Cesare Asaro

Frank and his Friend - happy birthday to Kirstie

2012-01-09T12:25:00.001+01:00

This drawing of Frank and his Friend I did for my other half. Happy Birthday K.

Gadabout TM 1050 time machine post - by Curio & Co.

2012-01-09T12:08:00.004+01:00

This is the Gadabout time machine poster (TM 1050 SI model) that we used at the Comic-Con to advertise the Gadabout TM 1050 time machine user's manual. We had quite a few people interested in purchasing the poster, for those that are still interested here is the link to the now available poster.

Gadabout TM 1050 time machine user's manual - by Curio & Co.

2012-01-09T11:25:00.006+01:00

This is the Gadabout TM 1050 book that we (curioandco.com) presented at the Comic Con 2011. A time machine user's manual, specifically the Gadabout model manufactured by Coworth-Hooper in 2350 but printed in 1953 (they must've gone back in time for printing, we assume it was cheaper).

The book is an actual user's manual, the only thing that is missing is the time machine. It has a humorous take on time travel in the future the model in Gadabout model is a tipical house hold product. You forgot to buy butter for that special dinner that you are cooking? just jump in the Gadabout and to take care of the little things that slipped your mind. In 2350 mid century design is really popular, as it's visible by the manual. It really was lots of fun to do the research, illustrations and design. The book is 96 pages, of how to, illustrations, and trouble shooting. We even talked to a physicists to make sure that it could actually work, and at the time of publication it gadabout used the contemporary time travel theories. Oh I almost forgot... it's full of hidden jokes and riddles based on time travel books, films, location...

Here are some sample pages

And of course the book comes with a certificate of authenticity to make sure that you have an original, limited edition, archival quality, Curio & Co. collectible fake.

Marvin the Martian - WB

2012-01-09T11:20:00.002+01:00

I made this drawing as a Christmas gift for a member of my family, he goes head over hills for Marvin the Martian. Who wouldn't!

Curio & Co. - Frank and his Friend - Happy holiday Card 2011 or 1979

2012-01-09T10:06:00.006+01:00

The card above is our holiday card that we (curio and co.) sent out this last season. With the "in character" description of the card. As alway it's my work.

Frank and His Friend Christmas Card, 1979
4.125 x 5.25 in. (10.5 x 14.8 cm)

In 1979 Clarence ‘Otis’ Dooley, creator of Frank and His Friend, produced this holiday card to send to friends and family. This card comes from the collection of Melvin Goodge, and was specifically sent to Goodge to thank him for helping Otis get in contact with Ringer Paparback Publishing, for the production of Time for Frank and His Friend.

Why am I posting it now? Well... better late then ever! 2011 was a really busy year. We published a new book the Gadabout TM 1050 a user's manual for a time machine, we made collectable pins for Spaceman Jax and the Galactic Adventures, there will be new character entering the Spaceman Jax family Star Cowboy (I finished the design over the holiday), and there is also an other project that is in development that is along a Sergio Bonelli Editori comic book, but that is all I will say about this last one for now. And of course... we are working on a new book of Frank and his Friend Time for Frank and his Friend which will be published early this year.

So at this point all I can do say... is I hope you had a good holiday season and wish you all a prosperous 2012.

2011 Will Eisner Award - Voting Now Open

2011-04-27T11:19:00.005+02:00

The 2011 Eisner Award voting is now open. So if you are eligible make sure you cast a vote, you will need to register here .

