The Smear Campaign

I'm outta here!

2011-06-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

I will no longer be updating or using this blog. I have put all my focus and attention into a portfolio site, which I will update with work I feel most happy with.

You can see those efforts at http://kylemcqueen.net/

Thanks for coming by over all these years!
-Kyle

Sketches

2011-01-25T22:19:00.002-08:00

A bunch o' random sketches. All old.

Captain Cave Man!!! (and son).

2011-01-25T22:08:00.000-08:00

Quick self-portrait. I think I was feeling particularly hairy that day.

Vindictus

2011-01-25T21:42:00.000-08:00

I did some branding work for "Vindictus", the new MMORPG from Nexon. The game was originally titled "Mabinogi Heroes" in Korea, but they wanted to re-brand it for a Western audience. They decided to go with a theme based on the Book of Kells*, and I was tasked with creating the logo. After many variations on a few directions, we finally settled on something that I think turned out pretty well.

*I have seen the "Book of Kells" in person, and it's INSANE!

Some quick, loose crow studies. Playing with balance and colour.

Trying to represent a crow as a Japanese Kanji.

Some abstract skull designs playing with positive and negative space.

Tried a loose, messy brush stroke look.

Crows on skulls.

Getting more into the "Kells" feel now.

Some more ideas.

Picked one and took it further, adding colour and type.

Went back to an earlier idea which had appeal in it's more simplified design.

Almost there...

The final logo.

2010-03-31T11:48:00.002-07:00

It's been forever since I posted some personal work up here. I will try and make a solid effort to remedy that. Starting now.

Simon Page Interview at Grain Edit

2010-01-07T09:13:00.003-08:00

I dont usually post posts that other blogs have posted....but the always inspiring Grain Edit has an interview with UK Graphic Designer Simon Page and his stuff blew my mind so fiercely, I had to share it. I suppose he proves that artists do need math...if they want to be rad, that is.

Block Party dot com!!!

2009-09-30T10:36:00.003-07:00

The project I've been working on all summer is nearly ready to launch, and a teaser video has been integrated into Nexon.net.

I started out on this project as a visual development artist responsible for creating some kind of ambassador characters for the website, as well as helping create the look and feel of the new direction. I ended up creating the Blockheads (the little green guys with the party hats). From there I set out figuring out how these guys were going to move, and created a tonne of poses and expressions to get a feel for their personalities. I built a library in flash and became the animation director for the project, creating the animation style and tonnes of animation for a multitude of different things. I do what I love and I love what I do, and as you can tell I'm quite proud and excited to finally be able to share all the work with the public.

For a small sample of what I've done, go to Nexon and you'll see the Blockheads pop up at the top of the window. Click and enjoy. You can also visit the Block Party website for another small sample.

...and done.

2009-09-02T18:22:00.003-07:00

...and again.

2009-09-02T18:18:00.002-07:00

...and again.

2009-09-02T17:47:00.002-07:00

Animation

2009-09-02T17:36:00.004-07:00

Some animation, only because it's all I've been doing for most of the summer. When I converted these to quicktime, they ended up with a little glitch....just ignore it.

Logos

2009-09-01T10:20:00.001-07:00

Some logo mocks for a friends Scooter shop/garage called "The Scooter Hive".

Stuffy Bobby Contest

2009-05-19T18:43:00.003-07:00

Bad Ideas

2009-05-12T16:09:00.001-07:00

I've had a few.

Viking in a Bottle.

2009-02-27T12:52:00.002-08:00

For your very own.

2009-02-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

Another example of a fun scene with some great dialogue.

My favourite scene from Pucca

2009-02-17T11:27:00.003-08:00

This took me awhile, but I was really pleased with it. I always enjoy getting a scene that calls for strong acting, as opposed to something flashy and loud with lots of effects. Those scenes are rad too, it's just nice to really pour your energy into something that genuinely tests you and forces you to think a little differently than you're used to. BTW, I worked on Pucca season 1. I had never used Flash before, and was straight outta school, so this gig was a challenge. Lots of late nights, weekends, frustration and cursing...not to mention crashed unsaved Flash projects. But in the end, I learned SO MUCH from everyone around me and from testing myself and experimenting with that cursed program.

I'll post more eventually.

Paid work!!!

