day, all that matters is what works and what doesn't; I feel the full script helps in making it work. I'm having a great time with it, and I can see why other writers can work on 2 or 3 different comic book series at once every month. Its so much fun and it doesn't take anywhere near the amount of time it would to draw it.

The RECKLESS online journal won't be the focus of this blog, in case you were worried. Of course I'll show you what I can from RECKLESS along the way, but it won't be the only thing I post.... I started this blog so that I could post whatever I want, whenever I want. So stay tuned, cause there are some really cool things coming up for both RECKLESS and other projects I'm working on, not to mention my random sketches and other fun stuff. Thanks.

RECKLESS limited edition ashcan_Update

2010-06-30T01:28:00.003-05:00

There was a really positive response from TX Comic Con regarding my new upcoming RECKLESS graphic novel; everyone was super excited, so the RECKLESS limited edition ashcans were going FAST! I still have ashcans available and I will keep you updated on how you can go about getting one if you weren't at the show.... I'm in the process of setting things up for that. The above image is the cover for the RECKLESS limited edition ashcan. Enjoy.

Justice_Avengers_commission

2010-06-30T01:06:00.002-05:00

This one was a lot of fun to draw... I've never drawn Hawk Eye or Scarlet Witch before this, so it was great drawing some new characters. Enjoy!

More from TX Comic Con... commissions & pics

2010-06-30T00:46:00.003-05:00

So here are some more commissions. Now at most comic conventions lots of people are there in costume as their favorite character, but few actually pull it off successfully. Best costume of the con (in my opinion): Alexander Rae was able to mimic Christopher Reeve so well, he even had the body language down - as Clark Kent (mild mannered & slouched) and as Superman! Check him out at:

SuperRae.com

Thanks for the great pics Alex it was great to meet you & good luck!

TX Comic Con 2010 Recap!

2010-06-30T00:05:00.006-05:00

TX Comicon was AWESOME! Everyone was super excited about my upcoming RECKLESS graphic novel so the limited edition ashcans were going quick! I had a blast meeting all kinds of friendly folks and fans. Caught up with some old friends & fellow artists I hadn't seen in a loooooooong time and drew some really fun commissions! Some of the high points for me were the great conversations I had with Whilce Portacio and Bob McLeod! Those guys were so generous with their time and really down to earth; it was awesome talking shop with them.

Just want to take a moment to thank my fellow professionals who dropped by the table and to those who were kind enough to take time out to talk when I managed to visit them at theirs. Thanks to the coordinators of the show for making everything run as smoothly as possible. I'll see y'all at TX Comic Con next year!

The above pics are some of the commissions I did at the convention...there are more, but I'll post those separately. Enjoy!

Hot Off the PRESS!

2010-06-16T23:18:00.004-05:00

HOT OFF THE PRESS! The "RECKLESS LIMITED EDITION ASHCANS" are here! Along with my sketchbook, "DIRTY LAUNDRY!" They will be debuting at the TEXAS COMICON this weekend in San Antonio! Keep in mind, these are limited editions, so swing by and grab one BEFORE they sell out! Lookin' forward to seeing you there! LONG LIVE PENCIL & PAPER!

Creators at TX COMICON!

2010-06-15T22:14:00.002-05:00

Hey guys, well the TX Comicon is almost here and I've been pretty busy getting everything ready for the show! Artists spend so much time alone in a vacuum working, that we barely get out to socialize with the rest of the world. So, I'm SUPER EXCITED to see all the new faces out there & yack on & on about whatever with whoever! I'm looking forward to doing some really fun sketches there so swing by and check me out in action! (BOOTH # 160). Also, click this posts title to link to the TX Comicon's CREATORS page, you can see my handsome (ahem) face there (scroll down to the bottom) and a bunch more creators that will be at the show!

Hope to see y'all there!

LONG LIVE PENCIL & PAPER!

TEXAS COMICON 2010 UPDATE!

2010-05-11T00:05:00.007-05:00

Hey! June 18, 19, & 20, I'll be exhibiting with Aaron Romo at this years TEXAS COMICON in San Antonio, TX! My new original graphic novel is called "RECKLESS"; I will have the new RECKLESS LIMITED EDITION Ashcan & Sketchbook available there, so make sure to swing by and get one before they sellout!

And I will also be taking COMMISSIONS for ORIGINAL SKETCHES.

Okay, so here's the IMPORTANT INFO including a floor plan & map to make it easy:

BOOTH #160 - SAM LOTFI STUDIOS!

Look forward to seeing you there!

And here's a little RECKLESS teaser!

RECKLESS Update part 2!

