Utne Reader and Climate Change

I was contacted by Christian Williams from The Unte Reader to illustrate a cover for the Nov/ Dec issue, and the topic at hand was Climate change.

Right from the start, Christian provided me with a detailed description of what they were looking for.  It was a great idea and jumped at the opportunity.

The idea was to have a more or less horrified/sad Statue of Liberty with water rising to he knees, still holding the torch but pulling up her dress out of the water with her other hand.  Also there was to be a ferry tour circling her, with tourists taking photos, as if nothing was wrong.  A nod the the fact many people fail to recognize the issue of climate change and the effect is is having on the world.
Another detail was to have her holding Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" under her arm as well.

Here are the initial, then refined sketches.

The sketch on the left was sent in for approval and the next was a refined drawing based on the approved sketch.

After some disscussion it was pointed out that Lady Liberty was not lifting her dress in a ladylike manner...it was looking more like the  "The Pee Pee dance."

Now that's more ladylike.

And here is the final product.

This was a fun, great cover to illustrate, and it was a pleasure to work for Christian and the great people at The Utne Reader.

I was also just informed that this cover was featured on an international blog that celebrates innovative and creative covers. You can check out the site coverjunkie.com here http://www.coverjunkie.com/new-covers/10880

Mitt Romney and Barack Obama Illustrations

I did a couple of illustrations of the big two I'd like to share with you...awwww,  that's a special rhyme.

 First off is is Mitt Romney and his proposed Presidential seal...if he won that is.

The initial sketch of a chuckling Mitt, with Big Bird basically crucified on the Presidential seal.

 I tweaked the layout so it didn't look as if Mitt was wearing Big Birds butt on his head. I think that was the first time I ever drew a Muppet...BB is a Muppet right?...technically?

 During the power outage as a result of Hurricane Sandy, I drew this quick Obama sketch, in hopes that my power would come back on so I could get this illustration finished in time for the Election.

I consider myself an equal opportunity satirist...and this Illustration works in a number of ways.

The famous "Change" slogan from the last Elections, and well now..."Change" has an entirely different meaning...from a certain point of view.

Dogs Against Romney

It happened way back in the Summer of 1983, but dogs across America will never forget.

Seamus the Romney's family pooch was strapped, in a carrier to the roof of the "Mitt Mobile," (a Chevy Caprice station wagon) for a 12 hour road trip from Massachusetts to Beach O'Pine's, Ontario.

But don't worry Romney built a custom windshield for the carrier to make Seamus more "comfy."

Needless to say this literally scared the crap out of poor Seamus and made looking out of the windows of the "Mitt Mobile" quite difficult.  Yes he pooped and it ran all down the windows...gross.

This in fact was " The Poop Heard Around the Dog World."

So for the last 29 years dogs around America and the World have banded together and formed a movement called "Dogs Against Romney."  

Who's watching the Community Watch?

Hello out there.  I know, but I don't know if you know that I haven't posted anything in quite some time.  Well that reason is because my wife and I just moved into a house.  Needless to say it gets hectic, and I might have even temporarily lost my mind along with some other things that haven't quite turned up yet.  


Well I did this piece right before the move and hadn't had a chance to post it until now.


The content and context of this piece follow the Trayvon Martin tragic story that has been unfolding the last few months.


I don't want to get into the story too much, but will let the images do the talking.  


Here are the first sketches I played around with.

 A more defined drawing. This showed more of what I was looking for in terms of a light and or target being cast.

I felt this wasn't quite there yet, I needed to incorporate Zimmerman, along with the whole concept of the community watch, and more importantly, "Who is watching the Community Watch?"  

Who's watching the Community Watch?

Well here is the final piece, I'm pretty happy with the way it came out. This whole story is just so screwed up.

Until next time...adios.

Rx Drug Abuse

Hi Diddly Ho Neighbors.  

I've been meaning to create some more editorial and topical pieces for my portfolio.

All one has to do is flip through a newspaper or magazine and something is bound to smack you in the face.

Lately, I think we all know prescription drug abuse is running wild in the streets.  Its easily accessible, just about everyone has a medicine cabinet and its something that is in the news just about every day.

Basically I wanted to create a piece that was relevant to this topic.

Here is a sketch.

I wanted to show the trappings of abuse, so why not trap someone in the pill jar.

 

A few work in progresseseses.... I pretty much drew the entire piece straight into Photoshop.  It's something I've been trying to do more and more, I can't get away from pencil drawings though.

There you have it...

Tin Dick gets a Heart

If you hadn't heard former Vice President Dick Cheney recently had a heart transplant.  The heart is to replace the implanted heart pump he had "installed" 5 years ago.


I don't know if this still classifies Dick Cheney as a cyborg anymore...but it's more fun to pretend he still is.


Anyway I wanted to create a piece that had ties to another subject that was in need of a new heart.  The Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz."

It started out with a some sketches while I was watching the news.  At that point I wasn't sure if I was going with a heart clock, as in the movie, or a real heart.  I opted for the real heart, because Cheney already had an artificial one, and  he was replacing it.  But really I just  thought it would just look cooler.  YEAH MAN!!

                                                                             

Some work in progress.

Final Dick.

Conan O'Brien (Tbs-a-Coco)

I had a vision before I fell asleep last week.  It was Conan O'Brien with his flaming red hair on fire.  I dunno why...maybe I've been watching too much of his show lately, not that that's a bad thing.  I've been a big fan since way back, so what better time than now to draw something.

