Quick post

Here's a couple quick sketch paintings.

Mustachioed Fella

Here is a little in-between paintings painting. Think of it as a sorbet to cleanse the pallet. Sometimes, when I'm working on a real job, it's nice to take a few minutes every once in a while and do something that doesn't matter. That's where this guy came from. Besides, everyone should draw an oversized mustache every once in a while. It's liberating.

Illustration Friday: Skinny

This is a painting that has been sitting around in an unfinished state for a very, very long time. I recently picked it back up, blew off the dust, and started working on it again. I finished it today and since she is quite skinny, I thought it would fit the Illustration Friday topic this week quite nicely. After a hard day of slaying dragons, I hope you too can relax and enjoy a nice peanut butter and dragon sandwich.

Illustration Friday: Frozen

Taking a break for a lovely frozen treat.

Illustration Friday: Flying

I posted the sketch for this earlier, and I added color over the weekend. I might need some more work, but for now I'm calling it done. It seems to fit the topic and the season. Enjoy.

Flyin' Witch

One of today's quick sketches.

Madam Maryn's Crystal Ball

I built this little automaton last weekend for my good friend Maryn Roos. She has an awesome yearly Halloween party, and this years theme is centered around fortune telling. I thought she'd like her very own tiny crystal ball. Hope you like it.

Spectre

I did the sketch for this a while back and I decided to add some paint over the weekend. I thought she could some kind of spectre ghost thingie, but I don't know if that really shows. Maybe she is just some girl without pupils? I'm thinking about adding some stitches on her arms...reattached limbs kind of thing. Who knows? For now, this will have to do. Enjoy.

Fall into Books

Brigham Young University - Idaho is having their "Fall Into Books" Children's and Young Adult Literature Conference tomorrow, September 19. I know, it's a bit of a short notice, but if you're in the Rexberg Idaho area and you want to go to a great conference, this is the place to be. I'll be doing a small workshop in the afternoon. The keynote speakers are Caldcott artist Eric Rohmann and Newbury award winner Lois Lowry. Here is a link to the website with more info.

iphone sketch

I downloaded a little sketch program on the iphone. I think it's called Sketch Book X, from Autodesk. This sketch was the test drive. I haven't done finger painting for years. Kinda fun.

Illustration Friday: Welcome

This is a work in progress. My class asked me to do a demo, but I didn't have anything prepared. I asked them what they wanted me to paint and they suggested a girl vampire. Great. Fits perfectly with the Gallery O' Terror. Then it struck me that I could combine the demo with Illustration Friday. A bit silly but who cares. They want me to finish it in class, so from sketch to what we have here is a good 45 min to an hour of painting. I'll finish it next week, but I thought I'd post what I have before I miss the topic. Enjoy.

On another unrelated topic, I found this photo of Scott Fisher and Gregory Manchess, two amazing artists, at the Spectrum Show. That's my painting peeking out over Gregory's shoulder. Cool.


And again on another unrelated topic, here is Mark Harmon's photo with me. You'd think you could have at least put on some shoes. Jeez.

Gallery O' Terror - Marking His Territory

I think it's time to start working on the ole Gallery O' Terror. To start off, here's a little something I sketched today. I've got to give credit to my daughter for this one. It was her idea. Anyway, enjoy. Hopefully there will be much more on the way.


Oh, and here is a photo of me with Neil, from the Take Your Picture With Me post. Thanks to Jake Parker, aka Agent 44, for searching the National Archives for this one.

Take your photo with me!

So, I really wanted to go to the "Spectrum" show at the Society of Illustrators in New York. Doesn't look like it's going to happen. I'm kinda bummed. That means I'm not going to meet all the cool people I wanted to meet. You know, take a few photos with all of you illustrators I admire. Anyway, even though I can't go, I thought it would still be cool to get my picture taken with you. Come on, you're illustrators, you all know how to run Photoshop. Right? So, here are a few photos of me with my arm on your shoulder. Go ahead and put yourself in there. Make me feel like I was at the show too. Heck, this goes for anybody who read this. I'd love to have my picture with you too. This is the same way I met Oprah (thanks to Stacy Curtis). We've been friends ever since.






If you are going to the show, I hope you have a great time.

Send your photo of us to me at guy@guyfrancis.com and I'll post it.

