"Curtain Call" ("The Brothers Grimm")
Pencil Marks: Illustration # 67 marked the 'official' end to the 2005 gallery and the first year we completed everything we set out to do. There were a couple of delays but we managed to finish it without cutting any corners.
So, on this milestone, I wanted this picture to represent a few themes we had running that summer: 1) It had to be highly detailed since Tony kept pushing me to add more and more. 2) It had to keep the streak of drawing sensual pictures of Kari alive and 3) it had to maintain a dark humorous tone; especially for something based on the "Brothers Grimm".
Then I realized the whole mantra of the gallery was to try something new.
So, I purposely forced Tony to keep it low-budget, I drew Kari in a way only pedophiles would find hot, and I went beyond the level of cute innocence and brightness. A total 180 degrees from the 19 pictures preceding it. I admit I thought it might not work. That the joke would be on me. But the moment I saw the utter bafflement on Tony's face then absolute grin when I handed it to him, I knew I made the right call.
Wow. I still can't believe we pulled it off, buddy. Take a bow, Tony; you deserve it! - Jake
Ink Smudges: What a long strange trip 2005 had been. And now the end of the line was finally here.
When I missed 2004's gallery due to illness, I knew somehow I would have to make it up to Jake (even though Plightsite.com is his site and his gallery, I still feel completely responsible for it all). So, when I pitched the idea of marking my comeback with an entire summer of collaboration pictures, I had no idea he would go for it (because once again it would mean that Jake would have to do every picture in the gallery in some shape or form). Not only did Jake jump at the idea but what was supposed to be a gimmick turned out to be one of the most well executed projects Jake and I have ever done together not to mention the best Summer Gallery ever posted on the site. As much as I was tired of all the deadlines back then, I couldn't imagine not continuing this collaboration thing from here on out.
As soon as Jake handed me the pencils for this drawing, I knew exactly how it was going to go. From the stage to the dialogue. This picture really was less of an homage to "The Brothers Grimm" and more of a tribute to the 2005 Gallery as a whole.
I tried for a heavier ink than usual; to bring out more solid outlines. You really can't tell much, but it makes for a nicer "cartoon" image. The colors and shades were all standard photoshop with a couple bits of gradient in there for kicks.
I wasn't going for the best ever ink or coloring job (that was the previous picture), but I feel it lived up to the standards set by all of the 2005 illustrations. - Tony
One last thing: I didn't notice it at first, but Tony slipped a little joke in the picture that some people will get; others won't. You'll see Erik is wearing a pair of flaming shoes. Thing is - he didn't do that intentionally.
During that summer, I was notoriously wearing a pair of Converse just like them. It started out as a joke but grew into, for lack of a better word, a sort of trademark around my work. Most every employee of the hospital knew me as that 'guy with the shoes on fire' and some greeted me like we were old friends. A day didn't go by when I didn't hear from strangers that they like my shoes. And funny thing is, women honestly thought they we're cool! Go figure. - Jake