Pesto Chango

This pun-based illustration came to me when I was trying to come up with more ideas for illustrations, that, and my unhealthy love of pesto...  I initially started the sketch, and fleshed out the illustration previous to Wondercon in 2016, in an attempt to include it in with the original series I was making exclusively for the show.  I wasn't able to finish it in time, but did end up completing it after the event, and included it in my next convention (which I believe was the Long Beach Comic Con).

The development of this image started first with the phrase 'presto chango', a common term used by magicians.  I thought about the nature of the phrase, and how pesto is literally the altering or merging of several ingredients to create another (simply divine) substance.  How is this done?  With a blender.  It basically wrote itself at that point.  I included all the ingredients, along with a nifty old-timey magicians costume for the blender. I like this particular ensemble, due in part to my ability to give each participant a different expression or personality. It is entirely digital, made in Illustrator, Painter, and Photoshop.

The image is available on my etsy store for purchase here:
Pesto Chango

High Five

This particular pun was inspired by a particular piece of artwork done by the talented Kimber Grobman, who designed a similar pose with a Pilgrim and Native American giving each other a leaping high five for a Thanksgiving project.  I fell in love with the energy from the pose and decided I could utilize it for a work. 
I originally drew this pair as part of 'Inktober 2015' which can be seen here and it ended up being a finished illustration for Wondercon 2016, which I used for my annoucement, and then utilized for a price sheet at future conventions.  It wasn't until a later date I ended up making them available for purchase.

While the image itself was made separate from others, I did use the same color scheme from Caff-Fiend for the coffee cup character.  The pun here is that both characters house caffeinated beverages that offer a 'high', and they are in essence also giving each other a 'high-five'.  This easily became one of my favorites from the series.  It is entirely digital, made in Illustrator, Painter, and Photoshop.

The image is available for purchase at my etsy store here as a print or on a tote bag:
High Five
High Five (Tote Bag)

Smartie Pants

I originally conceived the idea for this pun illustration back during 'Inktober 2015', when I was trying to come up with some ideas for ink-based art I could do quickly to fill the quota for the event.  Smartie has evolved a bit since her initial creation which can be seen here in all her glory.
When I began making more illustrations in the series, I thought it would great to include her.

The pun is pretty straightforward with this one.  I have a smartie, reading her favorite book..."Hairy Potter".  I gave her a set of oversized glasses, and an aloof expression, as she is incredibly engrossed in her book.  It is entirely digital, made in Illustrator, Painter, and Photoshop.

It was originally sold exclusively at Wondercon that year, but is also available on my etsy store here:
Smartie Pants
Smartie Pants (Tote Bag)

Her favorite literary hero is also available by himself on my etsy store here:
Hairy Potter (Pin)

Hard Core

This pun-based illustration was first conceptualized around the same time as the first set of original 'Dementibles' (or 'Just for Pun', which I like better), but I didn't finish it in time for Wondercon that year (2016).  I decided for the 2017 show to complete a couple more because the designs were so well recieved.

The idea for this image came pretty easily.  It was basically a play on several social stereotypes, but I wanted to represent the concepts in the most pun-able ways possible.  I dressed the apple in a traditional do-rag, old english tattoo, and gave him a nifty set of kicks, in addition to some more common survival accessories.  It is entirely digital, made in Illustrator, Painter, and Photoshop.

It was originally sold exclusively at Wondercon that year, but is also available on my etsy store here:
Hard Core

The Rules of Halloween

The concept for this particular series of illustrated typography designs first came to me sometime in 2014.  I was initially planning on participating in Creature Features annual "October Shadows" group show (which showcases talented works dedicated to the spirit of all things Halloween), I figured it would be a great opportunity to do a work inspired by my favorite Halloween film, 'Trick r' Treat'.

In the 2007 film, written and directed by Michael Dougherty, there are four stories which each center around a particular 'rule', that if broken, come with consequences, that are handed out mercilessly by the spirit of Halloween.

The designs themselves went through tireless modifications, reformatting, and more.  It took me around 2 years to finally complete the designs and execute them to my satisfaction.  The concept was to create an illustration from each rule, incorporating the words into a visual design to physically represent it's meaning. Initially I wanted each design to be more of a calligram, but ultimately decided to take a different approach with each design.

To purchase this image, please visit my etsy store here:
Rule #1
Rule #2
Rule #3
Rule #4

Mothra

7/30/16
This original piece was done for a show at 'Creature Features', in Burbank California as part of their "All Art Attack: 2" group show paying homage to Godzilla and the many Kaiju that exist in the genre.  For my piece I decided to choose 'Mothra' as my subject matter, primarily because at the time she was the only female Kaiju, and her background has always fascinated me.  I decided early one I was going to encompass my illustration within the shape of Mothra, but I wasn't entirely sure what it was going to be of.  I rewatched the original 1961 film, jotted down my ideas (and what resonated with me from the film), and began to sketch something out.  I knew instantly that I wanted to include the 'Shobijin' (twin fairies), and also other parts of Mothra's origin, or evolution.  Initially I wanted to capture the likeness of the original actresses who played the Shobijin in the movie, but it proved elusive, and after many attempts, I decided that I should instead create my own original vision instead of a reproduction.  This however, also created another challenge.  How did I want to depict the twins, and to what extent did I want to remain true to the vision of the film.  My biggest issue was, I didn't want to westernize them, nor did I want them to appear as Asian caricatures.  As I worked on their likeness I opted (or tried), to depict them as more Polynesian, since their fictional island (Infant or Mothra Island), was presumptuously located in Polynesia. The piece is entirely digital, with the framed shape of Mothra having been created in Illustrator, and the illustrative work done in Painter, with some adjustments made in Photoshop.

UPDATE 3/26/18:
To purchase this image, please visit my etsy store here:
 Mothra

Anthyding Can Hadplen

6/22/16
This particular piece came to me one day when I was considering doing some 'inspirational' quotes for calligrams (similar to the Willy Wonka piece).  I've developed a particular fondness for this type of work, and wanted to pay homage to one of my favorite animation series that recently ended, Gravity Falls.  The quote itself comes from the episode "Soos and the Real Girl", in which the character Soos, with the aid of main protagonist's Dipper and Mabel, tries to find himself a girlfriend. At one point Soos buys a dating simulator game (that comes with multiple warnings), to prepare himself for the real world, which is a parody of a Japanese style dating simulator.  The quote itself is part of the games intro, which works on so many deeper levels than just a quick jab at poor translation.  The image itself is supposed to be a cherry blossom tree (which appears in the background of the game's intro), with the quote incorporated into it.  The image itself was done in Illustrator, with some manipulation in Photoshop, and Painter.

UPDATE 3/26/18:
To purchase this image, please visit my etsy store here:
Anthyding Can Hadplen