The Frogs of Boriken

My New Year's resolution will most likely be the same as the last two previous years...to blog more often. So I figured, why not start early. In an effort to post more often I will be posting more sketches. These are for a side project to one of my side projects. It's called the frogs of Boriken. I will share more as it evolves.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's to a great Thanksgiving Day!

Ned Norman

My friend Ned Norman and I go way back to the New York days. After losing contact for almost 15 years we got back in touch a couple of years ago. Ironically we both ended up in Southern California. Ned just updated his website and started a blog as well. Check it out, he's got great stuff on there! The linl is NedNorman.com

Happy Halloween!

I can't believe we are starting the holiday season already. I love this time of year, but it's always the busiest time of year as well. So I took this opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.  This post is a holiday greeting, as well as this trial painting of Kokí. I want to achieve a gouache look on my follow up titles.

I always loved that dry brush look. My buddy Peter Emslie is a master at traditional gouache and posted a bunch of his works on his blog, Cartoon Cave. If you love dry brush you have to check them out. Here's the link: Peter Emslie's The Cartoon Cave

Kiki Kawaii

I've been working at a simple Japanese-Style look for Kiki Kokí for a while. This weekend my daughter Lauren helped me work out the porportions on this guy. She even named this version of him as Kiki Kawaii. There will be more of this guy, that's for sure.

Family Affair

I've been meaning to collaborate with my kids (each a great artist in their own right) on some projects. Here I rendered one of Alyssa's drawings. I don't think I did her original justice. It's just too cute.

Cool Kid

This is a character design I did a while back for an animation project.

New Kiki Art

This is a piece I created for an upcoming project with my Kiki Koki character. News to follow on that.

Koki Coloring Books

Above: Photo of the actual books.

Above: Art I created for the covers.

I just received samples of coloring books featuring my character Kiki Kokí. They were published by iScholar of New York. Ironically they arrived on the one year anniversary of the book's launch. The books are currently shipping to retailers in Puerto Rico.

More Adams Family

Here's a far shot. You can see that they created a series of cameos for each character.

Adams Family on Broadway

I was in NYC last week and snapped a shot of the theatre that's playing a stage version of the Adams Family. They used the classic comic art style for their marketing. I thought it looked fun.

Happy July 4th!

As you may have noticed, I love drawing birds. Here is to a happy, safe and relaxing July 4th.

King of the Jungle

Quick color comp.

Feliz Navidad and Happy New Year!

It was one year ago that I started my blog. While I didn't create the amount of illustrations and sketches I was hoping to fill it with, I did have a very productive and satisfying 12 months. In January I completed the illustrations for my first children's story, Kiki Kokí. Since then the project has consumed my life outside of work.

To put things into perspective I started the year with a book mock-up, by mid September I had self published and launched the book and Plush, formed an LLC, designed and maintained a Web Site, In November I shipped my 2nd printing, launched a line of Kiki Kokí Tee shirts and did two media and publicity trips to Puerto Rico.. and tons of marketing requirements along the way.

2011 will proablly be even busier as some of the development projects at work are gaining steam and Kiki Kokí is turning into a brand. That said I hope to continue to grow as an artist. I need to carve out time to draw, illustrate and post art on this blog. So check in from time to time to keep me honest.

Here's to all of us having a productive 2011. Happy New Year!