Dice meets Erik TIEMENS (and his cute daughter)

Here is a picture of Erik Tiemens, his very cute daughter (very involved in the project) and Dice Tsutsumi in San Francisco (or should I say Marin to be more precise).

Dominique LOUIS meets Erik TIEMENS

Dominique LOUIS on the left, Erik TIEMENS on the right, a very rare book in the middle. Two masters of light sharing a holy sketchbook under the sun of California. I did not crop the picture so you can enjoy a part of the Dominique's garden and the big lighted sunshade (what a beautiful place for sketching or painting, I wish we could have the same weather all year long in Paris...). I would love to know what they talked about during this meeting. A big thank to Dice for making this amazing meeting possible.

French Interview online by "www.jamais203.net"

Jacinthe Busson, rédactrice sur le fameux site www.jamais203.net nous fait l'honneur d'une sympathique interview disponible depuis ce jour.
If you want like to read "french" in the text, a nice interview by Jacinthe Busson on the famous french site : www.jamais203.net is currently available online.

Erik TIEMENS for Sketchtravel

Dice has just sent me the Erik Tiemens 's painting and contribution to the Sketchtravel Sketchbook and for me it is already a classic. Enjoy the forceful stroke and beautiful atmosphere Erik painted. We can feel the wind and hear the storm.
A feast for eyes. Visit Erik Tiemens website/blog where he reports his process about this amazing gouache. Thank you very much for being part of this adventure Mr TIEMENS. For people who does not know Erik Tiemens yet, I also invit you to
read the following bio (from Starwars.com)

Erik Tiemens came to Episode II after initial production had already wrapped to provide the post-production teams with dramatic environmental illustrations to establish look and mood for such dynamic sequences as the droid factory and the start of the Clone Wars.With his powerful work, Tiemens has continued straight on into Episode III. Together with Ryan Church, Tiemens leads the environmental and industrial design efforts for the film as Concept Design Supervisor. Inspired by Star Wars and classic movies in his youth, Tiemens studied traditional drawing and painting at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, graduating with distinction in 1990.
"I developed a deeper appreciation for the arts there, especially 19th century painting. The learning there has brought references into my film work. In the digital medium where we need to invent new things, like environments, it's always nice to create a link to the visual past. I believe if we're only looking at what's been done in the past few years or so, it gets tiring to the audience. To look back on the layers of history, early photography, sculpture, painting and the arts in general gives us a more rewarding experience." Tiemens started in the movie industry as a concept artist. He has worked on films, theme park designs, and television shows, while continuing to paint traditional landscapes and figurative works. He was later recommended by concept artist Iain McCaig from work the two did on an ILM project. Tiemens' previous experiences included such films as Forrest Gump, Jurassic Park, Contact and Star Wars: Special Edition Honors for Tiemens include an Honorary Emmy for matte painting on The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles television series and an Emmy nomination for designing the opening of Star Trek Voyager series. He was also featured in the books The Art of Star Wars -- Special Edition, The Art of Star Wars: Attack of the Clonesand The Art of Star Trek.
Samples of his traditional painting and digital work can be located online at his Web site watersketch.com.

Waiting for Carlos Nine.

Waiting for his contribution to Sketchtravel, here is the recent poster done by the Great illustrator Carlos Nine. Inimitable style, recognizable touch and such a personality ! I confirm that despite the fact Pumas from Argentina beated French up during the Rugby world cup opening, Carlos is still part of the team ;-) (thanks to Vincent for the news)

Dice meets Dominique Louis

Here is the pic from "THE" meeting between the absolute masters of colors and light, the Elite: Dice Tsutsumi and Dominique Louis, in front of Dominique's pastel from Ratatouille at Pixar (where Dice works since last june). Many of us would love to get them as Art teachers in a special Masterclass, don't you ? Both of them are currently working on the most expected upcoming movies. I can't wait Dominique launchs his own website and I daily look at Dice's blog where I feed my greedy brain with his astonishing artistic sensibility.