2010-05-03T23:17:00.003-05:00

Hey guys and gals... well I thought I'd give y'all just a glimpse and I mean a GLIMPSE of my work environment while working on my original graphic novel: RECKLESS. I don't usually do this, however that may change more in the future. Just a quick note on my process: STORY IS KING! So my first big step after coming up with an idea worth pursuing passionately is to write down the whole story start to finish, beat by beat. I'll usually work in a 3 act structure, although I don't limit myself to that if the story calls for more acts; 4, 5, 6, or 9, or whatever floats your boat people. There really aren't any rules to this stuff (principles yes, but no rules) and don't listen to anyone trying to force rules onto your process... its anything goes! Moving on, even if I don't have an end in mind or if any part of the story is missing, I still continue writing the story outline from wherever it makes the most sense to me. I trust that the rest will come to me as I continue to develop the story, and it usually does. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm NOT saying its easy and that I don't have to work at it... it always takes LOTS of hard work throughout MOST of the process, but that's how it "comes to me" - its different for everybody... you just need to pay attention and figure out what works best for you. Keep an open mind. Anyway, after writing the outline and I have my beginning, middle, and end; I'll put the story outline up on a cork board on little post-its. One major story beat to each post-it. Next, I'll organize them in chronological order and go through it from start to finish... From there on I'll critique it, revise it, add to it, subtract from it, etc... until I feel that the entire story is strong as a whole and that each act propels the audience into the next (moving things forward - bringing about meaningful change). The finished story does not have to be told in chronological order and often I don't tell it that way, however its best to start from that point of view so that you don't miss anything or confuse yourself trying to spin a tangled web of a story. Next, I'll make sure the story is CLEARLY COMMUNICATED by sharing it with those who's opinions I respect (this list should NOT include your mom); my peers, or other professionals... and it doesn't hurt to get the opinion of the average audience your aiming for. Ask them if the story was clear, and have them explain it back to you (don't help them or try to make excuses/defend your story) just take it like a professional and really listen to what they tell you... if they have a truly valid point, then you may wanna consider making changes so that your story is more clearly communicated. Another, important thing is to have an overall theme to your story... what is the overall message? And does your story have any emotional grounding (how are people gonna relate?) These last 2 are probably the most important part of your story, so you should figure that out in the beginning of the process. You won't regret figuring those out first because later down the line when you have to make a tough story decision, those 2 things will keep you consistent and clear to make the best decision for your story. Well, I think I've bored you guys enough with all that.

As you can see in the next picture those same post-its like to crawl over to my drawing board and hang out and stare me in the face until I complete them! AAAAAAAGH! Too many post-its, it can quickly get out of control! Luckily, I've got my own system to keep them at bay. The character designs hanging from the shelf and taped to my board are just a taste of what's to come... I only have so much space on there... if I had more it would probably be covered with the rest of the character designs/model sheets for RECKLESS. Well, I hope the story process was informative and helpful... I've gotta head back to the drawing board! Have fun creating and remember: Long Live Pencil & Paper!!!

RECKLESS UPDATE!

2010-04-30T22:11:00.002-05:00

Hey guys,

Haven't been able to post much lately, I'm SUPER-CRAZY BUSY meeting my deadlines for the RECKLESS graphic novel! I really think you'll get a kick out it, I know I'm having a BLAST working on it! See you guys the next time I pull myself away from the drawing board.

Long Live Pencil & Paper!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!!

2010-04-30T22:05:00.003-05:00

Hey Guys! Just a last minute Reminder: Tomorrow Saturday May 1st is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Go to your local comic book store and get your FREE, that's right, FREE comics!

What is Free Comic Book Day you say:

"Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE to anyone who comes into their stores."

GO GET YOUR COMICS AND HAVE FUN READING!

PS - CLICK the post title to link to the official FREE COMIC BOOK DAY WEBSITE!

The Losers!

2010-04-21T23:05:00.004-05:00

Recently I won a sneak peek for The Losers movie. I gotta be honest, I've heard of the comic book, but never read it. And based on all the flashy trailers made for an ADD audience, my expectations were very low. I figured I'd walk out of the theater disappointed and say, "hey, at least it was a free movie." I was wrong. The Losers was AWESOME! I loved this movie! It was a total Romp! A great popcorn movie, full of amazing action and sprinkled ever so lightly with satisfying humor. In short, GO SEE THIS MOVIE on Friday April 23rd (NO, I'm NOT getting paid to promote this movie). And I'll be checking out the comic book series from DC's Vertigo. Enjoy!

"No Easy Way Out!"

2010-04-19T21:48:00.005-05:00

Ok, those of you who have seen the Rocky movies are familiar with the song, "No Easy Way Out" by Survivor. This is the heart of what I wanna say here: Everybody in every area of their life comes across challenges that seem impossible or just too difficult. They just don't "feel" like they can overcome that challenge, BUT I'm here to tell you that you CAN overcome ANYTHING if you just give it everything you've got and really put your mind and heart in it! This applies to everything of course, but this being an art blog, we'll talk about how it applies to your craft.

Any artistic challenge I come across, the first thing I do is push even harder through it as best as I can. If that doesn't work, then I take a step back, clear my head (whatever works for you, for me its usually taking a walk or a drive WITHOUT thinking about the challenge). Come back to it with a clear head and start asking questions regarding the challenge; what am I trying to say here? What's the emotional tone of this scene? What is the character thinking/feeling? What kind of mood or atmosphere is best for this scene/illustration (if working on background)? If I'm working on a character design and I'm stuck, one thing that always helps is character symbolism: think about your characters personality, their flaws, their strengths, etc... it wouldn't hurt to even interview your characters and imagine their appropriate response. Let them tell you about themselves....(this one is kind of weird because at first it will seem like you're having a conversation with yourself, but how's that any different than a normal day? You talk to yourself too right? Right? Cause I know I'm not the only one that does that.... am I? guys? anybody?).

Moving on, Character symbolism: What shapes best describe your characters personality? What details show his/her demeanor? For example, if a character is very uptight or strict, or a control freak, their clothing might be very tightly wrapped around them, or tailored to fit them just so; everything in the right place. While a character who is completely laid back and carefree might have very loose clothing and unkempt hair, etc... you get the idea.

Point being that there really is "no easy way out" and "no shortcuts". You can't just give a half-effort attempt to something and expect great results... nothing will ever beat hard work.

When you put hard work into something, you will always be rewarded for it, either by experience, by future success, financial success, growing as an artist/storyteller, etc... Hard work will NEVER fail you & it is NEVER a waste of time. You can always look back on it proudly and say I did ...

I don't mean to sound too preachy or anything, but the truth is there's already so much negative crap out there & it honestly wouldn't hurt to hear something positive for a change.

So, I hope this was encouraging and helpful to anyone out there reading and please don't hesitate to comment or ask any questions.

