Announcing new project: "Make it Rain"

I am excited to announce the beginning of a new mini project, "Make it Rain." This will be the first project that I have taken upon myself since the Picture Book Marathon in February.

Basically I have come headway in finally stapling down my next big project. A mini comic/story book with co-stars Cid the dog, and Jake the cat!  I am not sure how long it will take me to complete, since I plan to work at a relaxed pace, but I will post all updates here! ...For you my faithful readers.

I know that there are at least 40 planned images in the story, so you can expect fairly often updates. (For now we will say up to 2-3 updates a week..but that might change once I jump into the images starting tomorrow.)


I'm sorry PBM (not polishing you off), and I'm sorry everything else I said I was going to do, or get back to...too many things have hindered my progress (especially my new full time job), and now in order to keep my sanity I am starting afresh.  So sit back and enjoy my updates!

"I got a JOB!" Comic and other random things...

My job search is finally over! I've found something that I can be happy with and that will be stable enough to allow me to work on illustration after work hours.  From the time I applied to this job to the time they offered it to me was less than a week!  So I spent about 5 months job searching, applied to at least 26 jobs, and had only 4 interviews. LOTS of hard work!

So as you might expect my first month might be a little rocky (adjusting to a new profession) but after that I anticipate to start right back into illustration.


And since I missed a post for last week, here are some random projects I completed this week to make up for it:

I actually had less than one week to complete this flag.  Honestly it wouldn't have been THAT hard except for the person requesting it gave me this INTENSE fabric to paint it on. Like a mix of burlap and concrete...not really meant to be painted on. 0_o  You might notice some faint lines around the text and parts of the drawing (white and pink) they are chalk...more easily noticeable in the picture below. I used them as my painting guides.

Here is an 'in process' photo shot.  I painted all the colors first, and then painted in the lines. This made it easy to correct and clean up any of the colors that bleed out, or shapes that didn't want to sharpen.

Probably my last poster for MCC Longview.  With me getting a full time job I will not be able to keep my part time one... I had fun making this poster as I wanted to go back to my Adobe Illustrator/vector days. It has been a few years since I've dabbled with them. It's always nice to have an excuse to  use them again.

Beauty...and the BEAST? (comic)

"Beauty...and the BEAST"

Fairy Tale Nonsense 001

2012 Ink, Sharpie, and Digital.

Made this to point out how FREAKY original Fairy Tales really are...! (Of course the panda was my personal touch).

This comic is dedicated to my awesome wife.

It's been a few years since I've done a TRUE comic...and I've been meaning to start back up (Now that I've graduated and have a little extra time). I'm thinking about delving more into the ORIGINAL fairy tale worlds and poke fun at them...tell me what you think! And don't hesitate to give suggestions for future comics.

PBM update: The bulk of my energy is being poured into job searching...and the occasional whims I have time for (such as the comic above). I've already set plans up to finish the covers, pick or have you vote on the top 5 and then illustrate one ENTIRE book! It will be my first ebook! (for kindle, Ipad, and maybe .pdf) that I hope to sell on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com.

The Misadventures of CLINK! part 2 (and a masterstudy)

Opening of Clink part 2.

Ok loyal readers I have completed another part of "THE MISADVENTURES of CLINK" (my wife's birthday comic). So that I don't bog my blog down (oh that rhymed haha) I have made a separate appendage to my webpage (link only available below).

PLEASE GO HERE TO VIEW Clink PART 2:

http://www.jerbl.com/monisawa/clink-web/main-about.html

MASTERSTUDY::

I recently came across a new artist that intrigued me, Amedeo Modigliani. Born in the late 1800's he was one of many who paved the modern art movement. His work is mostly abstract and unfinished looking, but I really like his character designs, some of his paint application and how quickly he seemed to resolve a composition.

Since his work is generally very sketchy I took it upon myself to finalize one in a Paint-over/quasi-masterstudy utilizing what I knew and several other artists techniques. I ended up using a bit of Greg newbold, Jack Vettriano, and ALOT of Amedeo Modigliani.

My masterstudy/paint over of a Amedeo Modigliani painting.

This is the ACTUAL size of the image I did the

paint-over/masterstudy on. SUPER PIXELATED! haha

(btw I count the masterstudy as sketch 2 of 5 and Clink-part 2 as 3 of 5)

Happy Birthday Cheri comic -part 1

It seems that meaningless birthdays just come and go every year. Since my wife is turning to the significant age of thir~ *WACK! (just got wacked in the back of my head) Looks over shoulder at her... How about...23? She nods her approval. I wanted to make this one special!

Not just that, it also is giving me the opportunity to do comics again (its been over a year). I'm a bit rusty, but have picked up at a pretty decent pace. My talented friend Amelia (see her webpage here) has also been giving me personal suggestions for the comic layout, and Missa, my sister, feedback on the story. Thanks!

