Cat Island Rider

A Cat Island sketch I did a little while ago. I think they need mounts and I love owls so this makes a lot of sense to me. Working on rewrites right now. I think the story got too elaborate and I'm pulling back a bit now. Looking at the format too and trying to figure out the best approach. I'm really looking forward to getting to draw this one.

Huge thunderstorm just passed by. The power even when out for a bit. That never seems to happen in Toronto. 

Tree Spirit

A pencil drawing of a mask. This is for a project that just popped up and I can't say much about yet but I would LOVE to see it happen. It's very rooted in faery and all ages fantasy, with heaps of Froud, Henson and stuff like that in the mix. 

Big Bad Wolf Commission

Here's another commission, and gosh this one was fu to draw. It's Zeke Wolf from the Three Little Pigs short in Disney's Silly Symphonies of 1929. He's been in a number of Disney films since, including Who Framed Rodger Rabbit. I'm slowly wading through a bunch of work. I'm eager to do some new projects and I can't get there fast enough. 

Dog

I just finished another big stack of commissions and am getting nearer the end of them. Today is dedicated to the Cat Island comic, getting thumbnails and dialogue worked out for the first story. I think it's coming together well, the process is like assembling all these pieces that are already there in some kind of coherent form.

Above is a digital drawing for yet another project. Which means I'm going back and forth between three books. I really want to get down to one book like a normal person but there's lots of work first. 

Jack Pumpkinhead Of Oz

Here's my ink and watercolour picture of Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz. I love drawing pumpkins.

I'm about midway through the commissions and have a big stack to colour right now but need to switch gears to get some writing done today. Which is easier to find ways to procrastinate with than drawing, in my case. But I have a story all planned out so now it's about filling it out.

And we have internet again! And a phone! Glad to be once more connected to the world. 

Cat Elder, Commission

It's nice wen a commission leads to an insight on a story you're writing. I felt that Cat Island needed a strong grown up character, a guide for the younger characters. Otherwise it felt out of balance. I kept drawing a grizzled old male Cat Islander but it didn't feel right. So while doing a commission this character appeared out of nowhere and the problem was suddenly solved. I'd always wanted to have an older female character in a fantasy story. Very happy about accidentally meeting this girl.

And, in the it never rains it pours category, Henry has managed to soak our only phone with a mysterious sticky substance, totally ruining it. So, now we have no Internet or phone. And of course an important business call came through yesterday that didn't manage to reach me. I set up another call but boy it's frustrating being cut off like this. I'm still posting from the library. Which is kind of nice, I love hanging out in the library.

Library Cats

Here's a detail from a commission I completed earlier this week. I'm posting from the library because my internet went down today. And it looks like we are going to get a new provider so I might be offline for a while. Or only online at the library, which is across the street so not a terrible hassle. But if you're trying to get a hold of me it might take a bit for me to get back to you for the time being. On top of the internet our pretty elderly dog has gotten sick so I guess we will be putting our money into vet bills before internet for a little while. I think I'll remember this summer as a challenging one. But by October I should have one book finished and another one otr two well on their way. so it'll all be worth it.

If you've asked for a commission and haven't paid yet please do so as I'm using Paypal to do the commissions in order of when you've paid, it just makes it simpler for me.

Maybe no internet for a while will be a good thing. Les Google search tangents and more drawing. Here's hoping there's a silver lining.

Nora And Ollie Commission

Here's a really fun commission of Marrowbone's characters Nora and Ollie. I wish watercolour scanned better! It's much richer than this in real life.

It's been a really unproductive couple of days, I can't seem to adjust to the heat here.  In Halifax where I grew up there might be a few days a year over 30 C ( about 86 F) but in Toronto you can long stretches, weeks even, of about 40 C ( 104 F) with the humidity. Paper is curling and I keep dozing off at inappropriate times.

But work is going well, I'm getting through the commissions and enjoying them a lot and also working on a pitch. 

Merida From Brave

Here's a watercolour and ink drawing I did to help promote my sale but it seems I didn't need it as I sold out od commissions before I could properly post this. If you are interested in this drawing please let me know, like the others it's 25 plus 10 USD for shipping. 

Dinosaur Dog Walk

Henry has started insisting that this is the proper uniform for walking the dog. Who am I to disagree?