Long Live Pencil & Paper!

- Sam Lotfi

"Jonah Hex!"

2010-04-15T01:05:00.004-05:00

Howdy stranger, this here's my pich'ur of Jonah Hex. Ok I'll stop with the western accent. I was really in a western mood after reading Jonah Hex; and I realized I've never drawn this character before, so here we are. I don't regularly read this book, but I pick up the occasional issue and I gotta say the writing is really good, and the best part is most of the issues are self contained stories. So, you don't need to know anything before you read it. Each issue has a beginning, middle, and an end. You don't see that much in a monthly book nowadays. So if you're a fan of westerns, go pick up a copy of Jonah Hex. And stay tuned for the inking stage of this drawing. Long Live Pencil and Paper!

TEXAS COMICON 2010!

2010-04-11T19:37:00.003-05:00

TEXAS COMICON 2010! June 18, 19, & 20. I'll be exhibiting with Aaron Romo at this years Texas Comicon in San Antonio, TX. Booth # info will follow shortly. My new original graphic novel is called "RECKLESS". I will have the new RECKLESS LIMITED EDITION Ashcan & Sketchbook available there. And I will also be taking commissions for original sketches. Look forward to seeing you there! I'll have the booth info # for you as soon as I get it.

www.texascomicon.com

Spidey Sneak Inks!

2010-04-11T00:14:00.002-05:00

Inking. Its something that can be fun or painfully boring, depending on how you approach it.

If you leave room for creative choices (actually drawing in the details with ink), then inking tends to be a lot more fun. However, if your pencils are so ridiculously tight, leaving no room for creative choices, then you're pretty much just tracing and that gets boring really fast. It usually boils down to a confidence issue. Are you comfortable only loosely pencilling in the structure & layout, then drawing the finished art with ink instead of pencil? It takes lots of practice and time, but you'll eventually get there. You just have to trust yourself enough and be okay with making mistakes, in this day and age we have white out, white paint, & digital fixes for any mistake so there's really nothing to be afraid of. You have to be okay with letting the brush or the pen do whatever it naturally does, and use that to your advantage. Its something I'm still working on and will always be trying to improve, cause there's always room to improve. Again for the process junkies out there; I used a Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen - size "S" - they use india ink. And also a Pentel Brush Pen, those are really cool cause the brush tip is a very flexible nylon that behaves much like a real brush. Until next time, LONG LIVE PENCIL & PAPER!!!

Spidey Sneak

2010-04-09T00:51:00.004-05:00

I did this spidey recently just for fun. I haven't drawn the wall-crawler in a long time, so it was fun just diving into his world and coming up with a pose and mini story in the composition. Usually, I'll roughly sketch out the entire composition and figures, but this time I just went with the flow of the scene. I just started drawing, roughing in a few things here and there, but overall just doodling it out; improvising on the spot. Sometimes that can work for you, but if you're not careful, it can back fire on you badly. There are a few areas on this image I'm not too happy with, again, because of the lack of planning. Although this one didn't come out just the way I thought it would, I still had a blast drawing it! By the way, for those process-junkies out there: I used a col-erase blue pencil on this drawing. I'll be inking it and posting that next, so stay tuned!

Bethany!

2010-02-15T19:36:00.002-06:00

This is one I did for my better half. All digital; I like photoshop.

Cyclops! (not the one you're thinking about!)

2010-02-08T19:04:00.002-06:00

Okay, so you know how January goes: You turn your head for one sec - HEY! FEBRUARY is here! This is an illustration I did for a theme we had going: "Mythology meets the Mundane". Keep drawing and remember to have fun while you're at it!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T00:26:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year! WOW! 2010! We're living in "THE FUTURE"! Kinda weird I guess, after seeing countless sci-fi films set in or around 2010... Well, a new year brings new things, and hopefully this year I'll be even MORE productive than last year... unfortunately most of the projects I work on are under strict NDA (non-disclosure agreement), so no show for that stuff.

But, there's always room for more dirty laundry right? So here's hoping that 2010 will be a more productive year with loads of dirty laundry for you to lay your peepers on AND "sneak peeks" at some future personal projects that will be announced right here, STAY TUNED!

1 day left...

2009-12-24T13:31:00.002-06:00

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year and I gotta say I'm SO EXCITED!!! I hope everybody has a great Christmas and an awesome New Year!!! Be safe and I'll see y'all next year!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-15T00:43:00.003-06:00

Man! Where did October and November go? Well I've been a busy little bee for a while now... for some reason the fall and winter seasons are EXTREMELY busy for me, no complaints here - its all good busy. Anyway, enjoy this little E - Christmas Card & have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Awesome Lunch!

2009-09-17T22:24:00.007-05:00

Lunch today was so awesome! I sat outside enjoying the cool breeze in front of Tino's restaurant, had a delicious lamb gyro, and did some gesture drawings of people walking by... lunch doesn't get more relaxing than that! These are some 10-15 second gestures.

Somethin' Brewing on the Pegs!

2009-09-09T21:18:00.004-05:00

Hey guys & gals! Well I finally got somethin' brewing on the pegs! Woo Hoo! I've been exploring all kinds of concepts for a while now (something to challenge me animation-wise) & I've found one that I think will be entertaining and full of personality! I'll keep y'all posted on this and hopefully put up a video of the animation when its complete. Have fun drawing/animating! Long live Pencil & Paper!

More Ranch life drawings...

2009-09-07T22:42:00.002-05:00

These are some other quick sketches... I did a study sketch of just how the horses legs are structured & flow into the hoof. And of course they had some BIG "gobble-gobble" turkeys... man! I can't wait for November... Turkey legs and dressing with cranberries... YUM YUM! Have fun drawing! Long live pencil & paper!

