The art of Joe Olson

me

2012-01-17T07:53:00.001-08:00

for the work blog

Sharpie Marker on Cardboard Box

2012-01-09T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have actually drawn a lot during the last 2 months but when it comes down to scanning I always seem to be too busy to squeeze it in. So, enjoy my meager offering until I can get more posted....and a happy new year!

A few from the pile

2011-11-08T12:42:00.000-08:00

Every few months my clipboard gets heavy and refuses to hold paper securely. Here are a few doodles from my paper stack to share before I toss them into the archive bin in the basement.

Another Class Demo

2011-10-03T15:28:00.000-07:00

Prismacolor marker with a little pro white. A slight grunge overlay in Photoshop to finish it off.

Line Demo's From Class

2011-09-19T11:35:00.001-07:00

Brush Pen Lines

Tech Pen Lines

Nerd Conspiracy

2011-09-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

I will admit that I have partaken in too many speculative star wars conversations in my life, so I am as guilty as the next guy.

One for the work blog

2011-08-22T09:19:00.001-07:00

VIBRANT!!!

Happy Monday...and More Marker Sketches

2011-06-27T09:17:00.001-07:00

Recent Life Drawings

2011-06-15T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have always been a big fan of life drawing even though I don't go about it in the same way that I think many people do. All of the people below are from observation at lunch, walking between the 2 studio buildings, and people I have seen riding on public transportation.

My TMTN design colored by Ben Hickling

2011-06-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

Thought I should post up this nicely colored version of my TMNT design below by Ben Hickling. Check out his blog! Great Work Ben!!!

Long Meeting=TMNT

2011-06-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

I haven't drawn ninja turtles since I was a youngin.

Fremont Street and Some Cintiq Quickies

2011-05-06T07:37:00.000-07:00

Recently I went to a buffet inside one of the casinos on Fremont street. I must say that I enjoyed the walk in and out more than the crab legs but my wife always has to hit me because I tend to stare at people I think would make good drawing material. I love visiting places where there are bound to be interesting people for me to stare at. I always wish that I had a hidden high resolution camera in my hat to take reference pics. That sounds kinda creepy...but I'm sure I'm not the first artist who has wanted a hat cam. Excuse me, could you look at my hat sir?

Hidden Mickey...on a post-it

2011-05-04T08:31:00.001-07:00

I wish I could take credit for finding this but that would go to my daughter. The Mickey on a post-it hanging behind the large red bricks of the legoland store in Downtown Disney came from thedailypostit.com a really cool blog created by Pixar's Aaron Hartline. It is always fun to find a hidden Mickey, especially one that you can take home. Thanks Aaron for adding a little something unexpected to my Disneyland visit.

BRUTES!!!

2011-04-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

marker and brush pen sketches

Bossy Salamander

2011-03-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Another cintiq quickie

Big Mouthed Shark and a Lanky Kid

2011-03-10T13:44:00.000-08:00

In an effort to post more I am just picking a few images I have worked on this week to throw out there and share. The shark was actually my daughters idea so I can't take too much credit. Also got some great feedback from Jason Kim, one of my coworkers that I share an office with. Not sure why I drew the kid. He was originally standing next to a ghost that I promptly deleted once I scanned it into Photoshop. I often wish life had Photoshop functionality.

cintiq doodles part II

2011-03-02T17:43:00.000-08:00

Another round of doodles. I must say, I am really liking sketchbook pro these days. I think it is the first drawing application I have used that feels close to real drawing in the way it handles line.

cintiq doodles

2011-02-23T13:42:00.000-08:00

It seems like all I have time to do lately are insignificant doodles on the cintiq between export times. Here is small sampling of the ones that I didn't put in the trash this morning.

Marker Demo Stages

2011-02-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

These images came out of a marker and pro-white demo last week in my class. I had a request to post it up with original lines, markered version, and how I alter it in Photoshop to finish it.

with some level adjustments, grunge overlay, color adjusted more blue, bg gradient, and a little brightening of the eye

prismacolor markers 10%-40% and pro-white

blue prismacolor colerase pencil with staedler mars tech pen 0.1

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-21T13:53:00.001-08:00

A super quick santa done for the work blog topic.

Plane Doodle

2010-12-09T15:20:00.001-08:00

Drew this on the plane ride down to Austin. In spite of all the turbulence it turned out OK. Just OK nothing great but at least something to post in the meantime. I love the smell of Prismacolor markers and hope that me using it on the flight allowed others to enjoy its alcohol rich aroma as much as I do. Next flight I will bring some paste to eat and share with those who sit next to me.

