IF4Y-36 WINTER

It's been snowing for so long already I can't remember for how long and i'm starting to really miss my bikes. I miss my dangerous mid 80's oil spitting thunder and noise from hell. I even miss my ugly practical black plastic trusty geisha.
I miss being able to lay my eyes on something that I know I never laid my eyes on before.

or something.

IF4Y35 MAIL

tongue, second attempt.

I sometimes miss recieving letters.

if3y34 PHENOMENON

can you do this ? I can't.



procrastinating this morning. I think I'll take this friday laid back. go for a long
walk in the snow, I'm working too hard.

The e-cards christmas thread

Hi fellow viewers. I have to apologise but 120% of my time has been dedicated to work on the 2 graphic novel I must finish before December 2011. Long enjoyable working days alone in my office, listening to music and watching snow fall on the square.
Still, I managed to take some time to work on this year's wishes cards. use them !
I even have a printable version if you want to actually send one, just ask ...

IF4Y33 Savour

That is of course an utterly stupid thing to do and if you even consider trying it you really shouldn't be walking freely in an evolved society. So don't try this at home.

PARIS, France Exhibition @ LIBRAMOTO

Just to let the world know that there is a new bookstore opening in Paris next week, entirely devoted to motorcycles, and I was asked to display some of my canvas work on the occasion. It is in Paris, Friday the 3rd at 5 PM and I hope snow will allow me to drive there ...
All info here

IF3Y32 - Sneaky

This new Intuos4 tablet really brings me back to what this place originally was.
Althought it often does not load the tablet driver if I open Photoshop before I had a chance to give it a twirl on the desktop before...

back to work.

IF4Y31-burning

During the long winter months away from the sun, needles kept her skin burning.


Just a quickie to work the wacom.

IF4Y-30 afterwards

Is it guilt that she experienced immediatly AFTERWARDS ?

IF4Y-29 Spent

A moment spent outside the workshop isn't a moment waisted if it is spent in good company.

I skipped last week's topic (racing). I worked for a publisher specialised in racing for almost 12 years - I can't show anything I have done for them because they strictly forbid me to make any public use of anything produced for them but google is your friend - and this place is for something different.

IF4Y28 - spooky (party)

messing around with the wacom, still trying to esclude paper and keep some flexibility

IF4Y27-Transportation

wheels are so much fun.
Here's my secret recipe.
Draw the transversal axle pointing to the vanishing point. Pop an ellipse centered on the axle. Rotate the ellipse 90° from the axle. Copy the ellipse keeping the same ratio, and distribute them along the axle. job done. As you can see on the motorcycle wheel, the perspective is actually wrong once you reach a wide angle effect, but it will work in most case.
Hell, the Egyptians built a millennium empire without the use of the wheel, you should be able to build a few sketches with a bended one.

IF4Y-26 - Beneath

after last week's horrible failure I thought I'd try something new.


A boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July--

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear--

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die.
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream--
Lingering in the golden gleam--
Life, what is it but a dream? »

Lewis Caroll

IF4Y-25 old-fashionned

Had a very positive meeting with my soon to be publisher in Paris on monday. Frustrating because I only went from train station to underground to cafe to office to underground to cafe to train station, but very promising on the work front.
I hope I'll be able to show some of the work before it comes out in 2012, here, or on the studio blog.

Haven't started the bikes in weeks, I hope the batteries will hold.

IF4-24 acrobat

just one of those days when everything seems annoying and you get this feeling of being unable to achieve anything. maybe it's just a bad cold.

IF4Y-23 Dessert

"the poor man's coffee" was an expression that came back regularly when someone in my family was asked what he wanted for dessert. Always made me laugh. still does and I never miss an occasion to use it myself.
I googled it and it seems like a common expression that goes back to the time of the early immigrants or WWII. At the end of the sunday meal, they couldn't afford dessert or coffee. All they could afford was some private good time with the mama.
My family was modest but I thing we always managed to afford coffee.

About desserts and cakes, it was my birthday yesterday. took the day off and rode the bike all day.





