Talking Inspiration...

Not only do the colours of Carl Spitzweg's paintings bring inspiration my way but also the concept gives me a boost. And look (butterfly!) how well that panned out for this New Yorker homage ("The Many Faces of Eustace Tilley") I did last January:

Image source ("Der Schmetterlingsjaeger"): Wikimedia

The Butterfly Catcher is, btw, one of my favorite paintings. Oh, and sorry for posting something old... but I promise to improve with the next post ;)

Update: The same - I'm referring to the colour palette - is true for these characters from a different project (which will never be made, but it was big fun while it lasted):

One-Eyed Critter

Update: I forgot to mention that this fellow was intended, firstly, telescope-eyed. As you can see on the pic right below.

Alrighty, I'm back at work. And in a day or two, I should be back to my usual handsome self.

The Critter On My Desk

We (the critter and I) work together as a good team, ...at the most.

UPDATE:

2^nd Royal Styrian Drawing Jam: The way things are going, the next Jam (#2) will be at the venerable Forum Stadtpark, 2nd floor (1. Stock), "Saloon Lounge", on Friday, March 14, 2008. Starting at 5:00 p.m. (17:00h). Bring your pencils and paper and join us! (Curated by Anna-Maria Jung, Joerg Vogeltanz and the green critter and me)

Forum Stadtpark (photo via wikimedia)

Forum Stadtpark (photo via wikimedia)

The Many Faces of Eustace Tilley

These two steampunkish profilers are inspired largely by Rea Irvin's famous dandy character, The New Yorker's figurehead Eustace Tilley. Withal, the two of them are just add-ons of sorts to my Huck Finn "recalibration" and aren't motivated by some of the figures from Twain's original book.

Timid Jack's Supersuit

The Assault Pressure Supersuit, ProDuck3000i-V2.0

Alright. I've to admit that sometimes, in my job, I slip in this suit, too. Especially to draw ducks. Apropos supersuit, have you noticed that Jake Parker and peers opened up an entire new blog recently: DRAW FORCE !

The Critters In The Trumpet Tree

A few days ago, I had a really nice reunion with fellow animation artist (and magician!) Flaviano Armentaro in Milano, Italy. Right after that I did that piece above with the green critters chit chatting in their tree cafe. (BTW: Tree and characters take part of 'The Recalibrated Fantastic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn')

Bravebird With Helmet And Horns; Zombiebird Portrait

Update: Apropos Zombiebird - 'bird' being the operative word. I did this funny chap some weeks ago (cf. Walburga Potts).

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Pretty life... deathlike portrait.

Egon Schiele

Egon Schiele is one of my fave artists. So it's no wonder that he is a source of inspiration. For finding new conceptions on designing characters, for instance.

The Mississippi River Witch

Halloween's coming up. Witches, ghosts and goblins will be following you. So get prepared...

The King; Legal Ducks

Update: Allow me to introduce... The King: (Through and through inspired by the same-named character in Mark Twain's original story)

And here're the legal eagles ducks:

J. and A. Drake. Lawyers from Duck, Duck & Waterfowl.

Those two drakes are very, very loosely inspired by two real life lawyers. A former elementary school classmate of me and his associate. (Well, they, the real ones, don't look or act like ducks, of course. They just have, hopefully, a good sense of humor. At least in this case...)

Buck In The Tree

I did (am still doing) a lot of concept work for HF Recalibrated. I titled this piece "Mississippi Afternoon Smoothy". (Dear me, Ryan's dead right. I'm posting like a mad man.)

The Undertaker And Humpty Dumpty, 'Recalibrated'

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the King's horses and all the King's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

Well, not here. In Huck Finn's Recalibrated Fantastic Adventures the result of the great fall becomes "the character whitin". (BTW: Originally, I wanted this to take part in the Toby Skybuckle story, but soon it became a stand-alone thing because of its complexity)

Boy, do I post too much? I think I post too much.