Kirk Parrish Art Blog

I've Moved...

2014-03-31T17:56:00.000-07:00

... But you can follow me at my Tumblr Page!

So starting now, any future posts will happen there. This change is in accordance to better streamline my online presence. I feel Blogger is all but dead.

See you all on the flipside!

-Kirk

Change of Pace

2014-01-20T16:59:00.001-08:00

Here's a traditional commish to get me outta that digital lull. My camera is pretty terrible and these photos don't do the final work justice. Created with acrylics/oils and took three days to complete. Way more enjoyable than sitting in front of a computer all day...

-Kirk

A Christmas Carol

2014-01-01T16:37:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm late on posting this, but a few months back I had the pleasure of illustrating Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" for FarFaria. It was a great opportunity to spread my wings and really come at the project with a different end result in mind. Actually, before even beginning any work, I had initially envisioned something very organic, dark and almost entirely devoid of color. But, owing to extremely tight deadlines, I unfortunately had to fall back on certain tried and true habits I've developed over the years. Not to say I don't like the finished product (because I do) but, it's funny how the story can take a life of it's own and seemingly steer it's own heading.

Below is a few illustrations and an overall sample from the entire story.

Happy Holidays!
Kirk

He Who Must Not Be Named

2013-12-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

A couple more pieces for fun and artistic growth.

Happy Holidays!

-Kirk

Solo Dolo

2013-11-11T21:18:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've updated with any new art. Work has a way of sucking all the creative juices from me. After a long day of grinding away on studio jobs, I'm unfortunately left with little desire to create anything for myself. Luckily for me, today being a holiday, I took advantage and tried something different. This is the result...

A while back Scott Mescudi posted an interesting candid shot and I had to do something with it. It's everyday moments that inspire and ultimately lay the foundation for creativity. It's rare for me to really know the end result on a piece of art, unless I absolutely sit down and start planning the thing out. This can detract from the end result, because one spends a great deal of time planning and grinding away at an essential blueprint of what the finished product might look like. So much time/energy can be wasted during this process and it leaves little room for a freeing, organic task of improvisation.

Well, one thing that needs to change is my openness to create more art just for myself. That's something which is never lost on a child with a coloring book, or happily sketching away -- creating for creations sake. It's supposed to be fun after all. Kid's know this and without even thinking about it. They do it for the sheer fun of creating something cool. I need to take a lesson from my five year old self, because that dude was much wiser than this old guy sitting here, typing away at this blog.

-Kirk

Assortment of Colors

2013-08-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

A digital puppy portrait commission. Drop me a line if you've got a certain best friend that needs to be immortalized into a piece of art. (kparrish33@gmail.com)

-Kirk

Dogs

2013-07-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

My Best Friend

2013-07-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

-Kirk

Need A New Mobile Game?!

2013-07-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

If any of yous guys needs a fun new mobile game, check out Baseball Slam. It's a fun, arcade based, home run derby meets pinball, meets casino kinda video game. That sounds like a lot, but I assure you the learning curve is pretty quick and it's proving to be a very addictive game. Unfortunately as of now it's only available for your various iPhone/iPad devices and no word on whether it'll be available on the android marketplace. But, at least it's free, so you got that going for you.

I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to work on this one for over a year, doing characters/concepts and even designed the final logo.

Would love for anybody to at least give it a shot...it is free after all!

-Kirk

The Odd Couple

2013-06-24T15:09:00.003-07:00

It appears these two have a destination.

-Kirk

Ahoy!

2013-05-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Ever since I was in the sixth grade and read Treasure Island by: Robert Louise Stevenson; the whole idea of adventure on the high-seas has really captured me. One day, I'll really expand on that whole notion. This will have to do for now.

-Kirk

Onlookers

2013-04-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Are you gonna watch, or are you gonna join in?

-K

Smoke, Smoke, Everywhere

2013-03-21T11:07:00.001-07:00

This is one of those pieces that looked completely different in my head. As I progressed, the illustration kinda took a life of it's own. I had originally intended the blue dude to be completely swamped in the mob of smokers, but it somehow proved too messy and overly chaotic.

-K

EXTRA, EXTRA...READ ALL ABOUT IT!!!

2013-02-13T14:26:00.001-08:00

The Pepperoni Palm Tree has been making it's rounds and getting some great press across the country. Not just limited to newspapers (The Pittsburgh Gazette, Washington Post, the Daily Herald) or blog articles, but even a snippet on the NBC 4 Washington News.

