Here is another classic for all of you lovers out their..
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
THE PEOPLES CHAMP
Our Prayers go out to Tyson and his family for the loss of their 4yr old daughter..
Check out his new movie he is a true inspiration and has changed his life around.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
WHAT IT DO?
Check out these classic pieces I did on Paul Wall straight from the Archives.. Paul Wall is the shit and cool as a fan... Don't forget to Check out his new album "Fast Life"
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Happy Birthday Christopher Lee!
Last year on this same date I celebrated the birthday of one of my favourite actors, Vincent Price. By some coincidence, today is also the birthday of another horror film veteran, Christopher Lee. (And if that's not amazing enough, his buddy and frequent film costar, Peter Cushing celebrated his birthday yesterday on May 26th!)
But today we honour Mr. Christopher Lee, whom I'm happy to see is still quite active an actor, having appeared in The Lord of the Rings films, as well as in the most recent Star Wars entries as Count Dooku. And as if that wasn't enough, he's done a couple of turns for his big fan, director Tim Burton, including playing Willy Wonka's dad in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I see from his IMDb page that he's also scheduled to play the Jabberwock in Tim Burton's upcoming Alice in Wonderland. I suspect that it will just be his voice that's heard in that role though, as I can't imagine him wearing a rubber dragon-like costume to play the part.
All of this film activity is particularly admirable when one considers that Mr. Lee will be turning 87 today. Where have the years all gone? He received his greatest fame, of course in all of those wonderful Hammer horror films of the late 50s/early 60s, including several star turns as Count Dracula. Frankly, it doesn't seem that long ago when Christopher Lee was starring opposite Roger Moore in the 1974 James Bond entry, The Man with the Golden Gun. It is his role in this film as the million dollars a hit assassin, Scaramanga, that inspired this caricature I drew of him a few days ago after watching the film again on DVD. What a great villain he makes, with that refined deep, rich voice of his - the perfect British cad! I wish I could find a YouTube clip from the film where he speaks, but you'll just have to settle instead for this non-verbal scene where Scaramanga menaces his mistress, played by the lovely Maud Adams:
However, if you would like to hear that deep baritone of his, here's a real oddity I came across in my search where Christopher Lee actually sings. I must admit, I have never heard of The Return of Captain Invincible until now but, after watching this bizarre clip, I have to somehow see this film!!
FULL METAL JACKET
This is no regular skull, trip out on the helmet with the bullets and cigarette pack in the band..Its on some classic Full Metal Jacket... That isn't some regular smoke at the bottom thats
"agent orange"
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
LOWRIDER VIDA
Here are a couple flicks and a video from Elysian Park this past weekend, this is a park that surrounds Dodger stadium and is notorious for lowrider bbq's..
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Digital Cheesecake!
For a long time now I've been trying to figure out this digital painting stuff with Photoshop and finally I seem to making some headway. I went through pretty much all of the Photoshop brushes, trying them out in various ways to see what I could do with them, but I find most of them rather unsatisfying. However I did stumble upon this one that, after lots of messing with, I found I could get some nice painterly results. I also had been studying the work of fellow caricaturists, Court Jones and Paul Moyse, both of whose abilities I admire greatly, in order to analyze how they're using the medium so well.
So then I decided to experiment and see what I could accomplish with this initial amount of Digital knowledge, as little as it was. I started out sketching this girl right on the screen using a brush I'd created from a tutorial that gives a nice soft pencil look. Then on a separate layer, I jumped in with both feet and started to paint it. I must confess that I got very frustrated along the way, nearly giving up a few times, but I persevered just to see what I could learn from the experience if nothing else. For this first attempt, I do wish I hadn't painted the background so close to the colour of her hair, though I do kind of like the way her hair melds into it at the back.
The more I worked with it, the more it started looking like a cartoonier version of the type of pin-up paintings I've always loved by Gil Elvgren, with a rich, creamy, oil paint feel to it. Since I didn't really know what I was doing most of the time, it took me hours longer to do than it really should have, but this was just a learning experience and hopefully I'll be able to accomplish things more quickly as I get more proficient with it.
For this second attempt I used several vintage 50's pin-up photos as reference, combining elements from each and making stuff up as well. This time, however, I drew her in pencil on paper the way I normally do, then scanned in the sketch. After making it into a transparent layer in Photoshop, I painted in the main areas on a separate layer underneath, first in flat colours, then adding a bit of modeling based on the lighting in the reference photos. Above is the rough sketch with quick colour added. It's actually a fun and satisfying technique in itself, and warrants more exploration sometime.
Once I had a rough colour sketch I was happy with, I merged the two layers together and started into the "oil painting" technique on top. Though I was having an easier time of it since my first attempt, the difficulty with digital painting is knowing when to stop and leave an area alone. I tried to keep the whole thing progressing at the same rate, but it's always so tempting to start embellishing it with details too early in the process.
