Vikings Inktober: I used Higgins India Ink for 31 Days and Here's what Happened

This October - or "Inktober," as the art community calls it  - I have had the pleasure of joining the Higgins Inktober Art Team.

As an Art Ambassador for Chartpak Artist Supplies, I often demonstrate and blog about the performance benefits of their art brands - brands such as Grumbacher, AD Marker, Schminke, Koh-i-Noor, Molotow and Higgins Ink.

Higgins Black Magic Ink has long been the preferred ink choice of many comic book inkers. In the  evolving marketplace of art tools, Higgins offers it's ink in the good old fashioned desktop bottles (you know, the ones you masking tape to your drawing board or nestle inside your makeshift cardboard cradle to reduce spills) and in Brush Pens, using a pump action primer to fill the tip with a fresh ink supply.

Personally, I love a bottle with brush and crow-quill pen, which allows me to indulge in my draftsmanship directly or over pencil, while giving me the freedom to make a mess if desired. I love to make something out of spilled ink, dripping puddles and random marks.

The Higgins Brush Pen is great in front of the television or on location when messy supplies aren't expedient. Although I may never prefer the nylon synthetic brush tips over sable hair, the nibs are flexible enough for varying line quality, and the ink reservoirs keep the ink moving.

Rather than confront a new concept each day of Inktober, I decided to spring inspiration from History Channel's "Vikings" show a show for which I designed commercial spots, trailers and teasers for Season 2 - 6. This show is captivating and binge worthy, and offers an insight into Viking culture and warfare, in addition to Norse customs and spirituality. Creator Michael Hirst does not ignore the historical references that Christianity and European civilization played in the evolution of the Vikings as explorers, warriors, agriculturalists, lawmakers and political strategists.

The cast is solid gold. Vikings shares a quality that my favorite shows demonstrate. Whichever character is on screen at any time graduates to my favorite character, until they complete their sequences and make room for the next arc.

I shared my Inktober Drawings on Facebook and Instagram, and have collected a selection here on my blog for a quick view. I hope you will visit and enjoy what you find.

Go to https://www.instagram.com/tonysantocreative/ and https://www.facebook.com/TonySantoCreative/ and let me know what you think. 

The Evolution of Prime Time Dads: Ahead or Behind the Times?

Peter Griffin: "But where are those good old fashioned values...?" 

As Father's Day returns, it's a good time to acknowledge the archetypes that have been perpetuated over the years. The number one purveyor of the fatherhood archetype has been television. 

We know the traditional roles that father's have played - the breadwinner, wise man, the emotionally stable head of household. 

Shows that defined these types are Father Knows Best, Bonanza, My Three Sons and the Danny Thomas Show.

Fred MacMurray: the stable, pipe-smoking Dad of "My Three Sons."

Program's like The Courtship of Eddie's Father, Family Affair and even Lost in Space maintained the father as archetype of strength and wisdom despite standing outside the conventional arrangement. The Brady Bunch was quick to follow, as Mike Brady convinced me that my father, too, could invite celebrity guests to the house. Can you guess who I asked my Dad to have over?

It wasn't until Sanford and Son, Good Times, and All in the Family that another side of fatherhood was presented to viewers. John Amos regularly threatened physical harm to J.J., Fred Sanford was expected to insult Lamont and Aunt Esther, and Archie Bunker started his brand of bigotry from the comfort of his home easy chair.

Guy Williams protected his family from aliens, but his toughest job
was keeping Dr. Smith away from Billy Mumy. 

We could always find comfort in Mr. C. on Happy Days. He was not as authoritarian as the previous dads, nor valued for his sage-like advice as much as for his tolerance. As head of household, he was not as serious as the dads in real life seemed.

Jimmie Walker met his match in John Amos,
the world's most "Dyn-O-Mite" Pop. 

Fatherhood became a joke with the bad parenting of Homer Simpson, Family Guy's Peter Griffin, Home Improvement, Everybody Loves Raymond and others. Almost every contemporary sitcom over the last twenty years has portrayed Dad as an overgrown kid who reinforces bad behavior with his own. 

Modern Family: "Closet? You'll Love It!"

Today, the archetypes for fatherhood and even family structure are continually challenged. Modern Family is a perfect example, with 3 different types of family structures, including same sex fathers, a geeky professional dad and an emotionally challenged grandfather married to a young goddess.

I wear my share of hats and love every minute with these two beauties.

TV has shown us the gamut of hats worn by fathers. Yet nothing Hollywood presents compares with my own experience of fatherhood. The best role I have ever played is the one where I am called "Dad." 

Happy Father's Day. 

History's Vikings Still Exploring New Episodes

As season 5 of History Channel's Vikings comes to a close (the last episode is slated for January 16th broadcast), I consider myself fortunate to have worked on Vikings' since Season 2. It started with this memorable concept:

The most recent campaigns have been marked with high action and the culmination of long developing story arcs. I've illustrated many a concept for Vikings, some full of symbolism, others full of mystery. 

I'm sure we haven't seen the last of this talented cast. Katheryn Winnick is one of the most beautiful women on screen and Clive Standen, with his smoldering smirk would be my choice for the next James Bond.

Who are your favorite Vikings' characters?