Costumed in Characters

O Drawing nights...

...they are just so much more fun with an enthusiastic model--especially one equipped with a wide array of costumes and props. Starting at the top we have Mei, twin to ole pal Mai who instantly became original living characters with hats and swords on hand. We also have our favorite shoe-gazer rock star Rodney. A marker drawing of one of his four cats soaked through the opposite page... We're surrounded by felines during these sessions, so felt fit to keep it. Drawing nights set to good tunes-- a great way to keep hand skills familiar in my often digital world.

I like this one because something about the addition of the nerf gun made her feel like part of the Serenity/Firely universe.
Other Characters

My posts on here haven't been as frequent as I like. I had to glance at my own blog header to remind myself to let some sketches loose up on here. And so...

A masochistic fighter; taking delight in inflicting pain in battle as much as receiving it.
--a little on the darker side, but a concept spurred by conversations with a friend who had an idea for an animated fight sequence. In talking about the choreography, my mind kept wandering to the why and how-comes of a fighter's particular history... a fun way to brainstorm character ideas.
A character for a story where a magical weapon comes into play. The oversized glove might have something to do with being able to wield it.. the sword needs some more work, to be influenced by fountain pen nibs.

More Nouveau Robotica

Smells like Machine Spirit

Continuing with the series of Art Nouveau interwined with technology-- This one is a sort of advertisement for fine machine oils. I have another in the works that is 'medical' related. I have a few other themes in mind that I'm looking forward to doing that will use some original robot designs. This one has a lot influence from the cool Cunningham Bjork androids and the "I, Robot" styles.

Sketch up

A sketch of the current one in progress:
and here we have the Canadian Javanaut.
Not sure quite what to make of him but he does love his coffee... eh!?

CHRISKAWAGIWA.COM !!

(loud enough??;)


And now announcing--

My new site, chriskawagiwa.com is finally up and running! It's been a long time coming :] Please check it out to see a sampling of my work (and a few easter eggs if you're patient~).

As I had mentioned an intention in a previous post, this blog is now more free to just be an avenue for sketches and ideas that I shouldn't feel so "precious" with. We all know how well that worked out for ole' Smeagol... :P

Thanks go out to Karen J. Lloyd who out a out a post on her storyboard blog about the importance of a good web presence which prompted me to finally get down to it. If you're any sort of story or creative enthusiast, I recommend a look-see through the posts. Valuable trinkets of advice sprinked throughout in there.

O and Comic-con--

was fantastic! The size is has grown to overwhelming proportions but getting to meet some creators among the bustle was totally inspring. I was hoping to attend some panels this year, but most were packed to capacity-- especially if they featured any celebrities. Alas, it looks like i'll be seeing new trailers and sneak peeks for any new comic book movies with the rest of the world~

Jacob's Dino-guy

This is a dino character from Josh Kemble's comic, "Jacob's Apartment". a fine quality print of this digital painting could hopefully be a part of their benefit to support some replacement audio equipment on their podcast, Big Illustration Party Time. Along with Kevin Cross, they're still keeping up the very helpful weekly show on "the in's and out's of freelance illustration" in low fi. Thankfully not off the podcast air but a silent dinosaur is always fun i thought...
rwar~

Crystalline Roots

A couple backgrounds for an iphone game I'm working on...
also a chance for me to try out more digital painting in Photoshop. It surprising how quickly random landscape forms can be painted out this way.
Some inspiration came from an artist I met once, Gabe Leonard. Really swell stuff. His work is traditionally done... sometimes makes me want to dig up the old oil paints, but my turpentine fearing braincells clutch to pixels..

Ta-da !

a Clueless Magician: This was just a tiny sketch I found in my book-- felt like throwing some color/texture on it. I don't think it's in my usual style, but I've been watching/reading a lot of Mike Mignola's stuff.

I just finished watching the animated version of "The Amazing Screw-on Head". Zombies and Vampires and Lincoln ! Material just cool because it it -- a nice departure from overly serious subjects (in both news and art~).

Wrench ball !!

A randomly constructed digital sketch. Interpret accordingly.

One interpretation: a futuristic game of dodgeball/lasertag-- but the balls are bombs which you have to diffuse before they explode with parts to build lasers with...!

