Searle in America

My Friend Matt Jones is putting together a Ronald Searle retrospective exhibition at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. To do so he needs to raise some funds, so he's holding a small Ebay fundraiser featuring Searle homages by his friends in the animation industry.

I sketched a St. Trinian's inspired girl to help out. Keep an eye on his blog for auction details.

Sketchtravel Museum Project

The Sketchtravel Exhibit is on it's way to the Kyoto International Manga Museum, but to make it happen some funds need to be raised. I've contributed a couple of my Bookplate Betties books with original drawings in them. If you're interested you can find the Ebay auction here and here.

Check out the rest of the auction too, there's a lot of cool stuff.

Artists Help Japan

I've donated this original piece to Artists Help Japan.
It's a charity movement initiated by my friend Dice Tsutsumi responding to the immediate needs of earthquake & tsunami survivors as well as short-term to long-term recovery projects undertaken by the affected communities.



The original art is now up for auction on Ebay here until April 5th, as well as many other pieces by my fellow Pixarians. Check it out.

SketchTraveling

A while back I made a post about SketchTravel to which I contributed a page. The published version is soon to be released and the actual book full of original art is soon to be auctioned.

Sketchtravel is a unique international charity project brainchild of my good friend Dice Tsutsumi and Gerald Guerlais. The idea is to benefit Room to Read, an international non-profit dedicated to increasing child literacy in developing countries. You can find all the wonderful details about the SketchTravel adventure and its final Art Auction coming on October 17th in Brussels at their brand new SketchTravel website. One of the important things SketchTravel has done is pull together a diverse and amazing community of artists from all around the world, even more importantly the project’s goal is to build one library ($20k) and sponsor one local children’s book publishing ($15k). I ask you kindly to support in anyway you can this wonderful project. There are different ways to give a hand:
1) Donate to Room to Read.
2) Visit and “like” SketchTravel’s Facebook page.
3) Re-share this information to spread the word.
Thank you for your support everyone!

Throne of Blood

What's this? A post without a girl in it? Shocking!




Throne of Blood was the first Akira Kurosawa film I ever saw. I was in high school studying Macbeth in lit class and our teacher showed us this movie since it's considered to be one of (if not the) best film adaptation of the play. Admittedly it was pretty slow paced for my teenage self but the ending to that movie was burned into my brain forever. I've been a huge Kurosawa fan ever since.

Scott Morse asked me to contribute a piece to the Tr!ckster/Criterion Collection Akira Kurosawa one night only art auction benefit for Japan relief. At Tr!ckster in San Diego Friday, July 22, 2011.

Other contributing artist are:
Mike Allred, Scott C., Josh Cochran, Francesco Francavilla, Robert Goodin, Victor Kerlow, Ted Mathot, Scott Morse, Sho Murase, Yuko Shimizu, Jim Rugg, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Connor Willumsen.

Art Blocks for Ghana Part II

Just wanted to let you guys know the "Art Blocks for Ghana" charity auction is currently live on Ebay at the moment, including my own piece. The auction ends Sunday March 20th 4pm PST. 7pm EST.
There's lots of great art, so get while the gettin's good!

Art Blocks for Ghana

I did this piece to contribute to "Art Blocks for Ghana", a charity art auction by artists in the animation and illustration community to help build a children's Home in Ghana.

This was a tough one. We were required to paint on these square wooden blocks, which meant I needed to paint opaquely. I haven't painted in a non transparent method in a good long time, so I was a bit rusty.

Purr-Casso 2010

My piece for Purr-Casso 2010 is done. And none too soon.
This original piece of art will be up for auction this weekend for a good cause.




From the Purr-Casso blog:

The 5th Annual Purrcasso Art & Craft Gala takes place this weekend!

Please join us Saturday night for a silent auction and art sale, complete with live music, entertainment, and mingling with artists.

On Sunday, we will be offering lots of fabulous handmade crafts for pets and pet lovers in addition to beautiful art featuring cats and dogs.

Special thanks to our sponsors Wareham Development, KDFC FM 102.1, and the BEBHS Feline Angels.

November 6-7, 2010
Saturday 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Sunday 12-4 p.m.

At the old Scharffen Berger Chocolate Factory
914 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley, California 94710



*UPDATE*

The rough.

Blogging an Appa

I'm a big Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, so my good friend Steph Laberis made me this awesome Baby Appa feltie. I can tell you're jealous, who wouldn't be. It's adorable. She's getting really good at this felting thing and is looking to take commissions. Have a look-see on her blog.




In other news, Purrcasso is this weekend. It's a charity auction to raise funds for the East Bay humane society. I do a piece every year and this year will be no exception. It's coming down to the wire though, hopefully I'll be finished tonight and can post it soon.

Sketchtravel

I'm very lucky and honored to have been invited to contribute to the Sketchtravel book. Sketchtravel is the brainchild of Gérald Guerlais and Daisuke Tsutsumi, it's a sketchbook thats passed by hand from artist to artist across the world. Once it's finished It'll be sold in a benefit auction and published as well.

Sketchtravel blog

I finished my page almost two weeks ago. I'm not allowed to show the whole thing so here's a small detail to whet your appetites.



I was also privileged with the honor of handing off the book to the amazing Carter Goodrich of New Yorker fame.
I nerded out over that one.