Dominique LOUIS painting for Sketchtravel

What's up since Robert Valley 's incredible drawing ? Well, the french Artist Dominique Louis has just send me the marvellous pastel he exclusively done in the Sketchtravel's Sketchbook a few weeks ago. Inspired by his trips all over the globe, Dominique offers us his new vision : a mix between El Matador beach at Malibu and Indian atmosphere. He called his painting (in french) : "Inde Oceane". Because Dominique Louis is a rare artist online and in libraries, here is his official bio :
Dominique Louis is a an Art Director and Photographer working for the international movie and Animation industry . He is a very passionate, creative artist and painter who brings his unique dramatic style of lighting and color to the design of feature films such as Disney-Pixar 's "Ratatouille“, "Monsters .Inc" , "Finding Nemo " , "Lifted " and WB 's "The Iron Giant" .

Born and raised in Burgundy, France, he has from an early age, shown a very creative nature. Generally influenced by Disney magical films and Hollywood Classics, Dominique orientated his studies towards Fine Arts and Animation. After graduating from CFT Gobelins as Character Animator, he realized his true passion was actually Movie Sets and Lighting Design .
In 1991, he started his career as an Assistant Art Director in London working for a variety of studios such as Passion Pictures . The following year he returned to Paris. For a period of 3 years he shared his time between the art direction of animated feature films projects and working for Walt Disney as a background artist on "The Goofy Movie ".
In 1995 , he moved to California to join Warner Brothers Feature Animations as a Visual Concept Artist. Dominique was involved in numerous projects such as " The Iron Giant" His vibrant pastel paintings were key elements in the promotion of a number of films including a poster for the magazine "Variety ". In 1997 he left Warner Brothers to become involved in the concept designs for Universal Studios Theme Park projects .

In 1998 , he was thrilled to join Pixar, being offered the opportunity to art direct Pixar’s 3rd Feature film "Monsters Inc" directed by Pete Docter. Through the painting of a much acclaimed collection of pastel paintings,Dominique brought his unique sense of lighting to the film, from the early art concepts to the final lighting designs of the individual sequences and scenes of the film. His work is featured in "the Art of Monsters Inc ", a book published after the film was released, exhibiting the art behind the movie.
Dominique grew up in the tradition of French cuisine, his grandfather being a chef for the Rothschild family. In 2001 he felt very honored to do the art direction of the film "Ratatouille " which takes place in the centre of French gastronomy in his favorite city Paris .
In parallel to his passion as a creative artist and painter Dominique has developed a vivid interest in photography and digital image processing. He decides to use the digital medium for his production paintings to define the more realistic lighting style of "Ratatouille " . His experience at Disney-Pixar also included the design of other films such as "Finding Nemo","Boundin" and "Lifted" as well as some stage design for a " Monsters Inc " ride in Disney World, Florida . He also enjoyed the wonderful experience of performing the voice of " Bomb Voyage " in for the film "The Incredibles " .
In 2006 he left Disney-Pixar to broaden his artistic experience. He was interested to have the opportunity to use his art for some thing completely different when at the beginning of this year Francis Coppola assigned him to undertake the design of 2 original labels for the Rosso & Bianco Wines from his newly acquired "Rosso & Bianco Winery ".
More recently, he has provided his art for 2 new projects in development at Aardman studios ,UK .
Dominique’s paintings have been sold as limited edition prints and at numerous different auctions including Christies, the Red Cross etc. in 2005 his paintings were featured at New York Museum Of Modern Art in the exhibition " Pixar: 20 Years of Animation " .
His art has recently been broadly featured in the book "The Art of Ratatouille ".

SKETCHTRAVEL's birthday !!

Sketchtravel, Already ONE year around the world.