Ranch Life Gesture Drawings...

2009-09-07T22:30:00.005-05:00

For those of you who thought I fell of the face of the earth... I'm Back! I wasn't really gone just super busy...anyway, I had a chance to visit a horse ranch with a bunch of guy's & gals from the studio to draw us some horses & other ranch life. We had a blast drawing these majestic & gentle animals. I gotta admit animals (once again) are not my strength so here are some gesture drawings I did. These range from 30 secs to 1 minute for each drawing. I'll be back with more soon... Long live pencil & paper!

Draw Night!

2009-07-01T00:40:00.004-05:00

Okay... so we'll still be continuing the HULK color tutorial...not skipping it, but for now I got some Draw Night sketches I wanted to post. We tried out a new coffee shop that had a laid back atmosphere and a variety of colorful characters to draw. Here are a few I did that I was happy with. If you don't already go to a draw night once a week... I highly recommend that you find one or start one - even if it just starts with you alone for a while. It's a great exercise for creativity and really encourages you to try new things/experiment more. Remember to have fun though! Long live pencil and paper!

HULK Color part 1

2009-06-25T22:50:00.004-05:00

Hey guys and gals! So, lets continue with our mini-tutorial/process: After I've inked my drawing (which could also be done digitally) I scan him into Photoshop at 300 dpi/resolution for the purpose of having a quality image in case I'd like to print it. However, if you plan on publishing your art I'd recommend that you scan in your art at least 600 dpi/resolution! Moving on...once in photoshop I seperate the line art from the white background; this can be done in a number of ways, but what I use mostly is the wand tool. Select the white background, then go to your Select menu and choose Similar, then choose Inverse. This will have only your black line art selected now. Next, hit Command + Shift + J (or if you're on a PC its, Control + Shift + J) - now your line art is on a separate layer above the white background. You may have some line art or a kind of gray "ghost" image left behind on the white BG...simply select all on your white BG layer and delete; so that you have pure white. Next, create a new layer in between your Line art layer and your white BG layer; this will be your COLOR layer. You'll use this layer to lay your flat colors. One reason I do NOT put colors on the same layer as the line art is to maintain the integrity/quality of the lines. Another reason is so that I can colorize the line art if needed much easier when on a separate layer; and on a printing note - If your colors are on the same layer as your line art, then they only go to the inner edge of your line as opposed to actually being halfway UNDER the line on a layer below. The reason for this is when your art gets sent of to the printers (most printers use CMYK color process; different color plates) So if for some reason those plates were to shift ever so slightly in any direction (which does happen from time to time) there will be a ugly looking white or whatever color is underneath showing through the edges of your diligently laid colors, now all ruined. So, use the pencil tool or the lasso tool and make you selections underneath the line art and fill in the colors half way under the edge your line art. You won't be sorry if you do. For the above image I've already put down the flat colors I need; I start with very dark flats because I work from dark to light as I layer on my midtones and highlights. That will be the next step...stay tuned!

HULK Inks!

2009-06-12T12:37:00.004-05:00

So, I thought I'd show you guys a tiny peek into my process...(more tutorials/process stuff coming soon). After I'm done pencilling the character (this can also be applied to drawing comic book pages) I'll ink the pencil drawing RIGHT ON THE ORIGINAL!!! AAAAAAAAAH! I know this can be kinda intimidating for some of you out there. If you're worried about ruining the original pencils or want to keep them - here's an option for you: Slap a new sheet of paper on top of the original pencils and use a lightbox to ink OVER the original. But I usually like to ink over my original pencils (it gives it more character) plus I"ll usually scan in the pencils at a higher resolution for keepsake. NEXT, I'm always searching for the next best inking tool out there... everytime I'm at an art supply store. What I've been using lately (and really enjoy) are the Faber-Castell PITT artist pens; small, medium, brush pen, HOWEVER! If you like to use "brush pens" I've found one thats WAY BETTER than the faber-castell brush pen. I'm sure you've noticed that the point on the brush gets dull over time (very much like a sharpie tip). Fear NOT! There is a better solution: Pentel Color Brush Pen(black #101)! This baby actually behaves like a REAL BRUSH! and keeps its point! It takes a little practice at first especially if you don't normally use a brush to ink, but once you get that hang of it - you can really move fast! With the above drawing I used a combo of the Pentel Brush pen and Faber-Castell Pitt pen (small) for fine lines. Well, hope I didn't bore anybody with this little insight. Next: On to Photoshop for COLOR!!!

HULK SMASH!!

2009-06-10T12:53:00.003-05:00

Hulk SMASH!! Or just stand there... I guess the Marvel comic character that I always love to draw is the Incredible Hulk! I love the simplicity of his design and the mass of it! I really enjoy the classic Jekyll & Hyde feel to the character as well...never gets old. For those of you who are "process- junkies" I usually use prismacolor/COL-ERASE pencils; this one is carmine red. They really flow smoothly on paper for me and don't slow me down. The other cool thing about them is that they don't smear like soft lead pencils do. Long live pencil and paper!

Foul Ball ???

2009-06-08T16:49:00.004-05:00

The rest of this is left up to the audiences' imagination! You decide what happens next! Fill in the next panel...

Sweet Victory!

2009-06-05T22:58:00.004-05:00

Here's to taking the first idea that comes to mind and just running with it on paper! Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't and that's okay because you can learn from it and get better! This is just my personal opinion: Everybody deals with "creative blocks"/"writers block"/etc... whatever you wanna call it. But honestly, I think what most people call "writers block" is just a lack of confidence and/or experimentation - to take those little ideas (that at first seem so stupid or cliche') and working them out ON the paper and see where it takes you...try to infuse something personal into it. You've heard the phrase that every story/plot has already been done...so what, but what has NOT been done is that same plot with a FRESH/PERSONALLY INFORMED point of view. Nobody, can live your life except you, SO, nobody is gonna have your point of view. The trick (really no trick, just practice) is to execute that idea in such a unique way that it becomes something people call "new". Long live pencil and paper!

