Adele K Thomas Daily Scribbles

Train scribble: Red Riding Hood

2012-01-29T07:20:00.000-08:00

Mollusks Backgrounds

2012-01-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

Images belong to Maik Hempel

www.maikhempel.com

Random

2012-01-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

Not sure what this is, its cross between an 80's model advertising a speaker/headphones system and some goblins from a random adventure...either way, I needed to do a scribble.

Cassowaries

2012-01-04T02:38:00.000-08:00

I went to a theme park today with my parents and always find the Cassowaries in the animal area interesting, they always look so prehistoric to me.

New Year Bird Cheer

2012-01-03T04:36:00.000-08:00

Im currently away at my parent's place on the Gold Coast in Queensland and since there are hundreds of birds hanging around, I thought Id draw some...unfortunately I forgot my pencils & pad of all things, so I had to make do with a notebook, biro and then digital to colour.
These are Australian birds; Lorikeets, a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and a Crested Pigeon.

Have a Merry Christmas!

2011-12-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

Id like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a great New Year! Remember to check out the Mollusks series, rated MA 15+

Mollusks Trailer.

2011-12-05T17:08:00.001-08:00

Please note, the series is MA 15+...it's not for the little ones.

Mollusks: Its a wrap!

2011-12-03T23:23:00.001-08:00

This year I worked on Mollusks (the short seven part animated series) creating all the layouts and painted backgrounds, as well as working on some builds and props. Here is a message from the Mollusks director, Maik Hempel.

"It's a wrap... as they say. All done and delivered to Movie Network Channels. Now keep your beady eyes peeled for the official trailer!
Check out the cast of Mollusks in our Behind the Scenes album! Including Shaun Micallef, Bob Franklin, Roz Hammond, Dave Callan and Adrian Calear."

Watch the trailer and follow the news on the Mollusks facebook page! I'll be sure to post some screenshots featuring my work soon.

Here Adele explains the process in patronising detail.
(Photo by Maik Hempel)

Working hard!

2011-11-28T18:31:00.001-08:00

Now that my job on the Kath & Kim film is wrapped, its time to put my head down & work hard on my bible for Cartoon Network...due date is the 30th of December, wish me luck!

Film crew work: Its a wrap!

2011-11-25T22:54:00.001-08:00

So my job as a lighting stand in on the Kath and Kim Filim wrapped up on Friday, I thought id just share a photo I had with Richard E. Grant.

The job was so much fun, as were the cast and crew and I would love to do it again. The best part was working close with actors and writers whom I have been a fan of since I was thirteen!

Rejected

2011-11-10T21:01:00.001-08:00

Here are some rejected dog concepts I did for a recent job, the client chose a manga style in the end...not submitted by me.

Scribbles whilst on set: squirrels

2011-10-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today, 90's X-men Rogue will be played by...

2011-10-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

Here I am as 90's X Men Rogue at the Melbourne Armageddon. I totally forgot my headband (left at home) and my X came off my belt. I will not make those mistakes again for next year's Supanova, the big expo. I was glad I went sans costume on the second day as it was stinking hot. I picked up a MOTU Beastman figure and MOTU tee for Maik, plus an old school TMNT tee, a munny to paint one day and a Greedo and Admiral Ackbar Lego minifig.

Exhibition and Advertising

2011-10-15T02:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a photo of me at the IA exhibition on Friday night and I picked up the new IA book 12, advertising all the Illustrators Australia artists. So if you are an agent or studio and the Illustrators Australia book 12 comes through your door, flip to page 42 for my details!

French Fox

2011-10-09T04:49:00.000-07:00

So this is most likely the last bit of personal art for the next seven weeks. I start a new job tomorrow as a lighting stand in on an Australian feature film, which I'm pretty excited about because I have always wanted to do it. I'm going to take a new sketchbook along just in case I feel like a scribble in the downtime, as when I come home I have to keep going with the background painting for Mollusks and won't have time for my own stuff. Wish me luck!
I also have some busy weekends ahead with the Illustrators Australia exhibition and seminar, as well as the Armageddon convention (ill be dressed as Rogue from the 90's X-men), I'm going to see Janet Jackson this month AND the Melbourne Zombie Shuffle is being held on Halloween. October is the month of fun Ive been waiting for!

Vote for me!

2011-10-08T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here is the painting (again) I did for the Illustrators Australia exhibition happening this Friday 14th. Click the image to go and have a vote if you dig it for the "audience favourite" award. All paintings are up for auction...if someone buys mine, I can buy a new vacum cleaner!

CBCA Crichton Award Short List Certificate

2011-09-25T21:02:00.000-07:00

Rapture Painting

2011-09-18T00:04:00.001-07:00

Here is my finished painting (and some progress shots) for the Illustrators Australia Rapture exhibition. I'm going to get get it professionally scanned and printed, just in case someone fancies buying it in the auction. I'll be surprised if someone does. I gave it my best shot with the time & skills I had and happy with the result. I think my inked version is the best looking of the bunch, I have more skill with a pen than a brush.

