I’m an illustrator from Saint Paul (Minnesota), now living in Northeast Minneapolis (also Minnesota). My degree is in Comic Art, and I currently sell art supplies.
In my art, I pursue a balance between old-world craftsmanship and digital refinement in the spectrum of character design, pictorial narratives, and print illustration. With any project I am working on, I approach it with creativity, curiosity, commitment, and communication.
Nothing big to report. I did this diagram to explain how to set up a stick-your-head-in-here photo-op stand for the Harriet Alexander Nature Center, which used it for their annual Wild Rice Festival. Here's what it looks like:
Not my best work (I cringe when I see how poorly I did, and still do somewhat, with arms and hands), but it's a cute little thing to do while learning about wild rice harvesting, shopping craft tables, and taking in some Ojibwa dances.
I've been toying with writing a Ghostbusters RPG scenario ever since Gen Con this year. The movie had such an impact on how I look at pop culture, and I shudder to think it might be sequel-ized [poorly], or remade [also poorly]. But the possibilities are endless!
Halloween is coming up, so I thought I'd celebrate a little early with this little animatic from a (gosh) four years ago (?). I think it's pretty fun.
OH! How could I forget this?! I was asked to contribute to the MCAD: The Gathering card game, which was given out at the MCAD reunion party earlier this year. When I get a physical copy, I'll be posting it on my website.
I've been talking about this IRL for a while now, and now I've done it: I'm attacking my hoard of books! It's good for the soul, and good in the long run. How often am I actually reading these, for crying out loud?! Not often enough.
Hello! Jeez, it's been about a year, hasn't it since I last posted ANYthing. Much has happened, and most of it is on my new website. I guess that's the big thing- a new website! As opposed to this old one.
The shift from Comic Artist Steve to Steve Robbins Art was more practical, as for the last few years, I've moved more toward illustration and design. Right now, I've got a lot of little projects that I've been tinkering with when I'm not at Wet Paint or doing somerelatedfreelance. The list includes (in no particular order):
Fake pan-United States gridiron football league history
Non-collectable card game that involves advertising mascots
Pitch to revamp an educational computer game from my childhood (see above illustration!)
Another card game that doubles as an educational tool for college students
The CYOA that I've written about in previous entries
Alcohol label for a band I like and am personally invested in emotionally
Book spot illustrations for a sci-fi book I revere
So: I've got some work to do! Hopefully, I can keep things abreast with this blog once again now. There had been some issues with logging on, since I started using Blogger before Google bought it. But now I've transferred admin rights to my current email address, so that shouldn't be a problem now. Probably.
Whoo boy! Almost a year has gone by since I last updated this blog. So what’s gone on?
I’ve finally started work on a game that was going to be a graphical adventure game. But due to technical restrictions (I am restricted by my technical not-know!), that wasn’t possible. So I’ve decided to do it as a Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA). The reasons for this were more practical, sort of.
Since I don’t know programming, but I DO know some workable HTML, I’m writitng the whole thing as an HTML linking game. The true test is how complicated I can make it, in terms of story depth. It’s going to be complicated no matter what, but hopefully the story will hold up and keep you wanting more!
But the biggest thing holding it back (aside from the actual drawing and coloring aspect) is writing the HTML. It’s going to be quite complicated to ensure things like the following:
Hero sasses a teacher once, and is given the option to apologize. If he does, the story goes on as usual, but if he remains flippant, is sent to the principal’s office. If he survives, comes back to class. If he is rude again, and remains a sassy ass, gets sent home.
HOWEVER if the first time he’s rude and apologizes, or isn’t rude, and is rude or not apologetic the second time, he’s sent to the principal and not sent home!
Does that make sense?
The spring and summer has been punctuated by odd little freelance jobs like the above. I can’t go into details, but I’ve been given the A-Ok to show the pic!
(pic of saints board)
I did this spring. The final product is about 3 by 5 feet +/-, and is shown twice on the walls at Midway Field, where the St. Paul Saints minor league baseball plays. The blank spots were later filled with QR scans.
This week I’m going to Gen Con. The pic above is one of 36 of characters designed for a LARP I’m helping run. It takes place in the Falkenstein world, which is Steampunkish, but more fantasy-based. The steam tech is downplayed by the presence of the Faerie, draconian and dwarvish races, as well as magic, etc.
