Inspired by this engraving by Gustave Doré, I did this picture:
Bonus young Anita Ekberg:
February 26, 2014
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Bluebeard and Friends
By Jack in ballpoint pen, black and white, color, pen and ink, watercolour
February 26, 2014
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Morning Pages
By Jack Ruttan in pen and ink, pencil, sketches, watercolour
I didn’t draw all of these today. Just was tardy in uploading them.
Here are a few of my pals from the Montreal Monthly Comic Jam. Actually, this is last month’s meeting. There was another last night, but I didn’t have the energy to go.
Here I was in a bit of a pissy mood, drawing while watching a youtube tutorial about drawing for videogames. Doesn’t feel like something I’m suited for, and all those youtube artists seem so accomplished. Of course, the sped-up quality of those videos seems to have something to do with it, but my productions still seem way behind most of these types.
February 22, 2014
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RIP Judy Mappin
By Jack Ruttan in montreal.
She was really one of Canadian literature’s heroes. I think bookstores (along with book festivals) are a kind of conduit through which authors and readers can keep in touch with each other. Social media, too, but the events allow for face to face contact. When I was a newcomer to Montreal, I felt like less of an outsider because of Double Hook.
[link] to Montreal Gazette article about Judy.
February 21, 2014
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Drawings of Me, from Thailand
By Jack Ruttan in ballpoint pen, black and white, collaboration, ruttan's placeThese fell out of an old book. They’re from the time in Thailand in 2008 when I went over to help organize an art exhibition of Montreal Comic artists. I think I’d put them away because I felt it would be narcissistic to put them up.
Well, no more, really. If I’m drawing people, it’s natural that one gets drawn oneself.
This is me and my friend Peter, who had the idea for the exhibition, and basically brought me over to Bangkok. The artist, I think, was puzzled by Western noses. A fine Asian art tradition!
Here I am, leaping about, with my name hanging from my arms. I miss the long hair.
February 19, 2014
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Decontamination by Jack Ruttan
By Jack Ruttan in montreal, ruttan's place, writingPardon me, this is a little more restoration. This time of a post that apparently dropped off after my server disaster of a couple of months ago. People I’ve met might be interested in it, so I’m putting it up again.
It’s a contest entry of mine, which won “entry of the day” for CBC “Canada Writes” mystery week. Anyhow, you can read all about it at this [link.]
Some of my friends want me to carry this on and make a novel out of it. Will do my best.
February 19, 2014
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Car-Free Day, 2009
By Jack Ruttan in collaboration, comics, montreal, ruttan's placeBrowsing around, trying to resurrect some Jack links, I found this story I hadn’t seen before. I had spent a day in the street with some other cartoonists during “Car-Free Day” in Montreal, drawing comic strips on easels. Car Free day meant that they basically shut down the city core to cars. This isn’t done any more.
Eric and I on Car-Free Day, fall, 2009
But the day was fun, even though it rained brutally all day. The umbrellas were enough to protect us.
February 18, 2014
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The Ascension Trilogy Book One — Sins of the Father
By Jack Ruttan in collaboration, digital, ruttan's place, writingI enjoyed doing this book cover for Thelonious Legend, a new author. It’s a young adult story, but really looks to me like one of these cool “underground” or Beat books from the early 1960s.
Sounds like a cool story. He’s putting it out himself in various formats. Visit the links below to see:
http://www.amazon.com/Thelonious-Legend/e/B00II6GJZS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1392693408&sr=8-1
Here’s his blog. Only one post so far!
February 12, 2014
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Coreopsis Profiles Jack Ruttan
By Jack Ruttan in montreal, ruttan's place
This online magazine, Coreopsis, based in Berkeley, California, has an interview with me, also a gallery of my work. Quite thrilled with this. Above is the image I did as a “cover.” Still quite cold here, and this is appropriate, because there are three skating rinks in the park across the street. May have to open up a stand there.
February 11, 2014
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Shirley Temple Thoughts, and Watercolour Faces
By Jack Ruttan in color, Coloured Pencils, heads, sketches, watercolor, watercolourA little sad about Shirley Temple, whom it seemed was an icon of indomitable “cute” childhood, and also proof that you could be a child star, and then turn out all right. Drew this image not as a portrait, just as an idea, based on her image.
Also did some proper faces from magazines, in watercolour and watercolour pencil, this time. I’ve been focussing so much on trying to do the digital thing I’ve forgotten how much I enjoy watercolouring. Even when it goes wrong, it’s somehow pleasing.
February 1, 2014
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Some Anonymous Woman
By Jack Ruttan in color, digital, women
I’m getting used to the idea that most of my drawings not done from a photograph will be slightly cockeyed and spidery. Still adventuring in the digital realm, however. For better or worse.
January 29, 2014
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Astronaut
By Jack Ruttan in color, digital
Was practicing making little crescent moons with the “pathfinder” tool in photoshop, which is a pain, sometimes. It finally worked, so I drew this to go with it.
January 21, 2014
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What? A title?
By Jack Ruttan in black and white, color, digital
This is a rough for a project I was a little worried about, but which turned out all right. Will share that later, when it comes out. Fond of showing you a bit of process. It’s my incredibly detailed rough. All I had to do after was to build a full-size set, hire models, and then trace everything with a “Camera Obscura.” Then do hundreds of colour tests, etc., etc.
Well, not really. I drew this on the computer, then traced it to get a rough idea of where everything should go. I really should pay more attention to values, contrast, and colours. But as I said, the final thing turned out all right.
It was fun to do a bit of real illustrating, which has been scarce of late.
Oh yeah, here’s another digital person:
January 19, 2014
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Further ramblings
By Jack Ruttan in black and white, color, digital, dinosaurs
I’ve been drawing much more than I’ve been putting up. Still entranced with digital, but I’m beginning not to care what’s what. I’ve got stacks of sketchbooks, but can organise the computer things, as well.
This one is unfinished, but I put it here to give you a look into my process.
January 16, 2014
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Pen and Ink
By Jack Ruttan in ballpoint pen, black and white, heads
The digital thing is fun, and can be consuming, but I love the look of real pen lines on paper.
This is supposed to be Barbara Bain from the old “Space 1999″ TV show.
