Richtoon's Blog

A quick look back at last year and looking ahead

2011-07-12T16:02:00.000-04:00

Well this has been a more hectic than usual year for me- in the best possible way.

I launched a book, the art of Richtoon, I've created a webcomic, http://spacepestremoval.com/, I've created a new program for the college, Introduction to concept Art - it has so much promiss with really amazing teachers... And the other program that I teach in, Pre-Animation and Illustration had grown to 4 groups... for a max of 120 students!

The college has also hired a new full timer for the program. I'm not sure if I can officially say who it is or not, but I am rediculously pleased with who got the job!

It has been a fantastic year and there is so much more to look forward to as well.

The webcomic is an on going project. Please check it out! It is facinating because it is a never ending work in progress. And as the comic matures, it will all be done online. I am really excited to see how it will grow.

There are many new plans for Pre-Animation and Illustration. I can't talk much about it at the moment but it is all really good news!

I guess that's it. I haven't posted a lot this summer... so I thought I'd post a fan favorite:

Have a great summer everyone!

Rich

My Calgary Experience

2011-06-22T13:17:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone,

I have been busy with my new webcomic and the Calgary Con last weekend. That is where all of my drawing time has been spent.

If you are curious about my adventures in Calgary, please check out this link: http://spacepestremoval.com/2011/06/21/my-calgary-comic-and-entertainment-expo-experience/
It also happens to be where my webcomic is. http://spacepestremoval.com/

Expect more activity here very soon.

Art of RIchtoon Book now available in these fine stores:

2011-05-31T16:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Gang,

Even though the books are still available via this blog, you now can buy one in the following book stores:

Books on Beechwood 35 Beechwood Ave Ottawa

Collected Works 1242 Wellington Street West, Ottawa

More announcements coming soon!

Rich

PS I will also be going to the Calgary Comicon on June 17-19th

SPACE PEST REMOVAL

2011-05-13T23:18:00.000-04:00

I have launched as of yesterday a new webcomic called Space Pest Removal. It is about 2 aliens and their SPR ship who have the mundane job of capturing all of the bugs and pests of the universe.
I am planning to post new stips each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I hope I can pull it off! There are already 21 strips up at the website http://spacepestremoval.com/

Take a peak! Let me know what you think!

Richtoon

PinUps for Cancer

2011-05-05T23:14:00.000-04:00

http://uldron.deviantart.com/

Please check this great concept by talented ULDRON! Help him raise $1000.

I was on TV today + Announcement

2011-04-15T22:20:00.001-04:00

I was interviewed on a local TV show on Rogers Channel 22 called Daytime with Derick and TL. It was my first TV interview ever! The hosts were very nice and the crew was very professional. It was a great experience. I was there to promote my upcoming book, The Art of Richtoon that will be released on May 12th.

You can see the interview here:

http://www.rogerstv.com/page.aspx?lid=237&rid=4&sid=68&gid=79462

In other news...

The General Arts 8th Annual Arts Showcase is on Wednesday, April 20th from 4PM to 7PM in Salon A and Salon B of the Market Place Food Court at Algonquin College.

We are showcasing the students' portfolios and artwork from Pre-Animation and Illustration, Introduction to Concept Art, Introduction to Fine Arts, and Introduction to Music Industry Arts.

And!!! For the fourth straight year.... The Labyrinth Store will be part of the show! So if you want to get great books on Art, Illustration, Animation, Manga, Concept Art.... This is the place to be!!!

http://www.animationroadshow.blogspot.com/

Parking is free in Lots 8 and 9 after 5PM.

I hope you can make it!

Later
Rich

Coming Soon!!

2011-04-12T20:46:00.000-04:00

Hey Everone!!

I wanted to let you know of a couple of things:

1. The General Arts Showcase is on April 20th (Wednesday) from 4PM to 7PM
Algonquin College, Salon A and Salon B of D Building's main food court, Free Parking in Lots 8 and 9.

2. The Labyrinth store will be there as early as 12 noon!! Let everyone know!!

3. My Book Launch (Check out the picture!!) will be on May 12th from 5PM to 9PM in the Observatory pub, A170 at Algonquin College. Free Parking in Lots 8 and 9. Food, door prizes, you can pick up your pre-order there, and there will be plenty more to buy!

Hope to see you at these 2 events!!

Rich

Tentacles!

2011-02-04T23:23:00.000-05:00

Creature Thing

2011-02-04T21:29:00.002-05:00

One more for tonight.

