"Dibujando Tarde"

Interview with SketchTheater

2011-11-28T15:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.sketchtheatre.com/interviews/nicolas-villarreal-interview/

Thank you very much to the very kind Lily Feliciano from Sketch Theater, for this wonderful and fun interview.

"Sheep Stew"

2011-10-11T21:01:00.001-07:00

Painted Caddy

2011-09-19T11:56:00.000-07:00

Bagger Vance Sketch

2011-08-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

"Pasteur-Iced" - COMING SOON

2011-06-29T21:25:00.000-07:00

Retratos y científicos

2011-06-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Head Studies

Gouache

...yeap, I really miss oil painting....

The ninjas' pad

2011-04-26T22:11:00.000-07:00

Wondercon People!

2011-04-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

Wondercon fellas that I sketched while there....

WONDERCON 2011 - ARTISTS' ALLEY AA 164

2011-03-04T20:16:00.001-08:00

studies and stuff.....

2011-02-22T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is what a typical page of studies looks like before I start animating, usual stuff: charts, coming soon signs and an old man and a bottle of milk with a bow (?!)

Short Short Short

2011-01-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

All right, here we go again. After one year of being in production and a few months in pre-production (and neglecting my blog as usual) last Monday I edited the 23rd version (…yes, 23rd) of the combined animatic of my short film, initial animatic with final color animation, sound effects and temporary soundtrack. Right now it’s close to 6 minutes, 5:47 minutes to be precise. Almost 3:00 minutes are completed. Last week I spent near to 35 hours (thumbnails, value and color studies, final drawing and final painting) on a background and it will be on the screen for 3 seconds…I know what you are thinking, but I can't wait to start the next one...

Also, if you are curious of how it’s coming along I have opened as well a twitter account @nicovillarreal and I will be posting updates of my short film regularly.

One of the first versions of the storyboard and some concept art....

Now, check list (don’t you love check lists?) of important “stuff” to animate…or at least that I like to have around( picture included).

1) The principles of animation by Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas.
2) Barbara’s chair (Bradley) for inspiration and all the help that I can get from her (which I need badly).
3) Tea cup… with Tinkerbell flying (very important)
4) Various quotes. One of my favorite ones by B. Franklin “ By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”
5) Pencil sharpener (the louder the better) and sand paper.
6) My favorite Poem by Mr. Pablo Neruda “ You are the result of yourself” (this one works every single time)
7) Drawings by my favorite animators, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis and of course Glen Keane…there is one of his drawing buried somewhere there too.
8) Characters sheets, expressions, construction, body, hands, etc, you know that kind of stuff.
9) Tea boxes and toys, mainly from my childhood. The incredibles, and some He-Man toys, that’s right, a half unclothed Prince Adam (what? The guy was almost naked!), as weird as that may sound he is right there on top of my desk hanging out with Mr. Trap-jaw and Remy from Ratatouille.
10) 2 incredible books by Bill (Maughan)
11) Maquettes of the two characters and the turn around of my character. Very useful referenced when you are beating a drawing up to paper coma, which unfortunately happens all the time.
12) Several crucial notes by Sherrie (Sinclair)
13) …and an animation desk, paper and some pencils would help too.

....the stack of paper is getting thicker....

Signing off for now. 10-4.

CTN EXPO (T-62)

2010-11-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

I will be at table T-62 at this year's Creative Talent Network Expo, in Burbank (19th and 21st of November). Hope to see everyone there.

This guy right here is the result of the break that I took from my short film. It's a ninja!!!...thought the explanation was needed...

APE Convention - San Francisco

2010-10-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

I will be attending to Ape Convention, booth #436A ... just in case here is the address and the dates: Saturday, Oct. 16 (11am - 7pm) Sunday, Oct. 17 (11am - 6pm) The Concourse, 635 8th Street. I will be attending as well to CTN (Creative Talent Network) in Burbank (19th and 21st of November) Very kindly, they sent me 10 % off coupons that I will be sharing at Ape. I don't have them in large quantities so, if you are interested feel free to stop by and pick them up!

Moreover, this is one of the backgrounds from my short film that I'm woking on right now.....

COMIC-CON 2010!

2010-07-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

COMIC-CON 2010! We will be at booth 5530 with my good friends Dan Cooney, Jeremy Saliba and Mr. Brian Schirmer. right across from DC Comics, from the 21st to 25th of July.

Monsters!

2010-06-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

No excuses for neglecting my blog for so long! so, here we go: These are a bunch of concepts that I did for a project exploring secondary characters. I took these ones and "cleaned them up" from the original sketches. I did several more to reach these "final" ones but they were a little too loose to show...