Commissions Update

I have filled up all my slots for commissions, much, much faster than I thought. Thanks so much to everyone who commissioned a picture, it's a huge help to us. I'll be doing my next commission sale before Christmas, I think. If you've commissioned a piece but haven't payed yet please do so as that's the easiest way for me to track them.

Commission Sale Day Two, Pikachu!

My commission sale continues today and to my surprise I'm getting close to the limit of what I can handle, so if you'd like a commission let me know soon. They are 25 dollars plus 10 for shipping all in USD and payed in advance. At the moment it'll take me about a week to get to new commissions.

For more information please contact me at eric.orchard@gmail.com

Commission Shop Is Open!

I'm officially open for commissions! I'm currently taking commissions for 8 by 12 inch pen and ink and watercolour originals, your choice of subject. Each one is 25 USD plus 10 USD for shipping.

I'll be taking commissions for the next 2 weeks or until I hit 30 commissions. Before the official announcement I already received 10 commissions so if you'd like one please contact me soon, they are coming in faster than I thought they would.

Please contact me at eric.orchard@gmail.com for requests.

Thank you so much for your patronage, these sales are helping me get through a period where I'm working on comics proposals that won't see any income for some time and this really helps me and my family. 

Original Art Sale Starts Tomorrow!

I wanted to let everyone know ahead of time that starting tomorrow and going for 2 weeks I will be accepting commissions for original art for only 25 dollars plus shipping a commission. Each one will be 8 by 12 inches and fully coloured in watercolour. Please feel free to contact me today about commissions at eric.orchard@gmail.com

Right now I'm working on Maddy Kettle and another comic with Thomas Sniegoski as well as Cat Island, none of which are making income right now so I could really use the help to pay the bills while I do this and you get an original piece of art in return.

Thanks so much for your continued support!

Paifu From Cowa!

Here's a little sketchbook drawing I touched up and coloured in Photoshop. It's Paifu from the wonderful all ages manga Cowa! Cowa! is by Akira Toriyama, a long time top manga maker. This book is really, really fun. You can see more of Toriyama's work here. 

Cat Island Heroes

Here are the heroes of the upcoming Saturday Morning Webtoon, Cat Island.  I'm just about to colour this so I thought I'd post the pen and ink version before I did. 

Ink Wash At The Beach

Just one of many, many people in Toronto who seem to dress in unlikely ways. 

Dragon On Vacation

Here's another Cat Island drawing, just finishing up a few pages of this comic, after which everything is on hold but a few things that must be finished this Summer. I'm still preparing for a commission sale so please keep an eye on this blog! 

Cat Island Dragon

I don't like to complain but holy mollee I hate this heat! Makes me really homesick for the east coast. I'm tempted to just move into a swamp somewhere in Nova Scotia and mail all my comics out.

So, here's a dragon from Cat Island, which I'm trying to finish up a very short introductory story so I can move on the a pitch for another project. In the meantime I need to make some bill money so I'm trying to get a commissions sale going. Stressful week!

But I'm super happy with these Cat Island pages and that's what matters. 

Some Curious Cat Islanders

Another in progress look at my new comic Cat Island. What happens when the shy cat people start getting strange and frightening visitors? How would you respond if monsters started moving in next door? Cat Island tells the story of what it's like to share your home with monsters, and I'm in the middle of a three page introduction/exploration of Cat Island. Like I mentioned I'm trying something new in the approach,ink and watercolour and digital so I'm still working that out. Sorry about the photographs lately! I'm without a scanner. 

Beach Doodle

Just back from a family trip to the beach, it's beautiful out and we don't feel like hunting for fireworks so that's our Canada Day celebration. We blasted Elizabeth Mitchell on the way which always makes for a fun time. Here's a doodle I did on the beach.

I've decided to launch a commission sale in the next few days, I'm working on some samples right now so watch for an announcement on Tuesday. 

Fire Shrine

I found this little shrine in the garden yesterday, a gift from my father in law. There were two actually.

I'm working hard on a number of projects right now, all are pitches or work that won't make any income until I receive royalties which is one of those really tough positions freelancers find themselves in occasionally. I may have to get part time work for a bit. Unless I think of a really clever idea to make some income while I finish these projects. Nothing coming to me. Do you have any clever ideas?