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!

Just finished a quick art piece for New Year's Eve!  On tablet in Photoshop.  The pic will say the rest.  :)

The Great Conjunction Date!

Just a little something I quickly whipped up on Flash tonight for fun.  I did this in celebration of tomorrow's date!  I was compelled to, as stuff like this has fascinated me for the longest time.  :)

Happy Thanksgiving! - 2012

Done tonight (November 22, Thanksgiving morning) on tablet in Photoshop.  :)

Happy 45th Anniversary, Ultra Seven!

Done tonight on tablet in Photoshop, this is the first new tablet art I've done in a month, after moving to a new Richmond neighborhood!  And it couldn't have been a better occasion, as tonight is the 45th Anniversary of one of my top favorite superheroes, Ultra Seven!  Japan's answer to Superman.  The TV series, Ultra Seven (Tsuburaya; 1967), created by Eiji Tsuburaya (as an unofficial follow-up to his previous hit, Ultraman), premiered on the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) on this day in 1967!  And for this occasion, Rekira (giving a piggyback ride to Lily Merriweather) shakes the hand of one of his inspirations.  (Another character I made, Dengeking, is influenced by Seven as well!)

Have a great one!

RIP Jerry Nelson and Neil Armstrong

I was sad to hear that veteran Muppet performer Jerry Nelson (78) and pioneer astronaut Neil Armstrong (82) have died Thursday and today (Saturday), respectively, so I whipped up this bit of art featuring Rekira and Lily Merriweather flying into outer space.  Done on tablet in Photoshop.

Thanks for the great memories, Jerry and Neil.  We'll miss you.

Happy (Belated) Independence Day! - 2012

I had wanted to do this yesterday, but the schedule was hectic, and a lot has been going on during the week.  (My big sister is going in for a bone marrow surgery tomorrow, so I wish her best of luck.)  But I did a 4th of July artwork anyway.  Here's Lily Merriweather garnished in American colors/symbolism, done tonight on tablet in Flash!

Hope you had a great one!

In Development: MERRY WEATHER!

Here is a first look at my second comic project under development, Merry Weather!

This is my own attempt at one of my favorite genres, funny cartoon girls' adventures, mixed with the wild and wacky style of Famous Studios (one of my favorite animation studios) and Spümco. Although I had started on the project in early February, I had first drawn the main character as early as July of last year, however, when I was trying my hand at drawing retro-style cartoon kids.

Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking (one of my favorite characters) and the Nickelodeon series The Mighty B! (one of my favorite cartoons) are major influences behind this project. (The cancellation of the latter was what really drove me to basically do my own version.) I'm working on this series as I get Rekira ready.

Here is Lily Merriweather, the heroine of the story. (The title, Merry Weather, is a play on her last name.) Drawn in pencil on July 21, and colored in Photoshop with my Bamboo Fun Wacom tablet.
Likewise with this drawing of Lily's home, the Shoreflower, done on June 22. Even as a concept sketch, I was very proud of how this came out. This was partly inspired by the houses by our beachside timeshare in the Outer Banks.

Here is the very first color drawing I did of Lily, done completely in Photoshop with my Bamboo Fun tablet, on July 22, 2009. Based on a sketch I did on a very small piece of scrap paper in early July that year (which I'll post some other time).

I'll be posting more stuff as the project develops!

REKIRA - Production Art 01

To start with, here are some of the kaijuu appearing in the upcoming comic project, Rekira the Super-Monster!

All of these basic designs were done with my Bamboo Fun Wacom tablet. Dates included.

Starfish Monster ASTERIAS (Hitode Kaijuu ASUTERIASU):
Steam Monster ATMOS (Suijouki Kaijuu ATOMOSU):
Rock Monster BRACHOS (Ganseki Kaijuu BURAKOSU):
Electric Eel Monster CHELIOS (Den-Unagi Kaijuu KERIOSU):
Ghost Monster FANTOMOS (Yuurei Kaijuu FANTOMOSU):
Volcano Monster FLOGOS (Kazan Kaijuu FUROGOSU):
Cockroach Monster KATSARIDAS (Gokiburi Kaijuu KATOSARIDASU):
Jellyfish Monster MEDUSA (Kurage Kaijuu MEDOUSA):
Gorilla Monster PITHIKOS (Gorira Kaijuu PISHIKOSU):
And of course, the Big Guy himself...
Super-Monster REKIRA (Chouriki Kaijuu REKIRA):


More designs on the way! Stay tuned!

Re-Introduction!

Welcome back, readers, to the new Ryusei Works art blog!

The image above, which I'm kicking off this blog's return with, is the new official Ryusei Productions emblem in the updated "RyuseiScope" logo, to be used in video projects. Still TohoScope/ShawScope/Famous Studios-inspired, but much, much better-looking, IMHO! (I love the rotating "ring" in the new logo with the bi-lingual "Ryusei Productions" engraved on both sides.)

Now, let me introduce myself...

I'm John Paul Cassidy. I'm originally from Bronx, NY, now residing Richmond, VA. I'm a lifelong fan of Godzilla and other Japanese monsters, Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts, and Jim Henson's Muppets. These works, among other productions on the big and small screen, as well as comic-books and childrens' storybooks, greatly inspired me to become an artist. I drew a lot as a kid, drawing my favorite characters, and I even aspired to be a filmmaker, mostly in the special effects department.

Over the years, I've watched tokusatsu (Japanese special effects), anime (Japanese animation), cartoon shows, movies (both animated and live-action), and I've even collected toys, DVDs, CDs, books, and all other things that not only do I love, but they inspire me as an artist.

I would love to continue to experiment with my animation and filmmaking techniques, but I also love cartooning and sequential art. In my opinion, unlike filmmaking and animation, comics can be the most personal form of storytelling, in both words and pictures. Also important is design (characters, settings, logos), which is a talent I enjoy as well. Especially when I tell a story with sequential art, it helps to know what the characters look like.

Aside from drawing my favorite characters, I became inspired to make my own, as well as my own stories. In the coming posts, I'll talk about my most personal creation, Rekira, as well as show some pictures of the related project I'm currently working on.

In the next posts, I will start off with a parade of fanart of my favorite characters over the years!