Creative Inspiration: Discovering Dad

hollydgilliam.blogspot.com

Terry Gilliam's daughter has started a blog called Discovering Dad about the treasures she's finding in her father's personal archive. Need I say more?

Creative Inspiration: Animalympics

Whenever it's Olympic season, I always remember an old animated TV special called the Animalympics that first aired sometime around the 1980 games. I fell in love with it back then, and can note it's influence on my drawing, cartooning, and humor now.

I even quote lines from it once in a awhile. "Not bad for a fatso" said in self-deprecating humor is one I often say.

The Animalympics were originally two separate TV specials, the winter games, and the summer games. When released later on VHS, the two specials were edited together as one and is the version most know today.

Thanks to YouTube, here it is below in 8 parts for your enjoyment (but more so mine). If you've never seen before, it's well worth your time. By the way, the "fatso" line I mentioned is in part 3.

Watch in-between London game events. I'm pretty sure anything Ryan Seacrest might report will not be better than this.

"Nailed it!"

I'm really looking forward to PARA NORMAN. Especially after seeing this Olympics inspired promo for the movie. My kind of macabre humor.

Creative Life Lessons

Making a prop look blood splattered with red paint is easy.

Calming neighbors after you placed it in the sunlight of your front yard to dry, not so easy.

Halloween Prep Gets The Go-Ahead.

The fiancee and I were watching TV together.

Out of the blue she said...

"Please start getting ready for Halloween now."

My heart soared. She wanted our house to be the spookiest in all the land.

But then she added...

"I don't want to spend another year hearing you whine about what you could of done last year."

Cartoon Caption Contest Update

Just wanted to let all who entered know, I'm going to start sending out your cartoons with your captions added this weekend.

Sorry it took longer than I hoped, life became surprisingly very busy lately.

If you've yet to e-mail me with your address to get your cartoon (and choice of caption, if you entered more than one) please do at DCLDESIGNS@AOL.COM

Evolution of a Zombie Horde

The evolution of the Geeks vs Zombies stage production poster I've been working on. From the first rough thumbnail idea to the recently finished illustration.

Drawing Board of the Living Dead

I'm sure there are better ways to spend a Friday instead of illustrating a zombie horde attack, but I can't think of one.

Creative Inspiration: Battery Recharge

Watching an old TV special from my youth featuring behind the scenes film "magic" always recharges the creative batteries. Below, in four parts, is not only the first "Making of Star Wars" TV special that I remember seeing, but I'm pretty sure was the first ever made about the galaxy far, far away.

The Making of Star Wars (1/4) - 1977 by La_Guerre_des_Etoiles

The Making of Star Wars (2/4) - 1977 by La_Guerre_des_Etoiles
The Making of Star Wars (3/4) - 1977 by La_Guerre_des_Etoiles
The Making of Star Wars (4/4) - 1977 by La_Guerre_des_Etoiles

My Review of BRAVE

Niece Devin and I saw BRAVE together.

After, I was unsure what the main character's name was. Because of the Scottish accents, I said it sounded like "Murder".

Devin looked up at me with daggers in her eyes and said "It's MERIDA" as if I had insulted her entire clan.

The film encouraged a 10 year old girl to correct an elder who was obviously wrong. Kudos PIXAR.

Cartoon Caption Contest: The Winner Is...

Congratulations to Scottie Stamper!

The votes have been counted and Scottie's caption won the grand prize custom prop baseball bat from Specter Studios and will also be today's cartoon on my web comic Para-Abnormal.

Don't feel too bad if you lost, as promised, everyone who entered will be e-mailed a hi-rez copy of the cartoon with their own submitted caption added as a thank you for playing and consolation prize.

E-mail me at DCLDESIGNS@AOL.COM to claim your prizes!

Please include the name you submitted your caption under (so I know who is who) and if you entered more than one caption, please tell me which one you'd like used in your copy (otherwise, I'll pick one).

Thanks to everyone who participated, and especially Specter Studios for providing the grand prize.

I hope all had fun.

