I had a fun book idea that I think we will work on as a group. (Thanks to my talented, beautiful, and creative wife Aubrey who had the idea.) The story is all about monsters. So as a quick contest I want you to design your very own monster. What would one look like if you saw one? I want them all to look different, like in Monsters, Inc. Come up with your own monsters; actually, come up with as many as you want.
We will all take these ideas and make a book together with group illustrations at a later date but lets see what we get from this. The submissions can be a simple sketch or you could color it, maybe you even take it to a full rendered drawing. Just have fun with it, I'm not looking for anything complex, also don't be intimidated if drawing isn't your thing. This contest is more about creativity. The book will be for little kids so don't go freakishly scary, more on the end of fun and light.
Lets have these in by December 30th, 2009; 11:59 PM.
Friday, November 20, 2009
2009 Christmas Story Contest
Alright, our second contest will now begin. We want story centered around the big December holiday or winter in general (while it's still pleasant in our minds - before January and February come around). Make up a story on your own based on your own imagination or you could make one based on characters from your favorite Christmas stories in a new situation. Other possibilities would be illustrating a favorite story or one of your own. This contest is pretty wide open, the stories can be from other cultures, etc. I'm excited to see where we go with this contest. Remember, these can be down to simple sketches if that's all you end up doing; what's important is that you do something today in favor of pursuing your dreams. Pull that shoebox off the shelf, blow the dust off and do something simple; BUT make sure you submit it.
"Someday is not a day of the week." -Author Unknown
Contest deadline: December 15th, 2009; 11:59 PM
"Someday is not a day of the week." -Author Unknown
Contest deadline: December 15th, 2009; 11:59 PM
Drawing from inspiration
Hey talented friends, I just wanted to start an informal list of writers, illustrators, animators, practically any type of storyteller that inspires you. Post a comment with any of your favorites. Maybe it's just the look of their artwork. Maybe its the descriptions they use or the way they bring a character to life through words or picture. Let's have some dialog. If you can find some kind of a link to their work then send that along too in the comment and I'll link the blog up to it.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Aesop's Fables
For our first contest we focused on a storyteller that used common characters (mainly animals) to teach lessons about life. We had submissions from different stories and here they are. Feel free to leave a comment on any that spark some interest.
Story: "The Tortoise and the Hare"
“I chose the tortoise and the hare. Only this time, the hare is wanting a rematch because he lost and so they go to have a rematch and the tension is a lot more... well intense. The rematch is a marathon split over three days, kinda like those dog sled races in Alaska.... Anyways, with each leg of the race, they both try to out do each other, for example: they are about to blow the whistle, the hare who is now wearing roller skates pulls out a rocket and straps it to his back and sneers at the tortoise. The race starts and the hare shoots off. The tortoise simply looks amused pulls out a small remote control, and presses the big red button. A ramp appears in the path of the hare, and he is launched into the air. The tortoise crosses the finish line, followed by the hare impacting the ground.” –Taylor Thompson, Animation
Illustration: Scott Wiser
Illustration: Scott Wiser
“In this fable, "The Rooster and the Jewell" (originally called Cock and the Jewell), the rooster simply finds a jewel and wishes it were food. I tried to take the story further by having him try to eat the jewel. I also made sure the first frame was light and the second dark to enhance the story. Drawn with a quill pen and digital coloring.” –Scott Wiser, Animation
Illustration: Nate Stout
"This picture comes from the tale "The Rooster and the Hawk". In this tale two roosters fight over which is the greater of the farmyard, in an act of triumph the rooster that won leaped onto the top of the chicken coup. It boasted of its splendor until a hawk overhead heard the prideful bird and snatched him up. I used watercolor and ink." -Nate Stout, Illustration and Story
Illustration: "The Peacock"
Illustration: Nate Stout
"This second piece I did because I liked a story so much called "The Peacock" in which it describes a peacock being jealous of the beauty of other birds. It wishes to be beautiful and looses its ability to fly in the process. A little sparrow humbles the peacock when he flies away. I gave the picture an oriental feel to just test it out. I used ink, watercolor, sharpie markers, and acetate paper." -Nate Stout, Illustration and Story
Story: "The Tortoise and the Hare"
“I chose the tortoise and the hare. Only this time, the hare is wanting a rematch because he lost and so they go to have a rematch and the tension is a lot more... well intense. The rematch is a marathon split over three days, kinda like those dog sled races in Alaska.... Anyways, with each leg of the race, they both try to out do each other, for example: they are about to blow the whistle, the hare who is now wearing roller skates pulls out a rocket and straps it to his back and sneers at the tortoise. The race starts and the hare shoots off. The tortoise simply looks amused pulls out a small remote control, and presses the big red button. A ramp appears in the path of the hare, and he is launched into the air. The tortoise crosses the finish line, followed by the hare impacting the ground.” –Taylor Thompson, Animation
Illustration: "The Rooster and the Jewel"
Illustration: Scott Wiser
Illustration: Scott Wiser“In this fable, "The Rooster and the Jewell" (originally called Cock and the Jewell), the rooster simply finds a jewel and wishes it were food. I tried to take the story further by having him try to eat the jewel. I also made sure the first frame was light and the second dark to enhance the story. Drawn with a quill pen and digital coloring.” –Scott Wiser, Animation
Illustration: "The Rooster and the Hawk"
Illustration: Nate Stout"This picture comes from the tale "The Rooster and the Hawk". In this tale two roosters fight over which is the greater of the farmyard, in an act of triumph the rooster that won leaped onto the top of the chicken coup. It boasted of its splendor until a hawk overhead heard the prideful bird and snatched him up. I used watercolor and ink." -Nate Stout, Illustration and Story
Illustration: "The Peacock"
Illustration: Nate Stout"This second piece I did because I liked a story so much called "The Peacock" in which it describes a peacock being jealous of the beauty of other birds. It wishes to be beautiful and looses its ability to fly in the process. A little sparrow humbles the peacock when he flies away. I gave the picture an oriental feel to just test it out. I used ink, watercolor, sharpie markers, and acetate paper." -Nate Stout, Illustration and Story
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