Hobo #161: David No-Ears

I did this a couple weeks ago for our Imagine Learning Art Challenge. I finally got around to making myself a Flickr account so I could upload my hobo to the 700 Hoboes Group. It won't let me blog to myself for some reason, but you can use the link above to see all the vast array of fabulous hoboes.

Just a tiny plug - the 700 Hoboes Project grew from The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman. Super entertaining. I listened to the audio version on a road trip and had to have the printed version as well. Both versions complement each other quite well. A most excellent addition the library.

The Science Lab and The Auditorium

Here are a couple more Museum backgrounds. These were the first two that finally worked stylewise (I had many many failed attempts I will deign to not share). From that point forward the project finally started to come together.

A little process:

Everything was drawn in Flash, each "Thing" on its own layer. I would draw with the line tool and the pencil tool, then fill in the drawings and delete all the lines. After figuring out the colors (when drawing the shapes, I fill everything with random dayglo colors) I export each Thing as separate .png files.

I reassemble in Photoshop, and add a little drop shadow on each layer. Some layers I add a mask and a texture - like the brick walls, or a subtle wallpaper pattern. Then over the top of everything I added a couple other textures - one is a scanned piece of velvet, the other is from a photo of an old moldy door. With things like that, I just play with adjusting the colors and levels, as well as the Layer Style. I tend to use Soft Light and Overlay the most.

The Lobby

I've been working on the big opening sequence for Level 2 (of Imagine Learning English) - and it's finally all coming together. The wrap-around for level 2 is in this crazy museum. It's not really all that wacky, but hopefully it's not too dull. Above is the lobby which you see after entering through the big gold doors (next on the list to draw).

Imagine Learning English: Made of Awesome.

I haven't posted much Day Job stuff for awhile. I've been doing lots of random, not really postable things - when I've actually been alive enough to be at work. (I call it The Curse of the Two-Headed Goose - ever since it's arrived, I've had some sort of malady or another. Been fun!) Anyway, I'll have a bunch to post soon. In the meantime - our cool video guys recently put together this little promo movie about Imagine Learning. So if you're curious about what we do at The Day Job, take a gander.

Happy Spring!

Yesterday at work, we took a long lunch and went up to Thanksgiving Point for Photography Club (an excellent excuse to wander around outside and get some sun). I'd never been to the gardens there - they are pretty amazing. I'd love to see it in the summer when everything else is green and in bloom.