Gimmicks

CHARACTER Sketch X01

2012-01-29T12:42:00.001-08:00

'Snozzy Bunny Fresh Shit'

2012-01-10T12:01:00.000-08:00

This blog starts out with a new

piece created from my sketch

books and the characters in them.

'Snozzy Bunn Fresh Shit'
The rest is a selection of drawings from my sketchbook.

These sketch books keep me sane and grant be the ability

to free associate my visual thoughts, sometimes/most times

accompanied by lettering and few words.

A grey wash study of Thora Birch:

white dog

'Scary hillbilly squiggle toof'

HEH!

She's more scared of the "FREEZE"

Lettering experiments with color
and various media.

Spokes Marketing COMPS

2012-01-04T18:24:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some preliminary designs

to help promote and market this small nonprofit,

hybrid bikeshop locally, owned and operated in

Richmond, California.

I am going to produce some printed material

based off of these design sketches that will be

organized into marketing collateral including

posters, tee shirts stickers and decals. The

printed materials will also help generate some

revenue to support this great benefit to the
community.

I am a fan of brand expansion and appreciate

the diversification of brand through different
channels. Similar channels such as illustrative

posters and different printed materials will be

developed as this project is ongoing.

SSF12

2012-01-03T10:53:00.000-08:00

Don't even ask...

2012-01-02T13:14:00.001-08:00

Here's a quick sketch about

my dreaming mind.

I finished last year with

this random pop-culture

gem of a dream.

I actually woke up saying this.

I don't even do drugs either.

car business

2012-01-01T22:07:00.000-08:00

Holiday Cards

2011-12-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

I made some holiday cards this

year.

The design is not just a holiday

design but can be used for other

occasions. I'm gonna put
together some cards to sell.

This is the original pencil

design outline.

I made 25-30 individual cards.
Each one was hand colored. It

was a lot of work. I'll have to

silk screen the color on these

next round.

Folded up

In k Gremlins

2011-12-27T14:00:00.000-08:00

Inkin Gremlins

skullcandiedhawk

2011-12-18T12:23:00.000-08:00

sir-sketch-a-lot

2011-12-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

On the Grind

2011-12-01T16:12:00.000-08:00

Grindin' is a game of inches.

Working with my man C.Lujan.

Gettin It Together!

Gradius & Type Design

2011-12-01T00:17:00.000-08:00

As always I am constantly reviewing my portfolio and

finding cool stuff to re-organize and display. I enjoy

looking back at my work and selecting designs and
correlating them with new stuff that I do along the same

routes.

I have recently been doing a lot of

type face designs, logo-mark designs, and typeface

illustrations for freelance clients. While reviewing my
past and academic work I am am reinforced in the idea

that my design work has a theme rooted in classic

typeface design using calligraphy techniques and classic

pencil based themes.

I am very interested in the effect that hand painted signs

and custom lettering has when representing an
organization or business. The craft it takes to create
letters and characters is an amazing pursuit. I started

admiring custom lettering as far back as I can remember.

I would get lost in hand painted signs and redraw them

in my mind. Different lettering and signage had stayed in

my mind and my hand-eye memory.

Lettering and signage is a part of our daily lives. We see it

everywhere, it represents businesses, indicates everything

we do, guides us to locations and warns us from dangers.

Taken that into account and understanding what artists on

the radical spectrum have done with custom lettering, such

as graffiti artists, modern calligraphers, and painters. Lettering

has become a hybrid modern art form both breaking and

reinforcing typographic laws.

I am greatly inspired by these radical artists as well as by
formal craftsmen of the typographic discipline.

Here is an example of some of my typeface design

Here are some pages from my type specimen book

highlighting the development of this typeface.

showing the technique for creating the Gradius typeface.

Versions of a promotional poster for Gradius.

I like the final version of the promotional poster
it includes a lot of the hand-drawn elements that

are essential to its character.

I'll be printing out a copy of this poster and posting it up.

A few examples of how Gradius would be used in combo with
images, illustrations, & other dynamic typefaces.

