Hotel Hightower...

There is an extensive back-story that accompanies Hotel Hightower and the mysterious deaths that occurred on the eve of New Years 1899.  If you want to learn the history of the hotel, visit this historical site-  http://www.tot1899.com/english/ , and it will fill you in.

I am however just a young artist that was privately commissioned by the daughter of Harrison Hightower, Harriet, to paint a portrait of her for the hotel's lobby. 

It is however my grievous duty to inform you faithful readers that since sitting for this portrait, the young lady herself, may have followed a similar fate of her hapless father. For when I called upon her one evening to complete the masterpiece, she was nowhere to be found. Instead all I encountered was a hastily scribbled note, detailing some creature named the Shiriki Utundu. What was most disconcerting about the entire affair was that her personal suite was in an alarming state of disarray, with a large pool of blood in the centre of the room.....I hope that the authorities get to the bottom of this mystery.

Death Becomes Her......

This drawing I did a while back, but I have just recently given the colours a spruce up.

It was inspired by Disneyland's Haunted Mansion ride. As you travel down the halls in the mansion, the portraits actually change from these beautiful vistas to grizzly, macabre scenes of death behind your back. The effect is actually quite disconcerting.

This is my rendition of the effect. It's meant to be a beautiful Spanish girl changing into her reaper-esque counterpart.

Coraline

I did this back when Coraline came out at the movies....

Justifiably Jasmine....

So I was watching Aladdin the other night, and was inspired by their romantic serenading as they flew through the Middle-Eastern skies on that magical thread-bare rug of theirs. I actually drew from one of the frames in the " A Whole New World" sequence, where Jasmine accepts a tiny lotus bloom from Aladdin.

Nostalgia..

These were the old front images for my older folio...

Drawn Designs

Here are some more of the graphics I have done for t-shirts in the past...

Maple's Musings....

Just a quick rough paint of one of the characters from my folio....I named her Maple and I like that she's a sexy nerd.

Peachy Keen!

I have always wanted to draw the Mario Bros. Gang from Nintendo. All the favourites from when we were growing up as kids. Soooooo....to make it a bit more fun, I have decided to draw them all in a 'Paper' style, reminiscent of Paper Mario and his craft-book-esque adventures. First off the block is Princess Peach.

I need to keep practicing simplifying my drawing style for this project. If I get it right I think I will nail it.

Over-zealous on Zelda

A quick little sketch and paint of Princess Zelda as she casts a spell or what-not. 

Along with an older painting I did of her. I love that she has darker, sort of brown hair now. It lends her an even more serious kind of air. (I always found her a little stiff-backed in the games).

She ain't bad, she's just drawn that way...

This was actually requested by a close friend of mine, Harriet Hightower. It was her father's birthday and he is an UBER fan of Jessica Rabbit's.

We decided to "sign" the painting from her as well, to add a bit more of a personal touch to it. The message reads: "To my darling Ross," (Harriet's father), "Let's have a round of Patti-cake sometime. Love Jessica." 

The original production still below was my reference piece.

In the Spirit of Adventure....

Okay, so I am sure most of you animation enthusiasts by now have gone out and seen Disney/Pixar's latest release: Up! 

Starring a mis-matched crew of incredible characters, ranging from disgruntled old men to giant, personable, brightly plumed birds. The movie follows the story of Carl Fredrickson as he sets about carrying out the promise he made to he ailing wife upon her deathbed - to oneday visit Paradise Falls, their ideal,

 "adventure holiday" destination.

Brooke (my best girlfriend), and I just went to see it recently. On the journey home we made the unanimous decision, (feeling inspired by the film), to write and illustrate our OWN 'Up' style adventure complete with flying cottage and dangerous adventure.

To the right you will find my rough preliminary sketch and paint of our flying house. Don't worry, for all of you hardcore fans, there will be a BIG variation in plot line and the look of the illustrations. Our house will be carried aloft in an entirely different manner to Carl's as well, (I don't think I'd have it in me to blow up a million balloons like he did).

But keep an eye on this space. I will continue to post preliminary designs and excerpt from the book as it continues to take shape.

P.S. If you want to know what the tone of the book is going to be like (sort of how it's gonna be written), refer to the Dinotopia saga's. We want it to be heavily descriptive and documentarian in feel. Almost like a MANUAL on how to traverse the big blue and the unknown beyond.

Upcoming Spring Portfolio Submission

The 'Teaser' or new 'Front Page' for my revamped "Spring/Autumn Animation Portfolio". 

Now in the hands of Disney/Pixar creative executives, it's just a refresh flatwork folio to keep them updated with my animation-skill spectrum.

The first image is Link sailing the Great Ocean in the King of Red Lions and it also served as the reference and inspirational piece for my version. 

I have always been overly fond of the "feel" of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. So I decided for my new folio I would do my own rendition of the beloved hero as my intro-piece. It's not entirely finished yet, (still needs a little polishing), but it's very much on it's way and makes a perfect harbinger for what's also to follow. When I am happy with the final product and have finished fiddling with the last few bells and whistles I will endeavor to post the entire folio here.

One of the t-shirt-graphic designs I did for an upcoming clothing label named "Rarewear". They decided not to run with my stuff in the end. One of the retailers that were stocking the product thought that my style was too "manga".......the idiotic creative head listened to this fashionista wannabe instead of his creative team and told me a big fat no.

And so it begins...

Well I have been nagged and nagged incessantly by friends, fans and family to create a website. Considering I am certainly no techo-geek (although secretly I would love to be), I have decided to opt for the slightly more user-friendly version and create a fun blog instead.

From now on I will be posting pics, doodles, scraps, thoughts and most of my better ideas on here so that you may follow whatever mad-cap mis-adventures I am continuously having on either my sketch page or the rather colourful "land upstairs", which realistically is my overly productive and never peaceful imagination.

So whether it be friend, fan or family member, WELCOME!...to MY imagination!