New Moon @ My Plastic Heart

Happy New Year Sketchbot followers!  It's been a very busy start for me, as I just completed a big freelance gig for Saatchi NY and am putting finishing touches on a few new pieces for various shows early in the year.

First up is New Moon, Interpretations of the Chinese Zodiac, opening tonight (2/11) at My Plastic Heart NYC. This is the third iteration of the zodiac-themed show, curated by John Wong.

My concept took a few twists and turns before settling on an idea that was partly inspired by my 1-yr old daughter's wooden toy blocks. My birth year is 1965, so naturally I chose to do The Snake. Pigs are on the direct opposite on the zodiac scale, so I wanted to incorporate them into the composition. The humanoids were based on old sketches I did years ago while doing simple, volumetric character studies.

The final piece, titled "Why Do Opposites Attract?", is an 11" x 17" Giclée print and will be on display thru March 13th, 2011.

Happy Holidays from Sketchbot!

It's been an incredible year for Sketchbot. We debuted the original colourway this past June at My Plastic Heart and had them available at San Diego Comic Con in July, Variant 2 was introduced at New York Comic Con at the end of July, and the DIY blanks were announced at Designer Con in November. We also had not one, but TWO Custom Shows - the first was held at My Plastic Heart in March, and the second at Munky King LA at the end of November.  Next year we have four more exciting variants rolling out, and the possibility of Sketchbot Custom Show 3 is already in the works. I'm also participating in a few exciting shows early next year - most notably, I've been invited to do a series of Star Wars Galaxy Sketch Cards for series 6 and also will be contributing to the third New Moon show at My Plastic Heart.

Here's to a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

P.S. Longtime readers will recognize that the above image is based on this concept from two years ago. I had always intended to bring that concept to life in 3d, and finally had some time this year to crank it out.

Sketchbot Custom Show 2 - Captain Cavebot!

When I first began this custom, I was going to do an entire figure covered in sculpted fur based on two drawings I did called Furbot.  I started with the body, but then had to put work on hold for 2 weeks while I took on some paying jobs.  When I returned to the figure last Sunday I started rethinking the concept and was doing a few colour studies in Photoshop when it hit me - "why not just do a figure with a hairy body only?" The classic Hanna-Barbera character Captain Caveman immediately popped into my head, so I snapped a picture of work-in-progress and mocked up that idea.  I think it turned out pretty good, considering the last minute change and working out of my normal "mask 'N spray" comfort zone.

You can see this, along with 70 other amazing pieces beginning tonight at Munky King LA.  See you at the show!

Sketchbot Custom Show 2 Sneak Peek Day Five

Alright, technically, it's Thursday as I compose this final teaser grid before we head out to LA. I'm simply not going to have any time to do this in the morning before heading to the airport, so those of you up late get first dibs.

This last group is comprised of pieces by: Atomos, babyVtec, Steve Talkowski (hey, that's ME), Jenny Wolf, Mister Toast, Kingquan, Phetus, Gumpy Revolution, and Scott Tolleson.

I hope you've all enjoyed a week's worth of teasers. Be sure to come back for complete coverage from the show at Munky King, plus all the cool events going down in Pasadena this Saturday at Designer Con!

Sketchbot Custom Show 2 Sneak Peek Day Four!

Alright folks, here we go with day four's teaser grid. As the incredible imagery continues to pour in I get excited as to the impact this show will have on the DIY custom community. People are going above and beyond with their entries and I am truly blown away!

Artists in today's grid are: George Gaspar, LYSOL, Overkill Creations, Ritzy P, Nathan Hamill, Ayleen Gaspar, Betso, Triclops, Kelly Denato, Pocket Wookie, Sour Bones, and Abe Lincoln Jr.!

Sketchbot Custom Show 2 Sneak Peek Day Three!

Are we really only 3 days aways from opening night?! Hells ya, and I'm just now painting MY entry for the show! (I work best under pressure)

This third installment of the teaser grid includes work from: Cris Rose, Jimmy Foo, Rusted Halo, Scottoons, Cameron Tiede, Jon-Paul Kaiser, Bucky Lastard, Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica, Kevin Gosselin, Kat Brunnegraff, Paul Shih, and Phu!

