Art blog: Drawing for a friend’s webcomic

And other musings.

It’s been an interesting day. Not all that bad. I got to sleep in without too much interruption. No driving around. I woke with my wife late in the morning, how I like it. We had to kick ourselves out of bed before we inverted our sleep schedule.

This morning went quick leading up to the time to go to work. Mandy came along to have lunch with me and took the bus home. First time back at the Boardwalk stand in three weeks at Herhseypark. Sales were good by the end of the night. Karen Simmons, my friend and sponsor happen to be in the park, and made the best enterance while my back was turned.

This art is for Tabby, my friend who runs a webcomic as well. She requested some seasonal artwork for her main page. The main characters are all usually chibi as shown.

But after I sent it, the next morning I learned they usually have feet too.

Another doodle in memorial. I witnessed two birds quickly dart in front of my car this afternoon. One turned up in time, but the other connected with the side of an oncoming pickup truck. It hits your heart if you realise they were probably courting eachother. Like human lovers do. Courtship suddenly cut short by a split second accident. My heart and prayers go to that bird and may its spirit be with God now.

Charon Training

Fan art and gift for my friend Lex. Quick sketch in Paint Tool SAI.

Charon, Dogmeat and Fallout 3 © Bethesda Softworks LLC

Non Binding Resolution

I’m back after half a year of no posts. I’ve felt the itching to make something of my internet presense and have my illustrations searchable. Thats ILLUSTRATIONS, Google. Or HIRE ILLUSTRATOR and or ARTIST in CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA for CARTOONING or EDITORIAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

One can always try.

But each entry will come along with some sort of picture. Either scrap sketch, finished art, or something biographical I doodle the night of.

After chatting with Lex, my new friend from Toronto, I identified what creative problem I was facing tonight. Mandy was feeling the exact same way. So we went to Walmart for food and a treat and are now sitting much happier, calmer, and creative. Before we left, I was wrestling with a sketch I did months ago of Mandy, (my wife, for any people browsing across this). So I made it to a pretty state. It’s pleasing to my eye.

Hershey went good today. Best sale possible for first sketch of the day before 9:30 and finished off with 5 color bodies for a family.

So to who finds this, there’s no update schedules or promises to break. It’s just me opening my brain on this summer of 2009.

A Very SPECIAL Fallout Valentine

Fallout 3 SPECIAL valentine

My wife and I are very fond of Bethesda’s “Fallout 3″. And when holidays come around, she likes nothing more than receiving a nice drawing from me (without badgering me to do it).

The two characters is her player character on the right “Alice” and her NPC bodyguard “Charon” the irradiated Ghoul. *The SPECIAL word is an acronym for the game’s seven character statistics. It’s clever, alright?

By the way, she has a crush on Charon. Shhh…

All characters and character designs copyright Bethesda Software 2009

“modern day Knights” Doodles

Fast forward to October 21st, 2008

Summer is over, freelance jobs are the thing, I just ate guacamole, rice, and beans, and I did a nifty doodle that needs posted!

These are representations of Mandy and I’s favorite classes from “modern day Knights”, a fantasy-role-playing-combat sport that we play with Brian Hopple and others.

http://moderndayknights.wordpress.com/

I’m a bard, a fighter with mind influencing spells to turn combat in his favor. And Mandy is a fearsome barbarian, who fly through the field, ignoring wounds and dishing out damage!

RAWR!

Hard Reset, Hersheypark Hope and A Horny Feline

Overdue Journal Entry

Hey Pam. I feel bad for not using my blog anytime soon. So I’m going to write and try and find a doodle to post.

Today, I woke up at 8, got out of bed 15 min. later. I had not slept much. Not rested at all.

Then I had to complete inking Blenderman before I went to work. Jeez. It ended up making me late, but since I opened, it didn’t matter. Slow all morning, and picked up good after lunch. However I didn’t feel well and concluded it would be more profitable to come home early and do freelance than stay and earn less. It sorta worked.

