Artwork of the Day: The Three Faces of (Freaky) Nikki...

Richard T. Par

Just thought I'd share these three illustrations that I drew last week of Nikki Freeman, Inde Navarrette's iconic character from the blockbuster horror film Obsession.

I watched so many reels on Instagram of amazing artwork drawn by other folks of Nikki that I had the urge to draw Bear's dream girl as well (Bear, of course, is played by Michael Johnston in Obsession, respectively).

There are so many great screenshots of Nikki in Obsession that I wanted to emulate using a mechanical pencil and a sheet of paper, but I felt that this trio of drawings was enough!

Anyways, Obsession is still being shown in theaters...while you can also stream it on apps like Peacock as well as purchase it on regular DVD and Blu-ray. I prefer DVD or Blu-ray (if you can no longer see it on the big screen)— Support physical media! No, Focus Features and Blumhouse Productions aren't paying me to promote Curry Barker's hit horror film.


Richard T. Par


Richard T. Par

Artwork of the Day: GHOST RIDER...

As mentioned in this earlier Blog entry, I was going to draw an illustration of one of Marvel's coolest antiheroes: Ghost Rider. And here he is!

It wasn't until Season 4 of ABC's now-cancelled TV show Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (AoS) that I found out there were different people who took up the mantle of Ghost Rider, such as Johnny Blaze (played by Nicolas Cage in two theatrically-released movies) and Robbie Reyes (portrayed by Gabriel Luna on AoS). As you can see from this artwork, I clearly went with the Johnny Blaze version of the Spirit of Vengeance.

So who will I draw next? I don't know... There are other projects that I need to work on before I end my sabbatical from work later next month.

I'm waiting till it starts warming up here in SoCal before I return to my job—as I hated leaving my house at 4 AM, in 38°F weather, a month ago and last December. Carry on!

Artwork of the Day: GARFIELD and Friends...

Seeing as how I usually sketch comic book, anime and movie characters (you can view their illustrations in the main Artwork section of my website), just thought I'd draw a picture of Garfield...my favorite cartoon feline ever since I was in elementary school!

In the drawing above, you see Garfield, Nermal (who Garfield actually despises in the Jim Davis-drawn comic strip, heh), Odie and Squeak the Mouse enjoying a ride through the desert—with Jon Arbuckle, Garfield and Odie's accordion-playing owner, at the steering wheel...and Jon's girlfriend (and Garfield's veterinarian) Liz Wilson riding shotgun.

As shown in this illustration, I still use coloring markers...even though I also utilized Adobe Photoshop to adjust the color and brightness on some parts of this artwork. I also had to airbrush the faces of Jon and Liz since the marker I used for their skin tone left a few undesirable streak marks on them.

(I'm well aware that there are streak marks everywhere in this drawing! The downside of not employing digital coloring instead.)

You can analyze changes to the illustration in these work-in-progress photos below.

So what will I draw next? Since I went lighthearted with this picture of Garfield, just thought I'd sketch a dark and brooding character from a (Marvel) comic book soon...

You're up, Ghost Rider!

On This Day in 1997: A New Era in Mars Exploration Began...

NASA / JPL

Just thought I'd point out that today marks 25 years since America's very first Mars rover, Sojourner, safely touched down on the Red Planet courtesy of NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission.

I was at home when the successful landing of Pathfinder (which would later be renamed the Sagan Memorial Station, after the late astronomer Carl Sagan) occurred...with me watching this event unfold during a live broadcast on CNN Headline News (which is now known as HLN, but still owned by CNN Global/Warner Bros. Discovery) throughout that triumphant day.

This exciting milestone in NASA's Mars Exploration Program occurred less than a month after I completed 11th grade in high school back in 1997. The Pathfinder mission inspired me to draw the illustration below, which would be included in my AP Studio Art portfolio when I began 12th grade at Bishop Amat Memorial (my high school alma mater) less than two months later. Such an exciting time.

Happy 4th of July, fellow Yanks!

Artwork of the Day: A Gundam in Grayscale...

