Angry Cat Colored

Here is the angry cat, which now resembles my fiancee's cat with buckteeth, colored.

A Rejected Pac-Man Ghost

Here's a quick guy I did. I think of him as a rejected Pacman ghost. I hope to do a series of these guys. I'm trying to do them in a little bit different style than usual. I'm coloring it as if it's off-register and my line art is a little disconnected in spots. We'll see if this style develops any.

Angry Cat "Inked"

Here's the cat after a little work on the little fella...

Workin' with Wacom (The Angry Cat)

So I just got a Wacom tablet this evening and have just started working with it. This is my first sketch with it. It turned into an angry cat as I started doodling around. I'm gonna start working with the layers to tighten this guy up and add some color. I'm enjoying my new tablet! It's awesome!

Death Penalty Final

Death Penalty Inked

Here is my death penalty sketch inked. Off to work I go!

Death Penalty Opinion Piece

Here are some early color concepts for my death penalty opinion piece. I still need to tweak it some more, but for now these sketches get the main idea across.

Crazy clown in color

Fedora Frog Update

I've been able to do a little work on the Fedora Frog. Here he is with some color and detail added. He's not finished yet, but he's getting there!

Oh what ideas the library brings me...

I was doodling in the library today and came up with this idea. How...I have no idea. I wasn't even thinking of clowns or the circus at the time. Actually, my last sketch I'd just done was the about the death penalty and I'd drawn a pretty sweet grim reaper. Oh well...I hope you enjoy the crazy clown.

Fedora Frog (inked)

Here he is inked. Next he is off to Photoshop!

Umpire without lines under his "eyes"

During our critique in class today it was recommended that the lines that were originally at the bottom of the ump's "eyes" should be removed because it almost looked like his eyes were just closed. I think it works better myself, so great suggestion from my fellow classmates and Shane!

Predators Concept Update

I just got done running the pen tool around this concept to sharpen up the edges. I also added a yellow spot into the "o." I don't know if that's going to stay, but for now I like it. Now I'm gonna start tweaking to truly clean this up. It was nice to brush up on the pen tool again. You gotta love Photoshop

Article Metaphors in Color!

Sketches for Editorial Metaphors

These are the sketches for my illustrated metaphors I did for 3 articles out of the International Herald Tribune. The top one is for the article dealing with bad umpiring in the MLB playoffs. The middle one deals with the delay of electric cars hitting the market due to a lack of recharging stations. The last one deals with a website for NY job applicants that matches them with companies much like eHarmony and other online dating sites. I will be coloring these pictures this weekend and hope to have the finished pieces up soon!

Fedora Frog (The Sketch)

This is Fedora Frog. I was bored this evening and the sudden urge came over me to draw a frog and so I began to, then quickly he screamed for a fedora, so I gave him one to snaz the critter up a bit. I will hopefully soon be inking him and adding some color to make him super snazzy!

Article Metaphor Research

Article: "Sympathy for Umpires"

In this article, George Vescey, discusses the blown calls in Game 4 of the MLB's ALCS pitting the NY Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He focuses in on Tim McClelland actually holding an interview after the game admitting his mistakes and commends him for stepping up and admitting his faults. The calls in question were a ruling that Nick Swisher left third base too early on a sacrifice fly and that Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada were not both called out when they were tagged by Angels' C Mike Napoli at third base later in the game. In this article, Vescey argues that the umpires are the "third team" on the field and do have an impact on the game. The human error is part of what makes baseball what it is.

Visuals associated: Tim McClelland, umpires, baseball teams, images associated with blindness (guide dogs, walking sticks, blindfolds, sunglasses, etc.), bats (the animal and the baseball equip.)
Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/sports/baseball/22vecsey.html?_r=1&ref=global

Other useful websites: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/ps/y2009/

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/umpiring+plagues+ALCS/2129242/story.html

http://www.halosheaven.com/2009/10/14/1085634/alcs-umpires-strike-zone-analysis?ref=yahoo


Article: "For Car Buyers, the Brand Romance is Gone"

This article comments how many people no longer have brand loyalty when it comes to buying cars. Due to the turmoil in Detroit and pickier customers, people are no longer just sticking with one brand their entire lives. It marks the rise of Toyota over American brands such as Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, and Dodge. Most of this switching is due because of the ease of access of comparison shopping on the internet. It also notes how advertising campaigns now single out several cars within each brand instead of overarching slogans for the brands themselves, noting specifically the high sales of the Toyota Camry against the less than stellar sales of their well-reviewed Tundra truck

Visuals associated: Cars, Brand logos of companies mentioned, auction sites, the brand new and shiny vs. old reliable, aging vehicles

Link to Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/business/21auto.html?ref=us

Websites that could be useful: http://www.toyota.com/

http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/the-4-best-toyota-cars-694990.html

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/100ff7fe-b3a1-11de-ae8d-00144feab49a.html

Article: "It Works for Dating, Why Not For Jobs?"

