Randolph Crider

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Faith McFluff As Wonder Woman

2012-02-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

I was fortunate enough to draw Faith over the summer at a JakPrints event (drawings to post soon), but I've never drawn Wonder Woman. Aside from Kirby's work at DC, nothing over there has held my interest long enough to draw it. Also, until Dr Sketchy came to Cleveland I was afraid to draw pretty ladies.

Really great poses, and as always a blast. I even got to team up Brave And The Bold style with Ashley Ribblett to throw down the final pose of the night. Nice to see my pencils not scribbled on with the biggest markers I can find.

Rust Belt Monster Collective

2012-01-31T11:09:00.000-08:00

I've been absent for a while, but I have a lot of stuff to post in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I joined a local artists collective and do a drawing a week there. Check it out!

http://rustbeltmonster.blogspot.com/

Madtown: Rejected Scene

2011-12-18T21:02:00.000-08:00

While nailing down a style for my Madtown segments, I did this scene which was rejected in favor of a looser style.

I like it, I got to compose for movie parameters instead of comics, and it's one of the rare times I've rendered shadow in ink and I don't do it nearly enough.

Carol And John's Superhero Club

2011-12-11T11:06:00.000-08:00

Designed some buttons for my pals at Carol And John's Comic Shop. They should be available for their big holiday sale this year. If you're in Cleveland, you should stop by. Santa, free beer, buttons, and comics. Sounds like reason enough for the season to me.

Dr Sketchy San Francisco: Cute Girls On Bikes

2011-12-08T18:45:00.000-08:00

Maybe it's the weather changing in Cleveland, but I've had San Francisco on my mind a lot lately. Here's some stuff I haven't posted yet from Dr. Sketchy's at 111 Minna I attended a little over a year ago.

I drew all of these with a government issued number two pencil, which is reason enough to score myself another government job.

Madtown: Scene 65

2011-12-05T05:36:00.000-08:00

Got the okay to put these up, so here are some of the storyboards I've been working on.

I'm working with 4 other artists to bring Charles Moore's script to life, and he really wanted me to push my comic book experience with the segments. So, I'm relying more on line of sight eye movement and less on conventional film shot framing. It's been a lot of fun to tweak my style, while playing in a familiar sandbox.

I draw these double size, and shrink em into the framework Charles set up.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Bond Girls

2011-12-02T05:51:00.000-08:00

Continuing the theme of drawing new pals who intimidated me last year, Dot King was a fantastic model for Novembers Dr. Sketchy.

I was looking forward to sensitive pencil drawing, but once I started using a marker I couldn't stop.

Sometimes it chooses you, I guess.

Textures, Shadings, Nonsense

2011-11-26T21:33:00.000-08:00

I firmly believe that the answer is always in your sketchbook. While thinking about what I wanted to do for the upcoming Winter Soiree at Cleveland Exotic Dance, I found these. and I think I found where I want to go.

Drawing from life and adding complete and udder ridiculousness. Should be fun!

Raise A Glass For Cleveland

2011-11-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a t shirt design I did for my friends at Revolutionary Bum. The finished version (Complete with the word Cleveland) will be debuting at Made In The 216 this year. Awesome event, awesome company, and I like to think I drew some pretty awesome arms.

Drawing @ Murray Hill With Thor

2011-11-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

Thor is going to pose at Murray Hill next week so we headed up to check it out, eat fig bars, and talk about which Lou Reed songs are about heroin (most of them).

For some reason I felt the need to draw everything on two pages, as well as announce that I was drawing everything on two pages.

If you didn't know, anything on two pages is much cooler than stuff on one page. It's automatically too awesome to be contained on just one page.

Unless of course, you're Thor and you're throwing down with crayons. Then it's awesome outta the box.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Cherry La Voix

2011-11-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

To counteract all the marker and paint I threw around (onto the page and my coat) at the Pencil Riot, I rocked a pencil for the October Dr Sketchy.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Fever Blister

2011-11-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Drawings from Dr Sketchy in August.

Cleveland Dr. Sketchy is a room full of talent, and sometimes you get to jam with them on the page. Emily Meluch and I threw these down. Go check out her page, it's awesome!

www.emilymeluch.com

Poor Sailor

2011-10-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

I went to see Shoreway last week at the Beachland Tavern, so I thought I'd post fliers I made for Matt Rolin's old band sometime around 2007.

The first of many astronaut drawings, and both riffs on paintings of Cupid and Psyche.

Originals: Jacques-Louis David, Francois Gerard

I didn't know it at the time, but these obviously set the tone for a bunch of my non sequential work.

Rock and roll and spacemen, yknow?

PENCIL RIOT!

2011-10-24T08:36:00.000-07:00

I've always said I never know if I've drawn anything worthwhile at Dr. Sketchy events until the next morning when I've sobered up.

Which is the best way I can recount my night on the PENCIL RIOT! A bar crawl with all the sketchy kids through the w.25th area.

The night started at the Market Avenue Wine bar, which is where we have Sunday Art Club. Their back room has the same feel as an old timey hunters lounge, and it was full of art reprobates. It was awesome.

For some reason I decided to start a bar crawl drunk, so the drawings started out fast, furious, and loose.

Next to the Flying Fig where Danielle, Thor, and Tess mounted the booths and bars for some dynamite poses. Ron and I bombed the menus with PENCIL RIOT propaganda in case unsuspecting patrons weren't baffled enough by this nonsense.

I gave up on any pencil under drawings once we hit the Speakeasy under the Bier Market. Maybe it's how much Jim Mahfood I've been looking at lately, or maybe it was the booze, but drawing this loose was a real blast and I plan on doing more of it soon.

Being a Saturday night, it was hard for the models to do their thing, so I nabbed a portrait of an innocent bystander.