New book Available

2010-04-20T22:22:00.000-07:00

I am happy to announce that my book will be available very soon at Stuart Ng and at amazon.com as well. If you would like to get a copy before, I would gladly mail it over if you e-mail me at Nicolas.villarreal@gmail.com. Thank you!

WONDERCON and NEW BOOK - BOOTH 1344!!

2010-03-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

WONDERCON! We will be at booth 1344 with Julian Meyer and Joko Budiono at Moscone Center in San Francisco. April, Friday 02, Saturday 03, and Sunday 04.

Portraits and Cards

2009-11-30T18:48:00.001-08:00

SMOKE...

2009-07-23T19:53:00.001-07:00

After a little surgical procedure facelift, here is the brand new Smoke....and hopefully the final version. Very soon the rest of the characters.

Estudiantes de La Plata Campeón de America!

2009-07-16T14:52:00.001-07:00

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Today is not a post about drawings or a post about paintings, is not a post about lines, cast or form shadows, reflected light or how to try to use colors, is not even a post regarding animation or anything related to it. I'ts a post about my team Estudiantes de La Plata from Argentina, that yesterday in Brazil, in front of 70,000 fans of Cruzeiro at the Mineirao (yes, 70,000), El Pincha came back from a 0-1 to a 2-1 and become after 39 years Champion of America winning The Libertadores Cup and qualifying to the World Cup of Clubs in Dubai in December. Salud Campeones y Vamos Campeon, Vamos Pinchay y Vamos Bruja querido!

Hoy no es un post sobre dibujos ni pinturas, no es un post sobre lineas, sombras proyectadas o suaves, luz reflejada o como tratar de usar colores, no es nisiquiera un post sobre animacion ni nada relacionando con ella. Es un post sobre mi equipo Estudiantes de La Plata de Argentina, que ayer en Brasil, frente a 70,000 hinchas del Cruzeiro (si, 70,000) El Pincha iba abajo 0-1 y lo dio vuelta 2-1 y se consagro despues de 39 anos Campeon de America ganando La Copa Libertadores y clasificandose para el Mundial de Clubes en Dubai en Diciembre. Salud Campeones y Vamos Campeon, Vamos Pincha y Vamos Bruja querido!

Ogre!

2009-06-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

Bycicles, cars and umbrellas...

2009-04-28T12:17:00.000-07:00

...good luck trying to fly....

..he is one happy fella...

Smiletown and stuff with clothes and fur

2009-03-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

....more conceptual art for Smiletown which is now called "The Frolics". The good news are that after one year of production the short it's done! We are just wrapping up the final details and hopefully I'll be able to put it online next week....

....a clothed figure sketch to mix it up a little bit...

And now some animals from today's field-trip to the new Academy of Sciences in the Golden Gate Park. I took my class today and we sketched all day. These were done with a black ballpoint pen...

Smiletown Painting and...

2008-09-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

This is the painting from the design down below. I received the approval from Chris Kauflin, the writer of the series of Smiletown Books to post it. This is part of the concept art for the 3d short that we are doing.

DRUNKEN MOUSE...yes, DRUNKEN MOUSE.

So....I walked into my office a few days ago, and I found the box of little chocolate bottles (evidence A) that was a gift, scratched open and 6 tiny bottles have been half eaten/drunken. I asked Terryl (Terryl Whitlach, amazing and extremely knowledgeable creature designer) and she said "Yes, that was a mouse". I usually don't post pictures, but I'm proud to say that : A mouse, broke into my office, ate some chocolate, got drunk with scotch, and left.....provably to an after hour office party.

PS: She did also say that "provably it died after that". So, minute of silence. Rest in peace little guy.

Comic- Con Biker dude

2008-08-01T19:15:00.001-07:00

I saw this guy just "chilling" on my way to Comic-Con...

...a little traditional

2008-07-16T14:45:00.001-07:00

...A little traditional just for a change, and 2 posts within a week!!! . These were models from my class at the Academy. Long poses, short ones and even shorter than the ones before, 10 secs. That day was a lot of fun, but we ended up exhausted...

Sketches...

2008-07-09T13:01:00.001-07:00

....pilot mosquitos and a beach house.....you know, the usual stuff :P

Barbara Bradley

2008-05-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

Very sad news. Barbara Bradley passed away this last Friday. Barbara was for every one of her students not only a teacher, but also a mentor and a friend, always looking over your shoulder helping you as much as she could. Thank you very much for sharing all your knowledge and warmth with us very fondly. You will be immensely missed and we will always remember you. Rest in peace.

http://thankyoubarbarabradley.com/

....a tree

2008-04-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is part of the concept art that I'm doing for a Children's Book and a tv series.......it's a big tree.

www.Sketchtheater.com

2008-04-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.sketchtheatre.com/?page_id=128

These are a few demos that I did for Sketchtheater, I had the pleasure of meeting everyone a few weeks ago and they invited me to draw. Thank you very much!!

