Final Art of 2024!

 Here's my final art of 2024, with my original kaiju, Rekira, waving goodbye to his inspiration/hero, Godzilla, after the King of the Monsters' 70th Anniversary turned out very well. Despite its problems, 2024 was still a very good year!

Done on tablet in FireAlpaca.

Happy 70th Birthday, Godzilla!

 Today is the 70th Anniversary of my favorite character of all time (tied with Snoopy), Godzilla! This was a super-quick sketch that I did (on tablet in FireAlpaca) while watching Godzilla Fest.

Happy 15th Anniversary, Lily Merriweather!

 Today is the 15th Anniversary of the creation of my second project, Lily Merriweather! Yes, it's still in the works (while I'm at work with Rekira the Super-Monster). While it's possible to do it as CG (and you'll probably see that on the side at some point), I'd much rather do it as hand-drawn (mainly because this was meant to be a hand-drawn project).

Done this morning on tablet in FireAlpaca.

Rekira: 33rd Anniversary: V3 Beta Unveiled!

 At last, for Rekira's 33rd Anniversary today, you get your first full look at the new V3 Beta model!

Done in Blender and FireAlpaca.

Happy 50th Anniversary to GODZILLA VS. MEGALON!

 Today has been the 50th Anniversary of my personal favorite Godzilla movie, Godzilla Vs. Megalon (Toho; 1973)! Not only one of the earliest Godzilla movies I ever saw, but also the first movie I was ever taken to see in the cinema, at the now-defunct Loew's Spooner Theater in the Bronx.

Here is my tribute drawing to said film.

Recreating one of the famous publicity photos from the film, here are (left to right): Rekira, Dengeking, Jet Jaguar, and Godzilla. The first two are original creations of mine, with inspiration drawn from the latter two. :)

Done today on tablet in FireAlpaca. Shared in full size!

Godzilla's 67th Birthday!

New drawing of my own kaiju, Rekira, shaking hands with his main inspiration, and one of my favorite characters of all time, Godzilla, for the monster's 67th Birthday today! Not the first time I've drawn such a moment, but I always have fun doing so.

Drawn on tablet in FireAlpaca.

Rekira's 30th Anniversary!

So 30 years ago today, I began on what ultimately became Rekira the Super-Monster! Who would've thought an angsty Godzilla fanfiction comic from my teenage years would ultimately become a more refined (yet still angsty, deep down) original personal work? I'm surprised at how far I've come, and very excited at what I'm doing with it. (You've seen some further WIP for the project.) :)

This was taken in Blender, then assembled in FireAplaca.

Godzilla's 65th Anniversary!

Anniversary drawing, done on tablet in FireAlpaca.

Happy 10th Anniversary, Lily Merriweather!

No I hadn't forgotten. ;)

So it was 10 years ago today when I drew a little girl, and a couple of weeks later, I named her Lily Merriweather! The star of my other project after Rekira the Super-Monster.

Drawn in FireAlpaca on tablet.

Happy 90th Anniversary, Tintin and Popeye!

Done on pencil sketch (January 9th), traced/colored on tablet in FireAlpaca tonight. :)

Superman and Spirou's 80th Anniversary!

You've already seen the one I did for their 75th Anniversary, but as that one was completely done on tablet, I was determined to do better. This time, I did a pencil sketch as the base for this drawing, "inked" and colored on tablet in FireAlpaca. This looks much better. :)

Ultra Seven's 50th Anniversary!

50 years ago tomorrow, Ultra Seven (Tsuburaya; 1967), the third Ultra Series (and the most popular among fans) first aired on Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) and its affiliates!  As I discussed through the years, I have always considered Ultra Seven himself to be the Japanese equivalent to Superman, and one of the best superheroes of all time.

As you've noticed, the 1940s animated Superman by the Fleischer Brothers (the ultimate adaptation, IMHO) is the inspiration for this fanart.  :)

Done on tablet in FireAlpaca.

Happy 60th Anniversary, Godzilla!

I haven't forgotten.  I'd never forget Godzilla's 60th Anniversary!  I've been planning this drawing all day, and was surprised I did this in short order!  :)

On tablet in FireAlpaca.

