VIGNALI STUDIO

With so much digital work in animation today, it’s important to keep in mind that “design" should be the driving and motivating factor of design. While it’s a lot easier to create digital artwork that allows us to use multiple layers, textures and even 3D models to paint over, don’t underestimate the power of the pencil. The pencil is a direct line of communication. 

Glenn Keene has said, "the pencil is the seismograph to the soul."

The strength of pencil design work is that every mark on the paper is a deliberate stroke. Each value, each mark is a decision made by the designer. How you feel, what you want to say, is directly translated onto the paper.

This is one of the designs I proposed for the girl Smurf village.

Here are a series of visual development paintings I did for Hotel Transylvania 2. Although I'm not listed in the credits, I did do some work for HT2 in the early development stages. In this assignment, we were exploring the world of Johnny's parents, still trying to figure out how to keep the look for this new location consistent in the same HT style.

I thought I would play up the contrast between the Romanesque castle architecture with no windows, to the modern glass wall architecture. What would be worse for a vampire than a glass house?

Poor Dracula, just when he thought he was going to get a little shut eye. What could be more horrifying to a vampire than the morning light?
In this image we can see the hearse driving through the Napa valley. A subliminal cross peaks out over the treetops to torment Dracula.

I just posted an article on my Art Page to answer the question, "Why use stylization in animation?" This is a follow up to the Tumblr article I posted a few days earlier.

In this five-minute sketch, I'm showing the simplified building-block structure that I use to balance my figure.

Using this building-block structure, it's easy to balance the figure. You simply stack boxes in a way that looks balanced.

If the boxes aren't balanced, understand you're suggesting movement. This isn't a bad thing, if you're drawing a dynamic pose. But, in a standing pose, you'll want to suggest a steady balance.

Come check out my latest How-To video on Overcoming Obstacles, and dealing with adversity.

What to do when things go wrong...

Have you ever felt like you're tied to someone else's drama?

It's a shame, I tried to record this drawing, but somehow the file was corrupted and I lost the recording.

Have you ever noticed that the bees aren't the only ones looking forward to all the flowers in Spring?

Here's a seven minute figure drawing sketch from last night, drawn while using my Fractal Method.

Athletes to the gym and train, they build muscles they need and use when performing their activity. Artists are very much the same way, we need to train for our activity -- and going to figure drawing is our gym.

So, if you're an artist, get into our gym and start working out!

Yes, we're at that phase in kittenhood when our little Misty Lou needs to sharpen her claws, literally at our expense.

I snapped this picture of our kitty when I caught her in the act.

BAD KITTY!

It's Windy

I've put together another video of my Mobile Studio. In it you'll get a sneak peak into my Mobile Studio sketchbook.

Mini-flyweights, 105 pounders...they make the ring card girls look big!

I'm a huge boxing fan, having laced the gloves in my younger years.

The lighter weight fighters are the most entertaining to watch, because they move so fast. It's like watching squirrels fighting over a bucket of espresso beans, in fast-forward.

Continuing with my Ordinary Hero series, this guy was my ordinary hero today! When his little mini-me started to act up at a local yogurt shop, this hero promptly "took-him-out." Hah! Now, that's what I call a real, "PUNISHER." We need more parents like this!

Oh gosh, I saw this grandpa enjoying an ice-cream, and I couldn't help seeing the resemblance.

You know how people look like their dogs, well they also resemble their diet.

I tried to record a video of my using the gel pen, but the video stopped recording halfway through. When I finished the drawing, I realized the error.

Oh well, next time!

I just uploaded a new video on my Youtube channel. Designer Training/Drawing with Markers. 

I do my usual ramblings as I discuss the importance of training, my unique Fractal Method of designer-training, setting goals, and some tips on marker drawings in your sketchbook. 

If you have any questions, post them here. I'll get back to you.

My young daughter just finished her latest video, and she asked me to upload it onto Youtube.

Don't forget to "like" the video, and subscribe to her channel. The Random Tales of Snorky13

Entertaining a thought here, what if superheroes were just like regular people. I mean, what if they were still super, but they didn’t wear costumes – rather, just regular clothes. What would they look like?

Along with the usual suspects of antiquated art equipment. I've got a mechanical pencil whose metal grip has nearly been worn off, an extinct Tria marker, and my favorite eraser. 

Here's a memory sketch of a big guy that we spotted last week during our sketch club. I paired him up in my sketchbook with this odd looking young woman. She was a young hipster that dyed her hair blue, and dressed like an old lady.