Welcome 2010

Well I'm back for the new year and already 2010 is busy with work. I am glad Maik and I went on holiday, I definitely needed the break from the computer. Disneyland was awesome, as was New York City, but Disneyland was the cherry on the top for the holiday. I did a picture of Lady Gaga, her latest song was in my head the whole time in LA and when I got back home too, only because it was playing everywhere! I admire the way she has branded herself, her support for not wearing fur, and her preparation as a performing artist.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Hope everyone who follows my blog or those that I follow, have a Merry Christmas and a successful new year...I'm off to American for three weeks and looking forward to coming back to the illustration work and hopefully a new contract (fingers crossed). Here is a last minute scribble I did based on a few people at a recent Christmas drinks with friends...one guy had a neat ensemble and there were a bunch of Colombians...as always at our gatherings.

I am still alive

Like the title says; I am still alive, but like most bloggers that I follow we are all busy and not so active in our blogging at the moment. For the past three months I have been pumping out concepts and final artwork for the children's book and that goes till Aprilish next year. The book apparently comes out in November 2010. Plus last week I started more studio work, doing layouts and backgrounds for Studio Moshi and this week I do some flash animation for them...eep! I try to avoid that if I can because I prefer to draw but its a good craft to have in the back pocket for emergency. Also, this blog's address is now www.adelekthomas.blogspot.com & the other is http://www.artofirazu.blogspot.com. Im just trying to streamline my stuff as Im updating my website.

Here is one of the character concepts from the book which didnt get used. All rights belong to Murdoch Books.

Irazu Illustrations

Late last year I decided to update the characters of my personal project Irazu which is now on hiatus. If you go over to my Art of Irazu blog, you will find the new illustrations as well as the older stuff Ive done over the years.

The Australian Orangutan Project

Im involved with the Australian Orangutan Project by sponsoring one of their youngsters called Krista (pictured above left), over in Pangkalan Bun, Borneo. Its been lovely to see her grow and read about her progress and Orangutans are definitely one of my favourite animals (as well as the Red Panda). So when the AOP asked if Id donate my time to do some illustrations/design for their upcoming Children's Merchandise range, which would help raise money for the organisation and educate children, I said YES! In the end, if all goes to plan, they will be printed onto many different items for the AOP including their educational program and sold to help raise awareness for Orangutans and their habitats. http://education.orangutan.org.au/

Sneaky Sound System Music Video & Philips comp entry

Australian electronic dance band Sneaky Sound System recently held a competition for artists to make a music video for their new single 'It's Not My Problem'...you had to take the footage of singer Connie and then go for your life to make a video. So my boyfriend Maik Hempel had a go and WON! Taking home some prize money ($10,000) and the joy of having his music video launched yesterday online and on Australian music video show Video Hits starting this weekend. Its was a simple idea and a quick execution and Im proud of him. You can either watch it here at Vimeo or look up Sneaky Sound System on Facebook. Id hope it opens the doors to a music video career for him.

Here is another competition Maik entered for Philips, he made both videos in Anime Studio Pro.
Below are some random scribbles I did; a man I see a lot on Chapel Street in a small fur jacket & a little picture of Mr. Hoek and Stimpson J. Cat.

Someone Special: Michael Jackson Tribute

I scribbled a drawing like many artists did shortly after the passing of Michael Jackson and wasn't busy this evening so I finished it up. Beat It is one of the tracks that always stands out in my mind, I just always loved the dancing knife and chain fight and Michaels tough and stylish dancing at the end, when he breaks up the fight and brings them altogether with some limber dance moves...I just love this one part where MJ flicks his wrist and arm as he clicks his fingers. I think he looks awesome in the rolled up sleeved red jacket (as well as in Billie Jean, he looks great in his outfit). Michael Jackson; singer, dancer, artist, humanitarian, family man and everything else, Rest In Peace.

Melbourne Girls

Here are some sketches I did while in my dorm at the hostel one night when I was bored stiff. I coloured one in photoshop and then did two in flash...just playing around.

Good News so far...

A couple of months ago I entered myself into a search for an illustrator for a new childrens book. The Australian publishing house Murdoch Books was looking for a new unpublished illustrator and had to provide 3 illustrations in your style in regards to the brief provided. I found out last week that I had been shortlisted and now have to go through the interview process. The chosen artist will then receive $10,000 to work on the book.
I had my phone interview yesterday and I thought that there would be like 50 or something in the shortlist...but it was 5...out of 300 entries! So that was great to hear and even if I don't get the work, its nice to know that they liked my stuff enough to have me in the running to illustrate their job. Plus it might mean I could get some freelance work to do a book in the future.
Anyway, I find out on Friday or next week if I get the work. I was also told that my entry/application illustrations were the first to come in and that they liked them so much it set the standard for what they were looking for...nice confidence boost.

UPDATE: I was chosen, Im the new illustrator for the children's book! When I can, ill post the original images I entered.

Baron Samedi

News! Animation Magazine Pitch Party & shortlisted for as an illustrator for a childrens book!

After years of reading the magazine and saying, I should enter that one day, I have finally entered my advertisement into the Animation Magazine Pitch Party for 2009...I entered my personal project which I started to develop in 2006 called Irazu...you can see the artwork that i did way back when at its blog http://artofirazu.blogspot.com/

The magazine will be distributed at this years comicon and the winner gets the chance to pitch their idea for a show to one of the industry judges!

UPDATE: Zip, nadda...didnt place in the competition.