I still draw stuff...

2011-09-14T00:21:00.000-07:00

At the moment Im really busy with Mollusks the Series & can't really do any personal drawing unless its for my CN bible and I cant show that stuff. So I thought id share these drawings I did at the start of the year. They were for a project that hasn't really gone anywhere & if it did at all in the future, Im sure the illustrations will be different. Anyway, I didnt want them to go to waste.

Blah, blah, TV business, blah.

2011-09-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

I was on TV this week on an Australian current affairs show called Today Tonight, where I was just faffing about in clothes for a story on garment & how they stand up to Australian tests. Anyway, here are the many emotions of my upper torso & my face talking like a ponce about how "I was really surprised at the quality of the cheaper range of clothing...blah blah blah"...idiot face. I even got my own "Fail" graphic!
Good news, I just got a job as a lighting stand-in for an actor in an Australian film for October through to November, full time & something Ive never done before, yay money! So I will most likely be unavailable for work during that period.

Rapture...work in progress.

2011-09-04T03:40:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be submitting a painting for the Illustrators Australia 16th Annual 9x5 Exhibition, where members paint onto a supplied bit of wood, similar to a cigar box. This year's theme is 'Rapture' & here is my rough sketch and inked illustration. Ill be printing it out reversed, so I can then rub a lead print of it onto my wood as a guide for when I paint. The finished product won't be as heavily inked as this, its just a guide for my brain. The finished paintings will go up for auction, I'll have to make sure I get a really good scan done, because I want my own print for my wall. Looking forward to painting this...all my dearly departed pets are in here somewhere.

News

2011-08-24T04:16:00.000-07:00

So I am free to announce now, that I did not win the Children's Book Council of Australia's Crichton Award for a first time children's book illustrator, I was in the top six finalists. I was informed about a month ago but couldn't say anything. So now I'm just looking forward to my runner up certificate to arrive, so I can post it up for all to see.

At the moment I haven't got any time to do my own sketches as I'm busy painting background's for The Mollusk's web series and designing characters for my Cartoon Network mini-bible. Of course this means I don't have time for much paid work, but when your so busy doing something you enjoy from home, who cares right?...right?!

Ive also sent off a manuscript for a picture book to Scholastic, fingers crossed someone gets back to me with some promising news in the future.

Back to the drawing board...the second illustration is a concept that came out tonight, totally wrong for what im doing but I liked him, so I though Id share...must have needed to draw how I felt at the time.

I had to colour it...

2011-08-13T00:22:00.000-07:00

True Blood and a Space Chimp.

2011-08-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Virgin Australia

2011-08-01T05:54:00.001-07:00

No art this week as Im busy on Maik's Mollusks project...but here (above) is another commercial I popped up in. Im the blurry one on the right in a brown dress, advertising Virgin Australia's Melbourne Lounge...this will probably be the only time in my life ill be in a business lounge, unless I can make a project happen. The full commercial is here.
This other picture is just something silly I did for a True Blood blog & needed somewhere to host it...just ignore it.

True Blood

2011-07-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Another True Blood illustration. This is a little tounge-in-cheek reference to a scene in the 4th series. I was inspired to do it due to the flood of True Blood news coming out of Comic Con this weekend.Earlier this year I got to meet & have a photo with Denis O'Hare, who plays Russell Edgington (the King of Mississippi) at Supanova.

Mr. Tartan Pants

2011-07-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

This is my week five character illustration, saw this dude on chapel street...I wanted his tartan pants.

Sweaty Bruce Lee Wannabe

2011-07-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

I started doing combat classes at my gym & this dude shows up. He thought he was some sort of Bruce Lee, making noises, curling his hands up & being really intense. That made him out of time with the rest of the class, almost kicked me in the head and then spat/sweated all over us.

Eric, Sookie & Bill.

2011-07-10T01:46:00.000-07:00

With the return of HBO's True Blood this month, I wanted to do a quick scribble depicting the evolution of the characters Sookie, Eric & Bill over the past four seasons. If you are a fan of this show, you'll know what this means.

This isn't my week four drawing, I dont have time this week as I have to work on my bible after work, but will try to do a few characters towards the end of next week based on a few characters Ive locked away in my memory OR I might be tempted to do a Space Ape fighting a Lizard on an Ice planet.

X-men's Rogue, 90's style.

2011-07-04T08:36:00.001-07:00

Found some time to do my week three drawing, something fun and bright. Next week ill return to a character I observe in real life...this time a man.

Featured on Design Montage

2011-07-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

The lovely Janica Smith has an awesome Australian blog which showcases Australian artists, Design Montage The Creative Hub. My work and Q&A have just been posted, so check it out if you want to know more about me. There is also a profile on my boyfriend Maik Hempel and talented friends Peter Yong and Chris Kennett.

Women at the grocery store.

2011-07-02T00:59:00.000-07:00

I was a little sidetracked this week but managed to fit in these ladies.

