It's finished! I've drawn all the cartoons I've planned to draw for my series on Matthew's gospel and the Nativity story.
Here’s a link so you can see all of the cartoon artwork if you want to:
http://www.biblecartoons.co.uk/cartoons/famous-bible-story-matthew-2-the-birth-of-jesus
It's taken quite a few weeks to get to this point and now I feel a bit lost! I often feel like this once a big project comes to an end. I suppose I ought to plan another big multi-cartoon project when I'm getting near to the end of the current one... if only I was that clever!
This little hiccup has produced some good "fruit" though. I've taken time to dream a little & "think outside the box". I considered what Bible Cartoons might grow into, in terms of website developments, merchandise, sales, etc. It was brilliant to consider where we might be going next. Of course, only the Lord actually knows what will happen.
One of the ideas was to hold an exhibition of Bible Cartoons, printed onto large canvases. I think they would have a big impact on viewers, seen in large scale rather than on a small monitor screen.
I have plans for new mug designs, books, games, etc. There are also plans for new Activity books, colouring books, freebies... the skies the limit! Actually, money is the limit, since all this stuff costs a lot to produce! We’ll have to see if the Lord wants us to produce any of this stuff... the future of Bible Cartoons is in His hands.
Tuesday, 18 December 2012
Thursday, 6 December 2012
Colour variations for Bible Cartoons
In November 2012 I started creating multiple versions of a single Bible Cartoon (BC.) Previously I have created a single cartoon, with shading, highlights, & other design elements, all working towards that one picture. As I was working on the ‘Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts’ cartoon, I realised that I could add various colour layers & create the same scene, but with quite different colour emphases. Here are the 3 variations of that picture for you to see what I mean:
This version is what I had in mind originally for this scene. I wanted to create strong, cool, white highlights from directly overhead, produced by the starry sky. I have seen the effect of moonlight at night on a scene, where the cool light “washes out” most of the colour of objects. I was trying to achieve that effect, whilst still having the contrast of the warm glow of the cangle/torch/oil lamp in the stable, to counteract & contrast the cool starry light.
What to do?!
I created the initial colouring of this scene, & then added layers to simulate the cool starry light. I realised that this would “rob” the scene of its colour. I wanted to remain true to my initial design, which focussed on the strong tonal contrast of the starry light above & deep shadows below the figures & objects. I normally create side highlights & shadows in my pictures, but this design was a departure from that norm, which was exciting... how would it turn out!?
I was in a bit of a quandary though, as I realised that this high contrast, low colour scene would probably not be popular with anyone else! I think most people like my cartoons for their more vivid colours & I imagined that one without much colour in it might not be very well received.
Then it hit me: why not provide more than one version of the same scene on the BC website? That way I can remain true to my initial design (the starlight version) AND provide alternative versions, which may be more popular with viewers... & my buying customers!
Remaining true to my initial design & inspiration is very important to me, as an artist. Without that I am ‘merely’ providing a commercial product, which can rapidly become a rather soul-less way to operate & live! And I have NEVER wanted to live that kind of life, especially as an artist.
Of course this kind of artistic integrity is very important, but I couldn’t ignore the possibility that some/most/all other viewers of the scene might not like my starlight version! And I realised that it is also important to me that people view & buy my work... customers purchasing the work enables me to draw new scenes & keep the BC website “on air”. Without that patronage there would be no cartoons & no BC website at all, so the commercial importance of the scene didn’t escape my notice either!
This version concentrates on the colours of the figures, clothing, stable, animals, etc. The depth of the shadows & the high contrast of the highlights produced by the starry sky overhead is more subtle, and less dominant in this version of the scene. The warm glow of the cangle/torch/oil lamp in the stable plays an important role in creating a cozy feeling in the viewer. This is the version that I believe many of my viewers/customers will like. It should “tick the boxes” for many viewers, & hopefully achieve some sales too.
