Star Trek Ferengi

I finally got around to finishing another of my Star Trek Aliens series - the Ferengi. Ever since my first little sketch - I've liked this design. Although I have to start paying some serious attention to my color palette. I think I need a more mature color sense. I wanted his skin to be this sickly green. First, why employ human flesh tones on aliens? This is animation - might as well play with all of it. Secondly, I think it gives him a sense of moral emptiness - like he has no blood, no heart. The species is supposed to only crave money and profit, so I thought this would be a good choice.

A Little Star Wars

I've steered clear of drawing Star Wars for awhile - it just seems like everyone has done it. But I was sitting drawing with my son, and he had his Star Wars books open, so...

I'm still refining what will become "my" drawing style. It has been a great help to draw other people's characters (rather than my own original designs) as it helps to focus me on how I would construct them. I still start by always looking for that big, overall shape. I guess that's what made me do Grand Moff Tarkin -

I look forward to finishing some of these and adding color, when I can find some more time...

Native Pantheon

Recently inspired by the PBS documentary "We Shall Remain", I tried some sketches of favorite Native Freedom Fighters. Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse. It's a bit tricky to get a good animation shape but not to go so far as to eliminate their humanity. Not sure how I succeded here, I got to sit with it a few days to know. If I end up liking them, then I'll try and finish them off.

YODA

When Yoda appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, he was 974 years old. He's always been old. But what must he have been like as a young Jedi? I imagine he was pretty wild and did a lot of damage before settling down in mid-age (600?) to adopt the wise old master vibe. So what was Yoda like back in the day? These are just two quick sketches, only a couple of inches wide, as I start to explore. I'd like to return to this idea as time allows.

Life Drawing

A few of my favorites from life drawing, held every two weeks at Fox TV Animation. These were done with a felt tip pen. These poses were held for 2-3 minutes. Fast and in ink - no time for mistakes or worries.

Revised Klingon Design

It wasn't until after I posted the last version that I looked at it fresh one morning and said, "Damn, the perspective is all wrong on the shoulders!" Don't let anyone tell you art is easy. Here's the new body on the Klingon:

LOTR sketches

Some Lord of the Rings sketches done sitting at the kitchen table, drawing with my son, on a Saturday afternoon.

And here is Alexander's excellent sketch of Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn: