Buh-loggin'

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines...right?

New posts are on their way!

Nausea-stalgia

I have a sketchblog?

Here's a quick posting to show I'm still around!
New website that will integrate all the blogs and sketchy-comic-whosits to debut soon!

Until then, here's a drawing that I did for someone's facebook wall...I wish I could remember who it was...hrmm-mm...

Happy Holidays from Eric!

Happy Holidays and a big "thank you!" to everyone out there for your support and interest!

Its been an exciting and busy year and the new year is shaping up to be full of surprises, wonderment and cups of coffee.

All the best to you & yours...

Birthday fun...

I've been enjoying whipping up some sketches for friends and posting them on facebook upon notification of their birthdays!

Here's a few:

Hollerween 2008!

Its that time again! New zombie print for sale at Looks Can Kill in Calgary, Tart Gallery in Vancouver or by emailing me.

Also for sale is last year's Zombie lovers for $25 plus shipping...

Steve's Wedding stuff

Congratulations to my lil' brother and new lil' sister-in-law! They kindly asked me to design their wedding invites, and were even brave enough to let me do the lettering!


The RSVP card:

The inevitable powerpoint of baby bottoms and goofy school photos was a wedding highlight, and I was asked to whip up some title screens for the slideshow segments.


Thanks to the happy couple and we all wish them all the best!

Diggin' Draplin

I'm walking around grinning like a doofus these days sporting some pretty sweet duds from the inimitable Draplin Design Co...and fired of a little sketch to show my appreciation. This appreciation was returned with a lovely little write-up on their blog...so a quick "Hello" to all you Draplin link-following folk...Thanks for stopping by!

Curse-d Cookies

Boy, and I thought the bakery in Sackville (mmm...ginger snaps) was all I had to worry about!
Thanks to Michele & Dan, I now have to worry about over-consumption of "Mrs. Dunster's Wholewheat Donut Holes" which are apparently exclusive to the maritimes as well.

Doesn't everything sound better with "wholewheat" in front of it?

"Why yes, I'd love another piece of that wholewheat chocoate cheesecake*!" See?



*--please note, there is no such thing as wholewheat chocolate cheesecake...

IF: Detach

A quick IF today, then off to walk the puppy...

This was actually drawn on a yellow notepad, but I faked it on the computer for a cleaner finished product...what can i say?

Drawing amidst the heat...

NB has been hot this week...don't know what a humidex is, but it sounds diabolical. Poor puppy...she's like a slobbery rug on the hardwood floor...

Draw Yourself as a Teen

click for bigger

You knew I'd have to get in on this...in internet time, its probably not even cool to draw yourself as a teen anymore...an appropriate time for me to jump in I guess.

The meme seems to be dwelling here: http://davario.livejournal.com/30861.html

IF: Seed

Took a break from a caricature to whip up this wee little seed for Illustration Friday. Felt a little ominous (might be the Gary Panter interview I'm listening too...who knows) so I tried to cheer it up with colours.

May 3 is Free Comic Book Day!

I will be at Gamezilla in Moncton for Free Comic Book Day. Come on down and say "Hi!" and make some comics, do some sketches...might even be making some Artist Trading Cards (Moncton really needs to get on board with those!).

See you there!

IF: Pet Peeves

We had a few days of spring (before winter returned with an icestorm and more snow last week) revealing multiple layers of garbage, broken glass and of course...dog poop.

Its the 21st century! Pick up yer poop!

IF: Heavy

You know spring is ready to get sprung when you are walking the pup-dog along the shore of the lake and the huge, thick plates of ice begin shifting, overlapping and cracking in half. What a sound! Like a deep thunder with a bright sharp splitting sound...

My ke-rack is no Don Martin onomatopoeia, but does the trick...speaking of onomatopoeia, had visit to Ape-lad's latest project yet?

Spring Thaw

Hey everyone, Yes! I am still around...drawing and trying to stay warm! Why did I organize my studio space so far from the woodstove?

There are a few projects on the go right now, at various stages of development...a big project that is in its early sketch stages is an exciting research experience (thank goodness for google books) as well as an intruiging fusion of my education and cartooning backgrounds.

Here is a little peek at some of that project's upcoming imagery:




I am really enjoying getting to meet all of the cartooning and art stars in our new home city...and have been welcomed into the community enthusiastically.

A nearby rural school (home to Scott Tingley of Comics in the Classroom fame) has seemingly adopted me (!) as one of their own...and we had a wonderful time working together and I look forward to further workshops and opportunities to collaborate with all these great kids.

