Drunky the Cat in the Tall Stovepipe Hat
“Drunky the Cat in the Tall Stovepipe Hat”
I am once again grateful for my job in Korea. I have mentioned that I am working on around 4 new stories of different artistic styles and varying literary tone.
Here is a preview into one of the more absurd tales. It is not a direct page-by page parody of “The Cat and the Hat.” I am just going where it takes me and enjoying the ride. I am finally seeing a workable style appear, and it has taken a long time. Here is one of the older drawings of Drunky.
His purely spherical cheeks don’t have any flexibilty or opportunities to show emotion or variety.
I started to go in a different direction, changing the muzzle. At this time, I was trying togive hima a lined look for the fur.
Also, though his anatomy has not changed, a breakthrough has been made on how to approach illustrating this character.
It all started with a few sketches I made in pen while my students were completing a test. I love when a breakthrough comes like this (and generally more do than don’t!). I began with extremely loose and fluid drawings, stressing his gangly nature. I took advantage of the idea that he really doesn’t have joints and his limbs and entire body (being filled to the brim with booze) simply go wherever his movements take them. Here is one of the first simple drawings where this principle whas applied:
Thus is how the journey began! His face remained un-specified. His muzzle was no longer to balls and a nose, and begins to migrate to a more maleable design. Things began to move rapidly once I realized that I finally had a character that thrived on expressive lines and innacuracy. The next image is an experimental sheet. Some renderings on here make me sick, but it’s important for them to be seen. It’s all part of the process! The real winner is the bottom right one holding an upside-down beer can!
The third sheet really needs to have the text for it!
Picking himself up from their freshly stained rug
He insisted he’d clean it, “just put some bleach in a mug”
“The rug is red, you can’t use bleach”
Said the family parrot with a high pitched tweet
The cat stared at the bird then his face went blank
He forgot the rug and his request for the mug
Instead he produced from his hat a triple xxx jug
After this last draft it was time to focus on the face. I realized that the best way is to always start with the nose and move down. The next results were thrilling! I always tried to have the hat leaving the frame in one way, and drooping through, as if returning from nowhere. As you can see with the drawing on the left, sometimes this idea doesn’t work!
Here is one of my favorites. I visualize hime expounding or proselytizing about something.
Of course, I need to work on the many ways he imbibes!
With a character so mobile and expressive, it would be a shame to go the whole story without using a broad range of emotions. Here is the first attempt at sadness. I think I go go even further!
The biggest hurdle with Drunky now is to work out the hat. “Stovepipe Hats” are black, so that sets the direction. I think I will have to practice a lot of hatchings (its not my strong point!).
He looks a bit too much like a tiger in this one (its the fat cheeks) but it may be a step in the right direction. It is mandatory that the hat doesn’t pull away focus from his body or face, so balance must be attained!
