Calgary Sketchbook 01

HAPPY NEW YEAR . . . Bring on 2010!

MAC

Calgary Sketchbook 02

HAPPY NEW YEAR . . . Bring on 2010!

MAC

Calgary Sketchbook 03

HAPPY NEW YEAR my blogger brothers and sister's . . . Bring on 2010!

MAC

Quick Sketch Marker Nudies

Happy Holiday's to all!

MAC

Recent 30 Second Poses

Here are some recent 30 second poses that I use to help loosen up my own work as well as the student's I instruct.

MAC

Recent Tonal Demos - Coming Soon to YouTube

MAC

30 Second INTRO Spot - CTN EXPO

Here's a piece for the upcoming CTN Animation Expo coming up this Friday . . . it's looking like something NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

Best,

MAC

Interview with CG Advertising

I was recently asked by a fantastic website to do an interview in conjunction with the release of Tinkerbell and The Lost Treasure with the folks @ http://www.cgadvertising.com/

•If you're interested you can see it here:
http://www.cgadvertising.com/pages/latest-news/interview---mark-mcdonnell.php
(It's also under the link for interviews on the right hand side of the blog.)

Best,

MAC

Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure

This is me in front of 5 or 6 beatboards I created for Lasetter to approve for the second film to be green lit.



These props are for the "Magical Guide" that acts as the Bible of sorts for the Fairy world. These were a few of the many concepts I did to represent the Magical Guide that slowly but surely depicted the importance of the 4 seasons and how detrimental they are to the Fairy World.

THIS is Halloween . . . Halloween!

HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY!!!!!

MAC

2D Artist Magazine Article - Cover

I was recently contacted by the company 2D Artist/3D Artist who creates these 2 fantastic magazines respectively, and was asked to write and illustrate an article on the topic of "Dynamic and Exaggerated Posing." It was recently released and I wanted to be sure to make it available to anyone who was interested. Above is the cover image, while below is the entire article to read.

If you are interested in their amazing magazines, please click the link (or cut and paste it) to check out their site:

http://www.2dartistmag.com/

Best,

MAC

2D Artist Magazine Article

3 Minute Gesture Sketches

Some recent gesture sketches, on the topic of "Color Linking" and doing sketches in a series.

MAC

NOMAD Gallery Show: OCT. 17, 2009 (4-8 P.M.)

I was invited to be a part of Craig Harris' Nomad Gallery Show, taking place on Oct 17, 2009 4-8pm @ The Ocean Screening Room in beautiful Santa Monica, California. I will have 4 pieces in the show, as they are the entry listed below. If you are available that Satuday, please stop by and say hello, check out some artwork and watch some short films. I'll be there with some fellow artists enjoying the view.

The address is:
The Ocean Screening Room
1401 Ocean Avenue, 1st Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Best,

MAC

Gallery Pieces

These are the pieces that will be at the October 17th Nomad Gallery Show I was asked to be a part of. Each piece is individually matted and framed.

MAC

Pixar's UP Bonus Content

©Disney/Pixar 2009

Creative Talent Network’s Animation Expo. - CTN-X!

Don't forget to register for the Creative Talent Network’s Animation Expo - CTN-X! There are early bird price discounts that end September 30th, so there's still some time left. This is defiantly shaping up to be one of the most anticipated animation conventions, both nationally and internationally so don't miss out as it's in our backyard. It's being held in the City of Burbank beginning Friday, November 20th – Sunday, November 22nd. This is the ONLY place where you’ll meet many of the top brass of the animation and entertainment industry's best. It is will be an amazing event where you are sure to make new contacts, see old friends, learn new techniques and meet with recruiters as well as partaking in many amazing lectures. Come on in and join in on the action where “X” marks the spot to connect with renowned artists from around the world.
• Register online or call today (800) 604-2238. •
- Early bird deadline is Sept. 30, 2009. -

CTN-X takes place at the Burbank Marriott Convention Center with discounted parking and is conveniently located across the street from the Burbank Airport and Amtrak Station. Early bird tickets are $25 for the exhibit floor only, $50 for a day pass and $125 for a 3-day pass. Discounted rates are available to students, active military and professional industry organizations. Space is strictly limited at this groundbreaking event. For more information and to register, please visit: www.ctnanimationexpo.com or call, (800) 604-2238 and mention the special member discount code to obtain an extra 10% off any 1day or 3day professional/general passport.

Here is the special member discount code to obtain an extra 10%

MCDONX09

Some of the artists speaking there are...
Peter de Sève Legendary New York Illustrator
Andy Gaskill Art Director Sony Image Works
Harald Siepermann Character Designer
Marcelo Vignali Art Director Sony
Kent Melton Legendary Maquette Sculptor
Dave Burgess Head of Character Animation Dreamworks
Jason Ryan Dreamworks Supervising Animator
Jerry Beck Animation Historian
Alex McDowell Dreamworks Production Designer
Kathy Altieri Dreamworks Production Designer
Don Bluth Master Animator



To register online:

1Day
https://www.regonline.com?eventID=688849&rTypeID=203785

3Day
https://www.regonline.com?eventID=688849&rTypeID=203787

Vampire Head Studies 01

It's almost that time of year again and I had the opportunity to get caught up on the HBO series True Blood which inspired me to create my own versions of some various Vampires.

Best,

MAC

Vampire Head Studies 03

03 of 03

MAC

A Little Elephant Sketch . . .

Here's a little sketch I did for the release of Disney/Pixar's UP.