(photo from RCS)

One of the workshops involved working with the Grade 3s on their logo for a website full of their comics, writing and other literacy projects...eventually we all agreed on some ideas for the lettering and I produced a banner for the website based on all of the wonderfully quirky ideas:

IF: Multiple

For Teri, by request!



Won't be able to get to colouring this in the next few days, so we will have to enjoy it in its monochromatic splendor.

Thanks to all the Illustration Friday folks that have stopped by to say hello!

Frye Festival Lecture

Was fortunate enough to hear about a lecture being given by Philip André Collette here in Moncton on Frye's Educated Imagination. André is a friend of ours, and it was great to see his presentation....he's a very dynamic and empassioned speaker,

Sketching at Teri's knitting night...

More sketching at the Craft & Draught with Teri...lots of animated characters and people sitting still! i was able to spend a little more time than usual watching facial expressions...

IF: Choose

Wishful thinking...I know, the little stinker! And always my expensive shoes and not the cheap ones. How does she know??

Pictures for Stacey

Helping out Stacey with a project...got some pretty fun pictures in the end!

Eric Does the Comix Jam poster!

"For the gang in Moncton and environs:

Okay, we're de retour after skipping December...

The next monthly Monkeytown Comix Jam is this coming Monday, January 28 at the Laundromat (corner of Cameron and St.-George.) Starts about 7pm; ends when Marky kicks us out. (Usually 2am.)

Show up! Drink beer! Draw comix and stuff!


Ke, pis on est back apres avoir sauté le mois de decembre...

Le prochain Monkeytown Comix Jam aura lieu lundi le 28 janvier au cafe Laundromat (angle Cameron et Saint-George.) On commence, comme toujours, vers 19h.

Venez! Boire de la biere! Faites des bedes... et stuff."

Mon Qui Towne is online!

I've finally found a home for the comic strip I started this year...its still in its infant stages, but here we go! Each strip is based either wholly or in part on conversations had/overheard and people I've met here in our new home in Moncton, NB. The conversations usually end up with a hearty "How d'ya like THAT, Alberta-boy??", but I haven't found it necessary to include that...

Here's the link...
If you think your home paper, alt-weekly, etc would be a happy home for Mon Qui Towne, please contact me @ info@ericdyck.com

Thanks to Scott & BOOM magazine for giving me an excuse to get started...

birthday monkey

Birthday illo for a friend...

IF: excess

A little slow this week...sat down to colour this just tonight...and the reason is pretty obvious. I've been doing a lot of this activity this week!

Threadless'n

I got a pretty good response to the last tee submission...so here goes again!!

Vote for me, I get paid, and we all get nice t-shirts!

Threadlessness

Hey folks,

Please head on over to Threadless to vote for my T-shirt entry...and mebbe...just mebbe...they might print it, and then you too can own an eric tee. We'll see.

Thanks!

Just click link below:

IF: "scale"

Idea: first outta my head
Tools: All on the tablet in photoshop
Background: listening to the WW podcast for the first time

I think they're calling it Craft & Draught now...

The following sketches were done at the Laundromat's knit/sew/craft & DJ night. Teri joined in to knit up a storm, and I was a) glad that I wasn't the only dude there and b) took the opportunity to sketch 20+ people sitting around not moving much!

Met lots of great Moncton folk too...they were very welcoming and had lots of wonderful stories to tell over their knittin' & purlin' (note to self: not moving to rural Labrador any time soon). Discussions soon turned to Guerrilla Knitting a la Suzen Green, so we'll keep our eyes open for illicit woolen coverings.

Sketch dump

Time for a new sketch dump:

IF: "Hat"

Hey IF folks!

Illustration Friday's word this week is "hat".

Drawn with my dusty ol' Pentel brush...

Arne

"Arne from Olds, AB"
We met Arne shortly after we moved, and he is a bit of a local celebrity here. Arne is the unstoppable force behind the St. George Soup N' Sandwich shop (I'm still reminiscing about that Pork/Apple Cider-sauteed onion sandwich...mmmm...) and slings coffee at the Laundromat on occasion, as well as leading by example in the organic food/sustainable gardening/ Monkey Money scene.

Arne has been kind and very generous in making us feel welcome and helping us to fit in a little 'round Moncton.

Lost: if found, please return

Tim Horton's Sketches

Got rained out walking to a late-night concert...sought refuge in a Tim Hortons. A country music jamboree (don't ask) was wrapping up, and all sorts of characters stood around in line for me to sketch from.