Finding Frank and his Friend -2011 Will Eisner Award - Nominee

2011-04-15T15:54:00.010+02:00

I figured I should take the time to pass on the good news. Heck it's some kind of honor and an incredible boost for the moral, I'm sure many of you, like me, tend to work long hours on projects, which tends to pull us away from a healthier social life. Sadly enough it's not so easy to share one's work with the public, yes even with the internet, I'm talking about seeing one's reaction to the work. It's extremely rewording to go to trade shows (we just came back from Wonder Con one week ago). There, is where you really see if what you've been working on really has a back bone. Why am mentioning all this, well as you probably read from the title of the blog entry the book that Kirstie Shepherd and I made Finding Frank and his Friend got nominated for an Eisner Award 2011 in the category of Best Graphic Album – New. A news of this kind is a real good battery charge of a unique type. I can't tell you how happy I was to get such good news. Specially after having spent the majority of the time since Comic-Con 2010 dealing with business stuff: budgets, proposal, funding application... practically paper work. Setting up a business is a challenge and even more so when it is something like Curio & Co. every thing is make belief, so we give our best in dealing with details: logos, characters, back stories... the fun part really but just as intensive as the paper work. I can live with the deadlines but the budgets are the horror and I think that goes for the majority of creatives. I know I managed to ramble on, but heck I'm taking a break and I'm sharing my excitement.

We are presently working on a new product, a booklet, in the sci-fi fiction genre, (hope you bought your tickets the day they went on sale). The sketches for the logo are done, I just need to digitize them and pick one. As soon as I get done I promise to post the chosen one. We'll present the product at the Comic-Con this year July 21-24, 2011, we'll be in the Small Press section again but at P-5 this time (we are looking to get a booth for the 2012 Con).

Naturaly this new idea also lives in the same alternative time line as Spaceman Jax and Frank and his Friend. By the way I uploaded some new drawings of Spaceman Jax on the Curio & Co. site, which introduce the Mantagons an alien race of army for hire, all they really know how do is fight in combat, every day they have a new president almost at random, in some case one of the poor mantagons get's votted into office without it's knowledge. I have more drawings that I previewed at the Wonder Con, those include some other character of the Mantagon's race, as soon as I get some time I'll upload those too. I should mention that the characters were developed with Luca Fattore AKA Philip La Carta in the Curio time line. It goes without saying that we had a blast working with him.

Now, back to work...

Some More "Frank and his Friend"

2011-03-19T09:12:00.004+01:00

Been working like crazy on a database for the company (Curio & Co.). Last night I managed to do some sketching... For those of you that don't know... We'll be at the Wonder-Con in a couple of weeks, we have a booth in the Small Press section (the booth is under the company name)

2011-03-18T23:34:00.001+01:00

Mr. Green is back in Town

2011-03-15T07:06:00.002+01:00

We are starting to see some life again, and there is a little something in the air...

Sunday Rest

2011-02-27T11:30:00.004+01:00

Been working like crazy learning how to build a database robust enough for www.Curioandco.com - It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyways. Man, I miss drawing. My task today: DRAW, draw till I get a hand cramp, and then some more. Happy Sunday!

Looking at Chris Sanders

2011-02-13T10:18:00.004+01:00

Been looking at Sanders' work for a long time, he's got a really nice sense of appeal. This one is a sketch I did while referencing his design style

80's ducks

2011-02-12T11:55:00.002+01:00

I looked at some model sheets of Disney's 1980's tv series like Duck Tale. There are some really nice designs...

Curio & Co. - That's What I've Been Doing

2011-01-07T16:05:00.013+01:00

It may look like I fell of the face of the earth and that was that. Not really, I'm writing the post, right… All this silence on the blog was due to the incredible amount of work that my significant other, Kirstie Shepherd, and I have undertaken since the beginning of 2010. We established Curio & Co. (www.curioandco.com). What is it? Here is a brief description:

Curio & Co. retails entertainment collectables and memorabilia. Then you say loads of companies do that. Ah… and there is the difference. The memorabilia and collectables that we retail are based on our own entertainment ideas, practically we are building an alternative entertainment history.