Yes, it's Sketchtravel's birthday today. Did I already tell you how this story started ?If I did, don't read this post :-). It was the first of september 2006. SuperMike Knapp and his wife Ellie (the funniest New-Yorker ever), The most romantic couple of the year : Greg Couch and his Girlfriend, Nash Dunningan and his charms, Giant Bob Mackenzie and his huge talent, Greedy Vincent Di NGuyen and his Beautiful Wife Katherine, and the incontrovertible MasterDice were promoting their first volume of Out Of Picture at Famous Arludik Galery. They spend a week in our old city of light. Dice and I were coming back from a jaunt to some french comic library in the afternoon, in a encumbered bus. I was very impressed by his ability to draw despite the jogs, the sweltering crowd and the jetlag. Surviving to my french-yak Dice took me seriously when I told him it would be great if we shared one sketchbook between artists. And here we are. One year later, Generous and highly motivated huge artists, fabled illustrators, stars and puppet masters convinced by Dice and your servant took up the challenge, day after day. My careful wife brings her webdesign savoir-faire to the www.sketchtravel.com, a thoughtful devoted lawyer keep blanketing us for free, Jean-Jacques and Diane Launier from Arludik Galery support us. Our provider Benjamin Desmet helps us for free. Maud Remy, Redha Zaim, Lionel Payet , Geri Montet, Côme Jalibert, Yannick Jehannet, Marie Zidi and Tom Gres helped me to make a trailer for Sketchtravel promotion for free. David Panzo designed the french press-kit. Elodie Fagan and André Brizard help with english translations.
The Sketchbook bought in Paris has already visited : New-York, Tokyo, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles. I dedicate this post to the great artists who already added their astonishing contribution and to my friend Dice. I have never seen anybody so involved in an artistic project. Dice, your endurance and your pugnacity are incredible. Sketchtravel and I owe you a lot.

Roca's next round.

I had a lunch yesterday with the french illustrator François Roca (who started the Sketchbook challenge last september) and we were talking about his upcoming children books. He nicely showed me his fresh french new book about Dinausors which would be available in a few weeks in french libraries (and amazon) and as you can see above, you already can order his other big upcoming book telling the story of Muhammad Ali (january 2008). I had the privilege to see the original paintings and I can confirm you how beautiful this book is.

Peter de Sève, french meeting 2.

Before he goes back to NY Peter de Sève had a party in the Japanese Ozu restaurant at Trocadero (special wink to you : Daisuke "Dice" Tsutsumi) with another special group of big fans. The incontrovertible Diane and Jean-Jacques from the Arludik Galery were there with some friends. The director Julien Charles joined us once again with his wife : the illustrator Tartoline. Oury Atlan (Co-director of the short Movie "Overtime") told us the huge project he was working on in Hollywood, the mexican comic autor : Tony Sandoval reported how funny was the signature experience at SolliesVille ("Vieille Amérique"/Paquet Edition), the french character designer/illustrator Sylvain Marc showed us his incredible portfolio (alias Basilus or Polyminthe). It was a great pleasure to share such a moment with all those creative talents exchanging ideas and jokes.

Peter de Sève in Paris

Peter de Sève at Beaubourg Museum (only the escalator for the moment).





Peter giving advices to Claude William Trebutien.





Peter, victim of Jetlag (or French wine).



Pierre Alary doesn't only read comics.



Among French Fans

Peter de Sève in Paris part 2

Last thursday Peter de Sève, who will bring soon his contribution to the Sketchbook , has visited us in Paris before going to the Comic festival of SolliesVille (South of France). We tried to welcome him the best we could( french welcoming tradition). After he discovered, at last, the Arludik gallery in the middle of Paris, one year after his colleagues did, we went to a typical french restaurant on the Saint-Louis Island, a few steps from Notre-Dame. Then we went to the Museum of Natural History were the Photographer Stephanie Saucez took marvellous pictures with Peter de Sève you will see in the future in a special rare book and press.
After a special Paris tour in a crazy car under the rain, we finally ended on the roof of the Museum of Modern Art : Beaubourg, at the famous Georges's restaurant with one of the most beautiful and inspiring Paris overview. As you can imagine, we talked a lot about illustration, animation, comics, process and many subjects related to Art and storytelling, upcoming Ice Age 3 and some french original cartoons currently in production. Who are the happy fans around the famous New-Yorker Character designer and Illustrator ( A sort of disciples meeting with the Guru)? The animator Claude William Trebutien, photographer Stephanie Saucez, Director Arnaud Bouron (Studio Method Film), Director Julien Charles ( Studio Millimages) Artistic Director Pascal Valdès ("Renaissance"), Comic Autor Pierre Alary, Galerists Diane and Jean-Jacques Launier and your servant. Foreign Ambassies should think about organizing that kind of meeting between Artists so we can laugh a lot about how messy our productions are...
(All pictures by Stephanie Saucez and the one of the group by a charming waitress named Fleur).

