Sketches of my roommate Tish's cats - Sally and Sammie and George chilling at home. Drawing friends and cats, dogs, mother-in-law is good practice and reference for life in intimate settings.

Art from Robin Hoek

Ren & Stimpy season one episode - having fun with classic adventure tales. Color image is still painting of my layout though I'm not sure who did the final color painting. Pencil sketch is rough layout drawing.

New cartoons on the interweb

Big shot movie star Tom Hanks has a new cartoon on the web called Electric City, a futuristic type of hitman story with eye-gouging, groin punching, and adult action for all ages. Don't let the kids watch it. I did layouts and a little animation. There's a good interview with the director on Cartoon Brew also. http://electriccity.yahoo.com, /ep1-en-truth-or-consequences.html

Oooops!

Sorry about that empty post, my blog won't let me post imagery all of a sudden. I'll try to get 'er going thanks for the puzzled comments. Yeah that's it - minimalism - snowman in a blizzard, very avant garde.

CG version of Conan sketch from Lonely are the Naked. CG turn around model of Chestaclese, thanks to fine work by Ryan Whearty.

Cool shots from classic movies

These are from "Great Expectations" directed by David Lean. Some of the best compositions and cinematography in the business. Also check out Lean's "Oliver Twist" if you have never seen it. Some really cool shots and great acting, too! Maybe Alec Guiness's finest moment along with "the Lady Killers", circa 1955.

Drawing Tips from Famous Smart-Alecks

This is the final art for the project. Drawn in pencil from photos, then colored with markers.

Drawing Tips from Famous Smart-Alecks

Send me a picture of your kid and I'll draw him. This shows a step-by-step demonstration starting with the photographs, then the first sketches, to the final cartoony version. Start by just sketching from the photo, sort, of realistic, to get warmed up, and to know the subject. Next step, try to cartoon-ize a little, caricature as you go. Layout out your final composition with light blue pencil, adding, details in order of importance. Before applying the marker color remember to erase most of the pencil so as to avoid smearing.

Amazing shots from silent movies

All these shots are from F.W. Murnau's Faust, 1926. This movie is one of the finest examples of art direction and composition in cinematic history. Disney's Night on Bald Mountain sequence in Fantasia borrowed heavily from Faust. I strongly recommend seeing this if you can get it on dvd. Murnau also directed Nosferatu and Sunrise. Sunrise is maybe the most brilliant movie ever filmed. You have to see it if you love movies.

Elvgreen

Marker study of Elvgreen. Great color scheme.

The Cow's Lair

Background painting of the villain's hideout, from the Cow episode of Mighty Mouse, 1987. I may have posted this before, but forgot. This one just sold.

Western Study

This marker study of a famous painting was done a while back. Good exercise to pick up some knowledge.

New from Our Warehouse -More Old Sketchbooks

Top of page are sample sketches and recent studies, maybe for another sketchbook in the Naked series.

The original sketchbook Lonely are the Naked will be available again soon. Stay tuned to this channel for more information.
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Contact me at: jimsmithcartoons@gmail.com.

Portraits and Caricatamatures

Hey folks, for the perfect holiday gift, how about a cartoony image of your favorite friend or cousin? For your least favorite, you can get extra pimples or pockmarks. Just e-mail to jimsmithcartoons@gmail.com and make somebody happy for Yak Shaving Day!

CTN Animation Expo

Howdy friends, coming events include the CTN Animation Expo,
Friday Nov. 8th through the Sunday 20th.

Location: Marriott convention center near the Burbank airport. I will be there drawing and signing as well as selling some of my original animation art. Come on down and take your shoes and set a spell! For more info go to: www.ctnanimationexpo.com

Also a children's charity drawing at the Warner Bros Ranch on Hollywood Way, on Saturday Dec. 10th starting at 11:30 AM. Lots of fun and guest artists will be doing drawings for the charity plus other fun stuff. Bring the whole family!

Art Lessons for Cheap

Hey friends, sorry but we had to cancel the class. It will be back later when we can get enough people to sign up. You can still get tutoring from me, if you are in the LA area.

Art Lessons for Cheap

Hey friends and neighbors, here is another way to get to be a big time cartoonist. Stay tuned to this blog. Also you can still get tutoring from me on an individual basis if you are in the Los Angeles area. If I ever get a Skype thingie we can conduct classes over the picture phone, no matter where you are.
The website is: www.kineticsoa.com

Caricatures of Viborg

Denmark

Hey friends and neighbors just got back from Viborg in Denmark. They have a school for animators and cartoonists, really nice, located on an old Danish army base. I was there a few weeks to teach, really just to advise and guide. My fellow teachers did the real teaching such as assignments, lecturing, and such. I mainly gave tips and pointers on drawing characters, composing shots, and storyboard mechanics. The class was for 2nd year students. The class was assigned to make a 30 second animated trailer for a well known live-action movie, using Maya. When they are done, I will post some on the blog or send a link. When I figure out how to unzip the files I will post some photos and caricatures of the students and some more goodies.

Some crap from the sketchbook