Maik Hempel Showreel

Here is the new showreel of animator Maik Hempel, it features some projects that I have contributed to in the way of bg colouring and design, you may also spot a character of mine from my personal project Irazu. If you are looking for a talented animator, watch this and enjoy...

An Aquarium Visit

Here are some sketches from my visit to the Melbourne Aquarium a month ago...they had new inhabitants, Emperor Penguins who were very entertaining.

Doritos Australian Commercial Competition

Over the past few weeks I have been involved in the constant pushing of voting for my partner's (Maik Hempel) Doritos Australian TVC competition entry...and we all (who voted) hope it gets him 1st prize and $20,000...which he deserves on many levels.
To debunk the many "bad sport" comments being posted by some entrants who didnt get in, (that the final 5 were not worthy and didnt have effort put into them) I just wanted to say that 'Come and Ride my Cactus Horse' was entirely written, designed, animated...basically everything (except for the female voice which was me) was done by Maik. He put alot of effort into it in the very short time provided and you can judge for yourself here. Whether he wins or not, he got a great little 29 second short out of it. It was created in Anime Studio Pro in April and the winner is announced next week on the 26th of May...stay tuned!
UPDATE: Maik's entry didnt win, the most terrible entry won, a wildcard that got into the top ten by most public votes...it was horrible and Im not just saying that because Im being bias, EVERYONE is shocked that Doritos actually chose it and has given them $20,000.

Ghoulie Dude

Been watching alot of Buffy recently, felt like drawing some

kinda ghoul...he collects souls...in paper form.

Sneeze

This is my sneeze, he is always with me...I am one of those people
that has Photic Sneeze Reflex...sneezing at the sun and bright lights.

Below is Greebo, my London friend's cat...very furry but not the cause of my sneezes.

My Munny

Before I leave I want to share my Munny which I had to finish today before I go overseas...didn't want to leave it unfinished. Maik brought one back from the States for me and I was very eager to paint him. He is some sort of undersea inhabitant with a squid on a stick...please excuse the photo quality, I dont have the best camera in the world.

Hair Vixen From Mars!

I'm going to be away from the 14th of Feb to March
10th to my motherland England, so I wont be posting
anything as work is really busy with animation now...
but I'm sure Ill find lots of things and people to doodle
on the plane and in the airport...Im planning to try and
do a sketch a day, any kind of doodle based on what I
see or do or anything each day.

Little Gamma Ray

I was listening to Beck's new track and drew this at the time, she's having a boogie.

We Are People People music video & some bgs

Here is the music video 'We are People People' from the People People which was boarded, directed and animated by Maik Hempel and colour designed by myself. The colourscripts (boards by Maik Hempel) are in a post about four entries down.


These are some environments I coloured for one of Maik's personal projects.

christmas scribbles

Chow#138 Countess Elizabeth Báthory

My suggestion for conceptart.org was chosen, Countess Elizabeth Báthory, how could I NOT have a go.

Street Teen - japanese sporty-street

Saw this girl walking from the city when I went bike riding and kept her in mind.

ANTI the Supervillian

Born to suffer… Hated in life… Tortured to the threshold of death…
Reborn to inflict suffering. ANTI opposes joy and love, he longs for
the world to suffer like it has made him suffer.

This character was created for sketchtheatre.com's
November challenge for a Supervillian. His name is
Anti, sketch by me and background story by Tim Wilde.
UPDATE: Anti placed in the top 4, I missed out on a
dvd, but get a t-shirt.
UPDATE: Never got my T-shirt!!!

Alice In Wonderland Environments

Alice In Wonderland Environments for Conceptart.org
EOW#100.

You have to choose one epic novel and design 5
environments in the book for an RPG...but I don't think
ill have time to do all 5 or even colour these.

We Are People People

Over a couple of months ago, my boyfriend Maik Hempel was commissioned to make a music video for a new emerging Brisbane band called The People People. I co-colour styled the video and these are the colour swatches and scripts.
UPDATE: The video clip has been posted below!

Storyboard: Maik Hempel
Colour: Adele K Thomas











Now take a look at the music video...

New Job & Picture in the Paper!

Well I can official say that I have a new job FINALLY doing what I wanted to...I will be taking a position as a background colourist/concept artist/flash animator for a studio making a pilot for a bigger studio. Im very excited and was approached for the job! Ill be able to work from home, so a break from studios, and get to put some time into my own stuff too!

Also my 2005 film 'Vial of Youth' is screening not only in the Brisbane International Animation Festival 2008 this week and in the International Animation Day lineup around the world, but I was also interview and had my photo taken for the local paper. Me and one big yellow wall!

Dr. Watson

Katy Perry

I think she is pretty cool, hot and a fun subject to draw...the whole 1950's pinup girl thing.
Also a reeeeally quick sketch for nothing in particular...Sherlock Holmes

Twilight

I have been reading the Twilight series and did this recently. If you are aware of the story, you will recognise this as Bella being carried by Edward for the first time through the Forks forest.

conceptart.org Chow #127

The Little Mermaid: I like the idea
of seeing her tongue ripped from
her mouth, which is what she had
to loose in the original story...not
trying to be gruesome.

conceptart.org Chow #126

Scheherazade...some young lady that told 1001 tales to an Arabian King through seduction (I made it that it was through her hair and magical hip-flask dust!) and then they got married...for conceptart.org Character of the Week.

UPDATE: I got over 30 votes for my entry! I think I tied 4th or 5th...nice!