Naturally, so I thought at the time, any good kids book should feature zombies, regardless of what age group we're aiming at. Yes, I am a sucker for the walking dead. Well, the Crombies in my story were always going to be zombies. Remember I'd not long been off MARS ATTACKS when I did this work so there's probably a very heavy evident influence of Mr Burton on my paintings. Certainly in so far as the stripes, anyhoo. The red and green contrasting palette is something that I'm still drawn to in paintings to this day.
Looking back I feel these pieces are naive but I'm still really proud of them- they went a long way to dictating my work ethic and obviously helped me get commissions.
I did pitch THE CROMBIES to a publishing house or two, and was told in no uncertain terms to "lighten" my work- as much as the art directors loved my stuff they couldn't use it as it was simply too dark. I stubbornly stuck at the dark stuff and it was only when I tried lightning my work a good while later that I started to pick up commissions.
TIP= Always take the advice of editors and publishers. They're in those positions for a reason, 9 times out of 10!
12 comments:
I like the flat, perspectiveless look of the clock and the rug in that painting. You really do have a great use of red and green.
I did a search for The Crombies on Amazon and didn't find it. I guess you haven't been able to publish it yet which I think is sad. I guess it is just ahead of it's time like Invader Zim was.
Oh yeah, it looks like they want to put on some music and dance.
i'm agree with cableclair... jeje, i´m not a huge fan of bob, really, but, man your stuff is amazing, i wanted to leave a comment on each post, but, they'll say the same...
great, the way the lines play around eachother, really dynamic, i think...
obviously, a link of this site is gonna be on my blog... i have soooo much to learn from you, and john, and the rest of talented-people-with-helpful-blogs.
btw, sorry, my english is not my first language Ñ
On a totally unrealted note, I was scrolling down the page and saw this
image in the "Jo Bling the Dog Faced Boy area. Interesting.
Hi there Cableclair and El Leo, good to see you on my 'umble blog. I apologise if the fact that your nephews liking BOB means that you have to hear the theme tune incessantly - I know that can drive folks around the bend!
Thanks for the kind words, guys. Do check the blog from the beginning to see more up to date work - there aren't too many posts I promise you, and most of them have artwork! Check out the BITENECK BEATNIKS and FRANKENSTEIN'S CAT posts for more relevant recent work. Most of all I hope you enjoy what you find here and keep coming back :-)
Bada Bling!
Oh do I ever remember this one. The scan doesn't do it justice. It's great to see this stuff again.
It brings back a lot of memories from way back; when you and I were just cutting our teeth.
ps. when are we going to see Simon at the front of the house (the image you used to have on your business card)?
I have that framed in the living room, so I'll get a snap- it's behind glass but hope I can get it to reproduce. It was always one of my favourite paintings.
INJun and myself developed the "world" of the Crombies and other stories into a concept for an animated series set in a creepy street. I'll be sure to print one of those stories with one of my next posts, see what you make of them.
Hopefully we'll still be able to bring them to life, albeit with an updated design approach.
Sci-fi movies were the bread and butter cash back then because I was working on "Lost in Space" when we were developing that as a tv show.
Another is that great topiary image you did, nudge nudge wink wink, sort of a collaboration as I recal. you ought to put that up with the story.
Zombie rule, and so does your version. Quite like macabre kids books myself, wish there were more.
"Quite like macabre kids books myself, wish there were more."
I totally agree. But OH NO!, we can't have kids reading stuff like that. Kids might be influenced to have origional ideas and be creative if they did that.
paul, sadly, given the choice between zombie monkeys and a nice fluffy book about a teddy, most parents will opt for the latter as night terrors are no barrel of laughs. Curiously, most kids would go for the former.... ;o)
AJ got night terrors from an episode of Noddy once...
I'd've got away with it if it weren't for those pesky parents!
Zombie monkeys though, pretty cool.
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