Blogcha!

Tooth of Dare! Shark School Book #7

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 16:26:00 +0000

The latest book in the Shark School series is out now- Tooth or Dare!

Harry Hammer competes tooth-for-tooth with his rival Rick Reef in hopes of winning a fin-tastic amusement park prize in this seventh Shark School (mis)adventure.

More info and purchase links HERE!

Some interior illustrations-

Rizzle Kicks Slurp Video

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 15:58:00 +0000

Rizzle Kicks

"Slurp" Video

Directed by Dom Joly (Trigger Happy) & Matt Campion

Produced by Spirit Media

I illustrated the celebrity masks throughout the video.

Also performed in the video as right-side Trump, Boris Johnson and dancing gorilla
(all basically the same character)!

Alien Invasion!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 18:53:00 +0000

I've really been neglecting this blog! I've been creating a couple of funny Alien characters every week over on my social media links. I've created postcards, posters and birthday cards with them as well.

If you want to be up to date on my new projects and regular doses of deep space denizens then head here-

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Goodnight, Grizzle Grump!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 18:41:00 +0000

GOODNIGHT GRIZZLE GRUMP!
Published by HarperCollins (October 2015)
My first picture book as author and illustrator!

- Grizzle Grump's page on the HarperCollins site

FIVE STARS- San Francisco Book Review

"This is a good choice for read-alouds and great fun, especially for those readers who can appreciate a good nap." - Kirkus Book Review

"Goodnight, Grizzle Grump! is a great bedtime read. Warm and funny illustrations and the use of repetition are sure to connect with readers." - YA Books Central

George Brown, Class Clown & Shark School

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 18:32:00 +0000

Burps and sharks! I've been fortunate to illustrate some super fun chapter books over the years but George and Harry are like sons to me! I've worked on over 25 books combined on the two series.

George Brown, Class Clown (Grosset Dunlap, Penguin Random House) latest is It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Toiletman (#17)!

Find out more at George's own website. Or purchase the books here-
Penguin
Amazon

Shark School (Simon & Schuster) upcoming release is Tooth or Dare! (#7) in November 2016.
Find out more at Harry Hammer's own website. Purchase the books here-
Simon & Schuster
Amazon

Zombies Glow Stickers and Valentines Cards!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 18:02:00 +0000

Peaceable Kingdom has been hiring me to create some fun zombie themed products for them. Here's the latest- Zombie Valentine's Day Bookmark Cards

Purchase here-
Kiddly Winks
Amazon

and Zombie Glow in the Dark Stickers!

Purchase here-
Kiddly Winks
Amazon

Also apologies for the neglected blog! It's been over a year posting here. All of my news now goes on all my social media links-

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Pirate Temporary Tattoos!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 17:45:00 +0000

Super fun pirate themed temporary tattoos created for Gumtoo.

Purchase them here-
Gumtoo
Amazon

Also apologies for the neglected blog! It's been over a year posting here. All of my news now goes on all my social media links-

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Zombie Jean Tats

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 17:06:00 +0000

BRAAAAIIIINS!

I've designed a whole horde of zombies for toy company, Peaceable Kingdom
for their line of Jean Tats (temporary tattoos for jeans).

They're available HERE!

Warning! Some Undead Sketches Below...

Burp or Treat... Smell My Feet!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 16:49:00 +0000

Happy (almost) Halloween everyone!

Sorry for the extreme lack of blog posts and news on here. I've been very busy with lots of projects- including my first book as author. I usually just post quick news to my Facebook Page and Twitter. So feel free to follow me there, but I'll try to blog news more often. Lots of good monstery mayhem coming up!

The new George Brown , Class Clown book came out way back in August but it's Halloween themed, so I thought it was the right time to post about it. The brilliantly titled- Burp or Treat... Smell my Feet! is a double book Super Special and full of spooky and silly mischief from GB and his pals.

Some interior illustrations-

Ten Monsters in a Bed

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:48:00 +0000

Do you like burps, slurps, snores or sneezes? How about monsters? What about monsters that burp, slurp, snore or sneeze (and fart)? Well, then, here's the book for you- Ten Monsters in a Bed!

A fun, colorful, noisy picture book- perfect to read before bedtime! It's published by Templar Publishing, the same wonderful UK publisher that I illustrate the shark series- Harry Hammer for!

Templar's description-

In this play on '10 in a bed', 10 monsters are very squished on a bunk bed. On each spread, a monster gets pushed out on to the floor, where readers can press them to hear the fun sounds they make, for example: snoring, scratching, burping, slurping, sniffing and farting.

In each spread, a different noisy monster is kicked out of the top bunk bed by his fellow monsters, where the reader can press a button to activate that monster's noise.