It should be quite a fun evening, and I’ll be sure to post pictures from the convention.
Moved again. That was stressful, but great for my wallet in the end- I can actually walk to work, even if it was snowy!
I’ve set up a nice office area. There’s plenty of space, and I’ve been enjoying making things here.
I’m coming up to two years at Wet Paint, but I’ve been counting Christmases there, which means I’m almost up to my third Christmas. It’s early to think about this, but I’ve been plotting what to do for my yearly Christmas card. We got some neat printing inks from Akua and Daniel Smith.
Oh! I'm taking this to Gen Con too. I'm pleased with it- it's a scene from "The Flying Sorcerers," by David Gerrold and Larry Niven. It's a great book! Look for it!
Well, it's late, and I've got a plane to catch. TTYL!
Whoo boy! Almost a year has gone by since I last updated this blog. So what’s gone on?
(pic from Aberdeen)
I’ve finally started work on a game that was going to be a graphical adventure game. But due to technical restrictions (I am restricted by my technical not-know!), that wasn’t possible. So I’ve decided to do it as a Choose Your Own Adventure (CYOA). The reasons for this were more practical, sort of.
(pic from Aberdeen)
Since I don’t know programming, but I DO know some workable HTML, I’m writitng the whole thing as an HTML linking game. The true test is how complicated I can make it, in terms of story depth. It’s going to be complicated no matter what, but hopefully the story will hold up and keep you wanting more!
(pic from Aberdeen)
But the biggest thing holding it back (aside from the actual drawing and coloring aspect) is writing the HTML. It’s going to be quite complicated to ensure things like the following:
Hero sasses a teacher once, and is given the option to apologize. If he does, the story goes on as usual, but if he remains flippant, is sent to the principal’s office. If he survives, comes back to class. If he is rude again, and remains a sassy ass, gets sent home.
HOWEVER if the first time he’s rude and apologizes, or isn’t rude, and is rude or not apologetic the second time, he’s sent to the principal and not sent home!
Does that make sense?
(pic of E.I.N.S.tein)
The spring and summer has been punctuated by odd little freelance jobs like the above. I can’t go into details, but I’ve been given the A-Ok to show the pic!
(pic of saints board)
I did this spring. The final product is about 3 by 5 feet +/-, and is shown twice on the walls at Midway Field, where the St. Paul Saints minor league baseball plays. The blank spots were later filled with QR scans.
(pic of PITS character)
This week I’m going to Gen Con . The pic above is one of 36 of characters designed for a LARP I’m helping run. It takes place in the Falkenstein world, which is Steampunkish, but more fantasy-based. The steam tech is downplayed by the presence of the Faerie, draconian and dwarvish races, as well as magic, etc.
(pic of PITS Character)
It should be quite a fun evening, and I’ll be sure to post pictures from the convention.
(pic of office area) Moved again. That was stressful, but great for my wallet in the end- I can actually walk to work, even if it was snowy!
I’ve set up a nice office area. There’s plenty of space, and I’ve been enjoying making things here.
(Pic of Wet Paint)
I’m coming up to two years at Wet Paint, but I’ve been counting Christmases there, which means I’m almost up to my third Christmas. It’s early to think about this, but I’ve been plotting what to do for my yearly Christmas card. We got some neat printing inks from Akua and Daniel Smith.
(pic of Akua and Daniel Smith inks)
The Akua won’t dry unless it’s on fibre, and the Daniel Smith includes the incredible range of colour that makes them famous. No lapis, but hey! Gotta start somewhere, I guess!
(pic of Michael Harding paint and/or actual Michael Harding)
We had the maker of this oil paint here earlier this Summer, and it’s gotten me interested in oil painting again.
(pic of my painting)
The blue paint is pretty incredible: ACTUAL lapis lazuli from Afgahnistan. The deep rich red in the lower right is a genuine vermillion and made from mercury! The color’s soooo rich and deliciously smooth…
(pic of demo piece)
In the field of Acrylics, I was charged to do some demo pieces for work that focus of the area of acrylic mediums.
(pic of demo piece)
It was a fun experience. I was able to get my hands on some great samples, and made