This article describes how New York is now trying a new job search site that matches job-seekers with positions that fit their skills and prior experiences, much like sites such as eHarmony.com match people with similar interests. It goes on to tell the tale of a Ms. Lazzaro who received only 2 matches, one being hundreds of miles from her home. Another example, a Ms. Berger, had 15 "matches" but more than half were duplicates, suggesting the kinks in this sites infant stages.

Visuals associated: Blind date, profile on a dating site, resumes, unemployment lines, speed dating

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/nyregion/22jobs.html?ref=nyregion

Useful websites: http://www.labor.state.ny.us/lookingforajob.shtm

http://www.eharmony.com/

Article: "Plug-in Cars Are Almost Here, but Charging Stations Lag"

This article discusses how sales of new electric cars from several brands next year may be slim due to a shortage of charging stations. It says one of the greatest fears of motorists is being stranded with a "dead battery." One of the other problems that these cars face is creating an infrastructure where the power needed to refuel these vehicles does not overload the grid. Some talks are in the works about changing building codes to put charging stations in business centers and apartment complexes in the future, but much remains to be done.

Visuals associated: traffic jams, electrical outlets, plugs, extension cords, road trips, abandoned vehicles, jammed car lots, charging stations

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/business/22electric.html?ref=business

Websites: http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/01/ford-electric-car.html

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9996353-54.html


Article: "Britain to Give Zimbabwe $100 Million"

This article states how the British government will be sending $100 million in aid to Zimbabwe to help the country as it rebuilds itself. This happened after a decade of strained ties between the two countries because of the actions of former Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe. Now Zimbabwe has a joint power government managed by the President and Prime Minister of the country.

Visuals associated: British and Zimbabwe currency, persons mentioned (pres. and prime min.), brawls, the globe

Link to article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/world/africa/16zimbabwe.html?ref=europe

Websites: http://www.gta.gov.zw/

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/opinion/22thu2.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i9iLdekCzgmau83da1wZYl-aAJ8QD9BFMKR01

Spot Metaphors

Revolution through juxtaposition

Love using only animals


Leadership through a shadow


Isolation using a cityscape

Greed in a series

Fear using a still life

Divine using only hands

Aging using an interior

The Angry Squirrel

Meet the angry squirrel. He's from one of my spot metaphors for my most recent illustration project. Those spots will be posted later. For now, the angry squirrel will make his solo debut...

Updated Rock Guy and Maxteo

Here are the two sketches after a little clean up job on both and a little more value added to the Rock Guy. I'm really liking this style and hope to try a bunch more illustrations this way.

Rock Guy Color Version

Here is the rock guy with color added. I'm still working on him, but I like the direction it is headed.

Maxteo Color Version

Here is the color version of one my NPDA sketches. It was done completely in Photoshop. I laid down some initial colors and then dodged and burn to add value. Comments are welcome. I haven't really worked in Photoshop like that before, and I think it turned out well for a first try.

Some sketches

These are some sketches I've been doing for our NPDA Doodle Desk concept. I hope to turn them into little illustrations of my own by adding some color here soon.

Tessellation Revision

Here's my tessellation with a little pen and ink work added to it. I also changed the color of the horns to mimc the color scheme of the dog and make the pattern of the two blend in that moment.

Tessellation Station

Here is my tessellation project with color added. I've been working in Photoshop on this one fixing it up.

More Metaphors

Here are some metaphors from articles, music, and literature:

1. The O.J. Simpson courtroom had become a war zone, with witnesses caught in the crossfire.

Target: Simpson courtroom
Source: a war
Ground: extremely active, volatile, both have a "battle" going on
Tension: war has bloodshed, death and little order while courtroom usually has a little order to it

This statement makes the scene seem very fiery and that conflict and disagreement were raging in the courtroom. It shows how tempers flared and things probably got disorderly. It makes the scene seem more frenzied and hectic.

2. A "couch potato"

Target: lazy person
Source: a spud
Ground: docile, dull, lifeless
Tension: a potato is a vegetable that eventually is put to productive use while a lazy bum is just a human on auto pilot.

This aesthetically gives you the vision of a no-good, lifeless slob. It paints the picture of a fat man with his hairy belly showing, chip crumbs in the crevices of his man boobs and a blue glow lighting him from the television.

3. The World is a Gutter (Enuff Z'nuff, 1991)

Target: society
Source: sewage system
Ground: poor conditions, stingy, gutters are full of "crooks" (rats)
Tension: there are some actual pleasant places in society

This gives the post-apocalyptic feel of a Kurt Vonnegut novel minus the humor. You picture the slums of a 60 Minutes special, the scenes from COPS, and the children from those Feed the World commercials.

4. The rain came down in long knitting needles.

Target: raindrops
Source: knitting needles
Ground: thin, sharp
Tension: knitting needles are solid, raindrops are liquid, rain can't hurt you (in individual doses) like a needle's prick

This makes the rain seem more angelic, almost like ballet dancers landing from a jump except these drops probably have a sting to them as rain sometimes does as it hits you.

5. Time is money.

Target: Time
Source: Money
Ground: valuable, precious
Tension: One holds material value while other is valuable towards tasks and a higher purpose. Money is alos tangible while time isn't.

