Funny Cute

Fun time post

2008-07-08T00:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the feedback everyone! This post is gonna have lots of crap in it.

To get started, an uninspired and weird picture!

Try and interpret it! Oh I'm so deep (lie).

Also in the comments of my last post a few people asked for inking tips. I'm gonna talk a little bit about how I ink, but remember that there isn't just one way to do it- if you are looking for lines that are more like old fashioned cartoons, then this could be helpful. Lots of people ink their drawings in other ways and that's perfectly fine too!

So first I chose a drawing to ink!! I chose this one because it's simple and would be easy to ink quickly since it's just an example. Note: I know this drawing isn't great- her elbow is in a really weird place...but ignore that for now!

So before I got started, I went over the basic rules to remember for inking:

1. No parallel lines!
2. The larger the shape, the thicker the line
3. The smaller the shape, the thinner the line
4. The closer a shape is to you, the thicker the line (example: a foreshortened hand coming towards you)
5.Follow the drawing you are inking- don't change interesting shapes
6. Follow the lines through
7. Avoid tangents
8. Use thick to thick lines (lines taper at the ends)
9. Don't round out corners and angles in the art (this is easy to overlook)
10. If you are inking traditionally, flip between the ink drawing and the original art to make sure you aren't toning down your drawing.

Also- and this is important!!!!! Inking isn't going to fix your drawing! If you aren't confident in the drawing you want to ink, then fix it before you try to polish it up. Inking is superficial- anyone can learn to do it with practice. The drawing underneath is what counts!

Here I inked the drawing poorly at first, then did it over again trying to follow the inking rules that guru Fred Osmond taught me so long ago. Also I inked it in Flash, but the rules still apply (getting smooth lines in Flash is kind of a bitch, let me warn ya).

I hope this makes sense! Inking is hard to explain with words.

Here's the colored drawing, just for fun! I like her color scheme!

I think a lot of people assume I ink with brush pens, but I'm horrible at it...on this post I explain my tools!
Also, more inking tips HERE!!

On my last post Ben suggested drawing different types of girls, like American girls, French girls, etc...I like that idea! I'm gonna look into it...for now here are some Russian cutes that I found on a mail order bride site.

A lot of people suggested cool ideas for blog posts! I'll have to get on some of those. One person asked for more theories and crap, so if you are into that kind of thing, you can read some theories in the second part interview with Jason Anders here! Or you can click this weird drawing!

I know not everyone likes reading long winded crap, but I hope some of you will! Jason's questions were really interesting and fun to answer and I almost went off on a few rants. Check it out and then come back and tell me if you agree, disagree, or think I'm weird!

Lets see what else...oh, here are some notebook doodles drawn veeerrrrrry slowly and absentmindedly because I was watching a movie that I was into and not paying attention. Also the pen doesn't work if you draw fast. Does it even look like my normal drawings??

I kind of like Miss Squirrel

OH and another thing! This weeks Skadi comic (the one explaining bush beasts) had a couple of "in jokes" in it, but so far only one has been discovered. Check it out and see if you can find it! Click for a direct link to the comic!

And lastly...I found an old sketchbook from '93/'94, and thought these primitive Beatles drawings were funny, as well as almost cute! Ah, a young girl in love!

That's all folks! Thanks fer lookin'!

Four girls thinking

2008-07-01T03:32:00.000-07:00

An old drawing revisited. Does anyone remember the original of this? I fixed the textures.

I recently did an interview for Disney Guy Jason Anders over at his blog. Thanks Jason!! You should check it out!! I'm not putting a direct link, because he also interviewed heroes Nick Cross and Kristy Gordon, and since they are both amazing you should read those interviews too! Kali's there too along wiht lots of other cool people, so go and read! Reading is good for you! Click click click!

Hey I need some ideas for posts. Anyone got ideas?

Friends, Frenchies, and assistance needed

2008-06-25T02:45:00.000-07:00

I'm excited cause I am working on something new and secret! Actually it's only kind of secret. If you like stories about girls then you might like it. Here are two girls who are in my kind of secret project:

Yes, it is my lovely friends Emli and Christine! They've been on my blog a lot lately. That's because they are fun to draw.