(thats Ronnie Del Carmen lurking in the background with his beloved coffee and/or iPhone)

"Help the Hodges"

While I was at CTN I contributed to this group drawing to help raise money for the Hodge family. It's got quite a line up of famous cartoonists on it. Today it goes for auction on EBAY along with many other fundraising items and art. Lot's of cool stuff actually.
See www.helpthehodges.com for details.

This Weekend

This weekend I have two different pieces for sale at two different art shows. Charity auction Purrcasso to raise funds for the East Bay humane society:
The event will be held at
1809 4th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
The auction runs Saturday, 7:00-9:30 p.m. (bidding ends at 9 pm)



And QUINQUENNIUM EXHIBITUM: NUCLEUS 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION:
210 East Main St, Alhambra CA 91801
Opening Reception is 7:00- 11:00 p.m.


I know they're at the same time. I'd love to go to both but since I live in the bay area it'll just be Purrcaso for me.

Playtime

I finished my Purrcasso piece early for once!
This original piece of art will go up for auction November 7th and/or 8th to help raise funds for needy animals. See the official Purrcasso website for show details as they develop.

Purrcasso 2009

Every year I contribute an original piece of art to the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society's art show fundraiser Purrcasso. It's that time of year again and they're going to need contributions. If you're an artist who would like to donate a cat or dog themed piece of art, check out the official website for details.
Submissions are due by October 17th, 2009.

The show itself will be held November 7th and 8th (location still to be determined), so if you're an art collector who enjoys the work of animation artists you may want to check it out.

All of the money raised will go to the animals in the Berkeley Animal shelter and for their care.

You can check out my contributions from the previous two years HERE and HERE.

Salute!

I spent the weekend on this new piece for an auction.
It's to benifit a military fund raiser for injured troops and their families. Right now I don't know when or where it will be, but I'll post more details as I get them.
Her uniform is based on a British Lance-Corporal from the 4th Infantry Division stationed in France in 1940. It had a kilt and a hat with a little red pom-pon thing on it, so I thought it might look cute on a girl.

Catnap

Done and delivered to the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society.
My usual concentrated watercolor on top of acrylic wash technique.
Unusual dimensions for me, but it was fun going that horizontal.

This piece will go up for auction at the "Purr-casso Art and Craft Gala"
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
12-4 PM
Hollis Street Project
5900 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA




I found out that the deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday October 31st (Halloween). So it's not too late to donate a piece if you've found the inspiration.
Keep an eye on the official Purr-Casso blog for further developments.

Purr-casso

Wow, it's been a month since my last post. I don't know how that happens.
The "Purr-casso" art show fundraiser is fast approaching with the deadline in just three short days.
I think I'll have my piece done in time. Here are my roughs.

Under the Wire

I just managed to finish these two color sketches for the Totoro Forest Project "Forest Hero" tickets. Just in time too, the auction is tomorrow. For those who don't know the highest level or "Hero" level tickets sold for the auction get a copy of the book of the show as well as an original piece of art. Here are some other great examples by Dice Tsutsumi, Ronnie Del Carmen, Enrico Casarosa and Scott Morse.

Calling All Artists ... Come in Artists...

Last year I posted a call to artists who might be interested in donating art to the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society for their yearly art sale fundraiser called "Purr-casso". The turn out was wonderful, artists from all over the world contributed pieces that made a huge difference to these animals lives.

Well another bigger and better Purr-casso is on its way and it's going to need contributions. Here's the details.

DEADLINE FOR ARTWORK: October 25, 2008

Submission details:

Step 1: Email: stutfield@yahoo.com or claytonja@sbcglobal.net
Include the following information:
1. Name/Phone Number
2. Medium (painting, photo, quilt, etc.)
3. Size – approximate
4. Number of items
5. How it will be displayed

Step 2: Mail or deliver artwork to BEBHS--October 25, 2008
Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society
Attn: Cindy Shelby
2700 Ninth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

Attach to your art work:
1. Your Name
2. Company Name (if applies)
3. Phone Number
4. Address (if applies)
5. Email Address
6. Website
7. Title of piece (if applies)
8. Price of artwork(s)

Portfolio Book:
1 page – 8 ½ x 11
Bio and Photo of artwork
Contact info.
Attach business cards

PLEASE NOTE:
1. Send artwork framed, or in a manner we can easily display to the public.
2. Your art work will be stored in a safe and secured warehouse near the Hollis Street Project.


The event itself, "Purr-casso Art and Craft Gala" will be held on:

Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
12-4 PM
Hollis Street Project
5900 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA

The event will consist of a silent art auction in addition to a normal craft fair. There will be some great art to be had here, as long as all you artists out there are willing to contribute!

Official info from the Purr-Casso blog:
And some more goodies on Bill Robinson's Blog:

Here's the piece that I contributed to last years show.



This year I'm hoping to do at least a couple.

Totoro Update

Tickets have officially gone on sale for the upcoming Totoro Forest Art Auction Benefit Event to be held at Pixar on September 6th. The price of each ticket includes a copy of the amazing Art of Totoro Forest Book, a $40 value.

Here's the breakdown:
Forest Friend - $100 regular admission + book.
Forest Sponsor - $200 includes admission + book + signed limited edition print
Forest Champion - $300 includes middle VIP live auction seating + book + signed limited edition print + gift certificate to Blowfish Sushi
Forest Hero - $500 includes front VIP live auction seating + book + an original drawing by one of the artists

Tickets are on sale HERE. There are a limited number of tickets so if you're interested act quickly. All proceeds will be donated to the Totoro Forest Foundation!