Thursday, October 16, 2025

Szac & Scotty

 

I made some concept art lately of Szac and a kid he's trying to assist. I'm truly a fan of simple stories, but there needs to be a sense of emotional intelligence and realism to them in order for me to be really invested in them.



This is taken place in the 50s, where Szac plays the titular role of being a secure agent, I came up with a short story where he has to help a kid find his pet salamander in a mysterious gloomy pond.




I named the kid Scotty. He's a lonely but very calm. His fashion is a mix of black and grey,  very easy colors and fits his personality perfectly.  



Here's some of the concept art and models.













I have nothing else to really point out with the rest of the idea, but I do have one more additional bonus sketch of Scotty's dad.




Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Vintage Art / Two-Tone Limited Color Technique




I tend to prefer something more subtle when it comes to art forms and influence. I've been interested in vintage fashion art nowadays. I often seek amusement by exploring into various images of how humans were dressed back in the 20th century, and my favorite designs seem to be the limited colors, sorta the two-tone feel to them, but not exactly two colors at once, just supposedly different shades.



I absolutely love this type of stuff, it's actually really smart and rare on occasions.

I tried looking into movie posters with this particular style, and I didn't see any that peaked what I was talking about except for this rare poster promoting My Man Godfrey (1936) that's both really handsome and simple.















Here's an artist I like who is a master at two-tone color styling, James R. Bingham. He's incredible, I discovered him today and he's already giving me inspiration, I truly love the colors in each image, it represents the situations perfectly.








His work reminds me of what I like about watching movies particuarly the older films, they have the best mood and atmosphere.  












I could probably think of animation that goes for appropriate limited colors in a scene, my best bet for now is Disney's One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961). 










The visuals and style in this movie is different than with most other Disney films which is why I have a secret admiration for the entire film, especially with the xerox animation, it fits perfectly with the calming sorta laid-back tones.



I really wish that more artists could replicate this style, I'm trying to go for a style like that as well for aesthetic reasons, something action-oriented or old-fashion related. 



Here's a bonus treat. 💥



The Great Piggy Bank Robbery (1946) is still one of my all-time favorite pieces of animation, and this poster relates to what I talked about. This is awesome!




Credits goes to Mondo, this was during their convention back in 2019,  designed by Phantom City Creative. They're really talented. 



Saturday, October 11, 2025

I'm Done with Watching Cartoons





I felt like I stopped watching countless amount of cartoons when I started this blog which was August of last year. For the first few months, I decided to focus on newer experiences like watching musicals, and exploring various other artists instead of watching every cartoon to see if it appealed to me or inspired me which rarely happens nowadays. 


The only reason why I loved short subject cartoons was how straightforward and comedic they were, but now I realize that it's just the same thing over and over again especially when it comes to rare animation studios going for the style of Warner Bros. like the Lantz cartoons, and Noveltoons. While I loved the look of the cartoons, I was never able to live with these characters since they mostly did the same antics and have the same dull unoriginal personalities. 



Now I still appreciate that these cartoons try to have a source of entertainment and humor but all I see in myself when I watch them is a neutral expression on my face.






Now does that mean I'm starting to avoid watching cartoons for the rest of entirity? Heck no. I'm still wanting to experience a short film that I never seen before a chance, but it just isn't as fun and exciting as it used to be since most of these cartoons aim for the same plot, energy and scenarios. It's in over thousands of cartoons. You see many cartoons that were made only to be run for a 7 minute runtime, to me that is way too quick and kinda ruins others artistic ability.



There's still exceptions. 





I still love a bunch of the Looney Tunes shorts like the ones directed by Robert McKimson, and Chuck Jones, I still love almost all of Tex Avery's MGM cartoons, I still enjoy Tom and Jerry, even though I'm more prone to only watch the 1940s era, some of the Disney shorts are still highly watchable, especially with the Silly Symphonies technicolor cartoons, and the early 30s Fleischer musical shorts, heck the 2 technicolor Popeye cartoons are ok, even though I dislike the actual series. But otherwise, I'm not on the minority of liking or having any interest in the other animation studios from the theatrical era. 