2011-01-22T00:59:00.000-05:00

Creature with goggle

2011-01-21T22:23:00.000-05:00

Blue Monkey

2010-12-26T22:27:00.000-05:00

Lost Again

2010-12-26T20:56:00.002-05:00

Conflict

2010-12-26T16:57:00.002-05:00

Sea creature

2010-12-22T23:03:00.000-05:00

Random Character Design

2010-12-21T21:27:00.002-05:00

2010 Xmas Card

2010-12-20T22:50:00.000-05:00

I can fly!!

2010-12-05T00:49:00.000-05:00

News on the book Art of Richtoon

2010-11-29T21:31:00.002-05:00

I am almost 1/3 of my minimum pre-order target. It is going very well. Thank you all for the support.

I am going to try to sweeten the pot:

If you pre-order my book, The Art of Richtoon before January 1st 2011, I will add the following:

1. The book will be autographed along with a sketch.

2. You will receive a 7x5 print.

3. Your name will be part of a special acknowledgment page within the book.

4. Your name would be added to win a large print of one of my images on Book Launch Day (Tentatively May 1st).

richtoon.blogspot.com

[link]!/pages/The-Art-of-Richtoon/162976880408841

$40 Local Pickup

+ $8 Canada (S/H)

+ $15 USA (S/H)

+ $20 International (S/H)

Can't afford it because of Christmas? Ask for it as a Gift and request your name to be part of the Acknowledgment.

More info to come soon!!

Art of Richtoon Pre-Order Book Launch

2010-11-12T08:51:00.001-05:00

I am very pleased to announce that my first self published book, The Art of Richtoon will soon become a reality.

The hardcover book contains over 800 illustrations on colour paper. It will have 152 pages in a horizontal format of 10 x 7.5.

Jessica Borutski, a fantastic artist currently working at Warner Brothers and creator of I Like Pandas and The Bunny with the Big Bad Teeth has written the forward for the book. Thank you so much Jess!

I have a few other surprises coming up.

What will you find in the book? A bunch of sketches and digital paintings of Robots, Zombies, Caricatures, Monsters, Cartoons, Life Studies and much more.

The book is anticipated to launch on May 1st but you can Pre-Order your book today. Please note the Paypal links on the right hand side.

We will have some more news regarding a book launch party in May. If you reside in Ottawa and can attend the party, you can make arrangements with me through email (richtoon@rogers.com) to save on shipping and handling.

This has been a life long dream of mine- to produce a published book of my artwork. Please help my dream come true by Pre-Ordering your Art of Richtoon today!

A moment to post

2010-10-30T20:08:00.000-04:00

So I'm in the middle of teaching... and as usual, my blog is taking a hit! It is really difficult to find the few minutes it takes to post something. My goal is to post something at least once a month! So here are a few fun designs for you!

Teaser Image

2010-09-27T22:25:00.000-04:00

I am going to share a little secret with you.

I've been toying with the idea of self publishing for some time now and I gave myself the goal of creating some art and getting some of my older pieces in order to... well... publish something. I figured that if I spent this past summer gathering and creating some artwork, say, at a given quota, maybe I then would have enough to publish... something. I am now at the point where I have everything picked out and need to write up a few things. But essentially, my fist goal is complete. I've posted this "teaser image" to give you a taste of what will be in there. If you know me, you'll have seen other things that I've been working on as well. Some will be from this blog as well... but in high rez for your printing pleasure.

This is partially why the blog has gone a bit silent as well as the fact that the college is back at full force. But I'll do my best to keep adding a few more things as well as keep you posted on this latest endeavour. This is a very exciting and equally frightening project. But I aim to follow through on it.

Wet Pizza Boy

2010-08-08T16:07:00.000-04:00

It is pouring rain outside. I thought up a pour soul stuck having to deliver pizza in this wheather and having to wait at the door while his client takes his sweet time to answer the door.

Sketch Dump

2010-08-06T17:24:00.000-04:00

I'm in the middle of my vacation and sketching up a storm! I keep forgetting to post this stuff. So for anyone that is still paying attention (hello out there!), here a few sketches. I have been experimenting with watercolor, acrylics and toned paper. Having lots of fun.

New Introduction to Concept Art Program at Algonquin College

2010-08-05T12:58:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
I am pleased to announce that we have a brand new program at Algonquin College. Introduction to Concept Art.

This is a one year program that focuses on digital painting, colour theory and coming up with a solid portfolio for concept art.