And another glyph layout version

Here are some more sketches on how I

was experimenting with type design.

some early design sketches.

making the gradius letters

refining the typeface with tracing paper and ruled lines.

and some comps for the type spec book layout and design.

Sketch Dumpin'

2011-11-16T20:15:00.000-08:00

My Sketchbooks have always been this crazy.

Kind of a eyeball and skull theme.

an experiment with comic panels

Pascola dancer

cyeye

2011-11-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

Manos del Creaches

2011-11-12T20:21:00.000-08:00

A couple of sketch composites

with watercolor backgrounds.

make it rain

2011-11-09T21:52:00.000-08:00

I made an illustration for my version of a

political poster for the current occupy movement.

I was inspired by my participation in the general

strike down the street from my apartment in

downtown Oakland, CA.

I would have used the Black and white version

for a picket sign. I got more grotesque with the

colored versions:

Close up of the grotsque-ness digital color:

Here are a few

photos I took from the Oakland general strike on November 3rd 2011:

Space Hellaween

2011-11-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Halloween 2011

I dressed as a Marooned Hip-Hop Space cadet.
What I felt like:

What I actually looked like:

She was my date: helloooooo! space nurse!!!

This year I made a Predator costume for my nephew

who lives one state away. Here is the processes I went

through to make it:

some reference images:

I was building this from found and thrift store items.
There are few things a glue gun cannot do:
supplies for paper mache:
the bottom left spheres are water balloons wrapped

in paper mache and dried. these are for the skull trophies:

Skull trophies base:
painted and done:

Here he is running around on the Hunt in AZ:

Heads and skulls.

2011-10-28T12:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some character studies

w/ some skulls thrown in.

Zombie voodoo priest.

Caiman skull.

I will do a series of these in

paper mache sculptures.

everything looks better in a circle:

Skull doubloon:
and a character illustration of

Adrienne who just had her wisdom

teeth pulled the other day. Her

recovery methods include drugs

and ice cream:

Finally, New Sketches

2011-10-27T16:17:00.000-07:00

I haven't been slacking since
I haven't posted here. I've
been using my graphic design
skills to help rejuvenate the
city of Richmond's downtown
area by formatting, creating,

printing, painting, and hanging these:

New sketches done in between

commutes to Richmond and

on my lunches and breaks at my

Part-time J.O.B:

This one looks like Adrienne's dad. If you don't know

him he looks like this (but without all the safety gear + goggles):

Some guy I seen walking around minding his own business. He looked

like a walking illustration character. " i must draw you..."

floating heads:

If you're on the BART and you make a crazy face while obviously enjoying

your cold drink, I will draw your face:
friend sketch face:

workspace wall

2011-09-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

I always end up with these in my work spaces.

My wall turns into a random illustration collage.

streets: werm eyes and ghost kuttah

2011-09-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

sketches to keep my brain alive.

2011-08-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

While Listening to:

some thangs

2011-08-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Creatures Creachin'

2011-08-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

Blastin'!

2011-08-22T23:15:00.000-07:00

Bl-Bl-Bla-Blastin All Fools!

Work In Progress:

Koi

2011-08-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

East Oak

2011-08-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

2011-08-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

East bay witchery

2011-08-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

magical hate-fuck creature

2011-07-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Astro port

2011-07-25T10:50:00.001-07:00

Some work in progress:

a couple more

2011-07-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Sun King:

Los Machos

2011-07-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

I was walking around yesterday

and saw two Chihuahuas in Downtown

Oakland. They were all excited and

fidgety when they saw each other. I

wanted to put boxing gloves on them.

Now, I think everything looks better

with boxing gloves on.

some test Chihuahuas:

Pepe in the stars

Skullduggery

2011-07-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

Midnight Massare

2011-07-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

Here is an invitation I created for my

cousin's Halloween, costume party,

zombie themed wedding (catches breath.)

outside:

(tri-fold invite on legal sized paper)

Inside:

(poster)

They are pretty funny they came up with

crossing out massacre part, which I love!

Ashley and Robert have a kid, Cammy (riding

on her daddies back.) Here are some pictures

of them i used as reference:

Knock ya' self out kid

2011-07-10T18:38:00.000-07:00

This is a funny little sketch.
I've been wanting to get this
on paper.