Also Jenny Lerew gave some good advice on a post where I was complaining about this drawing slump I've been in- to draw with a different kind of tool when you are in a rut. So I did some drawings of French film stars using a PENCIL!! Oh wait I lied, the first one is in pen.

I haven't drawn with a pencil in like 2 years. It took a long time to find one in the house.

Drawing with a pencil again was fun. I don't think these drawings removed me from my slump, but I like that they look pretty different from the drawings I've been posting lately. Jenny is a smart girl.

Wow, this one is weird. I'm not bothering to put the names of the actresses because the likenesses are really quite crappy.

That's all for those. OK now I need help (again).

My eye has been twitching for 3 days straight now!!!!!! It's really driving me bonkers. What have I done to deserve this?? Is there a weird concoction I need to make to force it away, or an incantation I can say at midnight? Is there a special eye twitch god who is angry and needs to be appeased? Seriously, can anyone tell me how to get rid of it? I'm going nutty here!

P.S. My hair is pretty long and red now. Time flies, doesn't it??

P.P.S. A new Skadi is up on Dumm Comics, you can see what happens when I try to draw men!

UuU

2008-06-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks guys for such a nice response to my post about generic designs! I was really kind of scared to post something that could be misread. I'm really happy people seemed to get it and had their own ideas about it.

Anyhow I'm gonna plug some important stuff! First of all, if you like art and like to be the kind of person who supports artists, then you gotta go HERE and support Kristy Gordon. She's an excellent painter and a nice person and she deserves this "O-Grant" thing! I'm not sure how it works but you can help her by registering to the site (takes 2 seconds) and leaving her feedback and votes. Anyone can leave comments, but I think you have to be a student to vote. Go go go! Get to it! :)

Beautiful!

Once again here's the link to click to see Kristy's video application and to leave your comments and votes.

And here's the link to Kristy's wonderful blog!

Also my Emmy winning designer buddy Sandra has a new blog!! Go check it out, there's lots of fun there!

From Sandra's art show!

Also, if you like art books GET THIS ONE!!!!! IT'S REALLY REALLY COOL!

Ok that's it for plugs for now! John's been posting lots of his George Liquor character models on his blog, so I took a whack at George...I nicked the poses from Milt Gross comics and turned them into George, or tried to anyhow! I'm not gonna apologize though, you guys already know I don't like drawing men!

Some Sody sketches too.

I did these ones in blue pencil earlier to warm up.

The term "generic"

2008-06-18T03:32:00.000-07:00

So on my last post, Trevor left a comment asking:

"What qualifies those girls in "Altruists" as 'super generic'?"

I planned on making a just a quick explanation as an extra on some bigger post with more drawings, but totally got caught up with the question and came up with a lot of ideas about "generic" drawings (specifically of girls). Here are the drawings he was asking about:

And here are some designs I did that I am much less embarrassed to show:

Also, I tried to explain more on my outlook of the word "generic" in some little drawings, which I'll post below (its more fun this way).

Now here is some less fun stuff...more theories on (dun dun DUNNN!!!)...

GENERIC!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: these are rambling thoughts written quite late at night.

1. What makes a drawing "generic"? There are two different ways to look at the word generic but I'll talk about that later. When cartoonists talk about a generic girl design, I believe it usually refers to the "cute" equation. A generic girl design generally has a big cranium, large eyes, a small upturned nose, and youthful feminine lips. Her face is rounded and nothing is too prominent. Disney princesses are pretty generic (don't get mad at me yet, I am a HUGE fan of Disney movies and can watch 'Sleeping Beauty' 6 times in a row). Snow White may have short hair and a rounder face than Cinderella, but logically you must admit that they are similar, and they seem to set the standard for "cartoon girl beauty." (On another note, Japan has it's own standard for cartoon girl beauty as anyone can see)

2. Where did this come from? My impression is that there are many advantages to using a generic girl design in cartoons. First of all, girl characters are often props rather than REAL characters. Someone for the dashing hero to rescue, someone to sing some cute songs, or the lovely prize who is being fought over by suitors. I personally don't have a problem with this, although I'd like to see more of a variety of girl designs just to spice it up. And I don't mean taking the generic girl design and making her nose slightly less upturned and tiny, or making her chin slightly longer, or giving her a "weird" hairdo.