Happy 85th Anniversary, Tintin & Popeye!

Done tonight (January 10) on tablet in Photoshop!  I wanted to do this, and almost missed out on doing this (because of a surprise visit from my brother Peter).  For their 85th Anniversary (a week apart), here's Elzie Crisler Segar's Popeye, holding Georges Prosper Remi ("Hergé")'s Tintin (who's trying to keep his balance on Popeye's palm while holding his dog Milou/Snowy).  :)

First art of 2014!

Here's my first artwork for 2014!  On tablet in FireAlpaca.  Here's to a great New Year, and 60 more years.  ;)

59 Years of Godzilla

Happy 59th Anniversary to my all-time favorite character, Godzilla.  The most versatile movie monster ever created, in the course of 28 Japanese-produced films by Toho Company, Ltd., he has evolved from a poetic avatar of nuclear destruction to a reluctant antihero, an anthropomorphic superhero, a tragic force of nature, and even a specter of war.  This monster has played many roles through the years, and people either appreciate them all or have a favorite.  And this is what made Godzilla a timeless, enduring character.  It is also hoped that the upcoming film by Legendary Pictures (to be released next year) will capture all of his best qualities.

In tribute, I did this quick illustration on tablet in Photoshop this morning.  Enjoy!

Paramount/Famous Studios Spirou (Happy 75th Anniversary!)

I couldn't help but imagine something like this!  Happy 75th Anniversary, Spirou.  :)

This was drawn today in Flash (over an animation project I did for fun), and signed in Photoshop.

Happy 75th Anniversary, Superman & Spirou!

Two of the most famous comic-book characters in the world, born just 3 days apart, and what better way to celebrate than have both appear together!  :)

Here is the first traditional American costumed superhero, Superman (created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster), carrying with him one of French Belgium's most beloved bande dessinée (French term for comic-book or comic-strip) characters, the adventurous bellboy Spirou (created by Robert "Rob-Vel" Velter)!  The characters debuted on Action Comics #1 (National Allied Publications, now DC Comics; April 18, 1938) and Le Journal de Spirou #1 (Dupuis Publishing; April 21, 1938), respectively.  I started on this on the evening of April 17, finished after midnight (April 18), just in time for Superman's Anniversary.  Done on tablet in Photoshop, and in a slightly higher resolution than what I've worked with lately!

BTW, I apologize if Superman looks disproportionate.  (It's difficult to draw from scratch with my Bamboo tablet!)  LOL!  Still, this is the first time in years that I drew the traditional Superman, and I like how it came out, in spite of the flaws.  (And this is the first time I actually drew Spirou!)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and Happy 40th Anniversary, GODZILLA VS. MEGALON!

As I'm one third Irish (I'm also German and Puerto Rican, BTW), I've always wanted to do a St. Patrick's Day-themed doodle!  But at the same time, 40 years ago today, one of my all-time favorite films was released in Japan: Godzilla Vs. Megalon (Toho; 1973)!  Besides being my personal favorite Godzilla film, it was also the first film I was ever taken to see in theaters.

So why not do a crossover art?  Here's Lily Merriweather, dressed in green, and wearing a 4-leaf clover brooch in place of her regular flower brooch.  She's riding piggyback on Dengeking, as Rekira watches in interest.  This is basically a reenactment of the closing scene of the aforementioned film.  :)

The line at the right, incidentally, says, "Don't cry, we'll try harder, too!"  (My translation of the closing sentence, "Naku na, bokura mo ganbarou!", in "With Godzilla And Jet Jaguar, Punch, Punch, Punch!" - the closing theme song for Godzilla Vs. Megalon, sung by my all-time favorite Japanese singer, Masato Shimon.)

This makes a good companion piece to the one I did last year!

 

Happy New Year! 2013 (and Anniversary Announcement)

Yep, it all started this coming Christmas 25 years ago, with a Fisher-Price PXL-2000 Camcorder, and a lifelong dream.  :)

So I'm sure to work on some exciting stuff this year, in celebration of this event.  I hope you all have a wonderful year as well!