Himalayas!

Sorry blog for not posting this past month. My head has been in the Himalayas as I prepare for the Everest Basecamp trek! After heaps of preparation I'm off tomorrow with my wife. If you want to travel with us (metaphorically) then follow this link...2 Reason Trek. See you in a month!

Catz

Sometimes I create an illustration that develops a backstory in my head as I draw...this is one of those illustrations. The backstory usually begins and ends in my head but this time I wrote it down and I'm slowly putting it together which means it may end up as a comic. So for now I'll claim this as a teaser for whats to come...maybe?

The Infinite Word

The more time I spend in the Bible the more I realise I will never fully understand it! Every word is intricately connected to another and each carries specific meaning and translation in it's own context. I could devote a lifetime to deciphering a single biblical principle and still learn something new on my dying bed. It is this infinite nature that gives me perspective on how small I am.

Early

It seems that every year Christmas advertising is getting earlier and earlier. If I was to put up my tree when Christmas ads started appearing, I think my tree would be dead by the time it got to Christmas, it may have even completely decomposed. That's not to stop me counting down the days early though!

Summer Rain

There is nothing more incredible than the smell of rain before a summer storm. The tar cooling down at my feet and the black sky above trigger so many memories I find it hard to keep track, or keep my eyes open. I can't explain in words what it does to me so I made a mock comic (perhaps the worlds shortest?) to try and illustrate this sensation...whatever it is?

Sail'arrg

It's real cool when you meet someone that absolutely loves what they do. It seem so simple, they really like something and just pursue it with all their heart. This sailor is no different, he lives for the sea and loves everything about it. He put it best when he said, "Sail'ns me life!"

Ducky

There are a few different types of weather that we just aren't made for. One of those seems to be rain. As soon as it comes down people seem to scatter as if trying to avoid falling knives. While we run for cover the ducks (who appear to absolutely love the wet weather with their waterproof outer and feather down inner) play around in the puddles. I wish I was a duck sometimes.

Ted

I found a Scrubs DVD the other day...4 hours later I realized I had'nt moved from the couch! Although it wasn't a productive night, I coupled it with a few ink drawings of the character with the most interesting face and personality...Ted.

4 Wheel Drive

I've just come back from a weekend hiking trip in the Flinders Ranges where I got to test out my new boots. We walked through water, mud and grass. We climbed boulders and scrambled up rocky cliffs. All of this was possible (or at least easier) with my cool new boots which don't look very new anymore.  

Pop Asia

It seems that most Saturdays I find myself watching SBS Pop Asia, an hour long program dedicated to the best pop music videos from around Asia. I don't know why I enjoy it so much but I have a feeling it's to do with the incredible amount of effort each artist puts into making their hair look so perfect. Maybe it's also the cheesy, sometimes nonsensical storylines that follow the music. Anyway, this is my tribute.

3 Style

In an effort to experiment and push my style as an illustrator, I created 3 illustrations of the same character in different styles. It pushed me a little further from my comfort zone and taught me a few new tricks which I'm hoping will add something fresh to my work.

The first illustration was done with ink and brush in a comic style similar to alternate American comics. I was pretty comfortable with this style but adjusting to the bold line work took some getting used to.

The second illustration was done entirely in Photoshop but made to look like cut paper and pastel. This is a style that I always find in Disney and Dreaworks "Art Of" books; it seemed like it would be the easier of the 3 but turned out to be the hardest.

The last illustration was a simple graphite sketch with basic flat colours, similar to the Gorillaz characters created by Jamie Hewlett. I learned something new with each style and look forward to where it leads.

Skate Bird!

I rented a book from the library titled The Fundamentals of Illustration. It had a few exercises at the end of each chapter that intended to grow your skills as an illustrator. One of the exercises was to create an image without drawing, which meant no pens, pencils, paints or any other hand-directed media. Instead they encouraged you to "draw" with paper, found objects and photos. This was a big leap out of my comfort zone which relies heavily on drawing; but I'm happy that I tried something different, otherwise this super cool lentil faced skater bird may have never been created.    

Mystery Traveller

I love illustrations that tell a story, or better yet, illustrations that you can form your own story around. This is one of those illustrations. As I was drawing, I was forming a story in my head. When I say story, I really mean questions. Questions like where is this guy going? Where is he coming from? What's in the bag? All questions which I hope you can answer in your story of the Mystery Traveller.  

Dry Clothes Dry!

Don't get me wrong, I love winter, but when I have to put on damp clothes that smell worse than before they were washed, it pushes me to the edge! It's not all bad though, I wouldn't have made this comic if I didn't have days where I had to blow dry my clothes.

Waiting

The speech bubble was going to say "I hate it when the weatherman is wrong!"....but the contemplative silence seemed to fit how I felt today. Grand plans of hiking, rock climbing and riding all dredged by the rain! It's time to settle in for the winter.