Peter de Sève in Paris (part1, the morning)

From left to right : Claude William Trebutien (Burning Safari) Stéphanie Saucez (photographer), Jean-Jacques and Diane Launier (Arludik), Peter de Sève and your servant. Peter will bring his talent to the Sketchtravel Sketchbook as soon as the sketchbook goes back to New-York.

Peter de Sève in Paris.

Thursday 23th. I had the great privilege with a few friends to spend the whole day with his Highness Peter de Sève and one of the best party ever. Peter de Sève was visiting us in Paris before going to the SolliesVille festival in the south of France.
Waiting for the pictures of this holy event taken by the Photographer Stephanie Saucez I am happy to share with you a quick preview of the beautiful present Peter nicely offered to Sofinotsofar and I. If you leave near SolliesVille (Toulon area) don't forget to visit Peter at the Festival ! I can't wait Peter brings his part in the Sketchtravel sketchbook.

Arludik honored by Ronnie Del Carmen

During his recent trip in Europe, Ronnie Del Carmen, who recently brought his part to Sketchtravel met the famous french Galerists and partners on Sketchtravel : Diane and Jean-Jacques Launier from Arludik gallery. Then, he offered them this beautiful present representing the incontrovertible french couple. People who already saw or met Jean-Jacques and Diane will recognize them easily. Congrats Ronnie, you caught them !

Enrico Casarosa in French version.

Un petit article en Français pour changer ;-). Enrico Casarosa, qui a apporté son éminente contribution au défi Sketchtravel il y a quelques mois a été interviewé en version française ici. Une formidable occasion de comprendre son rôle cher Pixar et de redécouvrir son travail.

Robert VALLEY's PARTY.

People who often read this blog (is there anybody ? hello... am I alone ?) have noticed my english vocabulary is generally very limited. Especially when I express my gusto about masterpieces created by huge artists in this holy sketchbook.
"Awesome", "astonishing", "great", "incredible", "amazing" are the recurrent words which knock at the door of my french mind. Sorry :-)
This international challenge keeps running since last september (my god, nearly a year !) and I can't stop being excited about what's going next in the sketchbook. I can't believe we have so many big names on board with so beautiful paintings and drawings.
This morning, Daisuke "Dice" sent me a jpeg copy of Robert Valley drawing and I still try to get over the big shock I had by discovering one of the craziest drawing and dynamic perspective I have never seen before. Robert Valley style is
recognizable instantaneously : life, georgeous sexy young women having fun, handsome healthy men, dynamic shapes with multi angles points of view. I would love to know what does Robert Valley eat daily and most of all following him in a party because his vision are really ..."Awesome", "astonishing", "great", "incredible", "amazing" ?
I can't find word but you can find his genius above and soon in the virtual sketchbook on the official Skechtravel website. Mr Robert VALLEY, thank you very much for your high implication. I don't know how many hours were needed to draw your masterpiece but I can look at it during years. Congrats ! you are someone and we understand your success when we see what you are capable of. Absolute respect. In your hand, a pen knows what it has to do.

Process : Nash Dunnigan and Robert Mackenzie

Nash Dunnigan and Robert Mackenzie who created amazing pictures in the Sketchbook a few month ago posted very interesting articles about their process on their own blog. Fascinating !

Peter de Sève interview.

I have just posted online a small note about Lou Romano interview. If you are looking for more videos where you can listen to great Artists (involved in Sketchtravel challenge), click here.
There is three small videos of Peter de Sève on Youtube, drawing and telling what he loves about sketching. Brillant.

Report from COMICON : Vincent Nguyen.

Vincent Di Ngyuen, artist from Bluesky and amazing illustrator (He never sleeps and keep painting every night and week-end) who painted an astonishing bee in the Sketchtravel sketchbook a few month ago, posted his report from San Diego Comicon. He collects great Artists (like Mike Mignola) and certainly has one of the most incredible original illustrations collection ever, so Comic Con was for him a perfect opportunity.
Visit his blog !

Report from COMICON : Pierre ALARY.

