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Furry Art

Kitty Kat Maniac

Visiting the Long Beach Comic Con we stumbled across the works of Melissa Douglas, also known as the Kitty Kat Maniac. She majored in digital media at the Otis College of Art and Design, and since then she has worked for animation studios like The Three Legged Legs and Twistory Studios. At her web site (artchamacallit.com) you’ll find many examples of her work — both original stuff, and stuff saluting her favorite cartoons and games. And of course there are also links to her stores where you can find many of her illustrations available not only as prints and stickers, but also on t-shirts, blankets, key chains, and more.

image c. 2016 by Melissa Douglas

image c. 2016 by Melissa Douglas

Walt’s Dragon(s)

Disney animator Tom Bancroft (The Lion King, Brother Bear) has helped to bring out a new book that fans of fire-breathing winged reptiles should definitely notice: It’s called The Art of Disney’s Dragons. “Imagine if one sketchbook had been passed down through the decades from one Disney artist to the next, with each one making a contribution before leaving it in the talented hands of another. That idea was the inspiration for The Art of Disney’s Dragons. The drawings contained within this volume represent the entire range of dragon-themed development art from animators, live-action studio artists, and Imagineers. Inside find playful pencil studies of Mushu; color concepts on Figment (who was green before he became purple!); bold pencil layouts on Maleficent, and the latest character explorations of Elliot from the new Spring/Summer 2016 live-action film Pete’s Dragon. Tom Bancroft, often recognized in Disney circles as being lead animator on Mushu the dragon in Mulan, writes the book’s introductory essay.” It’s available now in hardcover from Disney Editions, and there’s a sneak peak over at Stitch Kingdom.

image c. 2016 D23.com

image c. 2016 D23.com

Disney Animals — Like You Haven’t Seen Before

Stumbled across this: It’s a new Disney coloring book, decidedly “with a difference”, called Art of Coloring: Disney Animals. It’s part of the Art of Coloring series, designed to “inspire creativity and relaxation”, where familiar images are split up into many small segments designed to be filled up quickly with small dabs of color. In this case, images of Disney animal characters from several decades. “Relax, and let the creativity flow through you. Whether a skilled artist or an everyday dabbler of drawings and doodles, fans of all ages will enjoy these stunning pen-and-ink illustrations of beautiful landscapes, elaborate patterns, and memorable characters from Disney’s hit animated feature films themed to cute and cuddly animals.” It’s published in hardcover by the Disney Book Group, and it’s available now over at Barnes & Noble.

image c. 2016 Disney Book Group

image c. 2016 Disney Book Group

Enjoy Life with a Panda

The creators of Fat Rabbit Farm (which we reviewed here previously) have a new line of graphic products called Pandi the Panda. He started life as a Facebook Messenger sticker, but since then he’s expanded to much more — including t-shirts, prints, plushies, and other illustrated stuff. “Pandi the Panda is a lifestyle brand reminding us all to enjoy life, have fun, be adventurous, and to pursue what makes you happy. We are proud to share with you designer, comfy wearables and products that encourages you to embrace this lifestyle.” Visit the official web site to find out more and see the current designs.

image c. 2016 Pandi the Panda

image c. 2016 Pandithepanda.com

Art for Music’s Sake

Frank Kozik is a world-famous graphic artist who has often been credited with single-handedly reviving the silk-screened rock’n’roll concert poster as an art form. A self-described “military brat”, after his honorable discharge from the air force he dedicated himself to art — completely self-taught as well. He has since become known not only for his posters and graphics but also for several lines of unique toys and action figures based on his designs. And yes, “funny animals” (and disturbing animals!) are often part of his work. Back in the day, he even started his own record label! Take a look at his web site to see more of what he’s been up to over the years and what’s coming next. Be prepared!

image c. 2016 by Frank Koznik

image c. 2016 by Frank Kozik

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From Out of the Toy Box

Robert X. Burden is an artist who has taken an unusual subject and really run with it. He paints complex, highly-detailed, collage-like but highly-ordered pictures based on classic toy action figures from movies and TV. As such, of course he paints a lot of science fiction subject matter. And yes that includes a lot of Furry subjects, like the Thundercats and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Visit his web site to see more of what he’s done — and spend some real time looking slowly through all the detail he puts in.

image c. 2016 by Robert X. Burden

image c. 2016 by Robert X. Burden

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Cats, Dragons… and now Mice!

Alan F. Beck is an artist who created a series called The Mousopolitan Museum of Art — “classical portraits by the mice masters”. In other words, world-famous works of art re-imagined as anthropomorphic mice. He has also written a children’s book (available through Create Space) called The Adventures of Nogard and Jackpot, which details what happens when a young kitten hears a noise within the closet and discovers a baby dragon. Both of these (and many other items) are on display at the artist’s web site.

image c. 2016 b y Alan F. Beck

image c. 2016 b y Alan F. Beck

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One Good Dragon

Here’s a book we missed from last year. J.C. Stevens is an author as well as an artist — she has displayed at various fan cons. As such she is both the writer and the illustrator of her first book, Dragon Lad. It’s published through her own imprint, Dragon’s Egg Books. “Hatched into a world where dragons are on the verge of extinction, Dorg seems the dragon least likely to succeed. A magic curse has left him the size of a sparrow in a time and place where dragons are merciless predators. And Dorg is not just tiny. He has a different heart and soul than the rest of the dragons. He wants to be friends with the other creatures in his world, not eat them. He even empathizes with the humans that those of his species loathe. At first, all Dorg wants to do is to end the curse so he can be like the other dragons. But as he sets out on that quest, he encounters both friends and enemies who make him realize that being a big, mean dragon isn’t what he wants at all.” Find out more at the official Dragon’s Egg web site.

image c. 2016 by J.C. Stevens

image c. 2016 by J.C. Stevens

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A Rainbow of Reading

The artist describes himself like this: Michael Fleming has 15+ years of practical experience as a professional illustrator, working with both digital and traditional mediums. Specialities are children’s media and character design.” His web site, Tweedlebop, also shows that he has had his art displayed at numerous galleries around North America. Of course he also has a shop where you can check out his available prints and the books for children that he’s illustrated — many of the latter falling in the “early reading” curriculum.

image c. 2016 by Michael Fleming

image c. 2016 by Michael Fleming

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