Halloween '12: Fiendish Flowers and Scary Shrubs

Okay look, I know that I wrote awhile back about not posting any Halloween project ideas this year that weren't well under way. That was stupid of me. Who am I kidding? Sharing my October ideas, sketches, and possible plans here has become addictive. It's fun, and I like doing it even when I know it's not good for me.

The big problem is, I post some ideas with impulsive promises and commitments to make happen by the 31st. I set myself up for failure and always look back on something and think "Why did I say I was definitely going to do that"? So, I'm still going to share Halloween yard ideas, but not describe any as definite plans.

Alright fresh start.

Anyway, this is what I'm definitely making this year.... awwww dammit Dave.

Nevermind, this is the fresh start. Definitely.

I've been doodling fiendish flowers and scary shrub ideas for the front yard. Thinking up any kind of monster plant that doesn't resemble Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors is almost impossible. But it's fun to try.

They'll be part of a small garden tended by old Mrs. Scaryweather, she's been missing for a couple of years now (broke and busted). I wanted to bring her back last October, as envisioned in the sketch below, but ran out of time. I'm hoping to actually create this scene in the corner of the front yard. If I'm able to make the faux pumpkin patch, it would be a nice to work in the pumpkin cart and scarecrow from last year as well.

Cartoon Caption Contest: TIME TO VOTE!

Well, I consider this contest a success. There were a whopping number of entries. Many gave me really big laughs. Thanks to all who entered!

But per the rules, unfortunately some good ones have to be taken out of the running for the grand prize faux baseball bat from Specter Studios. Two captions were coincidentally entered multiple times by different people  ("Swim Softly and carry a big stick!" and "Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty."). Two other captions are voided not being from the continental US - "Hello Mr. Cat... say 'hello' to my little friend."(Canada) and "Batter up in a game of Bassball." (Japan). These entrants will still get a copy of the cartoon from me with their captions added as a thank you for playing.

That leaves 55 eligible captions. Here's the voting process and rules (please read all):

-Vote for THREE entries. No more, no less (and no voting for one three times).
-List your choices by the corresponding number as a comment to this post only.
-Yes, you can vote for yourself, but you're limited to picking only one of your captions. Your other two votes must go to someone else.
-Anyone can vote... those who entered, those who didn't and anyone from anywhere in the world.
-No anonymous comments. All votes must have some name or handle attached.
-Due to the long list of entries, I'm extending the voting time beyond the originally planned 48 hours. Polls will now close on Monday July 2, at 9am (Pacific) and 12pm (Eastern). The winner will be announced shortly after.
-No changing votes once you've posted. So read them carefully. Take your time choosing, no rush, there's 5 days until the deadline.
-To keep it fair, like before, using the "comment approval" feature, all votes will be held from being visible until the polls close. But I will update the comment box listing who has voted so you know I got yours.

Okay, here's the cartoon again followed by the list of possible captions to choose from. Good luck everyone!

 