They were once my hugest inspirations for making characters and stories, but nowadays I see myself stepping away short films and focus more on the tone-down, serious and sometimes cynical style of films. I've been more obsessed with the beauty of the old Disney stuff because I relate alot more to the characters, than the usual comedic forced Mickey and Friends stuff, I also want to experience more of the other animation studios like Don Bluth, Studio Ghibli, and what I'm focusing on now, Pixar. I just seem to move forward to a more logical understanding and truthful real side taken in an animation perspective, I guess because I'm not in school anymore, and I'm knowing more about life, and having interest in spirituality.




Luckily, this helped and I was able to express myself and understand more deeper elements of comprehension and it honestly made me a better person. 




My favorite films tend to be still easily amusing and wacky at times, but at least it has intelligence, and it isn't the same typical irritating actions and premises. My favorite movie is Hellzapoppin' and that isn't particularly emotional, or deep, that's because it's a movie I can watch any time. My favorite animated stuff isn't particularly emotional either, but now I'm on the minority of exploring more depth of real characters and real situations. 



I'm wanting to watch a movie that might really interest me and relates to what I said, and that's a movie called It's A Wonderful Life (1946). I watched a few minutes of it, and I was immediately invested in it like crazy, I'm loving it already, James Stewart is a great actor, and this is a movie I definitely want to add onto my list. It's probably meant to be a Christmas movie, but whenever I have the time to check it out, I'll definitely give it a chance.  





Like I said earlier, I'm happy that I can accept to change how I experience things and gain better interests. This is an exploration blog after all, and I still enjoy looking back at my past self remembering the times where I wasn't fully alright with my opinions on something, or knowing someone completely new that's now been a tool for influence.


Friday, October 10, 2025

Great Vintage Stuff 2

 



I was a little proud for making the first post last month, so here's a sequel. Enjoy these pictures, they represent warmth and passion also a little inspiration. 









Here's a rare Japanese theatre release poster of Guys and Dolls (1955) this is so unusual but pleasurable. I kinda like the abstract dot patterns. 










Here's some outstanding Song of The South artwork from record covers. 







I miss this era of Disney. Imagine if Walt Disney Records would've continued making records in a style like this with their Renaissance and modern movies. Unfortunately that died out, but I do believe that Disney is still trying at least when it comes to their animation studio.











I'm a fan of the old Collier's magazines, particularly the ones illustrated by Vernon Grant, but here's one of my favorites so far designed by Wilson Cutler. Love the woman's facial expression.












Now here's some fun stuff. A Disneyland coloring book from 1955. This is too good! I could look at this all day, don't entirely know who designed it, but they sure know how to impress viewers.





J.C Leyendecker still continues to be one of my all-time favorite artists. His art is just so fresh and creative. I also admire the casual fashion, they don't directly advise stuff like this anymore. 







To me, it just isn't the same. The magic is quite gone. The magazines I'm seeing are actual real photographs, it's fine but not exactly what I prefer to invest.








Richard Scarry's Golden Book era is my favorite, his design of Smokey The Bear is literally the cutest I ever seen. I discussed about his other art before in previous posts click this link if you have the chance. 














I have alot to say about this. I love the color scheme, just like with the Disneyland cover, I appreciate the coloring books where the cover art has a train, they are really difficult to draw, this is very cute. Illustrated by Pete Hawley, he's probably a new favorite of mine.









Finally, I bring you some autumn art, this is a 1946 The New Yorker magazine cover that I really like. The color scheme is perfection, it's naturally accurate to the actual palettes to the fall season. Those trees remind me of the backgrounds from Disney's Legend Of Sleepy Hollow. 





Part 1

https://sngexplorationblog.blogspot.com/2025/09/great-vintage-stuff.html?m=1

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Autumn Drawings

 


Hey! You guys missed me? 

Anyways if you didn't notice, I took a long 4 day hiatus. I wanted to take a break, I was too busy drawing so I have a handful of art that I did in a course of a week. Enjoy!











When I'm using social media apps like Instagram, I don't focus too much on recent news, and issues unless if their highly important. I actually follow some cool pages that resemble the classic hollywood feel and other inspirational stuff like animation and musical sequences from movies.

I wanted to get silly and decided to draw Donald as Jed Potter (Fred Astaire) from Blue Skies (1946), the movie looks handsome, I definitely will add the movie onto my watch list. 







In the Artmania universe, there's gotta be a music group. This is one of the members. I actually remember drawing this cool chicken below a couple years ago. 