Snip-Snip McWhip-Flip

2011-06-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

With Maik writing his stuff for Mollusks, I was inspired to go back and paint this little sketch I found in my files, he's a Scotish Lobster...I think we'll go eat some seafood tomorrow.

Eurotrash Lady

2011-06-18T06:40:00.000-07:00

Here is a illustration based on the lady who owns the Eurotrash "fashion" store on Chapel Street here in Melbourne. I talked to her last weekend as she attempted to play fetch with her Italian Greyhound. She said she didnt do it much with him...I could tell by her throwing arm...she sounded like Zaza Gabore and is well known for her bright red hair.

Anyway, Im starting a job again this week for about 8-12 weeks & there isnt much creative drawing involved, so I thought Id try & do a weekly illustration in my spare time. Just to keep me going till the day I have to do some characters for the bible Im working on...dont want to screw that up!

Yeti Loves Avant Card on stands tomorrow!

2011-06-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Just saw this photo of the new June batch of Avant Cards and there is Yeti, right in the middle! Got to go out tomorrow and literally take part in the experience of taking my own card off the stand and document it...going to have to get a stranger to do it as my partner in crime (Maik) is away. You can also download an e-card version at Avant Card's site.

Pet stores make me sad.

2011-06-05T00:51:00.000-07:00

I have seen this Pomeranian puppy in the window of a pet store here in Melbourne for over 2 months. I dont have permission to have a dog in my apartment, Im waiting a bit to ask & I was planning to adopt if I get a 'yes'. Whenever I pass this guy, who looks like a fox, I want to save him from his glass home. I wonder how much longer till he either is bought or moves on elsewhere.

Avant Cards on their way!

2011-06-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

I saw an update on Avant Card's facebook page and spotted my yeti!

Footlocker Art Prize Entry

2011-05-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

I have just entered my first entry into the Australian Footlocker Art Prize competition. My entry is called Converse All Star Monster Mash Up. The winner is selected by judges, thank goodness, because there is nothing worse than online voting...not everyone has millions of friends! Anyway, you can be voted up for a public favourite, here is the link for my Footlocker Art entry. You just click the menu tab "appreciate" above my entry and click 'like' and/or 'share'.

Side project scribble

2011-05-04T01:18:00.000-07:00

Character I designed for a side project Im currently playing around with.

My mug is back on TV!

2011-05-02T05:40:00.000-07:00

With the new season of Masterchef Australia, comes the re-run of the Coles Masterchef commercial. Here are some screenshots for those who didnt see it last time...starring celebrity chef Curtis Stone. Also my latest background "actor" work on the new season of channel Ten's Offspring, as one of Nina's American friends.

Last bit of art for now...Avant Card.

2011-04-19T04:41:00.001-07:00

Here is the final colour illustration (and thumbnail) for Avant Card I finished last week. The original sketch is a couple of posts below. I will have to look out for it on the racks in a couple of months, if you are in Australia in June and see it...GRAB IT!
Im taking a break from industry work, freelance and bascically anything work wise from Easter for three weeks. I havent had a holiday since Christmas 2009, I have been working full time in freelance ever since. I was meant to take this three weeks off over last Christmas, but had a full time contract offered to me for a character design job, so I chose to postpone. Anyhoo, it's my birthday this Sunday 24th of April, its Easter and my wrist is telling me to stop working. Anyone in this time who contacts me and asks for work will unfortunately get a "no".

Made the shortlist!

2011-04-12T22:18:00.000-07:00

Over at the Children's Book Council of Australia, they announced the shortlist for the Crichton Award for Illusrators and I made it in to the chosen six with my illustrations from The Monster Maintenance Manual (written by Peter Macinnis). The winner is announced on the 19th of August.

'Like' me on Facebook!

2011-04-07T03:34:00.000-07:00

You can now follow me on Facebook and my blog feeds onto my facebook page. Just scroll down and find the Facebook box on the right and click 'like'. I haven't been doing much personal stuff recently, because I was working on my Wonder Woman costume for Supanova for the weekend, which you can see here.

betelgeuse! betelgeuse! betelgeuse!

2011-04-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Over at the Autumn Society they are doing another fantastic art show in honor of three great pop culture/cult movies. Last year it was the 3G, Ghostbusters, Gremlins & Goonies, and this year its the 3B -Beetlejuice, Back to the Future & Bill and Ted's movies. You have to be invited to participate, but I felt the urge to pump out a quick little sketch of my favourite. Check out their blog.
I have been invited by Avant Card Australia to submit an art work for their next issue of their free postcards. They are an Australia wide free postcard/advertising company and you can find their stands right across the country. Each year they invite new artists to submit work and then a few are chosen to be published for free. I used to collect them back when I was a teenager, so its pretty awesome to know that this year ill have my work on their postcards for other people to pick up. Here is the rough sketch, for once not digitally. Also this week ill be finishing my full time job as a character designer with Zactoons and going back to doing some backgrounds for Studio Moshi for a couple of weeks. My late April camping holiday/30th to The Great Ocean Road with Maik is starting to look pretty good. Unfortunately when we return we have to move house and then ill collapse with exhaustion. By the way, why are my characters always running lately? Must be something psychological, I need to get away...betelgeuse! betelgeuse! betelgeuse!