1. "Go pound sand."
2. "You'll be sleeping with the fishes."
3. "I'll let it slide this time."
4. "This ain't no deep fried fish batter, I mean to hit it passed the great coral reef!"
5. "If that scuba diver comes back, I'm ready."
6. "I wonder if this is how 'Catfish' Hunter got his start?"
7. "Carlton 'Fish', up at bat..."
8. "They told me life as a sports celebrity is like living in a fishbowl. I had no idea it was like this!"
9. "Ricky's trying to 'carp' the bat again."
10. "Don't you think being on the swim team would be a more appropriate sport for me?"
11. "I told you I wanted SALMON FLAKES!"
12. "Did I just hear a flush?"
13. "Beat on the brat with a baseball bat, oh yeah."
14. "Curveball? I prefer knocking a furball out of the park."
15. "I tawt I taw a puddy tat."
16. "Let that cat stick his face in here one more time!"
17. "Actually Wanda failed to see the irony and never liked Kevin Klein as an actor to begin with."
18. " Sure life had been better ever since that day at the carnival when Yogi's life was changed forever. But he was never going to miss that opportunity again."
19. "My favorite news channel? FOX News, why do you ask?"
20. "The Walking Dead season 3 starts July 7th."
21. "After the house cat got into those chemicals under the sink, the fish had to go to new lengths to protect his fins."
22. "As The Creature From The Black Lagoon's bookie, fishman had to collect eventually."
23. "The 'Cash For Goldfish' ad began as a joke, but soon the economy pushed them to them too far."
24. "The fish was glad they remembered his birthday, but he felt like they didn't put a lot of thought into the gifts." 
25. "I'm going to knock this one out of the bowlpark!"
26. "Let that cat try something now!"
27. "The rare and reclusive hermit goldfish."
28. "Insured by Louisville Slugger."
29. "Now Batting for the Florida Marlins, Bubbles Blutarsky." 
30. "Now that spawning season was over Chester knew he could concentrate on HIS game."
31. "Goldy is determined to break Babe Ruth's record, if only the cat wasn't playing first base."
32. "Meet Catfish Hunter's lesser known cousin, Goldfish Gary."
33. "The only pitch Gary couldn't hit was the sinker!""
34. "I got your fishing license right here buddy." 
35. "Babe Ruth never adjusted to this particular reincarnation"
36. "You will wish I were a piranha; and STOP CALLING ME NEMO!" 
37. "Huh? Huh? I'm swimmin' here, just swimmin' here. You make your move..." 
38. "You talkin' ta me? You talkin' ta ME? Well I'm the only one here..." 
39. "Am I here justa swim around for ya? Huh? Just swim swim swim all day. For YOU? Ya, I'll swim for ya. C'mere!"
40. "Seriously. Knock on the glass just one more time, I DARE you!" 
41. "Go ahead, touch my new Specter bat...I dare ya."
42. "Zombie Threat Level: Orange!"
43. "Goldie decided that if the next pitch came close enough to hit him, he'd rush the mound."
44. "I hate all you can eat sushi night!"
45. "Do I look like I'm being koi with you?!"
46. "This cat is gonna realize my memory is better than he thought."
47. "Tap the glass again... I dare you."
48. "Like shooting WHAT in a barrel?!" 
49. "FISH FLAKES!!!! Well no more..."
50. "At one time babe ruth didn’t believe in reincarnation. Needless to say, he did change his mind."
51. "Due to a mix-up at the North Pole, little Bobby is opening up a bubbling treasure chest this Christmas morning."
52. "This home is protected by Goldfish Home Protection Systems Inc." 
53. "Tap on my bowl one more time and see what happens, I dare ya!"
54. "It's a Cinderella story, out of nowhere, former castle groundskeeper, about to become MLB World Series Champion..."
55. "Nobody gets in to see the Wizard, not nobody!"

Cartoon Caption Contest: Limited Time to Enter!

There's little more than 24 hours left to enter my cartoon caption contest and win a realistic, faux baseball bat prop from Specter Studios. The deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday June 27th at 9AM pacific (12PM eastern)!

Think up a caption, or a word balloon, or a thought balloon or any combo of, for the cartoon below.

All entries will be voted on.

It's not too hard. The cartoon is not exactly begging to be captioned with insightful, globally significant, smug words that only a select number of obscure political historians would find funny.

But, if you do come up with a joke that makes those types laugh out loud, major kudos to you and stop wasting your intelligence reading my blog.

For all the details, and to enter your caption idea, click here.

Geeks VS Zombies

My latest project is creating some fun art for an original stage play, coming to The Complex Theater in Hollywood this August. I think the title says it all.

An old friend Roger Mathey, who is producing and directing, asked me to design the logo (above) and illustrate the main poster (which is in the works). The font for ZOMBIES is called Swamp Witch by Chad Savage (and used with his permission), found on his great site Sinistervisions.

Here's a teaser for the play from it's first, sold-out run at The Empty Space in Bakersfield CA.



Do you want to help see the undead become a respected force in the theatrical community? You can support the production by visiting here (and get a copy of the poster plus other perks). In lieu of that, maybe spread the word about the play to your zombie loving friends?