Monday, January 12, 2015
THIS IS THE OLD SITE!
I am now Meteo Designs, which has its own proper website and everything. Originally I had this blog redirect there, but I've discovered it's of use, so I'm keeping it alive. I will try to update here too, although Meteo will be my priority.
Friday, December 12, 2014
PK: CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR 2014
Hi res digital painting and finished mobile game art assets for Parallel Kingdom.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
PK: HALLOWEEN 2014
Hi res digital painting and finished mobile game art assets for Parallel Kingdom.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Friday, August 15, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
WOOT SHIRT: NEEDLEPOINT
I'm getting back into the Shirt.woot derby this week with a Game of Thrones design. On a side note a few of my friends were bummed out that I didn't include Arya in my "Lady Knights" design. Hopefully this makes up for it. :)
Saturday, July 19, 2014
CUTE SPIDER, DAWWW
I resurrected this cute jumping spider from a woot shirt contest I entered a while back, and made it available for purchase as a print, t-shirt and other items on my new Society6 shop.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
LADY KNIGHTS!!
Lady Knights, my epic three-color design featuring all the most kick-ass women of sci-fi and fantasy! Available as a print, t-shirt, and several other products on my Society6 shop. I may also shop it around to some of the daily t-shirt websites that have non-exclusive contracts, see if any of them want to feature it.
This is a personal project I was very invested in. Driven by my own interest in gender issues and the strong women in fiction who inspired me as a young gay boy, and continue to (I could probably write a dissertation about why many gay men identify with strong female role models in pop culture but this is my art blog, not an academic forum). I also wanted to do something positive and constructive to celebrate women's empowerment, because frankly there is just a lot of negativity surrounding feminism and gender issues on the Internet these days, even coming from people whom I agree with politically. Which is too bad, really.
I had a lot of fun doing this, particularly since I had decided to limit myself to three colors. This was mostly to simplify the design, because I knew a cluster of detailed figures would be hard on the eyes. The limit also just became a fun challenge though, generally I find imposing some limits or "rules" on a project like this fosters creativity, and makes it feel like a game. The figures are presented without face details because I wanted to portray the essences of each one, rather than attempt to capture individual actors' likenesses, or particular versions of the characters.
I am sure there will be some debate and disagreement over whom I chose to add. Some of them, like Wonder Woman, were shoe-ins. Others such as Sarah from Labyrinth were chosen because I personally looked up to them as role models. I think the design could lend itself to some really fun, nerdy arguments about which characters people would have rather seen, or left out. I also like the idea that not everyone will recognize every character; this could potentially foster group discussions among friends as they try to identify every character and her originating sci-fi or fantasy franchise.
I had a lot of fun doing this, particularly since I had decided to limit myself to three colors. This was mostly to simplify the design, because I knew a cluster of detailed figures would be hard on the eyes. The limit also just became a fun challenge though, generally I find imposing some limits or "rules" on a project like this fosters creativity, and makes it feel like a game. The figures are presented without face details because I wanted to portray the essences of each one, rather than attempt to capture individual actors' likenesses, or particular versions of the characters.
I am sure there will be some debate and disagreement over whom I chose to add. Some of them, like Wonder Woman, were shoe-ins. Others such as Sarah from Labyrinth were chosen because I personally looked up to them as role models. I think the design could lend itself to some really fun, nerdy arguments about which characters people would have rather seen, or left out. I also like the idea that not everyone will recognize every character; this could potentially foster group discussions among friends as they try to identify every character and her originating sci-fi or fantasy franchise.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
TWISTERED COLLABORATION
"No one would ask you to contribute, no matter how small, if they didn't need you."
I drew the dog's foot, and a few other very minor things, when the primary illustrator wasn't available. The original title said "Twisted" so I added a fitting 'r' along with another 'e'. I also created a vector rainbow that was then altered using Photoshop features for the background.
Small contributions yes, but I got to assist a couple of great artists, and my illustration skills were there when the graphic designer needed them, so I'm proud of that and happy to have helped out.
Please check out:
facebook.com/ChimaeraDesigns
facebook.com/christopherablesart
I drew the dog's foot, and a few other very minor things, when the primary illustrator wasn't available. The original title said "Twisted" so I added a fitting 'r' along with another 'e'. I also created a vector rainbow that was then altered using Photoshop features for the background.
Small contributions yes, but I got to assist a couple of great artists, and my illustration skills were there when the graphic designer needed them, so I'm proud of that and happy to have helped out.
Please check out:
facebook.com/ChimaeraDesigns
facebook.com/christopherablesart
Monday, March 17, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
INFLUENCES: MEETING THE PENTATONIX!!
I have a great friend, Jared, who has invited me along to many shows and paid my way since I'm a starving artist, usually comedians like Kathy Griffin, Lisa Lamponelli and Stephen Lynch; and once we saw Rachel Maddow. He almost always gets front row tickets, and it's always a good time. Well this time he went all out, took me to see the Pentatonix, and we got the front row, but also backstage passes, meet-and-greet, and a private performance! Yes I sat in a chair while the Pentatonix stood in front of me, singing right into my face!
I liked them on television and on-line, but wow they are just as great in person. It's amazing to me that such a full-bodied sound can be produced purely by voices; although there was a little break from that where Kevin showed off his expert cello skills. Just all around amazing, and inspiring. Thanks Pentatonix, and thanks Jared!!
I liked them on television and on-line, but wow they are just as great in person. It's amazing to me that such a full-bodied sound can be produced purely by voices; although there was a little break from that where Kevin showed off his expert cello skills. Just all around amazing, and inspiring. Thanks Pentatonix, and thanks Jared!!
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
SPITPAINT
I joined this great facebook group my co-worker recommended called Daily Spitpaint, where you get a few words each day to prompt you, and then are challenged to speed paint something in 30 minutes. The deadline is strictly enforced. I am not a very fast painter, but I really want to learn how to speed paint. I'll be posting these to this art blog whenever I make them. Since they are 30 min. speed paints I can't imagine any of them will be masterpieces but hey, this art blog is more like a diary or sketchbook than a portfolio anyway. My first couple of paintings are more character-centered because that's what I'm more comfortable with, but in time I want to do more groups of figures and landscapes, to build up those skills.
"fetus"
"plant human"
"living doll"
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