Zub Tales

The Character Design instructor at Seneca organized a sketch day yesterday for the students to head out during the holidays, wander downtown Toronto and draw people shopping and going about their lives. It’s the kind of exercise that builds observation and also some good comraderie with the students and the profs. When he invited me along, I figured I would go and flex my life drawing skills a bit and work out some of the rust. It also gave me an excuse to get out of the apartment for a bit.

We had a tight knit crew of about 8-9 students show up and made our way from Union subway station over to the Eaton Centre. Good conversation and pretty good sketching. Here’s the best ones from my sketchbook:

One of my students standing and sketching in his sketchbook. Drawing the drawers, as it were.

Winter clothes and accesories make for neat shapes.

Waiting with her baby, rocking the carriage back and forth slightly. She didn’t stay as long as I would’ve liked.

I exaggerated the silhouette of the clothing and anatomy for the girl on the left, playing with body language a bit.
People obviously don’t stay still very long, especially when they don’t know they’re being drawn.

Caricature of one of my students while we were sitting down and drawing.
He’s absorbed in getting info down on the page, barely noticing that I was drawing him.

Time flies and the year’s almost come to a close. Merry Christmas to you all.

At New Year’s Eve last year I hoped it would be a better one than the year before. It wasn’t in many ways, but I hope it’s been at least one I can learn from. Here’s to 2006 *raises a glass*.

Exalted #2 hit stands yesterday, finally. I’ve been frustrated beyond belief by the scheduling problems at our printer. It looks bad on us and I have no control over it. It impacts our reputation. It screws with my ability to plan and budget. Uncool all around.

Anyways, here’s a couple preview pages nonetheless. I’m proud of the work that’s being done, even if the schedule is hurting:

That mixed with other work stresses and personal problems have made me retreat into good ol’ hermit mode again, now finally poking my head out for family holiday schnenagins.

Thanks for your unbelievably deep pools of patience and good thoughts.

More art will be posted before the New Year, along with a general rundown of what’s new in my world.

Makeshift Miracle receives a critical analysis this month from the Webcomics Examiner.

Weird and neat. It’s especially interesting when they praise or critique elements that I don’t recall doing on purpose. Heh.

Brandy Danner writes as part of it:
“It’s been nearly three years since Zubkavich’s been seen in webcomics. That’s disappointing to fans who wonder what else the Best Newcomer of 2002 is capable of.”

Which I have to agree with – it is a disappointment to me too. I’ve been planning another web comic for the past 2 and a half years, but it just hasn’t come together schedule wise or creatively. I really want another story to show what I’m currently capable of artistically. The good news is that I actually seem to be fencing off some time in order to do that. Cross your fingers that it happens this time.

Gonna do a bit of Christmas shopping today I think. It will feel weird.

I have this strange feeling that almost always overcomes me when I go shopping alone… especially grocery shopping. It’s this weird feeling like I’m much younger than I really am and I’m a wee bit lost. I look at products or foods that I want and I get this strange sensation like I need to ask permission to buy it. I’m an adult, almost 30 and yet I sometimes go shopping alone and feel like I’m a kid cutting classes and trying not to get caught or something to that effect. I think the “setting your own hours” freelance thing exaggerates that feeling as well.

I think-double-think like crazy with groceries when I’m alone. I put stuff back a lot or compare sizes and prices like crazy. I get very quiet and reserved. I have no idea why. I’m not an idiot, I know generally what I want to buy, but I hesitate far more. Shopping with other people I never seem to have this problem.

The apartment’s currently quiet and mostly clean. There’s some artwork that needs to be done but I think I’ve got it scheduled out okay with a bit of a crunch coming tonight and tomorrow. There’s some work stress stuff, but I’m trying to be reasonable and understand that the things getting mucked up aren’t my fault and aren’t things I can do anything about. If the time comes that I can change the course of it, then I will. That doesn’t make it all carefree, but it does allow me to get through it better.

A bit tired. Heading out to shop and feel like a lost kid. Later.

Not Me: We’ve started doing a Secret Santa thing on my Dad’s side of the family which reduced the number of gifts by four but this year all my Mom’s family is showing up which adds… four people to buy for.

Zub: Heh, that’s ironic. It’s always easier when people have a past time they love or some hobby you can buy around.

Not Me: Yeah, but these out of the blue people are the ones I’m gonna struggle with because I don’t know them very well.

Zub: Okay, then you must DECIDE upon a fictional past time for them, whether they do it or not. Cousin George now LOVES GOLF, PERIOD.

Not Me: I like it!

Zub: Uncle Marty loves porn, Auntie Helga drinks too much coffee, etc. Get them a similar themed card to go with the gift too.

Not Me: Sweet.

On the personal front, things are up and down.

Have you ever had a Charley Horse so bad in the calf of your leg that you thought it would actually explode and rocket across the room?

Holy God I woke up all groggy and stree—-etched slightly while I was in bed – KABLOOIE! I wonder if my neighbours heard me cursing incredibly loudly and praying for my own demise.

Now I’m limping around my apartment like an idiot trying to get work done. My stomach is upset, my back aches a bit and my calf feels like it’s been through a war zone. Today is officially bleh.

Here’s hoping it gets better.

I told you I’d update and you didn’t believe me 😛

Anyways, Score’s Epic Battles card game is currently available at Blockbuster outlets across the US and all of the artwork in the first set is Udon-ified. Managing and finishing all the artwork for this set proved to be a real brain buster, but the results are quite sharp. It also gave the Udon crew a chance to draw characters from Street Fighter 3, which was quite nice.

Click here for my favorite Street Fighter Epic Battles artwork

Adding to my previous LJ post, here’s how some of the characters actually look on the cards that come in the game:

You can see the complete list of collectible pieces HERE.

Okay, it’s been a month to the day since I updated the ol’ LJ… blast! I even promised artwork last time and never delivered after that first pic.

I promise more artwork to show!

Okay, lets get this started… Arthaus has a new constructible, collectible game called Racer Knights that just came out. Vriens, Dax, Mark Sinclair, Scotty and I designed and colored up a pile of character and car designs for it. Now that the first set is finally out I can show you guys my favorite work from it.

Promo image characters drawn by Joe Vriens, cars drawn by Scott Hepburn, all colors by me.

More artwork to show you guys tomorrow from other projects finally coming out. Promise!

Click here for my favorite RK pics.