The comic is by far not meant to be perfect (since I am working full time on my illustrations) and most undoubtably is FULL of mistakes, so please be understanding. :) I also plan to make one last run over the whole thing when I am done with all the parts...so if you catch something terrible please tell me.

Without further adieu I present:

Cheri's Birthday gift PART 1

page 1

page 2

page 3

page 4

page 5

page 6

School Project update

I cannot represent the total sum of the work done so far this semester, but I include a few here, with brief descriptions. Hope everyone enjoys:

Class: Typography.
Assignment: Make a T-shirt for Graphic Designers utilizing a person from History instrumental in the creation of Type.
My Thoughts: I chose the earliest known inventor of movable type. Approx. 600 years before Gutenberg invented the European Movable type, Bi Sheng did it first in China.


Class: Typography
Assignment: Make a poster advertising a typeface. Utilize a style of design from the time period of the typeface you choose.
My thoughts: The poster turned out better than I expected, however it does not look like anything from the 1950's. I spent most of my time researching the clothes and hairstyles of the time period for the characters instead of focusing on the specific typefaces they used, and style of art. This ad format is based mostly off laundry detergent adds such as Tide and Joy.
Class: Design 2 (color Theory)
Assignment: Listen to an album by Godspeed You Black Emperor called "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven"and make a design based on one of the songs.
My thoughts: By the title of the CD alone one could guess how strange the music would be. The group is a kind of ambient/rock/newage band. It is really hard to explain unless you hear their music. I really enjoyed this assignment and was probably more surprised by how my picture turned out then anyone-else. My favorite aspect of this picture is the perpetual movement in the picture.

Today's Nonsense - January & February 2010

February comic:


Ok folks, I am back on schedule for my monthly comic! In order to conform to my busy school schedule I am simplifying some features of the comic (diverse layouts, elaborate shading and backgrounds), but leaving what matters most (the characters and the event!) Hope everyone enjoys!

January comic:
This comic was made as a desperate attempt to show UCM's newspaper staff that I was serious about doing the comic for them. I still have not heard back... Allwell, I am enjoying the freedom of exploring new realms! As a random fact, I am reading Harry Potter for the first time and learned since making this comic that Ron does NOT say, "Bloody Hell," even once...and yet in the movie he says it as every other phrase...blasted 'Hollywood'.

Today's Nonsense - December

Here is my newest comic for MCC Longviews, "The current."

Today's Nonsense - November

Yes, I know the title says November... It's supposed to be that way because the newspaper will publish in November.

So here is my newest comic! I hope that everyone enjoys this early preview (before the newspaper comes out, or they publish it online at: http://en.wordpress.com/tag/mike-blake/ ) Thanks for your support!

41,3,3,2

Today's Nonsense - October

In order to line up with the newspaper schedule I havta be a little ahead. I've been working on this comic (at least the idea) for about a month! Haha! I've broken from alot of my traditional ways, but yet sharpened some of my others! I usually wait to post the comic until the newspaper is published...but I was excited to get this one posted...and also decided to do it while I remembered. :P

This idea stemmed from the seemingly growing epedemic of the swine flu at Longview...all the teachers are nervous and some have even caught it! So everyone... don't forget to "Wash your hands!" ^_^

Today's Nonsense - September

This is my newest comic. I definitely used a new approach... It seems that each semester with the first comic I dangerously branch out in new directions! Haha! Hope everyone enjoys.

Mouse Marvel Merger!

What the flippin ding dang crap of tardness! WHere in the freakin heck did this come from? HUH? Disney has definately stepped OVER their boundries!!! I didn't believe it when my brother told me and even sent me an article about how Disney has bought out Marvel. THE MARVEL! One of the articles I read were like, "What a dream matchup!" Ok....I really don't see it. Wolverine...Mickey Mouse... Uh....something doesn't match here. A good point was mentioned that Disney has been having a hard time capturing boys in their sticky money web ....(Duh..can't imagine why as billions of girls ooze at Disney's seams right now with princess's and singing tween stars!!!)

BUT MARVEL? Marvel wasn't struggling. They weren't dealing with any big issue. They could take care of themselves.....WHAT in the flippin WORLD! GEEZ! I really don't understand this.

So what is next? Based upon our capatilst society Disney is getting pretty large! They already consumed Pixar, the muppets, and now MARVEL? They own Miramax, and they distribute Ghibli...how much more do they need? I really don't understand this move, except that Disney is striving to become a God in the American eyes...or better yet the WORLD.

I think that I'm done with my rantingness....even still.. WTC!

August Comic

Not much to explain. This is the new comic for August! It's a bit late (Due to my wedding) but hope all enjoy it!

July Comic

I just completed this today for MCC Longview's newspaper, "The Current."

May/June comic

Not much to say about this except that it is my latest comic for MCC Longview's newspaper, "The Current."

I will say that it is partly about me right now! haha! (I'm getting married in August! ^o^ wow!!!)