Chinatown

I've been working up a painting based on the sketches I made around San Francisco's Chinatown.

Sketchcrawlin'

As we move into the summer months I've been out and about drawing all over at interesting locations.

I went to my first baseball game at the impressive AT&T Park in San Francisco-stunning location on the waterfront with the  Bay Bridge and Treasure Island as the backdrop.

I love drawing in the Mission, there's always something interesting going on.  Last time I was there some latino classic car enthusiasts rolled up for an impromptu motor-show.  Even the cops were taking pictures.

I went up north to the Western Railway Museum in Solano County

 Lots of jackrabbits bounding between the old railcars & engines

With animation pals Mark Stanleigh, Jason Spencer Galsworthy & Jamie Baker I drew at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Park . . .

From Golden Gate Park we moved onto Haight Ashbury to draw one of the old Victorian houses

The Palace of Fine Arts, the Presidio

Broadway: no sketchcrawl would be complete without rounding it off at my favourite North Beach watering hole-Vesuvio's

I'm often asked what pens or brushes I use to make location sketches.
My director Ronnie del Carmen turned me onto these unusual pens available from MAIDO in Japantown. They're expensive but offer a great range of marks and line qualities.

Gesture Drawing News

Alex Woo and Louis Gonzales were recently in Toronto to lead a Schoolism Gesture Class. They are also putting together an exciting book project on their approach to Gesture Drawing. Here are some of my latest sketches from our regular sessions.

30 sec-1 min. warm ups

Pushing the pose & extrapolating character

Inspired by John Carter of Mars

 We usually don't require models in costume but this lady had a great belly-dancer outfit.

Aloha!

An added bonus of living in California is that we're only a 5hr hop from tropical paradise The Sandwich Isles (as Hawaii was christened by Capt. Cook).  The pace of life is so leisurely over there a long weekend felt like 2 weeks! Possibly the most relaxed place I've ever been.

First stop Waikiki Beach with the famous view of once volcanic Diamond Head Mountain

Honolulu tourists

 Turtle Bay

The macademia nut farm & Kualoa Ranch tour was one of the highlights. The presentations afforded me time to sketch the chickens and Japanese tourists.

The stunning scenery looked so familiar since it has been the backdrop in Lost, Jurassic Park etc.

In Haleiwa my girlfriend surprised me with a cage-diving trip amongst sharks! 

These islands are known as 'Chinaman's Hat' and behind it 'Turtle Island'

The Polynesian Cultural Centre is a must-see attraction; we spent a whole afternoon there exploring the authentic tribal huts and watching the dancing and demos.

In the evenings they put on a dance extravaganza show 'Hā- The Breath of Life'

So that was my first Hawaiian vacation on Oahu. Next time I'd like to see what the other islands offer-Kuai, Maui and the Big Island.

Boarding the PIRATES!

This week Aardman's latest opens in the U.S. - 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits' or in its version originale-'The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists'

Whilst in Bristol in 2009 working on 'Arthur Christmas' I abandoned ship for a few weeks and boarded the vessel moored at the Aztec West site.  I served under First Mate Rej Bourdages and Captain Peter Lord.
 The sequence I scrubbed up was ultimately forced to walk the plank in editorial but I'm proud to have a credit on this hilarious film.  Go see it- it's a barrel of larfs!

Quick sketch

Latest from Gesture Class. Rapid warm ups- 15 second poses!

 30 seconds seemed leisurely by comparison!

 . . . and some fun stuff with 1 minute poses