Our national treasure, the upcoming Sketchtravel artist Pierre Alary was at the Comicon and posted some pictures on his own blog, telling his experience. Enjoy !

Lou Romano interview

As you (may) know, Lou Romano brought recently his awesome part to the Sketchtravel challenge with Nero's madness. By reading Cartoonbrew (I read it daily and highly recommand it, and also www.drawn.ca) I discovered this interview of Lou Romano. It is always interesting to see how artists we admire looks like and what they say. Lou is not only a remarquable painter with his own imaginary world and palette but also a very good actor. But I guess everybody knows now he is the voice of Linguini in "Ratatouille".

MIKE MIGNOLA for SKETCHTRAVEL.

So, that's official, Mike MIGNOLA generously agreed to do his masterful skull sketch in the Holy Sketchbook. You will find it in the following days in the virtual sketchbook among other masterpieces.
Thank you very much Mister MIGNOLA.
Keep reading this blog, next drawing online...Robert VALLEY.

Report from COMICON-Part 4 : God Peter saved us.

Finally, one of our contributors, Peter De Seve (right)used his magic charm* to get hold of the legendary Hell Boy creator Mike Mignola (left) !
The Great Peter De Seve will add his contribution in the Sketchbook very soon.

(*Indeed, Peter has french ancestors).

Report from COMICON-Part 3 : The Hunting.

Dice had this impossible mission to get 5 artists do sketches during the convention. His ambition turned out to be too great to reach.He looked for many of those preselected artists but they were all high profile artists who just couldn't spare time for sketchtravel project. Dice walked around all weekend hunting down for them but none of them seemed to be available...(click on the picture and follow the red arrow).

Report from COMICON-Part 2 : The Holy Sketchbook was here !!

Sketchtravel was well represented at Out of Picture Booth. Many visitors were lucky enough to take a sneak peak at the in-progress Sketchtravel !! The case created by Daniel Lopez Munoz is still the most beautiful ever ! If you were there, please tell us your feeling about it by posting comments on this blog !

Report from COMICON-Part1 : Dice meets Jerome OPENA

Let's begin with the picture of the great Jerome OPENA handoff by the IncredibleDICE.
Notice Jerome OPENA prefers to hide his identity with his cheap ninja outfit. What a mysterious guy he is !! Enjoy his amazing drawing posted recently on this blog and also available in the virtual sketchbook (www.sketchtravel.com). Too bad Jerome has not any website.

Booth 1128 !!!! last minute !

By the way, if you want to meet Great Artits involved in the Sketchtravel Challenge : Visit the San Diego Comicon (booth 1128) and meet Daisuke "Dice" Tsutsumi, Michael Knapp, Peter de Sève, David Gordon, Vincent N'Guyen, Robert Mackenzie and Pierre Alary there ! it is nearly finished, hurry up !

Jerome OPENA joins SKETCHTRAVEL !

I haven't posted any news for a long time. Sorry about that, I was in vacations in the middle of nowhere without internet connections (yes, there is still places in the world where Internet is not available, too bad). Our incontrovertible Master "Dice" has sent me a copy from the double page drawn by a new incredible artist I haven't mentioned yet in the holy list : Jerome OPENA. You can see the masterpiece in this post and you will find soon it in the virtual sketchbook online among others, just after the one by the Great Ronnie Del Carmen. Jerome is the first artist of the Sketchbook who explore a darker zone. Jerome OPENA doesn't promote his work online yet and is very rare. Getting him in the Sketchbook is really a good fortune.
The work of OPENA is already acclaimed by the comic and animation community.His albums : "Star wars Tales", "Fear Agent" and "Lone" are best-sellers in american comics.
I am certainly not the only one person fascinated by his ability to catch movements. Am I ? Thank you very much for your contribution to Sketchtravel Jerome !

Summer Rendez-vous over the Globe.

