Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Did you know....

Hey fellow artists...

Did you know I did a test for a coloring book for the movie "How to train your Dragon" months before the movie was released? It was actually a lot of fun because I got a part of the script where I had to create a drawing from a paragraph that was highlighted. Considering I did not have a character size comparison and just one drawing or two for the characters, I think the drawings turned out pretty good. Unfortunately they were not approved by Dreamworks but here they are for your pleasure......

Let me know what you think

Cheers







Sunday, November 24, 2013

Talk about my girl.....

Hello fellow bloggers....

Here is a drawing I did a while ago for a project that was never made. I had to create a little girl who was a tomboy type. I kinda liked the drawing so I'm showing it off....Hope you like it too....






Monday, November 18, 2013

Moodenstein....

Sometimes my drawings reflect the mood I am in that particular day.... I was tired and grumpy and just saw a photo of Frankenstein so I decided to morph everything together......

I will be painting this on Photoshop so hopefully it will look better in the end....

Cheers........or not... ;)



Friday, November 8, 2013

Animation Reel Update...

Hi Folks!

It's been a while since I updated my reel but I want to show my latest work as well as some of my work throughout the past 20 years. It is has been a fun ride and I have to say I'm not even close to stop. I love bringing characters to life, make them think and feel like everyone else and there is nothing like animation. I hope you guys get a kick out of this video and please leave comments if you'd like.

Thank you!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Oodles of Doodles...

Howdy!

Since I was 4 years old I have been drawing. I made a goal of giving my dad a drawing every night he got home from work. It was not only a way to express how I felt but there's something special about being able to give a personality to lines on a piece of paper. I have been blessed with a talent that eventually became my livelihood. It's been 26 years of character design, illustration and skteches, but the passion is still there after all these years.

So here are some of the drawings that I have done throughout my career. Most of them have a little story behind because they are part of my life. Let me know what you think and enjoy the show....


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

I draw in 2D, but I paint in 3D....




Did you know I'm an avid painter? No...no..not on canvas......Statues and Model Kits...

I've been painting for over 18 years and I have my friend Len to thank. In 1995 I went to visit him at his apartment and I saw a Predator kit he painted and completely got hooked. He taught me a few things but it wasn't enough. I bought myself a Hulk plastic kit and decided to paint on my own. I was happy with the results but I wanted to learn more so I start to read everything related to modeling from Modeler's Resource to Amazing Figure Modeler to Pre-Historic Times. I even bought a VHS video called "Explorations in Painting" by Horizon. I talked to a lot of people in the industry, not only great painters but also wonderful people who were always more than willing to help you out at anytime. People like David Fisher, Tim Gore, Tom Gilliland, Anthony Mestas and many others.

Although I have still have a lot to learn, I was blessed to have won several awards which are proudly displayed beside my work station. I have painted many kits and statues for clients, friends and for myself and I sold many of my kits when things were tight. However, after 4 years of hiatus, this year I went back into painting and back at my workstation which I like to call "My Happy Place"....




A hobby is a great thing to have. I can sit at that table for hours and forget about everything else....no TV, no internet, just a total soul relaxation.............until the kids come over running and screaming while the dog barks at the door because my in-laws decided to stop by for a short visit that lasts 3 hours...

Life is not perfect and a hobby helps me get through it. Regardless if it is stamp collection, cooking, model kit painting or scrap-booking, I think everyone should find something to do just for yourself. It will make life much better and believe me when I say this......it will make you much happier....

Cheers

          



         

  

               

                                          



Thursday, October 17, 2013

Monsters are people too.....

Hey guys!

I'm back from a very successful Son of Monsterpalooza show and it was a blast to say the least. We met famous people and talked to a lot of well know industry professionals from Stan Winston Studios to the Chioto Brothers form "Killer Klowns from Outer Space".  People there are so nice and we made friends with a lot of people like Vincent Price's daughter, Victoria Price, Charlie Chioto and with Tim Gore who has been working in the movie industry for many many years. he is the nicest guy you ever meet and we exchanged information and he gave me some of his new brand of paint. Check him out at The Extreme art of Tim Gore at Facebook....




The great thing about it was that Len Simon and I had a booth and we did very well. People just loved our products and the art work. We made many connections and we hope to see everyone again in April for another Monsterpalooza....

In the meantime, enjoy some of the photos...












Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Monsterpalooza time......

Hey guys and ghouls.....

Son of Monsterpalooza Horror Show is coming up this Friday to Sunday at Burbank Marriott Hotel in CA and Len and I will be there. Come over and check out our booth. It is a great show with a lot of strange and cool people, celebrities and even a Monster Makeup Scholarship Competition.....

I hope to see you there........




Friday, October 4, 2013

Animation Classes....

Hello young apprentices.....

I'm glad to report that the first Animation Class this past Saturday was a success. The interest is growing so here is some information about the classes. They are being held at Scottsdale Civic Center Library every Saturday from 11 am to 12 pm. I will be covering Introduction to Animation, Animation Principles, Character design, workshops and assignments for skill development.

Please contact me for more information at Edisontoons@hotmail.com

Hope to see you there





Thursday, October 3, 2013

Around the World in 13 years.....




Hey guys!