Monster Maintenance Manual now on Book Depository, free shipping worldwide!

2011-03-31T17:37:00.001-07:00

The Book Depository (online store) is now selling The Monster Maintenance Manual for $18.38 (AUD) about the same in USD and you get free postage world wide! My friend's and I have used it recently for a range of purchases and they are really friendly and quick. So what are you waiting for? Ive been nominated for the 2011 Crichton Award for new Illustrators in Victoria. 2011 Oscar winner Shaun Tanwon the award back in 2002...so it would be pretty cool to win.

Melbourne Geek

2011-03-28T01:55:00.001-07:00

A job I did for a pal Josh & his new site coming soon, Melbourne Geek.

Has Pixar moved into the food industry?

2011-03-22T03:42:00.000-07:00

I saw this tonight at my local supermarket here in Australia. I literally did a double take as I walked past the shelves of what looked like Pixar branded Thai jasmine rice with Flick staring back at me. I had to take a photo, now so you can own your very own 'A Bug's Life' Thai Jasmine rice!

Just because you have been good...

2011-03-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

...here is another monster for you to look at, a Dangerous Goldfish.

Troll Doll!

2011-03-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

I was responding to some comments recently and I was told I was "trolling". I was simply replying to comments and someone must have felt I was responding too much. After looking up the meaning, it turns out I wasn't "trolling", but all it did was make me think of a Troll Doll, because I used to collect them when I was younger.

Mollusks Backgrounds

2011-03-04T20:33:00.000-08:00

Some backgrounds I did for Maik Hempel's Mollusks trailer, click here to see the site.

Painted in photoshop. All images belong to Maik Hempel.

The Little Johnny Movie

2011-02-21T16:55:00.000-08:00

In the second half of last year I worked on an Australian flash animated LOW budget film called Little Johnny the Movie. I worked on flash build, layout & also coloured some backgrounds. Here are some stills from the website, as you can see, its not really for children. If you are a fan of Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson, Ute Musters & beer, this one is for you. In these images I did all of the layouts. All images remain the property of Instinct Entertainment.

On another note, I just saw that the AOP have used my illustrations on one of their products, part of their fundraising project.

Sharing Time

2011-02-18T03:44:00.000-08:00

I realised I never posted up any more images from The Monster Maintenance Manual or concepts like I promised, so here you go. You can see a bunch on my site too that are not here, but don't use Internet Explorer, it doesnt work. These are still not all of them, there were over 60, so I cant put them all up...you have to buy the book!

Lunchtime Scribble Therapy

2011-02-15T19:31:00.001-08:00

I have that Willow Smith song stuck in my head, so I had to get my frustration out by scribbling her...she's alright, I like her better than the other Karate Kid rip-off Smith. I wonder how many hours a week she spends preparing for this early music career? Some how I dont see colouring-in book fun fitting in between her schedule of singing practice with Fresh Prince and Scientology tuning.

Always busy with nothing to show for it.

2011-02-07T05:35:00.000-08:00

I'm very busy right now working for a company called Zactoons, designing characters, something which I have always wanted to do other than backgrounds and layouts. I recently saw one of them in a test animation and it was great to see it come to life without me having to animate it. So that is what I have been up too.

Over the weekend I was talking with a fellow artist friend about how frustrating it is, to not be able to display almost all of the industry work I have done before the The Little Johnny Movie (which comes out on April 1st). I have done about 18 months of work including layouts, environments, animation, character and prop concepts for a variety of projects, but cannot display them in an online folio. This is because they have all been for pilots, trailers or pitches which are tied up in the world of animation business. I know there are many artists who are in the same position as me, who have to show their work on private blogs, unable to just hang it out there in the web for any potential clients or artists to see. Unfortunately, thats the way it goes...I have all this "treasure" and no pirates to find it.

Because I have done so much layout work recently, Im less inclined to do it in my spare time, so my website and blog have no environments but characters instead. Maybe now Im doing character design for a job, I may end up doing some environment concepts in my spare time? Or just sit on the couch.
If anyone is wondering why all my images of the red headed girl with blue creature vanished, there is a good reason...but I can't say anything more than that.

Anyway, back to work!

Bronze Award!

2011-01-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

Good news, I just won one of the Bronze places in the Illustrators Australia Australian Creative Magazine Awards for my work on The Monster Maintenance Manual. Over 250 entrants and 40 winners in multiple categories. Pretty good way to start the week. The magazine is published this week with a special pull out with all the winners, something to photocopy to send to mum and dad!

Update: Unfortunately my work didn't really make it into the magazine's pages, just the Gold and Silver were visually represented by their entry and their contact details. My name is there with the other Bronze peeps...somewhere. I told mum not to bother buying a picture frame. I was happy to see my fantasy illustration friend Jon get his Silver work in there amoungst all the graphic design illustration, which it seemed to mainly focus on. Waiting for my certificate to come in the mail.

