Hey friends,
Recently I did these illustrations for Seattle Magazine, about a guy who got attacked by a black bear.
I don’t do a lot of animal illustration so I spent a lot of time gathering bear reference online. There isn’t really a lot of good action shots of bears moving aggressively from multiple or interesting angles so I was still forced to make up a lot of it. During my research I also bought a couple of animal anatomy books and a great animal drawing book by Ken Hultgren that I recommend to anyone who’s interested in an inventive approach to animal drawing.
By the way, you will notice an RSS Feed icon beside the “NEWS” link now. I’ve been struggling trying to figure out how to get an RSS Feed onto my blog for quite some time. Fellow artist Nate Olsen volunteered his expertise and set that up for me earlier today. Thanks Nate!
Thanks for the look!
f.
13 Comments
Add Yours →i LOVE the new piece.
I was wondering if you have ever/would ever do a little step by step of your coloring process? I’ve always been curious as to how you pull that off so nicely.
And, one last annoying question, in Swallow 3, there are two images with the title of Hamburgers. I was wonder what those images were from/where can I get my hands on the rest of that story? That was you in Swallow 3 right? if not i look like a jackass….
Nice stuff Frank. Always fun and interesting angles and compositions. Cheers, and thanks for posting. I have a few questions lined up for you but I’ll wait until they’re more relevant. Take care.
Steve – Yes, I may do something like that in the future, but have no plans. My colors are so straightforward it would be a pretty boring post. As for Swallow 3; yes that was me. Hamburgers for One is a comic I wrote and illustrated that I’m trying to publish. I’ll have news on that soon.
Eli – Thanks, can’t wait to hear your questions.
The first one is incredible. What a composition! Hate to sound trite, but that’s just such a perfect use of a worm’s eye view…
awesome frank! i like the silhouette and the pattern of trees.
Wow, another great shot! You always come up with the best angles. It’s like were seeing your illustrations through a camera. I don’t know how you do it 🙂
wow. amazing. love the composition and design to these. good to see your roughs.
i agree leyendecker is amazing. i saw his show in stockton. you don’t get to really appreciate it till you’ve seen it in person. i like him better than rockwell. he reached a level of design people are still trying to chase after. he lives on…
Thanks for the good words, guys.
C.B. — About Leyendecker — I think he’s a GREAT designer and craftsman without equal in the history of illustration. Definitely one of my all-time favorites. However I’m a bigger fan of Norman Rockwell because he’s such an amazing storyteller. I tend to get lost in the worlds Rockwell would create where with Leyendecker I would get lost more on the surface.
f.
Gotta agree , thee are pretty sweet Frank , nicely done.
Frank, Great job on the Bear pieces I really love your overall style and approach with your different digital techniques. Great job! Have you ever seen the movie “The Edge” with Anthony Hopkins? Back from the 90’s, great movie about him and a few guys getting lost in the woods and being attacked repeatedly by a Kodiak Bear. Could have helped you with the action shot reference. Hope the city isnt as sweltering as upstate NY is! Cya
For future bear reference, you might pause on still-frames of the dramatic conclusion to “Anchorman– The Legend of Ron Burgundy” during the epic and climactic news-team bear fight.
Thanks for checkin’ in on my blog. I’ll put the whole set of small things up on my site before they go up for sale in the cafe.
Cheers,
–rz
You are the best Frankmaister!!!!
Hi Frank
I’m wondering if you know this american artist Beth Van Hoesen.
One of her books is called “A Collection of Wonderful Things”
from mid-end sixties. She have a mavelous line.
as you have.
Bjarne