Let's take the Spaceman Jax product line that we just Luanched (Jannuarry). Spaceman Jax and the Galactic Adventures is an Animated TV Series from 1961 (our 1961) it ran 2 season and was produced by pud film. We built the back history of the TV-show, the production studio the people that owned the studio what kind of studio it was (Warner Brothers or Hana Barbera, UPA, Disney, or Friz Freleng), the artists that worked there, why was the name chosen… and of course the show it self. The thing that really got me exited with Spaceman Jax was that I finally got to collaborate with a Luca Fattore (Philp La Carta as his know in our world) on the design of the show. It was just such a wonderful energetic experience, he took my initial designs and revamped them, bringing in some really interesting new idea, then we went back and forth until we chiseled the style that would fit the show, spirit and time period. It was great talking with him about the design decision that would need to be implemented. Luca is an animator by trade and has worked on loads of features in Europe in many different positions, I mentioned this because it was important that the design of the characters be functional not just visual candy or empty calories which ever way you want to say it. Naturally because it's animation it was loads of work, but the results… take a look!, we are all proud of it. Becaouse things worked out so well we are presently working on other characters of the show. I'm fully jazzed about how they are looking (shhhhh). Getting back to what I was saying about Spaceman Jax as an example, we now have Giclée replicas of the Jax model sheet and original "production" drawings of the TV show. There are other things in the pipeline for the Spaceman Jax brand, which are are other then drawings and prints, but I don't want to give things away.

The first product that we Curio & Co. introduced was the The Finding Frank and his Friend book that debut at the Comic-Con 2010, (we were in the Small Press section). You can see some of the development work here on the blog. In this case I was responsible for the illustrations and design of the book, and yes I'm Clarence "Otis" Dooley. Kirstie is actually Melvin Goodge, she wrote the book's text and there was a considerable coming and going of ideas during the illustration stage. I couldn't have finished the book without her support. In this case just like with Spaceman Jax we had to build the back the story of the Artist, and the writer. The general premiss of the book is that these are 52 never before seen illustrations of Otis prior to his success with the syndication of Frank and his Friend. These works were found in the family garage, and since Otis did not deem them good enough they never saw the light of day. The book presents the work as if you, the viewer, know all about the Frank and his Friend, so what you are getting is glimpse in the production process; the book has the sketches one the left pages and the final illustrations on the rig, and some little glimpse and trivia about his life. The book was designed with little hints of "future" entertainment ideas (brads) that will be joint the Curio & Co. family as a matter of fact there a reference to a brand that will be entering Curio & Co. in the next quarter.

Having said that the first product was the Frank and his Friend book I should also mention that Curio & Co. is in itself a persona in our world. The company is run by Elmer Druthers, and his trusty office manager Margie Trundleberry is key to daily business operation and making sure that all of the departments in the company Archives, Sale, Acquisition, and Research have all they need for a productive day. The company's person is that of an art dealer which primary focus on retail of entertainment memorabilia, reproductions, and collectables. As such the site is in character as well. Naturally we had to build the back story for the company as well, when it was founded how many generations it goes back, how many people work at the company and so on.

As the entertainment ideas that are in development/production enter the curioandco.com family all of their back story as Curio & Co.'s will slowly see the light. My goal is for the site to be a wiki of our world, and granted we need to make a living so the shop will need to be an integral part of the site. Never the less I'm hoping to have a dialog with our audience and allow them to give suggestions to what they would like to see. Like a Spaceman Jax on box of Kellogg's cereal (I've been wanting to that one for a while), or perhaps Spaceman Jax had a really catchy theme song and there are some 45's in the Curio & Co. vault that are ding to get out. To stay in character with the company spirit we decided to make sure that all the product are as eco as possible, archival quality (acid free and all that), and since the company retails official collectibles it's only fitting that Curio & Co. issues a certificate of authenticity with every item.

All this to say that I'm having a blast working on Curio & Co. it is a heck of a challenge managing the business and the creative all at the same time, yet it's been so rewording seeing what was done in the last year. The company guidelines, and CI, the Frank and his Friend book, the Spaceman Jax design, the site, a product roadmap, and we also moved apartments (no small task let me tell you). I'm really looking forward to collaborating with more artist and designers on some of our ideas that is such an energy boost for me.

As a little aside we will be at the Small Press section of the Wonder-Con 2011 on April 1-3, 2011 and at the Comic-Con 2011 July 21-24, 2011 booth P-5. Hope to see you there.

2010-12-02T21:48:00.001+01:00

Money is like dessert, there's always room for just a bit more.

Wierd Rain Poster

2010-04-11T19:17:00.000+02:00

A movie poster concept...

