Spot Illustration

Just working on some spot illustrations for a new digital Illustration Portfolio.

1 Layout 2 directions.

Just an example of two different styles using the same layout.

ART DIRECTION FOR KICK BUTTOWSKI PART 5

I will tell you, Art Directing this show was a great experience, but I certainly didn't do it alone. I had a great director, Chris Savino and an amazing crew of super talented and dedicated artists that made my job not only easier but a great pleasure. This section was for an episode where Kick is being tormented by his brother Brad. He becomes super paranoid and I thought NOIR! 

So, as Kick walks down the street hearing the echoing voice of his brothers torments I  de-saturated the backgrounds of the street area, added strips of shadows to indicated prison bars, and designed a series of images that were limited in color and shape. The more Kick becomes paranoid the simpler the backgrounds become, until they are just large shapes of limited color. Even as he enters his own room, thinking he's safe the style continues to be simple to enhance his separation for reality. Broken only when his friend Gunther slams open the door, breaking the spell.

 The splatters of color that I thought would be a good idea to show as he is rained upon by couches ( of all things ) didn't quite work when we got the footage back, so they were lost in the final edit. Live and learn.

 

ART DIRECTION FOR KICK BUTTOWSKI PART4

This was the first color script I did for the show as Art Director. I wish I could say I had the time to do this for the rest of the season, but I didn't. Time just wouldn't allow it. It was nice to be able to see the show simplified into large color areas. The great thing about this episode was that it was over the course of the day, including sunset, and finally night that made it possible to bring a great variety of color. I painted the background on the bottom that was designed by Tim Allen.

ART DIRECTION FOR KICK BUTTOWSKI PART 3

This episode took place entirely in a go-kart park. Originally, the backgrounds were designed with real trees and bushes, but to create more of an artificial look I suggested they should all look like they were cut out of wood, and propped up. I also created an artificial grass texture made of dots to sell the idea even further.
The two pages of Art Director notes refer to the opening scene, ( the idea being, we didn't want it to be obvious that they weren't real race cars.) The series of"red faced" kicks with the bomb explosion, is when kick gets the news that his older brother, Brad is in charge of the go-kart park.

The second page shows notes for Kicks body being pumped full of adrenaline for the big race. We found a great example of something similar on youtube and used it as a starting point for our kick version.  I've included the kick body interior that I did for the scene.

ART DIRECTION ON KICK BUTTOWSKI PART 2

Here are two examples of pages I sent to our studio in Canada to visually communicate  effects I was looking for in specific episodes.

ART DIRECTION ON KICK BUTTOWSKI PART1

I had the greatest experience last year as Art Director on Kick Buttowski for Disney XD. Not only was it a great, talented crew, but I was given a lot of creative freedom to experiment. This episode found the two main characters Kick and Gunther in a water park and surrounding areas. The fun part for me was that the episode was basically broken up into 6 areas, allowing me to give each location is own color palette. I find it really exciting to be able to bring color into storytelling. It's subtle in the final version of the cartoon, but I think the strong design of each area in addition to the varied color we gave each scene made for a nice overall look.

I started with a color script that gave the basic shapes of each important scenes. After I was happy with the color I was able to bring that to the background painters and direct them in creating the finished backgrounds.

More visual development

yet again, some BG's I designed and painted for a pilot that never went to series.

"The Awesome Chronicles of Manny and Khan"

These are some bg's I designed and painted for a pilot at Cartoon Network that never went to series.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

These are some character designs I did quite a few years ago for a project that seems to have disappeared. Still, I don't think I can tell you what the name of it is...

In Progress

Trying something new. This is a piece in progress, done in Illustrator that combines the rendering with the pencil drawing. Going to try and get as much texture as possible, and keep the image dark.

GREAT DIRECTION

I got some great comments from a very talented friend that made all the difference to this piece. His suggestion? Make the problem bigger and the solution smaller. BRILLIANT! gave it that extra something. Thanks Chris.

A New Direction

Trying my hand at doing some more illustrations in adobe Illustrator. I would like to stay true to the style that I have established already with the work I do in Acrylic, but want to give it more of an edge and push the color. I would love to hear any comments you have

a couple more kicks