Character Collage 2020-2022

 

What up fam, wow its been two years since I uploaded my last character collage. Back in 2020 I was a new dad again, and then the pandemic hit! I have still been sketching, drawing, and painting but lord it was rough balancing the kids at home, my work, and life. So here are a snippet of some of the characters I made over the past two years. This is the 9th time I've uploaded a collage of these over the past 13 years or so. I started making these as a way to practice character based artwork for storytelling, and I still love to do it. Always practicing to see improvement. 

Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Word? 2. Bruce Leroy (Last Dragon) 3. Neighbor 4. Sketchbook doodle 5. Laura Charles (Last Dragon) 6. Hammer 7. Hmmph 8. Motorcycle 9. Sketchbook doodle 10. Deb Never 11. Crate Digger 12. Sketchbook doodle 13. Judging you 14. Spikey 15. Pink Dread

You can see the previous collages here too: 

2019-2020

2017-2018

2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2009-2012

If you are interested in more information about any of the characters, want to work with me, or interested in a print just email me at info@robdontstop.com

Short Story 29 - Welcome

"This has been a long trip with few familiar faces. But, there's nothing like trekking a thousand miles and coming home to your family. Here I was thinking it would be a quiet Sunday all by myself since everyone was out of town; they said. And I had my key still. But when I walked in Grandpa and Grandma, my sisters, my cousin, and the kids were all there, I almost cried! Somebody up there has a sense of humor."

Here's my latest short story: Welcome

If you missed the previous short story called Flight check it out here. And if you dig this style, check out this collage of characters done in the same style.

Character 158 - Motorcycle

 

Hattie "Moves w/the Wind" delighted in beating riders who underestimated her.

What's this? One of many many characters I draw or doodle for fun, practice, etc. I like them. You? Did you see the last character? Check it out here:

Character 157-Hammer

Character 156-Jump

Character 157 - Hammer

 

Hammer- Dee didn't believe in being polite. They liked to settle things the hard way.

What's this? One of many many characters I draw or doodle for fun, practice, etc. I like them. Did you catch the last two characters?

Jump

Fix or trash

 

New Postcard set

I made a few new postcards based on illustrations from 2019 and 2020 with affirming words. You can cop this set here. 

If you dig this check out this postcard deal

And you can see the original characters here:

Encourage-Donny & Jalil  character design

Leap-Jump character design

Behold-Photo character design
 

Character Collage 2019-2020

What up everyone. It has been awhile since I uploaded a character collage; like since 2018. But you know what, my wife and I had a daughter in 2018 so I did not have the time to do as many character drawings. In fact the majority of what you're seeing above I started to draw back in November of last year (we got childcare). This set of drawings is all done in dark blue colored pencil because I felt like switching it up from my normal style and using one color. This helped make it faster and helped me make work that's suitable for middle grade and picture books. Alright, please check these out out!

Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Ride 2. Fix it or Trash it 3. Photo 4. Jet Boil 5. Rollercoaster 6. Jump 7. Bandsaw 8. Protest 9. Haenyeo 10. Donny & Jalil 11. How's it sound? 12. Pack your bag 13. Argue

You can see the previous collages here too: 

2017-2018

2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2009-2012

If you are interested in more information about any of the characters, want to work with me, or interested in a print just email me at info@robdontstop.com

Character 156 - Jump

Here's a new character design based on the short story "Flight". 

Here is the previous character 155- Fix it vs Trash it

Short story 28 - Flight

"Normally I would tell you to get your hair out of my face! But, agggghhh!" Shouted Tong as Hattie duck, dived, and barreled the dragonfly. Not trying to win, but showing off. There was something peaceful about riding. Our lands seemed to go on forever and I had never seen it from so high up. I want to win but Hattie just wants to have fun.  

This is the latest short story! If you missed the last one please check out "Hike" by clicking this link.

Digital drawing

Lightboxing with colored pencils

Character 154 - Pack your bag

Getting all your stuff together to pack your bag!

Check out the short story that inspired this - Hike!

And Character 153 - Jet Boil

Character 153 - Jet boil

Use a jet boil when making food on the trail!

Here's the last character 152- Roller coaster

Short story 27 - Hike

Short story 27 - Hike

Here is my next short story:

Its worth it. “It was only two hours” mom said. But it felt like forever. The climb made me feeling like all the oxygen was sucked out of the air. We couldn’t get any wifi and there was no one around us for miles. But it was worth it. “Nature’s cool... I like hikes” my little brother said. And when I saw
how happy it made Mom I agreed. It was worth it. Every picture, every moment. Maybe not the energy bars, but everything else.

Why not check out the last one? Short story 26 - First Protest

Character 152 - Roller coaster

On a roller coaster!!!

Did you see the last character? Here it is Band Saw

Character 151 - Band saw

Jeanie and Judy. The things you could make with a good bandsaw.

Did you see the last few characters?

Collage of characters 2019-2020
Character 150- How's it sound?
Character 149- Photo

Short story 26 - First Protest

Saturday morning. Uncle George told us we were wasting our time. "Hardly anyone shows up at them demonstrations!" he said. But I know hella people are gonna show out today. Jeanie never been to a protest before so Judy, my sister, and I are taking her. And we're gonna enjoy ourselves while doing it. Today might not change politicians minds but I hope Jeanie will see that she isn't the only one who don't support another foolish war. I can see the folks gathering up the street now.

Funny I was already planning to draw this short story. But being that the idiot POTUS is trying to declare war on a country that the US government has had its claws in for over half a century its fitting to post it now. Stay woke folks. History repeats itself and we've seen this show before.

Here's the last short story: Haenyeo

Some more close ups....

Character 150- How's it sound?

Ok grandma, how's it sound? Thumbs up!

My inspiration for this one? You can now take classes to learn to be a DJ! Did you catch the last character? Here it is:

Character 149

Character 149 - Photo

Character 149. Inspiration for this? Chinese elders on a weekend shopping with their grandkids.

Did you see the previous character? 

Character 148 - Ride

Character 148 - Ride

Working on my colored pencil swag.

Wanna see the last character? Here it go.

Here's another one -Dad's who dig

Short story 24 - Argue

Short story 24

They fought all the time before Mama went away. She took care of them and taught them lessons about loving each other that took a long time for them to understand. In fact it wasn't until the flu began watching their every move that Donny and Jalil truly understood what brotherhood meant. They would have to agree on more than just the channel for this new technology to work. 

On shorts: I started doing these over 8 years ago as a way to practice my writing and illustration. Just barely starting to pick it back up again. Want to see more? Check out:

Short story 23- Record Store

Short story 22- Genesis