A Drawing A DAY - January 2013 (SCROLL DOWN)

I'm back after a broken right clavicle, which happens to be my drawing arm.  I've been slacking on this blogsite and would like to accomplish a goal.

This was something the very talented and kind artist, Cedric Hohnstadt started that I didn't have the time to follow through on....but I do now!  So, a drawing a day for all of January as a reminder of why we do what we do... for FUN just as much as for a job:

1st

2nd                                                                   3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

13th

14th A

14th B 

15th

16th

17th 

(These were the left-handed drawings I did when I was unable to draw w/ my right hand.)

18th

19th

20th

21st

22nd

23rd

24th 

25th

26th

27th

28th

29th

30th

31st

(AND THAT'S A DRAWING-A-DAY FOR ALL OF JANUARY!!!)

Best,

MAC

Deaths Head...Thrice!

This character is for a personal project that I am currently developing and finishing the illustrations for.

- MAC

Cre8tivemarks @ CTN Animation EXPO (Nov. 16-18)

I'll be there and debuting my new book:  Denizens of the Deep!

MAC

Something New Rises To The Surface...

I'm happy to announce I will debuting my new book, Denizens of the Deep @ The CTN Animation Expo. November 16-18.  It could not be a better event to be a part of let alone get a chance to share something new to fans and friends.

The book is a "turn of the century journal of sketches and notations told through the eyes of a British explorer embarking on a voyage that would change everything we've ever known about Denizens of the Deep!  From mermaids to dark things from the depths... the ocean is full of many unimagined creatures previously uncaught by human eyes, until now!"

• I'll be at Table T26 right next to my buddies in crime, Brett Bean and Justin Rodriguez of Think Tank fame!

http://www.CTNANIMATIONEXPO.com/mark-mcdonnell/ 

All my best,

MAC

Last nights Calamari

I like when they give you crayon's and bread at dinnertime.

- MAC

Gesture Drawing - Focusing On Character (HallowsStyle!)

These were a series of sketches I did this week in honor of Halloween coming to town shortly in the States.  The discussion was about focusing on the primary source of importance first.  That being, the posture and weight distribution of the character/person. However, from there on it's important to make it your own. With the power of someone's imagination, ANYTHING is possible if you simply..........

Make Believe!

(The last sketch is for Michael...)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN,

MAC

New Character Design Class @ LAAFA Starts Next Week!

I'll be instructing a new Character Design class that focuses on what it takes to be a versatile designer in the Animation and Entertainment Industry and how it functions today.  There are only a few spots available and begins, this coming Wednesday (October 17th)!

If you're itching to learn and end the year with some added growth... you're welcome along for the journey!

Best,

MAC

Disney Lecture Series Continued - Griffith Observatory

This is the first page of a packet I have prepared for an upcoming lecture and drawing session I'll be leading for the folks at Disney TVA and DTS.  Should be a pretty fun day amongst a legendary L.A. icon.

MAC

Costumed Gesture Drawing - All Hallow's Eve's Coming...

 Please excuse the photographs.  I ended up giving the model all my drawings except for one that I had a chance to scan in.  Pretty fun....Halloween's coming........

All my best,


MAC

Pastel Figure Quick Sketch

A Recent 3-Minute Pastel Quick Sketch.

MAC

Figure Drawing Findings...

MAC

Late Night Disney - "Finding Character Lecture"

Another late night of doodling with my Disney crew...

- MAC

NEW CLASSES STARTING...

NEW CLASSES:

Another session of classes has or is about to conclude leaving new opportunities coming up shortly:

Animation Union/A.A.I.: Tuesdays - 7:00-10:00

COSTUMED GESTURE DRAWING (WITH CHARACTER)
•STARTING September 11th.



LAAFA: Wednesdays - 7:00-10:00
CHARACTER DESIGN CLASS
•STARTING October 17th.



3Kicks: Fridays - 7:30-10:30
GESTURE DRAWING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON STORYTELLING (FIGURE & COSTUME)
•STARTING October 8th.

(-coffee is most certainly provided-)

Best,  

            MAC

iSpy.

Last nights "Sketch and Release's" @ Disney.

Recent 3-Minute Marker Sketches

Recent Costumed Gesture Drawing (With Character) session talking about using two line weights and maker to complete your statement - 3 Minute Sketches.


MAC

Figuratively Speaking, with Style.

Here's a 3-Minute figurative quick sketch I did @ Disney while talking about being able to alter your style by choice AND by what medium you choose to use. This is very similar to what I was speaking about two post (but with the figure) - in the "Thursday Night Walt Disney Company Sketches" post.

MAC

Thursday Night Walt Disney Company Sketches

• This is from last nights Thursday night drawing class I instruct @ The Walt Disney Company. • 

The 5-minute sketch above was done Pastel while talking about how to capture a more "Classical," Disneyesque story-sketch feeling to Costumed Gesture Drawing (with my typical personal extra push to focus on added Character and Personality to ones sketches).

(This sketch was actually done from a previous pose that I had the model take the pose again, so please excuse the minor changes in the posing - which I pushed farther to make it stronger!)
           
•  Pushing and "Plus-ing" is a must when doing Costumed Gesture Drawing with an emphasis on Character and Personality!) •

Here I was talking about using a more aggressive/story-driven sketch which focused on including the essential elements of the personality of the background and the world the character is acting in and "staging" it in a way that adds to the story of the pose and that beat!


Best,

MAC