Some of the characters for Fox Animation Studios "Around the World in 80 Days". Of course with the shutdown of the studio in 2000, this was never made but we were left with a lot of creative stuff including some of the designs I did for the so called Phileas Fogg's friends of The Reform Club. 

A lot has happened since then and although my designs are somewhat old, I still like them. It was fun to work on it and see all those creative minds come together. We had so many great ideas for scenarios and character designs.....

Many great memories.......I wished it had been made.......





Tuesday, October 1, 2013

We all live by our own principles...

Book "Animation" by Preston Blair


I've started Animation and Drawing classes this past week and it went really well. The amount of students is growing and I feel I'm doing my part to keep this medium alive and well, although I have to say that most of the principles I teach apply as much to 3D as to 2D. From Phone Apps to Computer Animation to Graphic Design, everything is an expression of the artist that tries to create something that speaks out to oneself or the client and these classes will help develop your skills and approach to whatever you want to do...

After all, it is not called Illusion of Life for nothing.... :)

Cheers

Friday, September 27, 2013

Award Winning Short....


RINDIN THE PUFFER

This short won several awards including Family International Film Festival in California, 2D or not 2D Animation Festival in Washington, Hampton International Film Festival in New York and two Gold Telly awards in 2007. I had fun working on it and I hope to be able to do lots of shorts like this one.

Enjoy it!


Thursday, September 26, 2013

Chuck Jones and Me....

Hi!

This photo was taken I think in 1991 when Chuck Jones came over his wife to visit  Don Bluth Studios in Ireland. It was a dream come true and a honor to be able to talk to him and hear the stories about his studio and the early days. He was so nice and even gave me his card under his hat and asked me if I wanted to work at his studio in California. I was shocked and so overwhelmed but a month later, I wrote him a letter to thank him for coming over and offering me a job but I really want to work with Don at the time and that I had still a lot to learn. A couple of months later he responded with a thank you and a drawing signed, which I treasure to this day.

Only a few people know about this story and I wonder how my life would have been like if I had accepted his offer and moved to California in 1991....

Oh well.....

Cheers


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Under the Sea.....

Hi guys!

For some reason I have been fortunate to be able to work with underwater related themes from Illustration to a award winning short to restaurant kids place mats or just my own stuff. Here is some the stuff I've done....






Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Very inspirational



There are many people that I admire. But there are few great character designers out there and one of them was Harald Siepermann. I know he past away almost 9 months ago but his work is always going to be remembered for I consider him one of the greatest character designers ever. One of the great things about being an artist is that you leave so much behind for others to enjoy.




Thank you, man!!!





I met Sandro in 1987 at Briquet Studios in Sao Paulo, Brazil where he was their only animator. The first day I was there he took one of the scenes he animated for a chocolate commercial and took all the inbetweens out and gave me the scene to inbetween. I was very raw at the time but I did it anyway. We became friends and I used to go to his house once in a while which was a couple of hours away by bus. He showed me his drawings and said that one day he wanted to work at Disney Studios. I believed that he would for I thought he was that good and I really looked up to him. We went through a lot of stuff together, including a car accident with his uncle and aunt, and in 1990 he invited me to go to Ireland with him to work with Don Bluth Studios. After a "No way" I changed my mind and decided to go.... On May 25th, 1990 we left Brazil under our parents tearful eyes to pursue our dreams.

After working in Ireland for 4 years and moving to the US to work for Fox Animation for the next 2 years, we finally parted when he got his dream job at Disney as an animator. I was so happy for him because I knew it was going to happen. He turned out to be one of Disney biggest assets and he became very successful not only professionally but in his personal life. He ended marring my oldest friend and it seems that we are all a big family.

Our lives went in different directions and we don't talk to each other as often as we should, but I have a lot to thank him for what he taught me, for all the support we gave each other when we were so far away from home, for helping me develop and grow as an animator when I started and for just being the nice guy he is.

So I want to start this new blog by thank you Sandro,  because after 26 years since we met the first time, I still look up to you today as much as I did then.

Cheers




Monday, September 23, 2013

WELCOME!!!!!

Hello!


Welcome to my new blog. Wonder why I didn't do this before but here I am. I want to start posting something I shared on Facebook that might help artists like myself to embrace who you are and what you do.....



Hey Guys!

I have always striven to be better at drawing and learn as much as I could but in one way or another I've wished I could draw as well as that guy at Disney, or that famous illustrator or even some of the guys I worked with and looked up to..... I was not necessarily being competitive, but I wanted to draw like the guy I really admired so I could be more successful and just be...you know...THAT good...

The thing is, everyone has limits and it's up to you to find yours and never, never let anyone tell you what your limits are. We are always learning and always trying to do our best but I do believe that at one point or another you have to embrace what you do. Yeah, I'm no Glen Keane or Frank Frazetta but I love the way I draw and although cartoony, it's pretty appealing and solid, and after a life time of drawing and 25 years in Animation, I finally feel more comfortable about my drawing ability. I still want to draw better and although I use other artists work as reference, I stopped comparing and I'm happier this way. Not everyone will like my style, some love it.....the important thing is that I Am Happier with it. My drawings are me and I am my drawings. Although it might be obvious to some people who know my work, I finally feel like I have my own style. It was there before, but it felt like I was still searching for it...

Well....I found it....

Cheers