Sunday, January 29, 2006

Today's strip: Suprise!

Sunday Bonus!!!


You asked for it, so here it is. From now on, there will be a larger format sunday strip. Thanks for all of the kind words and continued support.
All I ask in return is if you like something, tell me, and if you hate something, let me know.
Thanks!!!
-John

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Today's strip :Stalked

Loopus Variations


Everytime I draw Loopus, he looks different. This is one of many pages form my sketch book where I attempted to nail down his design. I'm still trying.

Today's strip: Prologue


I usually try to let the strips stand by themselves with no explanation or commentary, but this time, I feel the need to explain a few things to the 200 or so people who read this every day.
I tend to wear my influences on my sleeve. Walt Kelly, George Herriman, Bill Watterson, Wallace Tripp, Steve Purcell's Sam and Max and Howard Stern seem to be my biggest influences when I sit down to do this strip. However, one of my all time favorites hasn't been represented at all, and that is Popeye. The Popeye strip as drawn by it's creator Elzie Chrysler Segar was probably the single greatest comic strip ever drawn. It had strong characters, a unique voice, and was beautifully drawn. The great thing about Popeye was that it was not only a funny strip, but it was a very compelling adventure strip as well. Popeye and the gang would have adventures that would sometimes fill a whole year's worth of strips. And that brings me to my strip. I want to try to take Chippy and Loopus on an extended adventure. I saw an opportunity early on and today, I'm grabbing it. Hopefully, you all will like it as much as the stuff I've been doing. And don't worry, they'll still swear, and I'll do my best to keep it funny.
Enough of my fuhfumfering.
Thanks for reading.
-John

Friday, January 27, 2006

Revised Logo: Almost there...


Here it is. Rough drawings, rougher type. In addition to this, my wife had the brilliant idea of taking certain panels, blowing them up and putting THOSE on shirts. For example, taking the panel I use for my avatar, putting that on the front at about 3" by 4" or whatever, and then putting the logo on the back.
Whatdya think? Comments please!

Today's strip: The Last Word


I'd like to thank all the people who gave notes on the t-shirt design. I'll post a new one soon. New story arc starting Saturday. This will be a long one. A VERY long one. Stay tuned!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Rough Logo



There were 2 reasons I did this. One, I wanted to learn how to warp text in Photoshop, and 2, I'm trying to design a t-shirt for my brother (Hey JIm!) and a few friends. The first thing I realized is that I have no idea how to draw these characters "for real". When you draw them on a little 2'X8" strip of paper, a lot can be forgiven, but when you want to do a nice drawing that represents them and their personalities, well thaht is a different story. Here is my first attempt. Please, tell me what you think!

Today's strip: Confirmation

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Today's strip: Illumiation


I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate all my brothers and sisters at Disney on their liberation from tyranny. I worked there for 11 years, and you all have no idea how difficult it was to try to make quality cartoons for people who hated cartoons.
Here's to the future!!!

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Today's strip: Childrens's classics


The song is sung to the tune of "Row, row, row your boat". If you sing this at work, you will most likely be fired. This warning hereby absolves me of any responsibility.

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Today's strip: No, YOU shut-up!

Hey! Check out the LINKS!!

Look over to the right hand side of this here Blog and check out the Link section! That is right! I figured out how to add LINKS!! Cool huh?
These are some super talented people who deserve mega-props. I have already mentioned Skribbl and ROBOTOPIA and his role in the creation of Chippy and Loopus, but I haven't mentioned these other guys!
James Robertson of The IRON SCYTHE is an incredible draftsman. I check his blog often for inspiration and the like.

Aurelei Blard Quintard is a remarkably gifted young animation student studying in Bristol. She is making what has to be the most charming stop-motion film ever! Go! NOW! to Aurelie's Wooonderful World!

And Then there is RICKART!! This guy has jumped into the 2"x8" comic strip game with both feet! Go check him out!

And of course StoryBoredom, the former home of Chippy and Loopus is ALWAYS full of great art by some of the most talented story artists working in animation today!!

Add these guys to your bookmark list, and you will not be disapointed!

LATER!!!
-John

Friday, January 20, 2006

Today's strip: Making amends..



I think that's enough boba/monkey jizz for a while. Tomorrow begins a brand new story arc. Stay Tuned!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Today's strip: Donor?

Robotopia!!!!!

If you haven't checked it out already, go immediately to Robotopia, a blog run by my good buddy skribbl. He is the originator of this whole 2x8 improv strip experiment. His strip has a completely different energy and sensibility than mine and is totally awesome!
go check it out!

http://thraxisjr.blogspot.com/

And while you are at it, check out the blog I share with a bunch of other talented story artists!

http://storyboredom.blogspot.com/

See ya!!!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Today's strip: More Boba..

Cintiq Sketches


Here are some sketches I did a coupl of weeks ago when I first got my Cintiq. Note the proto-Chippy and Loopus up in the corner.
I love my Cintiq!

Today's strip: Again, Boba?!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006




This thing will only let me post 5 strips at a time, so here are the next 3.
I welcome your comments!





A New Home for Chippy and Loopus!!!
This is a strip I started doing on Story Boredom. I am moving it over here because it was kind of taking over and pushing evryone else's cool stuff off of the blog. So, Here they are on a blog all to themselves.
To catch everyone up, I currently do these strips on little 2"x8" strips of paper. I write them and draw them as fast as possible.
I was inspired to do these by a little exercise that my bog buddy and good friend skribbl did. He just drew a bunch of squares on a 2"x8" strip of paper and then filled them in with images, stream of conciousness style. What he produced was a wondeerful, quirky little cartoon. Well, I just had to get in on that , so I drew my own using the same method and Chippy and Loopus were born.
So, here they are, the first 5 strips, with a new episode appearing everyday.
I welcome your comments!
Thanks!!