The lanky kids are a few of the many skinny-jean-Ramones tee-shirt wearing under-fed punk teenagers that wander Moncton's down-town in a daze. I could spend all day analyzing their gait in my sketchbook...

Yes, this actually happened to me...sigh...
"Lady, I'll zoom up to your eyebrows, that's the best I can do."




rainslickers seen on concer-goers out the window...

Sunday morning sketches...

WWII comic

Sketches for an educational tool for a military museum's propaganda literacy program. Based on "The Great Whites": paper-ban era WW2 comics in Canada...especially Leo Bachle's over-the-top patriotic bare-knuckle adventures of Johnny Canuck.

These images are comic panels or cells, that will be arranged to create a large comics page. Dialogue and text will be added by the participants.

FFWD sketches

FFWD cover thumbnail sketches re: damage to lands around CFB Suffield due to oil development.

I particularily like the two owls carrying the stretcher in the background...

Settled a showdown sketch, which was developed from the cowboy image, the animals in the stretcher sketch and oil rigs drawn with the tablet:

A less confrontational sketch was suggested:

I liked the rough and loose brushwork on the oil rigs, and used them in the final drawing.

Illustration Friday: Discovery

Hey IF folks!

Illustration Friday's word this week is "Discovery". Haven't drawn with pencil in a while...

Just moved last month, and cleaning is under way in the new home. Under (what is apparently 5 years of) dust above a window casing in the masterbedroom...a men's wedding band. Interesting, mysterious and disgusting...the best kind of discovery.

Sketchbookin'

Sketches of upcoming projects and other brain noodling...

The Dartmouth Shuffle

Met this character walking along the train tracks with friends in Dartmouth. He approached us in the scariest way possible (a lurching run), doing his best to make painfully awkward small talk. I don't know how Andrew and I would have defended the women folk armed with cilantro and crab legs...but I'm sure we would have figured out something. Nothing came of it, other than cathartic rusty-iron-spike jokes for the rest of the night.

Here's to you, Crazy McStabbington...

Science Matters

As yet unpublished FFWD column by by David Suzuki about declining bird populations related to UK agricultural policies. I couldn't resist the metaphor of a little coal-mine canary.

Progress Pics...

I've had more than a few emails/comments about my colouring technique...here is an abridged excerpt from an e-conversation with Winnipeg's formerly-most-eligible-bachelor:

My colour work has changed a lot, and quickly! I was snooping around in a used book store, and struck gold: 3 Keith Knight books! Anyways, the same trip I found an old mag called "Draw!" that wasn't very interesting, except for an insert with a tutorial by Dave Cooper himself on colouring in photoshop.

I coloured step-by-step with Dave's tutorial many times...until I got the hang of his steps and fully understood his reasons for each. Once I understood why I was setting this to such-n-such number, or doing this before that...now I can start to stray a bit and find my own personal adaptation. This is happening slowly, and I now find myself drawing on paper with a mind towards colouring, and this is saving me a lot of time. I'm getting faster and more confident, but it does take practice.

That's the technical...as far as colour theory...If colouring was cooking, I'd be the guy putting ketchup on ice cream. I have a lot to learn.

My colour study has greatly benefitted from two particular sources:

John K's blog (particulary his bg posts and the review of Kali's Flintstone study)
Mary Blair's Golden Books (quit laughing).

Here are a few captures of the poster I made this morning...which is coloured based on Dave Cooper's tutorial.

Sketches involved researching the musician, which revealed some very amusing pictures...including a closeup of his trademark instrument. I quickly traced a photo to get a feel for the construction of the bass.
These were sketched while listening to his tunes on his website.
Once I'd settled on the pose, composition and likely lettering...the poster was drawn with Pitt brushpens (I wrecked 2 pens on this piece) and finework was done with my trusty Tradio. No worries about mistakes, I scan the inkwork, blemishes and all.
I use photoshop to clean up the b/w file as a bitmap (no grayscale fuzziness...). I scan at 800 dpi, clean up in 800 dpi and compress to 300 dpi for colouring. Here is the cleaned up version. The date "flame", opening act and venue info were drawn separately and added to the initial file.
As per Dave's tutorial, I create new layers and drop his signature colour blend (C:11 M:4 Y:40 K:1 ) into the entire picture. Using the Hue control, all of my colours more or less originate from this colour.
I don't get too complicated at first. I make my way around the picture, selecting areas and creating a basic colour relationship.
Re-selecting colour shapes and starting to manipulate hues.