We have some very skilled concept artist/teachers attached to this program. I want to take it!!!

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me here:
lauzonr@algonquincollege.com

or

613-727-4723-5279

Apply here: http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/ search for Concept art... We're the only college concept art program in Ontaro!

Yet another Speed Paint

2010-07-16T11:48:00.000-04:00

I find it very challenging to come up with something reasonably good within a certain time constraint. I am trying to do these speed paintings in one hour or less. And while these are not masterpieces, they are a gagillion times better than the ones that are not working out at all. So many false starts. I can't seem to stop myself from adding a little space ship at the end. Is that so wrong?

Contest

2010-07-15T22:47:00.001-04:00

There is a contest in Deviant Art to get your artwork to be sold as a skin for a Sony Trik http://news.deviantart.com/article/122455/ This is one of my entries. If you do a search for Richtoon on the provided link, you will see all of my submissions. Something a bit different...Thanks for watching!

Richtoon is on YouTube?

2010-07-12T01:11:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone,
I decided a few days ago to fiddle with Camtasia Studio and ended up with a little vid that I sort of liked. So I posted -my very first- youtube video. Here it is! I got the copyright warning for the song that I selected. I might switch it eventually if the warning becomes something more. Please comment!

Robot Sketches

2010-07-09T14:47:00.000-04:00

Here are some Robot sketches that I did earlier this week. Hope you like em! Please let me know!

Golden bugbot

2010-07-06T00:24:00.004-04:00

For this particular speed paint, I wanted to mess around with textures more than anything else. It's fun to see these speed paints evolve. The textures are a little too blatant for my taste, but I can see that I am starting to speed up and gain confidence.

2010-07-04T23:12:00.001-04:00

Ok... here are a few speed paintings that I did this week... It's all pretty random stuff. Trying to wrap my head around certain techniques and such... Enjoy!!

Latest doodle/speed paint

2010-06-26T23:09:00.004-04:00

It has been a while... but I've been posting reguarly on Deviant Art.... that's right... finally started to use that one... so if you want to check out my latest, go to: http://richtoon.deviantart.com/

This is what I posted today -a one hour speed paint... hope you enjoy!

Old Senator

2010-04-27T20:52:00.004-04:00

Cracking into a new sketchbook. This is the first thing in it!

Space Explorer

2010-04-23T23:39:00.003-04:00

Random Animals

2010-03-31T11:02:00.005-04:00

I believe!

2010-03-14T21:29:00.003-04:00

Random drawings

2010-03-14T16:35:00.003-04:00

SciFi Sports Guy

2010-02-16T15:58:00.000-05:00

Big McLargeHuge

2010-01-24T19:52:00.002-05:00

Space Guy

2009-12-27T16:33:00.002-05:00

Here are some quick little character design ideas for a video game my daughter Catherine and I had in mind. Who knows? Maybe we'll do something with this...

Little Forest Back Ground

2009-12-13T20:36:00.005-05:00

Part of an image that I am working on for my other daughter, Sarah.

Chiwawa!!!!!

2009-12-10T22:53:00.003-05:00

It's crunch time to get all of my Christmas Presents done. One of my daughters, Christine, is gaga over chiwawas... She desperatly wants one. But this is what she'll get. A cute cartoony caricature of one. I am playing with the idea of colouring it. But so far quick studies aren't as good as I'd hope. Her bedroom is so colourful that I wonder if a high contrast black and white print would have more impact.

Stand up is tanking!!

2009-11-30T23:44:00.002-05:00

Doodling while downloading student files

2009-10-27T22:46:00.001-04:00

I stopped drawing when the files finished...sigh...back to marking!

The Futile Campaign of the Kingdom of Agathor against the Mighty Slug Beast

2009-10-16T22:33:00.003-04:00

Creature

2009-05-04T08:34:00.002-04:00

Not sure what this is...but....there it is!

Posting again

2009-04-27T21:33:00.002-04:00

2008-09-21T23:02:00.000-04:00

Kid

2008-09-04T21:48:00.002-04:00

Painting Heads II

2008-07-28T23:22:00.003-04:00

OK here's my attempt after the DVD. Goin Solo! What do you think? Did I miss the boat?

Painting Heads

2008-07-28T10:32:00.003-04:00

I just went through a DVD tutorial by Bob Kato" Painting the Adult Male Head: Color. I didn't go for an exact reproduction... but close enough so that I could follow what he was doing. Let me know what you think!

Guess Who!

