First page of my new sketchbook

Hey all, wanted to share the first page of my new sketchbook that I got as a birthday gift from my buddy Geoff. Let me know what you think?
It's a pretty cool sketchbook I must say. Wondering how long it will take me to fill this book up?
Any ideas out there? :P
Catch you all later.

4 hours...wasted.

I rarely do tests for a gig. I don't like the feeling of time wasted on something that leads to nothing....These pieces lead to that feeling. I took a chance to work on this unnamed project with someone on the team I know....oh well.

Let the little girl join the Sith.

This video has been up for a while...it gives me a chuckle every time I see it. :P

The Old Dark Knight

Hello, wanted to share a doodle that I just did of the Batman...up in years as you can see. A bit big on the chest and waist area. I was inspired by Frank Miller's Dark Knight...did my version. Hope you like it? If not...it's ok.

Catch you all later.

-axel

Soul TRON

Hey all check out some...Soul TRON
Hope you dig.

-Axel

When the glass ceiling crashed on Brenda Chapman

When the glass ceiling crashed on Brenda Chapman

Critter Doodles

Hey all! How are you party people doing out there?

Here's some design sketches I did for a client of mine for a mobile game. Straight pencils on paper. The game itself should be out the end of this month or early June.

I'll catch you all later.

Cheers,
Axel

Ready for Duty!

Hey all,
Just wanted to upload an image from one of my sketchbooks. It's a doodle of Amazing Screw Head. I totally the dig the idea behind this character...whom was created by Mike Mignola He only made a one shot story through Darkhorse...which was made into a 20 minute animation short as well...it's totally kick ass by the way. I would totally draw a Screw Head story for Mignola...IF he ever decides to tell more stories.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend...keep on doodling!

Cheers,
Axel

Nueva York...cover

Hey everyone! Just wanted to post up the cover to the Nueva York sketchbook...I know my sketchbook/art books are totally overdue...sorry about. Their being worked on as we speak...or breath. :P We'll looking into getting the book printed out before Comic Con. I would like to do a convention or two with new stuff before the year ends. Hope everyone is doing well this week. Catch you all later soon.

Cheers,
Axel

Meet Buck

Hey all, wanted to share this short with you all. It's been out for awhile on the web. I do have to say I totally enjoyed this piece. Hope you all as well.

Late,
Axel

Meet Buck from TeamCerf on Vimeo.

More doodles from my Sketchbook

Hey all, it's late Saturday night when I write this blog in...came back from watching Thor on the big screen...I do have to say that I enjoyed it a lot. A very entertaining movie....that even my younger sister dug.
Also wanted to share a page outta my SF#2 sketchbook...as you can see from the doodles below that I went straight pencil and pens. Added colors to one of the designs by using Photoshop. Let me know what you all think of this page?
Well, time for me to go now...I'll be cranking on the mask for the up coming show at the Petra gallery...info on the last blog entry here.
I'll catch you all later.

Cheers,
Axel

The 13th Sign & Masks of God

Hey All,

How's it going to all? Just wanted to let you know that I'll will have a piece included in a group show titled, The 13th Sign and Mask of God. It will take place at the Petra Gallerie on the 28th of this month. So if any of you happen to be in the Los Angeles area...please stop by to check it out.

Here's some links for more info on the show plus teasers,

Info

teaser 1

teaser 2

Well, I wanna wish you all a great weekend and a productive work week.

Cheers,
Axel

Check out Tom's site!

Hey all!

Wanna say, "Happy Mother's Day" to all the wonderful mothers out there!

I wanted to share a link to a buddy of mine's site, Thomas Perkins I known Tom way back in my Sony TV Animation days...he's always been a very cool dude to talk to and just plain cool guy to chill with. I do have to say this guy is a super duper talented artist. When you have a chance please check out his blog....you won't be disappointed.
I happen to met up with last weekend at the Wizard Con in Anaheim. He has these very cool sets of postcards with samples of his art work, all inserted into an envelope ...which he is selling. I bought a pack to show my support...he even did a sketch for me on the back of the envelope. Check it out it below. :)
Well, I'll catch you all later and have a great work week.

Cheers

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