I like to fight monsters...

Hey all, how are you all?

Here's some sketches I did for a character named William. Done for a client that is doing a comic book. The first issue done...the second one is being done as I type this. Both issues should come out this summer. My buddy Bryan is doing the pages and is doing an awesome job!

Gonna do the Wizard Con later today. Hope to see you there!

Also don't forget later tonight....DRAW BITCH!!!
See you there or be....square! Ok...that was a bit lame there. :P

I want to wish everyone a great weekend!

Cheers,
axel

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Hey All, wanted to share a video of Simon Sinek giving a speech at a TED Talks event.

Cheers,
axel

DRAW BITCH!!!

Hey all! Wanted to share with you about an event happening here in Los Angeles this coming Saturday. It's called Draw Bitch 2!
It will be thrown by no other than Snakebite over at his own gallery...Petra Here's a link to the event's info, Draw Bitch 2
So if you happen to be strolling around the neighborhood in a Saturday night...come on by and doodle with all of us.
cool?

Later,
Axel

Have you seen my arms?

Hey all, here's a quick sketch I did in a new sketchbook which I scanned and then colored in Photoshop. Let me know what you think? He suppose to be a driver of some sort...have a little story idea about this characters and more like him that race....the only think is these racer/drivers man vehicles with out the use of arms. I wonder if that makes sense?
Oh well...I'll catch you later..hopefully everyone enjoyed their Easter weekend?

Cheers,
axel

Doodle here and...there.

Hey all!

Here's a doodle out of a new sketchbook I'm breaking in....and yes, breaking in a sketchbook is an...art. :P
This page was done using a Pilot Hi-Tec-C pen...nib size 0.25 I like the brownish ink used by this pen. Actually Pilot makes multiple colors for this pen...in all different nib sizes which is really cool. I tend to use the black ink...and I also have blue and red as well. These pens aren't the easiest pens to find but one can find them at a well stocked art store or Japanese bookstore with an art section to it.
Also as you can notice...I also put some color work on on of the designs...it was done digitally.
Well let me know what you all think?

Also wanna wish Happy Birthday to my sister Ingrid....a wonderful mommy.

I'll catch you all later,
Axel

I'm hungry...MAN!!!

Hey all! Here's a doodle of Venom I did sitting at the table over at this past WonderCon...I kind of like it...there's some things I would totally change...but it's cool to just get a drawing out and see where it goes and see what need spot be changes once it's done. Let me know what you all think?

The next few weeks is gonna be busy in term of I'll be working almost two full time jobs. That's what I get in wanting to jump onto projects that I really want to do. The crazy thing there's more out gigs out there that I can jump on...but I have to be realistic and stick to the jobs I really can put the time into...it would would be totally uncool in my part to do a job and not be able to deliver the goods in a timely matter. That's something I have expressed in the past to my class...DO NOT over extend yourself. It's ok to say "no" to a project...it's better to be honest upfront before anything gets started than having trouble in the process of that project. I have worked things out in the past that have allowed me to work on multiple projects at the same time. I know some of you including myself think we can be a super duper hero when it comes to producing work...but come on? One has to a reality check here. :P

On a side note...it's already the second week of the Spring term over at Gnomon...it feels weird that I'm not teaching my character design class. But I know that Brett is doing a great job with the classes...he's a totally talented artists that can handles his own. Brett took my class some years ago...at that time he was so determine to really kick ass with his art...and boy did he delivered! I'm so proud of him and in what he's doing in his career....he's done some work for varies video game companies out there. Here's a link to his blog ,let me know what you all think?

Well, time for me to go now. I'll catch you all later.

Cheers,
Axel

Doodles on the side...

Hey all, how's everyone out there today?

Here's some doodles I have done as warm up sketches this past week....wanted to share.
These were done in pencils on tone paper with white pencil for high lights. I also used a Gel pen for the really WHITE highlight. Let me know what you all think?

I'll catch you all later.

-Axel

Character Arcs...by Matthew Luhn from Pixar

Early last month I went to San Francisco for GDC to check things out on the expo floor. There were also panels as well. My sweet friend Vivid went to a panel about Character Arcs done by Matthew Luhn a Storyboard Artist from Pixar. She took some awesome notes....I felt that it would be nice to share this with all of you and here they are below,

Story Images and Character Arcs (Matthew Luhn - Storyboard artist)

Character should be the focus in the story, not the movie structure

In order to figure out the Story Structure, you must first figure out your character

Story Structure:
- Exposition
> Starting the world in the beginning (setup)
> Telling who the character is
> Keeping it short...
- Inciting Incident
- Progressive complication
- Crisis
- Climax
- Conclusion

Finding Your Character
- Fears > fear from childhood and still to this day
- Strengths > Not talents, but character traits
- Weaknesses > Things that said behind your back
- Dark Side > Lowest traits
- Traits that get them into trouble
- Traits they admire in other characters

