Friday, February 06, 2009

IF: Hard (Time) for Seahorses


"These women don't have a clue...I'd like to see them be able to get pregnant and have to feel what it's like to carry all of this weight around in THEIR belly..."

On a side note...several months(?) ago on Drawn.ca (a great site if you've never visited)gave a shout to a project that is going on called 700 Mole-Men...on this site is a listing of names and brief descriptions of characters and it seemed like such an awesome idea that I decided to throw my hat in the ring as it were...most people have tended to do fairly quick drawings but there are a lot of great images...I'm too stupid to do small so I'm working on a 15x20 piece of illustration board...plus I haven't done anything serious with graphite since my wiener dog pic...Check out the site and give it a shot!!! The list alone is worth reading for grins.

I chose "Doc Minceworm...a fraud"...I figured he is a bit of a snake-oil salesman and envisioned him as someone that would literally rob his patients blind...so that is the direction I am going. I also am trying to incorporate all of the elements and principles of design into the drawing (except color of course) as a test run for a possible project idea.


I did a quick character sketch and a couple of very loose pics for placement of items...Then roughed out the real pic on the illustration board and I've started doing all of the shading a bit at a time...I have all of Dr. Minceworm's helpers robbing the guy as he gets his 100% guaranteed healing therapy...


The only bad part is going to be once I've shaded it all I am going to have to go back and adjust all of the values to help make sure the form and texture really pop...I've been careful to have a sheet of paper under my hand to keep from smudging but as areas get completed it is fairly obvious that spots are too light to really work at this point.

19 comments:

Vhrsti said...

Wonderful, Brian!

Anonymous said...

Brian - I myself have been told in the past that my belly was expanding at such a size that I would be giving birth....to a 5 gallon keg of beer. Anyway the moleman is coming along brilliantly!!! Can't wait to see the finished product.

Ammon said...

Great work on both pieces Brian. I do remember the 700 hobos that I think led to the 700 mole men. Those were funny but it did seem like people were just making a lot of sketches for it. Your piece is just awesome.

froggie is... said...

birth to a 5 gallon keg of beer. arrggggghhhh....yummmm!!!

and, i think i've seen like, over 500 john hodgeman'ed ol' molemen already but this one, really, REALLY hits it, bb. i love the vest, the wrinkly flaps of moley flesh...fantastic. truly. :))

and thank you SO much for that killer suggestion you left on my blog...about cramming them into a tighter space, less neg space behind them. i'm totally on that. :))

froggie

Willie Baronet said...

Love those sketches!

And I'm only 125/hr.

studio lolo said...

We have a new seahorse exhibit opening soon at The Monterey Bay Aquarium. Supposed to be a good one! I like how you give equal rights to the dads in the post!

Whoa, the drawing in progress is amazing!! I need to find the time to do a nice detailed piece. Those were the days.
I can't wait to see the end result. He's fantastic!

steve said...

Superb work once again Brian! You are really on a roll this year! Yes, I have read about this project - looks interesting. Glad you're taking a shot at it - looking forward to the end results (and thanks for showing us your process once again).

Anonymous said...

Brian, your eye for detail is superb! You've heard it before, but I've gotta say it! You are fabulous!

Brine Blank said...

I've heard a LOT of things said about me before...most of which is probably not appropriate to print here...fabulous not so much...but I appreciate the kind words...

Steve Cozart said...

Brian,
I like your take on the IF words. Not so literal, with a twist of good humor.
Good Stuff.

fortwertz said...

Love what you've been up to lately. Wow, when you dig in whit texture studies the values explode! Nice stuff, and I'll have to try out your other resources. Take care, -FW

Roberta said...

First... that is just too funny... and then I scroll down and... Wow! this is some incredible work!!! I can't wait to see the finished piece. Bravo Brian!

Caroline said...

Those seahorses are a hoot and your illustration in progress is AMAZING!! Can't wait to see it finished.

valerie walsh said...

you have mad drawing skills dude! I love this whole post, really, really great Brian :)

Chris said...

Brian, I really like the way you twist normal, human environments to have them fit in with your anthropomorphs. The details (like the "baby on board" shirt) are always spot-on.

As for the Mole-Man piece, I greatly anticipate the final outcome. So far, the details on the face look incredible.

studio lolo said...

You'd better get that mole checked :)

Hey Brian...you won my raven envelope!!
Please meail your snail mail address to me at
laurelgaylord@sbcglobal.net

Also, one of my cards will be enclosed in it so pick out a fave of my images and I'll print up a card for you!

AscenderRisesAbove said...

Does the walrus pen and ink have a title? ku ku kachoo.

AscenderRisesAbove said...

lol - at that sea horse cartoon. can't remember where I saw the show on that; discovery channel... that is exactly what I thought too; those females have it made.

back to check on the molemen at drawn

Hayley said...

It has been a while since I have logged into my blogger...so of course I had to wander to your page!
And I find the moleman! Looking forward to seeing the final piece...minus the gross centipede that gives me the heebeejeebies!