2009-02-17T11:01:00.003-08:00

I have recently become unemployed, and as a result I have chosen to update and revamp my portfolio. In doing so, as most people know, you come across work you've long forgotten about. Such is the case here. I generally don't look back at a project once I'm off of it, and rarely do I find myself watching the shows I have worked on once they air. Don't know why, really. Anyways, this first batch is from my first Lead Character Design job on George of the jungle, for Cartoon Network and Classic Media. It was a good experience, and I learned a lot about the production process.

2009-02-13T01:27:00.002-08:00

2009-02-06T14:27:00.000-08:00

Sketch'n

2008-12-22T13:12:00.002-08:00

Orko

2008-11-25T19:33:00.001-08:00

New moon approach

2008-09-05T17:11:00.003-07:00

I've decided to try a different direction. The reason being is I think it's going to force me to simplify my thinking and take a more simple approach to the world he lives in. Also, this is a one man show so if I have a hope in hell of completing the animation in a timely manor, I need to avoid the headaches before they start. Does that make sense?

More Moon Character exploration

2008-08-23T12:04:00.002-07:00

Thought I'd post my progress with my short film as I go. Hopefully it will force me to keep it moving as rapidly as I can. These are concepts for the main character "Churchill", who is basically the janitor of the moon. Keeps it clean, keeps it rotating, scrubs the boots prints out of it, etc. Unfortunately, he hates his job cause he finds the moon so boring.

Sports

2008-08-21T17:12:00.002-07:00

More Sheep 13

2008-08-21T15:41:00.004-07:00

A couple of barn explorations. I want to realize these in full colour someday as I was quite pleased with both of them.

Sheep 13

2008-08-21T15:15:00.005-07:00

Sheep 13 stuff. Basically revisions on revisions of the characters. I was struggling with translating what I saw in my head down onto paper, and here are some results. Someday i'll finish this off and give it the proper burial it deserves, but I tend to never look back at a drawing so we'll see...

Moon Doodles

2008-08-19T18:54:00.002-07:00

To do with a short film I'm currently struggling to make....just some quick doodles of an initial design idea. Probably won't stick with this but I'm having trouble coming up with something else that I like. The adventure continues.

Stealthy

2008-06-24T18:15:00.002-07:00

Ninjas

2008-06-24T18:06:00.001-07:00

HUMANATURE STUDIOS WEBSITE NOW LIVE!!

2008-06-18T10:03:00.002-07:00

So, until recently when people would ask me where I work, I would often have this long, dry drawn out convoluted answer to describe what Nexon is and how I really work for Humanature studios which is the name for the actual development studio in Vancouver, although we're also known as NPNA cause we're the North American faction of Nexon and Nexon has studios worldwide and the games we make are online MMORPGS but they aren't about Orcs and Night Elves and they're free to join but you still have to pay for stuff.....phew. See what I mean? NOW I can just point them to our spankin' new website, with all animated content courtesy of yours truly and before long, people will no longer be asking me who I work for, they'll be asking if they can work for them too.

The website is super fun and we're working to continually update the animations and illustrations and keep it all tasty and fresh-like.

Access it via the interwebs at www.humanaturestudio.com and get in on the funs.

Tired of the Moon

2008-04-07T22:59:00.003-07:00

First concept piece for a little something I hope to bring to life. I assume it'll get less complicated the further I take it, but you gotta start somewhere.

Boring

2008-04-07T00:46:00.001-07:00

Boring and uninspired.

DeepSix

2008-01-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

I did this for the throwback thursdays thing at Frederator Raw. Haven't done much of my own work lately so it was nice to have an excuse to do this.

LA MANCHA

2007-10-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

A piece I did for creative genius Kareem Thompson. Find out more about The Man La Mancha at www.themanlamancha.blogspot.com

I'm A Laaady!

2007-09-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

New job so the posts have slowed a little. This one's fer Courtney.

1Year Anniversary

2007-08-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Crazy....a gift for my lovely wife.

Work Distractions...

2007-08-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

Should've been drawing old people in bath towels, but hey, sometimes a guy just gets an urge to draw teen wolf.

Some stuff and crap.

2007-07-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple Russ Meyer inspired designs. If you haven't yet, please do me and yourself a favour and see "Faster Pussy Cat, Kill! Kill!". It's a cult classic for a reason. I don't have a tonne of time to spend on making really nice drawings these days so you're stuck with these. Sorry...

2007-06-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

Quicky cintiq doodle. I'm into high action poses at the moment. This is the kind of stuff I used to draw when I was like 10. The red and blue came from G.I. Joe when the Joes guns shot blue lazers and the Cobra guns shot red ones...or was it the other way around...?