3. Another reason that generic girls are common- they are pretty and appealing, and everyone likes that. One glance at the cherubic faces of Snow White or Cinderella or Ariel and you know that they are good and sweet. You instantly root for them. Boys AND girls like pretty girls, and the generic cartoon standard is based on what most people find pretty in real life (at least thats how it seems to me). By making girl characters less generic you may risk having to work harder to make the character likable (don't get me started on the now generic "cartoon girl personalities" that can be found everywhere). ANOTHER DISCLAIMER. I know someone is gonna misread this and think that I am against "pretty" or some silly thing. I'm certainly not, I wanted to be Briar Rose as a kid and still do. But I also think there is a place in cartoons for girls who's designs are more specific, just like the real girls in our lives that we know and love.

4. Another reason that generic girl designs are common- Animating is hard. Animating girls is really hard...and trying to animate a girl with specific features must be really REALLY hard.

5. One more idea...the word "generic" can be looked at the way I've described above, but some artists can be unique and "generic" at the same time. You could argue that Kiraz, Sokol, and Frazetta all have a "generic" girl type that they draw quite often....but the drawings are only generic because the artist draws a similar design repeatedly- compare any of their girls to the generic girl I have been talking about and there is nothing boring about them. Check out their gorgeous girls (I die happily inside when I look at these):

Kiraz

Sokol

Frazetta (his paintings break my heart...but in a good way)

I may sound like I have been trash talking anything generic, but in this case it's very different. Frazetta, Kiraz, and Sokol may have a preference for how they draw their girls, but they are each so monumentally amazing at drawing that it doesn't matter. The drawings are beautiful in so many ways that the design of the girl is practically inconsequential. It's drawings like these that make me realize that I DEPEND on trying to draw different kind of faces and bodies all the time...It's almost as though I haven't earned the right to even consider settling and having a basic girl design that I can fall back on. I hope someday I can have an ounce of the uniqueness and skill these artists have. Does any of this make sense??

Wow, if you got through all that, then you must be a true pal 'o mine. Thanks for sitting through "Uncle Katie's Theory Corner." I hope lots of people have their own ideas, and that no one thinks I'm being insulting or presumptuous.

AND DON'T FORGET!!!!
Find out what happens to Skadi and the hapless maiden on Dumm Comics!

Goodnight!

Sick girl huge cheater post

2008-06-11T02:36:00.000-07:00

I'm sick as a dog, pity me please! (T___T)

So my flu turned into bronchitis. Yeah!!! Awesome loads of fun. Needless to say new drawings are not anything I wanna do right now. So you get OLD stuff! But don't despair...as there is a

NEW SKADI COMIC AT DUMM COMICS!
also a...
BUTT-LOAD OF LUKE CORMICAN DRAWINGS AT THE SKADI BLOG!

If you can't tell, I want you to click those links!! I'm sick, do me a favor! (whine, bitch, moan) Also, I have a question for people at the bottom...please read it and and tell me what you think!

First off is some layouts I did for "Ren and Stimpy, APC" from back in 2002 or so. These below are a scene from "Ren Seeks Help."

I need to add that these are off of John's amazing roughs, and also Fred Osmond (our layout supervisor) gave me lots of help on all my layouts. Actually I wouldn't be surprised if some of the lines on these are Fred's or John's and not mine.

Another "Ren Seeks Help" scene

This title card for "Firedogs 2" is based off of an amazing Eddie Fitzgerald storyboard drawing.

I wish I had Eddie's drawing, I'd love to post it here! Man, I have hardly anything from working on this show. Note that the famous Ralph signed my layout!!

Here are some super generic girls I did for "Altruists."

Girl with beaver-tail bikini.

Girl with buttless chinchilla coat (the author does NOT approve of chinchilla coats by the way!! See HERE).

These aren't from any specific project, just drawings I like that I did during and after APC.

Wow my stuff was different back then. These next ones might be from 2003?

Kali is right, drawing on colored paper is fun!