I'll try and do more stuff like
this one. A loose stream of
thought on an image and
concentrate on a single concept.

This was pretty fun!

Time to get Spill!

I've been working with my favorite
medium; pen, brush, and black ink.

No mas

2011-07-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

0

2011-06-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Dark Samurai

2011-04-30T10:33:00.001-07:00

Commissioned work for a tattoo concept.

Masks and 2 of 7 Samurai

2011-04-25T12:16:00.000-07:00

Kyūzō

A week in the works

2011-04-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

seems legit

game

2011-03-30T15:11:00.001-07:00

cursive curses

2011-03-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

I can only write this beautifully when i'm writing curses.

February Art Show

2011-03-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

I had an art show at Spice Monkey

Restaurant in the upstairs art gallery

located in downtown Oakland.

The title of the show was

Monsters and Myths

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188938021136375

The show kind of revolved around a

piece I recently finished, but started

in my undergrad while researching ideas

for a new digital painting piece with a 70's

era feel to it.

It ended up being a traditional

art mixed media piece on Arches paper. I

basically just wanted to draw a beautiful

afro headed female. I think the piece really

fit well with the vibe of the place -

http://www.spicemonkeycafe.com/photos.htm

The show also featued some of my new a

recent works involving stylish elements from

comics, graffiti, and cartoonish illustrations.

While I was hanging the art, the owner asked if the above is

how I thought of women... My response, "If you're lucky"

I really liked the process on this one: Dragonkat 2011

I started out with a ink line drawing done

with a brush:

Messing with color and outlines:
I really enjoy this abstract version of the under layer grey:

I had an awesome group of friends that showed

their support and came through.

LWE Layout

2011-03-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

I did some promotional posters

for a Ladies Workout Express in

Tucson.

I used the colors that are associated

with the LWE Brand Identity.

They're pretty funky. Very high

contrast, bound to get some lookers.

Benny Boo Boo

2011-03-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

Some more Classic Comic Sketches

2011-02-24T08:05:00.000-08:00

Boy Wonder

Dirty

Cleaned up

Shadowstep Radio

2011-02-21T20:26:00.000-08:00

A couple of banner COMPS for a new project featuring a couple of brothers

who are Producers/DJs.

I still like the Script type version even though they chose the other.

(I'll use it for my portfolio.)

Road to Lake Mary

2011-02-21T20:20:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I miss the open air in Arizona.

Flagstaff, Arizona

I took this a few years ago.

Black Gold

2011-02-13T11:49:00.001-08:00

And I've been really into reading this comic.

Great illustration, colors, characters, and humor.

SM

2011-02-09T23:35:00.000-08:00

Just found this one that goes with it.

MMA Fierce Fabrication in AZ

2011-01-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

My boy James has been doing some awesome things in Arizona

sponsering local MMA talent. I had the chance to work with him

on some designs for his team and sponsor logo-mark.

wreckchords

2011-01-30T19:24:00.001-08:00

2011-01-30T12:27:00.000-08:00

comic portraits from the past

2011-01-22T19:36:00.000-08:00

An interesting look at my character illustrations from the 90's.

The need to calm

2011-01-19T22:01:00.000-08:00

Quad ruled sketchbook

2011-01-19T16:41:00.000-08:00

Jesus feet

Spaceman Spliff

heh!

feet

2011-01-19T16:00:00.000-08:00

Ill have to work on the feet.

This is part of some new artwork I

am getting together for a show at the

beginning of February.

The feet are cool but weren't my intention.

I want more creature/paw like feet.

2011-01-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

Fierce Fabrication typefaces patch

2011-01-17T14:17:00.000-08:00

I alway thought AZ would be associated with slab serif typeface.

With names like Mesquite and Bleeding Cowboys, these work as well.

HADES 2 COMPS

2011-01-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

JESSMAR

2011-01-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

My long time friend has been blowing up the music scene.