"beautifully illustrated" - The Washington Post

"imaginative children's book full of fantastic illustrations that popped off the page." - Books R Us Online

"The book is beautifully illustrated by Kirk Parrish." - The Daily Herald (Utah)

"Parrish’s vivid illustrations, bursting with color and life, compliment the zany text and bring out the strangeness of the jungle, with its screeching monkeys, sneering papaya plants and gloating banana bunches. The whole thing has a touch of Seuss about it." -Kirkus Review

Get your hardcover copy today at: www.pepperonipalmtree.com

Thanks guys!
Kirk

Adam and Dog

2013-02-09T14:32:00.002-08:00

For those that don't know, or haven't heard about this wonderful, traditionally animated film: Adam and Dog, by Minkyu Lee. I had been waiting for months to finally view this, as it was only available at limited screenings. Now it's finally online and the wait has definitely been worth it! It reminds me of my best pal and displays the strong bond between man and his k-9 companion. Forget CG animation, this films simply reinforces all the reasons why I love the medium in the first place, and why it shouldn't go the way of the dodo.

-Kirk

Smooth Moves, Scotty Ol' Boy

2013-01-16T18:18:00.001-08:00

A while back I saw this image of Scott Miscudi and was inspired to create my rendition of it. The man's music is completely and truly inspirational to me and I'm frequently listening to his stuff while I work. But this photo, apparently from a Complex Magazine interview, just kinda stuck with me and months upon months after seeing it -- I created my own version.

My goal wasn't to necessarily capture his likeness -- but to somehow portray his movement seen in the photo and lock it into my work. It all starts with the ye ol' sketch...and a terrible cell phone image to throw into my computer, to start the inking and coloring process.

The final illustration:

-K

Tom Sawyer's White Fence

2012-12-15T16:31:00.001-08:00

My rendition of one of the more iconic literary scenes in history - Tom Sawyer and that infamous white fence. I've seen some prior illustrations, most notably artists like Norman Rockwell had tried their hand at this scene. I wanted to break the mold and try something completely different, while putting my own spin on it.

Not satisfied with the bottom rendition, I tried a different approach - this time including his whole body and more of the burden to come.

"Life to him seemed hollow, and existence but a burden. Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; did it again; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence, and sat down on a tree-box discouraged." - Mark Twain

Thanks guys!
Kirk

Ciggs R Gross.

2012-12-11T19:53:00.000-08:00

Just decided to to further develop this sketch from my book. Ciggs are gross. Throw em away.

-Kirk

Pharrell's Advice

2012-12-10T16:13:00.000-08:00

I just saw this and thought it was kinda informative from a design sense.

Thanks Pharrell.
-Kirk

Website Update!

2012-12-07T18:42:00.001-08:00

Hey gang,

I wanted to inform all my visitors of an easier way to view my gallery. I have just created a new website, which will now act as the new "kirksart.com" starting now and in the going forward. This blog will be, just that - a blog. It will still contain all my all my latest nonsense, including, news, sketches and illustrations. I really just needed a fresher alternative to ease the viewing process for all you folks out there.

Thanks guys! And to kick start the new site, here's a little drawing straight outta my sketchbook:

So head-on over to: www.KirksArt.com to give it a hearty welcome!

Thanks!
Kirk

Sketches...

2012-11-21T16:10:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start uploading some art from my sketchbook. Often, I find that I become more satisfied with some quick lineart, than I do with a completed, fully-rendered illustration.

-K

Glen Keane!!!

2012-11-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

Legendary Disney Animator Glen Keane gives a great demonstration at this years CTN-Expo. I was lucky enough to ask him a question -- a great opportunity!

Curiosity

2012-11-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

It doesn't matter what you're holding - if you look at the object with interest, the dog will almost always be curious.

Local Press

2012-11-06T10:28:00.002-08:00

Hey everybody! Just wanted to take the time to direct people to an article in my local newspaper about myself. The Mercer Island Reporter was gracious enough to write a little something about my latest endeavor.

Mercer Island Reporter

Also, the SCBWI Western Washington blog has posted a little snippet about "The Pepperoni Palm Tree"

/Chinook Update

Just a couple updates.

Thanks!
Kirk

Sports Champions 2 Debuts Today!

2012-10-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Sports Champions 2 - my latest game, finally sees the light of day today! I had the pleasure of starting work on this game over a year ago and it'll be nice to finally share the hard work with the rest of you. If anybody is looking for a fun, physically active sports game, then look no further. The game offers up six different sports for you to choose from and is available exclusively on the Sony Playstation 3.

Here's couple articles on the game:

http://www.ign.com/games/sports-champions-2/ps3-135395

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/29/sports-champions-2-bolsters-playstation-move-catalogue/