JaMiE BaKeR: fallout

Another of the sketches for the characters I posted earlier here and here.

Here is another bit of professional work done on a project that went into hibernation. It is an exploration for an easy-to-draw futuristic flight suit. Although the colours I had in mind were black, grey and purple, I hoped that it might look a bit skeletal when worn.

A few years ago I was given the chance to design my version of a certain martial arts bear that is currently entertaining audiences in movie theatres across the land. The job was only for two or three days, just until the creative team came to their senses and used the supernaturally talented designer who was already working at that studio (there is a certain sense of satisfaction in knowing that my lameness was instrumental in pushing them in the right direction). In the short time available, I only got as far as a few pages of scribbles, but this Big Baby version is one of my favourites of the several variations I came up with.

If you haven’t seen this movie yet, by all means hurry out and see it soon. I think that it is one of the best animated movies in years. It is gorgeous to look at and beautifully animated with some of the best action sequences I’ve seen in any movie lately; fast paced, kinetic and cutty without ever being confusing… The story is funny without being flippant or snide, or drenched in pop-culture wise-ass-ery. Plus, it really delivers some pure, sweet moments that aren’t saccharine, which is one of the hardest things to do in any movie.

Here is my take on “the baddie” in a project I worked on recently. The job died almost as soon as I delivered the artwork… which was a bunch of character studies; both B/W sketches and a few colour pics like this one. 90% of such jobs tend to die on the operating table.

This is my contribution to an upcoming charity art auction. It was done with Prisma Colour and Aquarelle pencils on toned pastel paper. I was happy with the sketch, but unfortunately, the rendering in the final piece didn’t come out quite as well as I’d hoped. It is a little overworked… but I ran out of time, so it is what it is…

I have been doing a lot of travelling around lately; I was working in Portland for a few weeks and then flew to the East Coast to spend a week with my brother and his family at their new home in Virginia. Then, before coming back to Portland, I made a quick trip to San Francisco to attend the wrap party for Pixar’s latest movie, WALL-E.

This is definitely one of the most ambitious pictures that Pixar has ever made. Seeing Pixar’s version of sci-fi is a lot of fun (I have always had a soft spot for cartoon science fiction, such as DUCK DODGERS). A lot of people are going to fall in love with the main character of this film. Thanks to some great design and some superb animation, that rusty robot is a very, very appealing little guy on screen. I worked on WALL-E a few years ago, doing a little work in the art department, followed by a short stint in the story team. And yet, it has been so long since I had seen any of the story reels that there had been quite a few changes to the story, so I had some surprises in watching the film. Being able to watch a movie that you’ve worked on with more-or-less fresh eyes is a treat.

The big surprise for me was seeing PRESTO, the new Pixar short directed by Doug Sweetland. I had heard nothing at all about what this project was about, although I knew that it was being made, and that some great talents (such as Doug Sweetland, Teddy Newton and the mighty Ted Mathot) were working on it. Because I knew nothing at all about it, it was a real joy to watch. It has a great premise that is beautifully designed, full of clever ideas, involving some really funny, broad physical comedy… all brought to life with whip-crack animation timing and great posing. It is probably my favourite Pixar short, so far. I wont say anything more, lest I spoil the fun for the rest of you.