Xenos Mesa

Happy Lunar New Year everybody!  Hoping this year proves to be even better than last!

Thanks for reading and enjoy…

I don’t do contests very often but every once in awhile, I bite.  PowerMax, an online retailer of reasonably priced computer products held a contest to help design their mascot Max, a lovable sasquatch character, I couldn’t resist.

(This is what Max used to look like.)

The artwork was intended for promotional purposes like email blasts and the company’s website, so I thought I would be smart and do something low key.  I  found the previous Max to be too “Dark Crystal” scary and thought he could use some levity that would more suit the tone of the company.  So I gave Max an under-bite, bangs, and a cowlick.  By hiding his eyes, I reserved his eye expressions for more comical bits.  Max’s goofiness would be demonstrated more through fun props or facial expressions instead.

Once I nailed down a look for the head with sketches, everything else quickly fell into place.

For the body, I wanted Max to be somewhat anatomically correct.  This way he could be easier to illustrate performing gags all the while keeping his characteristic large feet and general hairiness prominent.

Entering PowerMax’s contest was really just an excuse for me to exercise my design skills.  But in all honesty, I really had my heart set to win the 15 inch Macbook Pro laptop prize with Wacom Bamboo tablet.  It was something I could really use, so to say I was “bummed” when I didn’t win would be an understatement, but at least I now have something I can be proud of to add to my portfolio.  To see the winning design as well as other artists’ entries, click here.

Thanks for reading and enjoy…

My mother-in-law’s neighborhood best friend is a kindergarten Star Wars fanatic named Ethan.  Besides the extensive toy collection, Ethan’s room is all decked in Star Wars decor.  Truly a kid after my own heart.

So as a treat, I thought I would put a little something together for him for Christmas.  Now SW Fanart is a bit of a departure for me, but it was a real blast doing this.    Who’d have thunk that drawing Yoda would be so much fun?  And to top it off, I designed printable pages for Ethan’s parents, so now they can whip out pages like the ones below for him to color it up on a rainy day.  Hope he likes it!  Enjoy…

EDIT: Here is another version of Yoda with a tad more spit shine on him.  Enjoy!

Happy holidays from everyone here in the studio!

Sincerely,

Tomomi, Cat  and Xenos

If it is broke, this guy can fix it.  Leaky sink?  No problem.  Convert your house to make it more Eco friendly and green?  His pleasure.  Patch that gaping hole in the ozone layer?  Um, that’s one job even he can’t do alone.  Care to help him out?

Been real busy beefing up my character design and concept art portfolio lately.  Here is the earliest sketches of this character and his possible home.

Thanks for reading and enjoy…

Separated at birth, the De Ville twins always felt they were different than all the other kids.  Until one day, they were reunited.  Just a concept sitting on the backburner for now.  Thanks for reading and enjoy…

Feeling a tad lost when it comes to finding that perfect present for your favorite rapscallion?  No worries matey, we won’t steer you wrong with this gift idea.  How about their own coloring book printed with their very own names!

Our partners over at Frecklebox are having a special today on all their coloring books, which includes our Pirate Activity book to swashbuckling boot.  So now you can get a gift your little buccaneer will be sure to enjoy-and it won’t cost you an arm and a peg leg.

Happy shopping and enjoy…

PaperCulture, one of the companies that my wife and I work with is currently offering an epic deal for the holidays.  10 free personalized greeting cards!  All you have to pay for is tax and shipping which is still an awesome deal considering the cards are high quality, green and they plant a tree for every order you make.  C’mon, I should have had you at free, so what’s stopping you?  Our Ornament Border Card, pictured above, is available to buy here.

However, if you don’t happen to have 10 friends to send Christmas cards to, then might I suggest getting an early start on Valentine’s Day and purchasing our personalized Puppy Love Card here.

Thanks for reading and enjoy…

As a freelance artist, you never know day to day what kind of things you will find yourself drawing.  Recently a client, Karen Merzenich, who runs a website about traveling abroad and original food recipes decided to revamp her blog and need a new graphic for her header.  She told me the concept she envisioned was one of a suitcase overflowing of meat products.  Now with a request like that, how could I refuse?

First step, I sketch it out in Photoshop…

Second, digitally ink it with Illustrator…

and then color it up for the client.

Happy to say, the client was happy with the end product and you can now find the new header in use here.  Thanks for reading and enjoy…

“FranchEscalade and Hummerman were tired of S. Martin Car always wrecking the curve for the Class’ smog tests, so they were going to have a little talk Martin after class…”

I had this one in the back burner for awhile, but Illustration Friday’s Fuel theme gave me the excuse to finally do it.  And here it is.  More about the process to follow.  Until then, enjoy…