For those of you who have been following me for a long time, you may remember the “Cats Are Aliens” doodles I did on napkins or perhaps you have seen them popping up on Instagram. I found those drawings, scanned them and gave them some new life. I’ll continue to collect them here in this gallery as I finish each one. Enjoy!
Author Archives: sketchbookjack
¡Lucha, Otra Vez!
¡ It’s Lucha time! For those of you that remember the Lucha Libre characters I posted a while back: here are a few of the fighters in full glory, depicted as retro advertisement posters you might see stapled, or stuck with chewed gum, to a telephone pole. Forgive me; my Spanish is a little rusty so if anyone would like to act as a proof reader or suggest slogans and phrases that should be on here, by all means, let me know! Otherwise, enjoy, and don’t forget to get tickets to the next fight to see your favorite wrestler.
¡ I also have a grammar and etymology trivia question! ¿Why does the Spanish language use an upside down exclamation point and question mark before and after the sentence? ¿And why not for periods and other punctuation? ¿Is it only to warn you that a point of excitement is about to come? ¿What if the first half of your sentence is not a question but the second half is?
Happy Pi Day Albert Einstein!
How awesome is that? Albert Einstein’s birthday (March, 14th, 1879) and Pi Day (3.14) are on the same day? The only thing that would be better would be if his birthday was on 299,792,458 (speed of light) day, but I don’t think that occurs, ever. I think we should celebrate by cracking the code to marrying relativity and quantum theory together. Well, let’s just start with having a piece of pie; that seems more manageable for today. So, for all you math and science fans out there here are two wallpapers for you. Just click to get the full resolution and then you can save it to your device.
optimized for iPhone 5
Optimized for Ipad (landscape and portrait)
The Daily Mobster
After being away for a little while, The Daily Mobster has started up again with new gangsters! The stories and characters are ever growing. Be sure to head over and follow along and don’t be afraid to share! Just for fun, I have compiled all of them together below, so please enjoy!
Visual Effects: Drowning in Green
What “Life of Pi” looks like before the visual effects are added.
It was hard not to notice all the green yesterday as avatars, profile pictures and memes cascaded across the web. Some of this has left many confused and even to those inside the film and computer graphics industries, the full story has yet to really show itself.
Why so much green? The green is to symbolize the chroma key green color that is seen on film sets otherwise known as greenscreen (or in some cases bluescreen) which will later be removed and replaced with the glorious visual effects you see in the final film. Consider it the pink ribbon of the visual effects industry.
That’s great, but what does it mean? The story starts a long time ago, but has really gained traction with a culmination of events, solidified by the Academy Awards this past Sunday night. The oscar for “Best Visual Effects” went to “Life of Pi.” The amount and quality of work completed for this film is simply astounding and many people do not know that the tiger (who could be considered a lead actor) is entirely digital in many of the film’s sequences. A real tiger was indeed used, but the majority of the shots contain tiger created after the fact by visual effects artists. Much of the film was also filmed on a sound stage in a small pool surrounded by greenscreen, meaning the ocean and skies you see in the film are created by visual effects artists. The awarding of the oscar was a bittersweet moment for the industry because, although it is most well deserved, there was another event happening outside the Academy Awards on Hollywood Blvd and in El Segundo, where Rhythm & Hues, the company who created much of the visual effects masterpieces is based. While being given the most prestigious award in the film industry, Rhythm & Hues is simultaneously going through bankruptcy as have other visual effects houses in recent past (Digital Domain, based in Venice, CA, went from public IPO to bankruptcy in less than 10 months. Pixomondo, winning of the Academy Award for “Hugo” closed it’s London and Detroit offices). The other event, nearly 500 protesters comprised of current and ex-employees of the visual effects industry gather outside the Academy Awards to make their voice known and hardly a word was mentioned inside the awards. The visual effects community is especially upset by the cutting short (coincidence or not) of Bill Westenhofer’s acceptance speech, just as he was mentioning Rhythm & Hues, ironically to the tune of the “Jaws” theme.
“Alice in Wonderland” before visual effects are added.
