Prayer

Here's another new sketchbook spread.

Sketchbook pages

Updates have been slow as I've been working on bigger more involved pieces - it's been a real change of pace for me, but enjoyable nonetheless. I miss working regularly in my sketchbook though; it's just become harder and harder to find the time. Here are a few pages from recent weeks. Coming soon: a triptych for my Japanese folklore series. There will be ghouls.

Astro-homie

Goro Wrestles A Kappa

I've been jokingly referring to this one as "Popeye vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle", which really isn't far off - Goro was one of Japan's main tough-guys, and it just so happens that eating a bowl of rice pumps him up, not unlike Popeye's spinach.

In this story, Goro meets a Kappa, a water-sprite that has all sorts of funny little attributes, especially a little convex bowl on the top of his head, filled with water - which, if spilled, causes the Kappa to lose his super-strength) and they end up in a wrestling match. Most Kappas can apparently easily best a human, but with Goro being the strongest dude in the land, they end up in a stalemate.

This is when Goro says "Hey, I'm hungry - can I go get some grub and we'll resume this when I get back?" (He said these words exactly. Exactly.) Goro finds a house, is given a bowl of rice, chomps down, buffs up, and easily bests the Kappa. Huzzah!