Here's more Donald Duck drawings. Inspired by my love for old fashioned magazine covers and hollywood portraits. 










A recent character to add to the mix. This is the first Asian character I ever made and to me that's an accomplishment, since I love to create characters from different race and cultures, I named her Amimi Yokana. She's a talented dancer.









A few more drawings.














I love drawing characters that resemble actors, these men above for instance. That reminds me, have you heard about the news lately about the A.I actress that's humiliating real talents in Hollywood? The Tily Norwood stuff? It's irritating as heck.




I have only two highlight hand-drawn sketches.








Saturday, October 4, 2025

Animation Announcement/What's Next?

 ANNOUNCEMENT 💥


I've always been surrounded by creativity and artistic experience, and after watching some of the most iconic and important animated films and short films, I feel kinda proud that I had a pleasent experience watching them, because in my honest opinion, they have had a tint of influence on me.


While I loved alot of the characters, the animation, and the energy the Disney movies obtained, what secretly captured me the most about them was the storyline, these movies mastered that accomplishment until probably about the end of the Renaissance era. As far as other animation studios go, there's not a whole lot to talk about. I just missed when films in general weren't afraid to show darker more subtle themes and the scenes were less crowded and complex.


My first Disney movie I ever watched was Zootopia (2016), it was one of the first films I ever saw in the movie theater, it was different compared to other Disney movies, but I loved the concept, and the characters were all memorable and lively. I especially loved it when I first saw it when I was 8, and I didn't want it to end, until now we get the sequel. Hopefully it's going to be decent as I did enjoy the sequels to Frozen, Moana and Wreck It Ralph. 


Reasons as to why I wasn't fully aware of the other Disney movies was that they either didn't air too much on TV, I wasn't prone to the older films or I was just fully invested in other cartoons.




Then, I watched Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937). I noticed how calmer and mellow it was. I was starting to become a fan of old theatrical animation and discovered other cartoons whether I'd like 'em or dislike 'em, but with Disney I felt like I had to keep going and know more about the other animated films. From there I watched Aladdin, and The Lion King. I loved both of them. I understood the appeal these movies had. 






I also liked the different messages, and quotes. I return to many of these movies not just because their fun and the animation is great, it's because of the motivation. I definitely think that is why these movies were so impactful. Sometimes I might forget and not focus too much on the movie until a second re-watch or experiencing more behind-the-scenes. 


There's a bunch of movies that inspire me, I remember how chilling the Pleasure Island scene in Pinocchio was, the 2 Winnie The Pooh movies were peaceful and calm, I wish for a place like The Hundred Acre Wood, and the tragedy of Bambi's mother, even if you dislike it or find it deeply saddening, I loved that scene and it made me realize how you can make a scene so emotional and well-crafted into art itself.



 I wasn't aware that I would've liked these movies until I fully became mature and understood the art medium. 


I had a few years of watching ol' silly cartoons like Looney Tunes, Tex Avery's MGM cartoons, Tom and Jerry, and Spongebob, until I started to watch more movies and the toned-down stuff.




Now that doesn't mean I don't watch them anymore, I'm just not into them as much now. I started to lose my interest with most of the Looney Tunes characters, and I'm not a fan when characters just accept what randomly goes on like with Porky In Wackyland or other surreal and awkward scenarios.


It's time for me to focus on something more natural, and heartwarming and I watched all of the current 63 Disney movies, so what's next? Is there any other animation studio I might be interested in? Something similar to Disney's best hits? Where there's memorable cast of characters and emotional but fun stories particularly not in vain of traditional 2D animation?




What about Pixar?







Yes. I'm finally going to do it. I'm planning on watching every Pixar movie from 1995 to now, from Toy Story to Elio. I remember watching a few of their movies and enjoying them, but now I'll get to fully check out the entire catalog. 


There are currently 29 movies, which is definitely not as huge as Disney's. So this will be fun and worth a breather. I would want to kinda review them, but I almost don't want to because my old Disney reviews are extremely outdated nowadays and my list on letterboxd ranking all 63 of them change, so not the most perfect thing to do honestly but I'll see about it. I'll definitely have the full list available once I'm maybe half or completely finished the journey. 


Thanks to everyone who read this announcement. Have a good day. 



Szac & Scotty

  I made some concept art lately of Szac and a kid he's trying to assist. I'm truly a fan of simple stories, but there needs to be a...