The Contenders

The last couple of days I've been drawing caricatures of the current presidential contenders.  I've just been doing it for fun to relax between reading scientific journals.  Yesterday while I was working on Gingrich's face my wife looked at it and said, "He looks like Krang."  After that statement there was only one thing to do- stick him in the robotic Krang body from the animated series.

Here's my caricatures of Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul as well.  I also included some quotes from the candidates - just for fun.

Digital Painting Practice

Today I decided to try my hand at a more painterly approach to digital illustrations.  I started with a "quicky" strawberry painting this morning (that turned into a three hour painting), and then this evening I did a somewhat exaggerated blue penguin.

Wildlife Lesson - "The little blue penguin (or fairy penguin) is the smallest species of penguin in the world.  It is native to New Zealand, and some of the sub-antarctic islands."  I was lucky enough to see one of these birds about a year ago, and they are truly the most adorable bird imaginable. 

Stephen Fry

Stephen Fry.  The Twitter king. 

Recently Mr. Fry made national news here in New Zealand for some comments he made on Twitter about the country's broadband. Basically he said that the broadband  in New Zealand is shameful, and consumers should demand better service.  I cannot agree more!  

I hate being "that person" - the one that moves to a foreign country, and then complains about how different it is from home - but compared to the United States, the internet here is horrid.  Not only is it overpriced, but there are also absurdly low monthly data caps.  I thought that broadband data caps were a thing of the past!  I'm paying three times what I was in Nowhere, Oregon for a slower connection and a data cap that makes me second guess every YouTube video I watch.  A few days ago my Windows automatically updated itself, and it used a sixth of our monthly limit.

And how did New Zealand respond to Fry addressing a very real issue?  With overwhelming derision.  The evening news even portrayed Fry as some sort of moron for going over the data cap.  

Anyway, I drew this as a bit of solidarity behind Fry.

I also drew this because I've recently discovered Qi.  I love that show! 

Timothy Dalton

Over at the e-caricatures forum there was a themed contest to draw one of the many incarnations of Bond.

As I mentioned on the forum, Dalton really is my favorite actor who has portrayed Bond, without being my favorite Bond.  That is to say, even though I like other actors' versions of Bond better, in general I like Dalton best as an actor.  His characters in Hot Fuzz and Rocketeer played no small part in that (not to mention, I've really liked him in Chuck as well).

And, yes, I even like him better than Connery!

Anyway, hope you all enjoy!

Rhino Hunting

Some more venting, but this time about animal conservation news.  

After reading the news about rhino poaching this year I was fantasizing about what would happen if poachers tried to steal the horn from the Rhino character from Marvel comics.

I'm quite into animal conservation, and 2011 was a real bummer for wild rhinos. The rate of rhino poaching was about 35 times higher last year than four years ago, and 54 have already been killed this year (about one a day). Not to mention that the Javan rhino was recently declared extinct in Vietnam (poachers got the last one).

I have nothing but loathing for people that buy rhino horn or poach rhinos.  Consuming rhino horn is basically the same thing as eating your fingernails!

I think this guy is really on to something!

Lamar S. Smith

This illustration is a bit of political venting.

A lot of people were really upset about Congress in general for threatening to pass the SOPA bill, but I don't think enough ire was directed at the chief sponsor of the bill - Lamar Smith of Texas's 21st Congressional District. Why a congressman from San Antonio has ANYTHING to do with the internet piracy is beyond me (none of the big movie/music production companies fall under his constituency from what I can tell). Could it have something to do with the fact that media companies were his largest campaign contributors?  

The really frustrating thing is that, since I don't live in Texas, I have no say in whether this guy stays in the House. And he's up for re-election this November. It's all up to the people of San Antonio, Austin or Texas Hill Country to boot this guy out... *hint hint!*

I originally drew this during the height of the SOPA controversy, but haven't had the opportunity to finish it until now. I was afraid that this picture would no longer be topical, but it looks like ole' Smith is at it again.

I thought this story was pretty funny too - though a bit petty.

The Information Age

This quick sketch is from a conversation that Anna and I overheard on the bus in Auckland.  Two uni students were sitting directly behind us talking about computer issues, and one of them, in a very loud and authoritative voice made the observation above.

I find it somewhat funny that his statement inspired me to do this drawing - which I am now posting on the internet.  The information age is indeed, "cruel and unforgiving."

And, yes, he was also wearing a Pilates baseball cap.

Jack Kirby "Tribute"

My very "heartfelt" "tribute" to "Jack Kirby".

Years ago a group on Deviantart posted a challenge to draw a big headed character in the style of Jack Kirby.  I dreamed up with this concept way back then, but didn't get around to sketching it until recently.

Now I just need to come up with a name and back story for this guy.