IF- Secret

The world didn't approve of Swiss and Brie's relationship,

so they had to elope in secret...

Inter-regional cheese relationships can result in a fondu-sentance in some

parts of the world. A terrible fate for any cheese. 

(c) Toby Allen 2012

IF- Swamp

Ive been craving peppermint tea for a while now...

So I brewed some and remembered I didnt like it.

It dosent help that my particular brand looks like swamp water.

So heres a Crocodile bathing in my swamp-like peppermint tea!

Ohhh, its nice to do something completely digital again. 

Haven't done it for a little while. 

Its also nice to have time to draw for myself. 

I missed IF last week due to workload at uni. 

UPDATE-

I expanded on an idea of Petra van Berkum in the comments, that it would make 

great packaging for the tea! Here's a little go at it! 

IF- Intention

It was my intention to draw something 'Cthulhu' related this week, and

I was hoping to do something a little spooky. (sketched below to proove this) However, the result

 is much cuter than anticipated. Never mind, we shall call him 'Son of Cthulhu'.

The main idea behind this illustration was that this cute little 'Cthulhu' like

character isn't quite as scary of in fact evil as he should be, and so he is constantly 

being reminded of his horrible heritage.

Why can't a Cthulhu grow up in a normal life, go to school and become

a scholar? He only has good intentions.

Its nice to bring out the watercolours again. 

Oh and my current reading of 'The Call of Cthulhu and other wierd tales' is

to blame for this. I've finally discovered Lovecraft! 

Concept illustration for the cute little Cthulhu

Sketches for a meaner and more Lovecraft cthulhu

And then I unleashed the cute! hehe

IF- Capable

Sir Cape-Pebble and his trusty sidekick Broomsworth!

Superheroes of the Victorian age!

They are both rather 'Capable' aren't they?

PS

Thank you everyone, so much for the comments on last weeks 

illustration! I appreciate them all! 

IF- Fluid

A very sketchy one this week.

I should have spent more time on it, but I rather like the sketchy feel.

Anyway, its a mermaid in a bottle. Of course. 

IF- Popularity

What better way to gain popularity than to dress up like Pikachu?

Gotta catch 'em all!

Character Development

Me and my cousin are developing a story idea I've had for a long time, called 'A Nyght's Tale'. The characters were created ages ago but the story had never been fleshed out properly. 

As I said the story is being written fully and will hopefully be put forward in some form in the future, either in a comic form or a game or something.

Anyway, I've been working on the character designs and discovered my characterization and character development has come on a lot recently.

Nyght the main character. How he looks in the real world (left) 

and how he looks in the dreamworld. (right)

Grulff, Nyghts companion. Dreamworld form (left) and real

world form. (right)

Nyght works in a coffee shop.

Grulff in his ogre form. 

Character designs (c) Toby Allen 2012

IF- Forward

The Bacon Battalion marches forward!

Sorry vegetarians... I love pigs really!

IF- Prepare

I missed Illustration Friday last week due to uni workload =(

But I've got back into the routine so have managed to fit IF in this week.

This is the Quail Postman preparing for his days work delivering letters 

to the other quails along the coast. He loves his job, meeting all the people 

and handing over exciting letters and parcels!

I dug out the inks and watercolours this time, decided I was relying too

much on the magic of digital mediums.

Its good to use watercolours again. =D

IF- Highlight

I challenged myself for this week's Illustration Friday, as it was my first piece of art of 2012.

I could have no preconceived ideas for the illustration, I had to do it in one sitting 

and I could only use four base colours. 

I think the outcome works quite well. I don't know what the bug thing is...

Maybe it needs a name?

I worked on the lighting mostly in this picture, as it's something I don't always

consider allot in my work. 

Here's to a fruitful 2012! 

Snow White

I now release concept a poster/cover from my secret little project...

A retelling of Snow White!

Snow White is an oriental fruit moth [who eats apples mostly...]

The dwarfs are vegetables [and the one fruit]

and The Queen is an Orchid Praying Mantis 

IF- Sink

Anvil fish... The fish that evolution forgot

But I hear you cry 'Anvil fish aren't real!'

Well they were... 

Hehe

IF- Brigade

I just don't know!

Brigade was a really hard topic... So I did a Salad Brigade!

Following on from the characters from last weeks IF.

Lets think of some names..

We already have Radishanjo the Radish

then Le-ek the Leek

Turninso the Turnip

Cayate the Carrot

and of course Tomatuso the Tomato!

Yum yum!

Attack of the Mushroom Fairies!!!

Oh yes! The Mushroom Fairies are officially back! Woohoo!

Ive decided to start creating actual characters for the story, which will hopefully

make itself into a storybook. 

This mustached shroom is the Shroom Father, who takes in fallen mushroom fairies

when they have fallen from the sky. He's kind of like Fagin from Oliver's Twist.. 

But much less creepy

Two unnamed characters. I don't know If they are actually part of the story yet.

They might just be random fairies at the moment.

I think this is the main character... He has no name as of yet.

Or much of a story, but it involves this star I think.

Click this little one to see it move!!!! Woo!

All artwork copyright to me, Toby Allen!

The Magic of Wonderland

I've always enjoyed 'Alice in Wonderland', and I feel drawn to the bizarre-ness of it to help distract from feeling down.
It feels almost like a form of therapy, which is nice.

Im not sure how far my love for 'Alice' will go...
Who knows?

The Mushroom Fairies

 

 

Concept work for my next storybook project...

'The Mushroom Fairies'

Its still in the concept stages and may not make it much further, but we'll see.

Im also planning my next book with Klyde, but it wont be a 'story' book. 

IF- Ferocious!

Its tough trying to be Ferocious when you're a baby orangutan. But Klyde is sure trying!

RAAAAWWRR!

Did he scare you? Hehe

Klyde now features in his own book! Self published by me! 

Check out a few photos here!

  

 Or this blog post to find out more!

http://zestydoesthings.blogspot.com/2011/09/klydes-animal-alphabet-books-arrived.html

Let me know if you'd be interested in buying one! Send a email to my address in the [Contact] section of the blog! 

Mesmerize

[Please click on the image to see it better!]

For Illustration Friday...

The victim helplessly mesmerized by the vampire's charm.

I name her Marie.

The vampire has no name... yet.

Well, at least they have the beautiful [and inaccurate] Parisian backdrop to look at!

Hehe 

Klyde's Animal Alphabet is done!

Just finished the illustrations for the book this morning... and will update when the book arrives!

Im so excitied! I can't wait to have it in my hands! 

Here's a little sneak peek at a few more illustrations...

Quails are my new favorite animal! They're so awesome!

More about the book-

http://zestydoesthings.blogspot.com/2011/09/klydes-animal-alphabet-book.html

Klyde's Animal Alphabet Book...

A few updates on a another book im making, trying to speed through it and have it made before uni.

Its an animal alphabet book, staring Klyde the baby orangutan and his jungle friends. 

It'll be printed and bound like a proper book when finished... Self published by me. 

Ill also make and ebook version of it too! 

This is consuming my life at the moment... I hope it's worth it!