It's MISTER BLOUX to you!

2009-06-04T18:07:00.003-05:00

Here's some different dirty laundry for a change. Meet Bloux (bloo), he's our family fish (beta - if you wanna get technical). I found him munching on something today cause he still had a piece sticking out of his mouth...don't know what he's munching on...I don't think I wanna know. I thought I'd sketch this guy for a nice change of pace...I'll be honest, animals are NOT my strength. I can draw human/anthropomorphic characters, but animals can be a bit of a challenge to me sometimes = which means (wait for it).... I NEED to draw/observe MORE ANIMALS! That's right folks! Everybody needs to work on their craft in someway REGULARLY! The best way to be a well rounded artist/animator is to eat lots of snacks late at night before you get to bed! J/K! Get it? "well rounded" Tee Hee! (I know that was stupid) Moving on... Draw things/places/people that you haven't drawn before. And DON'T just draw watch you see...take some time to REALLY OBSERVE your subject and its personality! Even places have a personality or mood...try to observe that and infuse that into your drawing! Long live pencil and paper!

Comin' Atya!

2009-06-01T23:44:00.004-05:00

More dirty laundry! Yippeeee!

Well, I kept noodling with this one until I got to a place I could call finished. I goofed up a few areas, but decided to just keep moving forward so that I could actually finish it. Sometimes, you never really finish a drawing/sketch or even a portfolio piece...you just have to get to a point that you can call "done". REMEMBER: PERFECTION IS YOUR ENEMY! Perfection will keep you from ever getting anywhere or ever finishing anything! All that is required of you is YOUR BEST and that is something completely different. "Your Best" will constantly be changing as you grow and learn more. So next time your working on a project and you've got a looming deadline (which doesn't give you any room to breath) REMEMBER, just do your Best where you are at now and learn from it and keep getting better! But that will ONLY happen with your pencil ON THE PAPER REGULARLY! Have fun! Long live pencil and paper!

Draw Night part 2

2009-05-29T21:38:00.004-05:00

Hey guys and girls,

back with a sequel for Draw Night!

Here are a few more of the "characters" I drew sitting across from me. It really helps to have a group of friends/other artists that you hang out & draw with to bounce ideas off each other. Most freelance artists/animators work in a vacuum...so it gets kinda lonely after a while and you start to question your work more and more...SO, it helps to break out of that vacuum and share what you got with other vacuum dwellers and get their input/insight. I really feel that if you want to grow/get better as an artist/animator; one of the key things to do is expose your work to a fresh pair of eyes and sincerely listen/observe their feed back. Now, some feedback you might need to take seriously and improve on.... while other feedback you simply set aside on a shelf and think about from time to time... and of course there's the feedback that you just trash right away... BUT the way I handle feedback is to listen and ask myself those tough questions...if I can answer them honestly and sincerely (and you know when you're being true to yourself) ONLY THEN can I put the feedback in the appropriate places; be it the shelf, the trash, or apply them. Hope you guys aren't too bored with this stuff, I just thought it might be kinda helpful - I've met a lot of other artists who don't know what to do with honest feedback. Have fun and keep drawing! Long live pencil & paper!

Draw night part 1

2009-05-28T21:13:00.003-05:00

Back again... here are a couple of "characters" that were around during Draw Night. I love to observe groups of people and draw from memory the few that catch my eye. Its a great drawing exercise to study/observe people in public and try to soak up all the details that make up their unique personality ( no longer than 30 seconds to 1 minute) then just let it all pour out onto the paper as fast as possible! Keeps you loose/fresh and gets you out of any bad habits you may have if you practice it regularly. Kinda like, how life drawing and gesture drawing help break any routine that you might be stuck in. It cleans the palette and gives you a fresh start. At least, thats how I feel about it - everybody has their own thing. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO GET OUT OF ROUTINE/BAD HABITS:

Try life drawing/gesture drawing - doesn't have to be a life drawing class. This can be as easy as going out to any public area (shopping mall, local park, or ESPN its great for drawing figures in movement) and draw as fast as you can, DON'T stop to critique/edit...JUST DRAW and KEEP DRAWING! Critique AFTER you're done with your drawing session.

Another tip - Try changing mediums/tools; I usually draw using COL-ERASE color pencils, they are really soft pencils and just FLOW onto the paper! Great for character design, gesture drawing/sketching, & especially ANIMATION! But, I'm sure you've noticed I switched to pen and markers just for a change of pace, its fun. Sometimes new tools help get you out of any creative ruts or make things fresh again.

And finally (although there are hundreds of tips) Draw something you have NEVER drawn before or don't normally draw - for me that's animals. I'm so used to drawing people/characters that I (for no reason at all) forget to draw animals; they're so much fun to draw and can be a great challenge too! Anyways, I don't want to bore y'all anymore with this stuff, so get out there and draw cause the only way you're gonna grow and get better is with your pencil ON the paper! Have FUN!

Some really dirty laundry!

2009-05-27T22:42:00.003-05:00

Ok...so the subtitle of this blog is "dirty laundry" right? Well, have I got some for ya...here's Spidey! Now, I already know that its a horrible drawing and that the anatomy is off and so on and so forth. But I thought I'd share it anyway, since this blog is called "dirty laundry" here's some of mine. You don't usually see artists put up their BAD drawings, so I thought it was kinda nice to have a change. To all aspiring artists and animators out there: don't let me or anyone else fool you...we ALL go through and make TONS of bad drawings everyday...its normal and its part of the learning process; AND it never stops because you never stop learning & growing as an artist. Nuff said!

