Announcement!

The list of cast members keeps getting bigger!

 

New Skills!

It has been a few months since I finished learning the fundamentals of Toon Boom's Storyboard Pro. I felt the need to share some of my new skills.

It has been exciting learning so much about storyboarding and this great software. It is also giving my students at Vermont State University – Lyndon's Animation Illustration program an incredible advantage in their education.

I hope to have some of my own storyboards and animatics to share in the near future.

How to get through challenging art problems.

Often in illustration you come across a very complex visual problem. In this case I am working on developing the visual for the Wampahoofus, a Vermont cryptid that is a mix between a hog and a deer with one side of its legs taller than the other. This helps it easily walk around a mountain. The challenge I presented myself is how to depict it walking on level ground.

The solution, draw and test things out in sketches. This is only one page. I am getting closer to something I like, but I am not there yet.

This kind of exploration is invaluable to a strong visual concept and drawing.

More That Connects Us…

 

I am excited that 6 of my zoom portrait series “Zoomed Out” will be on display at the the Satellite Gallery exhibit's “More That Connects Us.” These are a collection of sketches that I work on while I am in my many Zoom meetings. I started them during COVID and just kept going with them. I have hundreds of them now that many of my meetings are still virtual. 

The exhibit opens on January 10 from 5-7 pm 

Happy Holidays!

 Wishing everyone a Happy Holidays! – Barclay

Delayed Projects

A number of years ago, I was asked to create a mural for a local company. They wanted Vermont animals clad in bowties progressing through the seasons of the year! It was a dream come true and I dove into working on it. 

I had never done a mural before so I started by doing a bit of research on pricing and different ways of making a mural. I have a friend, Breadwig Ballinger, that has painted a number of murals, so I consulted with him about the project. I worked on a color rough draft to present to the town and the project got stalled. At the time the town was not approving any permanent outside art. 

It was difficult news to hear as this had become such a joy for me to work on. In response to the delay, I decided to keep working on the project as if it was going to happen. So I have slowly worked on the final illustration. It has become a passion project for me. I work on it in-between other jobs as it has evolved into a very complex composition.

I am not finished yet. I have finished winter (to the far right). I am almost finished with spring and I have started refining summer.

I do not know that I will ever see this on a wall, but I have enjoyed working on it. The process has been a wonderful challenge and I hope that it will someday be seen by many more people on a wall.

Wild Vermont Transit

 My 3rd puzzle in partnership with Vermont Puzzle is now available.

Wild Vermont Transit features a quintet of bow tie clad Vermont animals waiting patiently amongst the fall foliage for the bus to arrive. If you are interested in purchasing one for a friend or yourself you can visit my website at barclay-studio.com