Illustration Friday: Snow

I need to start blogging again, so here's my entry for Illustration Friday: Snow

I'm trying to recreate my brand of illustration, so there is lots of experimenting going on. Today I tried using some thicker line work than I would usually- Please let me know what you think! 

IF- Refresh

Oh, there is nothing quite like the refreshing sent of a Shoggoth!

Yuuuum!

The Shoggoths are one of my favorite monsters from Lovecraft. They're so darn versatile!

(c) Toby Allen 2012

IF- Space

Greg-a-zorg had just moved into his new moon-sion and invited his 

pal over to see what he thought...

As you can see, Greg-a-zorg's taste in home decoration is not 

favoured by all!

I think he did the best he could! 

SPAAAAAAAAAAACE

(c) Toby Allen 2012

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- Shiny

Morpheus the Magpie is late for his weekly S.A. (Shiny-aholics anonymous) meeting again...

That ring is just so darn shiny! 

Just a quick illustration this week, its been very busy recently!

Monsters with Hats

My latest uni project has consumed my life for the past month or so.. if not more.

Its been fun but Ill be glad when its all handed in on Monday 28th! (which is also my 21st birthday!)

Its a handmade concertina book, made to sell at the summer show at Plymouth College of Art. Their is a standard version (with the envelope) and a special edition that comes with a box and 2 badges, as well as being hard-bound!

There is also a bonus mini book called 'En Gateau!' 

(A business card is also thrown in, that's the 4 paneled thing)

IF- Jump

Roll up! Roll up! Ladies and Gentlemen!

I bring you the latest in circus entertainment!

The Jumping Gremlin!

...

He's just about to jump... Watch out, he has a thing for snatching eyeglasses from

unsuspecting peoples faces!

Watercolour and Photoshop

(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- Yield

I will not yield  to the cupcake gods!

...must resist! 

-hehe

Available as prints here-

http://society6.com/TobyAllen/Bless-this-Cupcake-then-eat-it_Print

and here-

http://society6.com/TobyAllen/Fear-this-Cupcake-then-eat-it_Print

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- 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- Twirl

We all know that Quail ballerinas are the best, don't we?

I don't use black and white nearly as much as I should...

*TWIRL*

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

Quail Scented

Ive been getting in the print-based mood and come up with a collection

of greetings cards and bookmarks, that I am calling 'Quail Scented'.

I love Quails and so everything in this collection with be related to the

wonderful, cute birdies. Also everything is slightly 3d and relief. 

Happy Quail-Day Greetings-

A quail-day is like a birthday, but quail scented...

3d relief bookmarks

I also got into book binding again, and made this for my friends birthday present.

I always make her something for her birthday so I thought I make

something useful this time, a handmade notebook!

Its about A6 in size. 

With tea stained paper [I love tea-staining!]

Oh look... Its a bookmark!

This Quail-Scented collection will grow in time to include more card designs and other

print based goods. They will be on sale eventually.

 Stay tuned Quail fans! =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! 

IF- Sink

Anvil fish... The fish that evolution forgot

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

Well they were... 

Hehe

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!

Zesty.. builds a website!

As part of my degree, we get to make a website! WOO!

Here are a few in progress screenies! =D

I don't proclaim to be a master of web design or good at layouts etc..

 but I try my best! 

Start screen! =D Bless those little mushroom fairies!

Gallery! The star at the bottom is a scroll bar! Woo!

The blank 'about' page... I don't like writing bios or things like that.... 

Oh on a side note, I really want to start using my blog again for things other than Illustration Friday. Thats all I seem to update it with these days. I guess I dont really have much time to do lots of personal illustration work really..

I'LL MAKE TIME!! hehe