Publishing news: Jack Davis retires at 90

Maybe you’ve heard: graphic virtuoso ‪‎Jack Davis has decided to retire at the young age of ninety, after an impressive career as an illustrator. He created comics and covers for EC Comics and MAD Magazine, was a cover artist for the TV Guide, TIME Magazine, Playboy, Esquire and Newsweek, and a poster artist for the film and music industries, among other things. Much of his work has recently been beautifully collected by Fantagraphics Books.

The master had some health problems in recent years, but didn’t stop doing what he loves. He can still draw better than you and me. It's simply that, as he told the Wire yesterday, “I’m not satisfied with the work. I can still draw, but I just can’t draw like I used to.”

I find it quite inspirational.

New drawing on the go

Hey!

I just drew another sketch on the go during my morning walk. You can watch the speed sketching video on my Tumblr, same as with the previous one.

I hope you like it, I’m having fun making them.

Drawing on the go

Little early morning doodling I’ve just done on my phone:

It felt like a good way of welcoming the day.

I drew it on my phone using my fingers, with the free app PaintJoy for Android: it is light, easy to use, and fun, because it allows you to watch a video of your drawing process at any moment.


[Note: I captured the video from my phone and shared it as a speed sketching video on my Tumblr. Feel free to watch it. Hope you enjoy it.]

Drawing software: Krita Studio

Trying the free software Krita Studio:

Yes, this was done digitally from start to finish. It felt like working on paper all the way.
Good software!

Rescued work: caricatures of A

A good friend reminded me of a few caricatures I drew of her some time ago, and I dug them out of my archive. She has encouraged me to share them here.

So there you go, in chronological order:

Thanks, A!

Momma troll is looking for you

Sketched on Moleskine acid-free paper,

 using a 0.2 mm Staedtler pigment liner,

a Derwent Graphitint pencil and

a Letraset Tria water brush.

A troll pondering

Sketched on Moleskine acid-free paper,

using a 0.2 mm Staedtler pigment liner.

Sketch 111 — Don Pugliese, Part II

Howdy, boys and girls! Do you remember this fellow?

Yeah, it's Don Pugliese, a serious businessdog and an old client of mine. He's rendered a bit differently this time: last time I drew a realistic portrait that he commissioned to hang in his study. This drawing is part of a new project that I'm developing, that you will be able to read here at Titi Sketches soon, for free.

By the way, I've just opened a Pinterest account where you can see my favorite sketches in gallery form, in case you fancy looking at them from time to time (I sure do). The link will be accessible in the Contact section of this site whenever you need it, with the other means for contacting me.

Well, hugs and have a good one!

New logo and postcard for Impronta Films

Hey, guys. Sorry for the few months without posting, life has been quite hectic. I'm going to try and remedy it from now on.

A while ago I explained how I revamped a logo for my friends at Impronta Films, a group of outstanding people who have in their hearts the passion for telling good stories.

Well, I just helped them redesign their whole website, stationery and logo as a holidays present (go there and check it out, if you wish). I also designed a little Holidays postcard for them to send to their friends, families and clients. Nothing too fancy, just a simple reminder to end the year (but not the world, as you have probably noticed) with good feelings.

I asked for their permission to share it with you, as I feel that they are a bit like a family to me, and so are you. They said yes, so here it goes (click on it to expand it):

As we are bilingual, so is the card. So, anyway, as the card says, I also wish all of you happy holidays and a prosperous new year of sketches 2013. Cheers!

Sketch 110 — Kids and kites

I drew a bunch of these a few years ago. This is one of my favorites:

Old sketch from 2009, mixed technique.

My New Project: Caricatures at The Toon Zoo

Hey! I'm back at doing caricatures. Check out this one:

[ If you want to buy one, go to The Toon Zoo and take a look. They are full color, fairly priced, and I'll do my best so you'll be satisfied with the results. I explain how I work in detail on the site. ]

Do you like them? Please leave your comments on this post. I'd like to read your thoughts about it.

In a few hours, another sketch from my series "Oldies", from 1997.

Sketch 029 (News and Sketches. Back to Daily)

Hello again. I'm very busy these days, working closely with the fine guys at Delirio Místico (a Spanish graphic design company) and Impronta Films (a Spanish film production company), creating designs for some of their clients, translating movie scripts, and other cool stuff. All that while working on developing my own illustration and comic projects. I'm having tons of fun.

But I don't want to neglect this blog, which is a pleasure of mine. (And the Titi wouldn't forgive me if I did, and he has a reeeally bad temper.)

So, from now on, and in the foreseeable future, we're going back to throw you one sketch a day, Monday to Friday every week.

We're starting with a series of old drawings I just rescued, the contents of a dusty folder dating back to the crazy old days of 1997. Back then, I decided to redraw many of the characters I had been creating for fun since I was a kid. I didn't finish the task, but I came close. Looking at them now, I think some of those drawings are worth showing them to you, guys. I hope you like them.

Here's the first one:

(Old character of mine, redrawn in 1997)

Peculiar friendships: Popi and Pupa

Lonely kid

Lucas III says “hi”

He saw me a few times looking at him and doodling in my notebook, so he approached me and asked me what was all that about. I told him, hoping he wouldn’t take it the wrong way. He wasn’t thrilled, but understood why I was doing it and let me continue, with the condition that I won’t bother him too much. I also promised him that I will respect his privacy as much as he considers appropriate, I hope that’s all right with you.

Then he wanted to say hi to you guys, before going back to his business. So there you go:

You can say hi back, I’ll tell him the next time I see him.

Shelly’s still at it!

See? What did I tell you? Look at him go! And not tired at all!

The other day I was in a rush, but this time I had a minute to watch him dance (he doesn’t mind) and try and draw him a little better. I hope you like it!

Lucas III’s morning stroll

This is something Lucas III never skips. He gets up at dawn and walks at a brisk pace to Main Square, where he sips some water from the fountain. Then he comes back home, wishing a good morning and a prosperous day to other early risers, all very formally. Once done, he feels satisfied and ready to face whatever businesses await him that day.

Meet Lucas III

He’s a terrific guy, but be warned: he’s an adult, and quite dignified. If you sweet talk him or condescend him because he’s small and cute, he will see you as a fool and will treat you as such. It won’t be easy for you to win his respect after that. Don’t say I didn’t tell you.

Mr. A. McFurry, retired

Hey, kids! I’ve got new tools! They are pretty cool, check this out:

Eleven