Happy New Year 2007 !!!!

The international Sketchtravel team wishes you the best for 2007 ! The Sketchbook is currently in Japan with Daisuke Tsutsumi and will be back soon in New-York. The story continues and be sure that many surprises are coming. The end of 2006 was just the beginning of this fabulous journey over the world under the pencil and pens of the most talented people ever. Keep in touch with this blog and the official site, keep following this lucky book and prepare yourself for great emotions ! We deeply thank all artists who already did their part in the sketchbook : Rebecca Dautremer, François Roca, Claude William Trebutien, Alexandra Boiger, Andrea Blasich, Benoit Lepennec and Robert Mackenzie ! Congrats !
Take care ! See you soon.
L'équipe de Sketchtravel vous souhaite une merveille année 2007 ! le carnet est actuellement au Japon avec DAisuke Tsutsumi et sera bientôt de retour à New-York. L'histoire continue et soyez assurés que de nombreuses surprises sont à prévoir. La fin de l'année 2006 n'était que le commencement de ce voyage à travers le globe sous les pinceaux des gens les plus talentueux. Gardez un oeil sur le blog et le site officiel et préparez vous à de grandes émotions. Nous remercions très cordialement tous les artistes qui ont déjà contribué au carnet Rebecca Dautremer, François Roca, Claude William Trebutien, Alexandra Boiger, Andrea Blasich, Benoit Lepennec and Robert Mackenzie , encore bravo !
Prenez soin de vous et à bientôt !

More "Knapp" for Christmas !

I few weeks ago I posted one magical illustration made by Mike Knapp to illustrate his future contribution to the sketchtravel project.I made a difficult choice between four pictures he nicely sent me and you can't see in his own website yet (fans from planet earth, keep quiet, he's working secretly on a brand new version for 2007, but don't tell to anyone...).Afterall, what about posting all of them ? why just one ? let's travel once again in his world ! I love the shape of the boat above, don't you ? May be the sketchbook will travel inside. See the "Robots city".It's simply amazing.

Fight club : Nash Versus Bob.

A few days ago, the Sculptor Andrea Blasich met his muse : the womanizer Nash Dunnigan.
But Nash had not enough time for drawing in the sketchbook (He will do it in the beginning of january) so he gave it to his colleague and friend Robert Mackenzie (Sometimes I feel like being a story-teller for a soap opera...) Robert did his fabulous part you can watch in the "see the sketches" section.
And so where is the sketchbook now ? Daisuke Tsutsumi got it and will bring it to Japan at the end of the week !
I will receive the Andrea scanned contribution for the sketchbook soon !
As you can see in the picture above, they have fun at Bluesky Studios. enjoy the "story within the story " effect with the ice Age 2 poster behind the fight choregraphy. I bet on the giant !

Arludik website redesigned and updated

Our partner : the Arludik gallery has just launched a brand new version of her website.The content is more appealing and generous. Many podcasts feed our curiosity and you can buy artworks and original paintings online.A good idea if you didn't buy any presents for Christmas ;-)

Podcasts ! Vincent, Mike and Bob for real !

Want to know more about Mike Knapp, Robert Mackenzie and Vincent NGuyen ? Arludik posted some podcasts realised during the Out of picture exhibition in Paris last september. For the moment, you can watch : Mike,Robert, and Vincent. Enjoy the show !

Andrea Blasich met Nash Dunnigan

I know what you are going to say...what's happening with the sketchbook ? It arrived in New-York a few days ago with Andrea Blasich and Robert Mackenzie has already painted in it but we did'nt see any pictures of the exchange. And today I post some pictures about Andrea giving the sketchbook not to...Robert but to...Nash Dunnigan...Well, the thing is Andrea Blasich who is a member of the Out of picture collective has met Nash first at the Society of Illustrators where one of his masterpiece was exhibited. But because of a crazy schedule Nash quickly gave the sketchbook to Robert and I don't have the pictures yet :-)Anyway, whatever the order, be sure amazing artists are currently express their art. This lucky sketchbook is jumping from a genius to another between bluesky studios buddies.

The Sketchbook is in New-York ! !

The sketchbook arrived last week in New-York, brought by Andrea Blasich and Alexandra Boigerto the Out of Picture crew at Bluesky Studios.
I haven't received Andrea's scanned illustration yet but Bob Mackenziehas just sent me his contribution. He also post a special article about it on his own blog.As usual, Bob painted a beautiful gouache full of poetry. Congrats Bob ! Next online is...His Majesty Peter de Sève !!!

Michael Knapp Knocks !

Michael Knapp is one of the most phlegmatic illustrator I have ever met. Always cool whatever the circumstances, he keeps the control. But I am pretty sure there is an abide creative magma under his pepper-and-salt head of hair, catching all points. As usual with very talented artists he just can't get enough with being a great illustrator and finds time enough in hiscrazy schedule to be a very good webdesigner (www.outofpicture.com) and a musician (voicel and guitar) with his own band and an Apple addicted and specialist, disciple of Steve Jobs . His style is very recognizable : with legible forms, strong and elegant strokes and shapes, very good sense of design , warm color palette and a unique way to draw noses and eyes. His own website hasn't been updated for a while but is still full of treasures and you can be sure we'll keep you inform as soon as he updates it. Till then, enjoy his rare illustration below (from "Robots") You can find his work in" the Art of Robots" book and the comic book "Out of Picture". Mike is the artistic director of "No times for nuts "available on the Ice Age 2 dvd. He will draw soon in the sketchbook and if you think he's only a "digital" artist, believe me, I saw his personal sketchbook, you're wrong !