Haven't painted in years...Finale!

2009-05-21T01:31:00.004-05:00

Hey guys...you're probably wondering, "What's with the painting?!" Well, I haven't painted in over 10 years...I missed it so I thought I'd give it a try and have some fun with it. AND I DID! I love oil painting . . . the only trouble is the waiting period between different stages. But with this one I didn't have to wait at all cause I did this all wet paint and mostly using the palette knife; just kept moving the paint around the canvas with my knife...

What I had originally envisioned for this painting was completely different, but I think it turned out whichever way it wanted to in the end.

Haven't painted in years...continued

2009-05-21T01:27:00.002-05:00

Haven't painted in years...

2009-05-21T01:15:00.002-05:00

50th Post - Captain America!

2009-05-19T20:52:00.003-05:00

Hey guys and girls, I'm back again. Believe it or not this is my 50th post! WOO HOO! I know its nothing to celebrate, but those of you that have hung in there with me know its a big deal; and I really appreciate all of you being patient. I'm working towards keeping the blog updated more frequently. Anyways, here's another warm up of Captain America! I love drawing the chain mail/armor or whatever its called.

Wolverine!

2009-05-09T23:34:00.002-05:00

"What 'er you lookin' at bub?!"

Here's a warm up doodle...I usually try to do them before I get started...it helps to loosen up and get the creative juices flowing! Or just get whatever is on your mind out onto paper; kinda like unclogging the creative pipes so you can flo! As far as the Wolverine Origins movie goes... yes... I saw it. We had a great time watching it and laughing at it pretty much the whole way through. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as much a fan as the next fanboy, but this movie was ridiculous! Adamantium bullets?! Really?! Anyways, it had its good moments, but overall it was another example of the hollywood garbage they put out every year! It had potential...too bad they didn't take advantage of it. After seeing that crappy display...I was really missing the classic 5 foot 3" cranky hairball smoking his stogie! So, here you go.

More Bats!

2009-05-06T22:37:00.003-05:00

Well, after the move (while unpacking) I was rummaging through some older sketch books and found this...I can't think of a better character to put in front of a red sky. I was just playing around with dramatic lighting/contrast and the red just really made it POP! I used a faber-castell brush pen for this cranky fellow.

Bats on the brains!

2009-04-29T23:53:00.005-05:00

Hey guys and gals! I'm back AGAIN! The BIG MOVE went well & everything else went smooooooooooothly! Until I get back into the daily grind (setting everything up) - here's a warm - up doodle! I finally got my scanner to cooperate with me! Baseball bat seemed to do the trick...yeah right! They don't make things like they used to, so unfortunately, baseball bats can no longer be used to fix machines...sigh...I'll miss those days. I"ll be back with even MORE dirty laundry!

Happy Easter/Resurrection Day!

2009-04-12T21:59:00.005-05:00

Happy Easter everyone! I hope y'all had a great Easter holiday! And as fun as the bunny and eggs may be, its really all about the resurrection of Jesus Christ! New life and a new beginning for EVERYONE of us! And best of all its a free gift, you don't have to earn it, simply receive it!

God bless! These were some quick graphics I did in flash, I felt like doing something abstract and go for the mood - simple and to the point!

Balancing Life & Art

2009-04-11T16:09:00.003-05:00

Hey guys and gals! I know, I know, I've been away for a while again BUT I've been seriously BUSY - I got a new gig in a new town and trying to balance it all and throw packing & moving on top of it!!! AAAAH! Action & Adventure! Right! Well, all is going GOOD. Just wanted to keep y'all posted (in case anybody out there was wondering). No worries, I'll be back ASAP with more dirty laundry VERY SOON!

Lunch sketches...

2009-02-08T16:22:00.003-06:00

I find myself drawing more often on my lunch breaks...I gotta admit that in the past every once in awhile I used to feel like drawing was this "work" that I had to do and didn't want to draw on my lunch breaks, but I feel the exact opposite now. MAN! I get so energized and refreshed when I draw at lunch - it keeps that FIRE/PASSION/FUN GOING constantly! So, give it a try, it may take some discipline, but once you get in the habit of drawing everyday - you won't want to miss a day of drawing! Cause you'll almost immediately see the improvement or what you need to work on to get better. Either way, its all progress as long as you don't give up and quit! Keep drawing and have fun! Long live pencil & paper!

Drawing from life continued...

2009-02-08T16:13:00.004-06:00

Some more life drawings: here are a few squirrels that I drew, HA HA HA - just kidding. One of my favorite animals to draw are GRIZZLY BEARS! I really can't say why, but they're just SO FUN to draw! Maybe its the massive round forms and shapes that makes it fun - I don't know... I drew these at the zoo. I find drawing from life is so much more important than just drawing from photo reference most of the time... there's something that you just DON'T get and MISS when drawing from photo's. I realize the convenience of photo's and I use them myself, but If I can - I will usually try to draw from the real thing! Nothing beats it! Have fun drawing and animating! Long live pencil & paper!

Drawing from life!

2009-02-08T16:01:00.004-06:00

Hey, out there! Hope everybody is doing good! Back with some more dirty laundry. There's a quiet pond near where I live, that I've gone to for years...its a really peaceful place to go and take a walk and just refresh. I thinks its important for everyone to have a place like that, whatever it may be for you. Anyway, I've always enjoyed observing the geese and ducks that live there and how they behave with each other. Its really cool. So, here a few gesture drawings/quick sketches I've done. I must admit that I spend most of my time drawing people and not so much animals. Which is strange for me because I LOVE to observe animals and watch how their thinking is displayed by their movements and actions; you can really see that they have personalities just like we do. Hope I'm not boring anybody to death out there. Anyway - I've got more animal drawings to do. Keep drawing. Long live pencil & paper!