Just felt like posting this drawing that I made of a Gundam back in college 20 years ago! Inspired by the Epyon from the anime TV series Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, I believe that this is the only artwork that I've ever digitally colored (using Microsoft Paint, heh). I usually use good old-fashioned Crayola markers for my illustrations...and yet with digital coloring, this Gundam illustration is still in black and white. Happy Hump Day!

Artwork of the Day: Rise of the Epyon...

As promised in this previous Blog entry, here is a drawing I made of the Gundam Epyon...my favorite of all the mechas from the Japanese anime series Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. I'll probably draw it again sometime in the future, this time featuring the Epyon in its entirety. Wing Zero would also be a cool Gundam to illustrate, but its design is even more complex than that of the Epyon—so I'll see if I can make time to draw it. Don't get your hopes that I will! Even though I have all the time in the world to illustrate the Wing Zero due to this pandemic... Carry on.

Artwork of the Day: Wrath of the Dark Trooper...

Contrary to what I wrote in this previous Blog entry, it isn't the Gundam Epyon that I drew after illustrating Valak from the 2018 horror flick The Nun, but a Dark Trooper from the 1995 Star Wars video game, Dark Forces. It was the ad below that got me to become a Star Wars fan 25 years ago (when I was in my second semester in 9th grade). This was because I initially thought that this was a character from the Star Wars prequels—which, of course, wouldn't start hitting theaters for another four years. The cool design of this Imperial villain captured my imagination, and it wouldn't be till 1997 (when I was a junior in high school) that I played against this antagonist on Dark Forces when it became available for Sony Playstation (which my family originally had; but I have no idea what happened to it). This Dark Trooper was the final boss in the game, and he was pretty easy to defeat, hah!

I originally tried to draw this artwork over a decade ago, but I found it a bit challenging coloring-wise (using Crayola markers to emulate a painting is pretty tricky work) so I abandoned the effort. Leave it to staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic to give me motivation to try drawing the Dark Trooper again! Anyways, next up: the Gundam Epyon. No seriously!


Lucasarts

Artwork of the Day: Drawing Valak from THE NUN...

Happy Tuesday, everyone! As mentioned in this previous Blog entry, I was debating whether or not I should make an illustration of Valak, the demonic nun from the 2018 horror flick The Nun. And of course, here's your answer! I might possibly draw Valak again since I'm not really satisfied with the way the coloring turned out (this is one of those cases where I either needed to use colored pencils, or finally learn the art of digital painting), but we'll see.

As far as my next artwork goes, I'm thinking about drawing the Gundam Epyon from the anime Mobile Suit Gundam Wing! I was such a fan of this mecha after seeing him in action when the Japanese series aired on the Cartoon Network 20 years ago, that I bought a model kit of the Epyon and displayed it on my bookshelf at home. But it's been long-gone for over a decade now (I donated it to Goodwill)... Sigh. Anyways, as a Catholic, is it blasphemous that I drew such an evil and grotesque depiction of a sacred member of the religious community? Nahhh. If anything, blame director James Wan for featuring this cool-looking villain in The Conjuring movies! Carry on.

Artwork of the Day: Goku, the Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan!

Happy Friday, everyone! Just thought I'd share this artwork that I made of Goku as he appeared in the 2015 film Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection "F". Several years after he finally became a legendary Super Saiyan while battling and defeating Frieza (who's pretty much the Emperor Palpatine of the Dragon Ball Z saga) on the planet Namek, Goku evolved into a Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (or 'Super Saiyan Blue' for short) when he once again fought Frieza—now known as Golden Frieza—after he was brought back from the dead by the wish-granting dragon Shenron. Goku's hair is blue because he has the combined power of the first Super Saiyan form and that of a Super Saiyan God. In other words, you'd have to be a Dragon Ball Z fan to know what the heck I'm talking about!

Anyways, that enough with delving into DBZ lore. I'm trying to think of what my next drawing will be as I stay at home (most of the time) during the coronavirus pandemic. As a Catholic, is it blasphemous that I'm thinking about drawing Valak from the 2018 horror flick The Nun? Hmm. Have a great weekend!

