World Wide SketchCrawl17, San Francisco

I spent last Saturday in San Francisco attending the 17 th World Wide Sketchcrawl held at Portsmouth Square in Chinatown. The weather was very hospitable, the sketchers came out in droves and the square bustled with activity and great characters to observe.
I usually don't draw very diligently at Sketchcrawls; content to sit on a bench with a coffee, taking in the sun and relaxing after a long week of drawing storyboards. This time however, I sat and drew with a specific purpose, for hours, and while my resultant drawings aren't exactly setting the world on fire, I had fun doing them, learned from them, and loosened up a bit.
I also met a bunch of great people, saw some great drawings, and ended the day with a meal at Delfina Pizzeria, and Bi-rite Creamery with Enrico and his wonderful wife Marit.
A great way spend a Saturday. Many thanks to Enrico for organizing it, and to all those that attended.
Here's some excerpts from the day...
Enjoy,
James

I had trouble keeping up with these ladies. So much character, great interactions. Interest Everywhere!

Portsmouth Square.

2008- 1 Year

Tomorrow, January 8th, I will quietly celebrate my first full year here at Pixar, and in San Francisco. It's been a great experience thus far, and having just been given two weeks off, one that I've been doing some reflecting on over the last 18 or so days. I think I'm still adjusting, very subtly at this point, to a new place, new life, and new expectations. I'd like to say thanks to Dani, Nick and Matt. I'd still be in TO if it weren't for you guys.

I also got a chance to do some of my own work over the break. I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, but it turned out I needed more rest than I thought I did. Here are some of the results of that, which I'm trying to wrestle into a shape that resembles a story. I've also been experimenting with some new photoshop painting techniques I've picked up at work, some of which are on display here.
Happy new year!

Enjoy,
James

Holiday Break-2007

After a fairly long stretch of intense work, I now find myself with a few weeks time ahead of me with nothing to do but relax, spend some time with my wife, see some friends, and draw whatever pleases me.
As it happens, I've been writing and building a short comic book project, tentatively titled "All City" which I hope to have all roughed out by the time the holidays conclude. Below are some samples of conceptual work I've been doing for it. Just rough ideas right now, to locate tone and style, although these are hardly indicative of either at this stage. Hopefully these next few weeks will broker happier results.
I want to wish all of you who regularly visit, and those just stopping by a very happy and safe holiday season. See you all in 2008.

Best wishes,
James Robertson

Daniela Strijleva

As some of you may have noticed, a while ago I added a link on the right to a Dani Strijleva, whose new blog is getting populated with some really fun, insightful and just plain awesome drawing. I'm glad now to have a moment or two to give it it's proper due.

I met Dani back at Sheridan where even then her talent for doing things right, was well developed and in full bloom. To the point:I have yet to see her make a truly bad drawing in the 7 years I've known her.
Her stuff is specific, yet loose; well constructed, yet character rich, and the stuff on the blog is just the tip of the iceberg, I assure you. I think I can say all this with reasonable certainty as she's also my wife.
Go check out her fantastic blog, you'll be glad you did.

Here's just a small sample.

Enjoy!

Welcome to the blog world Dani!

J

A tiny break

...it's nice to have a little free time.

- James

More B.A.R.T.

More stuff drawn on the bart, and a recent trip to the Ferry building with Emma.
It's in pencil, so it's from a few books ago, when I was into that.

Enjoy,

J

Abandoned-for now

I'm going to to try and update more regularly, since I've been falling behind in the posting the last few months. Here's a photo taken at home of some work from a comic book project I've been developing. I've been inspired as of late by some fellas here as well as some favorites, old and new to do a small comic book project of my own, just to get the ball rolling.
I've settled on something now, but it took a few discarded ideas to get to, this being one of them.
I think I may return to it, once I solve a few of them problems I had with it, but for now it's going in the vault.
This photo was taken with my new digi-cam which should make photo posting on the blog more common.

Also, I have a few things I'd like to talk about on the blog once I get a bit more time to dedicate to it. In lieu of that, Ted has written a great post about composition which I think is worth reading, so please head over to Rose and Isabel and check it out. When it comes to food for thought, Ted is a fine chef. You'll find it here.

UPDATE: Tom Gately, a great animator, character designer and gesture sketching teacher has started a blog. Go there NOW. Big news.

Thanks to all those who commented on the last post. It's much appreciated.
Enjoy,

James

28

I celebrated my 28th birthday on Sunday... so much has happened in the last year and I still feel behind, struggling to process it all. Since last September 30, I got married, landed a spot here at Pixar, moved to a new country, and changed some life paths. It all happened so fast. I often thought when I was really young, that adulthood came on with, or as an attainment of some kind, as though adolescence ended with an epiphany that set you up for the responsibility of living well among others and potentially raising a well adjusted, loving family.
Looking back on the last few years, I've realized that IF that epiphany is coming, it'll come so slowly I'll never notice it, and that we all have to live well now, and that that will always be a challenge.
Looking ahead, I have much to learn; some that involves pen and paper, some that involves heart and mind, sturdied that all things take time and that life is a process, a series of successes and failures that allow us to whittle ourselves down to who we are , and what we want.
At 28, here's to clear thinking, and strong feeling.
I received a real treasure of a gift from my parents this year in the form of Ronald Searle's Paris sketchbook. It's a case of right book, right time and it has lit up the furnace of inspiration.
Some pen and ink drawings from a new new new sketchbook, taken from the BART rides, the only time I have nowadays with run free with line.
They're kind of a step back I think, but what can you do?
Thanks for reading,

james

Ruth

It was my good friend's Ruth last day at Pixar yesterday, as her internship ran its course. We're all sad to see her go here, (she's awesome!), so I made her this card as a going away present. It hardly seems like fitting tribute, but maybe some brunches will make up for that.
Best of luck for the future Ruth, not that you'll need it.

Enjoy,
James

New sketchbook 2 and an anniversary

The new sketchbook I mentioned in the last post is now sitting, finished on my nightstand, and I've been working through the new, new one. This is all stuff from my morning and nightly commutes on Bart, and Ritual sittings.
Also, the blog turned 2 last month. Time seems to fly so quickly these days, but sufficed to say I'm amazed how far I've come in the 24 months since starting The Iron Scythe.
I thank all of you who stop by the blog and read daily.
Here's to another great year.
Again, the sketches.
Enjoy,
J