CookieDoodle #6

 

For Cookiedoodle #6, I thought Cookie Monster and the Count could stand in for the characters from the cover of Creepy #4 by Frank Frazetta. I think Cookie is happy to receive a delivery from the Count’s Castle Bakery van.

In the late 1950’s and early 60’s, publisher Jim Warren found a niche with magazines aimed at the young fans of horror movies.  During the late 1950’s, a package of the early classic horror films was distributed to TV stations and created a new group of fans.  When these films began being broadcast, Mom wouldn’t let me or my brothers stay up late to watch them. She would relate the plots of the movies to us at breakfast the next day. I became very interested.

Warren began publishing Famous Monsters of Filmland in 1958.  With the success of this publication, and having included a couple stories told in comic book fashion in his magazines, Warren in 1964 began publishing Creepy and then Eerie. These anthology  “comic book style” books were published in a magazine format and avoided the restraints of the Comic’s Code. Many illustrators for the stories in the magazines had worked for the notorious EC Comics, whose comics had been used as a prime example of why a Comic’s Code was needed to enforce self-imposed industry standards/regulations on comic book content, like no vampires, werewolves, or ghouls, etc., that would traumatize young minds. The damage had already been done to me, and I was drawing monsters and staying up late.

I had seen Frank Frazetta’s artwork on ACE paperback book covers, but when he began illustrating covers for Warren Publishing's horror magazines, I was hooked.

CookieDoodle, 5

 

In this, just for fun, CookieDoodle Chip Furry finds himself on a clean up mission, but he doesn't seem to mind. Cookie Monster cuts a fine figure in his spacesuit. Who needs gloves and boots when you are a cute furry, not so little, monster?

In 1968 Jim Steranko drew the cover for Marvel Comic's Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6. I have read that he meant it as a tribute to one of his artistic influences, Wally Wood. Steranko asked Wood to ink his drawing for the cover but Wood declined, so Steranko finished the art himself. Wood had abandoned his earlier highly detailed style. Wood felt that Steranko's art had too much detail, which ironically had been picked up through Steranko's love of Woods early 1950's science fiction artwork.

Like many young comic's fans in the 60's, Steranko's art and stories seemed fresh but with a nod to the professional comic book creators that had preceded him. I remember the impact of seeing his cover in the magazine racks at Mahoningtown News. That may have been just before I set out for my first year of school in New York City.

Traditional figure inks, scanned and colored digitally.

Sesame Street Digital Art

I ran across this video of a presentation by some folks from Sesame Workshop whom I have worked with. There are even several of my character style concepts used in the presentation (starting around 15 minutes in.) Mark mentions art Sesame Workshop, named Children's Television Workshop at the time, received from the old Sesame Street Stores, which I was also responsible for creating and saving from the dumpster on the final days of lay-offs from the retailer's corporate headquarters.

Mark and Diana offered a fun and informative look at how Adobe's Illustrator is used on their character art.

http://tv.adobe.com/watch/max-2011-design/the-art-of-sesame-street/

Happy New Year 2012

For various reasons I am happy to see 2011 go!

I'm wishing a better 2012 to all.

One of my illustrations from many years back. It was for the folks at Berlitz.

Sesame Street Zombies

Sesame Street Workshop artist Evan Chen has created some cool zombies with the Sesame Street characters.

Sesame Street Sketch

Just doodling some Sesame Street characters and trying out a new fountain pen.

Here is a link to some Super Grover 2.0.

Candlewick: Brand New Reader

I haven't forgotten or abandoned posting here. I have been busy and under the weather.

This week a book, I actually worked on about one year ago, will be coming out in stores. Something I love about the Sesame Street characters is the collection of monsters. This book has a couple of my favorites, Grover and Oscar.

The art is a combination of traditional and digital work, which is the way I prefer to do illustration now.

Super Grover 2.0

For all you Grover fans, the upcoming season of Sesame Street will have new Super Grover episodes. He is more hi-tech but Super Grover 2.0 is still the same old Grover, bumbling his way into discovering how to help get things done.

A couple of months back Sesame Workshop asked me to do some art for the new Super Grover 2.0. Then, it was still a top secret project; but since the official Sesame Street website has made the announcement and is offering a short clip, I think it is okay to let everyone know that Super Grover is back.

Photo, Art © Sesame Workshop 2010