WELCOME BACK!!!!

We’ve been on hiatus for a while, and hopefully we can start dropping some new art on a somewhat regular basis... That being said, here we go with the third incarnation of Fetch-a-Sketch! Things will run pretty much the same as before, with the exception of a new feature here at FaS — the inclusion of a piece done by a guest artist! We are hoping to get a few submissions per challenge from some outside talent, and the favorite one (judged by me, of course) will be included with the boys’ own entries! So... without further adieu... the first challenge of 2009! It is weird to type that, since it IS July...


The wife and I went to a movie a few weeks back, and the only one we could agree on was Disney and Pixar’s UP... We’ve enjoyed all their previous flicks, and we were brimming with excitement for this one since we read so many positive reviews... It blew the soaked Depends® right off our hips!!!!!! Heartwarming, hilarious, and dramatic... It had everything... Great animation, great characters, great dialogue... I cried! I laughed!! I cheered!!! I can’t stop talking about it... My favorite movie of the year!!!!

So, my challenge to the boys is as follows...
1) to come up with a conceptual rendering of a character(s) for an animated feature film
2) a logo for the name of the film
3) a SHORT synopsis of what the movie is all about...
The rendering should be between a rough sketch and final illustration -- dont spend too much time on it... I want this all to be a little rough, as if I were to take the ideas to pitch it to one of the animation houses for development...

Have fun with it!!! And whoever is following us here on this blog, feel free to participate! Tell your artist friends, too!!!!! Send your questions/submissions to sweetunclelou at yahoo.com

And we will see all you fans back here in one month for the results!

Beware the Cry of the Colicky

Below are three artists’ renderings of the creatures solely known as “Night Babies,” or as the latins call them — “Nocturnas Infantis.” They sleep in hives during the day and at night take flight into the sky, raiding nests for midnight snacks. There are several species of night baby, a result of evolution via the effects of our ever-changing environment... They often can be coaxed into a powerful “Jaws of Death™” trap by simply using butterscotch pudding as bait. A super soaker fueled with holy water is often the weapon of choice amongst baby hunters. If you ever encounter one of these diapered demons, proceed with caution and at all costs avoid eye contact. If you are feeling a bit adventurous as you wander off into the night for some mild exercise, do make sure that you wear a rutabaga necklace soaked in Dawn liquid soap mixed with concentrated Ovaltine, just to ward off any unwelcome swoopers. More renderings will be posted as they become available...

Halloweiners

Hey art fans! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? My boys have been very busy the past several months, which explains the whistling empty halls of the fetch-a-sketch... BUT, change is coming. I have posted a challenge to celebrate the upcoming day of pant-wetting. Yup, Halloween! The boys have to post their rendition of the most terrifying of all creatures — the night baby!!! What is a night baby, you ask? Don't, for the love of all that is holy... DON’T ASK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hold on to your candy sacks, boys and ghouls! It will be a screecher!

Paleo-Buffet

God’s gift to illustration has struck again...
Head on over to http://paleo-buffet.blogspot.com/ and check out Robb's new illustration blog: Robbvision's Scientifically Inaccurate Dinosaurs Blog/Prehistoric Life Drawings> Paleo-Buffet!!!!! I like the short and sweet, concise title.

Is it awesome? You bet Jurassic it is!! It's Cretaceously delicious.

Now, if only my other boys would show some signs of life...

CONGRATULATIONS!

HEY HEY HEY!!!!! Uncle Lou is back! I just returned from my vacation in the Poconos with my special lady. I have a sunburn that would make Aunt Jemima jealous! I also had the privilege of attending the wedding of one of my sketchers!! That's right! Jay was wed this past weekend to his lovely fiancee. It was a rip-roarin' good time. I of course, had to be a good boy, so I didn't do any drinking. Ever since the pollup incident, the doc told me no more bubbly brews. So, I am an official teetotaller now.

Check out the movie posters Robb and Joel did for the lovely couple as wedding gifts. They are based on aspects of the couple's relationship and are inspired by real movie posters. Marvelous, boys... Here is hoping that this is the start of a brand new influx of art. According to that last post, we haven't seen anything since February? Say what?!!!

Holy Twin Suns!

Since we are in dire need of an update over here
at Fetch-A-Sketch, here are the latest alphabet entries
from over at the Dune Sea of ABCs blog!
Incredible, if I do say so myself.

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag

We here at Fetch-A-Sketch want to congratulate Robb because he is the proud new papa of a brand new baby girl!!!! Way to go, Robb!!!!!

So, the next fetch is going to be just for Joel and Jay... Gotta give the new dad a break as he will be quite busy during this new adjustment period.

Since Robb and his lovely wife have themed the baby’s room in a Wizard of Oz motif, the boys new challenge is to add an item to that room. We are heading into a new realm here at Fetch-A-Sketch, ladies and gents! THREE DIMENSIONS!

So, as Rob sits this one out, Joel and Jay will astound us with their sculptural talents. I can’t wait to see this one!!!!

The Boys are Back in Town!