Ronald Searle Tribute Interview

2010-03-03T09:47:00.004+01:00

Take a look at the interview it's worth the time. The man had a reason to do all the work he did.
Ronald Searle Tribute Interview on Channel 4

IAEA of the UN

2010-03-01T11:01:00.002+01:00

This is a page that I did for the International Atomic Energy Agency (United Nations) trying to create awareness for Cobalt 60 radiation, and it's use.

Skectches from sick days

2010-02-26T12:43:00.002+01:00

Early this month I was out of commission so I got to lay on the couch and look around the room.

Quote

2010-02-25T09:16:00.001+01:00

"Defeat is an orphan. Success has many fathers."

A friend mentioned this to me yesterday at lunch. He mentioned that it can other be an Argentinian saying, at least he heard it from an Argentinian friend of his.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 37

2010-02-24T12:00:00.000+01:00

Movie Poster - The First Step to Nowhere

2010-02-17T13:13:00.002+01:00

Imagine if there was a movie called The First Step to Nowhere. Then there would have to be the logo for the company that produced it...

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 35

2010-02-16T15:18:00.000+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 34

2010-02-11T12:14:00.001+01:00

Skectches From Over The Weekend

2010-02-08T20:21:00.003+01:00

I took a couple of days to get out of town... boy that did some good...

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 32

2010-02-02T09:28:00.001+01:00

Bedtime Sketches

2010-01-30T10:57:00.002+01:00

Took the Time

2010-01-29T12:59:00.001+01:00

This morning I took the time to have some fun...

Skectch

2010-01-27T00:50:00.002+01:00

A couple of sketches before hitting the bed

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 31

2010-01-26T10:01:00.000+01:00

Skectch

2010-01-25T11:08:00.002+01:00

Some stuff from yesterday

Skectch

2010-01-23T11:18:00.002+01:00

One of the sketches from last night, and some quick color this morning. Have a good weekend.

Roughs

2010-01-20T09:46:00.002+01:00

Once more some sketches from before I hit the sac.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 30

2010-01-19T11:12:00.000+01:00

Some More Evening Sketches

2010-01-18T10:24:00.001+01:00

Misc Sketches

2010-01-14T12:25:00.003+01:00

I usually do some drawing before going to bed in effort to end the day doing something for me. These are from two nights ago, I just added some digital color this morning.

Don Bluth - Don's Club

2010-01-14T10:57:00.002+01:00

$5/month for a once a week 1hr session with Don Bluth over an online chat Q & A situation, groups are around 15 people at the moment. Worth looking into it!

I found out about this opportunity on OnAnimation

Here is Don Bluth's site if you are interested in checking things out
Don Bluth Animation

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND test

2010-01-13T10:00:00.002+01:00

I've been learning watercolor... This is one of my first attempts

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 29

2010-01-12T11:14:00.002+01:00

Rex Ensemble - Let Me Sing

2010-01-10T19:30:00.002+01:00

1969

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 28

2010-01-05T15:47:00.000+01:00

Quote

2010-01-05T15:40:00.003+01:00

"Wealth is relative to the amount of time one has to enjoy it." from The Bourne Identity (1980) by Robert Ludlum

I listen to the audio book over the holidays and had to stop to write that little bit down...

Composing Pictures by Donald W. Graham PDF

2010-01-03T12:11:00.004+01:00

As I was going through Daniel Caylor blog On Animation I came across this little diamond, Composing Pictures by Donald W. Graham in PDF. This is an excellent book on design it's easy to read and full of valuable information. The book is out of print, so getting a hard copy is a financial investment when I got mine some years back it was $100. Take advantage of the work that Daniel put in for making the file available.

Enjoy it.

Jan 10 2009
A quick update, the files have been removed from that server... Copyright issues. It was good while it lasted.

