Editor’s Note (2026): This compilation was assembled in 2026 from posts originally published in 2009. No new material has been added beyond comment highlights.
This post collects the first 15 entries from a 30-day blogging challenge from January 2009. Most days are intentionally small: one image, a sentence, and whatever conversation happened in the comments. I’ve separated each entry by posting date and excerpted a few comment highlights when it felt worthwhile.
Click the day heading to view the original post (and full comment thread) in context.
Day 1 – Jan. 1, 2009
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Comment highlights
- Oskar (iwasink) (Jan 5, 2009): Reminds me of some of the stuff you painted back at Art Center. Love the saturation of the toned board. 🙂
- Marsupial (Jan 6, 2009): Cool. I’ve been waiting to see some more of your traditional media pieces, assuming that this is traditional media.
- Steve (Jan 4, 2009): sweet whats this for frank? also, will you be going to james’ show on saturday? if so i hope to see ya there
Day 2 – Jan. 5, 2009
I was at a coffee shop to do thumbs for a painting idea, and realized I don’t know how to draw tigers from my imagination. So I tried my best to remember what they look like. The cartoony ones were the easiest.
Comment Highlights
- Ismail (Jan 6, 2009): Glad to observe that Mr Stockton has the foundamental flaws of every illustrator !! it makes you Human to me !!
- Daniel S Limón (Jan 8, 2009): Saludos Frank, You can concentrate to draw in a coffe shop? I can’t it, I’m feeling observed. :s
Day 3 – January 6, 2009
More tigers, this time with reference, and a very rough sketch. I’m not sure if it’s there just yet.
Day 4 – Jan. 7, 2009
I blew up the loose sketch from yesterday, then drew it a bit tighter on the light table. The Tiger and Octopus were drawn on separate pieces of paper and put together in photoshop. It’s still not quite there, a lot of details are missing, but I’ll get to those tomorrow. By the way, the BEASTS vol. 2 book is available in stores now. My Yuki-Onna piece is featured within.
I’ve been told the first printing has already sold out, and the 2nd printing is on the way. I finally got my copy the other day and I have to say it’s a really beautiful and fun book. Be sure to check it out.
Comment Highlights
- markleggett (Jan 7, 2009): I would like to know if there has ever been a time where a tiger has fought an octopus? If not, why not? Let’s stop wasting our time on Survivor type shows for humans and set this up! Come on! I think the tiger would win, so we are only going to lose one octopus, and last time I checked we have heaps of those.
- Frank (Jan 7, 2009): Don’t be so hasty! the octopus still has many tools at its disposal. Besides, I think your suggestion is illegal.
- iwasink (Jan 8, 2009): I’m really enjoying the tiger process piece. I love the construction in his forehead/muzzle area. GOOD JOB! Another thing I’ve been wondering about for some time now is that grid you use. How & why do you use it?
- Roggie (Jan 10, 2009): It’s pretty daring to cover ground as well-traveled in the illustration world as tigers and octopod. Right up there with antlers! Good on you for being the one to combine them.
Day 5 – Jan. 8, 2009
Last night: gourmet drinks and gourmet hot dogs with the other two members of The Plundering, Josh Cochran and Nathan Huang. What’s up guys!
Comment Highlights
- josh (Jan 10, 2009): Strangely handsome dudes
- Frank (Jan 10, 2009): I agree, Josh. Especially that hunk on the right.
Day 7 – Jan. 10, 2009
I realize I haven’t yet explained what I’m trying to do here.
One of my resolutions for this year is to get in the habit of doing personal work. I decided late in December that I would challenge myself to make new art and post every day, 30 days straight.
It’s both rewarding and super challenging. When you haven’t painted or drawn for yourself in a while, it’s like going back to the gym after not working out for a long time.
I wanted to print out Thursday’s comp and draw it in pencil tighter today but I’m out of ink and all the supply stores are closed, so I did a little practice painting instead.
Also, here’s a page in my sketchbook from Friday.
Comment Highlights
- Steve (Jan 11, 2009): Hey, it was great meeting you last night at the gallery! Sorry if it was weird me randomly coming up to you but I recognized you and was like fuck thats frank gotta say hi since i probably wouldnt have had the chance again lol. hope ya like the show, it was sick. and like i said earlier i cant wait to see the finished piece with this that your working on!
- Do Yeah Media (Jan 13, 2009): haha player skull is awesome! love your linework.
Day 8 – Jan. 11, 2009
Happy Sunday!
Comment Highlights
- M (Jan 13, 2009): This is really exquisite, how exciting to have daily updates from you.
Day 9 – Jan. 12, 2009
Tighter drawing, still.
I spent a good two and a half or three hours at the light table tightening this up. It was REALLY fun, but I still have a lot more to do on it.
I’ve never put this much into a pre-drawing before, I’ve always just jumped right in after the sketch phase, so I hope it works out. Anyway, I feel like I’m learning a lot. At least now I know why octopi are so popular to draw! I could make those tentacles forever…
f.
Comment Highlights
- seajay (Jan 13, 2009): awesome. i’m really into this. its defintely stirring my pot of inspirado. side note… it was cool seeing you at the show the other night. i was behind you at coat check… but i found the situation too weird for me to say something after i’v been lurking quietly on the internet for so long. anyways… im really lookin for to seeing this joint progress.