Bio: http://www.soulshiftmusic.net/albums/album_image/7760410/7122536.htm

Branding stuff i've been working on for him:

I'm diggin this one the most, right now:

January 2011 Calendar

2011-01-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

*Edit:

Auggs

2011-01-09T18:30:00.000-08:00

Hidden chamber of culture

2011-01-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

sketchbook

2011-01-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

the man and the mask

2011-01-05T17:10:00.000-08:00

Horse dock

2011-01-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

the town / the city

2011-01-05T08:14:00.001-08:00

End of dog days

2011-01-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

Kids, try this at home but safety first!

2011-01-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

2010-12-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

Lungy

2010-12-20T23:59:00.000-08:00

Syrup

2010-12-20T23:54:00.000-08:00

Like a moth to a flame

2010-12-20T23:35:00.001-08:00

Work in progress

2010-09-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

Tell tale signs of the Buddha-belly to come

2010-09-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

I recently have had the chance to be amongst

foodies, Including: chefs, amateur chefs,

food experimenters/chemists, people

who just love to eat good foods and recipes.

So due to this, this will be a somewhat food-blog

style post. I enjoyed taking the photos and

eating the final product.

I myself am not a picky eater, whatsoever.

But I am quickly learning the nuances in

ingredients and some differences in food

preparation. I do love food. Any recipes made,

in all probability, I will eat and enjoy eating.

With that said, my roommate is a lover of all

things food. I really enjoy his style, lots of staples

classics done simply and full of flava. Hearing him

talk about the upcoming winter comfort food is

kinda getting me excited.

here's his recent bird. Roasted:

At Spice Monkey we changed up the In house

music. So we got together and Inoke tried out

his recipes on us. G made some sic Phlip

sweet meat and rice, of course, and Raven

hooked it up with a great guac (no pics of that

one though.):

This first one is kinda interesting. I did a shoot the night before

at night with the shutter at 30 secs. I forget to check n'change my

settings before shooting on a new day:

Inoke

James Brown:

Serious Discussions:

Grenade

2010-09-01T16:32:00.002-07:00

Edits:

2010-08-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Flaming Skull Anvil Tee

2010-08-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

Im doing some t-shirt designs for a friend

at home in Tucson. He runs his own fabrication

company. He recently set up a training facility

for a MMA gym. here is a flaming skull and

anvil combo.

Ghetto Blaster Stencil Poster

2010-08-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

Star Skull Lucha Mask

2010-08-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

2010-08-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Report from the factory floor

2010-08-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

Old Drawings New Life

2010-08-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

I found some old sketchbooks.

My Uncle Raul told me to never throw away

a sketchbook or drawing. It is great advice. Every

time I reference An older sketchbook it breathes

new life into my work and productivity. Here are

a few pieces from a year or two ago.

Of course I do have new stuff but that is being used for

future reference and projects. - no showing

work-in-progress until there is some.

here are some re-sketching of the curvy babe.

and separated:
Caricature of my little bro:

Gators smile | Treasure troll:

T-Trolls:

A sketch of my nephew:

this happens:

here is a new one in an old book:

adventure time!

2010-08-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

This morning:

Colour

2010-08-05T18:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few I am currently working with.

Blacklight

Oh, & i just made this, Scoob and Shag would be proud.

D's Bday Poster

2010-07-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

So I made this Poster for my
Hijado's Bday in March. My sis
finally got him to put it up.

He turned 8. He is an absolutely
amazing kid. I always have fun
when I visit and come back
with great quotes from him.
That's him about to wreck some
'ish in the fatigues above.

SSF!

2010-07-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Drink & Draw Social: Noir @ the Secret Alley

2010-07-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dan Vee for reminding me about this event:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=145828788760836

I was at home in Oakland figuring out what to do Friday

when I got the call and clamored to get to the city to get

my Drink n’ Draw on (I was there in 45 minutes). This

was a really cool event in a really cool studio space: The

Secret Alley: http://www.thesecretalley.com/home.html

This is my favorite:
The props in the space were amazing.

and some artist gave the model the eye-patch.

