November 2008 Archives

Here's a monster I created for Studioaiko's awesome monster party. I dropped in a background for kicks.

Vector art, Adobe Illustrator CS4

And soon the smoke beast began to expand like a balloon, scaring every ounce of bejesus out of the house-hungry cyclops. (Illustration Friday, topic: balloon)

I actually finished this illustration about a week and a half ago, but I'm posting it now to correspond with the publish date of a tutorial I was hired to write for the website Vectortuts. If you're really interested in vector illustration and you're looking to learn a bit more about my process, check it out. I will warn you, however, that it's a members-only tutorial and you'll have to pay to play.

Here's the link, in case you missed it: vectortuts.com/articles/news/new-vectortuts-plus-tut-create-whimsical-artwork-entirely-in-adobe-illustrator/

Vector Illustration, Adobe Illustrator CS4

Prints: chrisleavens.imagekind.com

This year I've decided to print some extra copies of my personal Christmas cards and offer them up for sale to anyone. That's right, anyone. There's only one catch: you'll have to pay $17 for them. Sound like too much $$? It's not because you get ten cards, plus shipping's included. That's right. $1.70 per card. What a bargain.

As you may or may not remember, the card looks like this:

The text on the inside of the card reads, "There's no place like home for the holidays. Merry Christmas."

So for just $17, you get:

• Ten (10) full-color, high-quality cards
• Ten regular white envelopes (white is the color of snow)
• Shipping's included
• Tax is included

(Sorry, prices pertain to US residents only. If you live in another country and would like some, leave a comment and I'll contact you personally.)

To buy some, just press the "Buy Some!" button below. You'll be directed to paypal.com and the company you'll be paying is Kpants Productions (don't worry, that's me). Thanks!

I'm of the opinion that working for a boss is not a good thing. (Illustration Friday, topic: opinion)

I've decided to draw people again. I guess they're sort of people. Another illustration is on the way really soon.

Vector art, Adobe Illustrator CS4

Prints: chrisleavens.imagekind.com

"Yes, that really is my name."

"It's spelled exactly how you think it is."

"There are probably more of us out there than you would expect."

"Yes, I do know how that sounds."

If folks keep losing their lunches, the whole town will be vacant. (Illustration Friday, topic: vacant)

I don't normally draw people, so I decided to go for it this week. I think they turned out OK.

Apologies if I've been quiet recently. My wife and I have found a house and we've been busily tackling the required bureaucracy. In other news, I'm pleased to report that there's a little Leavens on the way. That's right -- Adriana's pregnant. Come May, a baby Unloosenite will be among us.

Prints: chrisleavens.imagekind.com

Vector art, Adobe Illustrator CS4

My fellow citizens of the world, I'm sure you're familiar with a stereophonic recording entitled "Turn, Turn, Turn" by the Byrds. It's just one of those songs you'll hear many times during your lifetime without even trying to. You don't have to purposefully seek out "Turn, Turn, Turn" the way you would, say, something by Moby Grape. The Byrds song will find you eventually, if not on an oldies radio station then on a rerun of The Wonder Years or a PBS documentary about hippies. If you haven't heard it in a while, just watch late night cable TV and flip through the channels until you find one of those cheeseball half-hour infomercials where they're trying to sell you 392 All-Time Classics From the Sixties As Performed By The Original Artists. (Call now! Operators are standing by! No COD please!) You'll have to imagine the sorta mopey, Pete Seeger-penned (by way of Ecclesiastes) folk-rock ditty with its jangly guitars and wistful lyrics about the passage of time playing in the background as I weepily reflect on the end of Five Monstrous Obstructions.