Gesture Sketch - Pirate!!!

Here's a sketch I did recently while discussing the importance of freeing up yourself and not getting bogged down in construction and anatomy while instructing at LAAFA.

I do have 4 more book orders where I would be happy to do a full page sketch. The next one who orders will get this sketch inside their book cover as well. It's about 9" x 5".

Best,

MAC

100 Copies + NEXT 10 ORDERs FULL PAGE SKETCHes

Due to the number of orders that came for The Art and Feel of Making it Real in response from the previous message sent out today - The NEXT TEN (10) people to buy the next book will get a signed edition with a SKETCH THAT FILLS THE ENTIRE PAGE.


Happy Weekend,

MAC

100th Copy & Full Page Sketches!!!

I am happy to say the 100th copy of my book was sold this week which I have everyone to thank. I could not be more happy at the success that The Art and Feel of Making It Real has accomplished.

• -For the next person to order a book I will be happy to SIGN it and happily do a FULL PAGE SKETCH to show my gratitude.- •

Best to everyone,

MAC

The Art And Feel Of Making It Real - DEBUT

This week I had the privilege of debuting my new book - The Art and Feel of Making It Real: Gesture Drawing for the Animation and Entertainment Industry in Calgary this weekend. If you were in Canada and had a chance to attend the Expo, thanks for stopping by and saying hello. I could not have had a better time with the fans, my colleagues and everyone one who came out and asked for autographs, drawings and anything in between.

Best,

MAC

(If anyone has any HiRez pictures, please send them along to: Cre8tivemark@aol.com)

Costumed Gesture Drawing Class - Last Spots Available!!!

Lookin' out . . .

While I was out painting with a good (and very talented) friend of mine, Dee Farnsworth, she snapped this shot of me and added the nice touches while I was looking out over the hills I was painting.

Happy Easter/Passover!!!!

MAC

Instruction: LAAFA Gesture Drawing Class

I will be teaching a weekend class at LAAFA on Sundays if anyone is interested. It is for Costumed Gesture Drawing which is the first time I have offered the class outside of me teaching at Disney for their Employee-only Enrichment Classes. If you're interested, please see below as the deadline is almost up:

http://www.laafa.org/sessions/classes_details.php?id=44&class_id=1643&cat_id=1

Best to everyone . . . please excuse the delay in posts I have been a busy man . . . but I will be posting very soon . . . along with having my book available,

MAC

Calgary Expo. Illustration

I was honored to be asked to be a participant in the Calgary Expo at the end of April 2009 in beautiful downtown Canada. I was asked to submit a piece of artwork that will be auctioned off for charity to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Calgary on the last day of the show. This was my submission.

MAC

New Class - LAAFA

Hey Guys,

I will be teaching a NEW class at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts (LAAFA) in Van Nuys, Ca. This is a nice opportunity to open up the class and my teachings to the public. The other class I teach at the moment is solely for the Walt Disney employees only. So this is a nice way to let people have access to the teachings of the studios that is open to anyone interested as well as the general public. I will be instructing on Sundays, which was a request that some of my students asked for due to the work week being too hectic. It's a trial run, but if anyone is interested you can contact LAAFA @ 818.708.9232.

http://www.laafa.org/ - (It is listed under the "Sessions" section on the right).

If you are interested, just tell them I sent you over and I am sure they will be nice enough to fill you in on the details and give you the packet of information I supplied them with.


Best,

Pastel Gesture Drawing Sketches

These series of sketches were done as a demo in the Walt Disney Class I teach focused on experimentation with different mediums - in this case experimenting with Pastels as an aide to help add more mood and contrast to costumed gesture drawings and/or development work.

[I will be selling these and many of my originals at my book signing that is being narrowed down to three places at the moment. I will keep everyone informed as soon as I know the final dates and venue(s).]

MAC

The Art And Feel Of Making It Real - INTERVIEW TOO

http://www.canvassingartists.com/2009/02/to-say-that-mark-mcdonnell-artist-is.html

After purchasing a copy of my book, I was lucky to be asked to be contacted by a very talented and interested Monica Eastin to have a sit down and talk about what I do and why I do it through the ever popular Skype software. Please let me know what you think - (It's short and sweet and gets right to the point).

This interview is a very nice personal and revealing piece that I was surprised and delighted to read when it was completed.

Best,

MAC

Recent Sketches . . .

MAC

The Art And Feel Of Making It Real - INTERVIEW 01

I was recently interviewed by Randall Sly, who runs a very popular animation and entertainment blogsite that is devoted to animation and entertainment artists. The site is "Characterdesign.blogspot.com," for which I was lucky enough to do an interview for. Today I was informed that they have posted the interview alongside some of my work for people to get an insight to who I am and what I do:

http://mark-mcdonnell-interview.blogspot.com/

Take a look and let me know what you think when you get a chance.

All My Best,

MAC

The Art And Feel Of Making It Real - Sample Pages!!!

PRE-ORDER IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!!!

MY BOOK IS NOW OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!!!!

I got the final word from the publisher and all is on time and on schedule for delivery the last week of March, SO ORDER NOW!!!!


MAC

SketchCrawl - Back In 2009

Good people and good times,

MAC

Happy Holidays . . .

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to everyone and their families. I hope everyone gets a chance to relax and enjoy the time off and smile when looking back at 2008, and on to a nice and bright 2009!



Best to everyone on the digital airwaves . . . Happy Holidays!

MAC

Misc. Character Exploration . . .

MAC

Late Night Doodle . . .

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families,

MAC

Watercolor Doodle

MAC

Tinkerbell Props

I was lucky enough to have the chance to work on Tinkerbell and Tinkerbell 2: North Of Neverland for a little stint. These are some prop concepts I did for a book design for the first film. The pace was very fast and furious as I got on the project as it was nearing the final stages of design, so there was little time to add final touches here and there. They quickly moved away from the simplicty of design to a more ornate decision for this particular design.

Best,

MAC

Happy All Hallows Eve . . .

Happy Halloween . . . enjoy what emerges out of the shadows, if only for one night.

MAC

Allen Mezquida On The Loose . . .

My buddy and all around humorist, artist, musician Allen Mezquida has recently put his animated shorts up for the world to see his unique brand of humor. Take a look inside the man's mind:

http://www.youtube.com/user/allenmez

MAC

Frrrrrrrrt . . .

AH . . . friday,

MAC

Gesture Watercolor Sketches

Recently I have been getting a lot of questions by students or class members as to when it's best to experiment and how do I begin my process. Also, I am hearing when can I start using watercolor? Or when is it best to try a different medium? I think these images above are a great indication of the transition to a different medium or a shift into more personal experimentation. I ususally start sketching with a pen or unerasable medium. It programs me to think more in the begining, and flow later on in the session. As I feel I've warmed up and the poses are 3 minutes or greater, I will begin experimenting and seeing where the drawing(s) will lead. Unfortuanlty it's different for everybody and is more of an organic process. You just have to go with the flow and not be too concerned with accomplishing that "one thing" you set you to do. Most times, in my experience, it's best to listen to what you drawings are feeling like and know when to stray off the direct path to try something new and different. It should happen naturally . . . and if you have different things to experiment with in a close proximity, it's easier to natually reach for that next thing, whether it's the "one thing" or another choice to experiment with.
It's wordy, but I hope it helps.

Best,

MAC

Random Gesture Drawing

Happy Friday,

MAC

3 Minute Watercolor Sketches . . .

MAC

Figure Drawing 3 Minute Sketch . . .

MAC