Dragons Revisited

One of my very first books, back in 1996 (yeah, yeah I know!), was about the littlest dragon. I haven't drawn a dragon since and I find that a shame. So I've set that right.

The Littlest Dragon was a black line book, and I fancied breaking open the inks and dip pen.

So I re-read the book, stuck on some Oasis and Blur and turned back the clock.

 Here is the little chap sitting in his window in 1996, he'll be a big dragon now...

Mice, taking a stroll.

Gone Fishing

Here is an illustration of a bear fishing. I think it's lacking something.

I'll come back to it after I've delivered some roughs in a couple of weeks to see if he's going to catch anything, or if he'll need to re-think his strategy.

...and after that re-visit.

The Hairy Bear Bunch.

It's been a little while. So thought I'd post a few initial bear sketches.

I now have to continue until we have a character, stick him in a boat, and see if he can catch something for his (and my) lunch.

When I grow up, I want to be...

Monsters, Etc.

I have never before drawn monsters.

A gila monster, yes. Dragons, aliens, narwhals, a newfoundland dog and a baby, yes - but no actual monsters.

So I thought it was time.

They are spruced up for the Mon-scars, like Oscars but for... oh, nevermind.

From 0 to publish post in 30 minutes.

Now fully recovered following the extreme sport squirrel (he jumped 20 feet from a tree, narrowly missing my head - I may have mentioned it) I've decided to try a little loosening up exercise.

I've been agonising over every minute detail of my art recently, I'm not sure it's entirely healthy. I'm about embark on a toucan and a penguin illustration, so with the hope of avoiding another tortuous few days I decided to give myself 30 minutes to research, draw, colour and upload a toucan and penguin to my blog - and to approach the art in a new way. Publishing and sharing the results (no matter what) would, it was hoped, sharpen the senses.

I had to extend my deadline very slightly, as the penguins at Cincinatti Zoo made me giggle too much.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW1jmatHBIc

I don't know if it was an entirely successful exercise but I've definitely taken something from it (apart from "make toucan beaks larger than this") - and I think it'll change the way I approach my next illustration. So that's nice.