Aeon Flux

2011-01-10T00:04:00.001-08:00

The ice lolly is a reference to one of the episodes...I like the look of them.

2011...a busy start to the year.

2011-01-07T07:02:00.000-08:00

Well its only the very start of January and Im back into full time work. I've started an awesome character design job for Perth/Sydney company Zactoons and really enjoying it. I get to work at home and have the luxury of a daily bike ride around the lake outside. I spent the majority of the second half of the year doing layouts and flash builds for Little Johnny the movie, so its great to get back into character design. Its also wonderful practice for when I have to start drawing up all the characters for a mini-bible Im working on soon for my own project.

Maik and I find out in a few days if his animated web series "Mollusks" has won $50, 000 to make a series, you can check out the site here. Maik managed to get Australian comedian Bob Franklin on board for a possible voice actor and also filmed him doing some funny sketches for a plea for votes.

The Badger above is an illustration I did some time last year and meant to finish colouring it, so I squeezed it in after today's character design load.

Holidays!

2010-12-16T06:54:00.000-08:00

So it's that time of year when projects end, your creative juices run out (literally, you are drawing rubbish) and your hand starts to shake and ache. You have to stop before its too late and before you have to reach for a wrist brace to ease any future possibilty of RSI...so it must be Christmas break!
I want to wish all my friends, fellow artists and followers a merry Christmas and a happy new year! I myself will be quitting the computer from this Saturday and not doing anything with my right hand creatively for two weeks or so...except for putting food in my mouth, playing DJ Hero and pressing remote buttons.

I have to have a break before the very busy 2011 starts and I suggest you also take a break if you can...look at the outside world, the people and creatures and take in some new inspirations this holiday break (and go see a heap of movies!) If you want to feel good, do what I did today, donate to the RSPCA and Lost Dogs Home. I also bought a cactus (called Mc Stabby)...I dont have a dog to spoil this Christmas.

One last photo of the book in store at Readings...placed in the section with lego, world records and Star Wars books...fail or win?

Have fun!

x Adele

Monster Maintenance Manual Review

2010-11-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

The author of the Monster Maintenance Manual sent me a link of a blog review...they mention my "superb" illustrations. That's pretty cool!
Ive recently updated my website, so you can see a bunch of monsters from the book...but don't use IE to view it as it sucks and doesn't show anything.
Here is a photo of the book in the Kinokuniya bookstore in Sydney when I went to pitch at SPAA recently.

Im just finishing off Little Johnny the Movie and some freelance for an Australian director. It will be the last work I take on for 2010. In January I will be starting a character design job from home (yay!) whilst I work on a mini bible for a project I succesfully pitched to a children's network. Because of these two big tasks, everything else will have to wait, including my Sneakerfox project ive had on the backburner for six months!
P.S. Skeletor has nothing to do with anything, he is just a scribble.

The Monster Maintenance Manual now available!

2010-11-02T00:48:00.000-07:00

The book is out (written by Peter Macinnis) and although I only found one copy after looking in four bookshops on the Gold Coast, friends back in Melbourne were able to find it. My friend Andy took a photo of his copy, thanks to him & Chris for the support. I did find five copies in Brisbane, my friends Rosa, Mark, Katie & Gemma each bought a copy and the store got me to sign two. Here is a photo of me with a copy of the book in Recent Releases.

Official book release date AND its at Borders!

2010-10-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

The official release date for The Monster Maintenance Manual is the 1st of November and it will be available at Borders...and many other stores...WHOO!
Here are three of the sixty or so illustrations I did.

I may not post for a bit as I have just finished my role on Little Johnny: The Movie and I will be busy with freelance for a bit...so not alot of time for scribbles. I'll also be going away for two weeks to Queensland at the end of the month to visit family and friends AND Ive had to put my upcoming craft project (Sneakerfox) on hold because my sewing skills were in demand for my Princess Leia Hoth costume for the Empire Strikes Back 30th Anniversary Gala!

So unless I sneak something on here or post again about the book, ill be back around November...this ham sandwich can keep you amused until then.

Check out Maik's new trailer for his series 'Mollusks', his entry into the Movie Web Fest Competition, I painted the backgrounds in a very quick turnaround but I think they fit in pretty nicely.

Missing anything?

2010-10-11T23:07:00.000-07:00

This is an illustration I did at work when I finished my week's quota and today I had no work to do, so I coloured him. Im glad because I haven't done a nice coloured illustration for a while.

Chocoooolaaaate!!!

2010-09-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

These guys made me do it...

2010-09-27T02:09:00.001-07:00

Saw this on a blog and I wanted to do it too, people and companies who inspired me to be an illustrator, background artist and animator in the film and TV industry. From top left:

John K's Ren & Stimpy -It was THE show of my teen years.

Bruce Timm -His women and illustrations are just brilliant, I love everyone of them.

Henri Rousseau's Surprised! Tiger in a Tropical Storm -This painting has been my favourite artwork since I was 7.