It’s been a while since we have last seen our boys... Hmm, when did I post that last challenge? July?!!! What the what?!!! Where have you blokes been???
Well, it’s a good thing that I yam very passive on the deadline rule... Wait, what’s that? THERE ARE NO DEADLINES, ya turkeys! HAW HAW! Had ya goin’ didn’t I?
Anyway, here are the GI JOE fetches, and they sure turned out fantastic.


Obviously, Snake Eyes has always been/is now/and always will be THE man around Joe headquarters. So if there's a party, the ladies are going to congregate around him. I thought it would be funny for him to be using his extensive ninja training to prepare a "foofy" drink, like a mojito. I also thought it would be funny to for him to drink such a popular/hip drink while women fawn over him, but dress in an incredibly socially awkward way... Black socks with sandals, very pale and still wearing his mask. Maybe I think too much.
Artwork courtesy of Jay Matz



On a day off, I figured that a few of the Joes and Cobras that had animal sidekicks would be off to the vet for an annual checkup. Regarding the GI JOE universe, it always cracked me up that these specialized government field agents and their villainous counterparts had their pets accompany them in the midst of battle. If you look at the entire run of characters, there are a few pets that are bound to make you giggle. One character had a warthog! Jay put it best by saying, “It's funny, because I think have all those figures that came with animals. What was the attraction? And the crocodile? How could that possible help you in battle? Did the handler just hope that at some point Flint would get thirsty and bend down to drink out of dirty creek?”
Artwork courtesy of Joel Haase


Artwork courtesy of Robb Mommaerts

Hardy-Har-Har

Jay, crying in the beer he can't drink, has been working through the the pain of the Brewers' late season collapse by working on cartoony drawings of The Crew. Of course, this is first and probably the only one he'll actually finish. The idea for the base was stolen from Dapper Dan over at deviantart. Enjoy!

Mike Wieringo, 1963-2007

It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I bear horribly terrible news. Mike Wieringo passed away this weekend from an apparent heart attack. I personally did not know this man of immense talent, but my boys and I were very big fans and have followed his career since the early days. Mike brought so much personality and energy into his characters by the simple means of his weapon of choice, the mighty pencil. From his run on DC’s The Flash to a series very dear to our hearts — Tellos, right on down to Spidey and the Fantastic Four, his pages brought us much entertainment and admiration. He will sorely be missed, and we hang our heads in a moment of silence.

Then we shall sharpen our pencils and carry on proudly with his very spirit flowing from our lines! We love you, and will miss you!

http://www.mikewieringo.com/

Bonus Art

A few weeks ago Jay discovered some T-shirts featuring pin-up girls wearing the uniforms of Cuban National baseball teams. After some research, he discovered the artist, Andres Garcia, was basically the Cuban Normal Rockwell. He did lots covers for Carteles magazine. These baseball pin-ups had been a series he did in the late 50's. So, in honor of his hometown Milwaukee Brewers, (who are on the upswing of the 25 year cycle of Milwaukee baseball teams kicking butt) Jay brushed off the old Minor League Brewers' Barrel Man, and another fan favorite, Bonnie Brewer complete with broom and did a pin-up in the style of Mr. Garcia. No word if the Two-Fisted Slopper/Slobber is next.

Fetching A Very Specialized Summer

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. If you were to raid the basements of our three resident artists, you'd find boxes of this crap. Figures, vehicles, comics, maybe even a VHS copy G.I. Joe The Movie, not to mention the file cards on every character! What always chapped my hide was those ridiculous file cards. It was amazing how their "Real Names" always tied in with their specialties. The guy with the flamethrower would have a real name like "Torchy McAsh" Oh yeah, and he was a kid obsessed with fire and convicted of arson three times. Don't you think Uncle Sam would do a better job of screening new recruits than that? Let's see... this guy has a record as long as my arm, tried to burn his own home down... I know, let's give him a flamethrower and call him "Molotov!" Every member of the Joe team was way over specialized too. It was like they could each do one thing and one thing only. Of course this was so you'd have to buy at least a dozen figures to make a semi-competent team. I thought it'd be interesting to see these one-trick ponies on leave. So that's your next challenge: I wanna see a group of highly specialized Joes (or COBRA agents) enjoying a little summer vacation together. How would their specialites tie into a day at the beach, a backyard barbeque, whatever. Now you know your next challenge, and knowing is half the battle!

A Galaxy Just a Click Away...

Since the boys haven’t been around much, I am going to
fill up their platters with a little bit more... Feel the crack
of my whip! We need more of your work to make our eyes happy!
Check out the new art blog, Sweet Obi-Lou’s Dune Sea of ABCs
for a new challenge for my sketch-fetching boys...
And stay tuned for the new Fetch-A-Sketch challenge!!!

The Boys are Back in Town!

Hey, Hey! It’s been a while! And the boys have returned from their busy schedules, and they sure brought some firepower with them! Check out the long overdue movie fetches...


It’s a Real Rum-Soaker!
Artwork courtesy of Jay Matz


Hats Off to This!
Artwork courtesy of Joel Haase


I’ll Give You a Theatrical Release!
Artwork courtesy of Robb Mommaerts

Witchy Woman

HEY! It's some new art!!! Here Robb provided us with a caricature of a young Stevie Nicks... HAW HAW!!!! Actually, it is just a new addition to his monster series...