Robert Mackenzie has his own blog !

Robert Mackenzie is not only giant by nature but because of his incredible sensitivity and his huge talent. I already told you a few weeks ago he will draw soon in the sketchbook but he deserves, like many artists from the Out Of Picture collective a special article in this blog. He just launched a few days ago his own blog where he gives us his artistic secrets,generously shows his paintings and shares his process. I had recenly the privilege to see him drawing and painting in the streets of Paris and I was very impressed by his ability to express his art so easily, quietly. Like his good friend Dice Tsutsumi, he is a sketchbook addicted. I just add this sketch from his first comic you can read in the Out of Picture bookto my comment but you will find many more treasures on his blog
Because he just can get enough, he is a swimming champion.
He currently lives in New-York and works at Bluesky Studios

Eric Tiemens will draw in the sketchbook !

Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to introduce you to the great artist Eric Tiemens !
In 1987 He started studies at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, Ca. awarded full scholarship. Studied with Richard Bunkel, Vernon Wilson and Burne Hogarth. Selected in a nationwide search by Disney to intern in the new MGM animation studios, Florida. Studied layout design and background painting. In 1990, graduated with Distinction from ACCD in Illustration. In the same year won first prize, to paint the official portrait of Mary Pickford for the Autry Western Heritage Museum, Los Angeles, CA. Now in the permanent collection.

Also started in the movie industry as a concept artist, working with director Renny Harlin 'Cliffhanger' that year. From that path went on to work on many films, themepark designs, television shows while painting traditional landscapes and figurative works. Studied art in Europe in 1997, sketching and painting in Belgium, Netherlands, France, and Italy. Worked as a Senior Art Director at Industrial Light and Magic and as a Concept Design Supervisor on Star Wars Episode Two & Three. Extensive shot design and color/lighting direction would best describe my focus. He is now working at Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. in the new features division.

Awards include Honorary Emmy for matte painting on 'Young Indiana Jones' series, Emmy nomination for designing the opening of Star Trek's 'Voyager' TV series, and part of the Oscar winning effects team on both 'Jurassic Park', and 'Forest Gump', working as a concept artist. Also featured in the 'Art of Star Wars' special edition book, the Art of 'Star Trek' book, and most recently ' Art of Star Wars - Attack of the Clones' & ROTS books.

Lecture series given at 'ILM', Early photography & 19th Century painting and its potential influence on computer imagery

Major painting heroes are Sargent, Zorn, Degas, Bonnington, Fortuny, and Brangwyn, Hodler, Bocklin, Homer, and Boldini. For photography, Frank Eugene, Alvin Langdon Coburn, early Steichen, and Alfred Stieglitz among others.
You also can visit his marvellous blog.
Thank you so much to be part of this challenge Mr Tiemens !

Enrico Casarosa !

Enrico Casarosa just confirmed me a few minutes ago he will be part of the sketchbook soon ! Enrico Casarosa is a storyboard artist living in San Francisco (that means the sketchbook will go back to SF) :-), working in Animation by day, publishing artbooks and comics by night. Forever stuck between the gravitational pulls of Italy (his home country) and Japan (a cultural passion). He has been in the animation industry for nine years drawing storyboards that fit into large animated feature films. Currently a story artist at Pixar Animation Studios he continues his quest to create more hours in the day by drawing alternate realities. Sooner or later his experiments will break through and we’ll all have to buy new watches. Meantime he is putting together his next art show “3 trees make a forest” with partners in crime Ronnie del Carmen and Tadahiro Uesugi. Other times he pursues his muse by traveling with his watercolors and sketchbooks. Enrico is also the founder of “SketchCrawl”, a world wide sketching marathon event.
Visit his labyrinthine and immeasurable website he also sent me this funny picture of him !

Vincent Nguyen !

A few weeks ago, I told you Vincent NGuyen who currently works at Bluesky studios will draw in the sketchbook but I didn't post any pictures. Vincent is also a prolific children books illustrator and a comic book autor since Out of Picture. He sent me this beautiful illustration I'm happy sharing with you.
Visit his website : www.vincentdi.com

James Jean

Ladies and gentlemen, I am glad to introduce you to the famous James Jean. His client include the New-York Times, Playboy, etc. He will draw in the sketchbook soon. Till then, visit his website : (http://www.jamesjean.com/)

Yoko Tanji from Japan !

Looking for harmonious and fine illustrations ? Visit :
(http://www.tanji.jp/)
Yoko Tanji invit us in her beautiful and strange universe.
She will step in the sketchbook soon !

"Trust the doodle" with Peter de Sève !

Need to know more about Peter de Sève, waiting for his part in the sketchbook ? Well, just visit thoses websites :
peter de seve or Videos if you want to watch him.
Besoin d'en savoir davantage sur Peter de Sève en attendant sa contribution au carnet ? Très bien, alors visitez ces sites :
www.peterdeseve.com ou cette vidéo

Dice Tsutsumi ! Simplestroke strikes back !

I have ever mentioned a few days ago that Dice Tsutsumi, who is my partner in crime on Sketchtravel project will be, of course, part of the sketchbook. Till then, you have to know Dice, color stylist and visual development artist at Blue Sky, has added a journal which he plans to updated regularly, and has also posted many new beautiful paintings to his site. Check him out at www.simpleStroke.com. He is an incredible sketchbook addicted. I followed him during his trip in Paris and believe me, the way he draws is very impressing and his eyes catch everything. Simplestroke ? simply awesome.