It's summer time and many artists take some vacations. Ronnie del Carmen will travel in Italy and France, Enrico Casarosa in Italy and Greece, etc...I also will be on vacation on the french west coast without any computer around from 14th to 28th of July and this is why I won't be able to post articles during this short period.But the Sketchbook will keep moving. You also have great "rendez-vous" before the end of the month and in August too. You will find many "Sketchtravelers" artists at the famous San Diego Comic-con and there will be big surprises in there. If you can go there, don't miss it. Our incontrovertible french genius Pierre Alary will be there. Claude William Trebutien will be at Siggraph, promoting his work. Did you know he is currently looking for a new position ?
Peter de Sève is the special guest star at the Sollies Festival http://www.festivalbd.com/ in the south of France (24, 25, 26 of August). John Howe has a special exhibition at Saint-Ursanne until the 2nd of september and you can find all infos here A special thank to Daisuke Dice Tsutsumi who recently started his new amazing job at Pixar. Despite his demanding pixarian 's schedule Dice keeps taking care of the holy Sketchbook.
As you can imagine, this unique artistic experience requires many attention and Dice rules everything perfectly, contacting all artists in America, following each steps, day after day. He controls the relay race with a remarquable professionalism and already deserves his gold medal. Thank you so much Dice ! You rock Maestro !

Venice Chronicles by Enrico Casarosa

Enrico Casarosa (who brought his part to the Sketchtravel challenge a few weeks ago) is uploading the last pages of his Venice Chronicles comic.He is actually really really close to being done ... it took him almost one year to complete this project. Enjoy it HERE ! an HERE !

Report from Annecy

The Annecy festival seems very far away now. I can't wait to go there in 2008. Waiting for it, our Sketchtravel Ambassador : Floriane Berthez, news editor of the Festival, just sent me a few pictures of her wearing our sign. Floriane did an interview of Rebecca Dautremer, Francois Roca and I you can find in Annecy's newspapers.

Ronnie Del Carmen did it !

Check his website, he tells about the whole process better than I could !

Hold on Ronnie !!

The sketchbook's journey keep going at Pixar studios, emeryville. Ronnie Del Carmen has just sent me the picture of the hand off he had with his pal Enrico Casarosa who did his part a few days ago. As you can see in that dynamic and beautiful photography, we could also publish a book with the pictures taken by the artists. Each situation inspire them ! I can't wait to see what Ronnie is going to draw in it, can you ?

Lou York, Lou York !!

Guess who did the New-Yorker cover of the week ? Lou ROMANO. And he did a masterpiece with a beautiful palette. Did I already say the New-Yorker was, for me, the best illustrated magazine of the world ?(the Art Director is French, this is why ;-)Lou already did his part in the sketchbook a few weeks ago. He still works at Pixar for the best. Visit his amazing blog !

More MAUD REMY !

Showreel_MaudRemy_2007
Uploaded by maudremy

Many people can't stop asking me directly by e-mail WHO is Maud REMY, the co-director of the Sketchtravel trailer since we launched it. She is so shy, she rarely promotes her own work online (french paradox). Hopefully she cracked under pressure and she has just launched her fresh and dynamic 2007 demo on daily motion. She mostly works for TV but can take up with new challenges. You can contact her : maud@graphame.com . I personaly can't wait to work with her again. Enjoy !

Relay Stations

We rarely mention the aware community who carefully talk about Sketchtravel online through efficient, cultured and open-minded website.I am personaly a huge fan and slavish reader of www.drawn.ca . The famous Johnny (contributor) posted a nice news about our trailer and challenge. In France, the incontrovertible www.catsuka.com updates news about Sketchtravel daily and www.3dvf.com too. The upcoming sketchtraveller Basilus/Sylvain Marc posted the trailer on his blog and so did many other graphists and href="http://elodiecoudray.blogspot.com/">illustrators like Elodie Coudray (which is very fair play since we can't welcome everybody in the sketchbook because the list is full) I don't know if there's other relay stations worldwide but feel free to tell me. Thank you guys for helping us with promotion. More we can get attention, more we can promote the "illustration" as an important Art, our "Artists", and our community.