This lady played amazing cello during the model break.

two-min drawings poses:

Blacklight Parlay

2010-07-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

I just got done with the first version of this Flier for a Blacklight Parlay being thrown in San Francisco in August. I need to make some changes "sex it up" this is a little - maybe pretty artsy for a clubin' gig. we will see how I can proceed from here. Maybe it could be a bit more simple.

With that said, I enjoy this version. This is a photo-collage from images I have taken of the Golden Gate Bridge and my obsession with various clouds and cloud formations. There is a definite magic about this piece.

Re-imagining NAU: crest / coat of arms.

2010-06-01T18:33:00.001-07:00

In the Spirit of T-shirt designs.

Here is a design for a hoodie I put together.

It was cool to get a print out of it.

This idea has to do with Northern Arizona University's

School pride which stems from it's location in the city of

Flagstaff, Arizona.

If you don't know too much about Flagstaff it is located

7,000ft above sea level, nestled in the shadow of the San

Francisco peaks. The climate is very distinct from the rest

of the state of Arizona, in that it experiences all four seasons

of the year, including snow. lots of snow.

Flagstaff was established upon the lumber industry.

The mascot for NAU is the Lumber Jack. That explains

the first design with the axe. The second has to do with

the large crows local to the area. Big beautiful birds.

Seemed appropriate for the medieval style coat of arms.

The final result was a tone-on-tone metalic black ink on a dark grey hoodie:

Enso Launch

2010-06-01T18:24:00.002-07:00

I just got the images back from the Enso Apparel launch from Facebook.

The T's came out nice. Thanks Malena!

Her post on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2179412&id=27704101

Here's the link to the design post for these tee's:

http://rafaeltapiaiii.blogspot.com/2010/04/celestial-entity.html

RIP F.Frazetta

2010-05-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Attended an impromptu Drink N' Draw social club meetitng in

memory of Frank Frazetta's passing.

http://www.missioncomicsandart.com/

The face on this character:

Live models in costumes and reference costume:

Mini-gun and Scepter props:

Toast and cheers to the late great!

The Illusion of Choice

2010-04-23T22:53:00.001-07:00

Went to the "BIKE-IN" MOVIE NIGHT DOUBLE FEATURE at Whole Foods in Oakland

http://ebbc.org/?q=node/6849.

Brian brought out the Bamboo Bike his crew built

http://bamboocollective.org/

Hosted by East Oakland Bicycle coalition and other bicycle culture organizations. It was a little cold but pretty fun.

The folks in the background are there watching a flick on the modern food

processing industry Food Inc. One of the memorable positions from the

film is the illusion of choice stemming from the abundance of food products

in every grocery store, yet mostly all owned by a small number of companies.

The creeper shot
oh! & a couple of marker fresh stickers: (the white balance is off, but I don't mind the super saturated colds) "lickin the streets clean."

Radii (ray-dee-eye)

2010-04-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

I did some pro bono work for Brian Drayton Executive Director of

Richmond Spokes http://sites.google.com/a/richmondspokes.org/about/.

Richmond Spokes is a youth empowerment non-profit organization promoting

bicycle safety and sustainability through bicycle culture. I am helping Brian with

some avatars and icons that can be used throughout his organization’s identity.

I truly believe in organizations such as these. They are an awesome touching point

for the community to see how these crafty cyclists can positively impact their

environment. So far they set-up bicycle parking at huge local events mostly around

the East Bay area.

I wanted to re-do his radii concept and rotate the avatar to show movement.

Here are some of the stuff I came up with:

This is the one he chose as a main composition:

I like this one a lot. i can see this being used for different situations.

Homage and archive

2010-04-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

Direct to paper inks drawings:

Homage to the homeless

(gold fronts)

sticker from the archive

Good night kiddos!

2010-04-20T01:33:00.001-07:00

E. Oak-town

2010-04-18T13:45:00.001-07:00

Went to check out the new spot this week.

The factory will be the garage in the back there.

I want to destroy the garage (interior or exterior) with a dope burner.

Zen-Buddhist meditation canopy (or BBQ Lounge area, whatevs)

Graphic Novel Date Book : Blank panels to plan your daily adventures.

2010-04-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

I created this book with a non-photo blue colored theme.

When it's all printed out and bound I'll add photos.