- KommandoZ (the_Q) (Jan 13, 2009): wow! on second sight, allow me to ask question: is the tiger biting air?:) cannot wait to see the final work. will the tiger be yellow or white? will the head pattern stay wildly tabby (?) as shown in sketch? Greetings the_Q
Day 10 – Jan. 13, 2009
The tiger versus octopus goes on… I think I’m going to have to start painting this sucker. Paint on panel, digital print, or silk screen? I can’t wait.
I made some changes, such as moving the tiger’s right paw (thanks jt), making the octopus’ head larger, and adding the markings to the creatures. Fun!
f.
Comment Highlights
- chriswhetzel (Jan 14, 2009): Hi, Frank. First I would really like to say thanks for posting daily on this project; its very cool. I just wanted to say that I actually like the right paw on the octopus’ head. In fact, i was thinking maybe more could have been shown (perhaps flexing at the “wrist?”) I also thought it might have been interesting to show the right paw scratching the head in an arc similar to the left paw? Just some thoughts. Also, I agree the “biting” seems to be to the side of the head. But if you paint it like the study a few posts below, that looked very nice. Enjoy the Day! -Chris
- Kyle T. Webster (Jan 14, 2009): Frank, this is going to be one of those images that people remember for a long time. It’s just so bad-ass. Looking forward to the final. -Kyle
- Brun Croes (Jan 15, 2009): this one is comming allong sweetly. and its totally tru what u said about drawing tentacles. I just did an illustration ( www.bruncroes.blogspot.com ) with allot of tentacles and have been drawing a lot more of them since that illustration. I really love where this is going, I would suggest bringing his right paw back (like in the previous sketches) ? Making the octo head biger was a good idea. I’m shure u will pull this one of just fine. keep on rocking -Brun ps: sry for the poor english
- kib (Jan 15, 2009): Hello Frank, Big fan of this blog and your amazing work. Just wanted to express thanks for this series of posts about your process as well as for the one about getting illustration work. Very, very helpful and much appreciated. Keep up the great work. KIB
Day 11 – Jan. 15, 2009
Day 11
I took a personal day on Wed. and pretty much stayed away from the studio, trekking through Brooklyn — Here’s a sketchbook drawing I did while chillaxin on the couch.
Brooklyn
If you’re ever in Brooklyn, here are some awesome places to check out:
1) Di Fara Pizza – off the Q line at Avenue J. The same guy has made pizza here by himself since 1964. The wait for your pie can easily be between 1 1/2 and 2 hours, but totally worth it. Easily the best pizza in New York.
2) Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. – In Park Slope. Real superhero supplies, including a de-villainizing chamber (if you have evil friends), and a large variety of superhero capes to try on near a fan so you can practice heroic poses.
3) The Pencil Factory – top secret.
Society of Illustrators Opening
Also! I keep forgetting to mention this, but the Society of Illustrators Sequential opening is tomorrow at the Society of Illustrators. My ESPN A Shot At Glory series made it in. I can’t wait to see you there!
frank
f.
Comment Highlights
- Fabian (Jan 15, 2009): Hey Frank, Just wanted to say how much I love your illustrations. I really feel inspired after visiting your site. Thank you for that! A while ago you posted some advice for illustrators looking for work, that I found really helpful. I was trying to look for that post but I believe you took it down. If it’s not too much of a bother could you either re-post it or e-mail that to me at: [email redacted] I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks! ~Fabian P.S. Keep up the great work, you are truly exceptional!
- Frank (Jan 15, 2009): Hey Fabian, it’s still there, titled “Getting Work.” Incidentally, I don’t take blog posts down. If you subscribe to the rss feed, you can see my entire archive of posts.
Day 12 – Jan. 15, 2009
A lot of riding around on the subway today trying to get panels for painting… unsuccessful!
Comment Highlights
- Steve (Jan 17, 2009): like I’ve always said I love your line while drawing from observation. Take a moment and check these out, I’m sure you’ll appreciate them as much as I do. One of my drawing teachers at school was friends/mentored under Weaver and Potter back in the mid 60’s-70’s
- RZ (Mar 4, 2009): You want panels? I order mine online from artistcraftsman.com (or something like that.) They sell these “apollon elephant” panels that are quality-built and reasonably priced.
Day 14 – Jan. 17, 2009
Missed Friday… but the quest for a panel continues.
I started inking this thing today, here’s a detail. Also, I started a sketch for another piece. I’ll show that soon.
By the way, the Society show last night was AWESOME. Lots of great work and a fun party to boot. The show is only up for another 10 days or so, then the editorial show goes up, so swing by as soon as you can.
frank
Day 15 – Jan. 18, 2009
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Comment Highlights
- Jan Bielecki (Jan 19, 2009): Hi. I find your inking interesting. Until the close-up on the animal skull and the tentacles on this one i hadn’t realized how much your lines have different weights. It’s interesting to see how thin your lines are in general. In indepth about how your technique looks when you ink would be greatly appreciated! And I’m curious about the blood on this one! Thanks for sharing!
- Frank (Jan 20, 2009): Jan – I might do something on inking in the future. I use a Hunt 101 quill and india ink, and I strive to control the thickness of the lines.