2008-07-27T10:47:00.002-04:00

Cartoony Nudes

2008-07-01T17:01:00.002-04:00

How else should I pass Canada Day, eh?

Odd Desert Creature

2008-06-29T22:06:00.001-04:00

Squad Guy

2008-06-29T00:28:00.003-04:00

Creature Box Inspired.

2008-06-28T13:56:00.002-04:00

Crappy... but was fun to figure out. Thanks Adrian, for reminding me of that site.

More people sketched

2008-06-04T11:20:00.002-04:00

Are you sick of these yet? I'm not!

Marker Fun

2008-05-29T14:39:00.000-04:00

Digital Life Drawing Part Deux!

2008-05-25T11:32:00.001-04:00

On the Bus and in the Restaurant

2008-05-23T00:18:00.004-04:00

Here's some more faces

2008-05-21T16:49:00.002-04:00

I miss being a student in a class room

2008-05-19T15:08:00.003-04:00

I found myself taking some courses and seminars at my work this past week and, on top of learning a bunch of stuff, I also had a great opportunity to sketch lots or people. I thought I'd share some of those sketches. Let me know what you think!

Digital Life Drawing Attempts

2008-05-16T22:49:00.003-04:00

Hockey?

2008-05-13T14:53:00.002-04:00

So far this, is a bad start to my commitment to post more often. But what can you do? I did this drawing a while ago. It is a cartoonified version of my little nefew, Oliver, who is enthralled with anything to do with Hockey. If he doesn't want to put his coat on, we tell him " But it's a Hockey Coat!" And before you know it, he's got that thing on lighting fast! What a great age! Anyways, it was done in pencil and coloured pencil... Something I'd like to get into a bit more. I also want to get into coloured pencils with an pen and ink outline. I have plenty more that I've scanned that is ready to post. Looming sketch dumps in the forecast... And I also have Sketchnight to look forward to tonight as well. Good times!

Feel free to let m eknow what you think,

Later

Mole

2008-05-06T09:34:00.001-04:00

Stupid no comment thingy!

2008-04-30T21:53:00.001-04:00

Please leave comments here.. if it worked.

School's Out for Summer!!

2008-04-30T09:25:00.007-04:00

OK... It has been WAY too long since my last post. I plan to do a lot more this summer since, eventhough I still have some commitments with work, I can squeeze in more "drawing for me" time. I decided to mess around with markers during last night's Weekly Sketchnight here in Ottawa. We were 36 this time, and it was a blast!! So anyway, markers are not my strong suite but I thought I'd post what I did nevertheless. I have to admit that markers (with a dash of pastels and pencils) are a lot of fun. The Zombie I tinted in photoshop.

let me know what you think!

I think I messed up the comments part... ooops!!

HyperBug

2008-03-04T08:53:00.004-05:00

The Hyperbug received its misleading name from the first series of digital/video recordings from unmanned-probes on the northern continent of planet F4459. Their near-constant vibrating bodies seemed to indicate a dizzying metabolism, frantic personality or perhaps a form of natural defense to indigenous predators.

It was only decades later, when the first series of manned explorations of this planet, that they discovered a graceful creature that seemed to dance in the wind, almost like a manta ray with legs. It was initially thought to be a new species. The connection was later made that the creature was reacting to certain high pitches/frequencies of sound. This caused the erratic movements of the Hyperbug. They process the sound waves through a hyper sensitive sensor that is lodged inside a multi-orificed organ wedged between its upper wings and back. The early unmanned-robo-prodes and their anti-grav engines emitted high frequency noises that triggered the Hyperbugs to vibrate and run about in clusters. That is why all of the initial digital video footage and data was fuzzy and distorted. The automated cameras of the robo-probes simply could not keep up.

The final quirk to this strange creature is that they produce a near identical high pitch noise (emitted by the probes) during their mating season. Many scientists hypothesize that the unmanned robo-probes from decades past are directly responsible for the current disproportionate population of the Hyperbug.

Unmanned robo-probes are currently banned from Planet F4459.

Additional note: This creature’s recent behavioral discoveries have prompted the slang “Doin da HyperBug” with adolescents and adults.