Artwork of the Day: Celebrating SUPER FORCE...

Happy Monday, everyone! Just thought I'd share this artwork that I drew of Super Force...the titular character of my favorite sci-fi TV show from 1990 to '92. After Darkwing Duck (and his arch-nemesis Negaduck), Super Force is the latest hero from my childhood to be illustrated as I stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic. And along with the recent drawing I made that's inspired by Ridley Scott's epic film Gladiator, and the latest artwork I did of the Dragon Ball Z villain Cell, I am obviously in the mood to create art that celebrates a blast from my past! Carry on.

Image of the Day: Perfecting Cell...

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Just thought I'd share this drawing that I completed today of Cell ("Perfect Cell" to be exact, as he had three variations during the show)...one of the coolest-looking villains in Dragon Ball Z (DBZ)! Much like how I finished that gladiator drawing a week ago to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Gladiator's theatrical release, I completed this latest artwork to recall that later this year will mark 20 years since Super Saiyan Gohan defeated Cell (the YouTube video clip of this is featured below) in the season finale of DBZ when it aired on the Cartoon Network. I was in the Fall Semester of my third year at Cal State Long Beach at the time.

Yup— There are so many other things about the year 2000 to be nostalgic about for me...most of them good, one of them eventually bad. I'll blog about these too if I'm in the mood, or if I have time. Hah! The 'Stay-At-Home' orders for Los Angeles County due to the coronavirus pandemic will be extended through July, so of course I'll have time! Um, knock on wood. Carry on.

Images of the Day: DARKWING DUCK and His Main Nemesis...

Just thought I'd begin the month of May by sharing this artwork I made of Darkwing Duck—my favorite Disney superhero from back when I was still in elementary school. This is the first illustration I drew during the COVID-19 pandemic era... I'm pretty sure that I'll have lots of time over the next month or so to draw other TV characters from my childhood days. Err, hopefully. *Makes sure that I have an extra face mask and gloves to wear the next time I go out.*

Of course, I can't include an image of Darkwing without also featuring an illustration I made of his arch-nemesis, Negaduck! God, he's so cool. Anyways, Happy Friday...and stay safe and healthy, everyone!

Back in the Day: Portraying Nevada's Knights— Basketball-Style...

In honor of the Vegas Golden Knights reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their one-year history (sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round of the playoffs along the way, and defeating the Washington Capitals, 6-4, in Game 1 of the championship series tonight), just thought I'd share this really blurry-ass snapshot that I took of an artwork I drew in high school 20 years ago...of my own fictional NBA team, the Nevada Knights.

All I can say is, who do I sue in the NHL for stealing my idea? I kid.

Images of the Day: If I Was a FAMILY GUY Character...

Just thought I'd share these two illustrations that I created on the Family Guy Yourself website. In case you're wondering just how accurate this artwork is, I posted an actual photo that I took in 2007 at the bottom of this entry for comparison. Click on the link above to depict your own animated version of yourself from Seth MacFarlane's hit TV show! Happy Saturday.

Send Your Artwork Into Space Aboard NASA's Next Exoplanet-Hunting Mission!

NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center

Just thought I'd end this month by pointing out that NASA is currently inviting the public to submit artwork (via e-mail) that will fly aboard the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)...which is scheduled to launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Florida in March of 2018. Click on this page for more details. Right now, there is no limit as to how many artwork you can submit to fly aboard TESS; this campaign either ends on November 20, 2017, or when the drive (Hard drive? Flash drive? The site doesn't say—though it's most likely the latter) that will carry the submissions reaches full capacity. The artwork below are the ones that I myself sent in as of today. I created a couple of more illustrations that I plan to submit over the next few weeks... I'll post them in a future Blog entry. If you have your own drawings to send into the cosmos, submit now!

Images of the Day: The Seventh Sister...

