Topical Storm
I'm not sure if this illustration is actually true or not. I don't really care to find out. I used to be such TV junkie that I would care who won what Emmy. Now I don't care about any of those award shows. Still, Entertainment Weekly does, and a bunch of other potential illustration buyers. Although I honestly don't think my stuff, as it is, would fit in. I used to think edgy was my thing, but I am more and more leaning towards sophisticated-cute. The obvious market for my style is children's - books, cards, patterns, packaging, etc. - but I want to try to push it towards young adult or even the New Yorker sensibility as well. But those are all too obvious. Gary Baseman does a great job getting all kinds of work for almost every market out there and then even making up some of his own. Using the same signature style he captures both friendly, tame audiences - like the Cranium, and Teacher's Pet crowd - and the very adult weird-o's. Say what you want about his work, he is an incredibly successful business man. I happen to half love his work and half hate it. Then again, I feel the same about mine.
posted by Stephen "Steve" at 10/10/2005 12:11:00 AM
7 Comments:
I like this because it tells a little story. ( I think.)
Posted by gnatish
I think now would be a good time to practice painting John Stewart's mug then. You could back up on this image to reveal the green tentacle as his arm.
Posted by cory!
Sometimes One is too close to One's own work and thinks that others see it the same way as One.
The assignment was to do a double portrait of two celebrities in two frames. Since my work is geared toward the children's market I wanted to make my portraits fit in my portfolio, but still be relevant personalities. Therefore I decided to have Jay Leno be The Giant chasing Conan O'Brien (or "Jack") down the beanstalk. Instead of the Goose that lays golden eggs, Conan has stolen The Giant's (Leno) Emmy Award. Since they are both late night talk show hosts, the time of day had to be at night rather than the usuall daylight. Also in the town below all the houses have antenna or dishes to watch in. I need to revise a few items - like cutting back the saturation on Leno's Suit just a bit, etc. There - now the magic's gone.
Posted by Steve
John Stewart would be a good addition to the mix, but I decided to keep it all in one network.
You kind of cheated on Conan. I mean, the hair is easy. but he kind of has a square jaw that you could have played up a big more to make him more recognizable. Leno is good. except for the purple suite. Do you think leno is gay?
Posted by mandy
Ohhh, that's a BEANstalk --- ooooh. Conan looks kinda scared. I'd like to see Leno as clueless and bumbling, and Conan as fanciful and laughing down the stalk... so if you could go ahead and do this one over, that'd be great. Thanks:)
Posted by cory!
Good idea with the faces, Cory. Actually, it wouldn't be too difficult to change their expressions as I keep color and line work in separate layers and it is all digital anyway. Also, mandy is right about Conan's face - it could use some refinement. I was told in critique that the right side of his face looks better than his left. Maybe I'll get around to that someday.
Posted by Steve