Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Missed it again!!!



Well, another sketchcrawl has come and gone and yet again, I missed it. I have a good reason though this time, I went on a mini weekend vacation to Monterey!





The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an amazing place. The otters are probably the top attraction, and can you blame them? They're not just cute little faces, they have a lot of personality as well. Some great ham actors even. This was a good trip for me since this is the first sea otters I have seen up close and in living, breathing colour. Very helpful when the movie you're working on is about otters!



The various Jellyfish tanks are full of gorgeous yet deadly glowing jellyfish. Okay, they aren't all deadly, but they're in the very least painful. The way they light the interiors of the tanks makes these creatures glow. It's pretty mesmerizing to just watch them float within the blue infinity.



Some good people watching at the aquarium as well.



Eventually we had to leave the aquarium and explore the gorgeous coast line.

Gave me a chance to try some different things. Not everything was successful, but it never is.





11 comments:

Emma said...

I like the seagull on the rocks, and the bench and waves painting.

It's fun to work on toned paper, because you can pop elements out with both white AND black...

KP said...

Hey John....Great Blog! I really dig the Airport sketches. Hope life is treating you well up in Northern Cali.
Cheers,
K Pearn.

monkeyfeather said...

Pearn!!! You're on the www! Sweet. Thanks for stopping by man.

Thanks Emma. Yeah, the tonal paper in my sketchbook is a fun way to switch things up.

craig said...

JO! Those pics are otterly great. Sorry...couldn't resist. Sweet pics

Gerald de Dios said...

Digg'in the Montery series...I have to agree with you on the Sea Otters. Even when I was a member at the Seattle Aquarium, the one place I spent the most time was with the otters. Even if they were lying on thier backs (like your 1st otter page) they seem to look like they're humming a tune.

The Montery Coast is beautiful. I wish I had a easle and a slew of paint so I could paint Pebble Beach. Maybe, one day...

The seagull sketches were great, especially the way you threw some gouche for the waves. Awesome!

Unknown said...

Love your travelling sketches!! The bottom ocean drawings are AWESOME!

Martin Wittig said...

John, you've definitely been busy. These sketches are really nice!

Anonymous said...

Nice stuff!

monkeyfeather said...

Thanks Ber, Gerald, Alina, Thorsten and Martin.

Amelia Lorenz said...

Hey! I just went there for the first time two days ago. I saw all that great stuff too!
Wonderful drawings.

a

erica said...

I just found your blog and I must say, your work is very inspiring! I love visiting Monterey and the aquarium; if it weren't so far from LA, I would go more often. Your otter sketches have a lot of life in them! Great stuff.