I dunno. I think i just wanted to draw a guy with goggles :]

New format

::hoot hoot::

Some changes are afoot for this blog~ I've been working on a static site and am looking forward to transitioning this to something more fun and casual... hopefully weekly updates with sketches, works-in-progress, and experiments in digital art to keep me on my toes.
If anybody's out there, stay tuned..!

Drag-and-Drop Threadless Sub

vote for me won'tcha?

[the original image before reducing colors]

ViolenciaRobotica !

It's a revamp of my previous post of 'robotlancerguy'..! cleaned up and Mucha framed~
... initially inspired from a leaflet briefly seen in the movie "Gladiator".
i still have to test to see if those barcodes work :P

Minimonsters

These guys didn't make the cut for an iphone application/game in development... poor guys-- won't somebody adopt them?

Spaceman and Stearns

I love my wacom tablet... took it for a spin on my laptop for life drawing night with friends.
Featured are Abel, aka: Digital Sarcasm (who usually doesn't look as sad as i painted him) and Rodney aka: Year Zero (who usually doesn't wear his spacesuit...usually). Both musicians, really talented--check them out! We drew while listening to some of Rodney's new tunes, funfun.

I just ordered a Wacom Bamboo Fun.. i've heard it's no Intuos3, but hopefully it'll work well on the go. will post new doodles with that soon.

Life on the Prairie

Cake and cowboys are an odd combination... cowboys and pie maybe. A Birthday e-card for American Greetings

Natural History of Ginger

I went to the Natural History Museum a little while back... i drew a cape buffalo. we named her Ginger. The exhibitions here are great to draw, lifelike animals that hold still for--hours!

Mr. D. Maul

I recently worked with Chartpak at the CAA (college art association) conference doing a watercolor demo. Nice folks to work with-- one of whom's kids were big Star Wars fans. So ended up with a Darth Maul in Grumbacher's Academy line watercolors... after a pass in photoshop for good ole lightsaber glow~

Valentine's Constructions

I recently did character and background designs for a Valentines Day e-card for American Greetings involving the construction of a giant heart by a team of cupids. Though the animation itself was not done by me, the freedom in the storyboard stage allowed a fun challenge. The animator found some funny gags which I hadn't thought of as well--

robot lancer guy

[work-in'-progress]

More Add-a-Photos

Fun projects for Kiwee
where you can incorporate your friends into some classic movie posters. "Army of Dorkness" was my favorite-- Call to all nerds: find all the easter eggs in there!
[there are at least a dozen different movies/games/genres]

Batting the rain

an old pal mentioned he'd kept a drawing of Batman that i drew him from highschool. i realized i hadn't had my hand at any good ole capes and tights in a while so... here we are, a sketch with wacom tablet and photoshop.
[the Dark Knight endorses Rain-x rain repellent]

backup monsters!

These guys never got to share in the limelight for the Superfreak music e-card.
So for Halloween time, they get to be here~

"Freaks" and "Superfreak"

Add-a-photo e-cards for Kiwee.com
Thanks to Matt Dow for references for the 'sideshow' project (in book form that is...)
To add your own photos check out one of them here (<--mermaid)
Character design sketches and background for a music card for AmericanGreetings.com. It's finally up in time for Halloween HERE. Great animation to Rick James' "Superfreak" by the amazing Chris K from Down Under, Mr. Kennett.


[Copyright © 2007 – 2008 AG.com, Inc. All rights reserved]

Add-a-photo Madness

Bam! A movie poster parody of Japanese tokusatsu films (ie: ultraman, power rangers) for Kiwee. A full set of these is set to be released-- links to come when they go live~

[Copyright © 2007 – 2008 AG.com, Inc. All rights reserved]

costume figure drawing

I recently sat in "Costume Figure Drawing" at good ole' LB state and got to draw some really neat costumes.


may i present:
"The Nearly Invisible Man"

and "The Great Sheik Seafoam"

Rosh Hashanah

the Jewish New Year... I had to consult wikipedia then some friends for this one ;]
For Kiwee, one of the few animations i've ever done-- rudimentary but enjoy !

the littlest werewolves...

too early for Halloween..? i think i shall color these at least by then~