Archie's 1st Birthday

Hi meet Archie, a character created on the fly the other night after a quick visit here http://www.how-to-draw-funny-cartoons.com/draw-it-forward.html
While I have allowed this particular image to be used for Non-commercial use in the draw it forward concept, I reserve and retain all rights to the associated character.

IF Hollow

Nuff said really.

IF Worry - Pel

Here's one from around five years ago. I think it's about time she had an airing as I still like the character and idea although I think the style and execution is very generic.

IF - Worry Bee, hurry bee, whatever can your worries be?

Yet another IF - Worry entry this time it's A Worry Bee with a background image freebie from iheartvector.com

This is 1 of 3 posts made so far for this weeks challenge.

IF - Worry (Mr.)

Returning to a type/text/lettering solution to this weeks challenge in the form of Mr. Worry.
I'm sure many of us feel like we're a Mr. Worry from time to time (most of the time in my case) and sometimes we need to just pull ourselves up short a bit and ask ourselves Why?

In the Baz Luhrmann song - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) the lyric goes...
"Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing
bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday."

I try to remember this and sometimes it helps to get my worries back in better proportion.

This is 1 of 3 posts made so far for this weeks challenge.

IF - Worry(?) bonus post

About five years ago I had a dabble with Painter. This portrait of my daughter doesn't really show her worrying but people who've seen it seem to think she has something on her mind.

This is 1 of 3 posts made so far for this weeks challenge.

IF - Wide and Wide(assed)

A little cheekier than normal this week. It was going to be wide, wider and wide(assed) but I think it works with just the two.

IF - Electricity

A little rough and ready this week, but I hope you enjoy.

Meet Simmi

Hi so this is Simmi. She's evolved from a rough sketch I did on the back of an envelope and I'm quite pleased with how she looks apart from this nagging feeling I have that I'm over working my drawings. Maybe she'll get some comments, let's wait and see.

Here's the original sketch to help you think...

Collaborators will be shot... scratch that. Collaborators wanted.

1) Is the loneliest number. So I thought it might be nice to look at working on a couple of projects or more. I don't know how this will work in practice but we could discuss it.

2) My full time business is a signage so I have a few resources to hand which could be turned to a multitude of other creative uses at the drop of a hat.

I look forward to hearing from you, seeing your work and hopefully working on a project or two.

Bageads...

well thats what they look like to me. I'm quite happy with the way the heads are working out, all I need to do is work out the bodies. I know Life drawing classes would be paying dividends but I'm time poor at the moment so I'll just have to stumble on and ask you dear reader for any advice you might be able to offer.

New character(s) Wip

Looks like I'm going through one of those posting phases. Yup, the sketch books and related Paraphernalia are out again and it feels good. This guy and friends have called in to say hello and should be making an appearance again. Very much WIP but I'm enjoying how they are working out so far.
This project is also giving me chance to renew my photoshop skills, who knows I may even re-install painter soon.
It seems like I'm always pushed for time so I'm going to cut this short for now, so until next time - see ya.

medi_ocrity

Nothing to say
too many ways to say it
suck in the air, spill it out
use a cliche 'whispering shout'

IF - Seed (of an idea)

Lem usually returned home from his walks with the
seed of many wonderful ideas implanted in his head.

Had the urge to rework this, so I did :)

IF 'Wrinkles' or 'Laughter lines/Crows feet'

Addendum:
I love how lines/wrinkles around the corners of
the eyes are sometimes called 'laughter lines'
when people are being kind or 'crows feet' when
they are being less than charitable in their description
of somebody.

Hi, it's been a while but it feels good to be back.
So Lem gets another outingthis time he's been
worked over in illustrator and photoshop with
some home grown textures.

Hopefully I'll get time to visit other IFers later
this week.

More soon, bye.

PS I hope I haven't been to light with the wrinkles,
what do you think?

IF 'Moon'

I really enjoyed doing this challenge. This one started out as a sketch on my work deskpad Friday and finished up in Photoshop at home Saturday morning. I'm sure my wife and co-worker are probably thinking that I'm soft in the head for doing this kind of thing, but at the moment its a need that needs answering.