Best,

MAC
©Disney/Pixar 2009

Meltdown & Stewart Ng Now Have My Book -

(If you check out Meltdown, tell Gaston Mark sent you by!)

And

(You couldn't meet a more knowledgeable and friendly person than Stuart!)

• Two of my favorite places to shop and be inspired by are now carrying my book, so if you were ever to wonder what the book looks like and have not had a chance to flip through the pages personal, these are two great places to get your hands on a copy. Meltdown is located off of Sunset in LA and the amazing Stuart Ng Books (and I really truly mean it) is located in Torrance but well worth the drive no matter where you live, you can trust me!

Best,

MAC

Recent ImagineFX Book Review - Issue # 47

Upon arriving home from the Toronto Fan Expo, I was just told my book was reviewed by a fantastic magazine on digital painting for Fantasy and Sci-Fi Digital Art. It really is my favorite magazine and even though the review is small, I'm honored to be amongst such a great publication.

- And as for more finalized rendered sketches, The Art and Feel of Making It Real: Volume 02 will have plenty to satisfy you. It has no official due date and will be out only "in the future," but I have already started working on it.

All my best,

MAC

Toronto Fan Expo - Wrap Up

I'm back after an amazing trip to Canada that was very nice and successful. I sold all of my books and had an incredible time with friends and fellow artists alike. From the cleanliness of the city to the great night life . . . Toronto was pretty incredible. I thank everyone I had the chance to meet, from student, fan, artist and everything in-between . . . it was an absolute pleasure meeting everyone. I hope everyone got home safe with a sack full of books and plenty of goodies.

If anyone has pictures please due share as I was so overwhelmed with signing and what-not I forgot to take pictures.

All my best to everyone,

MAC

Toronto Fan Expo!!!

I'll be @ the Toronto Fan Expo alongside many of the talent artists in the Animation and Entertainment Industry. If you're in Canada or planing to attend, stop by and say hello.

Best,

MAC

Figure Drawing - Female Nuddies!!!

These are some recent figure drawing sketches . . . I'm on a Pen and Ink kick.

MAC

Recent Sketchbook Sketches

Recent sketches using a new Pentel Brush pen.

Sketches from a Disney session where I was speaking about how to think through the form for shorter poses while still focusing on the character of the pose/person and her action.

More Brush pen samples focusing on character and how to apply line to compliment that stylistic choice.

A few more playful samples with the Pentel Brush pen.

COMIC CON Wrap-Up & SUMMER VACATION

Well this was quite a year that has only just begun it seems. In the last three weeks I became a GodFather, happily showed my book and artwork at a booth at Comic Con and flew out to Sweden the day after the show for a two week vacation.

I have to say I was blown away by how amazing it was to be at Comic Con and how many people showed up to say hello. I want to really say thank you to everyone who came out and stopped by. I was overwhelmed at the amount of books I was lucky enough sign, draw in and hand over to so many of the faces I have been inspired by and blogging with for quite a few years now. THANK YOU to everyone, this was an amazing experience for my first time being on the floor and selling at this year's Comic Con. The talent and comradery was overwhelming.

Some of the amazing talent that I was lucky enough to see again and speak to were:

Peter de Seve
John Nevarez
Patrick Morgan
Jose Lopez
Ed Acosta
Taesoo Kim
Donnachada
Octavio Rodriguez
Dave Johnson
David and Susan Colman
Joe and Jimin Weatherly
Bobby Chiu
Kei Acedera
Hans Ranum
Robh Ruppel
Tina Price
Craig Elliot
Steve Silver
Kelsey Mann
Nathan Fowkes
Stuart Ng @ Stuart Ng Books

and many many more . . . . Thank you to everyone who came out!!!

MAC

COMIC CON EXCLUSIVE - Original Art for Sale @ BOOTH# 5362!!!

In an effort to do something new and for the fans who come out to the Comic Con, I will ONLY be offering my original artwork @ COMIC CON 2009 and at a book signing further on down the road sometime later this year. Many of the pieces are published inside my book, THE ART AND FEEL OF MAKING IT REAL as well as plenty that has not reached print . . . yet! So please come out and stop by, say hello and thumb through copies of my book as well as plenty of artwork at booth # 5362, listed under LAAFA - the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art.

I hope to see everyone there.

All my best,

MAC

COMIC CON 2009 - I'll be @ BOOTH 5362 (Under LAAFA)!!!

I will be exhibiting at Booth 5362 listed under LAAFA (the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts) which is one of the schools I am an instructor for.

I will have copies of my new book: The Art and Feel of Making it Real. I will also be offering for the first time, well over 200 original drawings for sale (with images from the book as well as other original pieces that are all bagged/boared for protection and transit).

Please stop by as I will be more than happy to sign books and do sketches inside if desired. Hope to see you there July 23-26th @ the San Diego Convention Center!!! I'm looking forward to it as this is the only convention I will be offering my original artwork for sale at. So come by and say hello as well as thumb through countless drawings. I'll have a copy of my book waiting for you . . .

All my best,

MAC

HAPPY 4th OF JULY . . .

. . . to the Westerns that is.

Don't get the Blues, summer is here!!!

Best,

MAC

Recent Figure Drawing Sketches

Here are some recent sketches using water color during a recent figure drawing session.

Happy 4th to Everyone!!!

Best,

MAC

TEACHING NEW CLASS - Monday 4-7PM!!!

New Class:
MONDAY 4pm-7pm

Starting Monday JULY 6th!!!