Mandatory Update!!

A few days ago, a co-worker by the name of Joel Fajnor told me I should update my blog. Yesterday, my sister emailed me to say the same thing. Can TWO people be wrong?? Here's an incidental family I drew recently for an episode of the Fairly Oddparents. This particular family happens to be mine (what kind of dad would I be if I didn't put my kids on TV when I had the chance)?

Incidentally, this is the ONLY way a child can appear on national television, without becoming a boozer, going through rehab, and/or getting pregnant out of wedlock.

Happy Halloween!

THE PUMPKINATORPencil Rough

Final Color

I'm trotting out an old one, but this seemed appropriate for the season. This is the Pumpkinator- done for an FOP Halloween special a couple of years ago. At the time, I was drawing almost exclusively on post-its, adding and removing elements to my designs without sweating ruining a precious drawing. I don't do that anymore, but it was fun while it lasted, and gave 3M stock a nice healthy boost.

Anyone who's been faithful enough to return to this blog, after an extended leave of absence by me, I thank you. Those who sent letters of condolence to my family- thank you too, but I'm not dead, as it turns out.

I have however returned to Nick for yet ANOTHER season of Fairly Oddparents- the show that was canceled twice, but just won't die. Say- that sounds appropriate for halloween too, doesn't it?

"Just when you thought it was safe to get up on Saturday morning.... FAIRLY ODDPARENTS 3- The resurrection!"

Ludwig Van Beethoven

This is Beethoven. He was really, really great. He was the Jimmy Hendrix of his day, and just as divisive, too!


This is from one of my first Fairly Oddparents episodes. Cosmo (magic, as he is) decided to put together an all-star band, including Beethoven on keyboards, and Nero on (what else?)- fiddle.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of your blog??

Chinese Lunar Festival (...and ukulele)

For anyone interested, I'll be singing and playing (ukulele), as part of L.A. Chinatown's Chinese Lunar Festival, this Saturday, February 24th. The festival starts at 10:00am, the Golden dragon Parade begins at 2:00pm, and I, along with several other musicians and performers, will hit the mainstage at 5:00pm. I'll be performing about five songs, and it should be a lot of fun, especially if I don't embarrass myself.

We all know what an important historical role the ukulele has played in Chinese culture.


It's a natural! For details call (213) 617-0396. There should be something for everybody!

More Cowboys

Here are a couple more hombres from that pilot I was designing at Nickelodeon. These two face-off, in a macho contest. Purty tough, I reckon...



Your feedback is always appreciated, ...uh...y'all.

Sherlock Holmes

The World's Greatest Detective, what?
(I'd like to personally thank the guy who invented post-its)



(Comments always welcome)

Crusher

Crusher! The name says it all. Imagine being named "Crusher" at birth, and having to live up to the expectations that must create? No wonder he looks angry.

Here's the rough:



And the final art (The "Thanks for looking!" was added when I made him the last page of my portfolio.):

Incidental Egyptians

Here's a page of incidental Egyptians, done for a shot in a Fairly Oddparents episode.

Good Old Days

For the past couple of years, I've been working as the Art Director for The Fairly Oddparents, while continuing to occasionally do character design for the show as well. These are from one of my favorite episodes of that show, called "The Good Old Days". conceived, written & storyboarded by Dave Thomas, this show was a joy to work on, and everyone on the crew really gave it everything they had. While the character designs here are mine, Gordon Hammond shared character design duties for this episode. Jim Worthy did the amazing background designs, and Dan Chesher painted them with remarkable authenticity. Props were done by Frank Rocco. What we were going for, was a 1930's, Max Fleischer look to the show, which essentially (and reverently) spoofed the cartoons of that era. Of course, the main characters still had to look like the main characters from a very graphic, modern show, which presented it's own set of challenges.











Get a load of this background~ lavishly drawn by Jim Worthy, & beautifully painted by Dan Chesher. Trolley, hydrant, & car by Frank Rocco (who else?)



One of the most exciting things for me, was getting to provide the singing voice (and play ukulele) for this character- Chippington Skylark III


Here are some screen-grabs, from the final episode


Here's a frame from the song sequence


Hear the 1920's Icky Vicky song (with me on vocals and ukulele) here!:

ICKY VICKY SONG


Thanks for lookin'!