Mic check one two

Here are a few logo concepts for Humber College's new recording studio. The client wanted to basically keep the college logo, but still say "recording industry". The consensus seems to be that the middle one is the way to go.

Last week's new arrival, this week's work in progress

ANOTHER UPDATE: Ok, so maybe a *little* more work couldn't hurt. Here's where I'm at as of this morning!


UPDATE: The work continues, I think maybe another day of work should finish it off nicely. Oh, and don't tell Judy! James wants her to be surprised.


I guess it's been a full week since I posted! Don't worry, I've been toiling away on new work, but these ones will take a bit longer to finish. In the meantime, here's a painting I'm working on of my brand spanking new niece, Lillian. If your reading this, James, make room on your wall! Hopefully it'll be done and dry by this weekend.

I switched to oils this week, and I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out so far. Looks like the next few pieces I do will be a mix of acrylics and oils. Stay tuned!

(sorry about the crappy cellphone pic, I promise I'll get a respectable scan of it once it's done!)

One for the ladies

Here's a painting I did this week as a gift for my friends Victoria and Laura. Kind of a warm-up before I move on to some bigger, more involved paintings. Acrylics on board, 12x24.

It's a poor substitute for a Luck Dragon

I was totally going for a "Neverending Story" meets "Shadow of the Colossus" thing here, but now that I look at it, I realize that I'm really just channeling Rey Ortega. I guess after sitting next to a guy for a year, he's bound to rub off on ya! Go check his stuff out, he's a beast!

Acorn Attack!

Another couple paintings from the ol' sketchbook. First, a horse! Girls like horses, right?
Next: They shouldn't have placed the nuclear power plant so close to those oak trees...
(the colours kind of got mutilated in the scanner)
General Takahashi gasped in horror as the missiles had no effect... fists clenched, he stepped forward to the radio. "God forgive me", he thought to himself, as he solemnly whispered the words he had hoped never to speak again:

"Summon Squirrelzilla"...

Acrylics: The Return

Back to using acrylic, and not a moment too soon! Today: Gay C3PO, and a Tasmanian devil. I suspect that if they were drawn this way in the cartoons, Bugs Bunny would have been a lot more intimidated.
I swear, one of these days I'll start drawing backgrounds...

Chet Baker squared

Scientists in Montreux, Switzerland have proven, through the use of modern computing techniques and advanced particle simulations, that it is a statistical impossibility to be as awesome as Chet Baker.

Added bonus: Some guys I saw at the Rex last night. Sly Juhas on drums, John Meyer (?) on bass. Still plugging away at using gouache, with mixed results.

Book Cover

Did I really never post this?


It's the cover art for a forthcoming saxophone method book. The client (local saxophone legend Charlie Finlay) wanted it very clean and diagram-ish, and intimidating! Accuracy, thankfully, was not a prerequisite.

Sketchbook Saturday

Here's some stuff I did today. It's always fun to switch up styles a bit...

First up, my brother Christian, auditioning for a role in Sin City 2. I'm trying out some gouache today, it's never been my forté. But practice makes perfect!

He's sick this week, so think convalescent thoughts...

Next, a detail of Michelangelo's Pieta. I'm not really happy with it, maybe I'll work on it some more.

Here's my cousin Julia, looking glamorous as always. Pretty girls = hard to draw. I don't know how Tessar does it.

....Aaand I got nothin'. Rusty robots are fun?

And this!

A Bold New Post!

Hi everyone!
I was getting bored of seeing the same thing every time I opened a browser window, and so I have been shamed into making a new post. Since I haven't been painting a lot lately (mostly busy applying for jobs, etc), we'll have to make do with some pages I did in my sketchbook yesterday. Pretty random, I cannot deny.



None of these are actually *of* anything, except for page 2, which is of a bass player Katie and I saw at Notre Dame de Paris way back when.

In reality, however, he did not have Spider-Man hands.

W. Garfield Weston

This kindly-looking fellow is W. Garfield Weston, Canadian businessman and philanthropist, and founder of the (aptly named) W. Garfield Weston Foundation. Through a scholarship, the foundation did a lot to help pay my way through college, so this painting is a thank-you to the Weston Family for their generous support. Hooray burnt umber! In related news, my scanner seems to be on its last legs.

More information on Weston and the foundation can be found here.

Slide Hampton

Here's a commission I just finished, a portrait of this guy, jazz legend Slide Hampton. Acrylics on board, 24x36". Now that school's over with I've got some time to take on projects like this, so if anyone wants something done, don't hesitate to give me a holler.

Moichindizing.