T'was a Hunters Moon that night on Zoon
and a bitter end was to come to soon
for unaware above the ground
a lone young Tweeble was to be found
and at his back with silent stealth
came set with death a loathesome, fearsome Jabbermouth
The end it was, the end it came, for that young Tweeble
Such a shame :(

'Poem' IF challenge

My jaw dropped when i saw this weeks IF challenge, my mind boggled at the thought of what visual could convey the truth that lay at the heart of a poem. I began to think about poems to illustrate, but all the while I had a vision of a fountain pen lurking in my mind and the sense that all poetry comes from the 'Heart' - now theres an idea.
I ran with this idea, none of my initial thoughts resembling the finished illo, until I ended up with what I consider to be the three fundametal sources for any 'Poem' - Love, Life and Death.

Miimic #1 - Mamalien with colour

In this version I've tried colouring the same way as mr, but I've not nailed it just yet.

more soon...

New Series: Miimic #1

In this series, I'm going to be trying to step out of my comfort zone and hopefully expand my skills as a rookie illustrator by studying and emulating the work/style of more accomplished illustrators.
The intention isn't to copy or rip off other peoples work, so hopefully nobody will be offended by this.

Here goes...

Miimic #1 - Mamalien
Step 1 - initial sketch



This sketch is inspired by
Non-Stick Plans
Visit his site, I love it and I hope you will too.

More soon...

'Discovery' and Lem returns

Hi, it's been a long time but Lem has finally sent word of his latest voyage of discovery. I just hope he survives to take another.
Obviously a work in progress, but don't worry the often only take a lifetime to complete :)

Throw away lines No.2

Lem is crass
Lem is crude
he drops his pants
that is so rude

(Has Lem has yet to display any of these qualities yet?)

IF's weekly challenge 'Remote' introducing Sputt

(Mixed media: scanned outline, photoshop colour, then inkjet print worked over with felt tip, scanned and tweaked.)

This weeks challenge seemed the perfect opportunity to introduce 'Sputt' at least I think thats what he said his name was as he zoomed by, very little is known regarding his origins but he does seem to have a helpful disposition and must be very intelligent as well as brave if some of the rumours of his 'daring do' are true. I'm sure this won't be the last we see of him, unless ofcourse he doesn't return from the remotest region of the galaxy.

Tagged

Apparently the idea behind tagging is to list 20 random things/facts/thoughts about yourself on your blog. Then tag somebody else, so here's my list:
1. I don't like organised religion.
2. I often start things but don't always fini
3. I think I'm funny in a corny way, but realise not eveyone else is tuned to my wavelengh.
4. I dream of earing a living from illustrating and being able to relocate to Sicily.
5. I still miss my mum and dad greatly with barely a day passing that I don't think about them, but I rarely visit their grave.
6. I drink Green Tea.
7. I love to be set loose in the kitchen but hate washing up the aftermath.
8. Ideas usually come to me at bed time, which means I often disturb my wife by the time I do get to bed.
9. I really need to find out about how best to protect my eyes from long long periods working at computer screens.
10. I love the way Picasso was constantly evoliving as an artist.
11. David Hockney is one of my favorite artists.
12. I am left handed.
13. My children are much smarter than I give them credit for.
14. I am a great critic of other peoples work but struggle to evaluate the quality of my own.
15. I like blue but really love monochrome colour schemes.
16. I find it hard to complete lists like this.
17. I know I won't live far beyond my 70's.
18. I need more peace and quiet than I currently have.
19. My eldest daughter narrowly missed being named 'Tsarmina'.
20. I need to remember how fortunate I am everyday.

New Tag victims are:
Alina Chau, TweedleSketch, Queen Tut

If's weekly challenge 'Cold' wot no Lem =)

Lems taking a break from this weeks challenge and I'm reverting to a type based image. I still haven't gotten used to being open and chatty on here, so if you have any questions, comments please ask. Hopefully this week will settle down and I'll be able to spend a little more time developing the challenge and blog.


"Well I 'ad t' do it dinna guv, it were 'eatin away at mi!" - and yes if your brave enough to keep visiting the puns do get worse :S

Random Lem 3

Ahhh, the great stress reliver.

Random Lem 2

Lem's inversion therapy was having some unexpected side effects.

Random Lem 1

Even while relaxing on his favorite hilltop,
Lem imagined the monsters to be everywhere!

If's weekly challenge 'Lost' with Lem

For this weeks challenge I've followed Wynlen's methodology for producing her illustrations. On returning to Wynlen's site its clear I have a ways to go before I produce material to her standard. Also new this week Lem shares the frame with a new character, albeit just a head shot of him. I hope these illos are still entertaining, I know I'm enjoying working with different media.
Crits, comments and suggestions welcomed.