New genious joining SKETCHTRAVEL challenge

Guess who is the next feature great artist joining Sketchtravel ? He is the 36th huge talent on the list (36/50), He is french. He won so many prizes I can write it all. He is the man behind acclaimed comics such as "Foligatto","Leon la Came","Prosopopus", "Le Bibendum Céleste"and many others. He has not official website but his work invaded the web. He influenced many artists.He is currently member of the Jury at the Annecy Festival (student films). He is also currently working on his own short movie at studio 4C (Japan) We can thank his talented pal Dominique Bertail (already selected for Sketchtravel) for the connection. We had the chance to meet him for reel a few months ago. I am really proud to announce our national treasure NICOLAS DE CRECY will bring soon his part in the Holy Sketchbook !!! (photography by courtesy of www.telerama.fr/Christophe Beauregard/

French Version/Version Française

SKETCHCLIP_french version
Uploaded by Geraldraws

Sketchtravel at Annecy festival !

The famous Annecy Festival starts today (with many "Sketchtravel surprises" inside). What about a "Treasure hunt" ! Indeed, there is only ONE woman who wears the new official black and white Sketchtravel T-SHIRT during the festival, just find her in the crazy geek's crowd around the lake. Ask her everything you want to know about Sketchtravel challenge. I give you another clue, her name is "Floriane". We will post pictures of her you can take.

SKETCHTRAVEL-Official Clip on Daily Motion !

SKETCHTRAVEL-Official Clip
Uploaded by Geraldraws

Sketchtravel Short Clip

How to tell the project quickly and effectively ?
The sketchtravel official website tells everything about the Sketchtravel challenge and this blog allows to follow it daily but I thought doing a special small movie clip would be appropriate so we could promote this challenge in a different way. Many artists coming from animation industry are involved in sketchtravel so using this medium was obvious.Hopefully many friends on the road was crazy enough to help me doing it in a few days. We first did a rough version with sound designer Côme Jalibert and comic Yannick Jehannet . Then My friend Maud Remy (we first met at school ), who often directs short movies for the european tv channel Arte took up the challenge to animate my simple designs and we co-directed this very short clip with pleasure and fun. Redha Zaim opened us the doors of his own sound recording studio named "Talkover " and nicely asked to the famous comedian and singer Marie Zidi to be the voice of Sketchtravel clip. Tom Gres brought his contribution too with his sepulchral voice and his gusto. The famous sound designer Geri Montet added his subtle touch and the original Musician Lionel Payet created a rich and energic music.
We have just launched the clip on YOUTUBE where the broadcast quality is limited, as a preview. We will telecast it in HD, small/medium/large size on the official sketcthtravel website soon so everybody can watch it with best screening conditions.
A french version has been recorded ad will be available too. We hope you will enjoy it !

Baby production.

While the Holy sketchbook keep travelling all over the globe, feeding our imagination and eyes, life goes on for the best. Sophie or should I say "Sofinotsofar" the professional
motivated and creative webdesigner behind www.sketchtravel.com and the efficient virtual sketchbook online just gave the birth to our first child Lisa last saturday afternoon. This international project requires a lot of attention, especially with our internet tools, updated daily. Sophie's implication never failed despite her exhausting pregnancy, bringing recently a fresh and sophisticated new website version and helping me a lot backstage. She is so perfectionist she absolutely wanted to upload important files for upcoming "Sketchtravel Movie clip" so we can launch it during Annecy festival before going to the maternity hospital !

Nash Dunnigan launched his own blog !

You loved the drawing he made for Sketchtravel, full of poetry, a few months ago, you admire the bluesky's story-boarder, you liked a lot the story he created for the Out of Picture collective ? So you will enjoy his own blog : nash-dunnigan-art.blogspot.com . Fresh, sensitive, talented : Dunnigan, Nash Dunnigan.

Enrico Casarosa !

How to suggest an original masterpiece in the Sketchtravel sketchbook when you are the 17th artists steping in it ? Well, that kind of challenge seems very easy to take up with when your are Enrico Casarosa. The italian artist, currently story-boarder at Pixar, offers us the first comic strip of the sketchbook with his unique sense of humor cemented with his subtle watercolor touch. Very very funny and efficient ! he is a story-teller ! I invit you to discover Enrico's universe if you don't know him yet. "Mia", "Il giornale", "Fragments", "Sketchcrawl", "3 trees make a forest", etc. I already said it, Enrico can't stop drawing and he's right ! Thank you for your huge involvement Enrico ! (By the way, did you know that, in the ratatouille trailer, the last gag in the trailer, the one with the bike guy falling on the car, has been brought by Enrico ?)
His comic/page is also available in the virtual sketchbook on www.sketchtravel.com