This was the third & last variation which I tried of this scene. I wanted to create a rich, turquoise layer which would sit over everything, providing a unifying colour throughout the scene. I like the way this came out, even though it wasn’t my initial design concept for this scene. That’s why I made it available along with the other 2 variations. After noticing the three wise men in the foreground, the warm light from the stable focusses the viewers attention on the Nativity scene itself: the arrival of Jesus in our world. I like the fact that this scenes’ most dominant feature is the birth of Jesus: the saviour & true light of the world.
Since this scene was uploaded to the BC website I have produced two more scenes in the Matthew Nativity series which also have multiple colour variations. I think this will become a frequent occurrence from now on in my designs. The two other scenes are:
1) Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 12 - Flight to Egypt
2) Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 14 - Return to Israel
+45+dpi+col.jpg) |
| Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts (Starlight version) |
This version is what I had in mind originally for this scene. I wanted to create strong, cool, white highlights from directly overhead, produced by the starry sky. I have seen the effect of moonlight at night on a scene, where the cool light “washes out” most of the colour of objects. I was trying to achieve that effect, whilst still having the contrast of the warm glow of the cangle/torch/oil lamp in the stable, to counteract & contrast the cool starry light.
What to do?!
I created the initial colouring of this scene, & then added layers to simulate the cool starry light. I realised that this would “rob” the scene of its colour. I wanted to remain true to my initial design, which focussed on the strong tonal contrast of the starry light above & deep shadows below the figures & objects. I normally create side highlights & shadows in my pictures, but this design was a departure from that norm, which was exciting... how would it turn out!?
I was in a bit of a quandary though, as I realised that this high contrast, low colour scene would probably not be popular with anyone else! I think most people like my cartoons for their more vivid colours & I imagined that one without much colour in it might not be very well received.
Then it hit me: why not provide more than one version of the same scene on the BC website? That way I can remain true to my initial design (the starlight version) AND provide alternative versions, which may be more popular with viewers... & my buying customers!
Remaining true to my initial design & inspiration is very important to me, as an artist. Without that I am ‘merely’ providing a commercial product, which can rapidly become a rather soul-less way to operate & live! And I have NEVER wanted to live that kind of life, especially as an artist.
Of course this kind of artistic integrity is very important, but I couldn’t ignore the possibility that some/most/all other viewers of the scene might not like my starlight version! And I realised that it is also important to me that people view & buy my work... customers purchasing the work enables me to draw new scenes & keep the BC website “on air”. Without that patronage there would be no cartoons & no BC website at all, so the commercial importance of the scene didn’t escape my notice either!
 |
| Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts (Colour version) |
This version concentrates on the colours of the figures, clothing, stable, animals, etc. The depth of the shadows & the high contrast of the highlights produced by the starry sky overhead is more subtle, and less dominant in this version of the scene. The warm glow of the cangle/torch/oil lamp in the stable plays an important role in creating a cozy feeling in the viewer. This is the version that I believe many of my viewers/customers will like. It should “tick the boxes” for many viewers, & hopefully achieve some sales too.
 |
| Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts (Blue version) |
This was the third & last variation which I tried of this scene. I wanted to create a rich, turquoise layer which would sit over everything, providing a unifying colour throughout the scene. I like the way this came out, even though it wasn’t my initial design concept for this scene. That’s why I made it available along with the other 2 variations. After noticing the three wise men in the foreground, the warm light from the stable focusses the viewers attention on the Nativity scene itself: the arrival of Jesus in our world. I like the fact that this scenes’ most dominant feature is the birth of Jesus: the saviour & true light of the world.
Since this scene was uploaded to the BC website I have produced two more scenes in the Matthew Nativity series which also have multiple colour variations. I think this will become a frequent occurrence from now on in my designs. The two other scenes are:
1) Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 12 - Flight to Egypt
2) Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 14 - Return to Israel
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Pray a blessing on malware writers!
Managed to get rid of a nasty virus on my PC yesterday (26/Nov/2012.)
Why do people like to inflict malicious software (aka malware) on people they don't even know? I’m sure there is some hidden reason. Someone must have done a study of this anti-social behaviour! But the reasons elude me.