Tim Burton's earlier films - I love the darkness and angles in Batman Returns.

Cosgrove Hall animated shows -I grew up in England with so many of their shows like Dangermouse, Duckula, Wind In the Willows and more.

Aardman -They were also a kew stand out studio in my early years in England and the original creature comforts are the best as well as their Sledgehammer music video for Peter Gabriel.

Mary Blair -I love her colour styling & influence on one of my favourite animated Disney films Alice in Wonderland.

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho -,One of my favourite films, it's camera composition, angles, everything about it I love.

My parents -Never discouraged me from the path of being an artist...my mum constantly stocked up my art supplies.

Cabbage Power!

2010-09-14T21:30:00.000-07:00

I'm dedicating this to our Little Johnny production manager Neil, who is a very hard working cabbage.

Quick Couch Scribble

2010-09-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here is something I did quickly based on a few scribbles Id done a while ago. She is some sort of flame steampunk mutant woman with flaming hair and one of those flame extinguisher thingys...I don't have photoshop at the moment as my motherboard died, so Im just working on my net book,

Nurse Zombie Adele by Alex Drummond

2010-09-01T17:57:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a painting by Alex Drummond (freelance concept artist), who based his Zombie study painting on me, I feel so special! The image is based on the time when I went to the Melbourne Zombie walk this year. Its so cool, I wish it had come from my hands, go check out his other cool stuff at his blog.

The Monster Maintenance Manual

2010-08-31T20:31:00.000-07:00

Holy Macaroni! Look what I just found, promotional release details for the book I illustrated for Murdoch Books, written by Peter Macinnis. All you peeps with kids or without, buy the Monster Maintenance Manual in November, its only $30, huge & one of those books that you keep discovering things as you age & re-read...& most importantly you can support my art career. Apparently its an Australia & UK release and more countries to follow...I'm so excited, I'm just so excited! A copy is coming my way next week. This is a Long Legged Underbed Pig, it was one of the monsters you had to do for the initial brief...I had to clean him up a bit more for the final book, but Im glad to see he made it in.

Update: Got the book...its freakin' sweet! When it is released ill be posting more images up here and maybe some of the rejected concepts.

Maik's Dorito's ad in top 3, please vote for him!...and pray my PC recovers.

2010-08-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

Please vote for Maik's Dorito's Ad entry & help a artist get some money to work on their own projects! it's the only animated entry and called Fantasy Corn Chip Island.

In other news, I had to take today off work because I have caught a yucky cough, & to add to my dismay, I turned my computer on to do some work & it decided to also become sick & go into a coma. Thankfully I have all my files backed up, unfortunately I hadn't backed up previous personal sketch working files from the last month, including flash files for a new website I was working on for a side project. Im due to finish my contract in less than 2 months & really didnt need to loose PC power when I need it for upcoming freelancing & website updating...shithouse as Maik would say. Thankfully I have a netbook which runs sketchbook pro & my cintiq.

That Bieber kid needs a helmet Usher...

2010-08-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

(Quick scribble) He's either walking into glass or having bottles thrown at him.

...yeah, it rained today.

2010-08-09T18:38:00.000-07:00

Heroine Chit Chat

2010-08-08T06:44:00.000-07:00

Update: Here is the coloured version...I forgot, its suppose to be brother, not cousin.

Here is a quick scribble of Wonder Woman and She-ra I did just to get rid of some creativity as I didnt get to do much sketching this week. Id like to colour it but Id have to fix a few things up in the sketch first, like straightening out She-ra's sword arm, its too awkward...as well as her legs, thigh and hand...but I did this at 11pm, so thats my excuse for dodgy dynamics.

Wednesday Sketchbook Scribbles

2010-08-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Alice and the Funky Time Rabbit

2010-07-24T00:17:00.001-07:00

Here is my second entry into the ACMI Tim Burton Wonderland Gallery, in line with the current exhibition here in Melbourne. I drew it up as a sketch ages ago and thought the gallery was a good reason to actually finish it off in colour.

Update: So Tim Burton didn't pick mine as his top ten...and im not so sure about the ones he chose either...I actually don't think he even saw them...just sayin!

Last Minute Scribbles

2010-07-23T01:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some last minute scribbles I did at work, just before shutting down the computer for the day.

D is for Dogs

2010-07-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

I did these scribbles while at work. My computer has been stripped back to basics, so I don't even have sketckbook pro or photoshop, hence going back to paper, pencil and pen.

Wall Street Cyclops for Sketchoholic.com

2010-07-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here is an entry I quickly illustrated tonight for sketchoholic.com

I was just notified of the website & the voting is tomorrow during Bobby Chiu's interview with Pixar artist Nate Wragg. So I thought Id give it a go as you can win a Nate Wragg illustration, his own version of a Wall Street Cyclops, which would be great! Anyhoo, here is my entry & you can see it on the site too.

Extra work on Neighbours.