Feliz Dia de los Muertos!!!...ayer.

2010-11-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Did this one yesterday and didn't have time to post it up. I have always loved the history, shapes, iconography, motifs, and color usage of day of the dead. Enjoy!

Marker, Pro White, Ink...and some magic

2010-10-15T13:21:00.001-07:00

Demo for a class I teach. For the most part this image was created using traditional media but the magic mentioned in the title is CS4. It saves me from having to buy an airbrush to hit the background.

lunch study

2010-09-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

COLOR + TROOBS

2010-08-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

My ability to use painter has greatly diminished since my love affair with Photoshop began in 2006. Bottom line, this was fun to paint regardless if it turned out exactly how I wanted it to. Thanks for all the feedback about which one to color.

Work Blog Topic: Trolls

2010-08-11T15:49:00.001-07:00

Which one should I color???

Smiles on the Metro

2010-07-31T21:31:00.000-07:00

I was in L.A. this past week for Siggraph. Taking the metro from Hollywood down to the convention center allowed for some great drawing time.... especially the time I accidentally got on the wrong line. It might sound strange but I would go on vacation just to draw on the metro. I have more drawings, I just need some time to scan em in.

Water Dragon

2010-07-07T10:41:00.000-07:00

Drew this the other night before bed. Almost all of my markers started to dry out as I worked on it as you can probably tell. I used thin layers of pro white to create a nice atmospheric perspective and to draw a little more emphasis to the head.

Pink Horned Monster

2010-06-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

So pink it will make your eyes bleed.

Fathead

2010-06-14T08:50:00.001-07:00

This was a marker demo I did for class a while back. I have so many images I want to post but never seem to be able to squeeze the time in to scan and upload. Hopefully more to come very soon. I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and drawing a lot.

Easter Toads

2010-04-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

Trapped in level 7

2010-03-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

I heart saturated colors and skulls...and a good belch mouth with block teeth. Happy Friday Eve everyone!!!

Happy Birthday To Me.....yesterday

2010-03-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this on my birthday which was yesterday but the day proved to be more hectic than I had previously thought. Like always, better late than never.

Curves at the beach

2010-03-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for warmer weather.

Creepy

2010-03-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

I dedicate this drawing to all the creepy people out there that have inspired me through the years. I often wish I had a discrete way of taking reference photos without getting stabbed in the eye. Thank you creepy people and continue your creeping while I creepliy watch you...in the most non creepy fashion possible.

Ripper

2010-03-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

Been working on this for a week now in my very limited spare time. I heard a rumor/theory back when I lived in South America that Jack the Ripper was actually from Argentina. Interesting twist to the mystery if it is true.

Stuck on Rhinos or How to Abandon Artwork

2010-02-22T16:08:00.000-08:00

These first four images are a good example of how I work on an idea until it is abandoned... I often times do a bunch of really crappy drawings like the 4th one down before I really go on to drawings like the 3rd one down. These crappy drawings are usually drawn as fast as I can trying to sort out issues of rhythm, shape and the overall composition. I love finding the perfect shape for the job that iconicly describes what I am drawing. Also not shown here are the attempts I do between the 2nd and 3rd down to tighten up the idea before I find myself married to it. There may be an update on this one before it is completely abandoned.

Below are my tributes to being stuck on Rhinos. Rhinos may even be funner to draw than elephants.

stuck on elephants

2010-01-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

Over the holiday break I started drawing elephants and rhinos and haven't been able to stop. More to come. Probably rhinos.

Another Christmas Gone

2010-01-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Work was so busy in December that all attempts to do something holiday themed were thwarted. This is my late measly offering. Merry January....

Happy Halloween....

2009-12-10T20:01:00.000-08:00

On time as usual. I really need to make a resolution to post more of the work I do. I drew this zombie around Halloween and never got around to posting it. Better late than never eh?

...and More Darkstalkers Sketch Ideas

2009-11-24T15:12:00.001-08:00

Got a new computer here at work a few days ago and have been cleaning out random folders where I had archived junk...I am such am image pack rat. I was actually toying around with the idea of doing bb hood for my Darkstalkers tribute entry. Never got past the idea stage but I thought I would post them up anyway. A bit more refined than some of my other studies in comparison. I find that the less certain I am about an idea the more I tend to noodle it. Enjoy.

art trades

2009-11-20T15:12:00.000-08:00

There has been an on going art trade here at work. Here are a few I have traded away. I'll post up the trades people drew for me very soon. More to come!