Off to the ABC for Celeste posing on the upper railings. The crowd at ABC was probably my favorite. The sort of guys that would make fun of art types in any other situation, but because we brought a gang of pretty girls with us, they were super interested in what we were doing.

I wish I would have cataloged the conversation next to the drawings.

More Celeste on some tables, and my favorite drawing of the night. I've got to work on capturing this sort of looseness without drinking my weight in beer.

Quick doodle of Dr. Jason before leaving the ABC. I ended up killing my brand new Copic that night. Blew out a marker alongside my liver.

Final drawing of the night at The Old Angle, where I didn't get another beer.

I've done a few things in my sketchbook over the years that aren't about the drawings but capturing the moment instead. Line is a better camera when it comes to capturing the artists mood.

These drawings may be loose and rough, but they're a great catalog of an amazing night.

Also, check out Craig's stuff from the riot: Sketch Of The Day

And Erin's: Pencil Riot!

And Jim's: Sketchery

Hopefully we can catalog all of these together online somewhere. If nothing else for the court testimony.

Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom @ The Cleveland Library

2011-10-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

This week is the beginning of the library performances of the Ingenuity adaptation of Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow. If you're in town, you should come out to support it: Library Performances. It's a really fun event, and an excuse to support libraries.

I illustrated the third act of the play, and thought now was a good time to show that off. You should still try to come out if you can. The pictures make a whole lot more sense with the voice actors and music.

Actually, even without the easy access to scotch, the library is probably a much better venue for the play than Ingenuity was.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Dazzling Nadine

2011-10-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

A couple months old at this point, here's some drawings from the second Dr Sketchy PHD I made it to, held at the Market Avenue Wine Bar.

Shoreway: October 23 2011

2011-10-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

I love Dawkins, Hitchens, and I usually have an issue of Skeptic magazine next to my bed. I wish I could wax poetic about religion being a product of man, but I only know how to draw robots.

If you're in Cleveland, you should come out, it's going to be great. So says the robot.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Ingenuity Speakeasy 2011

2011-10-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

I've really been digging myself into the drawing community of Cleveland lately, and the speakeasy was the beginning of that.

A week before the event, I'd decided to put art in the backseat of my life. I'd just been dumped, and the thought of doing this nonsense alone was tremendously frightening. I'd go to events and doodle (because it's still more interesting than football), but I wouldn't make it a priority.

Drawing has always been both the most fulfilling and most arduous part of my life for as long as I can remember. If you've ever dated someone who draws, or you draw yourself, it becomes hard to prioritize and I didn't want to deal with that anymore.

I wanted to come home to something simple.

I really half assed most of this stuff. I drew in the Dr Sketchy style that I've been using for the past three years, and I focused more on the beer and conversation.

The drawings were nothing more than an admission price to a party, a ticket stub rendered in marker.

Going back and looking at them now, after doing a project for Ingenuity, organizing art shows, teaching cartooning, and literally drawing every day. I don't see that anymore.

I see portraits of my friends. The thing about drawing from life, is that a lot of times its the only way you can slow your brain down enough to really appreciate the moment you're in. It's not really about smelling roses, it's about drawing them.

The Apples In Stereo wrote this on a record once: "The Elephant 6 Recording Company re-opens our doors and windows, and invites the world: join together with your friends and make something special, something meaningful, something to remember when you are old."

I've liked it since I read it, but nowadays I've adopted it as a way of life.

Sherlock Holmes: Time Traveler

2011-09-25T19:50:00.000-07:00

Mark Crnolatas and I put out some comic books ten years ago (wow, has it been that long?!). We still talk about comics, and sometimes they actually get made. This has been floating around sketchbooks for close to three years now, it was penciled and colored last year, and lettered just now. Hopefully it wont take so long for us to do something next time.

Taking A Break From Drawing To Go Draw

2011-09-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

I've been super busy drawing things for other people lately. It's been amazingly great, although I think I'm at a point where I enjoy drawing from life the most. There's this stop and smell the roses aspect to it that can't be replicated in a studio.

So, I hit the Murray Hill drawing group for the first time in way too long. Great group of folks, and the coffee shop down the street has really good fig bars. It's also the first time I rocked a straight up pencil in my sketchbook in a good long while. I think it's time to bring that back.

I'm getting to a point where I'm comfortable ( I didn't say good) with longer poses and super comfortable with short poses (I do 12 one minutes a day here: Figure Drawing Tool ), but I'm still figuring out the ten and twenty minute poses. All drawing, even life drawing, is about icons, and I need to work on my shorthand, to figure out what I'm capable of in that time.

Guess I'll keep drawing.

May The Bridges I Burn Light The Way

2011-09-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I did a card for Spaces Monster Drawing Rally event. Basically a room full of art types draw stuff for an hour and then auction it off to benefit the gallery. They do it at a few other non profit galleries across the country, and it reminded me a lot of the draw Tuesdays at 111 Minna.

Because of a bunch of nonsense, I didn't get to draw the flier I wanted and used a monster image from my sketchbook (of which there are many to choose from). When the event came, I saw it as an opportunity to draw the image I originally wanted.

I knew there was no way I could bust it out in an hour, so I spent the afternoon before the event drawing it to ink at the event. Some people thought it was a cheat, but it was a real struggle to get it inked in an hour. It's not often I have to publicly work through hand cramps.

The piece sold, and I officially contributed to Spaces. With that, I think I'm entitled to do a project there. After seeing this :MOMA Art Critic, I think it's high time we get some real work around here.

I've never drawn dinosaurs, so I'm pretty sure that makes it experimental.

Down And Out At Ingenuity Fest

2011-09-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

Ingenuity fest is a big three day arts festival thing in Cleveland, and this year I got involved with all the nonsense.

