TOOMACHALLENGE 2012!

I'm always scheming and sketching out new TOOMASOOBA designs, but between the ol' day job, show & product prep, and a million other things, I don't sit down and finish off a digital illustration as often as I should. Of course, I miss the creative thrill that it brings...so TOOMACHALLENGE 2012 (a.k.a. TC12) was born!

Here's how it's gonna work: Every Monday in July and August, I will post a new Tooma-character that I've crafted the week before. Most will start from collected sketches (see below), though many designs will veer far from the initial idea...that's all part of the fun. I'll discuss the creative evolution and even give you guys a chance to name the character (with prizes in store if your idea is chosen).

TC12 begins on Monday, July 2nd...check back soon for the first installment. Boom!

Sketch Up #1

I've featured some TOOMASOOBA sketches in the past, but this is the first official entry in the "Sketch Up" series of posts! My doodling rarely happens in one designated spot, so often I'll take a pair of scissors to whatever scraps or important papers I've been drawing on and compile them into one location for future reference...below is a glimpse at a stack of sketches hanging around my office.

Something is Sketchy Here...

Just a quick little post featuring some quick little sketches. Will some of them end up as official TOOMASOOBA illustrations? Yep...probably so. Stay tuned!

Sketches by JJ

Although most of my art is created digitally these days, I still take time out to put pencil to paper -- for projects like this or just for the simply joy of sketching. It's an important part of my process, and often provides ideas that are carried over into final TOOMASOOBA illustrations. You can see specific "Before & After" examples on this page, if you'd like.

Anyway, here are some recent sketches that I thought I'd share!

Click above for a larger view of these critters.