....I hope you like them......

The Fantastic For Oz

2007-12-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

These are my last pieces for the challenge "Painting Potluck", a blogspot that we have with a few friends. Last week was redesigning The Wizard of Oz and this one was "Freak Show", the subject matter changes every week....go and check it out if you have sometime, some of the pieces turned out really nice.

Sketches!!!

2007-12-05T18:54:00.000-08:00

...about time, these are a bunch of sketches from my...well...sketchbook, where else, right? .... some more Thundercats
and also I was playing around with shapes for fairies, cartoon and a little more realistic. I hope you guys like them...

The Rocketter

2007-10-24T16:01:00.000-07:00

A design that I did of the Rocketter a while ago...yes it doesn't really count because its old, but come on, its the rocketter!!!!

. Sruonoun -

2007-10-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Valkyries

2007-10-12T21:35:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be cool for the story to make the Valkyries flying mermaids. When sent by Oden to pick up the bodies to
take them to the Valhalla (Hall of the slain) and became einherjar (spirits of great warriors), her fins would be made out of alive hair, wrapping around the bodies and bring them back......

Young Odin

2007-10-12T21:29:00.000-07:00

...concept desings of yound Oden....I think he was missing an eye... right?

Odin & Ravens

2007-10-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

A few more concept desings of "old" Oden...

Dudness

2007-08-22T12:58:00.000-07:00

bad dude.......he likes "In'n out" animal style

and yes, more thundercats

2007-08-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

we get it dude, you like to draw kitties....

Thundercats!!!!

2007-08-22T12:55:00.000-07:00

....more thundercats

City design

2007-08-22T12:54:00.000-07:00

Cityscape for the "Tummy show"....im not sure but I think there is a "seal" hidden there somewhere....

Thundera....

2007-08-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Color studies

Thumbnail studies

2007-08-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

This is the thumbnail storyboard for the "Thundercats Trailer" and a bunch of studies.

...about time

2007-08-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

A bunch of sketches from my...well....sketchbook

Seinfeld

2007-06-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is an oil painting that I did a looooong while ago, but I like Kramer's shirt.....its cool.....don't you think?......it has lobsters!!

....some ketchup expressions....

2007-06-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

...he does like ketchup a lot.

mmmgggrrrrr......

2007-06-21T21:20:00.001-07:00

He likes Ketchup.

Portfolio Cover

2007-06-20T22:03:00.001-07:00

chetaraa

2007-05-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

Chiks= hot

Chiks looking like cheetahs=hotter

Quick study

2007-05-19T19:12:00.000-07:00

...another quick study in photoshop.

Concept for Crack'd

2007-05-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

A graphic concept for crack'd...after several hours I found out that graphic is not as easy as it looks, no kidding huh.

Color studies

2007-05-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Color keys for the short Crack'd. Very graphic.

Soldier study

2007-05-17T16:01:00.000-07:00

A quick study of Brad Pitt in Troy......yes, brad pitt. Thats what happens when drawing at 2:00 am

2007-03-24T15:49:00.002-07:00

Value sketches and color sketches for "The Adventures of Tummy"

2007-03-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

This is one of the Sculptures that I did for a 2D Animation project....pretty cute.

2007-03-24T15:45:00.000-07:00

A few expressios from the main character of the shor that we are doing "Crack'd".

2007-03-24T15:42:00.000-07:00

Another sculpture for the same project...not as cute as the other one.

2007-02-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

This guy doesn't like my hand drawings....unfortunately he is right.

2007-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:00

Mumraa Concept

This a concept for Mumraa. I thought that it would be fun to re design the Thundercats but in darker style.

2007-02-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

This painting was for a novel by Katherine Snow called Wix and a Half.

2007-02-11T20:17:00.000-08:00

Chetaraa
...another concept for the Thundercats.

2007-02-11T20:16:00.002-08:00

Lion-o concept

This is the first concept of Lion-o. I thought that it would be interesting making them humanized animals(humans with animal features) to accentuate the "cat side"

2007-02-11T20:16:00.001-08:00

Concepts for the "T" Show

2007-02-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

Old Lion -O

2007-02-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

...another lion-o and some costume thumbnails

2007-02-11T20:13:00.000-08:00

Lion-o 2

2007-02-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

...more "T" show

2006-12-21T22:12:00.000-08:00

Lion-o sketches