I produced 20 illustrations for act three of Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom, which is an adaption of Cory Doctorow's (Boing Boing) Novel of the same name. It's a really great story, and was a blast to illustrate, despite having two weeks to get it done.

With the deadline, I used it as an opportunity to dust off what comic book chops I've accrued over the years, and I'm pretty happy with the results. It's the first time I've seriously used a brush in a long time, and its just like riding a bike. A really nice bike, with streamers and everything. I had so much fun, that I'm hoping to find the time to get some more comic work under my belt in the coming months. God knows I've got enough scripts around the house.

Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom is shown four times: Schedule, and it's going to be at some libraries after that. If you live in Cleveland, come check it out and say hi. I'll be hanging out in the doodle bar wearing a La Parka mask.

Focus On The Parts That Make You Feel Good

2011-09-04T22:19:00.000-07:00

If someone pays you to dig a ditch, they believe you can do it, and if you dig that ditch often enough it makes you a ditch digger.

That's the theory now a days.

Come Over And Get Weird

2011-09-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

Every year, Jarvis and Deanna Milne throw a party and every year I draw a flier because I love them.

This year was less ambitious than last years, but it's got my favorite Bill Murray quote on it so that's got to count for something.

Wednesday Evenings With Fast Eddie

2011-08-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

I've been hitting the Cleveland Institute Of Art's wednesday drawing group for years, although it doesn't happen with enough regularity anymore. Fifteen bucks gets you 2 hours of a naked (or nearly naked) person to draw from. The room isn't air conditioned, There's no instruction. and the lighting is piss poor compared to the time I spent at the Academy Of Art, but I'll take it. There's nothing more cathartic than you, a model, and some heavy metal.

The last pose is always an hour and a half, and it's really pushed me to a new level. Before and even during school, I always drew just enough to get by, and then I'd run out the clock before it got too hard. I didn't get into this art nonsense to work hard, after all. With this longer format, I've got no choice but to do something with the time. I wish I would have done it sooner, because it's the most rewarding thing I do nowadays.

I've been working with this format for a little over a year (the previous instructor preferred short poses), and I think in the coming months I'm going to switch to a heartier paper. While the price is right on newsprint, I've honestly only stuck with it to not give my work too much importance. You never have to explain a mistake on newsprint, because it can always hide under the guise of a "sketch"

While I've got a lot to learn, and a ton to grow, I feel like these are drawings that I'll want to keep for a while. Hopefully to look back at how much I've grown in the coming years.

The Power Cosmic

2011-08-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've been talking a lot about the answer always being in your sketchbook lately, so I thought I'd post a couple of pages from when I was living in San Francisco because they're indicitive of where I'd like to move artistically.

People frequently ask me what it was like living on the west coast, and what mattered most to me was the amount of time I had to explore my visual voice. It was the first time in my life that there was a true marriage between observing from life and unbridled creative embellishes. I only wish I had more time to develop unique iconography instead of regurgitating what I was already familiar with, the same symbolism born out of the San Francisco underground comix movement.

Obviously, I wish i had more time for a lot more reasons than that.

Either way, I spent last year in San Francisco exploring the inner workings of my mind, and I'm decoding what that means for my work today in Cleveland.

Clash Of The Titans

2011-06-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

My niece is awesome, guys. Seriously.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Thor Asstard

2011-06-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Held at the Cleveland Exotic Dance Studio, this month's sketchy was the most laid back, friendly, and fun time I think I've ever had in the group.

If only my pencil cooperated a bit more.

"You're going to be obessive and impulsive because of your last name"

2011-06-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

I've never been able to steadily keep a journal, but I've been keeping a regular sketchbook for more than fifteen years. More often than not they give me a sense of whats going on in my life better than me stumbling for words ever could. Also, there's something to be said for the secret coding powers of stream of conciousness cartooning. A casual viewer isn't looking for clues into my thought process, and in all honesty I typically don't notice them until months after they're drawn.

Art therapy? Maybe. At the end of the day its a better life record than a notebook or facebook page. Anyway, here's a couple of pages from the past few weeks I did instead of being responsible.

Spring Cleaning

2011-06-03T20:20:00.000-07:00

It's been a whirlwind few months, and I've been lackadaisical about posting after life drawing sessions. Most of this is from Dr.Sketchy Cleveland, with a few from Murray Hill peppered in for good measure. Nothing longer than 20 minutes, and all in the sketchbook (I assume the book seam gives that away.)

With the summer approaching, I'm eager to bike for statue drawings, those dudes never move.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Ravishing Rachel

2011-02-17T18:28:00.000-08:00

After a three month life drawing hiatus, I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and headed to the speakeasy for some Sketchy.

It was my first SKETCHY PHD (longer poses), and the first time I've rocked a graphite pencil since San Francisco.

Took about an hour.

Working Class Hero

2011-01-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

For those that are wondering, I've left AAU for the time being. Frankly, I've run out of money.

In the meantime, here's some perspective homework from a few weeks back.

A Stick Figure In Cleveland: Part Two

2010-11-15T16:15:00.000-08:00

More from anatomy class this semester. Per usual, 18x24 newsprint and charcoal, anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour and a half. These have been the most fun, and rewarding of my recent hectic weeks. I can usually pull off listening to Smodcast and locating a scapula simultaneously, so they end up being pretty low stress.

Just like the rest of school, I'm chomping at the bit to put these new skillz into practice with something fun!

The Summer Romance Has Blossomed To A Fall Relationship

2010-11-11T11:46:00.000-08:00

While I'm busy getting through the semester, I thought I'd post the work I did over the summer at the Cleveland Institute Of Art's wednesday life drawing workshops. These range from an hour to an hour and a half on 18 x 24 newsprint with charcoal. It was a struggle forcing myself to spend that much time on one pose, but I feel like I'm better for it. Especially juxtaposed with what I was doing in the workshops before I left for San Francisco.