Well, I finally sent the skateboards off to their new home, where I hope they'll lead happy, fulfilling lives. It seems to me I never did post a picture of the finished set, so here goes:
(sorry that it's so grainy. Low light conditions, don't you know)
Furthermore, I've just been sent some photos of the new Christian Island Cottagers' Association merchandise, featuring a logo by yours truly.

T-Shirts!

Hats!

Sweatshirts!

Which, if you're the cottaging type, you can purchase here. It's all part of the early phases of my future merchandising empire. Hello Kitty had best watch her back.

Sheridan Headlines Show

Well, the end is finally here! We've had the first two nights of our BAA Graduation show, and I think it's safe to say that Sheridan's illustration students really knocked it out of the park. Up above you can see my board (big thanks to Jesse Helmer over at the CMSF/GWMSC for the photo). I actually ended up selling the Star Trek boards last night, which feels pretty great. If you haven't checked out the show yet, you've got until 6:00PM today! All the relevant details are can be found here.

Would you could you in a box?

As part of a project for my visual narrative class, I had to create an entire kids' book. Needless to say, this meant I had to do it all in a much faster style than I usually work in. It's about a kid who gets all kinds of presents for his birthday, but after a few days he solves the puzzles and beats the video games and the flashy toys run out of batteries, so he plays with the big box his toys came in. Here are a few pages, sorry the colours are so desaturated, but it comes with compressing files for the web.

Eric Overton's House of Cards

My business cards came in the mail today, they shine like glazed donuts in the sun. Now I just have to completely redo the site that it will guide people to (this is more than four years old, sadly!)

The design may bear a strange resemblance to the cards my brother got, but what can I say? Sometimes you only have time to make one design. Besides, random splashes of colour say "I am a creative professional" in the universal language (no, not math).

They look pretty good, but for anyone interested in using overnightprints.com bear in mind that UPS will kill you with the shipping cost. The best advice I can give is to get together with some other folks who are ordering and split the shipping. On the plus side, their turnaround is ridiculously fast.

Brought to you by the BBC

This week marks the last big push of my college career. As such, I haven't been getting a lot of sleep, but I have been watching dozens of BBC documentaries over the internet during my marathon painting sessions. I find having some kind of intellectual stimulation at 4 in the morning is pretty important to keeping my head in the game (and off of my desk)

Here are a couple of pieces I did this weekend: Another in my series of wrinkly, middle-aged Star Trek skateboards, this time featuring none other than Captain James T. Kirk! Following that up, we have a slightly more editorial piece on everyone's favourite prison-bound peer, Lord Conrad Black.

It's hard to believe that we're actually on the home stretch!

Peach Train Live at the Cage!

My band played our last Lounge Night of the year this week, and I think we went out with a bang. Katie also stepped up to the mic, and I had the pleasure of backing her up (despite my lack of guitar skills). Thanks to everyone who came out! The full photo album can be found here. Thanks to Ash for the photos!

In case anyone was wondering, Peach Train is:

Pat Butler - Drums
Mariah Burton - Banjo and Vocals
Ryan Lowe - Guitar
Eric Overton - Bass

Hyein Lee and Wendy Ding - Gogo dancers and honourary members.

Portfolio Movie

Here's a very quick little animation I did as part of my computer class. Sorry about the video/sound quality, I'll see if I can post a version that's not so compressed later on. Eagle-eared Sheridanites will note that the soundtrack features my band, Peach Train, which is amazing because it is comprised entirely of Sheridan Illustrators.

A Dizzy spell

Here's another I'm working on. I know, I know, the bell needs some work. All told, though, I'm pretty happy with how it's going.

Permission to board, captain?

So I decided to do something different for the skateboard deck. With any luck, I'll be able to corner the market on Spock-themed skateboards. I'm going to try and see if I can wash colour over top of this black and white painting, which could possibly speed up my painting process dramatically. Cara says if I apply a nice coat of matte medium over top, I should be able to sand it down to a nice smooth surface. Clemente says I should try using oils over top of my acrylics, which seems to be the way to go as well. How nice to be surrounded by pros!

I'll post it again once it's all gussied up nice-like. Stand by!

Weaker than what?

Hey! Here I am, still alive. I've been working on longer-term projects lately, but prepare to be barraged with scads of artistic goodies in the coming weeks.

For now, a quick (and poorly scanned) sketch of one John K. Sampson, of The Weakerthans fame. He's a fellow who manages to blend the sensitive lyrical stylings of a Bob Dylan with the rugged good looks of a Keith Richards. I think he might end up being painted on a skateboard deck. I'll keep you posted!