Floating Bull Gumdrop-opus

2009-11-16T09:32:00.001-08:00

quick little photoshop sketch I have done in small 10 minute increments over the last 2 weeks here at work. I didn't realize how much it looks like cow from a project I worked on back in college(pajama gladiator)until I was almost done with it. It at least gives me something to post that I don't have to scan in.

Darkstalkers Entry (EDIT: ROUGHS ADDED AT BOTTOM)

2009-10-17T08:24:00.001-07:00

I just remembered this morning that I never posted my accepted entry to the Darkstalkers contest on the blog. I had a lot of fun working on this and want to thank Udon for the awesome book. If you haven't seen it yet you should go check it out here. I have a couple more doodles and ideas of other characters that I was toying with for the contest that I will post but I need to dig them up first. I was also wondering if anyone would be interested in seeing my rough ideas for this image? I have quite a few that show how I work in the beginning stages before I take it into Photoshop.

ROUGHS
not the most beautiful sketches in the world but you can see the progression of the idea starting from top left and moving horizontal left down to the bottom right where I took it to photoshop to finish. I try to keep these kind of sketches really quick and really rough so I don't get attached to anything more than the broad strokes and the big picture of what I am working on. Normally won't spend more than a couple minutes on each image.

Big Boned Mermaid

2009-10-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Marker/pro white demo for class. A couple touches with photoshop too.

Pet Snake

2009-09-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

I heart brush pens...and prisma color markers

2009-08-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Text King: Master of Grammar, Punctuation, and Syntax

2009-08-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Get you ready for the truth. I should proof read things better....but I probably never will.

more dress clothes

2009-07-31T20:34:00.001-07:00

Little brush pen doodle from a very long meeting I was in today.

Underdressed

2009-06-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

I like drawing skulls and dress clothes.

Fine Swine

2009-05-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

I still like pigs in spite of all the bad publicity they have gotten lately.

Marker Demo:weathered shell bugs

2009-04-22T15:41:00.000-07:00

Prismacolor marker demo I did for my class last semester. A little Pro White in there too.

Bunky Homage

2009-04-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

A little fan art of my favorite primate/lagamorph conceived by M.R. Weaver

I MADE IT!!!!

2009-03-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was super excited when Udon came out with this contest. I always loved the the game and the Darkstalkers character designs. I played it often in my younger years at the local burger joint. My Sasquatch entry will be in the Darkstalkers tribute book coming out later this year. I can't post my entry that got in as per the contest rules but I can post the one I started and was planning on submitting but never finished until the contest was already over. Enjoy my lateness.

life drawings from my drawing book

2009-03-09T08:49:00.001-07:00

People I have seen at crosswalks. Good place to observe people being very alert...or people alerted by me staring at them.

Pig People of Padulang

2009-01-20T15:38:00.001-08:00

Work drawing challenge time! Another topic from the AVA blog. I also posted up some of my rough/quick sketches that I use to figure out my image. If you look close you can see the influence that bled over from each one of the sketches into the final image. Enjoy.

life drawings from my book

2009-01-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

I am coming to that point again where my drawing book is more than half full and I haven't post a single image...Shame to me. So I will get started with a few life drawings from the holiday season. The woman on the left was drawn while waiting in the parking lot of a grocery store for my wife to buy a few last minute things. Both of my girls where asleep in the car so I felt like I should take advantage of the silence and draw the amazing people who only come out to during the holidays. The skinny guy on the right is from the Oakland airport. I was stuck there until very late one night due to weather delays.

3D Octo Collab

2009-01-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

My cousin Gabe is currently working on a 3D version of one of my characters. Thought I would post up the original concept and his current progress on the model to show you guys. Looks great Gabe! Check out his blog for more info and updates.

Rakatakster

2008-12-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

On weekend mornings my three year old daughter and I have drawing time while we watch cartoons. Sometimes she draws her own picture while I draw my own, she on occasion draws on my picture, and every once in a while just wants to tell me what to draw. No matter what the method we always have fun. Above is an image drawn by me but almost entirely, even down to the details, the brainchild of my daughter. She always names her characters too. This one is Rakatakster. I asked her why she is called Rakatakster and she just laughed at me like I was fool for inquiring...

More from the drawing book

2008-11-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Some simple alien designs and a fat reptilian with tick birds. Happy Monday.