I'm hoping to hit these again soon, since they've always been a great exercise for me. I'm also really excited to put this anatomy study into good use.

Dr Sketchy Cleveland: Halloween III

2010-10-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

After digging myself out of a mountain of homework, I dragged myself to this years halloween Dr Sketchy. It was my second time a drawing a bearded lady at a Sketchy event, although it was a fake beard this time around. I haven't made up my mind which one I prefer, but I have made my mind up about the people, It's good to be back drawing with friends.

It's also good to draw in this marker style again.

(which I haven't done since I moved away)

A Stick Figure In Cleveland: Part One

2010-10-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Like In San Francisco, I want to chart my figure drawing growth on the website. Unfortunately, I haven't had the time to keep up with it as well as I'd like.

Cleveland's a drinking town after all.

Here is the first month of my anatomy assignments and exercises. They are mostly forty minute charcoal drawings done on 18 x 24 newsprint.

They are all done from photos. I plan on uploading work from over the summer from a live model, and hopefully get to some more figure drawing sessions in the near future.

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Charcoal

2010-05-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

I never put up my work from Analysis Of Form last semester. Which was a pretty big turning point for me, just like it's supposed to be.

It was the beginning of really learning to see, and probably the first time I've ever spent more than 40 hours on a single drawing.

Which means I stuck it out, and didn't give up on using the charcoal like I have for the past 15 years.

Big thanks to David Choong Lee for walking me through it, and becoming my new hero.

A Stick Figure In Clay

2010-05-24T10:58:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt H.David Wagner leveled me up this semester.

one class with a model

I've mentioned before, this was the semester of the figure, and I don't think I've ever learned more than I have in Figure Modeling.

one class with a model

Working with clay, and seeing the figure 3 dimensionally solved problems I've been struggling with for years.

two classes with a model

There's something about touching the form it that makes it real, and it gives you a much better idea of what you're drawing later.

one class no model

I can't wait to start applying this to things that aren't real.

A Stick Figure In Charcoal

2010-05-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

I havent been keeping up with the weekly updates, but wanted to show off some stuff now that the semesters over.

These are all from Life Drawing, and mostly 5-10 minute poses.

Halfway through the semester Henry Yan was replaced by Matt Crane. Both men are monsters, but Matt really championed the halftone-eraser style, which resonated in a big way for me.

After 15 years of fumbling with charcoal I feel like I'm finally starting to get the hang of the tool, and I'm at the beginnings of a style.

Now to figure out what to do with it.

Sun God: June 18th 2010

2010-05-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

The first of hopefully many pieces finished out of my "work in progress" pile. Color always makes me feel like I'm actually doing something.

As a bonus, I actually get to go to this show. You should too.

Red Light

2010-05-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

After 3 years of being in each others lives, Roxanne and I have decided to part ways.

I'm moving back to Cleveland to finish school online.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Four & Five

2010-03-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

(click on the pictures, and they get bigger)

I've spent a lot of time arguing that art isn't a god given talent, and the past few weeks have done nothing but prove that to me further. What we perceive as a natural style is nothing but a series of decisions (even If that decision is to slack off, or not draw at all) .

Ive compared this experience to boot camp since I was being shipped away from my buddies, and it's even more apt as I learn to slow down and do things right. Learning to measure twice and draw once.

As you can imagine this makes it a lot less fun. I've had my share of warnings of structure killing the passion from art school casualties. While I understand that now more than ever, I think it's nothing but another decision. What doesn't become less romantic with further study? Deciding to stop is falling in love with the praise and not the process.

Because there is no end, there is no good enough, there's only struggle. Whether it's art or anything else.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Three

2010-03-08T01:01:00.000-08:00

After my massive "work in progress" post, I haven't drawn one cartoon image, and while it's only been one week, it's very uncharacteristic of me. The benefit has been massive, and in many ways rejuvenating.

Cartooning is in many ways a form of handwriting, at certain times a persona, and in the very least a voice. It's also "everything you do wrong" as Chuck Jones would say. For the past 6 months every piece of new information had to be adapted to my cartooning style, because too much new info would betray my style. In a weird way, betray my place in the world.

Also, holding on to work that I financially can't finish, is a bit soul crushing. What I thought was only artistic blue balls was a self induced pressure which prevented me from moving on to the task at hand. The very simple sounding, but insanely difficult-quasi zen like task of learning to see.

Which causes my current work to look like exactly what it is: An art student trying to figure things out, and maybe it's always looked like that, but this week for the first time in years, it's how I perceive it. Without any style, and without any persona.

I feel like it's the only way I can fix it.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week Two

2010-03-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

(Go on, touch it. It get's bigger)

My figure modeling professor told me not to worry about my sculpture, but instead focus on the sculpture that I'm making in my mind.

I really feel like that was the case this week, or maybe I'm making excuses for watching Battlestar Galactica re runs.

Goped Seven: Work In Progress

2010-02-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

(click for en-big-ening)

Jarvis and Deanna Milne are two of the best folks I know(Which probably isn't saying much considering the company I keep). Every year they throw a party focused around a motorized scooter, and every year I draw a flyer for that party.

They always focus on this helmeted fella, and I try to get a bit more epic each year. but this year they took me to Lola, so I really tried to out do myself.

I'm really only into art for the free dinners anyways.

On Your Command: Work In Progress

2010-02-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

I've been sitting on this composition since before the move, so it's doubly frustrating that I can't color it now.

That and I'm actually learning how to draw hands for real now a days.

Angelishit: Work In Progress

2010-02-28T12:09:00.000-08:00

Draw your own conclusions with this one. I just know that I did a good job on the poop splatter.

