Woo hoo! Wash Post!

Just found out that The Washington Post ran my "W-shaped Recession" cartoon over the weekend (see below). I love it when that happens. I actually got a lot of mileage out of that cartoon, as a fan also bought the original last week. It's all good.

-E

Starbucks sketchin' tonight

I'll be meeting up with my bud Henry tonight for some sketching and copious amounts of caffeine. Here are a couple of sketches from our last meeting, which I somehow forgot to post. This first one is of a girl that was sitting at the table next to us. As usual, I sketched until I got busted when she turned around and realized I was drawing her. The second drawing is a quick Astral head-shot. We've got some new ideas to toss around for A&B, so stay tooned for that. We might also discuss toy design and paper construction. See you tomorrow, and let me hear from you.

-Ed

PS - wanted to take a second to welcome the (2) new followers of the blog. Don't forget to sign in at the bottom of this page for updates and Tweets.

I like to draw Gia

We had our weekly figure drawing class last night, and one of my favorite models showed up. As usual, we started out with some quick 3 minute warm-ups, then we did some longer 20-25 minute sketches, and finished up with a 30 minute pose. For the final drawing I chose to focus on her head and portrait. At first I didn't like where it was going, but by the end of the drawing I was pretty satisfied with the results. I like the way the head kind of floats above that field of ink wash. I may do more like this one.

Cheers,

Ed

Super-sized Swine Safety

I was thinking about some of the new standards public schools are implementing this flu season, and for some reason, this image just popped into my head. I love it when that happens!

-E

Monday morning syndicate toon

I keep hearing the pundits say that this recession is "W-shaped." To which I say "duh."

My little project from last week

I figured since this went to press today, I'd go ahead and post it on my blog. I enjoyed this project. Maybe my favorite cover to date. I worked directly over my rough in Photoshop for this one - with various brush settings and color layers. I'd say what you see here is probably about 65% Photoshop and 35% original hand-drawn sketch.

Enjoy, and let me hear from you.

Cheers,

Ed

Thanks Bill!

Got to surf with my brother yesterday. We hadn't paddled out together in about a year, so I was stoked to say the least.

I surfed my 9'-0" longboard the entire day.

These shots were taken yesterday at the exact same time we were in the water. This camera is setup at the pier - about 200 yards south of where we were in St. Augustine, but the waves were exactly the same (maybe a little bigger where we were). We surfed from 9:30am to about 5:00pm, and man am I sore today. At any rate, I'm glad I got in on some of this - it was a pretty good hurricane swell, and definitely GREAT for the east coast. Beachcam pictures courtesy of the Surf Station in St. Augustine. Enjoy.

Ebay auction closes tomorrow for Mexican Hip Hop 1

Be sure to stop by Ebay for a look at my latest drawing/auction. The winning bidder gets the signed original, plus this colored print. Happy bidding!

Click here for auction page.

-Ed

Last cartoon of the week

I've had a good week. Work seems to be picking up, and for the first time in months it's looking like the worst of this recession might be behind us. One thing that last years elections proved: at least we Americans don't have to worry about losing digits just for voting. Here's to the average work-a-day Afghan, some of whom will be walking miles over treacherous terrain just to cast their ballots. And here's hoping your elections are a success. Have a good week.

A local cartoon

I haven't posted many local issue cartoons lately, but this one may cause some trouble, so I'm gonna slap it up here. It's too bad that this guy isn't as familiar with County code as he is with his guns. He thought that he could just start up a firing range on his property and no one would notice? Or care?

On a totally different subject: we cartoonists are very weird about the pens we use. When we find one that we like, we guard it's identity like it was our social security number. You'd think we'd stumbled upon the KFC recipe or something when we find a good one. Well I found a good one last week, and no, I'm not going to tell you the brand. I inked this cartoon with it - just ONE pen for the blacks, cross-hatching, everything.

I've got one more national issue cartoon to do for the week, and then I'm done. I just finished a big project for a major publication, so I'm kinda set back a day. More on that next week.

Cheers,

Ed

New syndicate cartoon

Man, I am busy, busy, busy today! Here's my first syndicate cartoon of the week. I found out yesterday that I've got a major deadline for Wednesday afternoon - that's on top of my regular deadlines and a design consultation/meeting today. We've also got figure drawing class tonight & I'm going to try to squeeze that in.

Nothing for months, and then, WHAMMO!

It's all good though.

-Ed

New PR Hip Hop study hits the ash bin

I wasn't really crazy about this pose once I got it sketched out, so I'm not gonna take it any further than this. But I figured since I put so much time into the initial sketch, I should at least post it. I'm currently searching for a more dynamic pose/DVD still to draw from. This one is just too stiff - no twist to the figure - boring - so stay tooned.

-Ed

Woo hoo! More Ebay success!

Another one of my drawings sold today on Ebay. I have another auction that closes in about an hour for the drawing shown here. Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120457576624&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Stop by for a look, and thanks for bidding.

-Ed

If she's shopping, I'm sketching...

I went shopping with the mizzus yesterday, and as usual, I brought along my trusty Moleskine. While I was waiting patiently in the "Man Chair," I got a few doodles of Astral completed for the next illustration. Just quick pose and head studies. Hope you're all having a great weekend. Remember, I've got three auctions of my original art finishing up tomorrow, so be sure to stop by Ebay for a look.

Cheers,

Ed

I made the Daily Beast again!

Click on the logo for the cartoon. This is a weekly roundup of cartoons that they do every Saturday. Enjoy!
-Ed

(3) Auctions of Ed's original drawings close Sunday

Auctions for this drawing, and two others end on Sunday. You can click on the Ebay widgets in the right hand column of this blog, or go here, here, or here. Stop by for a look, and have a great weekend!

