Lorraine Swanson, MAD TV

This is my first daily sketch posting for the lovely new year of 2013. That's just totally bogus for me. Work has been busy, but I have to try harder at getting these sketches posted. Bear with me.

I started off the new year by watching old episodes of MAD TV. Watching the character development has really inspired me to sketch some of my favourite characters on the show.  Lorraine is the first of series I plan on sketching in the upcoming posts. These sketches are a tribute to a great comedy show and to great character development by the creative minds behind MAD TV.


Ink and Pencil
11 by 14 

Daily Sketch: Medusa

Here is my version of Medusa. No snakes. No shield. No bow and arrows. Although her hair does have a mind of its own.

                  Size measures 10 by 12
                  Pen and colour pencil on bond paper

Sketch OH the Day: Charmed

Daily sketch ideas, most days, happen by chance during coffee and a scone. It usually begins after the kids are dropped off at school and before I go to work. There is that moment-maybe at best an hour-during my morning coffee where I can sit and commit to a sketch. Whatever it may be-who knows.

Today this girl popped into my head. I liked the expression and the flow of the pose. I began fleshing her out with blue pencil for the structural gesture and than went right into ink, using a pilot pen. The drawing itself took about 30 minutes. Its a sketchbook drawing unlike some other daily sketches drawn on loose paper. The drawing turned out quite well with the exception of a few flaws. But I'm not going to tell you what they are.

                               Size: 7 by 9

                               Colour pencil and ink on sketchbook

Sketch OH the Day: ROBO

                           Size: 7 by 10

                                    Ink and Digital

                                 Size: 7 by 10

                                 Ink on Bond paper

Sketch OH The Day: My Grey Lady

My Grey Lady DAILY SKETCH turned out surprisingly pleasing since I had no contextual framework to work from. Working directly from a drawing tablet is quite a different experience for me as I do prefer paper. However I was very pleased with the result. She started out from a few wiry lines and little-by-little her form began to take shape. The low opacity setting I was working from allowed me to build up on the line from light to dark creating some interesting blending. I'm eager to attempt more daily sketches using a tablet.

Sketch Oh the Day: Rat Eye

The DAILY SKETCH today is about a rat and an eye. A little creepy and morbid. Maybe my influence is based on the Walking Dead series. The opening scene of an episode can show a rat holding an eyeball on the side of the road. Could happen...

Size: 8 by 10

Ink on Bristol

Sketch Oh the Day: Those Construction Workers

The sketch oh the day is part of my DAILY SKETCH series I commit to as often as I can. I had a lot of fun working on this and it presented me with some challenges. Construction is ongoing in the bustling city of Toronto and although it is annoying, frustrating, and an inconvenience, this daily sketch is a tribute to the people who help keep the city operational. My guys and girl are a tough crew. They can handle any job. They work through adverse weather conditions and are capable of a laugh at times. To hire my crew out, there is a long waiting list, but give Tony a call on his cell. See what he can do for ya...

Size: 5.5 by 16
Coloured Pencil and Ink on Bristol

Millenium Falcon, LEGO

Very excited to get the Falcon LEGO set. Have been looking forward to it for some time. I brought my kids with me for the ceremonial purchase. Once we brought it home, we got busy building it. Now that its built, it sits on a stand in my studio. It's one of the few LEGO sets I have where the kids can only play with it for a limited time only. I took pictures of the progression. Thanks to my kids for helping me build it. THEY'RE AWESOME.