Which is not the first time I've said that. Probably not the last.

Octonaut: Work In Progress

2010-02-28T12:01:00.000-08:00

Piece number three from Experimental Animation lectures. I've never been able to watch a teacher as he talked.

In ninth grade I had a teacher stop the class to yell at me for drawing: "You better make it big in cartoons, because you're failing at social studies."

He's dead now.

Anyways here's an octopus guy with some stuff happening.

Salami Swami: Work In Progress

2010-02-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

Another piece from my sketchbook during a lecture inflated to something usable.

Moving to San Francisco, my R.Crumb influences show a bit more than I notice sometimes, which isn't necesarily bad.

If only I could find some big assed girls to pose for me.

Finished piece here: Sun God June 18th 2010

500 Days Of Summer: Work In Progress

2010-02-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

I really like exaggerating and strecthing forms. It's a bad habit, but being in art school and having to measure every line before you make it gets tedious. That and it's easy.

I did this the night after I saw 500 Days Of Summer. Obviously I'm not pulling anything visual from the movie, but undeniably it was the impetus for the drawing.

Man, that girl was a jerk.

Work In Progress

2010-02-28T11:36:00.000-08:00

I have a crummy computer, and I have an especially crummy computer for a 3d animation student. However, I've been inking some pieces in illustrator for the past few weeks with hopes of access to a computer that could run photoshop to color them.

It doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon, and I'm tired of sitting on these. Art has a very short shelf life of fondness in my brain. So, I'm releasing them into the wild, with the work in progress tag.

Once I get some dough, I'll update the links in vivid, mind altering, color.

Serious, like you won't believe it type of color.

One day.

Oh, and don't be too hard on the compositions, I like to add jaw dropping text after mind dropping color, so there's large chunks of negative space where they would be.

In the meantime, I always take pity donations.

Dr. Sketchy San Francisco: Featuring "The Diamond Daggers"

2010-02-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

After much deliberation, and a sizable glass of bourbon, I finally made it to Dr. Sketchy in SF. I had a lot of doubts, considering how much I love the Cleveland group.

I should have gone sooner! Like most things in San Francisco, it's not nearly as much fun without my friends, but it accomplished what attracted me to Dr Sketchy in the first place.

Drawings supposed to be fun! I think in a lot of ways I've forgotten that this semester, and I needed the breather.

Not to mention, I can't say I've ever had the opportunity to draw bearded ladies.

A Stick Figure In Perspective: Week One

2010-02-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

This semester is all about the figure, figure drawing alongside figure modeling (in clay). It's the perfect time to hold myself to the fire, and finally learn to draw. The Academy Of Art offers a free life drawing workshop almost every day, so I'm hitting every one I can.

I thought it would be fun to follow openly.

I'm not posting every workshop I attend, just the highlights. Just enough to show progress (hopefully), and to silence anyone that thinks this is some sort of mystical gift.

I'm going to do this every week, using my Saturday figure drawing class as the bumpers, and showing the highlights in between.

I've got a lot of work to do.

(click on these guys to make em readable)

Comments and suggestions are always appreciated. Thanks.

RandyCrider@Gmail.com

Day In The Life

2010-01-20T18:37:00.000-08:00

Shady Pines

2009-12-12T16:15:00.000-08:00

More than a month of work, and more money than it ever should have cost, and my experimental animation final is done.

The credits are wrong for that reason.

My comic book running buddy: Mark Crnolatas wrote the thing like we always do, unfortunately it was over the phone instead of over cigars this time.

My girlfriend: Roxanne Anzelc made the costumes, and let me break her hair dryer while I dried the latex on the puppets.

As with most of my first semester at AAU, I really feel like I leveled up. Understanding the process soup to nuts now, I think I could put together something much better next time.

I don't think I will, though.

It's not so much the process (as much as I love spending ten hours on 30 seconds of animation) as it is the cost. I spent a lot of time in the art store for this project, spending money I don't have. It's really hard to justify props when you're wearing the same pair of jeans, and freezing without a hat. Stop motion is charming, but it rarely enhances the story you're trying to tell. This is the same reason I started inking digitally.

(nevermind that it's lots easier)

So, you'll for sure see A LOT more animation from me, it'll just be digital as much as I can help it.

Illustration Friday : Entanglement

2009-12-02T23:48:00.000-08:00

I've known about Illustration Friday for years, but I wait until finals to get my druthers to produce something. Go figure.

(and I get the word wrong: It's ENTANGLED)

Because of the timing though I kept it simple: no inks, and only a few minutes in the sketchbook beforehand. It's basically a finished sketchbook page the internet told me to draw.

Just like the ones I do during lectures or the bar.

Tonight it was a good excuse to listen to Patton Oswalt on NPR, draw Crumb shaped girls, and hopefully jog my brain into thinking more about scenes without a script in front of me.

Hope I find the time to do it again, hopefully with ink and color.

Maybe even an actual sense of perspective!

None Of Them Knew They Were Robots

2009-12-01T01:09:00.000-08:00

My experimental animation final has me teaming up with Mark Crnolatas, my old running buddy from comic book days. It's about an old folks home, and if you've ever found our stuff funny I think you'll be happy with it.

It's coming along nicely, even If I would prefer to do it in After Effects (I hate any art form without an apple z option nowadays)

Here's a walk test:

Notice how 2 steps in: I remember that he's supposed to be old. The fingers need to be toned down, and i could use some recoil on those steps.

(all things I could fix with apple z)

Here's his costar:

I'm really trying to push the contrast between the two, which is difficult given the limitations in my puppet building skills.

I've got two weeks to build a set and get this thing filmed for the final, but it feels really great to be working with friends again.

Even if it is across the country.