Spectrum Show

The Society of Illustrators is having a fantasy art show called "Spectrum". I was thrilled when they contacted me and said that one of my pieces was selected. The show opens today and goes through Oct. 17th. So if you are in New York in the next few months, and you want to see a bunch of great fantasy themed art, this is the place to be. They are having an opening reception on the 11th. I'm still trying to figure out if I can go or not. Here's hoping.


Here is the info from the Society of Illustrators website

The Museum of American Illustration is proud to announce an exhibit featuring the top fantastic artists from around the world as seen in the annual Spectrum. Created in 1993 by Cathy and Arnie Fenner to showcase fantastic-themed art work, Spectrum is now the leading resource for art directors, art buyers, and fans of the genre. Selected pieces are chosen by top jurors in the field and images are produced in the full color book printed annually.

The Spectrum exhibit features a selection of over 120 works from both legendary artists and talented newcomers from the last four annuals. Divided into seven categories, the exhibit showcases multi-media works including original art in both traditional and digital medium, video, 3D, comics and graphic novels. Artists include Julie Bell, Kinuko Y. Craft, Eric Fortune, William Basso, Brom, James Gurney, Tony DiTerlizzi, Terese Nielsen, Yuko Shimizu, Michael Whelan, Donato Giancola, John Jude Palencar, Phil Hale and many more. The artwork will be on display from September 1 through October 17, 2009. In conjunction with the exhibit the Society will hold an Opening Reception on Friday, September 11, 2009. Tickets are $40 for non-members and $35 for members, and are limited.

Speedy sketchy painting

Just a little something.

Illustration Friday: impatience

Bonnie impatiently waited...


Warm up sketch with a bit of color added. Kinda lame. I didn't even bother cleaning it up.

Illustration Friday: modify

Dread Barry made a few modifications for his part time job at the mall.

Today's sketch

My friend Mel Milton challenged himself to post a sketch everyday of August. It is a great idea, great practice and a good challenge. I remember a time when I would do a page of sketches every day whether I wanted to or not. I could see a lot of growth and improvement in my sketches. Now days I don't do much drawing just for the sake of drawing. It's usually work related. Not as much fun. So Mel, I'm gonna try to sketch more. I might not post everything, but I'm going to draw something everyday. Here is something from today. Who knows what it is, but whatever.

page O sketches

Here is today's warm up page. Enjoy.

Road trip to ALA

I drove to Chicago for the ALA (American Librarian Association) conference with the fabulous author, Rick Walton, and the amazing illustrator Will Terry.

We drove for a very long time.

And ate very good food on the way.

On the first night we stayed with our good friends Eric Rohman and Candace Fleming.

Eric even let me hold his Caldcott shaped hunk of metal. Cool.

At the conference we met up with my friend and local Chicago artist, Stacy Curtis. Very funny guy.


Met some cool people.

Loren Long

Kadir Nelson and one of my excellent editors, Stephanie Lurie. (Hyperion)

Donna Bray, another one of my wonderful editors. (Balzer & Bray)

My friend Laura Vaccaro Seeger.

Lane Smith liked my book. What a nice guy.

Will Terry signing books.

Will next to some sleeping girl at the park.


Tried to find Oprah, but she totally avoided us. So typical of her.

Stacy. Not pulling a face, this is how he always looked. Can you see why people didn't want to talk with us?

Stacy with Chicago garbage. We can't take him anywhere.

Beth Krommes and Neil Gaiman, right after receiving the 2009 Caldcott and Newbery awards.


More great food.

We wore Will out.


Overall, it was a great trip. Lots of fun.

Doodles

I've been a blog slacker lately. I need to do better. Here is a few recent sketches to show you that I have actually been drawing stuff.

P is for Present!

My best friend is a graphic designer living in Sydney Australia. He often calls me to help brainstorm ideas for whatever project he might be working on. The other day he was working on some Christmas stuff and asked me to draw him a koala. I wasn't in the mood and didn't really have time, so this is what I sent him. We are talking to each other online so this was extremely quick. Anyway, later that day he sends me the fished product. I was amazed he was able to pull that out of my sketch. A bit disappointed that he didn't follow it closer. I your not even going to use my idea, why even ask? He also asked me for a quick sketch of his coworker who likes pirates...no ninjas...no pirates. The sketch was done before they made up their mind. I wonder what it'll look like finished.