Monday, March 29, 2010

I heard a story...



A friend told me that he used to know a man who ate a whole 12 pack of krispy kreme doughnuts for morning tea every day. Wow.

I mean, wow.

I almost need to go for a run just thinking about it.

Makes me want to visit www.thisiswhyyourefat.com again. (Which if you haven't been to, by the way, do yourself a great big hilarious favour).

Tuesday Quickie





A sweet little nibblet for you on a rainy tuesday afternoon. Leah asked me to draw her. Luckily, she is very easy to draw. This took about 10 mins.
She's cute as a button, actually. Would love to have another go.

She's channelling Judy I think. The wide-eyed thing. Its a pity the photo is fuzzy. I might re-work this and post some tidyer sharper images.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Drawing THE woman.




I may have mentioned before, that a month ago I finished a very enjoyable comic strip project for a company. The first job on the brief was to complete a comic of Genesis 3. The rough pencil sketch you see is my original. The woman is scantily clad, thin, beautiful. The final version needed the woman to be ammended. More demure, younger looking, plumper. Hair a bit less "polished". Looking less like a movie star.

My question is, why did I so naturally go for the movie start type woman in this first draft? Yes, she is beautiful, but the more I have thought about Genesis 3, the gladder I am for the editor's suggestions for changes. They remake the whole comic. Now, instead of a wily vixen, she is just a young, new, thoughtless creation. Someone who makes a mistake and pays a huge price for it.

It was probably my obsession with Dan Decarlo that made me do the original the way I did. And who can resist the lure of a Decarlo vixen? Not I, sir. But I must say- the young, stupid, sinful Eve in the final has her charm too.

Unfortunately for us, whichever Eve you like better, they are both sinful, and have led us to sin. Luckily for us, whichever Eve you like better, Christ's death has paid for her (and our) mistake.

Family Tree



Hsien from Youthworks recently made me aware that not everyone has the same insight into the inner workings of my brain as I do. So for those who cannot (alas) read minds, here is the relationships between the characters in my blog. Doug, Gladys & compadre's. Hope this all makes sense now, y'all!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Portrait of a long time ago.




Going through old photos. This is a painting I completed a lifetime ago about someone I once treasured. Kinship long forgotten about. And a photo of my beautiful studio in which I used to spend vast amounts of time.

I don't really let people into my studio. It's kind of like letting someone sit on the inside of my beating heart.

There's not very often enough room, and I feel too squishy and vulnerable.

But in saying that, I havent painted in there in months. If not years. Why? Who knows.
Maybe its time to shake the dust off and let the blood flow back through.
Must first ponder the value of such a venture.....

Pre- Doug 2



Some of you seemed to like the first pre-doug I posted. So until I finish some brand spanking new Doug & Gladys for your enjoyment, here's another oldie. No idea what year this was, and only a vague idea of who it was referring to. A pain long since forgotten, surely. But the theme is somewhat universally understandable, yes?

Ah, young love.

I guess the lesson to be learned here is that the only truth we can truly rely on is the one offered to us by the Lord Jesus Christ in his words.
John 1:7 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Praise God.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Outsider art.





I went to the MCA today. There was an abstract artwork on display by an aboriginal lady (whose name unfortunately escapes me) that the curators were particularly excited about because she had had no exposure to the traditional school of 'abstract art'. Really, the art of children is sometimes like that. I was at a friends house last week and saw a painting on canvas his young sister had done. The shapes were clear, the colour was great, I really really enjoyed what I was seeing.

Similarly, here are some images my 5 year old friend Tom Starky completed on my iphone that I'm quite fond of. Who's to say they arent MCA worthy?

Cosidering the MCA recently held an exhibition of paintings created by elephants, I reckon Tom should apply. Do you have to complete kindy to be a famous abstract artist??

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

training-Wheels Wednesday.




For training-Wheels Wednesday this week I want to introduce you to one of my favourite comic artists, Dan Decarlo. Above is my attempt at a modern homage to his amazing ability to draw beautiful women. If you can get your hands on an OLD Archie or Betty and Veronica comic, oh please do it. And enjoy it.

Incidentally, the redhead I drew was in the end a depiction of satan in the book of Job. The more I thought about it, the more she fit in as something that at least outwardly, promises delight and pleasure....
But of her true essence? Ay... now there's the rub.

While you're checking out Dan Decarlo, check out Job.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Pre-Doug.



Some pre-Doug & Gladys love.
A painting I gave to a compadre.

Its really about the protection Christ offers his followers on the last day.
Rock of ages, cleft for me.
Hide me now, my refuge be.


I do wish I had given him his delicious goatee though. His Douginess is conspicuously absent.
Last minute Jumperpants perhaps?

Monday, March 15, 2010

There's no place like home.





We've been talking today at Youthworks College about love and the family. My lecturer suggested that the day of the Happy Days, 50's 'no place like home' family are over. That postmodern marriage is not based on a “Jane Austen" love for one another, but mutual decision and consent. Commitment for as long as the commitment lasts.

Sadly, I think it is largely true.
Even if the passionate among us, like Dolores, don't feel like it is.

Goodbye grey sky, hello blue.
There's nothing can hold me when I hold you.
Feels so right, it can't be wrong.
Rockin' and rollin' all week long.

These Happy Days are your's and mine.
These Happy Days are your's and mine, Happy Days.


It makes me wonder how God feels about the shift towards family life as the Griffins?

Things I've discovered.



So- while I was doing some character development for a comic strip from the book of Exodus, I discovered that the now infamous Tiger Woods seems to bear a striking resemblance to what I imagine an Egyptian Pharaoh would look like. Not that my drawing looked much like him in the end (first pic), but surely that's beside the point. Creative license, anyone?
Amazing.

Thoughts?

In the beginning....


Well.... Welcome, I guess. If you've never seen my stuff before, then this is a buzz for you, isn't it? I was checking mymilktoof and my love of and fascination with beautiful blogs woke up again.
So here I go.... and here's a pic to start with.
Hopefully I'll be blogging a bit, so we can all learn some stuff about life, God, comics and jumperpants together.

Peace. B.