Enikki: An Art and Illustration Blog by Donn Pattenden

Happy East Asian New Year! #yearofthedragon #illustration

2012-01-26T18:40:00.000-08:00

A rough concept drawing for my take on the Year of the Dragon. The Japanese hiragana script at top right reads "ei", which in this context means "eternity".

Life Drawing at #FONAS: Rodney ( #LifeDrawing #Art #Drawing #モデルのデッサン #アート #デッサン )

2011-09-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings, I can often be found at FONAS life drawing. Here are two 20 minute drawings of Rodney. Rodney is a very good model. Sometimes he wears a hat. Sometimes he just holds a hat. Either way, Rodney is a very good model.

Pencil on paper; Photoshop

Character Development: Sailor ( #Illustration #Animation #CharacterDesign )

2011-09-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Á propos of dodos, this is one of the dodo's main nemeses, the Sailor.

Illustrators Australia's Annual 9x5 Exhibition: Concept ( #Illustration #cats #kitten #猫＃かわいい )

2011-09-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Every year around this time, members of Illustrators Australia receive an innocuous bit of timber in the mail in preparation for the Annual 9x5 Exhibition. This year's theme is "Rapture" which - in the absence of the definite article - means, "ecstatic joy or delight; joyful ecstasy". (dictionary.com)

For me, the word conjured up the image of cat or kitten rolling on its back in the sun. Now that the sketch is done, it's time to decide how to get the image on to the timber. As my painting medium of choice is watercolour, this poses as a challenge. Last year I tried watercolour on gesso, but this year it might be more of a decoupage job, with cutout watercolour paper glued to the timber.

Same cat, different angle. (Pencil on paper; Photoshop)

Dodo Character Development (#Illustration #Animation #CharacterDesign)

2011-08-29T19:28:00.000-07:00

A few of my favourite dodos...

#Illustrators Australia for #Japan #Auction starts today!

2011-03-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

100% of proceeds for this online auction will be donated to Red Cross Australia's Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011.

I've donated a signed, numbered print of my award-winning illustration Sushi-zume (Packed in Like Sushi)!

#Illustrators Australia Awards: Sushi-zume a winner!

2011-02-28T04:27:00.000-08:00

My illustration Sushi-zume (Packed in Like Sushi) is a winner in the Illustrators Australia Awards, held in conjunction with Australian Creative Magazine.

#Character Development: Barcode-head

2011-02-25T03:51:00.000-08:00

The venerable combover is known in Japan as "Barcode". This character, sporting such a hair-style, is based on the Japanese "salaryman". He works for a mega-corporation. To gain access to the building, Barcode-head has to bow every morning, allowing his head to be scanned. But what might happen if some of his carefully-placed numbers were to fall off?

Year of the #Rabbit (Rough Pencil #Illustration)

2011-01-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

Readers of Japanese will be able to recognise the Hiragana characters 「うさぎ」(usagi) vertically from top to bottom. Usagi means rabbit, and 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit. An earlier design had only one rabbit, but it seemed right that there should be a whole bunch of 'em!

Linden Life Drawings

2010-10-22T03:13:00.000-07:00

Linden Centre For Contemporary Arts is where I can usually be found on Thursday evenings. Here are some recent life drawings.

Usagi and Inoshishi

2010-10-03T02:44:00.000-07:00

Following my Tanuki and Ojizosan designs, here are rough sketches of two more figures prominent in Japanese mythology: Usagi (the rabbit) and Inoshishi (the wild boar).

I have vivid memories of my first inoshishi sighting in Japan. I was living in Kitano-cho, a famous suburb at the base of the mountains in Kobe. As my partner and I were walking down Tor Road to the city centre one night, the silhouette of a large, stocky-looking dog trotted towards us. Startled by a passing car, it turned abruptly, revealing its distinctive, not-dog profile.

Usagi
Pencil on paper

Inoshishi with hiragana

Inoshishi
Pencil on paper

Tanuki

2010-09-27T07:04:00.000-07:00

Here's the vectorised version of the Tanuki I posted earlier. In this iteration I've included the all-important crown jewels, but they will probably get the chop for the t-shirt. (For imaginative - and hilarious - uses of the Tanuki's testicles, see Studio Ghibli's Heisei Tanuki Gassen Ponpoko).

Tanuki

Adobe Illustrator

Benten-chari

2010-09-26T05:02:00.000-07:00

This is the third in my Japan Series, which began with Sushi-zume and Bonsai-cut. Benzaiten, or “Benten” as she is also known, is one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods. Originally from India, she is a goddess of rivers, music and everything that flows. Indian sculptures show her with eight arms, while Japanese versions often include the biwa, a stringed folk instrument. My interpretation of Benten depicts her as a young cyclist in Osaka.