Chris n' Yolanda

2007-06-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

A wee wedding gift for friends of mine.

Spazz in a Blanket

2007-06-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you do a lot of crack....blanket forcefield.

p.s- He was naked underneath.

Frankie says RELAX!

2007-06-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

...and at my funeral, they will say " Once, he drew Frankenstein taking a crap...I never quite got that one." and everyone will shrug in agreement, then wipe away a tear.

quick cintiq scribbly-doo-doo.

Homeless sketches

2007-06-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

Quick n' dirty.

Cherry Darling

2007-06-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

A serious lack of posts lately. I'll try and do better.

Million Dollar Sticker

2007-05-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Errrbody,

So 2 friends of mine have started a new campaign to help cancer research AND help aspiring entrepreneurs at the same time. It's called "Million Dollar Sticker" and it goes like this:

"You buy a sticker that says "Million Dollar Sticker" (that way you know it's not a fake!)
From the sale of each sticker $1 goes into a charity fund and $1 goes into a business fund.

When we reach our goal of $1 million dollars in the charity fund we will donate the money to Cancer Research Charities from around the world.

We will also have reached $1 million in our business fund. At that time we will invite all sticker purchasers to send in a cool (or fun could be either... or both) business idea. We will take the best business idea and fund it to the tune of $500,000. Another 5 great ideas will each get $100,000 in funding. Giving a grand total of $1 million in business funding!"

That's any business idea including animation studios, films, etc. Head to CafePress.com and buy a sticker, or a bunch of stickers. It's an amazing idea and it's global, so everyone benefits. Please go to their website and read the F.A.Q for a further insight into the idea.

Their website is www.milliondollarsticker.com

Thanx Ya'll,

-Kyle

Our first show!!

2007-04-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

So my band LineIn/LineOut have finally landed our first show so i made this poster...anyone who is interested should come check it out, should be really good.

listen to us at www.myspace.com/lineinlineoutmusic

Zombies!!

2007-01-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

Remember how I was whining about missing the zombie walk last year? (scroll down if you dont' remember...) Well, this year i didn't miss it. I was there, and I was zombieified. It was fun until the mob took to the roads causing an angry driver to plow his car through us. Luckily nobody was hurt, but the zombie crowd did do a heavy number on his car...you can find the amateur video on you tube by typing in "vancouver zombie walk 2006"....maybe next time he'll remember that you can't kill a zombie with your car.

Tattoo design

2007-01-15T23:55:00.000-08:00

Rough sketch for a friends tattoo. It's going to be an entire back piece over 2 sits. She's hardcore...I like it.

Conan Vs. Camel

2007-01-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Basically the best scene in movie history!!! There is no WAY anyone would get away with punching a camel these days. Not only does he punch it, he K.O's it out cold!! Genius. That camel should've watched where Conan was going. Stupid camel.

Happy Holidays...

2006-12-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

...from the McQueens.

Post-Marriage Jet-Lag post.....

2006-08-12T23:26:00.000-07:00

Pucca!

2006-07-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

Motionographer.com has posted all the interstitials from Pucca, the show i was animating on. Though it's already insanely popular in europe, no word yet on when it might come over our way. Hopefully they bring it cause I'm dang proud of it. It looks awesome and all the animators outdid themselves and produced one of the best flash animated cartoons I have seen yet. Click HERE to check em' out. (p.s.- i did'nt animate any of these, i just really like em'.)

Finally!! Jeez....

2006-07-15T22:42:00.000-07:00

A new post...wow. Seems like forever...This here is a Reccardi influenced piece featuring Moe Sherwood riding his bike carrying Josh Pong in his mouth...I think its pretty self explainatory, really....

Less than a month...

2006-07-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Will this make me "an adult?"

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...

2006-05-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

Wow....I've really been neglecting my duties here. I lost photoshop for a long time, so i havent been able to post anything. Anyways, hopefully the posts will come fast and furious as I have a huge backlog of ideas in my brain, waiting to be put to paper...By the way, I am no longer an animator...I am officially senior character designer. Ya herrrd! Here is a lame post of some subtle design variations...appeal is everything...for legal reasons, I am obliged to say these designs are in no way related to the show I am currently designing for.

Sheep 13 goes Hungarian?

2005-11-19T18:00:00.000-08:00

I just received word that my student short film is going to be included at Anifest3 in Budapest, Hungary in thier best of Canadian Animation Showcase. By the sounds of it it will be screened alongside "Ryan", among other Canadian films...Im pretty damn excited about this....Thanx to Chris Robinson for recommending me. I entertained the thought of naming this post "Hungary for more" or "Still Hungary" but I'm pretty sure it would've resulted in me losing all my friends...