Just thought I'd share this illustration that I drew of the Seventh Sister, the 'Sith Inquisitor' who's voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar on Disney XD's Star Wars Rebels. I've only watched this animated TV show once (it's pretty cool based on what I've seen), but the Seventh Sister herself caught my attention after viewing a Disneyland commercial—which aired around the time of The Force Awakens' theatrical release last December—showing a Cast Member wearing a live-action costume of the villain while engaging in mock lightsaber duels with little kids dressed as Jedi Younglings (see the photo at the very bottom of this entry). It would be so cool if the Seventh Sister made an appearance in Star Wars: Episode VIII or a future film...even though I don't know what her fate was on Star Wars Rebels (and she would be quite old considering that Rebels takes place more than 30 years before Rey and Finn join the Resistance to save the galaxy). Anyways, I can't decide if I should draw a Death Trooper from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story or Captain Phasma as my next artwork. We'll see. Happy Hump Day!

(OTHER SPACE) Artwork of the Day...

Just thought I'd share this anime-style drawing that I made two days ago of a few characters from the hilarious Yahoo! web series, Other Space. If you watched all 8 episodes of Paul Feig's brilliant new sci-fi comedy, you'd get the sentiment behind what's going on in this artwork. And if you don't, well it's all good. Tina Shukshin (played by Milana Vayntrub) strikes a pose while Captain Stewart Lipinski (portrayed by Karan Soni)—in his attempt to pose alongside his navigator/longtime crush—gets photobombed (art-bombed? Hm.) by Art (the bathroom-crazed robot voiced by Mystery Science Theater 3000's Trace Beaulieu) and the alien (Sarah Baker) that the crew of the UMP (Universal Mapping Project) Cruiser encounter in the last two episodes of the season. Looking on is Natasha (Conor Leslie), the ship's sultry on-board computer who has a thing or two for trendy wardrobe (though you couldn't tell that by the design I gave it in this artwork, hah). I used my Android smartphone to take a picture of this drawing since my computer scanner is a piece of crap that overexposed the illustration and brought out unwanted details in it (as seen below). Anyways, here's hoping that there will be a second season for Other Space... Make it happen, Yahoo! Happy Hump Day, folks.

Star Wars: Artwork of the Day...

Because of the fact that this was a slow work week for me, I had the time to draw a couple of more illustrations inspired by online rumors and recent news pertaining to Star Wars: Episode VII. With the artwork above, there is no talk about a Sith Lord (or Inquisitor) welding lightsabers whose blades shoot out from hilts attached to the antagonist's gloves—but I drew this piece precisely because I wanted to illustrate these "gauntlet sabers" (which Lucasfilm may or may not have already invented and trademarked) primed for action. In the image directly below, I wanted to draw a black X-Wing that was recently spotted during filming at Greenham Common in the UK last week. Since it was obviously not known as to which character this X-Wing belongs to, I decided to go the villainous route and have this starfighter shoot green lasers a la TIE Fighters in the Original Trilogy and the Jedi Starfighters from Revenge of the Sith.



In the artwork below, I decided to draw my own renditions of the Episode VII Stormtroopers. The design of the helmets are based on the leaked photo from more than a month back...while I took liberties on the rest of the suit since its design hasn't been leaked or revealed yet. The two TIE Fighters flying above these trio of Imperial goons are called TIE Raiders. In case you've never heard of this craft before, it's because I made them up. They're a combination of TIE Bombers from The Empire Strikes Back and Interceptors from Return of the Jedi, all rolled up into one. And lastly, don't let those streak marks in the clouds fool you— The coloring done on these drawings (with Crayola markers) are much better in the original work than they look in this pic. I used a crappy computer scanner that tends to overexpose the images after they're done being scanned; I had to adjust the contrast through Adobe Photoshop afterwards. Carry on.

The Sith Live On (Part 2)!

After posting this Blog entry about the supposed main villain for Star Wars: Episode VII, I decided to take out my (Crayola) markers and draw my own rendition of him. With the next Star Wars flick finally resuming filming this week after a 2-week hiatus that allowed Harrison Ford to fully recover from a leg injury that he got on set two months ago, it remains to be seen if we'll get more clues and confirmation as to who the antagonist will be (character-wise— Adam Driver is the actor who will presumably play him) and how he'll ultimately look like in the movie. Sith Inquisitors... I like that name.