Ambush Body Snapper

2008-02-25T09:19:00.001-05:00

The Unknown Soldier who took this picture (approximately 1909) wrote a brief but cryptic hand written description of this improbable event:

This beast hid in the sandbags. Some believed that it was responsible for stacking the sandbags at odd places in the trenches. This thing would attack sentries on the night shift when they were alone. It is pure luck that I managed to take this picture. It lunged out, and ate/crushed 2/3 of Private Jenson. The face area started to suction its tongue with teeth back into itself. I think that the cannons and explosions of this unholy war may have wakened this foul ambush body-snapper from the bowels of hell itself. May god have mercy on our souls!

some spaceships

2008-02-18T09:06:00.004-05:00

Some old sketches that I thought I'd share.

Rich in "Cheeks" style

2008-02-16T10:34:00.001-05:00

Coloured-in version of Squirrel

2008-02-14T16:30:00.000-05:00

Caterpillar

2008-02-13T13:55:00.002-05:00

Dancing

2008-02-10T22:13:00.000-05:00

It's marking season again.. so it is difficult to post again.. But I promised to post more!! So here is a little something. I'm not happy with this, but at least I posted something!! Woo-hoo!!

In this situation, no one wins

2008-01-29T22:34:00.001-05:00

T-rex looking Machine.

2008-01-20T00:26:00.001-05:00

The idea came from DSG 1319. This is my interpretation.

Dragon Refuelling

2008-01-18T22:28:00.000-05:00

Every now and then, every hundred years or so, a dragon must return to its birth place,the lava nest where thousands of domant egg lay in wait for their turn to dominate the earth. A dragon returns to replenish the chemicals needed to produce fire. It will digest gallons of white hot lava for months.

Or the dragon is throwing up... it's your call.

MiniSketchBook Stuff

2008-01-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to sketch people at a little shin-dig at our church last Sunday. It was the church's 40th anniversary. I am pleased to announce that the Hitler-stache is making a strong comeback. Who knew?

Guy on a chair

2008-01-14T15:39:00.000-05:00

Another one... I'm on a roll!!

2008-01-11T22:06:00.001-05:00

Caricature of Germaine

2008-01-11T21:35:00.000-05:00

Drinker

2008-01-11T20:52:00.001-05:00

Drinker

2008-01-11T20:52:00.000-05:00

AS I drew this one, I came to realize that he was severely lit. So I gave him a bottle and let him fulfill his destiny.

Cow-mer-boy

2008-01-08T22:28:00.000-05:00

Dumb Dragon

2008-01-06T00:27:00.001-05:00

This one gave me abit of a hard time in terms of painting it. Hopefully it looks okay.

Turtle Emerging from a Dark Forest

2008-01-03T23:41:00.001-05:00

Some scifi stuff.

2007-12-28T18:47:00.001-05:00

Its been way too long since I've posted anything. Please let me know what you think!

SCI-Fi ATV

2007-11-30T18:44:00.001-05:00

Long Time-No Post

2007-11-01T22:38:00.000-04:00

I've been a bit busy lately at work but I did get the opportunity to sketch for the past few days... We have a costume day near Halloween... So here are a few of those said sketches plus a few more. Please let me know what you think!

Doodle

2007-09-21T14:20:00.000-04:00

A quick little sketch I did for a collegue of mine at work.

object01

2007-09-13T13:21:00.001-04:00

Marker Sketches

2007-09-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

I did these while at the park a few weeks ago

sketch dump

2007-07-24T15:59:00.000-04:00

last one for today....

2007-07-19T21:55:00.000-04:00

Space Ship #2

2007-07-19T20:27:00.001-04:00

Okay... I gotta change up the shape a bit more...

little space ship

2007-07-18T23:31:00.000-04:00

Rich as a zombie

2007-07-18T15:34:00.000-04:00

I can't really post this picture here because my kids look here every now and then... But here is a link to a modified picture of myself..as a Zombie....ooOOOooooh!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qutDv31sEAQ/RovlcerDCWI/AAAAAAAAAHc/yVsAnlJub6g/s1600-h/zombierich.jpg

Hope you liked it.

I robot, you robot, he,she,it robot.....

2007-07-11T19:04:00.000-04:00

My attempts at markers.....

A billion things wrong... but it's a start

2007-06-21T00:33:00.000-04:00

I am messing around with a Ryan Church intro to digital painting DVD... This is my second attempt at it... Don't even ask about the first one... On the second time around I got to design my own ships but kept close to the composition... So if it looks familiar.. It's very much a compositional rip off....

I spent too little time on the BG and WAY TOO MUCH time on that dang glow brush. Restraint is going to always be an issue with that little puppy!

OH well, it is a good start and I look forward to many other attempts.

Monster Head and Little Kid

2007-05-30T21:52:00.000-04:00