In this vibrant city, bicycles criss-cross the walkways with alarming speed. Pedestrians new to Osaka are sure that a collision will occur, but they soon learn that the cyclists are expert at averting such disasters. They are also wonderful multi-taskers.

Benten-chari,
Ink on paper / Photoshop

Tanuki and Ojizosan: Character Development

2010-09-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

Both the tanuki and Ojizosan are prominent figures in Japanese folklore. The tanuki - a native animal which is a part of the dog family - represents the "trickster" archetype in Shinto mythology. Statues of the tanuki are common outside restaurants and bars. Ojizosan, on the other hand comes from Buddhist mythology. The guardian of travellers and unborn children, Ojizsan is often represented as a childlike figure in statue form. Given their intriguing contrasts and similarities, I thought it might be fun to put these two characters together.

Tanuki and Ojizosan colour sketches
Pencil on paper / Photoshop

Tanuki and Ojizosan roughs
Pencil on paper

Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition: Untold Stories

2010-09-10T03:13:00.000-07:00

Last year, my illustration 20 Layers (EggVend), won the People's Choice Award at Illustrators Australia's Annual 9x5 Exhibition. Having covered the issue of battery hens, my response to this year's theme tackles the plight of pigs in factory farms. I've responded to the theme - Untold Stories - with an insight into the mind of an escapee from such a farm.

This and all the other entries can be viewed, commented on and bid on here.

I will donate 20% of the sale price to Animals Australia.

Escapee

Watercolour and ink on gesso on wood

Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition
Where: Space 39, Lvl 2, 39 Little Collins St, Melbourne
Opening night: Friday 17th Sep 6pm, Silent Auction, drinks nibbles and a chance to purchase original illustration on 9x5 wood, prize giveaways for People's Choice Awards. Gallery open for one day only; Saturday 18th Sept 10am-4pm.

Bonsai-cut

2010-09-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

This is the second in my pop-surrealistic Japan Series, which began with the popular Sushi-zume (Packed in Like Sushi). Like that earlier work, Bonsai-cut explores themes of conformity and individuality in whimsical, satirical manner. The original ink drawing was a finalist at Brunswick Street Gallery's Works on Paper earlier this year. This colour version exhibited at the Digital Dreams show, also at BSG.

Bonsai-cut

Ink on paper/Photoshop

Digital Dreams Exhibition @ BSG

2010-08-08T18:26:00.000-07:00

Onaji (The Same)

2010-07-07T03:22:00.000-07:00

Two images from a cross-cultural story.

Traditional watercolours / Photoshop

Mammoth

2010-06-20T23:30:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Ronald Wright's book A Short History of Progress
Adobe Illustrator

Buck Wild

2010-06-11T04:08:00.000-07:00

Character design for Buck Wild Media. Adobe Illustrator

The IA A3 Show - Melbourne

2010-06-09T04:17:00.000-07:00

Featuring open edition prints of Sushi-zume and EggVend.

BLACK+WHITE (shades of grey) Exhibition 2010

2010-06-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

My original drawing Bonsai-cut will be featured in Pigment Gallery's 3rd Annual BLACK+WHITE (shades of grey) Exhibition, June 7 to June 20.

BSG Works on Paper 2010

2010-05-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

My original drawing Bonsai-cut is a finalist in Brunswick Street Gallery's Works on Paper exhibition. May 7 to May 20.

Ink on paper; 77cm x 57cm

The IA A3 Show

2010-03-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

Featuring open edition prints of EggVend and Sushi-zume.

The Looking Glass Exhibition

2010-03-16T19:13:00.001-07:00

Featuring a framed, limited edition print of my illustration Sushi-zume.

EggVend

2010-02-23T21:51:00.000-08:00

This illustration, based on 20 Layers, will be exhibited at The IA A3 Show.

Adobe Illustrator.

EggVend and Chook Squared

2010-01-31T21:08:00.000-08:00

A digital image based on "20 Layers"

Adobe Illustrator

iPod touch painting: Bluedog, Bulldog

2010-01-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

Painted on my iPod touch using KiwiPixel's Inspire app.

Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition

2009-10-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

"20 Layers"

This version: Adobe Illustrator

(Original version: Acrylic on timber; 9" x 5"

Sold this weekend at the Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition

WINNER of the People's Choice Award)

Seated male

2009-09-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

20 minutes, pencil on paper

Reclining female

2009-08-21T05:03:00.000-07:00

20 minutes, pencil on paper

Seated female

2009-08-20T06:23:00.000-07:00

20 minutes, pencil on paper

Seated male with pole

2009-08-13T00:36:00.000-07:00

20 minutes, pencil on paper

Reclining female

2009-08-10T02:37:00.000-07:00

Longer pose, pencil on paper

BLACK+WHITE (shades of grey) Exhibition

2009-06-26T02:55:00.001-07:00

Three of my works will be featured in Pigment Gallery's annual BLACK+WHITE (shades of grey) exhibition.

