Sketchbook Update: Moleskins!

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Today’s warm-up sketch: W.C. Fields.

I’m always on the lookout for the “perfect” art materials and supplies. Recently Trev Stair’s blog endorsed something called a moleskin notebook (pronounced mol-a-skeen’-a). They come in blank or ruled pages and are thread-bound so they can open perfectly flat. It’s a classy sketchbook complete with cloth bookmark and elastic closing strap. The paper is thin but durable and has an elegant feel to it. It’s the kind of product that makes you feel like a better artist just by holding one in your hand. Their kinda spendy, but I ordered one on the internet and so far I really like it. It makes me want to do drawings that are worthy of the fine paper.

The above image is the first sketch in my new moleskin sketchbook. If you’re looking for a new sketchbook, give moleskins a try.

More Disney Treasures!

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I just read on the Cartoon Brew blog that Disney will be releasing another wave of their “Disney Treasures” series on DVD December 6. The one I’m excited for is “Disney Rareities: Celebrated Shorts 1920’s-1960’s”. It’s a collection of 31 shorts rarely seen by the public. I’ve been hoping that Disney will someday release the educational shorts I remember watching as a kid in school. But this looks to me like the next best thing. I’m counting the days…

Calendar Art

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I’m currently working on art for a 2006 calendar aimed at busy families. Here’s a sneak preview from the “September” page (click on the image to view a larger version). The blank area in the composition is where the name of the month will go. I’ll post more info when the calendars are finished and become available.

Creative Whack!

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I just found this neat link from the blog over at Seward Street. Need a creative kick? Check out CreativeThink.com. It’s full of short little insights on creativity that challenge your thinking, and the best part is they only take a few seconds to read. Just click the “Creative Whack” button to read another, and another, and another,…etc. Great little insights and inspiriations to jump-start your creative process.

Inspired!

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I love sketching and try and take a sketchbook with me wherever I go, always striving to improve my drawing skills. It’s true what they say, there aren’t any shortcuts to artistic excellence. There’s only one long, winding road called Practice. Every time I start thinking I’ve “arrived” as an artist, I look at the work of two other very talented men and I am immediately humbled.

One such man is Stephen Silver. I read recently that he goes to lunch every day with a laptop carrying-case full of various sketchbooks and art supplies. His lunchtime doodles inspire the heck out of me. So I went to OfficeMax and picked up a nice brown leather computer case and filled it with art supplies of my own. The pockets and pouches are perfect for sketchbooks, pencils, watercolors, etc. It now sits in my car, ready for sketching at a moment’s notice. I’ve also stuffed in one of Silver’s sketchbooks for that extra kick of inspiration.

Another terrific artist is Rik Maki. I recently stumbled across his new book, Scribblin’ Away at Mike’s Cafe. I ordered it online and it is one of the best sketchbooks I’ve ever purchased, well worth every penny. The book is a collection of sketches done on placemats and napkins at a local restaurant. They are jaw-dropping incredible!

I’d love to write more, but it looks like I’ve got a lot of practicing to do…..

Phone Doodles

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Today was full of distractions. Important distractions, but distractions nonetheless. To give you an idea, earlier I recorded a two-hour special of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” on Bravo. At 8am this morning I started playing it in the background as I worked. Each time I got interrupted or had to step out, I put it on pause. It was after 9pm when I finally finished watching it.

One “distraction” was a long-distance phone call from an old friend I haven’t heard from in a while. We had a nice chat. I doodled while we talked just to keep my sketching hand warmed up. Here’s a few of those doodles.