2010-07-05T02:27:00.000-07:00

I don't get to do any acting these days, so when I do get something on telly, I share it. I was on Neighbours going on strike at the Pirate Radio station. I appear (hair down and plaid red shirt on) in both videos. Sure i'll never be Oscar worthy, but these little jobs are fun to do & I enjoy being on set. Channel Ten owns the rights.

C is for Chickens & Clowns...and Creepy

2010-06-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to add that the baby clown is based on one that used to walk around a themepark I once worked at. I literally went the long way round to the staff room just to avoid him.

The day Adele met Mr. Burton

2010-06-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

Director Tim Burton came to town this week to open the Tim Burton exhibition & he was nice enough to take time out to sign his awesome art book and have photos taken. I was pretty freaking excited inside & only about 250 people got the chance on a chilly Melbourne morning. He's very cool in my books & he seemed very nice. Im eager to get to the exhibition at ACMI...I bought a season pass, now I just have to find some time! The photo was taken by Michael Amos.
Below is my contribution to the Burton art wall from when I finally visited the exhibition. As you can see it was aimed for kids due to the medium of crayons...but there were more adults than children having a scribble.

Childhood Fear : Bathroom Wolf

2010-06-20T01:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick illustration I did today for the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) here in Melbourne for their Burton Wonderland Gallery, in line with the upcoming Tim Burton Exhibition. They have invited artists to submit up to two original artworks inspired by the style of Tim Burton. This one is based on a childhood fear I had...each time id go to wash my face at night and after looking up from the basin, I would be afraid of seeing a wolf standing behind me in the mirror. I think it came from having too many storybooks with wolves as the theme, eating billy goats, stalking little girls and so forth.

B is for Bikers & Badgers, Badgers, Badgers...

2010-06-01T01:51:00.001-07:00

Here are some ladies I drew whilst doing some extra work during last week...I don't need one, but smart phones are great when they keep people in a position long enough for me to draw them.

Adele in TVC with Curtis Stone

2010-05-28T22:28:00.000-07:00

I was cast in a Coles commercial a few weeks ago. Im on the right of Curtis Stone with the brown hair in a pony tail...this is really exciting as it is playing in the commercial break's of Channel Ten's Masterchef...so cheesy!

Motor Neurone Disease Association of Australia.

2010-05-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

I recently did some pro bono work for the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Australia. Here are the three campaign print ads where I supplied the artwork to Kastner & Partners Sydney.

A is for Archaelogist & Anteater

2010-05-17T22:27:00.000-07:00

Since I have finished the massive amount of monsters I haven't been drawing much, so I thought Id give myself a sketching project and went with the good old Alphabet. So Im going to do a quick bunch of drawings twice a week based on A to Z of Professions/People and Animals. I don't get to draw people or animals in my job (as Im usually doing backgrounds & props), so since I'm starting to do lifedrawing in the city I thought this would be good too. Nothing serious, just a nice challenge to see if I can develop over the rest of the year and become more fluid...Im sure the later ones will look way better than these first lot. Here are some Archaelogists and Anteaters.

Acting, Zombies and a BAFTA nomination...

2010-05-10T22:15:00.001-07:00

...but totally unrelated.

No, I haven't got a BAFTA nomination for some acting, but Primeval Evolved, which I have previously posted about has been nominated. In regards to the acting, while waiting for work to start up for me again, Ive re-entered the performing world.

From 19 to 24 I used to do extra work and acting on the Gold Coast before entering the Illustration and animation industry...Id been slave girls to murder victims, and been in Scooby Doo to a Lara Croft themepark show. So now Im settled in Melbourne, Ive decided to take it up again in my spare time to get some extra cash & embrace my inner thespian. So a week after I join I get some extra work on soapie Neighbours and cast as a Masterchef apprentice in a Coles TVC with Curtis Stone...nice start! I'll have to tape it off the telly and post it here so we can all laugh.

Also I have taken the spare time to start on my own personal new project in craft and the other week Maik & I went and did the Melbourne Zombie Shuffle, over 5000 zombies!

photo by Jacqui Woods-Mchardy & Ludovic Tran

EMMY WIN!

2010-04-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

I'm sick at the moment, but the news that perked me up this morning is that Primeval Evolved just won the 2010 International Digital Emmy Award for Best Digital Program in Fiction...I did production drawings for the Creature Sketchbook section and concept art for the games. You can see some screen shots from the project below and more stuff on my website. YAY TEAM! Here is an article about it: LINK http://www.primevalevolved.com.au/ http://www.hoodlum.com.au/

Another music video entry from Maik

2010-04-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

Maik entered another music video competition, this time for Moby's song Wait for Me. I helped a little at the end by colouring his backgrounds and making the game start screen page. It was featured last week and its getting some great comments and views. The winner gets $5000, not alot compared to the Sneaky Sound System comp Maik won, but the exposure is the good thing. Check it out! Videos Genero.tv

In regards to myself, I have finally finished the illustrations for the children's book & now scraping up illustration freelance here & there including; a Slovakian adult store website, tv show pitch bible, a hotel accommodation website, pro-bono for a charity print ad & backgrounds for poker machines. My in-house contract has been put back for another 2 months which is unfortunate, the upside is I can use the time to do a few personal projects & get back into some acting & organise a new folio.