If's weekly challenge 'Float' with Lem

Doesn't look like I'm going to get this finished in time, so here's a work in progress.
I finally got my scanner reinstalled earlier this week and finally started pushing my comfort zone. Although Lem's back I've tried to create more detailed enviroment/entertaining enviroment to support him. It's far from perfect but a positive step all the same.
I've always loved the floating sphere magicians used beneath a piece of material on old tv stage shows, so much so I thought it an ideal trick for Lem to perform, enjoy.

Life's too short No.1

With the list of entries running into the 100's, I thought a list of favorite entries might be useful.

Here's are the first of my recommends, feel free to add your recommendations:

http://artofgarth.blogspot.com/
If you don't love this, leave the room - NOW!

http://grumblebee.com/doodles/
Very original, weird and wrong, but good.

If's weekly challenge 'Float'

Not my usual offering, but something from my archives (due to the problems outlined in the previous post). This piece 'Homage' was my attempt to emulate the work of the fantasy artist known as Brom.
Looking at it now it is so unfinished, I have a habit of letting dust settle on a lot of half baked ideas, but as a learning excercise I think I it was quite rewarding. There is a remote chance that it will look familiar to some people out there as I probably posted this on the web a couple of years ago originally.

Enough waffle.

Hdd died

Ahh crap my primary Hdd died Thursday morning and although not much has been lost in the way of data, lots of settings have been lost, along with access to OS9 and earlier versions of Photoshop etc. I could go on but to keep it short I am now without the use of a scanner, so no post today for the IF challenge 'Float'.
(Note to self: remember this to use as an excuse when I get blocked on a challenge and can't come up with anything)

Good luck to everyone else who takes part, I look forward to seeing your entries :)

Throw away lines No.1

The first of occasional posts based on lines of prose I've written then forgotten until I rediscover them littering my work place. Perhaps one day I'll pretend to be a writter and flesh them out, maybe even finish them, better still they might inspire an illustration from someone, if so please post a link in this thread to your piece.

Cheers, Peter.

'Love borne on Ravens wings
mocks the songbird as he sings'
or
'Love borne on Ravens wings
mocking bird song as he sings'

Introducing my new Blog

Lockjaws Lair goes live (whoopeedoo). As you can see, if you've visited previously, I've uppedsticks from my Livejournal site in favour of this one as I like the editability of this location. It probably won't make me anymore creative or witty but it pleases me and maybe the content will please you. In which case everybody wins :)

IF's weekly challenge 'Fresh'

I'm probably rushing these too much, but I'm without net access over the weekends so I like to post as soon as. Hand sketch, coloured in photoshop (but most of you knew that).
Lem took an unexpected turn this week and has caught me off guard by
being overly cute, I dread to think what he'll be upto next week!

A weekend with Lem

This weekend I was working on 'Lem' when my daughter joined me
and suggested I try a few things with him. Here are the results of my
weekends work and our collaboration.



The scarf/collar needs working out and some buttons probably wouldn't
go amiss either. But I think Lem evolution is now well under way and
with just a few more tweaks such as those mentioned, I think he'll get there.

Who is Lockjaw?

Lockjaw is a character I created in response to a track by Todd Rundgren and the book cover above was created as coursework for an evening study class I did a few years ago, worked up from rough sketches in Illustrator and Photoshop.
He's been on the backburner with the gas off for quite a while now and I'm getting to thinking its time to get the matches out again.

Live journal or Blog?

I'm having difficulty deciding wether to launch this as my main home
or stick with the Livejournal site that I've been using. I have a feeling
it will end up being this one once I worked out how to get the most
from it.

IF's weekly challenge 'Escape'

This was originally posted on my 'Livejournal' before I set up home here.

It's a quickie posted before the weekend, enjoy...

Welcome to the Lair

So whats Lockjaw's Lair all about then?

Initially it is going to be a place for me to introduce embrionic characters and to the share illustrations I create in response to the challenges set through IllustrationFriday

I'm looking forward to sharing my work and reading the comments of those who visits; so don't be shy, give me some feedback.

IF's weekly challenge 'Depth'

This is second post for Illustration Friday. Lem is an embryonic
character I hope to develop through coming challenges. Lem is
an innocent, not good not bad just Lem. Let me know if Lem
does it for you.

Also apologies to everyone at IF for the double entry, if I could
delete the first entry that would be great. I hope I don't seriously
hack people off.

IF's weekly challenge 'Roots'

My first submission to Illustration Friday...



Based on the oft misquoted line "the love of money is the root of all evil"
Created using Illustrator and Photoshop, I wonder wether there was
to much technique and not enough style in this.