Anyway, God asks us to pray for our "enemies" so here goes:
Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
Why do people like to inflict malicious software (aka malware) on people they don't even know? I’m sure there is some hidden reason. Someone must have done a study of this anti-social behaviour! But the reasons elude me.
Anyway, God asks us to pray for our "enemies" so here goes:
- I ask the Lord to bless all malware and virus writers, hackers and others of this cyber-destructive ilk with a big dose of self respect - surely they must not be feeling good about themselves, or the world they live in, in order to be so destructive.
- Lord, these people have amazing skills, talents & insights. They understand computers and what makes them “tick”, which is brilliant. Their problem-solving skills are phenomenal. Such talent... and yet they choose to use these fantastic skills to hurt people. That seems like such a waste of talent. Please help these people to see that it a waste of their time, skills and talents too.
- I ask the Lord to bless all malware and virus writers with a huge dose of respect for other people. Perhaps that would break the malicious pleasure they get from sending out these destructive programs into the world.
- Please Lord make their sense of “victory” or achievement seem shallow and meaningless to themselves, when they break into other people’s computers or send out any harmful programs.
- Please replace that destructive tendency with a more positive, constructive one. Help them to feel positive and to want to be useful and constructive rather than destructive. Help these people to turn away from using their skills to harm and turn instead to doing good. Then let them feel great about themselves for choosing to do good.
- Bless all malware & virus writers, hackers, etc with a conscience and the deep, irresistible desire to do good instead of evil.
- Bless them with peace, once they turn away from their evil practices.
- Bless them in so many brilliant and varied ways that they WANT to turn away from their destructive ways, and to turn their amazing skills towards benefiting people, instead of harming them.
- Bless them with "seeing the light"; the light of Christ.
- And when they change natures and turn away from their evil-doing, help us all to accept malware, virus writers, hackers, etc and to FORGIVE THEM COMPLETELY for their past evil deeds. There is great power to change in forgiveness and we confess that heavenly power over all malware and virus writers now. Help us to acknowledge their skills and abilities and to accept their changed natures, just as we know that you accept them completely, dear Lord Jesus. You show us the way in your offer of complete forgiveness for our sins and wrong-doing... help us to do the same.
Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
Thursday, 22 November 2012
“Bad Day” mugs hit the streets!
My “Bad Day” mugs are in shops NOW! You can buy them from the BC website too, here’s the link: http://www.biblecartoons.co.uk/Mugs
It’s taken a while to get the designs finalized, printed & out the door, but finally they are available for purchase - Hurray!
It was great to take the first batch to a local retailer (the Manna House Christian Bookshop, in Northampton, UK) & see them on display in the shop.
Here are all seven of the designs... do send me an email & let me know which one(s) are your favourites, won’t you?!
“Bad Day” series: Jonah & Big Fish
“Bad Day” series: Daniel in Lions’ den
“Bad Day” series: David & Golaith
“Bad Day” series: Egyptian army in Red Sea
“Bad Day” series: Noah’s Ark
“Bad Day” series: Full Inn
“Bad Day” series: Adam & Eve
Christmas mug: Stable & Animals - the True Light
It’s taken a while to get the designs finalized, printed & out the door, but finally they are available for purchase - Hurray!
It was great to take the first batch to a local retailer (the Manna House Christian Bookshop, in Northampton, UK) & see them on display in the shop.
Here are all seven of the designs... do send me an email & let me know which one(s) are your favourites, won’t you?!
“Bad Day” series: Jonah & Big Fish
“Bad Day” series: Daniel in Lions’ den
“Bad Day” series: David & Golaith
“Bad Day” series: Egyptian army in Red Sea
“Bad Day” series: Noah’s Ark
“Bad Day” series: Full Inn
“Bad Day” series: Adam & Eve
Christmas mug: Stable & Animals - the True Light
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Wise men giving gifts - 3 variations
Here’s my latest Bible Cartoon offerings, 3 variations on the same scene.
The scene is part of my on-going series depicting the events of the Nativity, as told in Matthew’s gospel. This particular scene shows the wise men (were there 3?!) bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh to the infant Jesus.