I started scribbling and sketching, but basically I just wanted to get a rough drawing into Photoshop so I can start playing around with my idea.  At this time i wasn't sure if I wanted the fire to represent his hair, or have his actual hair on fire.

Tbs-a-Coco work in progress

Well I wasn't feeling the look of the fire replacing his hair, so I decided the drawing must include Conan's signature hairdo, and that was going to be on fire.

So now we know what Conan is going to look like when he plays Lex Luthor in the upcoming Superman flick.

I had another idea to make Conan's tie resemble a bottle Tabasco sauce..ahhh my vision was coming together...then I realized if I merged Tbs along with Conan's nickname Coco.. It would be Tbs-a-Coco, very close to Tabasco.

It's very sad and pathetic how my mind works sometimes..but I like it.

Tbs-a-Coco

Well there it is. Conan's on fire.

Enough to Drive a Man Lin-sane

I don't know if you've heard, but the Knicks Have some kid named Jeremy Lin playing for them now, and he's pretty good...


Of course you know who he is...He went from zero to hero, not that anyone who went to Harvard could be considered a zero, but in the sports world it's HUGE. To go undrafted, then get picked up off waivers, then to come off the bench for the New York Knicks and become an overnight sensation is..well.."Lincredible."


I'm not going to go into this too much, but the world is going nuts for this kid, and "Linsanity" is at its max...but what happens next?


The premise for this piece was, how long can "Linsanity" last before it takes a toll? Especially on Lin himself.  I mean he is playing in the toughest sports market next to..I dunno...Iran?  The New York sports media, and New York sports fans, can make or break an athlete. They love you one minute and loathe you the next...I should know, I'm one of them. A New York sports fan that is.


He seems like a good person and I wish him a long successful career, that is if he doesn't go "Linsane" in the process.

Furnace Face!

Howdy do?  Just before the new year a buddy of mine told me Mattel was holding a "Create a Character Contest" for the Masters of the Universe toy line.


I was elated, but under the gun.  I was working on a job that had to get done by Christmas Eve, and the deadline for the Mattel contest was on New Years Eve.


That didn't leave me with much time, however being that I am a smooth Mofo, I was able to finish that job a day before Xmas Eve and had a day or two between Christmas and New Years to scribble out a few ideas for the Mattel contest.


The contest was open to pretty much anyone who wasn't an employee of Mattel, and the age group wasn't limited.  So I figured I'd have a leg up on all of those crayon clenched little kid fists.  But who knows...the winner won't be picked until July...sighs.


The contest stated you had to use "shared parts" within the toy line already.  If you remember from back in the day, they would just repaint an old figure and give a new name, and presto you have a new figure.  For example Moss Man was just a Beast Man figure minus the armor, painted green with pine scented flocking glued to him.
Stinkor was basically Mer-Man repainted like a skunk.  You see where I'm going.


So keeping in mind the "shared parts" criteria I pulled out a name of a character I created as a kid.  His name was Furnace Face.  Basically he had a metal head that was on fire...Don't  judge, this was the early 90's.  I even sent a drawing of him to Stan Lee...stop judging...If I can find a picture, I'll post it. 


Anyway I thought the name was perfect for the toy line.  Now I just need to figure out what parts to use.  Here are the ingredients used.

Sketch of Furnace Face.

  -  waist and legs of Roboto.
  -  Trap Jaw's arms (from before he became Trap Jaw...I dunno either).
  -  Man At Arms chest armor.
  -  Head from the Faceless one ( Except it would have to be recast clear with flames and tinted reddish orange).


Behold the sketch and final drawing.


Pretty bad-ass dontcha' think??


I will probably lose to some 9 year old who based his character on a mix between his grandma, a poodle and Bieber.


Oh well I had fun creating Furnace Face so whatever happens, happens.


Nuff said.

Final Furnace Face.

Alrighty then, this is my Blog... I 'm not sure I know what I am doing, so please bare or bear with me.


I am an illustrator who was looking to expand my horizons a little bit with my very first Blog. I feel like an adolescent girl writing in her diary for the first time, this is very unusual for me, if I only had a Menudo poster on the wall I'd feel more comfortable.


OK so lets get down to brass tacks...what does that mean? anyone?
I wanted to post a few things on this blog that I haven't had on my website yet (that website being www.kevinmcveighillustration.com).  I am a HUGE Star Wars geek, and just finished a piece that it a mix of..whatever I'll just show you.

Yes, it's Ron Paul as Darth Maul...

Now I did this purely for fun, and the fact that Paul and Maul rhyme.  I actually like Ron Paul, but I thinks it's more because I feel sorry for him.  But hey this isn't a place for me to talk politics.  But interestingly enough the Texan Congressman uses the Imperial March( Darth Vader's Jam) as one of his Campaign "Fight Songs."  I found this out a day after I finished this, and yes it made me smile.  I also have to admit I read this in my Wife's People magazine... she has a subscription, I just like to look at the pictures.

A "horny" Paul with no makeup.

Well that wasn't so bad.  Anyone out there reading this, we just shared an intimate moment in time and I will forever hold a place in my heart for you.  But just so you know I only have room for a few of you.


Thanks for being a part of my "Very First McBlog."