Lord Send Me A Mechanic, If I'm Not Beyond Repair

2009-11-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

My very first (un-tutored) After Effects animation.

I only had one week to pull together 3 seconds of animation, and my Jack Kirby collection was in Cleveland, leaving the Captain America cartoon for another day.

(providing I can ever afford a computer that's not broken)

(which is why the number of posts have dwindled, don't worry so has my music downloading.)

Since I have no new ideas (scotch took care of that), I went with a reworking of the banner at the top of the page.

(Which for some reason: every time I drew it the guy looked overly Asian. Fearing coming off the wrong way (I'm not sure if enlightenment is a negative stereotype) I went with the most "American" guy I could think of.)

Anyways, hope you like it.

I'll take my comments of the air.

The Evolution Of Macho Man

2009-10-26T14:55:00.001-07:00

Photoshop Composite for Animation 101

Daedalus Your Child Is Falling

2009-10-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Experimental Animation project three: Paper Cut-Out

Lust

2009-10-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Experimental Animation project four: Pixelation

Level Up

2009-09-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Experimental Animation assignment number two.

I can't sculpt, my hands are too clumsy. I usually can't reach the last few Pringles either.

But I think I'm beginning to understand timing.

Which is one of the 12 principles of animation, which is how I like to refer to it.

I'm studying the twelve principles of animation. Like I had to traverse a gauntlet, and defeat a minotaur to capture yellow scrolls where it was all written down.

Makes me sound important, like I've discovered the Wu-Tangs secret.

Maybe one day I'll be like Doctor Strange. Meditating in an incense filled room on the twelve principles of animation.

Wearing a Bugs Bunny shirt.

Starship Troopers

2009-09-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Stop motion project number one (with a group) with found objects.

He is an army man, and giant bugs attack him, then he dies.

No, that's not what the assignment sheet said to do.

Begin Training Session

2009-09-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

Conte work from my very first workshop as a student.
Yes it's a pirate.

I seriously was waiting to draw the turtle for the second half of the session.

Probably the worst life drawing work I've done in years (also the first time I've been yelled at in years), but let's use this a sign post a year from now.

Never Stopped Me From Gettin Busy

2009-09-09T16:39:00.001-07:00

As it stands, I don't have a drafting table, so I'm spending more time in my sketchbook.

Sometimes Digital Underground is playing when that happens.

Which almost makes up for the lack of desk.

Hers And Hers And His

2009-09-09T16:27:00.001-07:00

School trip to the San Francisco Zoo. More of an excuse to meet people, eat veggie burgers, and listen to reggae.

Everyone LOVES reggae in this town for some goddawful reason.

Also a good reason to get homesick, since Catie and I used to hit the zoo up and draw back in Cleveland. The benefit, aside from having your pal with you, is that everyone that walked by was amazed you could draw at all.

That was not the case here, and the only reason I'm posting a lot of this work is to track my progress as I go through school.

Also to make Threes Company references.

(which was at the LA zoo, not the SF zoo)

Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana

2009-09-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

Sketchbook drawing of Roxanne (who I've decided needs to change the spelling to ROCKSanne, thus increasing her rock output by at least 16 percent) outside of a cafe by the park.

I bought the orange marker the day after I moved to San Francisco. Orange is more California-ie.

I think.

Then again by that logic I should have used more gray in Cleveland.

Girls, Girls, Girls

2009-09-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

Late night listening to radio-lab, seeing how far I can play with forms.

Where I Lay My Head, That's Where I Call Home

2009-08-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

I've been obsessed with the idea of sketch journals for years after reading Carnet De Voyage by Craig Thompson. When I think back it's certainly one of the reasons for renewed(new?) interest in drawing from life that happened a couple of years ago.

So when I moved to San Francisco, I wanted to do something similar, at least to the best of my abilities. Not that I've been able to focus on much besides my new surroundings anyways.

It took four days for my bike to arrive on the train, and this is the first day after that. I had no idea to do this for a week at the time, I just didn't want to be sitting alone with a three dollar glass of wine and matted helmet hair not doing anything but staring.

A few days later it happened again for the same reason, except it was coffee instead of wine.

At this point I'd decided to run with the concept of doing a line drawing a day for the week. This is a theme (the concept, not the schedule) I plan to continue for as long as I can. I'm also keeping a smaller sketchbook for bars, and restaurants, or when I cant bring a bag with me. I'm interested in doing more portraits, and I'm hoping with school I can begin doing that. In a way I think it validates the experience past what I can do just by living it.

The use of ink signifies me being more comfortable in my surroundings, or I forgot my art kit and the pen was all I had. I'll let you decide. The best part of doing these, is that they really allow me to draw like a child again. I'm only reacting to what I see, rather than laying down construction lines. Good a reason as any to keep using the pen.

That, and it makes me feel like Robert Crumb...

(who incidentally migrated from Cleveland to San Francisco)

I had my gall (this gets bigger when you click on it, actually they all do). I had a tourist take a photo of me while I drew this, which took two hours.

The temperature changed twenty-six times in that period.

(BTW, this is the Bay, and not the Golden Gate bridge. I'm holding out, because I'm convinced that I'll have to draw that for a class.)

(and bridges are hard.)

In the castro waiting to get my haircut. Like the day before, I had people commenting on this, which honestly means a heck of a lot. Especially because it was from high school kids walking home, and they hate everything. At almost thirty years old I still don't know how to properly take a compliment, but they're the only things that keep me going sometimes.

Living in Tremont I never took advantage of drawing all the great churches there. Looking back, I wish I would have drawn more from the time I lived there. I certainly lived an interesting life full of much more interesting people. I suppose I never had the confidence to pull it off.

It's funny what a cross-country move will do for you.

Far From Home-Grown

2009-08-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

I drew the cover of The Scene!