I produced 3 different versions almost by accident! I was playing about with different coloured layers in PhotoPAINT x4, which is the drawing/painting program I use to digitally paint these cartoon illustrations. I realised how different the same scene looks with different amounts of blue, shadow & highlight in each version. I couldn’t decide which ought to be the definitive version, so I decided to upload all 3... that way you can decide which one(s) you like!
Do send me an email & let me know which one(s) are your favourites, won’t you?!
Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts (Colour version)
+45+dpi+col.jpg)
Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts (Starlight version)
+45+dpi+col.jpg)
Matthew 02 - The Nativity - Scene 09 - Gifts (Blue version)
The scene is part of my on-going series depicting the events of the Nativity, as told in Matthew’s gospel. This particular scene shows the wise men (were there 3?!) bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense & myrrh to the infant Jesus.
I produced 3 different versions almost by accident! I was playing about with different coloured layers in PhotoPAINT x4, which is the drawing/painting program I use to digitally paint these cartoon illustrations. I realised how different the same scene looks with different amounts of blue, shadow & highlight in each version. I couldn’t decide which ought to be the definitive version, so I decided to upload all 3... that way you can decide which one(s) you like!
Do send me an email & let me know which one(s) are your favourites, won’t you?!
+45+dpi+col.jpg)
+45+dpi+col.jpg)
Monday, 29 October 2012
Richard Reed: The entrepreneurs’ job
Did you watch the recent Richard Reed - “Be your own boss” TV series on BBC3? I found it very interesting, because the questions raised in the show I ask of myself.
In Wednesday 10/Oct/2012's shoe, mr. Reed said, “You simply have to have a vision of what one day your idea can become. You've always got to be able to look up & look forwards and go, ‘one day this little tiny thing will become this big, huge thing.’ You have to have that vision; you have to believe; that’s the entrepreneurs’ job.”
What’s your vision for where you are & what you’re doing?
I’d love to know - please http://www.biblecartoons.co.uk/contact
What’s my vision for Bible Cartoons?
Good question!
I admit, I find that hard to define. You’d think it would be easy to dream a bit & think up things I’d love to achieve for/through the Bible Cartoons, wouldn’t you? I’m an imaginative, creative bloke too, so again, you’d think that would be exactly “my cup of tea”, or coffee, or peppermint flavoured squash, or whatever!
But my past has left me apparently unable/unwilling to dream a personal dream of success. I think I have been disappointed too often. More specifically I have disappointed myself too often by poor & inappropriate choices in my past, leaving me unwilling to dream for success in the future, because it is painful to keep dreaming & then sabotage my own chances of success!
If we succumb to temptation & “fail” ourselves too often then we have a weakness in that area, & that leads us to believe that we will probably fail again. Do you know what I mean? How unpleasant is that?!
On the other hand, if we can’t dream any dream (for fear of failure) then we will never achieve anything! If I can’t dream a big vision of what Bible Cartoons might morph, grow & develop into, then how can I aim for anything? I need that dream & inner vision of what Bible Cartoons could become, to carry me over the obstacles in my path.
It takes courage & continual effort to maintain your faith shields; to deliberately choose to believe that things will work out for you; that God wants to bless you... which I believe He does.
Taking what Richard Reed said in bits & looking at the opposite to gain insight...
“You simply have to have a vision of what one day your idea can become.”
If we don’t have a vision of what we want to achieve, how will we know if we are moving in the right direction?
When the going gets tough & you have a lousy day, that vision of what you want to do with your life may be all you have to sustain you on the road to success. Without it, you may well fold up under the pressure & give up altogether.
You are the best person to make your dream come true... with help from the Lord, of course!
”...You've always got to be able to look up & look forwards and go, ‘one day this little tiny thing will become this big, huge thing.’
That’s interesting... Richard Reed said we have to look up. Funny how we subconsciously associate “up” with God & heaven, even when the Bible says that God lives within us. We still associate looking “up” with positive thought & looking “down” with negative thought.
Anyway, I think there is enormous self-belief called for in mr. Reed’s statement. To be able to think & say, ‘one day this little tiny thing [your vision] will become this big, huge thing’... is vital. If we don’t believe that about our vision, then who will?