Whataburger wait...

2009-01-25T13:36:00.004-06:00

Good day to all and to all a good day; or something like that? Anyway, the other day I walked into a Whataburger and sitting there waiting for his food was this guy. It was one on those situations where I left my sketchbook back at the studio and was kicking myself for it! So, without making it obvious I took a few quick observational glances and later that night I just let it all pour out on the paper! I wish you could have seen him, this guy was OOOOZING with personality! Man! This character design doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the real thing! Keep drawing and animating! Long live pencil & paper!

Co-workers!

2009-01-20T22:21:00.004-06:00

Sometimes your co-workers can give you inspiration for a cool character design or just a fun caricature... I try to observe the subjects personality even more than just the likeness. Long live pencil & paper!

Observation!

2009-01-20T22:03:00.003-06:00

I'm back again! Okay, so today we have some observational sketches! I think one of the most important things to keep up with consistently is life/observational drawing. Especially in animation and illustration. It keeps you fresh and gets you out of any ruts you may have gotten yourself into. It totally loosens you up and gets your mind OFF of "style" which is something most younger artist are so focused on.

Most importantly, it keeps you from repeating yourself. These are a few sketches from lunch at Luby's, its a great place to go for drawing older folks. The third sketch is something I did while waiting to get my tire repaired. I try to take my sketch book wherever I go. You never know when that great inspiration will strike you! I've still got a loooooong way to go with life/observational drawing, but I'm gonna keep on trucking!!! Remember to have fun while you draw! Long live pencil & paper!!!

Table Buddies!

2009-01-15T21:31:00.003-06:00

Here's a couple of stooges from work. They happen to share a large table so, hence: "Table Buddies". Enjoy!

A little Dance & Sports?

2009-01-11T21:37:00.003-06:00

Just a few gesture drawings from the Tube, I heard this phrase somewhere: "You should never sit in front of the TV without your sketch book" - And it really works! You'll be amazed at what you'll find to draw on TV without having to take a trip anywhere and you get more time to DRAW!!! Happy New Year!

Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to All!

2008-12-25T21:50:00.003-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and to all a good night!

I LOVE Christmas! And the GREATEST GIFT OF ALL is the gift of JESUS CHRIST! We celebrate the birth of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! GOD gave His only son to save a dying world, and WHOEVER BELIEVES in Jesus Christ will be saved! That's what its all about: having a true relationship with our Heavenly Father through His son Jesus Christ! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Observation...

2008-12-21T14:12:00.004-06:00

Observation... there is a BIG difference between just mindlessly looking at something and observing something. Sherlock Holmes was an observer - every clue he found was because he was observing. While others were just mindlessly looking at the clues & not realizing they were clues. Anyway, I said all that to say, gesture drawing is all about observation! You've got to really pay attention to the subject. In this case, I was at the mall watching shoppers of all kinds walk by - young, old, impatient, strollers, big & small... here are a few observations I made this morning (BTW - these are about 5-10 second quick sketches): there was an elderly man being dragged around by his grandchild shopping - meanwhile trying to resist her pulling. I really liked how this lady was carrying 5 or 6 heavy shopping bags in one hand (struggling with the weight) and in the other hand her little purse. And a few other things that just caught my eye... well, the best kind of drawing that supports animation is gesture drawing - I'm a bit RUSTY! But, I'm gonna keep at it and keep moving forward. Enjoy & Stay tuned.

A little animation?

2008-12-19T08:07:00.006-06:00

Hello out there! Back again! Okay, so this is an animation test I did way back in February of 2007. I was playing around with some ideas and just warming up to the idea of doing some paperless - hand drawn (digital) animation. I used Photoshop to draw in (which is why the ball is kinda scribbly & loose) and I imported the drawings into iMovie to put it all together; on my iMac of course! What other computer is there besides Apple?! Anyway, here's the end result - its kinda short, but fun. Hope you enjoy it, please feel free to comment & let me know what you think... I'll be posting more of my animation as I get time to animate. Later! (BTW - for some reason the video is not playing correctly or at all, the timing is totally off! I'm new at this "video posting" stuff, so I'll have to figure it out as soon as I can & post it then. If anybody knows how to post quicktime movies so they'll play CORRECTLY - please let me know, I'd REALLY appreciate it. Be back soon WITH the video).

A Talk with JAMES BAXTER!!!

2008-12-18T09:08:00.007-06:00

I'm back again with the rest of the California trip! See, I told you I'm gonna be posting more often - just keep your eyes peeled!

Well, there's really so much that happened that I don't want to bore you to tears with all the details (then again, I'm not really sure how many people read this blog or how to find out - if anybody knows how,please let me know). There is however, another very high point of the trip that I'll share: Every once in a while there come opportunities/experiences in your life that RECHARGE you and INSPIRE you all over again! Its a moment of RE-INVIGORATION! I can honestly say this trip was one of those experiences. In an earlier post I had mentioned meeting Eric Goldberg. Now, what's better than meeting 1 animation master? Meeting 2 in 1 trip! Both of these guys are so humble that they may not consider themselves masters, but in my opinion, there up there & their work shows it! James Baxter is easily one of the top animators out there today and if you don't know who he is (shame on you AGAIN!): He was the supervising animator of Belle in Beauty and the Beast. He animated such great characters as Rafiki in Lion King, Quasimodo in Hunchback of Notre Dame, Moses in Prince of Egypt, Tulio in The Road to El Dorado, and many many more. Most recently he was the animation supervisor on Enchanted. You can see a list of his work on IMDB - check it out! I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet James Baxter and talk with him about animation. WOW! Where do I start? Obviously, I had tons of questions and he was kind enough to answer them all! As a novice animator, I wanted to know everything! What's your process like? How do you approach a scene? All kinds of questions about timing and spacing. Planning for 1's and 2's?