I cashed the check in San Fransisco, where I live now.

Everybody looks cool on the internet.

The Beer And The Broads And The Broads And The Booze

2009-08-20T16:27:00.001-07:00

My Final Dr. Sketchy Cleveland.

The night sketchy went punk.

I should do a left hand drawing every day, I think it slows my brain down, but so did all the celebratory shots of scotch.

Dudas was in my ear most of the night, telling me I was ripping off John Romita Jr.

Fair enough.

Also telling me to draw a copy of "The God Delusion" under this guys foot.

As hard as drawing two figures on a bunch of booze is, I sort of love carrying this drawing around in my sketchbook.

I really want an old lady to see it, say "oh dear" and grab her chest.

There is a Dr. Sketchy in San Francisco.

but it sort of feels like cheating right now...

And Just Where Were We Trying To Get To?

2009-08-20T16:17:00.000-07:00

I've been going to the Murray Hill Art Group off and on for 3 years ( I think ) constantly jealous of everyone in the room. Jealous of their defined style, so even if something was "off" it looked right because it was in that style. It was their voice.

The last few weeks I was in Cleveland, I felt like I had a handle on mine. I wasn't there yet, but I knew I was on my way. I often said " I know I'm leaving a life here" to my friends, and I think that pertained to my burgeoning art style most of all.

Murray Hill taught me oceans by osmosis, let's hope the direct approach is more efficient.

Eyes Of Flesh, Eyes Of Flame

2009-08-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while since I rapped with ya....

Yikes, almost two months!

Not that I haven't been drawing, here's some stuff from July's Dr. Sketchy.
Jason and Aaron can describe it better than I can (and they have photos!):
Dr.Sketchy Cleveland

Danielle may be my favorite model from the Sketchy nights. I know I have some drawings somewhere when she did Murray Hill, so it was a great opportunity to play with the color markers.

I wish I was smart enough to use the color to knowingly evoke mood. Unfortunately these are the colors I can afford, so I guess I wish I was RICH enough to use the colors to evoke mood.

2o minutes, three figures, lots of straubs! Yikes!!

Oh, and Garrett from The Examiner has been putting up videos of the events lately too, so you can see what a great time you missed!

Fate Is The Idiot's Excuse, Freedom Is The Sucker's Dream

2009-06-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

Unexpected bike ride to the museum, and an unexpected chance to try out something new on a statue drawing. Nowhere near what I want, but a step in the right direction.

You can count on me bringing colored markers to the next life drawing session.

Never Follow A Hippie To A Second Location

2009-06-21T20:29:00.001-07:00

I took a break from my oh so very hectic life, and spent four days living like a savage at Bonnaroo. I must have done just the right amount of damage to my brain while I was there, because its the first time I've ever been able to do a travel journal. Well maybe not a travel journal, but I drew through all of The Decemberists' set...

All but one of these were done without a pencil (number 3 had some construction, but you knew that). I feel like I'm developing a shorthand to use for future field sketching, and you're not a deadbeat if you keep going to music festivals for your craft.

Right?

I've Had My Share Of Sand Kicked In My Face - But I've Come Through

2009-06-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

A month ago I was asked to be part of Dr.Sketchy's team for a draw off in my neighborhood. Since then, I haven't been able to come up with the words to describe just how much fun I had, so I'll let the articles and pictures do my talking.

Here's a great article from the Cleveland Fine Arts Examiner (Yes, I am in something with the word Fine Art in it)

Drawn And Quartered: A Drawing Battle Royal e At Asterisk Gallery

And then here's some ritzy looking pictures of the event itself. Even a picture of me eating a copic marker. Gave me the energy to push through. Like spinach for Popeye and Vitamins for Hulk Hogan.

Alex Riviera Photography

Lab Coats! Trophys! Beer Bottles! This is a pack of winners Lady's and Gentlemen.

Oh yeah. I forgot. WE WON!

The winner of the likeness contest. There's pictures of this lady all through the photos of the night, and you be the judge. I still maintain it's because I used a marker, and it's easy to see.

Left handed drawing. I am way better at these than I ever thought I would be. I'm super close to switching sides.

Co-Op piece with Jason Tilk from Dr.Sketchy. The pencils are mine, the inks his. You can tell that, because I cant afford all those gray markers.

The final challenge of the night was to draw the crowd (in ten minutes!), and rather than work separately, Team Sketchy formed like Voltron (wearing wrestling masks (Ultimo Dragon) when appropriate) and knocked out this masterpiece:

Seven hands! One Drawing! The coolness of this drawing sums up the coolness of the entire night.

I Hope You Blink Before I Do, And I Hope I Never Get Sober

2009-06-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

Dr. Sketchy at the Grog Shop.

Oh, Well I Guess I Regret That Now

2009-05-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

Sunday statue drawing in downtown Cleveland.

Some business ladies smoked cigarettes with me, and a security guard asked to see my progress after five minutes. I only had early construction lines on the page, and I felt like I let him down.

Also, a hobo tried to sell me batteries.

No One Belongs Here More Than You

2009-05-13T16:52:00.000-07:00

It took five months to finish the first sketchbook of 2009.

Here are some highlights of the past month.

The goal is four full books by the end of the year.

Wish me luck

I've Seen Shit That'll Turn You White

2009-05-02T16:32:00.000-07:00

I love that I'm using illustrator to make things that look like black and white comics from the eighties.

(at least that's the goal.)

I'm Counting On You To Misinterpret What I Say

2009-04-29T22:58:00.000-07:00

I may have gotten the idea for this from Battlestar Galactica, I'm not sure.

Either way, I need to stop drawing so many happy things.

More robots, and maybe some space battles.

If only I could find some inspiration.