Words

Words are a truly powerful weapon. They have the ability to start wars and to end them. They can be manipulated to change our perspective on just about anything and even alter the way we think of ourselves and others. The words that people speak into our lives cause us to talk to ourselves and question our worth measured against those who spoke them. Words are a truly powerful weapon. So in a moment of a thousand words trying to make their home in my life, I choose to listen to God instead.  

Future Hiker

There are alot of future concepts out there. Concepts for cars, for technology, planes and just about anything...but when I looked for hiking gear there was barely anything. So with this in mind I designed what I think the future of hiking may look like.

1. Solar Fabric Backpack- Made from a solar material that collects energy from the smallest amount of sunlight and powers all of your gear. The backpack also stretches into a tent.

2.HeadMap- A device that transmits images of your map into your sight. It also displays an Altimeter, Barometer (with weather predictions) and Navigational tools.

3. Thermal ReGulator- A computer that keeps your core temperature warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather. It also regulates your hydration levels.

4. Battery Pack- The energy generated from the solar fabric is stored in a super lightweight battery pack that powers all your gear and doubles as an emergency transmitting beacon.

5. Legergy- These straps enhance your leg performance to help you walk far longer than you normally would and aid in muscle recovery.

6. Feather Boots- Incredibly strong, lightweight boots that mould specifically to your feet and walking style.

I hear you saying that the point of hiking is to get away from it all, including technology. Well, it doesn't matter anyway because all these ideas are going to be stolen and weaponized by the military and never released to the public...hehehe.     

Where do they all go?

I'm sure there is a mystery portal that sucks up socks and pens. Whoever discovers it will become a millionaire and probably a Nobel Peace Prize winner...that is if they are not sucked into it themselves. I'm beginning to learn to have just a few good pens and a butload of socks all the same brand and colour.

Winters Here!

Winter is definitely here! I can feel the cold creep through my bones and freeze my fingertips. This morning I woke up breathing steam in my room and searched through my draw, pulling out every warm layer that I have and turning myself into a human marshmallow. The only remedy for me is to grow my beard, drink tea and make a fire.

Procrastination

I've been trying for far to long now to make a comic. I've got all the right ideas and tools but there's just one more thing...MOTIVATION! I get started and do all the groundwork; Then I lay out a few pages, but when it comes down to bringing it all together it all falls apart. The procrastination periods between work get greater and greater until it all fizzles away. So ironically, I made a comic about procrastinating about making a comic.

David & Goliath

The bible is full of amazing stories, from Noahs Ark to the walls of Jericho, but there's one that everyone seems to know...the story of David and Goliath. Whether its a small business taking on a giant corporation or the school geeks taking on the jocks, we can all relate to it in some way or another. There is something amazing about watching the underdog triumph amidst seemingly impossible odds. David is the original underdog and one of my heroes! This is my tribute.

No Dice!

I've grown up in a family of motorbike lovers. My dad restores old motorbikes and everyone else in the family rides them. I like motorbikes to, but I really love the art and style that goes with it. So when I was approached by a friend who commissioned me to custom paint his motorbike tank I jumped right in. The brief was pretty simple, a Kustom Kulture inspired graphic with dice in the design and the number 25. With this very loose brief I came up with the design above. It still needs a few more coats to crisp up the lines and a clear coat finish, but I just couldn't wait to post it.

The Spirit

Us humans are a curious bunch. Always looking for answers to questions, trying to discover how things work and why things are the way they are. We love things that we can see and touch, but what if we were to discover a Spirit. What if God showed us what the Spirit looks like. I wonder if we'd spend more time trying to discover how it worked rather than just appreciating it's beauty and mystery.

Robin

I don't like to pick favorites, but if I did, Robin would be my favorite superhero. The fact that he's just a kid and doesn't actually have any superpowers has always attracted me to him. I posted an illustration of Robin last year, but I feel this one pays homage to his more mature detective side. It also gave me a chance to play with some lighting techniques that were so popular in black and white movies, especially detective ones.  

Veronica Mars

I remember loving Veronica Mars as a kid and now, years on, I find myself hooked once again. It seems just in time with the movie set to come out real soon. I think it would make an even better comic, which is why I went ahead and made the cover in the hope that someone would do the rest...hehehe. The illustration is meant to capture her school life balanced with her undercover work.

Code QR

Looking around, I have started to notice more and more QR codes appearing. These strange geometric codes can be found on just about anything and it's making me question what the future will really be like? The technology around us is starting to define our identity and shape the way we act and behave. Is it making our life easier or is that what we're supposed to think? I have no idea!

Plugged In

A snapshot of the future. That's all I could think of when I finished this illustration. People walking around with screens attached to their heads being fed information all day. Being entertained constantly and removing themselves further from the world around them. It's not too far from where we are already.

New Year Adventure!

It's the 4th day of 2014 today and I've decided this is going to be a year of ADVENTURE! I've kicked of the year watching adventure documentaries and it's got me inspired to set out. I'm not sure where or what I'm going to do, but if I end up looking as happy as this guy, I think my new years resolution will be fulfilled.