Famous Artist Course (1960) & Famous Artists Cartoon Course (1965)

2010-01-02T12:16:00.006+01:00

Here is the link to Daniel Caylor's blog
On Animation he put together the complete Famous Artist Course (1960) in pdf format. Thank you Daniel! If you are not familiar with the material you should at least take a look at it and make your own appraisal. In my eyes it's excellent material. The artist that contributed to the material are Dorne whom recruited John Atherton, Austin Briggs, Stevan Dohanos, Robert Fawcett, Peter Helck, Fred Ludekens, Ben Stahl, Al Parker, Norman Rockwell, Harold von Schmidt and Jon Whitcomb and later Al Capp, Milt Caniff and Rube Goldberg. Advisory faculty for the school later included Stuart Davis, Ben Shahn, Fletcher Martin, Ernest Fiene, Arnold Blanch and Doris Lee.

AND, Comic Crazys has the Famous Artists Cartoon Course (1965) available in pdf

Jan 10 2009
A quick update, the files the On Animation site have been removed from that server... Copyright issues. It was good while it lasted. the material on ComicCrazys is still available

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 27

2009-12-28T11:10:00.002+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 26

2009-12-22T10:49:00.002+01:00

From the weekend

2009-12-15T20:10:00.003+01:00

I finally had the time to play around a bit. Experimenting, learning by doing, there is just no replacing that.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 25

2009-12-15T09:40:00.002+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 24

2009-12-08T17:00:00.001+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 23

2009-12-04T15:18:00.001+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 22

2009-11-25T15:34:00.000+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 21

2009-11-18T23:18:00.002+01:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 20

2009-11-11T09:38:00.001+01:00

Cleaning up August 8 2009

2009-11-08T15:22:00.003+01:00

I got around to cleaning up the sketches from an older post.

Frank and His Friend Re-do Week 2,3,4

2009-11-05T16:24:00.003+01:00

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Quote

2009-11-03T18:11:00.001+01:00

"The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do, and what a man can't do." Captain Jack Sparrow, The Curse of the Black Pearl

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 19

2009-11-03T13:14:00.001+01:00

Some Quotes

2009-11-01T20:29:00.003+01:00

In regards to your work:
"It's not about originality it's about authenticity... " Gregory MANCHESS
from the interview he gave on Sidebar.

A friend quoted this to me a couple of months ago:
"Fantasy is a great substitute for experience" Peter USTINOV

I was walking... and I read
"The easy way is hard enough" under the windshield of a VW bus

Have a Tasty Halloween

2009-10-31T09:34:00.000+01:00

Happy Halloween

2009-10-29T20:39:00.001+01:00

A sketch for Frank and his friend that I was waiting to post at the opportune moment. ;)

007

2009-10-29T15:16:00.002+01:00

I started sketching while listening to 007 Thunderball soundtrack and one thing led to an other...

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 18

2009-10-28T13:19:00.001+01:00

A Quick One Before Dinner

2009-10-23T13:59:00.002+02:00

Just a really quick sketch out of memory... From last night

Some concept sketches for Frank and His Friend

2009-10-19T19:20:00.001+02:00

I've been re-organizing files for the project and... I figure why not post them.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 17

2009-10-19T18:53:00.002+02:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 16

2009-10-13T15:09:00.000+02:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 15

2009-10-05T14:22:00.003+02:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 9 in Color

2009-10-05T14:17:00.002+02:00

Here is week 9, the prior post was of the idea for it. I'm working back and forth with the project. Slowly things are gelling with style and work flow.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 14

2009-09-29T12:35:00.002+02:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 13

2009-09-23T11:40:00.004+02:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 12

2009-09-15T16:31:00.002+02:00

A LITTLE SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...

2009-09-10T19:59:00.002+02:00

Q. Who was born first the chicken or the egg?
A. The dinosaur

and

The curiosity killed the cat. Yes, but the cat has nine lives.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 11

2009-09-03T19:21:00.002+02:00

I'm taking a little trip so this one is for next week

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND character sketches

2009-09-02T14:36:00.002+02:00

Some sketches from last week. Trying to iron out the kid.