You can’t convince someone else of the validity of your vision if you’re not totally “sold” on it yourself. So we have to be certain inside ourselves that we will go all-out for the successful completion of our vision.
”...You have to have that vision; you have to believe; that’s the entrepreneurs’ job.”
If you don’t have that guiding, inner dream & vision of what you might achieve; what you’re going all-out for, then you don’t have a guiding, inner compass, that accurately points the way to go, even when the going gets tough; you get waylaid by problems & obstacles, or someone in your organisation (including you) temporarily lets you down.
We might fail in the attempt; set-backs are going to happen - that’s life.
But the true test of courage is what you do immediately after that set-back. True “failure” is only, irrecoverable failure if you get knocked down & you choose to stay down & don’t get back up & try again.
So, after typing all that, I’m off to dream a bit & come up with a plan to turn Bible Cartoons into the greatest thing I can imagine: an excellent website, full of brilliant, funky Bible-based cartoon illustrations & merchandise, which loads of people love, want & buy!
That’s a good dream!
In Wednesday 10/Oct/2012's shoe, mr. Reed said, “You simply have to have a vision of what one day your idea can become. You've always got to be able to look up & look forwards and go, ‘one day this little tiny thing will become this big, huge thing.’ You have to have that vision; you have to believe; that’s the entrepreneurs’ job.”
What’s your vision for where you are & what you’re doing?
I’d love to know - please http://www.biblecartoons.co.uk/contact
What’s my vision for Bible Cartoons?
Good question!
I admit, I find that hard to define. You’d think it would be easy to dream a bit & think up things I’d love to achieve for/through the Bible Cartoons, wouldn’t you? I’m an imaginative, creative bloke too, so again, you’d think that would be exactly “my cup of tea”, or coffee, or peppermint flavoured squash, or whatever!
But my past has left me apparently unable/unwilling to dream a personal dream of success. I think I have been disappointed too often. More specifically I have disappointed myself too often by poor & inappropriate choices in my past, leaving me unwilling to dream for success in the future, because it is painful to keep dreaming & then sabotage my own chances of success!
If we succumb to temptation & “fail” ourselves too often then we have a weakness in that area, & that leads us to believe that we will probably fail again. Do you know what I mean? How unpleasant is that?!
On the other hand, if we can’t dream any dream (for fear of failure) then we will never achieve anything! If I can’t dream a big vision of what Bible Cartoons might morph, grow & develop into, then how can I aim for anything? I need that dream & inner vision of what Bible Cartoons could become, to carry me over the obstacles in my path.
It takes courage & continual effort to maintain your faith shields; to deliberately choose to believe that things will work out for you; that God wants to bless you... which I believe He does.
Taking what Richard Reed said in bits & looking at the opposite to gain insight...
“You simply have to have a vision of what one day your idea can become.”
If we don’t have a vision of what we want to achieve, how will we know if we are moving in the right direction?
When the going gets tough & you have a lousy day, that vision of what you want to do with your life may be all you have to sustain you on the road to success. Without it, you may well fold up under the pressure & give up altogether.
You are the best person to make your dream come true... with help from the Lord, of course!
”...You've always got to be able to look up & look forwards and go, ‘one day this little tiny thing will become this big, huge thing.’
That’s interesting... Richard Reed said we have to look up. Funny how we subconsciously associate “up” with God & heaven, even when the Bible says that God lives within us. We still associate looking “up” with positive thought & looking “down” with negative thought.
Anyway, I think there is enormous self-belief called for in mr. Reed’s statement. To be able to think & say, ‘one day this little tiny thing [your vision] will become this big, huge thing’... is vital. If we don’t believe that about our vision, then who will?
You can’t convince someone else of the validity of your vision if you’re not totally “sold” on it yourself. So we have to be certain inside ourselves that we will go all-out for the successful completion of our vision.
”...You have to have that vision; you have to believe; that’s the entrepreneurs’ job.”