I like some of my old drawings more than the ones I do now.

Wow, I really have hardly anything from any of the projects I've worked on. I tried digging up some stuff from the Weird Al video I worked on, but John has everything and I never got copies!

This drawing above is actually a mix of my drawing and John's.

OK!!!!!!!!!! This is where I need your guys' help!!! I need money right now so I was thinking of selling some crap. I recently dug up about 30 or so inks that I did from 2002-2004. Here are two questions:

1. Will people buy them even though they're just inks? They're not perfect- some have white-out, paper wrinkles, etc.

2. I have a whole bunch of them, so if I DO sell them, should I sell them in bunches? Like in packs of 5, or 10?

Here are some examples of the inks I want to part with.

What do you guys think?? Is it worth the hassle of doing the eBay thing? Does anyone want stuff like this? Sell them individually or in groups??

Please leave your opinions, and let me know what you think of my old stuff too!

Thanks guys!
*cough*

THANKS GUYS!

2008-06-04T03:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for the nice response on my Forestland post! To tell you the truth I was worried to show art that was old, but now I am actually getting interested in the project again! I really appreciate all the kind comments.

ALSO!!!!!!
(read this part!)

I'm being better about responding to questions in the comments! I responded to questions on the Forestland post, so check it out if you left me a question!

ALSO!!!! MORE BIG NEWS!!

Luke and I have started a BLOG specifically for our Skadi comic, so please check it out! We'll be posting roughs, designs, rejected ideas, color theories, backgrounds, etc. Check it out and leave a comment!

click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click click

ANNNNNNNNNND

of course...

it's WEDNESDAY! Click for a new Skadi!

Forestland

2008-05-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

*EDIT*
It's Wednesday so head over to DUMM COMICS for a new cartoon! Do it, do it!
Here's a old Skadi drawing to go along with the Forestland theme.

So for those of you who don't know...Forestland was a cartoon idea my boyfriend Luke and I came up with a loooong time ago. It started as a project that we were trying to develop ourselves on Cartoonretro.com, until some studios started to show interest. It didn't work out as a pilot or anything, which is probably good because I don't really think either of us were ready for our own show (and I still don't think I am). I'd love to make a short someday with these characters though.

Here is Smek with her sisters Feebee and Doodltote. This is a new drawing...I'm out of practice drawing them, so they got kind of generic.

OK!!! WARNING TIME!

Below is some really old stuff...please be kind!
These drawings were for our story bible that we showed around, probably from around 2003 or so.

LIL' SMEK

So Smek is the main character of the show...she's like a good natured but feral child who doesn't have anything to do all day but run amok in the forest. I designed her but Luke drew the BG above (he also came up with the names 'Smek' and 'Forestland').

Theres no school in Forestland so most of the characters are pretty dumb.

Smek is active...she's a tomboy type who will act on whatever urge she is having at the time, be it to prod something mysterious or poke you in the ear or make a weird loud noise.

Lil' Smek is also brave and will eat anything, so long as it doesn't have little hairs and seeds all over it (like much her creator, Smek hates strawberries). She loves to eat rocks and dirt and onions.

DIMJIM

Drawing by Luke!

Dimjim is Smek's second in command. He's a real little shit, you know the type. All his teeth are mangled from other forest kids punching him in the mouth.

While Smek finds herself in trouble by being overly curious, Dimjim gets into trouble by being a little jerk. He's one of the smallest creatures in Forestland but he makes up for it with his huge tantrums and evil tricks he will play on you. He secretly looks up to Smek and will put up with whatever poking and prodding she pesters him with. Sometimes he does the noble thing and looks for someone smaller to pick on.

DULMAR

Drawing by Luke!

Dulmar is Smek and Dimjim's biggest fan and is extremely loyal to them. Dulmar isn't very bright or nice smelling but he's a good commodity to have around because he's the only one big and strong enough to get them out of trouble. Dulmar trusts his trouble-making friends completely and will do whatever they ask.

Luke's drawings here, too...