Friday Square-ling

2008-11-14T14:55:00.000-08:00

Marker and Pro White Demos

2008-11-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Below are two marker/pro white demos that I did for students in a class I teach at BYU. I love markers and pro white, tech pens too. I sometimes think I like them so much because everything in my life has slowly worked its way to digital. To clarify, pro white is a fairly inexpensive white semi-opaque solution that you paint over your markers to add highlights and lighten areas that are too dark. It is usually applied with a brush. I use a small one since I am usually working in my sketchbook. Below is a link with a little more information about pro white:
pro white

Snow Monster

2008-11-03T10:11:00.001-08:00

Comp time and moving really threw off the groove I had going on this back a couple months ago when I did the initial sketch. I totally fogot about it until I got back to work a couple weeks ago and decided that I should finishing it up. I am also reposting the original sketch for those who want to compare the finished piece to the sketch.

PAJAMA GLADIATOR WINS!!!

2008-10-31T10:28:00.000-07:00

Producers' Choice Award Winner 2008

Viewers' Choice Award 2008

HURRY!!! Vote For Pajama Gladitator

2008-10-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

The short that I designed characters for back in college has been chosen as 1 of 30 shorts out of 4500 to be shown in the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival. It will only be up for a period of 24 hours starting last night at 9:00... it will only be up until 9:00 tonight so check it out while you can. Watch and Vote Please!!!

click to watch>Pajama Gladiator

The Curse

2008-10-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

With Halloween coming up I thought this would be a good one to post. I have always loved Halloween. Still more to come in the next few days.

Time To Post Some Summer Drawings

2008-10-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple months I have managed to do a quite a bit of drawing crammed between selling my old home, moving into a new one, and the a couple fun homeless months I had in between. I actually just finished up my current drawing book that I had all summer and have started on a brand new one. Here is round I for the drawing posts from my old drawing book. More to come soon...

Robots In The Park

2008-09-11T15:30:00.001-07:00

Snow Monster

2008-08-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

frog pot

2008-07-07T12:57:00.001-07:00

Another one from the drawing book. Weekends are great, especially the 3 dayers.

re: Joe Olson needs to draw more

2008-07-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the inspiration buddy!

Bronze Age

2008-06-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Long time no post. I have actually been drawing a lot but have had little time to sit down and do the scanning. Crunch time is awesome... More drawings to come in the near future.

Pajama Gladiator Sketch

2008-04-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Did a little doodle in my drawing book yesterday to celebrate the completion...or near completion of Pajama Gladiator(the short I worked on for my senior year at BYU. I still haven't seen the whole the thing but what I have seen looked pretty good. Great job to all who took part on this project. It was a blast! High fives all around!!!

Click for an article about the animation and the premiere
Click for a small clip of the animation

Easter Bunny Goodness

2008-03-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter Weekend To All!!!

Happy Valentines Day

2008-02-14T15:46:00.001-08:00

Having Fun With Cartoon Characters

2008-02-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

I had a friend ask me to draw him some cartoon characters for an animated portion of a documentary he is making about redheads. Even though I am not a redhead I thought it would be fun to come up with some really fun characters for his film. Let me know what you think as they are still in progress.

More Pen and Marker

2008-02-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

A couple from the old drawing book. 4 armed dignitary and a pygmy goblin. I really liked the little goblin but dislike the knife he is holding. I should redraw it.

Drawing Book Doodles

2008-01-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

Work Challenge: Woodland Folk

2008-01-02T09:10:00.000-08:00

Snow Pixie Herder

Nothing like starting off the new year with something you procrastinated from a previous year. Here is my entry for the drawing challenge at my work.

Meeting Doodle

2007-11-28T14:42:00.000-08:00

Had a little fun yesterday drawing with a pitt pen during a company meeting . I need to post more of the junky drawings I do. My blog started with a variety of finished states in the art I posted ranging from finished to rough but I have started noticing lately that I tend to only post the more finished stuff I draw. Is it just me or do others kind of get this way too?

Drawings from the book

2007-11-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

I am going to try and scan more drawings from my drawing book to post up before I archive it. It was brought to my attention that I haven't posted much from the 192 pgs I have drawn since May. Thanks for the kick in the pants Lael.

muskrat sidekick

2007-10-16T09:38:00.001-07:00

current progress on a work related workshop.

Mud and Sports

2007-10-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

This is for the drawing challenge at my work that ended about a week ago. I almost didn't do it as I am not a huge sports fan, but I did play a little when I was very young so I thought I would do a little something for old time sake. I always remember it was best played in the snow, mud, or by robots on a Nintendo.

Ultimate Hitman

2007-09-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

I originally started this one for the Avalanche art challenge back when we where on the topic of hitmen. Even though it didn't make it on time for the challenge I still wanted to finish and post it.

