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

Pure Imagination

This piece was developed for a joint Gallery Show based on the works of children's author Roald Dahl, at Creature Features in Burbank California.  I was not too familiar with Dahl's works, with the exception of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', and only then have I seen the films.  I decided early on that I was going select imagery from the original film adaptation starring Gene Wilder since I remember it fondly from my childhood.  For this piece I also wanted to do something a bit less traditional, or out of my comfort zone, and combine imagery with typography.  I have a love for calligrams, so I decided to take the lyrics from the hauntingly beautiful song 'Pure Imagination' sang by Wilder in the film, and create the image of a Wonka Bar from them.  The image is entirely digital, done in Painter by hand, and I didn't use any preexisting typeset or fill.

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

Spirited Away

This piece was the second of two images I did for Yay! LA (Magazine), and their series Yay! LED (Legends Everyday), an online showcase of several very talented artists wrapped around the themes of Fantasy, Science Fiction, Comic Books, and other Various Media (Movies/Video Games).
As my second selection I chose Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away', a coming of age story revolving around a young girl and her journey into a mysterious realm.  I have always been a fan of Anime since the early days of watching ‘Akira’ on the Sci-fi Channel, but it wasn’t until college that I was exposed to the masterful works of Hayao Miyazaki.  As a budding artist, Miyazaki’s films managed to resonate with me much more than the traditional workings of American animation, with original content and thought provoking stories of human nature. For this particular piece I wanted to capture the essence of Miyazaki’s beloved ‘Spirited Away’, by illustrating key elements, and characters that played an influential role in the story.  Early on I knew I wanted to frame the image in the shape of the paper shikigami, and attempt to visually retell the tale. My goal was to keep the viewers eye moving while retaining the whimsical innocence of the original art style, and manage to interject my own spin aesthetically.  
The image is entirely digital, developed in Painter, with adjustments made in Photoshop. 

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