Fear
A fear or deeply rooted passion should be what drives your character in story

i.e. Woody
- Fears: Being abandoned
- Strengths: Leader, smart, caring
- Weaknesses: Bossy, arrogant
- Dark side: Lie, hurt, steal
- Traits that get them into trouble: Bossy, arrogant, worrying
- Traits they admire in other characters: Confidence, admired by kids

i.e. Marlin
- Fears: Losing loved ones
- Strengths: Loving dad, protective
- Weaknesses: Pessimistic, Over protective
- Dark side: Resentful, hateful
- Traits that get them into trouble: Worrier, overprotective
- Traits they admire in others: Optimistic, care free
Once you know who your character is, then you'll be able to know how they would act in different situations.

i.e.
Rex > Neurotic
- Other toy threatens your authority

Mr. Potato Head > Grumpy

Jessie > Fearless
- Trapped in the attic

Hamm > Mr. Know it all

- Left behind on a road trip
- Broken parts
- Moving day

// Childhood Teacher
- How would your childhood teacher react to a different situation?

// Creating Character
• Finding Your Character
• Character Arc
• Character Inspiration/Images

// A character's difficult path to grow through an emotional fear, limitation...
They either have to:
- Learning to Care
- Learning to have Courage

Two things that are going on in a story:
- Inner conflict
What the character is dealing with, overcoming their fears, etc.
- Outer conflict
What the character have to overcome, the plot of the story

//The crux of the story should be on Inner, not Outer, conflicts.

// Every supporting character must help the main character development throughout the movie/story; they must have a reason why they're there... if not, remove.

// Anybody can give the protagonist a happy ending - by just giving them what they want. But you need to restore their soul instead.

// The character arc can be a... Happy Ending or a Tragedy.

// It's how the CHARACTER CHANGES at the end that illustrates the THEME.
> The inner characters struggles illustrate the them throughout the story.

- Who the character was?
- What the character learns?
- Who the character becomes?

i.e. Unknown
Who the character was: Amnesiac Spy, assassin, paranoid
What the character learns: He's not who he thinks he is
Who the character becomes: A retired spy who cares, learn to trust

// Character inspiration
- Can come from images, locked away inside of us in the form of: memories...
- Make a list of the first 5 cars that come to you from early on in your life > Now choose one that seems vivid to you.

// Then setup a list of question:

- Where are you?
- Are you in the car or out of the car?
- If you are inside, which seat are you in?
- What are you doing?
- What time of the day/night does it seem to be?
- Why are you there?
- Who else is there?
- About how old are you?

// I started thinking about an image/toy from a childhood that inspired me...

Let me know what you think? Hopefully this post will be helpful for the ones that read it.

I'll check you all later.

Cheers,

Axel

Batman in the Wind...

Hey All, here's a Batman sketch I did quickly last night in my sketchbook. I scanned the page and colored it using Photoshop. Let me know what you all think?

Earlier today I got a chance to go to Monsterpalozza and walk around the floor and check out some real cool stuff...all of it monster and horror related. :P
I'll throw up some pics when I get a chance. I did run into a few folks I know that are doing working in the practical effect and monster makeup biz.

Well, I'll catch you all later.

Cheers,
Axel

Another Axel....in the world.

Hey all wanted to share something with all of you. Last weekend while doing WonderCon...there was a certain person looking for me at the booth...but I wasn't there and this person did it twice.
On the second time...my buddy Jason handed me this person's card and I read it.
"No way...it's Axel Alonso"
Jason told me to look for him at the Marvel booth...so I did go to look for him...but he wasn't there. So I ended not meeting up with him...oh well.
I've heard of this man for some years now since he worked at DC Comics. A buddy of mine always suggested that I should meet up with this other Axel. But never found the time plus at conventions I just plain forget. It's crazy after all these years we'll get a chance to meet sometime this year.

I did get a chance to email him earlier this week and we have exchanged messages...just to get to know each other. The funny thing about all this is my full name is Axel Alonso Ortiz. Just kick out the Ortiz part and we're twins by name. :P

So I scanned and uploaded Axel's card for all of you to check out. I did cross out some info, though.

I'm wondering have any of you other there met someone with the same exact name or share something that's a bit trippy? Well, I'm done with this post catch you all soon.

Cheers,
Axel

Edward Scissorhands Con Sketch

Hey all, just got back from San Francisco to do WonderCon this past weekend.

Overall it was a very good turn out...it was pretty crazy and packed on Saturday I do have to say. I walked around a bit...but really didn't see anything that I liked....so I saved money there. :P

Here's a sketch of Eddie Scissorhands done as a commission. I laid it in blue pencils first then inked it with a pigment and brush pens. For the whole 3 days...this was the only thing I sold...so it was very slow for me...the good thing my buddies at the booth did very well for themselves which was great.

Hopefully, I'll make some time to upload some more images of WonderCon for all of you to check out. This week is gonna be busy work wise...but that's cool with me. :P So I'll check you all later.

Cheers,
Axel