How can this be, that these companies win awards but are struggling to stay afloat? The problem is multifaceted but it comes down to several different points. Firstly, the chief complaint is about government subsidies and tax incentives being handed out by states, provinces and countries to attract the film industry to those areas. In some cases, upwards of a 30 percent kickback is given to the film studios for bringing their work, meaning for every dollar spent they will get 30 cents right back. This ultimately means the companies based in areas that do not have these incentives are finding it nearly impossible to compete when the competition can offering their services, instantly, at 30 percent less. This also does not include any currency and economic benefactors that are inherent in cross border competition. These incentives have led to a bidding war between companies into staggeringly low prices; in some cases companies will even take on work at a loss just to get work in the doors. Most importantly here, the visual effects house does not see this kickback, the parent client (film studio) does, meaning the visual effects houses foot the cost of relocating or building new services, equipment and talent in order to help the client take advantage of the incentives. Another tragic aspect of the incentives is that they are not permanent, so when they expire or a new elected official ends them, it causes strain and turmoil for the companies that once survived because of them. Also, take note, these incentives are government based and are often times ravaging the local taxpayer. Have a look at what happened to West Palm Beach and more recently the release of documents regarding Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, The Hobbit and the government/taxpayer of New Zealand.
The second factor is that the visual effects community is the only sector of the film industry that has not unionized. Writers, editors, gaffers and the like have all unionized over the years to help gain collective pull with the studios, provide health care benefits when out of work and work to stabilize wages and terms. Some argue that a union is what is needed for the visual effects community to gain them a collective voice and bargaining terms while others say it would put additional strain on the already struggling visual effects houses causing them to lay off more workers or close their doors faster if they can’t meet the demands of a union. A union may help benefit the workers in the long run but it won’t stop outsourcing and other governments’ incentives.
Another facet is the business model of the visual effects industry, and this is a big one. Traditionally, visual effects has been a work for hire service in which they receive payment for each project they complete, much like an independent contractor. With the increased demand for visual effects by the film studios, the rise of more visual effects houses and the obstacles listed above, the profit margin for this work is often as low as 5 percent, and sometimes at a loss in desperation to get work in the door. There is the old trope of “Do you want it fast, cheap or good? Pick two,” which illustrates that having all three, something usually suffers. The film studios are demanding all three. Production schedules are often a fourth of the time they were ten years ago, the price wars are well documented above and in other articles, and in order to win an award it had better be the best of the best. From the film studio’s eyes, they achieved all three; just look at “Life of Pi.” It’s fabulous and is making nearly a billion dollars world wide. But if we have to pick two, where is the point of failure? The visual effects house is the point of failure and we see them closing or downsizing all the time. The business model of visual effects is broken, in part because the profit margin is so low, but because they do not own any of this content they produce. Visual effects houses do not receive any royalties or residuals like actors or directors every time a ticket sells, the film is played on TV or a DVD is sold despite, in some cases, creating more than sixty or seventy percent of the imagery onscreen (Think “Avatar”). The elder head of Benjamin Button was entirely cg, the head of young Jeff Bridges in “Tron: Legacy” was entirely cg, Richard Parker (the tiger in “Life of Pi”) was entirely cg in many shots of the film, Gollum from “Lord of the Rings” is entirely cg and yet these companies get no residuals as an actor would. If they received residuals or created/co-produced their own content perhaps their visual effects overhead would be backed by other income.
“Lincoln” before some visual effects are added. Visual Effects is not only reserved for big blockbuster action films with monsters and robots.
All ten of the top ten grossing films are considered “visual effects films” and ALL of this year’s Academy Award nominees for “Best Picture” contained visual effects (Yes, including “Amour”, “Django: Unchained” and “Lincoln”). Even when a film’s story is questionable, nonexistent, or the acting is sub par, the return on ticket sales of visual effects movies is nearly always a guarantee; just look at the box office results. All of this comes down to the fact that the demand for visual effects has never been higher and the films containing them, more profitable, and yet visual effects houses flounder, drowning in greenscreen, laying off hundreds of workers and closing their doors. This is not about demonizing one country and their workers, it is not about making the film studios out to be faceless money hoarders, but rather collecting the visual effects artists together, united, to talk with the visual effects houses and the film studios to work on long term solutions that will benefit all three in the future. Everyone just feel they deserve a fair piece of the “Pi.”