Charts? I realize that everyone works differently and each animator has there own approach, but it helps to know and understand how an experienced animator would do a scene; in the end, you have to find what works for you. In James' case (he was kind enough to demonstrate and animate a quick scene for me): he starts out emotional/intuitive then gets more technical as he reaches the end result. His first pass is usually very scribbly/rough because he's more focused on the acting/performance/movement, then as he nails that down, he'll add in the overlap/extras/tie downs. I was so shocked to see how rough he worked at first - I knew animators started out rough(Glen Keane for example, more on Glen later), but man was this rough and everyone works differently - I'm sure there are animators out there that don't start out so rough; that doesn't matter - I realized what matters ultimately is the performance! I think so many new animators (myself included) focus on making pretty drawings too early in the scene. That can be SO distracting and it gets you more focused on a single drawing and NOT on the whole PERFORMANCE/MOVEMENT and your animation ends up looking choppy and watery/awkward; not smooth and fluid. He also will change the numbers on his key drawings (and re-draw keys) while he's working in this rough pass, if thats what's needed to improve the performance. I had taken some of my animation flips to show James and get critiqued - I was SO NERVOUS! I just wanted to know if I was on the right track & to have an animator like James look at your work is really helpful. It can also be really humbling. He flipped through my animation a few times, paused in thought & gave me the verdict... Good news: I'm on the right track! Not so good news: I need to animate A LOT MORE and animate REAL LOOSE/ROUGH focusing on the performance/movement/timing and spacing/etc... He told me not to focus on tie downs (finished drawings) YET, but to just animate REAL LOOSE and A LOT! To animate everything (all kinds of characters and situations) so I can get more experience. Honestly, I wasn't surprised by what he said, I sort of expected to hear that. And the "Not so good news", I think is actually REALLY GOOD NEWS because it means that I have that much more to grow as an animator! There was so much more we talked about and James was so gracious with his time and animation knowledge - he really is a down to earth and humble guy. It amazed me how he took a few hours out of his busy day to sit and talk, one on one with a new animator that he had never met before. I guess that's one of the coolest things about animation. As animators, new or experienced, we never really meet strangers when we meet another animator for the first time - because who else can truly understand the passion we have for the illusion of life? Thanks James!

Meeting Eric Goldberg!!!

2008-12-16T23:59:00.008-06:00

I'm baaaaaaack! Well, on a previous post (Quiet Satisfaction-see september 2008) I had mentioned going on vacation to California and having a blast. I said I would tell you about that later and...its later! Although this all happened back in July this year, I figured I better tell you before 2008 is over. Well, the entire trip was SO AMAZING my wife and I had a great time! What does this have to do with art and animation? Well, part of the reason we went to California was for some art/animation related stuff: the SAN DIEGO COMIC CON! It was so inspiring and encouraging to meet all kinds of artists and animators that I look up to! For me, the highest point of the con was meeting one of my animation heroes! You know, the animators who's work you admire and look up to! Eric Goldberg is one of them! If you don't know who he is (shame on you!) He was the supervising animator of the Genie in Disney's Aladdin, the supervising animator of Phil in Disney's Hercules, and whole lotta other things. Check him out in the IMDB. He's currently working as supervising animator of Louis in Disney's newest HAND DRAWN feature animated film The Princess and the Frog! That's right baby, HAND DRAWN ANIMATION IS COMING BACK!!! He recently put out an animation book called: CHARACTER ANIMATION CRASH COURSE! If you don't have a copy and your serious about learning animation or want to add to your animation knowledge GET THIS BOOK NOW!!! Its worth every penny! Plus it includes a CD full of animation clips from the book - so you can see what he's talking about. I had a chance to meet him at the Comic Con while he was doing a book signing. Eric was so down to earth and very funny! It was so encouraging & inspiring to chat with him about animation! I remember the first time I saw Aladdin in the theater, I was 11 or 12 and I was BLOWN AWAY by what I saw! The mood and atmosphere of that movie just sucked you into the story, then suddenly I saw the Genie come to life on screen (and this is the guy who brought the Genie to life)! Then the intense roller coaster magic carpet race through the cave of wonders! I was hooked on animation! Man, the animation fire in me is stoked & flaming! I can't wait to do more hand drawn animation!!! I LOVE THIS STUFF! There's more to tell about the trip, I'll be back with the rest later...

FAT Robin Hood?

2008-12-11T16:44:00.003-06:00

I saw Robin Hood Men in Tights the other night; it had been a loooooong time since I last saw it - still pretty funny;
Young Frankenstein is better though.
Suddenly I thought, "How come you never see a fat Robin Hood?", so here you go, a fat and pompous Robin Hood.
I always thought it was cool how Robin Hood disguised himself to compete in the archery tournament.
So, here he is looking a bit like Mark Twain in a Western. I'll be back soon with some more dirty laundry.

Monkey Boy?! Weird!

2008-10-09T23:04:00.003-05:00

Hey Everybody! Just thought I'd give you a peek at some concept sketch of a character I'm working on. I know, I know "Monkey Boy" sounds weird I think so too - don't worry. Well, I'm working on some hand drawn animation (Pencil tests mostly) and I needed a character to work with so I kinda came up with this guy - don't ask me why. The design is fun to draw, although its still in the development stage, so he may look a little different in the future - But it'll be an improvement. The red sketch is the construction sketch. Maybe I'll post the animation here if I feel its strong enough to show. We'll see.