Merry Christmas

Turned out to be a "White Christmas" here in Plano,Tx

Colors

Some people think this box design wasn't color full or exciting enough, that's cool. I think this box design turned out pretty good for a packaging concept. But I would like to say I disagreed with where the "56" pieces logo was placed. I wanted to place that logo away from the "5-in-1" logo, putting the "56" towards the lower left corner. Placing both logos on the top left corner seemed to confusing for my eye. This box is just for concept and I'm sure it will go threw the standard 100 revisions before production.

My 2 Page Notebook

Started creating my own little notebooks to keep around work to keep around the office. What I've done is fold a 8.5" X 11" sheet of paper in half twice to form a very simple book. I needed a place to write down simple notes & thoughts threw out the day, but didn't feel like having a regular notebook taking up space on my work desk. When possible I try to put simple doodles on the covers. I usually fill one of these up a week. Notes on the inside could range from things I would like to get around the house in the future, to possible painting/drawing ideas.

The Tale of GAR the Gargoyle

My current work project is to make graphics for a children's medieval castle toy. With this project it takes 2 steps forward to go 3 steps back. I am work with other talented artist/designers trying to do something different that stands out for the artwork. Most of the medieval castle toy sets out there are the same - plan basic brick pattern on the outside and not very child like in there approach to the artwork. So, were trying to add splash of color and small details to the front of our castle so that it can stand out from other castles out there. One suggestion that was given, add gargoyles to the front of the castle. What a great & fun idea! I drew out a quick sketch, scanned my sketch and spent the next 2 hours creating a gargoyle that fit the style of our current toy line of figures. This gargoyle/cat/bat like creature was going to sit on top of our castle. But management thought this creature might scare kids, by the end of the following day the little gargoyle was removed from the castle artwork. At this point I had grown to attached to the artwork just to let it be forgotten. So, I added eye glasses for fun, printed it out and made my own gargoyle for the top of my computer monitor. With the help of some friends we gave him the name GAR!

The Skull Card

In addition to reworking my web site, I've also started thinking about illustrating a card. Currently the card centers around "Day of the Dead" skulls. The card will have 4 flaps, which fold inward. On each flap will be a skull illustrated in a different style (by hand & on the computer) but similar shape and layout. On top of each skull will be a mark/symbol that stands for one of the following - creativity, life, motivated and intelligence. When the card is fold shut, these skulls will look like a mixed pattern.

Redesigning My Website

For the last 2 months I've been trying to redesign my own website. Which means not only trying to learn what a good website layout is, but also relearning the program to layout the site. In theses last 2 months I've created a new logo for myself and created half dozen website layouts. So, far I've only liked the logo, which I started using on my blog about a month ago. I've decided not to pressure my self to put up a redesigned site that I don't really like or think reflects who I am & what my work is about. Instead I decided on a basic splash page to start with, use that as a place to start with the design and give myself a general date to get the new site finished. Why do I need a date to have it done by? Because if I didn't... I would spend another 2 months design the site over and over again, without posting a new site. If you like you can see the new splash page at the following link, click on the resume, samples, blog and flicker :www.charleclaudet.com

Time & The Studio

Trying to find the time to create new artwork outside of my full time job can be a real challenge at times. After working at being creative for 8 hours, coming home & trying to keep the drive going can be a struggle at times. I am currently trying to set a side 3 to 4 hours a week to focus on my painting again. This is in addition to any designing or sketching that I may also be working on. Some of the smaller things that I've done to help are - watch less TV (now less than an hour a day), cut back on gym time and less time at the bars (this 1 just started this week). I have a lot I would like to see done, like update the look to my web site, redesign my portfolio and get a little work done around the house.

Needing to brush up

Now that I've started being a little more creative again on a regular schedule, I'm discovering that I need to brush up on my line drawing skills again. Trying to draw from a real still life or real objects is much harder than drawing from a photograph. Every time I look away from the object your drawing and then look back, I see the object a slightly different angle. Plus, with out using shadows to cover up any of my mistakes... makes it that much more of a overall challenge. Another challenge will be making the time to sketch from real objects. Right now I'm trying to rebuild my web site and create a new look for my portfolio.

Can you please tell me...

Which came first,
the Chicken or the egg?

And were is your painting?

