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!