Mariachi Vivo Del Zombi Vivo!!

2005-11-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

Japan.

2005-11-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

Someday I'll check it out.

Rainee Dayzz

2005-11-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

...are here again...and again...and again.

Volunteer Fire Brigade.

2005-09-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

I think they'd put out a flaming bag of dog-doo for you...they'd pretty much have to, wouldn't they?

2005-09-13T21:30:00.000-07:00

Remember that crappy band "Colour me Badd"? those dudes were ugly, especially the dude with the 5 o-clock shadow...where was the band stylist on that one?? well fortunately these 2 dudes are neither ugly nor coloured half badly..." I wanna sex youuu up!"...word.

The ladies.

2005-09-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

Some ladies....snap! forgot the hand in that one....myyeee baaaaadd-uh.

Re-arted....

2005-09-13T21:21:00.000-07:00

Fresh new kicks in art form...sketchy stuff....for some reason I'm into keeping things dirty right now...so no clean line for this kid.....unless competely necessary....enjoy dat.

Charlotte.

2005-09-08T18:03:00.001-07:00

Here she is. Everyone, meet Charlotte. Charlotte, everyone. Charlotte is my fiance, who is currently living on the other side of the country with my dog. While I don't recommend a long distance relationship to anyone, I will say that those that are truly meant to be can survive anything. Be it space, time or the probabilities of space and time...This photo was taken on her recent visit to Van-city (represent!!) as we watched the sun set on her last night...saying goodbye sucks, but it's ok so long as goodbye doesn't mean forever. Whoa, that was emo...

Hey! Goober! Where's the Art!?

2005-09-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

Damn good question. I have none. I haven't really been too inspired lately. Sure I've done a couple things here and there, but I've lost it. "It" being that feeling you get like you could draw forever, all day everyday, and everything that flowed would be great. Perfect the first time. I had it, now it's lost. I'm sure it's temporary, at least I hope so. To fill the void, I've taken to learning "Iron Maiden" songs on my guitar. Perhaps it's work. Perhaps it's personal. Perhaps it's all in my head (the more likely). Whatever the cause, whatever the reason, it's a phase in life, like many, that has a simple, yet thinly-veiled solution. I'll find it, rest assurred, then I'll share it with you....

Vancouver's Zombie walk 2005

2005-08-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

Okay...so anybody who knows me a little probably knows I have a zombie fetish. I love em' to pieces, which is why I was so broken up when I found out I missed the annual Vancouver ZombieWalk 2005 this past saturday. Dress as a zombie and walk all over vancouver, as well as riding the sky train. Unfortunately for me i was locked away at work slaving over storyboards. By the time all was said and done, I felt like a zombie. But at least I can enjoy the photos from it all here. P.S.- I also missed the Slam City Jam skateboard annual....Rest assurred, these 2 little gems will be written in blood on my calendar for next year.

Movies Cont...

2005-08-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

3) "The Man Who Knew too Much" - Holy crap this movie is amazing! It's a lesson in pacing, character, story, lighting, editing, humour...its everything a really solid movie should be. Definately one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Hitchcock was a genius. There was absolutely nothing in this movie that didn't need to be there, and there was nothing lacking that needed to be there. His movies seem timeless. I also discovered that Peter Lorre is one of the creepiest and most amazing actors I have ever seen. This is the first film of his I have seen and I want more. If I keep talking, this entry will be about 400 pages long, so just go rent it...GO! *****

4) "Marnie" - Again, awesome. You can't really go wrong with 1960's Sean Connery. That man can deliver a funny line like nobody else. Crazy story, creepy mom stuff, with a little robbery thrown in. Another Hitchcock must see, in my humble opinion. I certainly didn't see the ending coming, thats for damn sure. Beautifully shot, beautifully lit. The only problem I had was again it slowed down a bit in the middle, but jesus it came back in a hurry. Check it. ****1/2

5) "Rear Window" - I don't think I can say anything about this movie that hasn't already been said a million times, except that I would have sex with it, thats how much I loved it. Ok, thats not true (or humanly possible) but I bet it hasn't been said before. So good.. Damn. The way it was shot is just...man...I can't even....gaah! *****

