What is Media Hygiene? Simply put, this is where I create and post motion-graphics, advertising, design, commercial storyboards, and self-promotion work. It's clean, to the point, and if I am successful, inspirational. The assignments are done on purpose, for clients and potential clients alike. Thanks for joining me....
Here is another floor drawing that I started in order to get the kids away from the TV. They love drawing alongside me on their own creations as I split up the paper and spread out the supplies. It also serves to get me off my keister and start planning my next studio session.
I recently received a beautiful box brimming with art supplies from Chartpak after I was featured as cover artist on their new "Thalo Magazine." While I was designing my new web site, my kids quickly put me to shame as they busted out one of the amazing "Koh-I-Nor" pencil sets. I decided to get in on some of the action, and took a break from my computer to spread out some paper and continue illustrating Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol." I am glad I did.
"Koh-I-Nor Woodless Color Pencils" quickly surpassed my expectations. Smoother than your typical wax or graphite pencil, these weighty little pencils actually entice me to draw. Similar in feel to an all surface pencil, I love the ease with which the pencil glides over the surface. I drew Scrooge on 89" x 30" rolled sign paper, using one of the blue pencils in a set of 24 mixed colors. I then introduced two colors from the "Grumbacher Finest Series I Watercolor" tubes, Thalo Blue and Burnt Umber, mixed together for a wash effect. My approach is not exactly a traditional use of the medium, but one that I am comfortable with for a quick block-in of color and value. The quality of the paint is as satisfying as the Acrylic paint my students used in last years "Grumbacher Educational Workshop Series." Grumbacher seems to have come a long way since the quality I experienced while in art school in the mid 80's. 
Working big brings me back to my old school training. I found it refreshing and liberating when designing this Scrooge entry to draw straight ahead, in large format with no studies or thumbnails. The idea is not to create something finished, but to generate enough excitement that I will be conditioned to return again tomorrow to continue my exploration of this theme. I think it worked. 
I listened to "A Christmas Carol" on audiobook, from an iTunes purchase. This version, narrated by John William Hawthorne and published by "Roberson Audio Publication" is the best of the several I have listened to. Listening to source material while I work is one of my favorite methods of illustration, one which I use whenever possible.
Everyone has their must-view Holiday traditions, such as Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, the Grinch or White Christmas. As much as I revere the classic Rankin/Bass studio, the animation of Chuck Jones, and the sweet vocals of Bing, there is one creation that holds a special place in my heart: Ronald Neame’s 1970 cinematic beauty, “Scrooge,” with virtuoso Albert Finney as Dickens’s notorious misanthrope.
See the movie once and you will remember, “Thank You Very Much” by Leslie Bricusse (the same composer and songwriter who wrote songs like “Goldfinger”, “You Only Live Twice,” and Wille Wonka’s “The Candy Man”). The production design by Terry Marsh and the art direction by Bob Cartwright will transport you into environments that are simultaneously frosty and warm.
The story takes liberties, changing the Ghost of Christmas Past into an elderly woman instead of the old man/child, and adds Scrooge giving presents to Bob Cratchett’s family. If you don’t suppress a tear when Scrooge, dressed as Father Christmas, exclaims, “I almost forgot, this is for you Tiny Tim (Richard Beaumont),” presenting him with a beautiful toy carrousel that the boy dreamed about in the first act, then you need to peel a dozen Christmas onions.
For fans of Ronald Searle’s illustrations, you will find a treat in the title cards, which the great British draftsman created in pen and ink with color.
Visit a tribute to this prolific artist’s Christmas Carol at http://ronaldsearle.blogspot.com/2008/01/more-dickens.html. If you happen to find a vintage copy of Searle’s illustrated “A Christmas Carol” that I can afford, please give me a shout.