Seeing the finished artwork, I'm still not sure about some things. In my opinion, there could still be more tonal definition, as I feel that some areas look too soft, especially when compared back to the colour sketch. Doing narrow, smooth lines is not easy in Photoshop, and I therefore have a hard time with detail in the hair, as well as the eyelashes, and any areas where I've used a bit of soft darker outline to help accentuate some of the form. Here's where a good sable watercolour brush still beats the heck out of computer technology, in my opinion. (Yes, I remain a traditionalist at heart!)
Anyway, these are just a couple of initial attempts to learn the digital painting process. I keep on studying the work of artists I like in order to pick up additional skills, but I know it's a long road ahead of me.
So then I decided to experiment and see what I could accomplish with this initial amount of Digital knowledge, as little as it was. I started out sketching this girl right on the screen using a brush I'd created from a tutorial that gives a nice soft pencil look. Then on a separate layer, I jumped in with both feet and started to paint it. I must confess that I got very frustrated along the way, nearly giving up a few times, but I persevered just to see what I could learn from the experience if nothing else. For this first attempt, I do wish I hadn't painted the background so close to the colour of her hair, though I do kind of like the way her hair melds into it at the back.The more I worked with it, the more it started looking like a cartoonier version of the type of pin-up paintings I've always loved by Gil Elvgren, with a rich, creamy, oil paint feel to it. Since I didn't really know what I was doing most of the time, it took me hours longer to do than it really should have, but this was just a learning experience and hopefully I'll be able to accomplish things more quickly as I get more proficient with it.
For this second attempt I used several vintage 50's pin-up photos as reference, combining elements from each and making stuff up as well. This time, however, I drew her in pencil on paper the way I normally do, then scanned in the sketch. After making it into a transparent layer in Photoshop, I painted in the main areas on a separate layer underneath, first in flat colours, then adding a bit of modeling based on the lighting in the reference photos. Above is the rough sketch with quick colour added. It's actually a fun and satisfying technique in itself, and warrants more exploration sometime.
Once I had a rough colour sketch I was happy with, I merged the two layers together and started into the "oil painting" technique on top. Though I was having an easier time of it since my first attempt, the difficulty with digital painting is knowing when to stop and leave an area alone. I tried to keep the whole thing progressing at the same rate, but it's always so tempting to start embellishing it with details too early in the process. Seeing the finished artwork, I'm still not sure about some things. In my opinion, there could still be more tonal definition, as I feel that some areas look too soft, especially when compared back to the colour sketch. Doing narrow, smooth lines is not easy in Photoshop, and I therefore have a hard time with detail in the hair, as well as the eyelashes, and any areas where I've used a bit of soft darker outline to help accentuate some of the form. Here's where a good sable watercolour brush still beats the heck out of computer technology, in my opinion. (Yes, I remain a traditionalist at heart!)
Anyway, these are just a couple of initial attempts to learn the digital painting process. I keep on studying the work of artists I like in order to pick up additional skills, but I know it's a long road ahead of me.
Friday, May 22, 2009
NOTHIN' BUT A G THANG!
The "West Coast DON" Big Snoop Dogg and his son Spank, came through to blessed the studio and chop it up for hours.. His knowledge of classic soul oldies, west coast hip hop,street life fatherhood is incredible. I met a lot of big stars and Snoop is by far the biggest gentleman.In the past we have worked on his videos, album packaging and designed his current Logo.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
THE ESCORTS
Check out this big hit from The Escorts first album
"All we need is another chance"
it was recorded in a New Jersey Prison in 1973. I was just a wee lad but this song still had an effect on my life.
"All we need is another chance"
it was recorded in a New Jersey Prison in 1973. I was just a wee lad but this song still had an effect on my life.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER!
Check out this classic piece I did in Tokyo.. This tattoo inspired me to do my wifes back and since then the back piece craze has taken off..
Flub-A-Dub: Fantastic Poses
I love this cartoonist, who I'm pretty sure also drew this great Andy Panda story. The drawings have that Fred Moore "Little Whirlwind" feel. Really bold poses with tons of appeal.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
DOPE SICK LOVE
One of our head designers just moved to New York, we wish him the best.. We sent him this movie to know what he's in for..For those of you who know this movie, check out our darling couple holding a copy of Frank 151 taken recently...
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
ARCHIVE
then
nowHere is picture of the Ice Cream Truck getting lifted in the Nike Blue House for the Release of the 2005 Cartoon Collection Airforce 1's.. Putting it in to the house was not easy task. Nike engineers had to come out and take out the whole side of the house facing Venice beach...
Since then the Ice Cream Truck has had the interior re done and the top has been candy painted and flaked....
Since then the Ice Cream Truck has had the interior re done and the top has been candy painted and flaked....
Saturday, May 16, 2009
IRREVERSABLE TRAILER
Check out a movie that Estevan Oriol turned me on to a couple years ago.. If you can get past the first 30 minutes that you witness one of the most incredible indie movies ever made...
Friday, May 15, 2009
Anbu pictures mask 
Anbu wallpaper
Anbu and friends
Anbu photos
Face of Anbu
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