Triple Lindy

2009-04-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

Life drawings from early 2009, and fall 2008. If you click on them with your mouse, they will get bigger...

Smile The Day After Today

2009-04-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

In the future, the United States will fund space exploration to find the most powerful substance in the universe...Love.

Nor Do I Posess The Funds Which To Make Their Purchase

2009-04-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Its spring, and Silver Surfer influences everything I do.

Click on it. Make It bigger. Do what it says.

Fair Enough

2009-04-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

I wonder if reading about my process is entertaining enough?

I like to think of the blog as an online version of the movie "Comedian", but with (a lot) less talent.

Hopefully you feel the same way. (sucker).

Dr Sketchy April 2nd 2009

Apparently the sixth Sketchy in Cleveland, and the first one I've felt comfortable at.

I've been reading a lot of early silver surfer lately.

I have this love affair with John Buscema, and the entire early "Marvel style".

Breaking everything down into recognizable symbols rather than some sort of false realism.

Seth explains it better here.

I feel like I'm beginning to understand what I read a year ago.

All art is artifice.

Handsome Devil

2009-04-03T07:22:00.001-07:00

This has been sitting on the side of the page for a bio pic for a while, and it looks like crap when its small (TOO MANY LINES!)

It's going away from there soon, and it can live in the main house.

Another tablet piece. Too many extraneous lines, but you can guarantee I'll be using the blue highlight again.

(a lot)

Yes It's Real, It's Just Best Not To Think About It

2009-04-01T11:50:00.001-07:00

Things are busy in Criderville.

Life drawing at CIA tonight, Dr Sketchy tomorrow, and a date with a 5 year old next Thursday.

Comics are still intimidating right now, but I think I can draw some pretty things for your local telephone pole.

Another piece (in progress) inked with the tablet. While it allows me to kill my nerves and edit as I ink, it somehow adds HOURS to the process. Not to mention hand cramps from the stylus, and plain old ignorance of the programs (the pencils have buildings creating a line of sight to the angel, and I have no idea how to do that in the computer).

As I struggle to find a new footing after my hiatus, I'm becoming more and more convinced It'll be a hybrid of digital AND analog drawing tools.

Droppin Science

2009-03-29T22:30:00.000-07:00

Flyin' through the air like I'm Norrin Radd.

Better check with yo momma, I might be yo dad.

(Late night tablet work after reading the essential silver surfer.)

Feeling Alive Is Good, Being Alive Is Better

2009-03-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

I should be working on one of the comic scripts sitting on my desk, or finishing any of the flier concepts I have in my sketchbook.

Instead I only want to go to life drawing class, draw statues, and read anatomy books.

Guess I'm just getting my druthers back, or my "groove" as the kids are fond of calling it.

These are from the museum courtyard, I did them in my sketchbook during the (possibly) first warm day in Cleveland, they took about an hour and a half, and you can click on them to make them giant.

Do It For The Glory, Do It For The Cash

2009-03-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

Late night boredom can usually be cured by the google image search.

Midday boredom can be cured by loose inking.

Smokin An Drinkin On A Tuesday Night

2009-02-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

First Dr. Sketchy in a good long while.
(click on these to make them bigger)

If I'm not mistaken first one post Seattle breakdown, and I'm super happy with the results.

I've been going to the CIA life drawing course the past few weeks, and it's defiantly helped me regain my sight, but more importantly boosted my confidence levels (which is usually the problem in any drawing situation). Getting out of the vacuum of my studio has done nothing but help the past couple of months, and its strengthened my resolve to find the money for art classes.

As much as the classes have helped my life drawing, I got a lot of inspiration from the Gene Cola n exhibit at the Museum Of Cartoon Art in San Francisco that I was fortunate enough to see in December.

Admittedly, I was never much of a Colan fan, but seeing his pencils has helped me a bunch. Particularly the way he uses the direction of line to show mass.

Stuff people have been doing for hundreds of years, but I can really only pay attention when Iron Man is involved.

Practical Karate

2009-02-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

Can I say I'm proud of this? Because I am.

It's the closest example of where I want to go with all of this. Moving towards a new style without abandoning what I know already.

Not to mention fish ladies get me off.

Elephinknow

2009-02-06T15:14:00.001-08:00

Tablet test number two.

I have a feeling inking in illustrator is going to save me a lot of time, which at this point is my biggest hurdle.

Finding the time to produce.

Genius!

2009-01-31T08:07:00.000-08:00

I just hooked up my tablet 5 minutes ago.

I got line weight in Photoshop!!

We are going to get along great.

Busy With Your Mom

2009-01-21T20:58:00.000-08:00

The snow thawed and I got to the Murray Hill drawing group again.

I need to work on my finishing style for life drawing.

Only one way to do that...

House Call

2009-01-20T18:43:00.000-08:00

One of the Dr.Sketchy models made it to the Murray Hill drawing group.

It was distracting.

Olmec Head-Case

2009-01-20T18:40:00.000-08:00

Sketchbook fun with Michelle over scotch.

The White Zone

2009-01-20T18:38:00.000-08:00

I went to San Francisco for Christmas, and spent a lot of time waiting in airports.

This is what happens.

Nerd Love

2009-01-20T17:53:00.001-08:00

After a lot of hemming and hawing, I finally put together a shirt design.

You can buy it right here:

http://www.mysoti.com/mysoti/product/150510

I've always had this theory that Pac Man was gender specific. I.E. Women played Ms. Pac Man better than men, and men played regular Pac Man better than women. I'm not sure how true that is, because I've never had the opportunity to try it out. Tend not to run into many women in arcades nowadays....Or arcades themselves for that matter.

Roxy And Elsewhere

2009-01-20T17:49:00.001-08:00

After two years Roxanne finally sat still long enough to let me draw her.

I wonder if I'll ever get the chance again.