I just returned back from Texas where I did a character design talk workshop for the great animation team at Powerhouse Animation. All I can say is that I had a great time and met some great people. Here are some pics.

I just recently came back from a week long caricature drawing convention, non stop drawing all week long. It is called The National Caricaturist Network (NCN) www.caricature.org. evey year about 200 hundred caricature artist get together and compete. There are workshops seminars and lots of boozing. here are some of the caricatures I drew.

Schoolism

We just wrapped up the last semester of my character design by Silver course at www.schoolism.com and I wanted to share with you a couple of the students work. I give my students an assignment on week one before I teach them anything and then by week nine they take another stab of it with the knowledge they have acquired. the image on the left is from week one and the one on the right is from week nine. If you are interested in taking the course, the next semester begins Jan.5th 2009. Also here are a couple comments my students have made from the last semester.

This course was a great experience! I think any one who draws characters can benefit from it. It was packed with exercises and lessons to help push my drafting skills. It also was very encouraging to have a Skilled professional go over my own drawings, giving helpful advice along the way. This was money well spent!

-Alan Stewart

I'm very grateful to have learned so many things from this class. I really do not think I would've learned many of these things anywhere else. This course has opened my eyes to many aspects of art in general, including rhythm, balance, appeal, and breathing life into characters through shapes, poses, line art, and much more. I can safely say that these lessons have indeed improved my drawing abilities, and given me a different outlook when it comes to designing characters. All of the lessons, great tips and advice you gave have a permanent place in my mind, a database if you will, of information that I refer to whenever I am drawing characters. What I'm most happy about is the fact that I am now able to bring more life into my characters. And although, I'm not quite as good as I'd like to be yet, I have a better design sense than I did before, and I know this will help me grow. Thanks for all the awesome lessons and fun course Stephen!

- Dave Han

Thanks for the terrific course. By sharing so much of yourself in the instructional videos and being so specific during the feedback you really underscored your messages about attention to detail and passed along your great work ethic. I look forward to following up with the reference books and artists who have inspired you and on business practices you reviewed. I've been working as an Illustrator for close to 20 years and found your work and input extremely inspirational. I'm looking forward to applying everything you have passed along and continuing with my good new sketchbook habits. Thanks Silver!

-Marcos Sorensen

Thanks for a fantastic course! I really appreciated the clarity and descriptive nature of the lectures.Your passion and enthusiasm for drawing is evident and contagious. There is a wealth of information to dissect and digest that extends far beyond the scope of the 9 short weeks.

-Rich Lauzon

I just really want to thank you for doing this course! It by far exceeded any of my expectations. One of the things that stands out to me most is how much professionalism you bring to everything you do. It adds a value to your teaching that both inspires and captivates those learning. I took this course doubtful that I'd complete it and be able to produce a decent design... Only 9 weeks later, I feel confident to produce a cleaned up character, full turnaround and expression sheet... that really is a testament to you as a teacher and artist.

-Judd Simantov

I thoroughly enjoyed the Character Design coarse. It was real eye opener for me. I find that I now have a greater knowledge of design and I have the confidence to really push the envelope.

Your critiques were very clear and precise, very easy to grasp. From looking at the other student videos, I could see that you really got through to everyone on their own level, and really honed in on what the needs of the individual were.

Your enthusiasm is infectious – it really doesn’t matter that that its coming from a computer screen! I think your very honest, and encouraging with your suggestions, I have to say, I would have no problem recommending this coarse, to anyone, at any level – I’m only sorry I did’ent start it sooner.

-Sandra Ni Chonaola

The Daily Zoo

My long time friend Chris Ayers has just published his first book. Chris created this book while he was in the hospital after being diagnosed with Leukemia. His goal was to draw an animal a day for a whole year to help him in his healing process. This is a really nice book with some great animal art. You can see by clicking the title.

Another fun night at the drawing club. Every pose creates a new challenge and because of that I try to find different ways to draw the subject. There is no rhyme or reason, just a gut feeling. And sometimes I will just sketch the other artists if I see something.