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 10

2009-08-31T09:35:00.002+02:00

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND

2009-08-27T15:47:00.001+02:00

I'm working on the character design, lots of fun ;)

A Quick One Before Bed

2009-08-26T00:10:00.002+02:00

I just had the urge to do a quick one before going to bed :)

FRANK AND HIS FRIEND Week 9

2009-08-25T21:23:00.003+02:00

I finally got some scanning done of Frank and His Friend. I just got to many things I want to do and it seems that time is never enough for it all. Over the weekend I sketched out a couple new ideas and I figure that posting a sketch is better then just keeping the ideas sitting in the hard drive. I'll get around to cleaning up and coloring... and maybe make it as a small book...

A Quick Sketch

2009-08-24T16:53:00.002+02:00

I was checking out some blogs this morning and... man there is a lot of talent out there. Plenty of inspiration, there is not doubt about that. for those that still did not know about the Vance Gerry Memorial Blog. it is a must see. Loads of excellent story moments. And, this sand painting link that was posted on the ASIFA blog has breath taking footage.

Tank

2009-08-22T11:47:00.002+02:00

Talked with a friend yesterday nigh about the project man o man good meeting but loads of work ahead, at least if it is do be done right. Now... time for Breakfast and some sketching at the table ;)

Tank

2009-08-19T20:56:00.000+02:00

Just working on the tank, some research sketches

Brad Pitt

2009-08-16T19:12:00.003+02:00

It has been a while that I wanted to do another portrait. This is quick and dirty just a couple of hours, I know, I know... it's not perfect but hey... now is time to go BBQ.

TANKs

2009-08-15T11:08:00.004+02:00

I'm Back on the Tank. The goal is to have the book done with-in the next couple of months.

Loose

2009-08-10T10:24:00.001+02:00

I've been looking at some of Don Shank's work...

I've managed to get my hands on "The Ancient Book of Sex and Science" there is some really nice stuff in there. Worth the Purchase! Morse, Romano, Shank and Wragg do some really captivating work check out some of their work it's worth the time.

Before Dinner

2009-08-09T20:03:00.002+02:00

A quick sketch from last nigh right before dinner.

Skectch!

2009-08-08T10:28:00.001+02:00

A couple of sketches from this week while I was having the usual morning coffee. the color I added this morning.

Doodles

2009-08-07T11:01:00.002+02:00

Some More Fun on Sunday

2009-08-02T20:50:00.002+02:00

PLAY PLAY!

2009-08-02T15:55:00.001+02:00

Yesterday afternoon I got to play ;)

Some Fun

2009-07-27T16:43:00.003+02:00

Yesterday I finally got some time to have some fun.

Been Busy

2009-07-25T17:13:00.003+02:00

Been busy working on different projects. I really miss my sketching time, this week I had the luxury of some free time.

Some More Sunday Doodles

2009-06-21T21:55:00.000+02:00

More Sunday Fun

2009-06-21T19:38:00.002+02:00

Here's a Real Hero

2009-06-21T17:18:00.004+02:00

A heck of a sheriff or what!

I finally got have some fun today. I've been dealing with words and quotes for the past 3 weeks. I'm quite a bit loopy from that.

Some Sketches

2009-06-20T10:19:00.001+02:00

Evening sketches before hitting the sack. I just added some color and...

Some Sketches

2009-06-14T13:25:00.004+02:00

I tend to do sketches while I'm on the local trams going places, it's a great way to miss your stop, but have a good reason for it ;)

“Milt Kahl: The Animation Michelangelo”

2009-06-14T11:07:00.005+02:00

Here are highlights of a panel discussion about Milt Kahl hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Science. There are some really nice moments being mentioned by Richard Williams and Floyd Norman. Other panelist are Brad Bird, Ron Clements, John Musker, Andreas Deja, and John Pomeroy.

If you like animation and drawing it's really worth your time.

Lumberjack

2009-05-30T11:36:00.002+02:00

I couldn't let Saturday go by with out a morning sketch; specially after a week of paper work yuk!

Meet Roboto Webber

2009-05-30T10:53:00.003+02:00

I did this one last night right before dinner... food was in the air. This is a character that I've been playing around with since a year or so.

Rex Ensemble - The Label

2009-05-24T20:46:00.002+02:00

Every band needs a label, Rex Ensemble is under Needles Records