Some near-final sketches of the ten monsters-

Pick up your copy here-

Templar Publishing
Book Depository
Waterstones
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Some early nice reviews-

Read it Daddy!
Red Reading Hub

PS- Sorry for the long time of (8 months!) lack of blogging- I've been posting all news on my Facebook and Twitter but I'll try to add more big news here when I can!

My Facebook Page
My Twitter Page

Harry Hammer Book Series

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:24:00 +0000

Covers for books 1 and 2- Shark School and Shark Star

Announcing the new book series Harry Hammer, about the funny adventures of a hammerhead shark boy. Books 1 and 2 are out now, followed by 3 and 4 in August, with more next year.

More info from Templar Publishing-

"Welcome to Shark Point, a beautiful rural reef community where different species of fish live side by side! Young Harry Hammer would give his right fin to be as fast as a blue shark, as cool as a tiger shark, or as downright terrifying as a great white. Determined to prove that he's just as brave, tough and scary as any fish in the sea, Harry throws himself into a series of daring adventures, in which only his loyal friends – and his own unique hammerhead abilities – keep him out of trouble."

Harry Hammer series website

Sea creatures that dwell on the chapter head pages-

Sample spreads from book 1-

Cartoon Network Animation Academy

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 13:19:00 +0000

I was contacted by TBWA/RAAD to design and illustrate characters to appear
on a series of advertisements for Cartoon Network's Animation Academy.

The characters are in three separate groups (humans, monsters and superheroes)
and all are in unfinished states, bored and waiting to be completed by animators at the school.

Character development and exploration below the ads.

The Twelve Burps of Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:04:00 +0000

The Twelve Burps of Christmas

George Brown, Class Clown's First Super Special!

Green burp juice on Santa's beard, ugly Christmas sweaters, embarrassing holiday decoration destruction all in the latest George Brown book!

Synopsis-

"In the first Super Special of Nancy Krulik's popular series, George stars in two stories! Between the class play and his old best friend's surprise visit, the Christmas celebrations are shaping up to be a season of fun! But of course the magic burps--an even dozen of them--put a crazy spin on all his plans. If only Santa could leave George a cure for burps under the tree!"

Buy it online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound.

A few fun festive spreads-

Dracola- RC Cola Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:57:00 +0000

Dracola! Special-edition, glow in the dark, blood-red Halloween label for RC Cola UK.

At Asda stores throughout England. Or order online HERE.

O.D.H.O.R

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:36:00 +0000

Introducing the stinky agents of...

Over-the Hill Disgruntled Henchmen Organization Reunion (O.D.H.O.R.)

All of your favorite evil underlings from 80s TV shows, all together in one place, complaining about their demanding bosses and annoying goody-two-shoes enemies.

For the upcoming Strange Kid Club's Strange Kid Comix Magazine - Issue #3

Pocket God- The Perfect Swarm

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:03:00 +0000

"The Perfect Swarm"

Here's a new poster I've illustrated for the popular "Pocket God" iOS game. This episode is titled "The Perfect Swarm" and is a 2012 Apocalypse themed update. More from the Bolt Creative blog-

Episode 44 introduces a new room inside the temple’s Chamber of Time, and it’s truly yucky and weird! Once you go inside, an enormously disgusting Locust Queen awaits who can birth to a swarm of locusts, as long as she is given sustenance. And you probably know what that food is.

With this episode, there's also a cool Mondo expansion pack to decorate your islands in nerdy fashion- designed by friend and awesome illustrator Josh Ellingson. Read more about the update at Bolt Creative's website.

Bolt Creative also asked if I had any ideas for Pygmy locust related deaths.

Here's my two death concepts- both are in the game-

Poster Design thumbnails-

Locust Queen Final Design Pencils-

Locust Queen In-game Concepts-

"The Perfect Swarm" trailer-

Speedo Sea Squad

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Sea Squad Assemble!

For the last few years, I've been designing, illustrating and animating

a re-branding project for Speedo "Learn to Swim" children's product range.

The five Sea Squad characters appear on swimming suits, pool products, packaging, in-store advertising, online game and website.

See more here-

Speedo Sea Squad website

Battle the evil Dr. Kittycrab and his nasty minions in-

Attack of the Robofish game

The Speedo Sea Squad website, packaging and logo design
by the talented crew at The Late Night Salon

Action Pose!

Sea Squad buddies

In-store characters in Asia

Swim Toys and Accessories Packaging

Learn to Swim Products and Toys

Evil Robofish

Attack of the Robofish game background

Attack of the Robofish game background 02

Website

New Year! New Work! New Website!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:22:00 +0000

New website design is up with new work!

monstersquid.com

Giant Nostrils and Burp Boxes!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:50:00 +0000

The Burp Box

There's been two new belchy releases in the George Brown, Class Clown world recently!

