Sketchbook Spreadventure

Here's a sketchbook spread from last year. I find I'm attracted to sketching mostly real things like buildings and people more and more...it seems easy that way. Less thought more drawing. Sometimes it's worthwhile to inject some random out of the brain doodles into the creative routine, just to make sure the noggin is still working. Good ideas often ensue.

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Michael Cho Sketches

If you're looking for some retro-inspired brush work sketches, check out the work of Toronto cartoonist Michael Cho. He throws down some serious two tone gouache and ink works with some really well planned out interplay between light and darks. His style looks great with comic book characters and action heroes, and also brings to mind illustrations for paperback novels in the 50's. His best work includes more detailed renderings of Toronto's back alleys, to be published as a collection in an upcoming book from D+Q later this year.

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Print Portrait

This old print always pops into my head now and again...it didn't really turn out the way I wanted, but really probably better. Everything went wrong and there was some fixing up but the spontaneous accidents made it way more interesting. It's like Jackson Pollock used to say that there are no accidents in painting. Done during my do anything on top of old comic book pages period, and featuring a great pose, it's a real keeper

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Great Google Graphics

 Aside from being a powerful search engine, and ignoring its current omnipresence makeover, a cool thing about Google is never knowing how the logo will surprise you. Since for many the Google homepage means the start of their day, the creative methods of incorporating artwork into the standard logo can really set a tone of creativity. Usually the graphic is changed up to mark a special occasion or event, though sometimes a new one just seems to pop up out of nowhere.

There are probably exhaustive archives from day one and huge groups of followers who track every version, but here are a few of my recent favourites. A Houdini version, done in the classic magic show poster style, an interactive version to do some deep sea diving in honour of Jacques Cousteau and Jim Henson's 75th birthday graphic, a wacky assortment of Muppets and buttons that do who knows what

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Dictator-less 2012

As 2012 rolls in and a New Year dawns, millions of people around the world can be happy for many things. Among them, is the sudden lack of surplus in evil dictators, thanks in large part to a healthy thinning out in the Middle East through most of 2011. It just wasn't a good year to be a vicious, undeserving, ruling jerk, as we said good-bye to some longtime heavyweights including Libya's Muammar Gaddafi and North Korea's Kim Jong-il. As we cast their repressive memories into the sky, here's to a new year, and new possibilities across the globe.

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Journey Into North Korea

With the passing of North Korea's idiosyncratic dictactor, Kim Jong Il, it might be just the right time to give Guy Delisle's graphic novel, Pyongyang a read.

With its wonderfully simple pencil drawings, Pyongyang documents Delisle's extended stay in North Korea as a director for an outsourced animation team. Through humour and keen observences he explores the unique and often baffling society that is North Korea. With his trusty chaperone, Delisle experiences both the workplace and the "recommended" tourist sites, while doing his best to handle the culture shock. From amongst the backdrop of abandoned half-finished building projects and power outtages, endearing characters emerge...sometimes walking to work backwards as a form of exercise and other times hand-pruning grass in parks as a form of patriotism. Having gotten a glimpse behind North Korea's closed doors, something so few will ever get to do, Delisle does his best to pass on the experience, and Pyongyang does just that, in heartfelt and engaging fashion.

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Oldie But Goodie

Watching the Canadian mystery show Murdoch Mysteries has got me me thinking about how cool the end of the 19th century was. It was an exciting time, with life improvements happening rapidly, and a sense of anticipation. Sure they didn't know a couple world wars and a depression were soon to come, but they had some sweet bikes. Science was blossoming with many time-saving devices but yet to be overwhelmed by automation, electricity was gaining popularity, travel was becoming easier and HG Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Mark Twain were writing away. Perhaps the most striking signs of the time period is the clothing. Women wearing impractical layers upon layers of dresses with decorative hats and men always in 3 piece suits with bowler hats, greased up hair and pocket watches. And people were decked out in these fine garbs, even if just sitting around their house relaxing. No stretchy pants, no t-thirts, just your Sunday best all the time. I tip my hat to the classiness.

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