Torou (Buddhist Lantern)
Charcoal and pastel on paper

Sushi-Zume (Packed in Like Sushi)

2009-06-09T05:23:00.000-07:00

A colour version of the hand-drawn black-and white-version I posted earlier. Ink/Photoshop.

Group gesture drawing

2009-05-25T04:11:00.000-07:00

Melbourne's Life Models Society does group modelling once or twice a year. The artist is hypnotised as the models come and go. These models appeared in this arrangement at some stage, but perhaps not for more than a couple of minutes.

Tokyo Subway

2009-05-02T02:09:00.000-07:00

Ink on paper. The original was sold at Linden Gallery earlier this year. I'm now working on a digital colour version.

Disney Animals

2009-04-30T04:21:00.000-07:00

Some key animation drawings. Clockwise from top right: an incidental pig from Lady and the Tramp 2; Shere Khan and Kaa from Jungle Book 2. Pencil on paper.

Shere Khan and Kaa: the rough animation can be seen in my showreel.

2009-04-29T06:10:00.001-07:00

DisneyToon Rough Animation

2009-04-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

Disney Girls

2009-04-29T03:00:00.000-07:00

The female leads I worked on.
Left to right: Minnie in The Three Musketeers; Shanti in Jungle Book 2; Jane in Return to Neverland.

Potatoes & Onions

2009-04-28T04:13:00.000-07:00

Traditional watercolours.

Gesture drawing composite

2009-04-24T05:21:00.001-07:00

This is a composite of one and two minute gesture drawings I've done over the past few years.

Akashi Kouen, Japan

2009-04-24T04:43:00.000-07:00

I originally sketched the scene in Akashi, then did this ink version back in Melbourne. The wash was added in Photoshop.

Who drained the Murray-Darling Basin?

2009-04-18T18:22:00.001-07:00

With colour outlines and textures.

With colour, tones and shadows. Photoshop.

Line drawing. Pencil on paper.

The rice industry cops a lot of flack in Australia for its water usage. But rice is a crop that you can turn on and off. The same cannot be said for cattle. Here's to the Murray-Darling's biggest water consumer.

Landscape Sketches, Japan

2009-03-01T03:39:00.000-08:00

Sanzenin Temple, Ohara, Kyoto

The Sapporo coast, Hokkaido

Panda

2009-02-20T04:10:00.000-08:00

A panda I drew at the zoo in Kobe.

Elephants

2009-01-09T03:31:00.000-08:00

Some elephants I drew at the zoo in Kobe.

Enikki: An Art and Illustration Blog by Donn Pattenden

Happy East Asian New Year! #yearofthedragon #illustration

Life Drawing at #FONAS: Rodney ( #LifeDrawing #Art #Drawing #モデルのデッサン #アート #デッサン )

Character Development: Sailor ( #Illustration #Animation #CharacterDesign )

Illustrators Australia's Annual 9x5 Exhibition: Concept ( #Illustration #cats #kitten #猫 ＃かわいい )

Dodo Character Development (#Illustration #Animation #CharacterDesign)

#Illustrators Australia for #Japan #Auction starts today!

#Illustrators Australia Awards: Sushi-zume a winner!

#Character Development: Barcode-head

Year of the #Rabbit (Rough Pencil #Illustration)

Linden Life Drawings

Usagi and Inoshishi

Tanuki

Benten-chari

Tanuki and Ojizosan: Character Development

Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition: Untold Stories

Bonsai-cut

Digital Dreams Exhibition @ BSG

Onaji (The Same)

Mammoth

Buck Wild

The IA A3 Show - Melbourne

BLACK+WHITE (shades of grey) Exhibition 2010

BSG Works on Paper 2010

The IA A3 Show

The Looking Glass Exhibition

EggVend

EggVend and Chook Squared

iPod touch painting: Bluedog, Bulldog

Illustrators Australia Annual 9x5 Exhibition

Seated male

Reclining female

Seated female

Seated male with pole

Reclining female

BLACK+WHITE (shades of grey) Exhibition

Sushi-Zume (Packed in Like Sushi)

Group gesture drawing

Tokyo Subway

Disney Animals

DisneyToon Rough Animation

Disney Girls

Potatoes & Onions

Gesture drawing composite

Akashi Kouen, Japan

Who drained the Murray-Darling Basin?

Landscape Sketches, Japan

Panda

Elephants

Illustrators Australia's Annual 9x5 Exhibition: Concept ( #Illustration #cats #kitten #猫＃かわいい )