UPDATE: Maik just was announced as a finalist...either by Genero or Moby!

UPDATE: Maik was awarded runner up in the Moby competition and takes away $1000!

UPDATE: Maik had an article about him in the Age Newspaper!

3D Not For Me

2010-03-04T18:03:00.000-08:00

I have to say, I think that the whole 3D glasses thing is just an old marketing gymic. I often blab about it on my facebook page about how I don't like the loss of colour from the lenses, the forced focus of your eyes...where the film wants you to look in the frame of picture (my boyfriend says he likes to use his own depth of field), and also the price is just ridiculous here in Australia. I have seen one film in 3D and hated the experience and won't be doing it again...normal films for me thanks. I'll get off my soapbox now...

Primeval Work

2010-02-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

Back in 2008 I worked for Hoodlum in Brisbane and did some creature sketches for the online interactive series of ITV's series Primeval. Here are some screen captures of the sketchbook in which the female character is drawing the creatures she has seen...provided by me. I just found out the site has been nominated for an Emmy, so stay tuned! This was first launched in the UK and now is playable in Australia: www.primevalevolved.com.au

Welcome 2010

2010-01-17T04:03:00.000-08:00

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.

New York City and LA were awesome, but Disneyland was the cherry on top.

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 her support for not wearing fur and her preparation as a performing artist...crazy self branding!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

2009-12-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-29T20:12:00.000-08:00

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.

The Australian Orangutan Project

2009-08-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T17:36:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-06-23T04:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-21T06:54:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-13T06:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Adele K Thomas Daily Scribbles

Train scribble: Red Riding Hood

Mollusks Backgrounds

Random

Cassowaries

New Year Bird Cheer

Have a Merry Christmas!

Mollusks Trailer.

Mollusks: Its a wrap!

This year I worked on Mollusks (the short seven part animated series) creating all the layouts and painted backgrounds, as well as working on some builds and props. Here is a message from the Mollusks director, Maik Hempel.

"It's a wrap... as they say. All done and delivered to Movie Network Channels. Now keep your beady eyes peeled for the official trailer! Check out the cast of Mollusks in our Behind the Scenes album! Including Shaun Micallef, Bob Franklin, Roz Hammond, Dave Callan and Adrian Calear."

Watch the trailer and follow the news on the Mollusks facebook page! I'll be sure to post some screenshots featuring my work soon.

Here Adele explains the process in patronising detail.(Photo by Maik Hempel)

Working hard!

Film crew work: Its a wrap!

Rejected

Scribbles whilst on set: squirrels

Today, 90's X-men Rogue will be played by...

Exhibition and Advertising

French Fox

Vote for me!

CBCA Crichton Award Short List Certificate

Rapture Painting

I still draw stuff...

Blah, blah, TV business, blah.

Rapture...work in progress.

News

I had to colour it...

True Blood and a Space Chimp.

Virgin Australia

True Blood

Mr. Tartan Pants

Sweaty Bruce Lee Wannabe

Eric, Sookie & Bill.

X-men's Rogue, 90's style.

Featured on Design Montage

Women at the grocery store.

Snip-Snip McWhip-Flip

Eurotrash Lady

Yeti Loves Avant Card on stands tomorrow!

Pet stores make me sad.

Avant Cards on their way!

Footlocker Art Prize Entry

Side project scribble

My mug is back on TV!

Last bit of art for now...Avant Card.

Made the shortlist!

'Like' me on Facebook!

betelgeuse! betelgeuse! betelgeuse!

Monster Maintenance Manual now on Book Depository, free shipping worldwide!

Melbourne Geek

Has Pixar moved into the food industry?

Just because you have been good...

Troll Doll!

Mollusks Backgrounds

The Little Johnny Movie

Sharing Time

Lunchtime Scribble Therapy

Always busy with nothing to show for it.

Bronze Award!

Aeon Flux

2011...a busy start to the year.

Holidays!

Monster Maintenance Manual Review

The Monster Maintenance Manual now available!

Official book release date AND its at Borders!

Missing anything?

Chocoooolaaaate!!!

These guys made me do it...

Cabbage Power!

Quick Couch Scribble

Nurse Zombie Adele by Alex Drummond

The Monster Maintenance Manual

Maik's Dorito's ad in top 3, please vote for him!...and pray my PC recovers.

That Bieber kid needs a helmet Usher...

...yeah, it rained today.

Heroine Chit Chat

Wednesday Sketchbook Scribbles

Alice and the Funky Time Rabbit

Last Minute Scribbles

"It's a wrap... as they say. All done and delivered to Movie Network Channels. Now keep your beady eyes peeled for the official trailer!
Check out the cast of Mollusks in our Behind the Scenes album! Including Shaun Micallef, Bob Franklin, Roz Hammond, Dave Callan and Adrian Calear."

Here Adele explains the process in patronising detail.
(Photo by Maik Hempel)