-Ed

Last cartoon of the week

After her little outburst this week, I couldn't help myself. Enjoy, and let me hear from you!

Cheers,

Ed

Side Effects

I just love it when you're watching one of those pharmaceutical commercials, and the side effects are just as bad as the symptoms you're trying to cure. Made me think of this. One down, one more to go for the week! Stay tooned.

-E

Tuesday Night Sketch Class

We had our weekly sketch class last night, and as usual, Tuesday night was a quirky night. First, I got locked out, and was wondering if anyone was going to show up to let me in; and then, we got off to a fast paced start - it took me a couple of drawings to get into the groove. Also, the lighting was bad - not on the model - on my paper. I was basically drawing in the dark. I'm gonna have to get me one of those portable clip lights for my drawing pad. Anyway, once I got the kinks knocked out, I think I got a few decent drawings done.Here they are ~ 3 minute gestures first, and then the 20 minute poses. We finished up with a long 40 minute pose. I've posted that one first. I like drawing this model. A couple of people in the class have commented negatively on her weight, to which I retorted - "You're crazy! She's the classic nude!" Nice center of gravity, curves, and most definitely Reubenesque.

Cheers,

Ed

Paging Doctor Obama

"He's not a real doctor, but he plays one on TV."

Here's a rough from an ill-fated Obama health care debate cartoon. I wonder if you can imagine what the rest of the cartoon looked like?

BTW, I've got my Tuesday night figure sketch class tonight, and I can't wait to sit down and draw from life! It's my weekly balm for this f'in recession rash I've developed.

See ya in the AM.

-Ed

Quick Moleskine Astral Study

I get really bored when my wife is shopping, so I always make sure to bring my trusty Moleskine along with me! See ya in the AM. -Ed

Ebay auction success!

Woo hoo! Another sale. Thanks to all of the bidders on the drawing "Savannah," and a special thanks to the winning bidder. I hope you enjoy it for many years. Be sure to check out two brand new Ebay posts in the right-hand column. I've got drawing class on Tuesday night, so I'm sure I'll come up with a few more to throw on the old auction block.
Cheers,
Ed

More process

No drawing class today, so I'm working on another Astral Beam illo. Here's some more of the process, including the pose for Beam and the juxtaposition of the two figures. I try to keep them on seperate layers within Photoshop, so I can position them more freely and make subtle changes in size, rotation and proportion. Still not sure if I want her looking directly at us or away. Stay tooned & happy weekend!

-Ed

Astral Beam process

Some people have asked me to post more process drawings for these two, so here's one that I'm currently working on. Sometimes I come up with the female pose first, and then the robot based upon her. Other times I come up with Beam's pose first, and then I pose her. It depends. At any rate, hopefully this will show you some of that thought process. I'll also include a little sketch of Beam, that might eventually lead to something. My ultimate goal is to make them both look more animated.

Happy weekend!

-Ed

A brand new Astral Beam!

Wanted to sneak this one in before the start of the weekend. I like the way that the shadow became a major player in the illustration. Thanks to all of the new followers of the blog. Let me hear from you!

Cheers,

Ed

Ebay auctions close on Sunday!

Be sure to stop by my listings at Ebay if you'd like to own an Ed Hall original! 4 drawings sold to date, and all customers were VERY satisfied. Click the widgets in the right hand column of this blog or go here or here.

This ink wash drawing of Savannah looks to be a popular listing.

Thanks for bidding, and happy weekend!

-Ed

Syndicate cartoon

Here's my first syndicate cartoon of the week. After babysitting my nephew a few weeks ago, I just couldn't get the image of a giant binkie out of my head. Young mothers and fathers should get a kick out of this one, and definitely relate.

-E

Wednesday Starbucks sketchin' & a sneak peek

Henry and I met up for our weekly sketchapalooza last night, and I'm happy to say our group has expanded by two. We enjoyed the company of two other Jacksonville art/graphic professionals, while sipping coffee, drawing and talking sh*t. I was also able to resolve the latest AstralBeam illo I'm putting together, so I thought I'd post the rough sketch before I drag it into Photoshop and break out the crayons.

There was some talk of adding even more participants next week, so we may have to change the venue to Panera in San Marco. That little 24" diameter Starbucks table, piled high with books and sketch journals ain't gonna cut it much longer.

Stay tooned.

-E

Plink...plink...

I can't take credit for playing up the sound one's eyes makes when they don't understand a cartoon. My buddy Jeff Parker coined this noise connection after repeated hearing it coming from the direction of his beautiful wife. I always considered myself a little more fortunate - until yesterday, when my wife, upon seeing this cartoon, actually emailed me those dreaded words....plink...plink...

I must say though, that without knowing about the real estate scams going on at the beach, and without knowing what caveat emptor actually means, she was kind of coming at it cold. I sent it anyway, and my editor liked it. Whew! Here it is, and please, no more "plink, plink" emails.

-Ed

Tuesday night figure sketches

Sunday sketch class has been cancelled for August, so I'm frequenting the Tuesday night class. Look for these updates on Wednesdays now. I've got several other deadlines today, so I'm gonna post these fast. I was pretty happy with my gestures last night (click on them for a better look at the line work). That usually means the longer poses will be good. Our model was Savannah, one of my new favorites. She also has a classically shaped body for figure studies. Great center of gravity, and nice wide hips. As usual, I'll post the 3 minute gestures first, and then the longer 20 minute poses. Enjoy, and let me hear from you!

Cheers, Ed