I am very proud that my girl friend has her paint as part of a article written for the Dallas Observer's blog. Which, by the way, is the very first image to accompany the blog posting. I would also like to point out that we had to play a game of "Were is Waldo" in order to find 1 of 2 pieces of art that I had in the show that night. Having a hard time seeing it behind that Big POP up display? I found it fun and it made me laugh. And to be fair my other art piece was very visible. She had a great painting that received the credit it deserved.

Load Mouth turn the lights on!

Was a little creatively stuck this morning while painting in my studio. I decided I to stop working on my 2 main paintings and work on a piece that I could just goof off with. I looked around my studio & found a wooden light switch cover that I had bought a year ago, but never really done anything with. Without thinking of anything but having fun, I quickly painted the piece you see here. I've replaced the light switch in my office with this one. This way when I turn my lights on to work, I'm reminded art is about having fun!

Yes I am a geek

The Star Wars art show opening was a blast. All of the art work there looked great. It was also really cool that Boomstick Comic has actual Storm Troopers there. And of course I had to get my pictures taken with them. Why would any one pass up a photo opportunity like that?

Storm Trooper Mask Painting

Wrapped up my artwork for the Star Wars art show that is being held at BOOM STICK COMICS this Saturday night. It was a late night and another down to the wire art project, that most friends didn't think I would finish in time. I've learned when it's a project that really interest me, I'll make sure to get it done and complete. Which isn't a problem, cause I enjoyed working on this piece and the C-3PO. Now I'm looking forward to the shows opening this Saturday night

C-3PO Printed & Framed

FUN Times!

With a long 3 day weekend, I spent most of my time around the house working to finish up 2 pieces of artwork for my friend's Star Wars art show. I'm getting close to being done. I need to finish up the C-3PO illustration (which I will only be printing 5 of) and then frame the 2 pieces of artwork. I see a late night ahead of me in order to complete both pieces by Tuesday morning.

C-3PO

Trying to stay focused and complete some artwork for my friends art show, based around STAR WARS. It's going to be at Boomstick Comics, in the Bishop Arts District in Dallas. My original plan was to create C-3PO and R2-D2 in the artwork American Gothic. But I keep doing doodles of C-3PO. Then lost interest in R2-D2. So now the it's become a Adobe Illustrator of just C-3PO's head. In addition I'm also working on a small painting of a Storm Trooper. They both need to be done & completed by Monday night. I love waiting to the last minute.

And then there was fish #2

Till the last minute

Nothing like waiting until the last minute to get stuff done. My good friend, Bryan, is having a Star Wars art gallery opening at his comic book shop in 2 weekends. He asked me to be a part of it about 2 months ago. 1 would think that I would have been long done with my artwork by now, but I am not. So, it will be a long weekend of late nights trying to finish up for the dead line (next Tuesday)

Flat brush - Flat bird

Your #1

With the start of pre-season football, the image of the foam fingers came to mind. Then there was the idea of calling it "The Bird". It shouldn't be to hard to see the middle finger, the #1 and the bird head

1 Fish

Brushing up hill

Blast Off

Paint me a happy tree

The Funky Sun God

At work I was trying to create new burner artwork for a children's kitchen stove top. We already had the basic electric burns, but I wanted to try and create burners for this stove top. The flames need to be screen able. What I came up with had a center that reminded me of a sun. So, I changed out the colors, added a face and created a sun god with a funky soul.

Rage, Rage, agaist the brush

This weeks found object

Found my dirty paint brush in the garage this weekend. Think it could be a great item to sketch around a few times this week.

A Candle of Truth

The Screaming Eagle Report

Heart of the flower

Trying out sketching in different color inks. This was with a simple blue ball point pin that I had in my truck. I sketched during my lunch break at a local coffee shop a few days back.

Beer on the brain

Sloth loves Chunk

CHICKEN!

The wild piggie!

What can I make out of this?

Found this on the sidewalk the other morning on the way home from the gym. It's nothing interesting to most people. Just a used and beat up face plate, flattened and laying on the ground. But I saw a face. Then I got to thinking, what if I made 7 color copies of it and sketch 1 new thing on each of the color copies, then post 1 of those sketches per day.

Stuck in a Hat

I have no idea were this is going

Starting with a simple sketch and a picture I took in my back yard