First out is the noisy Burp Box! It's the first George Brown box set containing books one to four. Plus there's a button on the box that unleashes a super burp sound effect to help with your reading.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Help! I'm Stuck in a Giant Nostril! Cover

Next out is book six in the series- Help! I'm Stuck in a Giant Nostril! It's my favorite cover so far and it was lots of fun drawing up moldy toes and dripping noses. The book bio-

Despite George's best efforts to rid himself of the curse of the burps, those magical and pesky belches are still following him everywhere he goes - even on his class trip to the science museum. If circulating through a human heart or sliding down the nostril of a giant nose sound wild, just wait until the burps attack!

Find out more at the George Brown, Class Clown website.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

Spreads from the book-

All six George Brown, Class Clown covers (so far) -

Planet of the Living Dead

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:41:00 +0000

I was asked by the guys at Pocket God to illustrate a poster for the new episode of Pocket God- Journey to Uranus (the spin off from the popular iPhone/iPod/iEtc app). The new episode is titled Planet of the Living Dead- featuring undead zombie pygmies... in spaaaace! I love the game so jumped at the chance to work with them on this and future updates.

Full poster/splash screen-

In case you've never heard of Pocket God- here's some game play of the new episode.

Poster sketch-

The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:13:00 +0000

Warning! Beware! Danger! Caution!

The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless- the new book series I'm illustrating is out on evil shelves now! I'm so thrilled to be working on this fun and funny series written by Allan Woodrow and published by Harper Collins.

Zachary Ruthless is a ten year old boy determined to become the next big super villain. Along with his henchman, Newt, they set out to turn Plentyville's mayor into a zombie and make him do their evil bidding. They hope to be inducted into S.O.U.R.B.A.L.L.S.- the evil society of super villains, led by Mr. Maniacal.

Learn more about Zachary Ruthless, tremble at the Rogues Gallery, and browse the shop at Evilbadguystuff.com (the number one evil gadget web site on the planet, and probably the universe). There's a super villain posted very month so keep checking the site. This month- Knock Knock (The Joker's third cousin, once removed)!

You can buy the book at these places-
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Borders
Indie Bound

The next book - The Stench of Goodness is out later this year.

Cover for Book 1

Zombie Laser

Evil Blimp Headquarters for S.O.U.R.B.A.L.L.S.

What's Black and White and Stinks All Over?

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 09:51:00 +0000

What's Black and White and Stinks All Over?

Book four of the George Brown, Class Clown book series for Penguin I'm illustrating is out now! George and the gang head to the park for outdoor class scavenger hunt and run into a stinky skunk.

Check out the George Brown Website for more book and purchase info. You can also send a Super Burp to your friends.

Sample spreads from What's Black and White and Stinks All Over...

Baseball Player Characters

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:07:00 +0000

There were two things I hated while growing up - math and baseball. So I couldn't pass up an opportunity to face my demons and design dozens of baseball players for a project that would meld the two together. Glad I did it because it was fun going back to look for characterful players from my youth- especially the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. The project was to create several players for each position for a series of baseball cards that would come in a workbook for classrooms to help teach students about math and statistics.

Above are some of the front action shots and below are the character's profile mug shots.

I'll leave you with this-

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.

Awards for Paul Bunyan Graphic Novel

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:37:00 +0000

The Tall Tale of Paul Bunyan, the graphic novel I illustrated last year has won a few awards!

Paul Bunyan has been selected for 3x3's Children's Illustration Show in the Book Cover division. 3x3 is a magazine showcasing the best of contemporary illustration around the world. Big honor to be a part of it. It's appearing in their Illustration Annual No. 7 now. Order it here.

Paul Bunyan also won a gold at the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards for Best Children's Graphic Novel of 2010. "The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and life-long reading." What awesome news- thank you!

You can buy Paul Bunyan at Amazon US, Amazon UK or a buncha other places!

Paul Bunyan, written by Martin Powell, is the third graphic novel I've done in the Graphic Spin series for Stone Arch Books. First two were the The Three Little Pigs and The Ugly Duckling.

******

I also did an interview with Literary Asylum back during the Halloween season and forgot to post about it. Read about my process, inspiration and other nonsense HERE.

Matt from Literary Asylum has also interviewed the authors I collaborate with - Kevin Bolger (Zombiekins) and Allan Woodrow (The Rotten Adventures of Zachary Ruthless).

OK- that's enough of that. I'll post some artwork soon! Promise.

Zombiekins in the New York Times!

noreply@blogger.com (AARON BLECHA) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:44:00 +0000

Zombiekins has made an appearance in last Sunday's New York Times. Thanks to 10 year old Marvin for reading it (and liking zombies)!

Here's the link on their website.