Email Illustration

This is the cover for the current C-Ville Weekly in Virginia. The story is about employees being punished and losing their jobs over sending personal emails through an at-work account, after being monitored. It's done with a ZEBRA Brush Pen and colored with Photoshop.

I'll show a step-by-step soon.

midwest - UPDATED 3/28

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I attended the Midwest Caricature Gathering, something put on by NCN members to celebrate caricatures, compete, have fun, and invite others to play. I had a great time with many close friends and since my own photos didn't turn out too well I've stolen a few from the subjects and their blogs. I hope they don't mind (after all, I did draw them).

LIVE

FrankCaliendo.com

This is a preview of the latest caricature for the impressions comedian. It's about 80% complete, Photoshop on top of a quick pencil sketch.

Inspirado

There are many artists that influence me for many different reasons. Sometimes it's their professional work, sometimes their sketchbook, sometimes it's their personality, sometimes it's their drive. These artists are usually very hard-workers and I can see some of myself in them or their craft.

Stephen Silver

This book says it all. Steve has accomplished more than most anyone I can call a friend, and he does it by working his tail off and having the support of his awesome wife, Heidi. I look at this sketchbook (one of his 3 published) every week and gain new inspiration for line, design and cartooning. Steve will always inspire me to work hard, keep drawing and go for what I want.

Tom Richmond

Tom is a smart man. Aside from his obviously ridiculous skills and earned talent (drawing nonstop as well and attending life-drawing every week), he has a personality that is honest, raw and real, and I appreciate that in his work and in his words. His blog is my favorite daily read. I never thought I'd say that about anyone's blog... but it's very true.

Sebastian Krüger

He is a master. He is the master. No one can paint like him, in acrylics, and few in history could handle a brush like him, with any medium. I never fail to be inspired by his control and chaos, his raw, amazing talent. I met Sebastian in 2003 and what's very important to me is that he's fun. He is a smartass sarcastic punk-rocking gentleman. His friend and wife (reps) are amazingly polite as well, and that speaks volumes. Another artist worth admiring in every way.

Jan OpDeBeeck

Jan is another caricature master. I met Jan when I met Sebastian, and I can say that Jan is one of the most honest, interesting, intelligent and kind individuals I've ever met. He is too modest to know that his caricatures inspire thousands of artists, all over the world, myself included. The first artist I looked up to and emailed when starting in caricature was Jan, and sure enough he was the fastest to reply and actually give me critiques- taking time to draw examples of his words, scan them, and explain. He is a teacher in every way and a talented genteleman as well. Not to mention, his caricatures inspire exaggeration like few in the world.

Now clearly there are many others that I admire and look up to, but I can't list them ALL here- it would take far too long. These just happen to be personal friends of mine, and I can't ever thank them enough for their inspiration. I am also inspired by many others- like my friends Keelan, Aaron, Dan, Ken, Grigor, Paul, Jason, Court, and many many many others. I just thought I'd share a few, though- as I was looking at Silver's Sketches.

More Presidents

DON'T FORGET

I'm fascinated with different periods and eras. I love the old presidential photographs and black and white portrait-style photos. This is a warmup sketch done at the animation studio I work at, then some experimental quick digital color.

Sketchbook Ink

KEEP AN EYE ON THE PREVIOUS POST- IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE!

But in the meantime:

I think sketching is just as important as finishing a painting. Keeping loose and experimenting with technique, media, speed and ideas helps you grow. These are some sketches from my recent sketchbook- some took up to 30 minutes, others less than 10 seconds. I think quick-sketching shows a lot of life; something often lost if you over-work a piece. (for some reason I LOVE those old victorian/edwardian photographs)


I just put these, along with a few more sketches, on my website in the sketchbook section.

Yay for Plagiarism!

IMPORTANT: I want to be very clear- I'm not posting this to ruin the reputation of any one particular person or paper, but to stand up against plagiarism and copying others' artwork. It cannot be tolerated, and with the internet it's very easy to find such cases. This is an example of something that happens often, and it's time for it to end.

I received an email from a friend today saying that in a Worcester, MA newspaper they saw this:

..and when compared to this:

..it's safe to say that some artists have no scruples.

update: discussion opened on the subject at ConceptArt.org, HERE.
The 'artist' is a Graphics Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

=

Lastly, an example of what IS and is NOT plagiarism, respectively (via Thomas Nast):

In the wild (mid)WEST (updated 2-19-7)

I just got back from an amazing time at the Midwest Caricature Gathering in Bowling Green, OH - a sort of "mini caricature convnetion" organized by a few NCN members. It was amazing, and had just as much energy as the full-blown annual caricature conventions. I was very impressed with the organizing and the energy, and I hope they make it an annual event.

At these gatherings, we're pretty much given most of the time to create our own inspired caricatures. In their fun competition, I was awarded 3rd place 'midwest caricaturist of the year' aka the BRONZE COW... 3rd place 'midwest caricature of the year' and 'guest of honor award'. It felt great to draw entirely for myself again, and I'll post some more images here soon.

This one's for Rosie

I'm amazed at how two prominent entertainment figures can go at it like little kids. This is just a 40 minute pencil sketch with some digital coloring. Just a warmup sketch.