This makes the value of our time relatable to something we actual put value in: money. It conceptually makes our time on earth more precious and makes us want more.

Visual Metaphors

artwork by Thomas Fuchs
Target: next US President's relation with Europe
Source: Bucking Bronco
Ground: very hostile ties, extreme tension
Tension: Bucking bronco is simply a competition while Presidential relations are a world affair that can have dangerous effects on global situations
Type: Fusion

This metaphor shows just how dangerous current President Obama's actions towards Europe are. It shows how one false move can have the US losing all support from Europe. It also adds a very fevored pace towards action needing to be taken to save ties between the US and Europe.

artwork by Wesley Bedrosian
Target: Casino goers
Source: Screwdriver/screw
Ground: A screw is literally screwed into something, as casino get cheated out of money.
Tension: Screwdriver is a tool that helps build things while casino's destroy many people's financial situation.
Type: Fusion

This metaphor really shows just what kind of hold the suits that run casinos have on their visitors. The force of being slowly wound into the ground shows visually how casinos eat away at people's finances and usually leave them left for broke. It makes the casino seem like an evil, slow machine of depletion.


artwork by Thomas Fuchs
Target: Fisherlure
Source: Dollar sign
Ground: similar shape, both can be used as bait
Tension: fishing lure attracts fish, dollar sign attracts the greedy
Type: Replacement

This image shows the luring quality of money. The dollar sign as a fishing lure reverses the role of the lure, making it look appealing to the man fishing, who would thus drop the fish (i.e. give up fishing) and run toward the dollar signs.

artwork by Nigel Buchanan
Target: Investors
Source: Dog
Ground: protective, have hiding places for valuables
Tension: Investors hold money in stocks and accounts, dogs bury their valuables. Investors are more methodical, while dogs are very scrappy.
Type: Replacement

This image shows how hard times have come for investors. It shows how they are scrambling to hide their money anywhere where it won't be sucked away from them from a struggling market. The dog's quick digging actions give investors a sort of primal instinct of protection in these troubling times.

artwork by Thomas Fuchs
Target: Credit Crisis
Source: Guillotine
Ground: foreboding, present at the height of chaotic revolution
Tension: guillotine is tool of death, credit is a tool of debt
Type: Fusion

The guillotine adds an evil shadow over the credit crisis (as if it wasn't scary enough already). It shows how "deadly" all this risky investing that caused the market to spiral out of control was and still is. It also adds the tension of at any moment that blad dropping and the entire global economy collapsing before our eyes.

artwork by Kagan McLeod
Target: Women exercising
Source: exercised demons
Ground: release of stress, boost of self-esteem,
Tension: Exercise helps boost physical health, exorcism helps boost mental health
Type: Juxtaposition

This image shows how much good exercise can do for the body. It plays off the word "exercise," showing not only that exercise makes you look better, but it makes you feel better. It is a mental and physical health boost. It makes exercise appear like a two for one deal.

artwork by C.F. Payne
Target: The Fat Man (AKA Santa Claus)
Source: NASCAR crew chief
Ground: leader of their respective groups, have to make a team work efficiently, both involved in vehicles
Tension: Santa delivers gifts and is associated with the North Pole, NASCAR drivers ride in a circle 500 times and are associated with the deepest parts of the South
Type: Fusion

This makes Santa look like the greatest crew chief in the world. The added pit crew member making sure the sleigh is ready is a nice touch. It shows how much work goes into delivering presents in one night, and I love the added sponsorships, which I believe show how commercial Christmas has become.
artwork by Thomas Fuchs
Target: Expensive Football Stadiums
Source: Dollar sign
Ground: Built off greed
Tension: Greed isn't tangible, while an expensive stadium is
Type: Fusion

This metaphor shows how just how expensive football is, specifically the stadiums. It covers the whole thing, from concept, to construction, to putting people in the seats. It's all expensive. Football is the most expensive professional sport to see in this country, and the dollar sign seats make that clearly evident.
artwork by Nigel Buchanan
Target: Office workers
Source: Sparrow
Ground: Short attention spans, easily distracted, simple-minded
Tension: Office workers come in a variety of skill sets, whereas most sparrows run on instincts. Also, office workers can't fly.
Type: Replacement

This metaphor makes evident how distracting the workplace is for the average office worker today. The sparrow, an average bird, is easily distracted by the worm off to the side, just like an office worker who checks his Facebook and updates his Twitter 200 times a day because Microsoft Excel is boring him to tears. It gives a face to the idea of a short attention span. It also simplifies an office worker to being nothing more than a common sparrow.
artwork by Robert Neubecker
Target: Job Applicant's Information found online
Source: Police search
Ground: Invasive, Revealing
Tension: Police search is physical whereas online search is all information based
Type: Replacement

This metaphor adds a personal feel to companies searching through applicants' online information. It shows how your information on Facebook and sites like that can be used against you like anything found on you in a police search. It is a very dangerous thing to be caught with stupid photos or racy comments on a site.

Tesselation Idea

This is an idea for my tesselation project. It's the second version of my commentary on Favre overshadowing Vick's return in the NFL, this time represented by the very happy Viking having shut up the dogs: