Did this quick sketch tonight. I don’t think I’ve drawn Optimus Prime since I was like 10. I was a huge Transformers fan growing up, and recently have re-visited some of the original series episodes online. I still love it. Better than those new live-action not-all-ages movies they’re putting out now.

Doodze-related sketches for your enjoyment. Not sure what all the question marks are about. But speaking of Doodze, check out the work-in-progress of my new webcomic HERE.

Feels good to be drawing again after a week or more of non-drawing busyness. This one’s fresh out of the sketchbook for your enjoyment. For more robots, much better-rendered (ie not just quick sketches like this thing) check out 165 Bots With Stuff, as well as Draw Me a Robot, both of which are great, ongoing creative exercises by their respective artists.

And for more creative encouragement, check out this article about the origins of genius, making the assertion that it’s more about time and practice than just raw talent. And then, get to work!

This is how I feel sometimes. If we’re honest, though, we could all use a little help every day. Or maybe a lot of help. Who are you reaching for?

There was a time (like, high school) when I pretty much only drew super heroes. Not so much anymore. But sometimes I get the urge, and something like today’s sketch happens. Someday maybe I’ll write an actually superhero comic. But this will have to do for now.

This was drawn tonight as I was warming up to work on the latest page of Doodze. The quote is from the first episode of Chris Oatley’s ArtCast, which I was listening to as I was sketching. It was a good reminder to set realistic goals and then work hard to hopefully not only fulfill them but exceed them. Great advice for the artist, or for anyone dealing with other peoples’ expectations. Better to pleasantly surprise than to consistently disappoint. It’s good if you can surprise yourself sometimes, too.

I just realized it’s been like a month since my last Confession. I’m sorry… This week, I give you a behind-the-scenes look at my new webcomic, Doodze. Doodze is some kind of a cross between Smurfs and Lord of the Rings; a fun, cartoony, fantasy adventure of hopefully epic proportions. Check out these sketches, with explanation below.

The first sketch above is the layout for page 5 of the first chapter of the Doodze comic. The second sketch was done in preparation for several almost-exactly-the-same panels on page 6 (I love my light board). Lastly, several random conceptual sketches, featuring would-be or could-be Doodze characters as well as an early version of their village, which had been drawn before I settled on the bamboo huts.

Doodze.com is not live yet, but in the meantime, you can get a sneak-peak over at the Doodze Facebook page HERE. The first six pages are already posted.

This was a simple, quick sketch that kind of got out of hand. It was supposed to just a girl with a gun or two, but I ended up adding a sword, wings and tail for some reason. She also has a nose ring, which I’ve always thought looked pretty cool on a girl.

This week, more of the same little dudes as last time — and their little village, too. I really like drawing these guys, and I’m looking forward to having something “finished” to share, as well as to developing their world and story.

Sketchpad Confessional is another new feature I’ve decided to roll out on this new blog. What is Sketchpad Confessional, you ask? Basically just what the name implies. A look inside my sketchbooks at what I’ve been doodling lately. Why Confessional, though? No real reason, other than the fact that I like the name. You won’t see a ton of autobiographical material here. But on the other hand, by virtue of the fact that it’s stuff from my sketchbooks, as opposed to “finished” pieces, it’s not necessarily going be my best work. So I guess in that sense it’s kind of intimate. Or… It may be a frightening peak through a window into my tortured mind. You decide.

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Today, a look at some little unnamed dudes I’ve been doodling a lot of lately. They started as not much more than doodles and have developed into a whole new idea for a webcomic. I’m hoping to do something with them this year sometime. In the meantime, here’s a look inside the sketchpad. My first confession.

PS — If you followed my former comics blog, or you’re my Facebook friend, you’ve probably already seen at least some of these. I’ll be sure to follow up with some stuff you haven’t seen yet, though, in the not-too-distant future.