Topic for 2/27 to 3/4

Great cats last week, everyone!  I love how they all had distinct personalities.

In honor of last night's Oscar festivities, this week's topic is...

RED CARPET!!!

Who are YOU wearing?

I'm also thrilled to announce that we have a new Anthdrawlogist!  Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Chris Hwang!

Peter Hong - Cats

Jaqai Mickelsen - Cats

This is based on a random sketch I did a long time ago during a meeting. I always thought the concept was kind of amusing, so I circled around to "finish" it.

Marie Criddle - Cats

Growing up, one of my cat's favorite places to sleep was the seat of Dad's motorcycle. I'll bet he imagined himself something of a cool cat. Also, I can't draw motorcycles. :)

Adam Heine - Cats

Someone should tell him he's marking the cards.

Charles Eubanks - Cats

A typical morning in the Eubanks household: 20 lbs of cat poking me in the face with his wet nose.

Topic for 2/20 to 2/26

Meow meow meow explorers meow! Meow meow mew: mew meow. Purrrrr. Meow meow mur meow meow meow mew meow topic?

CATS!

Meow meow? Meow meow meow meow meow! Meow meow---meow meow meow---meow. Meow meow meow meow mew mew purr meow? Phfftttp hiss MEOW!

P.S. Meow some inspiration? Mee-wow!

Charles Eubanks - Explorers

I recently submitted this drawing (among others) for written feedback from an agent at the SCBWI Illustrator and Agent's Day.  The agent came up with the excellent suggestion of incorporating kids into the composition, to show how it might work in a picture book.  So what you see here are my initial thumbnails, followed by a full-size rough.  I typically do several pages of sketches before I zero in on something that works.

Since I'm planning to make this a portfolio piece, I'm taking a bit of extra time.  But I wanted to share with you guys what I'd come up with so far!

Jaqai Mickelsen - Explorers

Ok. So it's not exactly "exploring." But, I've wanted Sea Monkeys from afar since I was a kid - and I recently bought some on a whim. I've got them set up at my office, and there has been something pretty incredible about these little guys coming to life out of a packet. As ridiculous as it is, I find myself checking in on them pretty often at work. So, uh. Yay! Here's to exploring new experience!

Adam Heine - Explorers

 Nothing says awesome like abseiling with a man purse.

Peter Hong - Explorers

Marie Criddle - Explorers

"Indiana? Let it go..."

Topic for 2/13 to 2/19

I don't know about you guys, but I could spend multiple weeks on the Harry Potter theme -- but I won't subject you all to that!  This week's topic is a little more open-ended:

EXPLORERS!!!

Grab your pith helmets!  Adventure awaits!

Peter Hong - Harry Potter

Am I the only one who thinks Daniel Radcliffe looks/acts like an owl? Presenting... Harry Hooter!

Adam Heine - Harry Potter

Practicing my watercolor. I'm still just making it up as I go, basically.

Jaqai Mickelsen - Harry Potter

It's funny...I literally just saw these movies, maybe...a couple months ago? I know...I know. I'm way late to the party. But watching the second one, Dobby instantly struck me as a bit of a...well, a bit of a wanna be Gollum. So sadly, is appears mine leans more in a Lord of the Rings direction than a Harry Potter direction.

In my original composition, I had Harry in here too, but when I was about 65% done inking Dobby I realized that it kind of didn't need him. Here's that initial pencil sketch if curious.

Marie Criddle - Harry Potter

Meanwhile, as movie executives try to find ways to continue the franchise...

Charles Eubanks - Harry Potter

I realized after it was too late that I totally stole Andy's composition!  Gah!  Sorry, Andy!

Anyway, this was all done digitally, but I started with the pencil sketch below to figure out the character.  I started reading the books before the movies came out, and always pictured Harry's scar being more pronounced, like his head was practically split open.  I imagined it like a crack, growing larger and disappearing below the hair line.  I think my pencil drawing does the better job capturing what I was after.

Andy Eubanks - Harry Potter

 

We've been reading Sorcerer's Stone to the kids before bed, and they're loving it!  They've never seen the movies, so this is what Andy came up with based on the book's description.

Topic for 2/6 to 2/12

Do do do do do do do do do do GREAT DRAWINGS! (Batman theme song music anyone? No? Awww.) Again, one of the greatest parts of this blog is seeing all the different interpretations of such a universal subject (yes, Batman is universal to me.) Are you ready for another pop culture goodness challenge? How about:

HARRY POTTER!

I was soooo happy when Charles suggested this one (so I didn't have to and betray the fact that I have sketchbooks over ten years old FILLED with Harry Potter fan art. Judge all you want.) Good luck, Anthdrawlogians! (Or should I say "Remember to draw using your Felix Felicus potion!" Er, nope. I crossed a nerd line. I'm just gonna say good luck.)

As always, please feel free to post any ideas for new topics in the comments!

Jaqai Mickelsen - thbtbhtbht

I must have redrawn the left side of the pose a billion times. Time got in the way (it was not a quiet weekend) so I know the reality is I won't be able to finish pre-new assignment. I went in hell bent on not looking at any reference because I didn't want to be influenced by someone else's batman. That was obviously a great tactic because I managed to draw Batman in an unfinished Spiderman pose.

Woo!

Charles Eubanks - Batman

Oh, Batman.  You cocky bastard, you.

Peter Hong - Batman

Marie Criddle - Batman

Bian Fu Xia to the rescue! (after some meditation, of course)

Adam Heine - Batman