Using quickmasks of a shape (i.e. a finger or leg) to "deselect" portions with control...not unlinke relief printmaking. Once an artfully selection is ready, I'll adjust the hue again to create a shadow with a closely related colour.
Using Dave's techniques, I then create a Color-Range-Select layer from the linework (follow his instructions carefully or you'll screw it up royally). I colour the lines the exact colour of the basic colour schemes...and adjust their hues accordingly. I was very hesitant to give up my black linework at first, but the results have made me very happy these days...
The checker background was created by cutting/pasting 8 hand-drawn checkers, selecting them and using that selection to manipulate the hue of the yellow background...gotta love photoshop.

In hindsight, I'm thinking that my skeleton's fingers owe Tim an apology. Thanks, man.

Thank you for all the feedback everyone...

Inspired by Peter L

I've traded my india ink for housepaint over the last couple of weeks, but am happy to be back at the drawing board.


Here is a piece inspired by the music of Peter L. A hardworking artist, musician, videogame addict and former student of mine, Pete was kind enough to give me a CD of his new tunes at the Zombie opening a few weeks ago.

Buried within the background colour is a pattern of planets and stars from a drawing Pete gave me years and years ago.



Pete, if you see the drawing here first...a print of this will be in your hands soon!!

Here is a song by Peter L...Pete tells me some of these songs were created with a bit-rate that is NES compatible...and if you know what that means, you and Pete would get along pretty well...ha!

Thanks babe...

Sketches from the book Teri gave me a few months ago...I'd had my eye on it for years now.

"Daumier" by Roger Passeron

Sweet Zombie Love

My zombie valentine which was on display at the Carbon Media gallery is still for sale.
$20, 11X17 digital print, Paypal to info@ericdyck.com or feel free to email me for more info.

Illustration Friday's "Sprout"

Hey IF folks!

Illustration Friday's word this week is "Sprout". Just a quick one this week...

You can also visit my portfolio here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Of all the holidays...I sure seem to be getting a lot of "love" around this time of year.

I was invited to make a cut-out Valentines Card for Beatroute magazine...in the mag it is free, but if you can't find it there: THEY ARE FOR SALE!

Eric on the wall...once again...

ZOMBIE VALENTINES
Opens First Thursday, February 1
Carbon Media Design
Art Central - Lower Level
100 - 7th Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2P 0W4

I'm happy to announce that I'm draggin my sorry butt into an art gallery after a hiatus of many years. My humble entry will grace the walls of the Carbon Media gallery alongside the likes of Calgary icons like Tom Bagley, Dean Stanton, Tim Huesken, Aubrey Hallis, Kipling West and more. I'll be there (maybe Teri too!) and would love to see you...c'mon down and enjoy Art Central's First Thursday goings-on as well.

Come on down!

IF: Buzz

Hey IF folks!

Illustration Friday's word this week is "Buzz".

You can also visit my portfolio here.

IF: Peace

...and all the best in 2007, everyone!

Thank you for welcoming me into your Illustration Friday community, and for your supportive feedback!

See you next year...

Eric Dyck

IF: Help

Hey IF folks...
Illustration Friday's word this week is "help".

Please visit my portfolio here.

Sketches from "Terror by Night" 1946

A Basil Rathbone-as-Sherlock-Holmes film on TV the other night...lots of fedoras, trenchcoats, 40s haircuts and wonderfully English noses. There were a lot of cramped compositions (the entire film takes place aboard a train) which made for some great sketch opportunities.

some studies...some from memory...

basketball sketch

I'm scanning my sketchbook whilst sipping coffee...lots of posts today...

i have more sketches than Canada has owls...

These are all sketches in preparation for a Science Matters illo...I realized after much work that spotted owls look nothing like my sketches, or even my favorite owl. Ah well...

IF: Might

Illustration Friday's word this week is "might".

Please visit my portfolio here.

Back again...

Well, I've been busy and that is good. I've neglected my sketch blog...not so good.

Here is a little picture to pacify the guilt...

Clear

Illustration Friday's word this week is "clear". Not the easiest theme...but it was fun once I'd settled on the idea. Once I'd finished, I couldn't help but think of the wonderful shirt in the film "Garden State".

Please visit my portfolio here.

Science Matters

Illustration for an unpublished FFWD Weekly article, written by David Suzuki about Canada's lack of international reaction towards the destructive practice of bottom-trawling.