Iron Man before visual effects are added.
For more information please visit VFX Soldier, VFX United, or follow the #vfxprotest hashtag on Twitter.
Happy Birthday Mr. Gorey
(Be sure to read in a slow, grisly, proper voice)
E is for Edward, he’d be eighty eight, I say.
G is for Gorey, happy, happy Birthday.
Read The Gashlycrumb Tinies here.
Feature on Ruffled Blog
Our wedding was featured onruffledblog.com! For those of you who like to keep up with the wedding blogs and design, or just want to see some of my illustrations in action (mostly directed and inspired by my lovely wife) you can check out their piece on our wedding here. Here are some samples of the DIY artwork we did for the wedding. (Photos provided by Arrow&Apple)
Invitation and response card design and letterpress printed by (sweetwaterpress.com)
Hand cut glitter sign.
Wedding program design with wishbone (for wishbone breaking ceremony)
Treat bag design (with homemade salted caramels inside)
Gnarly Gnomie Holiday Tags
Gnarly Gnome holiday tags to cheer up any holiday gift package in the Etsy store!
Funny Winter Animal Gift Tags on Etsy!
I just published these illustrated winter animal gift tags on my Etsy shop. Check them out!
Jouez – Has Arrived
Ultraswing – “Jouez” Album Design Front
Ultraswing – “Jouez” Album Design Interior and cd
Ultraswing – “Jouez” Album Design Reverse
My copies of Ultraswing‘s “Jouez” have arrived; they look so great printed! There is always something pretty great about seeing work printed as it has such a different feel that being digitally onscreen. They have a tactile substance that I love. The music is great too, so if you like gypsy jazz in the style of Django Reinhardt be sure to check out Ultraswing; they have worked really hard to putting this album together and I listened to it on my drive up to the north valley this weekend and the tracks are wonderful. You can have a look at flat, larger versions of the covers from an older post here.
Jouez!
Ultraswing – “Jouez” – Album Front
Ultraswing – “Jouez” – Album Reverse
Ultraswing, the UK gypsy jazz band has just released their next album, “Jouez,” for which I did the album art work. This was a great project to work on, especially for developing some fun characters, interesting vignettes and scenes. They wanted to go with the idea of a speak-easy style jazz club featuring the full ensemble as well as all the characters that go along with that type of lounge. As soon as I receive my copies in the mail, I will be sure to post some photos of the product as well. There are interior panels and the disc itself, as well. If you like jazz, and especially gypsy style jazz, in the vein of Django Reinhardt you should certainly check them out and give them a listen; plus, they are super cool cats.
Where are you?
I am sure you are wondering where I am, or at least why I haven’t been posting much lately. I have had my hands quite full with a few projects that I hope to post results for very soon. Aside from trying to close out “The Island and the Plough” and shop it around to a few potential distributors I have been working on the next book as well as some super cool commission projects. I will be doing the album art for Ultraswing, a UK gypsy jazz band. They decided they wanted a little change of pace from their prior albums and wanted a full black and white illustration spread. Once they are ready to release on their website I will begin posting some images soon. All I have to say right now is that this was a really great project, creating some awesome little characters and vignettes and had a lot of fun. Can’t wait to show it off.
Waiting? Lonely?
Leila waits for Papa to return home to the island in “The Island and the Plough”
Hello all. For those of you have been following for a while and know of “The Island and the Plough” have probably been wondering where this book is and when it is going to be released. Things are going a little slower than planned in terms of getting it printed at a reasonable price so I am trying to coordinate the printing process to provide the best quality for price. I am glad to say, however, that I have proof prints in hand and they look great! I have showed them to the people who helped me complete this project and everyone thinks it’s a great little piece and I am very excited to start getting it into people’s hands.
Stay tuned for updates, and of course, more art of other sorts.
Poor Leopold Angler
Poor Leopold Angler, suspended for something he probably didn’t do.
Illustration Friday: “Suspend”
Want to know more about Leopold Angler and his brother? Find out some more here.
Mobsters Hide Here
Over at The Daily Mobster, seems “Fraidy Freddy” has attracted some visitors. Never fear fugitives looking for witness protection, you are welcome here, and free to hide out as long as need. You may even find yourself having fun bowling.