If you don’t have that guiding, inner dream & vision of what you might achieve; what you’re going all-out for, then you don’t have a guiding, inner compass, that accurately points the way to go, even when the going gets tough; you get waylaid by problems & obstacles, or someone in your organisation (including you) temporarily lets you down.
We might fail in the attempt; set-backs are going to happen - that’s life.
But the true test of courage is what you do immediately after that set-back. True “failure” is only, irrecoverable failure if you get knocked down & you choose to stay down & don’t get back up & try again.
So, after typing all that, I’m off to dream a bit & come up with a plan to turn Bible Cartoons into the greatest thing I can imagine: an excellent website, full of brilliant, funky Bible-based cartoon illustrations & merchandise, which loads of people love, want & buy!
That’s a good dream!
Thursday, 18 October 2012
What’s been going on lately?
Sorry I haven’t written anything for the BC blog lately. It’s been a very “bitty” few weeks. I haven’t drawn any more Bible Cartoons (BC) - gasp, horrors! But I have been doing various other BC-related things. Christmas is rapidly approaching, & this is usually a very busy time of year for us.
The main project I am working on at the moment is producing 6 “Bad Day” mug designs. The idea is to have a scene of disaster from the Bible, like the flood, or the expulsion of Adam & Eve from the garden of Eden, with the words “And you think you’re having a bad day!” on the other side of the mug.
Here’s a photo of the first 6 mug designs I’ve come up with from left to right & top to bottom:
Jonah being swallowed by a Big Fish.
The Egyptians being drowned in the Red Sea.
Goliath being felled by David & his sling shot.
Noah’s ark being pounded by waves in the flood.
Adam & Eve being expelled from the garden of Eden.
Daniel being lowered into the lions’ den.
My next task is to get a limited print run of these mugs into local Christian bookshops & gift outlets, as part of our ‘testing the market phase.’ If I can prove that the designs are salable in sufficient numbers then hopefully I can convince a Christian distributor to take these designs on & mass produce them.
I am also designing our 2012 Christmas cards.
We will soon see the 3rd Bible Cartoons Activity Book out in print. This one is based on the book of Exodus, with some very exciting puzzles, mazes & colouring pages for children.
I visited our church’s (Brixworth Christian Fellowship) youth group on Tuesday evening & told them all about my journey of faith & how God brought me to Bible Cartoons. We had a quiz, based on my cartoons where the children had to guess the story, with bonus points for guessing the book of the Bible too!
I’m also trying to figure out how to write code to allow customers to the Bible Cartoons website to be able to purchase a whole set of related cartoons in one go.
So you see, I am not being idle!
The main project I am working on at the moment is producing 6 “Bad Day” mug designs. The idea is to have a scene of disaster from the Bible, like the flood, or the expulsion of Adam & Eve from the garden of Eden, with the words “And you think you’re having a bad day!” on the other side of the mug.
Here’s a photo of the first 6 mug designs I’ve come up with from left to right & top to bottom:
Jonah being swallowed by a Big Fish.
The Egyptians being drowned in the Red Sea.
Goliath being felled by David & his sling shot.
Noah’s ark being pounded by waves in the flood.
Adam & Eve being expelled from the garden of Eden.
Daniel being lowered into the lions’ den.
My next task is to get a limited print run of these mugs into local Christian bookshops & gift outlets, as part of our ‘testing the market phase.’ If I can prove that the designs are salable in sufficient numbers then hopefully I can convince a Christian distributor to take these designs on & mass produce them.
I am also designing our 2012 Christmas cards.
We will soon see the 3rd Bible Cartoons Activity Book out in print. This one is based on the book of Exodus, with some very exciting puzzles, mazes & colouring pages for children.
I visited our church’s (Brixworth Christian Fellowship) youth group on Tuesday evening & told them all about my journey of faith & how God brought me to Bible Cartoons. We had a quiz, based on my cartoons where the children had to guess the story, with bonus points for guessing the book of the Bible too!
I’m also trying to figure out how to write code to allow customers to the Bible Cartoons website to be able to purchase a whole set of related cartoons in one go.
So you see, I am not being idle!
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