Illustration Friday's "Ghost"

Illustration Friday's word this week is "ghost"...and I'm proud to say I've actually worn this costume.

Please visit my portfolio here.

Thanks for stopping by!

SMITTEN!

I'm on board...this is my first Illustration Friday, so I just want to say "Welcome" to all of you! I've been inspired and awed by IF's weekly contributions for some time, and I want in on the fun...

Enjoy my "smitten" entry, and for those who are interested my portfolio can be seen here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Island story colour

A finished page from Tom's story...on display at North Mount Pleasant Art Centre as part of their "Under One Roof" Instructor exhibit. This was a good exercise, and shows how I hope to colour all 3o+ pages of Tom's story.

Coffee Shop...

Chinatown Street Festival 2006

Brochure map for the 2006 Chinatown Street Festival. This was a visual update of a 2005 map designed by Sherwin Tsang, with all-new illustrations for an existing layout and concept. Many elements were originally designed by Sherwin, but redrawn by myself. Sherwin did a good job on the final colour values.

Thanks to Sherwin, Ken & Danny!

4th Street Fly-over

A sketch for a project that didn't work out. Happily re-purposed for the Damo Suzuki poster.

Wedding Showers

Very busy (good thing) with commissioned work...I am neglecting my sketchbook (not such a good thing). Here is an invite I did for Teri a while back...

In dog years, I'm dead.

1" X 1" Self-portrait with skull project for Clay at Gigposters.com...least I can do for all of the support and critical feedback I've received through the site!

Self-portrait with ink, skull is pencil crayon on black paper.

Sunday Morn' sketches...

Busy Summer

I'm quite busy with teaching this summer...I'll post again asap.

Until then...a Tom boot, painted like a fish!

Island story 3

Well...I'm finally done the pencil sketches for Tom's story...I'd like to start inking them tomorrow. Hey! That only took 3 years!

Just finished Aaron Renier's "Spiral-Bound". Incredible drawings, story, pacing and "camera angles". A delight from lovingly-designed cover to lovingly-designed cover.

Island story 2

Another inked rough from Tom's story...I'm really enjoying exploring this very expressive character.

Giraffe

for teri

for dad

If I had any typeset letters, this would have been a lot easier to draw...but I don't have any. Guess its time to go snooping in grandpa's garage for some...

Steve's Place

Happy B-day, little brother.

Bumblebee

A little bumblebee I drew a few years ago...

Newly coloured with thanks to a Dave Cooper tutorial I found in a used bookstore. Didn't have much use for the magazine it was in...so I tore out the pages by Dave Cooper and I cherish it so.

dusting off a Tom story...

I've inked eight pages of a Tom Magee story that was story-boarded almost 3 years ago. This one will be cleaned up and manipulated in photoshop.

This story of a little girl living on an island with a wonderful little character study by Tom...told with his cynically hopeful pessimism. ha ha...

sketch

Basketball Camp

Visiting our nephew's basketball practice...lots of candid gestures and posture. Had to draw very quickly though...

spaceman

Drawn as a demo for a comics class...then coloured in photoshop at home...trying to push my use of quick masks etc...

Watching TV

Sam I Am

I have a wonderful book on pre-Seussian published and unpublished drawings by Theodor Geisel. Some of my humble studies.

Watching TV

Watching a press confrence by a spokesperson on behalf of the families of 9-11 victims. Family members stood uncomfortably behind the spokesperson for what seemed like a very long speech...making them easy to sketch.

David Cohen

Reading an obituary in the newspaper a few months ago...fascinating individual and a striking photo.

May Long weekend

Spent the weekend with my wife in Waterton National Park. After a very busy family wedding, found a few moments to sketch the staggering surroundings.

self-propel'd

Unpublished drawings for Where Calgary article...2004

Coffee

Playing with colour, inspired by Seth .

Four Seasons

I had a lot of fun with these drawings...and they've made lovely gifts.

Evil ladybug girl

This really happened to me...sort of. She didn't really stick her tongue out at me...but she did punch me in the crotch about 5 seconds after I stepped onto the train. Hello to you too.

Bad duck

A drawing from a while back...still brings me a smile.

Eric's sketchbook

I will be posting unpublished drawings, sketches and curiosities here.

Such as this...a little thank you drawing to someone who kindly gave my wife and I a helping hand. The task was about as pleasant as the picture implies. Needless to say...we were quite grateful.

--eric