Sketchbot Custom Show 2 Sneak Peek Day Two!

Alright, we're in the homestretch for the big show this Friday night. Here are two more sets of teaser grids for you all to drool over!

Artists represented in this group are: Grimsheep, Lunabee, valleydweller, Mike Gulen, Alisa Ross, Paul Kaiju, Squink, PodgyPanda, dodgrr, Scribe, Spanky Stokes, and Shawnimal.

Sketchbot Custom Show 2 Sneak Peek!

Alright folks, we're one week away from the big show at Munky King, and what better way to kick off the countdown than to release the first set of teaser images!

We've got 75 artists this time around and I have to tell you, everyone seems to be upping their game significantly for this show. The entries are as diverse as the first show, and I'm truly blown away by what people are coming up with for this platform.

Artists represented in this series of teaser grids: MAp-MAp, Euralis Weekes, Yoshii, David Lanham, J★RYU, A Little Stranger, Mr Munk, Lunartik, Mike Bell, Mike Slobot, Chris Ryniak, and Jim Bradshaw.

Stay tuned next week as I reveal teaser grids Mon-Thurs leading up to opening night!

Happy All Hallows' Eve!

It's been a crazy October, which started off with a whirlwind 3 days at NYCC, where Variant 2/Blue was released. (view my Flickr set here) I've been busy getting ready for the epic Sketchbot Custom Show 2 which opens at Munky King LA in 3 weeks, along with Designer Con the day after.  Stay tuned for some teaser images that I'll start releasing from all the participating artists about a week before the show opens.  In the meantime, have a safe and fun Halloween!

Sketchbot Custom Show V2 is ON!

After the huge success of the first Sketchbot Custom Show back in March, I've decided to curate a 2nd show to coincide with Designer Con in late November. Opening night is the Friday BEFORE Designer Con, November 19th, at Munky King LA so mark your calendars and plan your trip accordingly!

Check out this GARGANTUAN list of over 70 artists participating:

LYSOL ● Mike Bell ● Overkill Creations ● Betso ● Squink ● Kat Brunnegraff ● Rusted Halo ● Clutter Magazine ● Mr Munk ● Paul Kaiju ● Dodgrr ● valleydweller ● Kelly Denato ● Grimsheep ● Emily Bee ● Ritzy P ● Brian Ewing ● Jimmy Foo ● Alisa Furchess-Ross ● George Gaspar ● Ayleen Gaspar ● Mister Toast ● Kevin Gosselin ● Michael Gulen ● Nathan Hamill ● Monstafaktory ● Triclops ● James Yeah ● Ragnar ● Lunartik ● Jon-Paul Kaiser ● Frank Kozik ● PodgyPanda ● David Lanham ● Phu ● Rohby ● Abe Lincoln Jr. ● Sarah Jo Marks ● Drew Millward ● Lunabee ● Callgrim ● Pocket Wookie ● Lap Ngo ● TaskOne ● Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica ● David Palieri ● Atomos ● map-map ● Dave Pressler ● Gumpy Revolution ● Huge "Dred" Rose ● Cris Rose ● Scribe ● Reuben Rude ● Chris Ryniak ● Scottoons ● Paul Shih ● Mike Slobot ● Shawnimal ● Bwana Spoons ● A Little Stranger ● Troy Stith ● Spanky Stokes ● Steve Talkowski ● Cameron Tiede ● Bucky Lastard ● Scott Tolleson ● Kingquan ● BABYVTEC ● Euralis Weekes ● Julie West ● Jenny Wolf ● Yoshii ● J★RYU ● ManOne ● Rsinart ● Phetus ● Jim Bradshaw

I'm also dropping the Sketchbot DIY Blanks at both events, so in addition to acquiring original customs from many of your favourite artists, you'll be able to purchase and take home your very own blank and customize one yourself!