We got stromboli tonight. Ignoring the cost of it is easier when you get a $20 tip and eating it improves one’s mood. I plan on being more rested tomorrow.

Mandy’s torso is sore today. You feel any after effects of HP?

Mandy found a new webcomic that I like now. I don’t think it’d be your tastes. It’s about a comic book nerd that gets stuck living with a lesbian/bi punk girl and a tall, french-canadian blonde bombshell with huge breasts. Yeah. Not your tastes meaning you’re not male.

We might be going to West Virginia around January to meet internet friends. Rent a cabin-type thing. I don’t remember taking many winter vacations. I’m sure I’ll need it by that point.

I’m gonna try and play World of Warcraft now. I’m so happy to have it back. Now I just need to find the time and put off doing so many other things!

-Neil

Character designs for a children’s book proposal…

37 things plus one Cat.

To make up for no new doodle and the lack of Thursday’s Cats VS, here it is: (Found on main site too http://www.neillustrations.com/catsvs/wordpress/ )

And now, for something completely different: 37 Things.

1. Do you like blue cheese?

I don’t remember WHEN I tried it, but I never liked it, and not likely to ever.

2. Have you ever smoked?

I don’t like purposely, slowly killing myself

3. Do you own a gun?

Not even a squirt gun.

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite?

Never much drank it much until College. Dear Lord that was a lot of sugar and dye that year.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?

I’m pretty chillax compared to many people. I suppose it depends what I’m in for.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?

Give them some water and some shade to lie in.

7. Favorite Christmas movie?

Claymation Christmas (with the dinosaurs and ringing bells)

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning

Juice. I have a drinking problem

9. Can you do push ups?

Yeah, but I pushed a few hundred pounds of frames and mats on a heavy cart up a 30-degree hill for half a mile today. I ain’t moving.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

Wedding band. It’s seriously the best ring I’ve ever had. I never feel it unless it’s gone. Know what I mean?

11. Favorite hobby?

I have to many! Never enough hours in the day. It’s video games. Drawing is work, now. And I wish I had more time for Warhammer 40,000.

12. Do you have A.D.D.?

Sorry, I was reading another webpage.

13. Do you wear glasses/contacts?

GUESS.

14. Middle name?

Prescott. NOT like everyone in the country.

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?

1) Interesting how WordPress interface looks the way it does.

2) What did I just burp up?

3) …and you don’t want to know the third. Oh and my nose itches.

16. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink?

Swiss lemonade, Cran-Grape, Mountain Dew

17. Current worry?

That I won’t find a good job in September.

18. Current hate right now?

I don’t have enough time for everything I want to do and have to do.

19. Favorite place to be?

Near Mandy.

20. How did you bring in the new year?

Animal Crossing for Gamecube. No joke. We’re that big of losers geeks.

21. Where would you like to go?

AZEROTH!

22. Name three people who will complete this?

Mandy, mandy, and mandy. Because only 2-3 people read this thing.

23. Do you own slippers?

They’re called socks.

24. What shirt are you wearing?

Cirque du Soliel Corteo black t-shirt

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?

Have I?

26. Can you whistle?

80% success.

27. Favorite color?

I used to think light blue. Then I realised how many good things in my life are red: Mandy’s hair, my car, PCAD’s color theme, BLENDERMAN!, etc…

28. Would you be a pirate?

I am often catagorized as one, yes.

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?

Accompany whatever silly tune Mandy is making up.

30. Favorite Girl’s Name?

Olivia. As original as I thought it was, I’m seeing tons of girls get it nowadays.

31. Favorite boy’s name?

Zander.

32. What’s in your pocket right now?

Where’d my pants go?

33. Last thing that made you laugh?

Either my wife or Pam and John Green’s survey.

34. What vehicle do you drive?91′ Mazda Protege. It’s seen better days, but it’s a tough one.

35. Worst injury you’ve ever had?

Second grade bike accident: My right lower leg cracked like a fresh wig! Eww.

36. Do you love where you live?It’s growing on me quickly.

37. How many TVs do you have in your house?

Two now. Blame Dad.