Mark McDonnell's Cre8tivemarks @ COMIC-CON 2010 - Table "C-9"

Well the greatest show on Earth is about to roll into beautiful downtown San Diego. I'm lucky enough to be in my own booth this year and I'll be @ "TABLE C-9."



• I'll have new copies of my book: THE ART AND FEEL OF MAKING IT REAL based on my teachings as an instructor at Disney, Dreamworks and many of the Art Institutes around California as well as ORIGINAL ARTWORK and EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION PRINTS - especially a new Comic-Con Exclusive Print "In The Beginning..."

- My book will be discounted to $40 this year so come on by and say hello and bring a book if you already have one I'd be happy to sign and personalize it with a sketch.

Best to everyone and I hope to see you in the Carnival of COMIC-CON 2010!


MAC

UPDATE:

Comic-Con 2010 was AMAZING!!! From seeing fellow artists to enjoying new friends and fans -
A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out and took the time to stop by . . . cheers!

New Video: "MAC Sketchbook Sessions" - 02

Hey Guys,

I just posted an all new video which is the SECOND of my How To Draw In Your Sketchbook that I'm calling the "MAC Sketchbook Sessions" for the Animation and Entertainment Industry. It's an over the shoulder view of my flipping through my second of many personal sketchbooks and giving commentary. I hope it's enjoyable.






All my best,

MAC

I'll be back in a minute . . .

A Model Studio . . .

A shot taken after a session of instructing at Dreamworks Animation Studio with the "How To Train Your Dragon" Crew.

New Class Starting/DEMO - LAAFA

"Chaman" - Annecy Film Festival

This is an AMAZING bumper for the Annecy Film Festival from the students at Gobelins. Chaman is directed by De Théo Boubounelle, Chloé Bury, Jean Baptiste Cumont, Claire Fauvel and Vincent Nghiem. It focuses on “a curious child who discovers the magical world behind the ritual of the shamans of his tribe.”

Beautiful.

MAC

New LAAFA Class (Starting 07/12)

I will be teaching for anyone outside of the studios again this summer session after taking a bit of a break for travel and such. The class is the same class I teach at Disney and Dreamworks condensed into a very dense amount of knowledge for a 10 week session @ LAAFA. The class will be held on Monday nights - 7:30-10:30 P.M . . . . (coffee provided)!

Link:

http://www.laafa.org/sessions/classes_details.php?id=67&class_id=3131&cat_id=1

P.S. - I will be also giving a demo 06/19/2010 @ 11:00 A.M. if anyone is interested in seeing me work as well as ask any questions you have.

MAC

Water on the move . . .

Recent sketches from last week, playing with water soluble ink.

MAC

Female Figure Drawing: Corner Doodle

Here's a really quick corner doodle where I enjoyed the swing of her movement.

HAPPY FRIDAY,

MAC

Inspiration: Figure Drawing

Recently in a figure drawing session I took a break from using watercolor and was inspired by the recent Rembrandt exhibit at our local J. Paul Getty Museum. There is one particular image that stuck in my head and lead to the inspiration of looking for a way to get the feeling of an ink wash using a pen and PrismaColor markers. In no way was I looking to repeat another's success but rather use it as inspiration for a new way of seeing. (At the bottom of the post is the image that led to this experiment. Simply Masterful.)

Marker Rendering (Part 01 and Part 02)

PART 01:


and

PART 02:


Here are two new videos that are PART 01 and PART 02 on the topic of MARKER RENDERING for the Animation and Entertainment Industry. These videos talk about how and why markers are such an important medium to use in the quick paced world of the Animation and Entertainment Industry. Whether for a concept design project or for sketching on location, here's some tricks and tips.


All my best,

MAC

A KING HAS PASSED . . .

The amazing and visionary Frank Frazetta has passed away at 82.



When I was around 12 years old, my parents were kind enough to see I had an aptitude and artistic talent and enrolled me in a class after school with a teacher who showed me one painting that changed the game for me, little did I know it was Frank Frazetta. Oddly enough it was the Atlantis piece which still, along with many others, inspires me today.

Thanks Frank.

New Video Posted - TONAL SKETCHING 02

Here's a new video that is the second in a series on the topic of TONAL SKETCHING for Costumed Gesture Drawing purposes. This time due to the overwhelming feedback from my fellow artists and fans, I have created an audio track explaining my process. Thanks for the feedback guys and let me know what you think when you get the chance.


Best to everyone,

MAC

Calgary Fan Expo - April 24th-25th

I'll be showing at the Calgary Fan Expo in Canada this weekend! It's one of my favorite show and defiantly is in such a nice area.
If you're around or in the area stop by and say hello as I will be debuting new prints!

I will be at Table F17, hope to see everyone there.

Best,

MAC

Stage 01 - Calgary

It's coming . . . a rough idea.

WonderCon 2010 - Table D09

Hope to see you out there . . . I'm looking forward to it, this is my first year attending.

I'll be signing and personalizing sketches, selling all new and exclusive prints and have plenty of original artwork for sale as well. Hope to see you out there.

Best,

MAC

Elephant - Character Development 01

This is a character development piece that I did for a project that unfortunately didn't make it as is the case from time to time. I was looking forward to finishing him off and painting the rest of the background but never got the time as the project was put on the shelf.

HAPPY MONDAY,

MAC

New Video: INTRO to "MAC Sketchbook Sessions"

MAC

New Video: "MAC Sketchbook Sessions" - 01

I have just posted two new videos, one is an introduction to these "MAC Sketchbook Sessions" that I will be doing and the second video is of me flipping through my first sketchbook and talking about what was important about many of the sketches and what I am looking to accomplish along the way. This will be the 1st of many sketchbooks that I will go through and talk about my process or what I was thinking and looking for in many of the sketches.

Best,

MAC

Water + Color = Stylized Figure Painting

MAC

New Video Posted - TONAL SKETCHING 01

Here's a new video that is sped up showing the process of sketching tonally for Costumed Gesture Drawing purposes. This was a 5 minute sketch that was slightly elaborated on as I was talking during the process. At the end you will notice how I emphasis using the rhythmic flow of things to keep you inside of a design letting the eye recirculate throughout the drawing as to not loos your audience who's watching.

MAC

Figure Drawing - Female Nuddies Too x2!!!

MAC

New Video Posted - Warming Up!

Part 01:


Part 02:




MAC

Figure Drawing - Female Nuddies Too!!!

Here are some recent figure drawings in a new sketchbook fresh for the start of 2010 where I can try some different things to change up the routine.

Best to everyone,

MAC

HELP THE HODGES - Animation/Art Auction

Hey Guys,

I just wanted to let you know there is an amazing Animation/Artwork auction happening at - HELP THE HODGES.com -

There will be many amazing pieces of artwork through the day being released on ebay to benefit a friend of mine's son who was injured and is in a coma at the moment. Please feel free to drop by HELP THE HODGES to see the whole story and why this particular auction is of such high importance as well as high HIGH level of artwork. I was happy enough to donate a few pieces with signed books to accompany them.

http://shop.ebay.com/ncsfoundation/m.html

Best,

MAC

Tutorial Video: 01_Setting Up Video

Hey Guys,

I have just completed an introductory video to how and what I teach for the purposes of allowing others not-so-near to the Industry (or Studios) to gain access to some of the practices and techniques of Costumed Gesture Drawing and how it is used in the Animation and Entertainment Industry. Let me know what you think and if you think it's helpful if you find a moment some time this week.




Best,

MAC

Avarian Friends - Owl Studies

MAC

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