3 bus drawings

2007-09-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Susan

2007-08-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Another from my work drawing challenge. Based on and inspired by the song, "A Boy Named Sue", by Johnny Cash.

Jawa Angler

2007-08-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Another work drawing challenge. Nothing inspired my younger years like Star Wars did. I spent countless hours thinking and drawing creatures/characters that could exist in the Star Wars universe...maybe too many hours.

Fire on a Grassy Knoll

2007-08-06T09:02:00.000-07:00

This images started out as a replacement for my current avatar but it soon ended up going a little further than I had planned on taking it. I was asked by a couple people about what he was standing on so I decided to do a little bus sketch of what lies beneath the hill before posting up the image. Enjoy my "almost" avatar.

Hitman the Musical

2007-08-01T08:04:00.001-07:00

There are certain moments in life that would be much more comical if they broke into a musical. Being killed by a hitman would be one of those moments.

Sketchbook Book Dump

2007-07-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

This was a character I used to draw when I was a kid. He had a companion that was a big snail. I think their was a third too, a zombie of some sort or a voodoo doll. Between the three of them their kryptonite was salt, fish and, Christianity. I had some odd ideas when I was a kid. I may have even done a short comic about these guys. I should look through my archives.

This mustached guy was just what came out of the hour and ten minute bus ride I take to work.

This image has been colored by a couple people here at work for an exercise on painting. Not everyone posted their colored versions...not even me but I will get around to it. Ryan Wood did a really nice one that he posted up on his blog. If anyone wants to color it, just send me an email and I'll send you a high res version.

Homeless robot

2007-07-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Another one for the work challenge.

Fake Poster

2007-06-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Just for fun...I am obviouslly not the best graphic designer in the world but it is fun to play around with once in a while.

Dragons,Dragons, and More Dragons

2007-06-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

I did this for the art challenge here at work and thought I should post it up before I forget. I actually have a couple more dragons that I will post up as soon as I get em scanned.

Edit:
Here are some more from the drawing book.

Brush Pen On The Bus

2007-05-29T11:50:00.001-07:00

Another brush pen and marker sketch from the bus. This character was meant to go along with the drawing I posted a while back. I need to start scanning more stuff and posting it rather than just tossing it or putting it in a box in my closet.

More CL2 Art

2007-05-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

A couple more pieces of concept art from CL2. I keep forgetting to post this stuff up. I actually have tons of really rough sketches I should post too if I can remember to dig through my junk and find them. Like I said before, this project was a blast to work on.
Ace drawing and colors by me.

Turkey drawing by me colors by Sebastien.

Vegetable drawing by me colors by Sam.

More Brush Pen and Marker Sketches

2007-05-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

I have been super busy lately so all I have really had time to do are a bunch of brush pen and marker sketches while I ride on the bus to and from work. These two are my favorites out of the batch. Something about the slightly sloppy effect of using markers is always appealing to me.

marker drawing

2007-04-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Fun with markers and a brush pen. A little quicky that I have been meaning to post up. Itss funny how sometimes the quickest dirtiest version of a chracter can have more appeal than a more refined version. I often times like my roughs more than the finished design. This is definetly one of those...or maybe I just have sloppy taste.

Chicken Little II Vehicles

2007-04-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Below are some of the vehicle designs I did for CL2. I have some other more rough ones that I will most likely dig up and post later but until then, here ya go.
Drawing by me and colors by Kristen Yee, an artist here at Avalanche that should have a website/blog but doesn't. I really liked how this one turned out.
I was very heavily involved with the Runt tank levels in the game. I designed tons of stuff for all the levels and even got to design and color the tank. Road and I built all the levels for the tank levels and a good portion of the objects.
I thought that a flying squirrel fighter would be a cool solution for the saturn air levels. Sebastien's color job made it twice as cool.

Rockstar part II

2007-03-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

I had planned on doing three characters for the Avalanche art challenge this go round but am only on the second one. I think this has been one of my favorite art challenge themes so far. Making characters and costumes for funky entertainers is a blast. It would be fun to create a whole band.

Markers and the Flu

2007-03-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

I was sick Thursday and Friday and ended up sitting on the couching watching cartoons and drawing all day. If it wasn't for the feeling like there were piranhas devouring each other in my stomach it would have been a fun break from work. These are just a few of the many drawings I did while I was sick. I have a couple that I am going to start coloring and will post them when they are done. I forgot how fun drawing with markers is.