Flying Sketchers

As you can see on this very funny picture, they keep having a lot of fun at Pixar studios. If we keep going this way, we will have to print a special book devoted to the pictures taken by artists (hey ? why not ?). Lou Romano gave the sketchbook (I should say the holy case made by Daniel Lopez Munoz with the sketchbook inside) to Enrico Casarosa. Enrico is not only one of the best story-boarders in animation industry but a productive comic author and the federative/sketcher behind www.sketchcrawl.com. You also can find his work in the "Art of Ratatouille" and the beautiful "Three trees make a forest" he shares with Japanese Tadahiro Uesugi and his buddy and colleague Ronnie Del Carmen. Enrico also contributed and organized with Ronnie the recent auction for Emergency-Usa. I don't know when Enrico has time enough to sleep, he can't stop drawing.

The Art of...

Waiting for the printed version of the "Sketchtravel" Sketchbook (2009 ?) I invit you to discover the "Art of Ratatouille" where you will find beautiful artworks by many "Sketchtravelers" invited artists (Enrico Casarosa, Dominique Louis, etc). By the way, the holy sketchbook is still performing at Pixar studios. You can't rush art !

Vincent Di for UMBUMP

Vincent Di Nguyen who already painted in the sketchbook will be contributing to a blog called UMBUMP. This blog was set up by painter Jeremy Geddes. Vince says "basically, it's a blog where a bunch of working illustrators/painters post up cool happenings. It'll be interesting since there will be a little bit of everything for everyones taste. So here's a painting by Jeremy from my collection if you haven't seen his work already.

Burning Claude at SIGGRAPH 2007

Claude William Trebutien, french animator and co-director of acclaimed "Burning Safari" short movie will be at Siggraph 2007, the 34th International conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques.Convention center From 5 until 9 August, San Diego , California. Don't miss him, he will tell his process (which always starts with a sketch) !

One Sketchbook to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

I keep announcing the Artists invited to the Sketchtravel challenge weekly hoping your interest in this adventure is still fresh. You may are listless , I hope you are not... I personaly can't stop being surprised and excited by how far this sketchbook can go...
Today I have a joker card in case you are bored. Who is the new tremendous artist ? Who is the 35th ? (50 are expected).
By a majority famous because of his terrific illustrations of the Middle-Earth :
Mister John HOWE. I invit you to (re)visit his own website where you will find his virtuosity.
Many thanks to our incontrovertible Diane and Jean-Jacques Launier from Arludik Gallery for the connexion.

Daisuke's BIG move

Our incontrovertible Daisuke Dice Tsutsumi, my partner on Sketchtravel challenge, officially announced such a big news about his career on his rich blog. I invit you to discover it if you didn't yet ! Congratulations Dice ! Such a big adventure is coming !

François ROCA exhibition

François ROCA (one of the first artist who used to take up the sketchtravel challenge) upcomig exhibition at the Galerie Bosser from 31th of May to 16th of June.
Une nouvelle exposition des oeuvres de François Roca, l'un des premiers participants au défi Sketchtravel, aura lieu à la galerie Bosser du 31 mai au 16 juin prochain. Venez nombreux !

The Sketchbook is Burning !

Quo vadis ? Here is the beautiful gouache masterpiece painted by Lou ROMANO in the sketchbook. You will find it soon in the virtual sketchbook on the official website with many masterpieces.
If, like me, you are a fan of Lou's work, you will notice the wink to his collective book he shares with Nate Wragg, Don Shank and Scott Morse : "The Ancient book of Myth and War" with Nero's madness. Could you imagine such a book burning ? Thank you very much for your contribution dear Lou ! Now this book is definetely in fire. Don't forget Lou Romano hasn't just ten magic fingers but a magic voice. He is the voice of "Linguini" character in upcoming Ratatouille. Visit his blog weekly.
Next artists will be Ronnie Del Carmen, Enrico Casarosa and Dominique Louis, etc !