The Box

These are the character design for an animated TV series
based on the short story "The Box", by Richard Matheson.

Arthur and Norma Lewis are slowly descending into abject poverty. One day, they receive a mysterious locked box with a button on it and a note that says a Mr. Steward will come visit. Then, just as the note says, a smartly dressed stranger who introduces himself as Steward comes to their door when Arthur is out. He gives Norma the key to the box and explains that, if they press the button, two things will happen: they will receive $200,000, and someone "whom you don't know" will die.

After the stranger leaves, the Lewises wonder whether Steward's proposal is genuine, and they agonize over whether to press the button. Norma rationalizes that they could make good use of the money and that the one who dies might be some Chinese peasant or cancer sufferer who is living a miserable life. Arthur takes the side that, since they do not know who will die, pressing the button may cause the death of an innocent baby. They open the box and discover no mechanism inside it - it is simply an empty box with a button on it. Arthur angrily throws the box in the trash. However, in the middle of the night while Arthur is asleep, Norma goes to the apartment building's dumpster and retrieves the device. The next day, Arthur leaves for work and sees Norma sitting at the kitchen table, her gaze transfixed on the button. At the end of the day, he returns from work and it appears that nothing has changed; Norma is still sitting and concentrating only on the button. The days go by. Norma and Arthur keep talking about the box, when suddenly Norma decides that she will push the button. She does it and her husband looks at her with disgust. They go to bed after seeing nothing happens.

However, the next day Mr. Steward returns, takes back the box, and gives them a briefcase with the $200,000. The Lewises are in shock and ask what will happen next. Steward ominously replies that the button will be "reprogrammed" and offered to someone else with the same terms and conditions, adding as he focuses on Norma: "I can assure you it will be offered to someone whom you don't know." A horrified, knowing expression crosses Norma's face.

Madame Bovary

Since awhile I hadn't post something here... and here is my last "1 day" work...
It is color sketch placed on a little village called Yonville, where Emma Bovary has made her life a world of desire and illusions. On the back part is the Rouen city, the life she wanted. There is Mr. Leon waiting for Her... Madame Bovary, a very good book.

It was made on Adobe Photoshop and it needs some work on saturations, but for now, done...

Sketching quick studies

Since a while I haven't post anything... so here am I.

My vacations were finished about a month ago, and on the other hand, the projects that I had been working on, are on the story stage and storyboarding, so nothing cool to show yet.

A couple of days ago, I was in the subway, The BART, drawing people while transport. When a bunch of revolutionary womens got inside the train car. They were going to a convention near here or so.

I was so happy drawing these women, their guns and clothes that i lost my station. Anyway here are some pages.

Cheers

Uncommon Scents

For the class "Narrative Illustration" with Mr. Kazu we had to make an magazine illustration for an article called "Uncommon Scents".

The article treats a very abstract topic, it shows how during the last years perfumes started to become more unisex. Fragrances for women or men are now more similar between them. My illustration is a man's hand and the hand of a woman seeking a bottle for both of them.

For that I modeled a 3D bottle.

Then I "fill" in the sides of the man and the woman with a young and vibrant color.
Then back to the illustration.

Finally I received a very smart comment. "Don't make an ilustration you can make with a photo", So then I made this little change just to separate the space between a photo and my illustration.

Fast Trip to Yosemite National Park

Last week I went to Yosemite for two days, visiting the hills and the Sequoias. Here are a couple of pictures I took there.
The next time? Me, the camera and a GPS, nothing else.

Winter in Paris 1920. Final.

Here is the last version of the painting. It has a lot of problems with perspectives and proportions so I definitely need to more practice :D It illustrates a winter scene in Paris during 1920's.



And here is the last part just for finishing the process...

Winter in Paris 1920

Here is the process of the painting I need to finish tomorrow...

So, tomorrow the last part and the final one.

To be continued...

Masquerade in Venice

Here is my last digital painting, a little fantasy for me, but I like the end result. Made for a class exercise based on the Song "This Masquerade", that talk about comunication problems inside a couple. A never ending story.

Enjoy and hope to receive your comments.

Cover Simulation

An exercise for a magazine cover. Digital painting of Freddie's portrait using photo references.

World of Slumber

One week exercise where I have to transform the sentence "We are all alone in the world of slumber. So she acquainted herself with dreams." into an illustration. I made a hand draw of an old woman looking to a sailboat that navigates over the mountains. Like waking from a dream day and night.

WIP: OldMan

"Martin. Say good morning to Rebeca, don't be impolite..."

ver. 1.0


ver. 2.3

A simple character in a simple set.

Oil Portrait #5

Here is the last oil studio portrait, isn't very good, but i tried a new way to put strokes on panel. Like more free and separated between them, avoiding smooth surfaces and shapes blending... but kip the same effect. Happy with the effect, but not with the painting.