Big Bad Wolf for The Real Cost Commercial

Once in a while I get to work on a project that has the potential to make a positive impact in our society. I was asked to design the (big, bad) wolf and pigs for the anti-smoking commercial, Straw City for The Real Cost campaign.

The spot is riffing off of the Three Little Pigs fairy tale, where the wolf, who is a chain smoker, can’t muster the lung power to even blow over a straw building. The direction for the wolf was to make him look sickly and gross, with ill-fitting, tattered clothes and big, worn-out boots- a real sketchy looking son-of-a-gun.

The Real Cost Commercial: "Straw City" Big Bad Wolf

Here are a few of the pigs going about their business:

The Real Cost Commercial: "Straw City" Shop Owner PigThe Real Cost Commercial: "Straw City" Mother Pig and baby

Since October, the YouTube video has had over 1.9 million views, so I can only hope the message is having some effect.

Here is the commercial:

Cuckoo Clock: Take a Closer Look – GEICO

Here are some characters I designed and sculpted in ZBrush for a recent Geico commercial, Cuckoo Clock: Take a Closer Look. Legacy Effects 3D printed these guys and turned them into puppets for the clock.

This was a fun challenge. My initial pass was a bit too smooth and detailed. The director wanted these to be more crude and vintage looking, so I took down the details and sculpted them to appear as though they were hand-carved out of wood.

Here are renders of the characters:

Geico- Take a Closer Look Cuckoo Clock Saw Guys Geico- Take a Closer Look Cuckoo Clock Accordion Guy, Milk MaidGeico- Take a Closer Look Cuckoo Clock Dancers, Pie Eater and Angry WifeGeico- Take a Closer Look Cuckoo Clock Cuckoo BirdGeico_Cuckoo Clock_AnimalsHere’s a screen shot from the spot:

Geico Cuckoo Clock Screen Shot

And here’s the commercial:

 

Pizza Hut Singing Snowman

Just before the holidays last year, I was tasked out to design the singing snowman for Pizza Hut’s Singing Snowman commercial.

After designing the look of the snowman, we went through a few rounds of the melting stages. The client didn’t want it to look too gruesome or sad, so I tried to keep it light. 😉

Pizza Hut Singing Snowman Stage 1 Pizza Hut Singing Snowman Stage 2 Pizza Hut Singing Snowman Stage 3

Here’s the commercial:

 

 

The Voice Season 11 Promo

A while back I was asked to do some designs for The Voice Season 11 promo: Arrival. The direction was to give Miley Cyrus translucent dragonfly-like wings, and also to turn Carson Daly into a grey alien… Hey why not?!

Here’s where I ended up:The Voice Season 11 Promo- Miley Cyrus wingsThe Voice Season 11 Promo- Carson Daly alien

Here is the (bizarre) promo:

 

Foster Farms Monster Appetites

I have been drawing monsters ever since I was a wee lad, so when I get a chance to make more monsters for a job, it’s always fun. I was tasked out to design the monster for the Foster Farms “Monster Appetites” commercial. Initially, I was asked to develop the monster in stages, starting with small and cute, and then transitioning into something a bit more menacing. The director and agency requested a few different directions, starting with a muppet-esque feel, then moving to something more hairy and realistic.

Here is the final design:

Foster Farms "Monster Appetites" final monster design

These guys led to the final design.Foster Farms "Monster Appetites" preliminary design Always inspired by Ludo 😉Foster Farms "Monster Appetites" preliminary design

Here are some preliminary designs:

Foster Farms "Monster Appetites" preliminary designsFoster Farms "Monster Appetites" preliminary designsFoster Farms "Monster Appetites" preliminary designs

And here’s the commercial:

Timothy McTimber in California Redwood Ads

I had the opportunity to create Timothy McTimber, a talking redwood plank puppet for the funny Humbolt Redwood commercials. I sculpted Timothy in Zbrush and Legacy Effects 3d printed and painted him to appear like redwood (shhhhhhhhh).

Timothy McTimber Designs for California Redwood Ads
Timothy McTimber Designs for California Redwood Ads
Timothy McTimber Designs for California Redwood Ads
Timothy McTimber Designs for California Redwood Ads

The spots are great:


Honda Square People Designs

A while ago, Legacy Effects had me help design the square people for the 2016 Honda Civic Coupe “Square” commercial. Another Legacy artist, Jim Charmatz and I spent a couple of weeks refining the nuances of the characters’ features with the director. It was a challenge not to let the characters slip into the uncanny valley… creepy. Here are a few of the people I designed.

Here is the commercial:

 

LakeLuster is Live!

It is with GREAT excitement that my wife, Katy and I announce the completion and launch of our artistic adventure together, LakeLuster! This is an online shop selling our freshwater inspired art prints. We are live, so please check out the website!

Paddle on!

LakeLuster.com
LakeLuster.com

Brewco Manhattan Beach Trust poster

It’s been a while since I have been able to do another Brewco poster, but my schedule freed up so I was able to complete this one a few weeks back.

Here’s how it turned out.

Brewco Trust poster

I decided to digitally sculpt a pair of hands holding a beer glass to use as reference for the illustration. Here is a render of the Zbrush sculpt.

HAnds

This is currently being printed on canvas and should be delivered to Brewco Manhattan Beach in a month or so.

Target Star Wars Commercial

A while back I had the chance to help Legacy Effects design the Storm Trooper helmet for “Bullseye” the Target dog for their holiday commercial: The Star Wars Chase. I had to warp the geometry a bit to fit the dog, but we were able to get make it work, and still be comfortable for the pup.

Here’s the design:

Target Bullseye Storm Trooper Helmet design for The Star Wars Chase commercial

Here’s the spot:

Dollar Shave Club Super Bowl Commercial

Back in September, Dollar Shave Club launched a series of commercials featuring a bunch of animated, dirty razors. I had the opportunity to help design these guys. Here are some of the character designs I did for “Zeke the Dirtbag Razor”, “Jacques the Filthy Razor”, “Razor Escapes” and “Sneeze the Sick Razor”. I had fun on this one.

Zeke just aired during Super Bowl 50.

Dollar Shave Club "Zeke" designDSC_Razor_Jacques_WebDollar Shave Club "Razor Escapes" designDollar Shave Club early "Sick Razor" design

Here are some of the earlier versions. Initially the agency wanted to push the characters pretty far, but then they dialed it back a bit for the commercials.

Here are some of the commercials:



 

Royal Caribbean Bionic Bartender Commercial

A while back, I helped Legacy Effects design a robot character for a Royal Caribbean commercial. I was asked to design the face and base of their robot bartender. He needed to be simple, yet able to display emotions as he searches for his perfect job. He also needed to roll around so I designed a number of wheel and base options.

Here is the final design:

Royal Caribbean Robot Bartender Royal Caribbean Robot Bartender

Here’s the commercial:
https://vimeo.com/129233104