Dulmar is forever grateful to Smek and Dim because they are the only forest-folk who don't mind his weird smell. The source of the strange odor is a constant concern and mystery to Dulmar. Smek thinks it has to do with him residing under a woodchuck tail for a home, but Dulmar firmly rejects this idea as nonsense.

These are Luke's too...I really can't draw this guy...

One thing Dulmar has going for him is that he is the only even tempered and pleasant character Luke and I made for this project.

Smek and Dimjim encounter Dulmar for the first time

SMEK'S SISTERS

Smek also has two sisters. Her older sister is FeeBee, who is everything Smek isn't- polite, girly, and well groomed. FeeBee has made it her job to help all the misguided creatures of the forest, including her sister. FeeBee isn't a snob on purpose, it just comes along with being the cutest thing in the forest.

FeeBee is so adorable and easy to love that even the animals are constantly asking for her hand in marriage. She's always nice about turning them down. "Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Beaver but I can't marry you! I'm SO flattered that you would leave your wife for me! It's so thoughtful!"

Not much is known about Smek's younger sister Doodltote other than that she has a strong affinity for bees. She wears a little dried up bee carapace instead of clothes, and can even will the wings to fly her around sometimes. She can communicate with the bees of Forestland by doing a frenzied little bee dance.

We had a lot of stories and ideas written up and my two favorites involved these characters:

Retarded tree by Luke, little friends by me

The Stupid Tree! Every forest has it's "wise old tree" that gives smart advice and reminds you of your favorite grandpa. Forestland has a stupid tree as well! He tries his best to provide inspiring anecdotes and age-old knowledge to the young innocents of Forestland, but always ends up furthering everyone's misery instead. He's also an angry stupid, and gets flustered easily. He's always babbling to himself and getting leaves in his mouth.

By Luke of course

Another character is this nasty old frog who has the hots for FeeBee. He's completely repulsive and shameless as well.

One day this comely prince shows up to Forestland and sweeps FeeBee off her feet. Who could this handsome stranger be??? Does he have a secret past?

OH I guess I should add that Smek and her pals are like tiny little people. And they live in a forest! Like Smurfs only their mushroom houses don't burn down every other episode.

Here are the very first drawings of Smek. Looking at these now I want to make the current Smek design way weirder! I like her strange proportions and that weird hat!

Those designs came about after I'd gone through a weird phase of drawing weird noseless fairy girls (2002?).

And before THAT was the real start of Forestland, when I was working on a retarded little project I was calling "Root Fairies." I don't remember anything about this idea except that the main fairy granted punishment instead of wishes. I don't know if roots had anything to do with this idea. These things are really old, 2001 perhaps.

WELL THATS IT!
I hope you guys liked this post, I hope someday I can do something with this project. I gotta learn a lot more though if I'm gonna do a short on my own. For good measure here are some more Smeks, drawn with markers before we'd figured out her color scheme.

Thanks fer looking all the way to the bottom! I love you!

Forestland alert

2008-05-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

Here's FeeBee being a floozy.

GIANT FORESTLAND POST COMING NEXT WEEK!
Please come back and check it out!

Even MORE Flash inks and Skadi

2008-05-20T23:57:00.001-07:00

If you've been checking my blog for a long time you might recognize this drawing...it's an old one! I always kinda liked it though so I finished it up in Flash. I based the colors off of the hillbilly drawings I did lately...I liked those colors a lot but they lose their warmth on the computer, don't they?

OH YEAH! It's Wednesday which means a new Skadi comic at DummComics.com. Please check it out!

Here is the rough for this weeks...I drew this right into Flash, although most the roughs are on paper. These drawings are SUPER rough, I hope they won't turn people off. I have to draw really fast when coming up with ideas or I'll forget stuff and get unexcited.

Here it is after I gave it to Luke, and he fooled around with the poses, backgrounds, and overall layout.

After we get a layout we like, we decide on colors (usually Luke is in charge of colors, although I helped out with this week's comic), and then I draw and ink and color the characters, while Luke goes crazy on the backgrounds. Well that's it! I hope you liked these drawings, feedback is always welcome and appreciated!

(go on, do it...)

P.S.
Some people asked questions in previous posts, and I've only now just gotten around to answering them. Sorry I'm always late! If you asked me a questions before, go check ! Thanks!