About one year ago my boss would let go the first hints that there would be some changes in the studio but he always said that I shouldn't be afraid because things would only grow bigger and better and I would be silly to worry. I worked hard another six month, doing most of my co-workers job in an attempt to make things better for the studio. Six month later he told me that there were some very good news about new deals and partners and he laid me off but it was all for the best and I would benefit from the change in the end. I worked my bum off during my holidays and the 3 month legal notice to finish as much work as I could then I insisted that we'd discuss the new arrangements about our future collaboration. This is when he had to confess that there wouldn't be a future for me in the studio, just a couple of dirty jobs paid less than ever, the equivalent of one month worth of salary. I still don't know if he lied all along or just got trapped in a bad arrangement himself and still don't care but I was devastated and refused the deal.

Another six month later, I am about to have the life I always dreamt I had, about to have publishing contracts with two of the biggest comic book publishing companies around, with people that do not treat me like dirt and seem to appreciate my work. Even if the money won't be as good for a couple of year and we have A LOT of work ahead of us, I can't really say I made the bad decisions and it feels pretty good I must say. call it karma, luck or logical following of a life of dedicated work.

As I read earlier today, life is a kid's dream made true as an adult.
next kid's dream: Burt Reynold's Pontiac.

IF4Y-22 Atmosphere

IF4Y-21 Star Gazing

Still trying to get some sophisticated colours with the new wacom.

IF4Y20 - CAGED

eh eh eh ...

IF4Y-21 artificial

It's only an old Nexus 3 Roadster, but it comes with an extra set of batteries.
I don't know. Maybe the kids can play with it or something.

IF4Y-20-double

I'm still not familiar with sketchbook and I don't have a copy of photoshop anymore.
I'll buy the creative suite when I get back from the moto trip.
On the work front, I still haven't signed any contracts, but it's almost like I can pick the projects I want to do, stop searching for new incomes and let down the ones I like the less. Sunrise looks really good this morning.

IF4Y-19 Breakfast

The next revolution I will have to lead will be one of colour.

It is 6.30 am, life never tasted so good. A taste of french bread with ham and cheese, scrambled eggs and pineapple juice and coffee.
Another couple of hours to wait before I go meet the gang and ride like the devil.
Have a nice day.

Giant II

here is the complete illustration, to be published in french magazine "chasseur de monstres" (Monsters hunters)

IF4Y-18 - GIANT

This is what I am currently working for a french magazine.
The Giant Robot From Outer Space is actually only the background of the first page illustration. I still need to overdub the 3 teenage superheroes. That will be Monday morning's work.
It is so different than anything I have ever done before it's so exciting. Again I have to mimic the style of the former artist, and by doing so I am learning so many things.
I love my job. being self employee kicks ass. this is the best summer EVER.
I just hope I can find a couple more exciting jobs, nice people to work with, and can finally begin to make some decent money soon.

CHEERS TO YOU ALL.

IF4Y-17 Satellite

my americana

IF4Y17 Paisley

Guess who's the proud owner of a new hard drive, a brand new (although discounted) Wacom Intuos4, Sketchbook Express, and whole new Gimp software - while waiting for his brand new (although discounted too) Adobe creative suite...

IF4Y-16 ripple

Quote from Penelope Dullaghan's email:
"Today we have a very special topic to announce. The topic is "Ripple", suggested by Kelly Light. Kelly is making an effort to help with the Gulf oil spill. Please read below for the details on how you can contribute:

It's hard to make ripples in oil soaked water. But throw enough stones and you will!
(...)
This week's Illustration Friday topic is "Ripple" and I ask you to consider creating your work this week as a small 2.5" x 3.5" sketchcard. The subject should pertain somehow to the Gulf - the oil spill - the oceans and the creatures that live in it and around it.
These will be made available for a small donation of $10.00 to either The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (http://www.imms.org/) or The International Bird Rescue Research Center (http://www.ibrrc.org/). I have no affiliation with them. Every penny will go. When the cards sell, We ask for a donation confirmation and you will be asked to sign the back with a thank you. Then mail them to the address you are sent. If we all do small acts together- we can cause a ripple- and it can grow. We can DO SOMETHING. Thank you, thank you for checking this out and thinking about it." ~ Kelly Light

http://ripplesketches.blogspot.com/

Yeah right Kelly, here's my design, I'm sure it will save the world.
actually I don't really care about fishes and kids in pyjama's, I'm just playing with your feelings. I used to care. now I don't. And my card is worth $10.000

IF4Y15 trail

freebird

Where we slept;