August 08, 2005

27: Running On Empty

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The word empty is a far-reaching term, elastic enough to cover just about any illustration concept on the planet. Which is healthy. Case in point, my drawing here. This was a discarded sketch from about a month ago when the posted Illustration Friday theme was nourishment. I was basing this piece on a premise of "nourishment for the brain", but then grew weary of it and drew a sandwich instead (click on the "Draw!" button and select nourishment to see).


But it also represents this week's theme in its concept of empty-headedness. Thus, behold the couch potato, so buried in his inertness that his brain has split in search of alternative entertainment out the window. I picked up the half-finished pencil rendering from a month ago and completed it in pen. It was then scanned and opened into Photoshop for colouring. The angle and style of the sketch were inspired by comic strip artist Wiley Miller, the genius behind the daily one-panel series Non Sequitur – and a man who adores his perspective drawing.

Be sure to click here for a larger view of the illustration.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

completely nauseating in the best way possible:D poor wee brain...set him free!
cheers,
kerry

Allan Lorde said...

Way to go! I dig the perspective, too. I gotta get to work on mine.

weehoon said...

heheheh...the escape brainy ... awesome work!

isay said...

had a nice time looking at your illustration.

Anonymous said...

The green brain fluid worries me, maybe that's why the brain escaped ...

Anonymous said...

This is ver hard to look at... but good!

carla said...

That's funny! And gross! And really, really funny! And totally gross! I'm so happy you gave us the view from above so we could see his scooped-out skull. BTW, you have a great blog...fun stuff here :>

constanthing said...

Sometimes I'm worried my brain may want to do the same thing... wonderful work! Wiley's Non Sequitur is also one of my favorites.

Jeope said...

The green sludge was a compromise, so I could avoid the dreaded 'R' rating. No blood and we're good to go! Besides, it's grosser!

Unknown said...

keee(ewww)wwwwwl dude...


Dave

sam duffy said...

Thats me right now!!!!

Mustashrik said...

Hey there Jeope,

this is such a great angleyou have approached the theme from, its very funny and very true in its depiction of a potato!!

The angles great too, keep it up!

;)

Blame the Blog said...

very very nice jepopolis .. am not going to say anything about the awesome perspective .. however the concept is very coool ... can imagine it as a premise for a very short animated film... i love it !

Matt said...

Y'know, you could have just the green sludge was boogers.

(And, once again, great stuff.)

Rick Lovell said...

I love the green slime dripping from his noggin...great fun. I'm a big Wiley Miller fan too; he's cornered the market on the overhead oblique view, and uses it to tremendous effect. Ditto for this piece.

JacqueLynn said...

This is just absolutely funny!! I love it.

Nina Khashchina aka Apple-Pine said...

Really good one - I love it! May I ask you what's that stuff around the top of the scull on the table - looks like it's growing in the scull or just plainly eating it. I think if this would become a movie one day it might be interesting to make that table consume the top of the scull and start gnarling on the elbow too.... urgh! :)
thanks for sharing your work!
Nina

Jeope said...

Hey Nina, that stuff was originally his (thinning) hair, but since it isn't coloured it could also pass for cobwebs.

Tanx, ever'body.

lew! said...

Jeope,

GAH! I love it!
can i get a copy?
seriously...

Mrs. Maria said...

As usual-wonderful Jeope. You never fail to nail it or impress me. :) Awesome work! Love the brain thingy looking out the window. Wow! Nice!

Drazen said...

love the brain
it looks so sad, like it should be out
playing with the other brains in the park
nice!

Tony LaRocca said...

That's fantastic! I can't help but wonder what the poor brain is looking at with such longing... perhaps a female brain looking out of the window across the street

Anonymous said...

I think I am this person.

Mary said...

OMG, Jeope,,,, this reminds me of a poem I wrote years ago. I'll email it to ya....

Ian T. said...

Yep, you crack your head, you spill your brain...

Terrific angle and concept, and yes, it is a bit nauseating too :). As you say, Wiley is brilliant - what he does with that space is amazing!

So watching TV makes your head empty - which is probably one reason people do it - there was a study that showed brain patterns while watching TV were similar to being asleep.

While he's a couch potato zombie his brain goes away in search of... another channel? ;)

Very tight pic!

Jeff Andrews said...

Very nice! I've been a big fan of Wiley Miller since the mid 80's, totally love the homage.

elegraph said...

love it! love the brain looking wistfully out the window....

devon spec said...

whoa... you're a quarterback... you're popular!!! you got a nice car,... you're popular!!! haah. nada surf.

LOVE IT JEOPE!!! looks good. totally cool concept. i love the way it looks like a puppy that wants to go play outside!!