Flash cleanups and more Skadi

2008-05-14T03:01:00.000-07:00

I got a Cintiq!! I'm still in my drawing rut, but now all I wanna do is clean up old drawings. Here are some that I inked in Flash! I hope you like them!

Dance dance dance boogie boogie

I'm not all the way used to doing this yet. I want to get a printer so that I can print out these Flash inks and color them in marker, or maybe even try to paint some with washes or something. Can you buy printer ink that won't smear when you marker/paint over it? Anyone know?

Here are some little friends for you. Each has a different super power (lie). Choose one to live in your pocket and be your spirit guide (you don't have to if you don't want to).

ALSO!!!!!!!! You guys gotta go look at dummcomics.com again, as it's Wednesday which means SKADI DAY!!! Hooray! A second brand new comic! I made a banner for it!

Also, here's the rough for the comic that's up. As you can see, when I draw roughs it's kind of like the equivalent of jotting down a grocery list. Quick and messy (and weird).

After I do a rough, Luke and I work on getting the layout to work together, then Luke does the backgrounds and I do the characters. Fun! Please tell me what you think!

DUMM COMICS DEBUT!

2008-05-05T02:22:00.000-07:00

YAY ITS HERE!

Dumm Comics is a new comic site I've been secretly working on with my friends Gabe, Sean, Luke, Ricky, Fred, and Matt, and now it's here! You gotta go check it out, we've all been working hard!

Luke and I are working on a comic about a barbarian girl named Skadi, and her slave/beast named Diseasoid. This is her:

Here's how the site works...you go see it everyday, and every day there is a new comic there to entertain you! Gabe does Mondays, Sean does Tuesdays, Luke and I do Wednesdays, Ricky does Thursdays, and Fred does Fridays! And Matt is in charge of keeping the site beautiful and functional for us (thanks Matt!).

For now there is only one Skadi comic up, an introduction, but come back next week for more!

I'll be posting Skadi drawings every so often here on my blog as well, so please check back here every now and then! Here are some old Skadi drawings from about three or four years back when the idea was new:

Thanks for checking back, I know I've been bad about posting, but this is one of the reasons why. I've got 3 months worth of comics stocked up now! Phew!

More info and drawings of Skadi coming soon, I hope you like them!

P.S. If you didn't already, click HERE to see the site! And if you are on MySpace, add us as your friend!

HELP PLEASE

2008-04-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

OK, OK, I lied!!!! I'm back again, even though I said I wouldn't be. I need some suggestions from people and I don't want to wait till May to hear what people think.

I wanna make a cartoon art book...I have piles and piles of drawings that I haven't shown anyone and I keep seeing these gorgeous cartoon art books coming out and I want in!

SO

I want to ask people- what are some reliable publishing companies that work with cartoonists? I know there are sites like lulu that allow you to do everything yourself but I'm not sure I have the brain capacity to do it myself. Plus I'd like the advantage of having someone who knows what they're doing to help me out.

Looking at the art books I own, I saw lots of names that I could contact, but I'm not even sure whether it's OK or not to contact people and "pitch" your idea of a book to them. Is it? Is it not? I have no idea. Does anyone out there know?

AND since this is a doodle blog, here are some, which are a mix of me trying to draw how I did 5 years ago, plus Kurtzman poses, plus Moyoco Anno design elements. A weird combination!

Kali did some Kurtzman inspired drawings over on her blog, too!!

ANNOUNCEMENT

2008-04-15T16:50:00.001-07:00

Sorry!! This isn't a real blog post.

I switched from Hotmail to Gmail today, and wasn't sure the best way to let people know. My contacts list was out of date and I have a feeling my email from my new account will end up it most people's junk mail folders.

SO!

If you had my email before, it's still the same, only it's @gmail.com instead of @hotmail.com.

THAT IS ALL

Oh, and this dumb doodle, too.

Taking a break till May

2008-04-10T17:43:00.001-07:00

Hey guys, lately I'm not happy with my drawings and crap, so not having anything cool to post is a big downer. I'm gonna take a break for a while, but I'll be back in May, so don't totally forget about me!