6) ""Zombie 2" (aka Zombie Flesh Eaters, Zombie) - Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to see this movie? Long. Originally described as the sequel to Romero's Night of the Living Dead (which the filmmakers themselves will tell you it's not) this is just your basic zombie film, focusing on the voodoo side of zombification as opposed to the "the dead are getting up and killing people for no reason" side. Man, I was so looking forward to this movie, but alas, I was a little disappointed. Again, you can say that it's a zombie film and it shouldn't have much plot as long as it's mad gorey, but let's face it, thats a cop- out. I didnt't hate it, I enjoyed the zombies, I enjoyed the beautiful italian actresses, I even enjoyed the insanely nasty splinter through the eye scene, but it wasn't enough to fulfill the illusions that I had about this film. I still recommend it as a huge fan of the genre, and I'll probably buy it eventually, but thats just the fan in me talking. ****

The Miser "Reloaded"

2005-07-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

The dedicated site that the Miser once called home is no more. So I've re-linked it from Putfile, so now you can enjoy it when ever you like. It's in the links section.

Probs....

2005-07-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

Did I actually just title this entry "probs"? man, lame. It's only because I've been told by some that a few of the pics don't work. When I go on, they all work fine..if anyone can suggest what might be causing this, please let me know...it would be the raddest.

Animation demo reel

2005-07-12T20:57:00.000-07:00

I've uploaded my animation demo reel. It's basically clips from my 2 films I've done, set to a swingin' soundtrack..check it out, if you like. Oh, it's in the links section.

2005-07-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

Wang on, man...wang on.

Bike Rage

2005-07-11T23:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture I took from my apartment of a dude yelling at some other dudes. He claimed these guys in the car braked suddenly in front of him, then ran a stop sign. I can't say either way, but I thought his stupid vest was funny.I wonder if that makes ME unsafe...

Girls

2005-07-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hard for me to draw, mainly because I never really have... So, I've decided to dive into it and just try. This is also my first ever sketch using just a Wacom....I'm still not happy with the shadows. Oh well...girls.

Avoid Eye Contact

2005-07-09T21:10:00.000-07:00

I just received word that the second volume from Square footage films, an independant animation collaboration out of New York has just been released. I picked up the first one and it's amazing, with the highlight(for myself) being Jesse Schmal's short, "Sub". Check them out and support independant animation!

Sheep concepts

2005-07-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

Man, sheep are super fun to draw.

Older work.

2005-07-09T13:27:00.001-07:00

In second year I went through this huge John Kricsfalusi faze and everything I drew had a heavy Ren and Stimpy influence. Really exagerrated and gross. I still view John as my biggest influence in art, and I had the opportunity to meet him at the Ottawa Animation Film Festival last year. Our meeting brings to mind something Morrissey once told Sounds Magazine about meeting Patti Smith,"...sometimes it's better to cherish your illusions about people you admire than it is to meet them." Nevertheless, I still view John as an amazingly creative person and have a huge amount of respect for him talent-wise. This is a concept peice for a collaberative story done in second year about Rumplestiltskin.

We'll miss you, Jon.

2005-07-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

My good friend and current roomate Jon Klassen leaves for Glendale, CA tomorrow to begin his new job as a story artist for Dreamworks. Jon has taught me a lot about design and ultimately changed the way I look at cartoons and art in general. It was a blast working on the Miser with him, and I'm certainly going to miss him. This is a picture of Jon (red hat) and Dan "Dandroid" Rodriguez probably discussing what the inside of Russel Crowe's mouth tastes like. I'm going to say "Heaven". Good luck, Jon...we'll miss you.

Aaron.

2005-07-07T23:06:00.000-07:00

K, so I have a good friend named Aaron White, whom I met while in college. He's one of the most creative and hilarious people I have ever met. A true artist in every sense of the word. If you're doubting me (and I know the ones in the back are...) then take a look at his website. He's posted everything he's ever done, from highschool on, which takes a lot as most people are completely ashamed of work that is even months old. Anyways, pay close attention to his life drawings and paintings, and extra special attention to the ICQ transcript featuring "American Woman". Aaron currently works at Sony gaming...I think.

A couple more pieces.

2005-07-05T19:08:00.000-07:00

Mondays....

2005-07-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

They don't usually bother me, but this one was particularily crappy....Tired all day...sheesh....still working on getting my film up, but I posted an expression sheet...why? I have no idea.

2005-07-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

more drawings from life.

Life Drawings....

2005-07-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

I never cared much for life drawing through college until my graduating year when I met Gerry Zeldin...just goes to show the value of good teachers.

2005-07-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Prospectors....