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I don't know if you're familiar with this movie, but it is great. It's an epic battle of good and evil. It's about Steve Wiebe vs. Billy Mitchell for the highest score on Donkey Kong. The movie is really more about the players.
After watching this movie, I think that Weibe deserves the title, BUT I also think the Billy Mitchell is an AMAZING gamer! One of the top of our lifetime. He's portrayed as the villian, but he is still deserves the recognition for his gaming feats. Just to put it into perspective, there probably wouldn't even be competative arcade gaming if it wasn't for Billy Mitchell.
Jon felt that the movie needed some kind of historical perspective of the actual Donkey Kong game, so the short was born.
I sure didn't do this short alone! We were under the gun for this one. We turned it around in 2 weeks--and that's all after hours work! It was a huge labor of love for everyone that worked on it at I Am 8bit Studios:
Here's my animatic, just be warned, the whole thing is rough and on yellow post-its.
Every short starts with what is called a color script. This is a way to keep and overview of the whole film's color. It's a way to plan out the intensity and relationships of all the colors in all the scenes in order. Color is SUPER imporant. It basically dictates the emotions in the film--all following the story that is.
"Shiggy" Shigeru Miyamoto. I hope I've done him proud!
I loved designing DK. I must say that I despise the new DK design--ruined by RARE.
Here's some of Steve's Nintendo businessmen:
Thanks again everyone for such a fine job, and especially New Line for paying for it!
0 Comments on A Really Really Brief History of Donkey Kong as of 1/1/1900
I thought it would be funny to have everything in Mario's house pipes, just because, you know, he is a plumber...
This is before textures.
This is after.
I animated the whole thing in a weekend. It was a lot of fun to get my Mario design movin'. I've been dying to ever since I did the first painting. Here's the animation before I comped in Tony's BGs, you can still see me super rough animatic on post-its.
Finallly a new post! Geeze that took forever! I can't believe how irresponsible I am!
Well, I'll finish punishing myself later.
No in all seriousnes, I took a break from painting/illustration to work on some very interesting projects that will be coming to you soon...
In the meantime, I thought you patient peoples would like to see an old Christmas card I did. See, every year I used to do a little Christmas card or comic and send it out to keep in touch with all of my family in Pennsylvania and friends inbetween. It was a good way to give a little for the holidays because sometimes this was the only thing people would get from me because I was just starting out...
Here's the card: Would you guys like to see more? I have a really rare 20 page Chrismas comic if you would like to see that...?
0 Comments on A Big Pants Mouse Holiday Treat as of 1/1/1900
Keith Kerstetter said, on 12/12/2007 7:25:00 PM
Love it, looks great! On a side note, is a relative of yours running for comissioner in Lancaster Co.? I wonder everytime I see the signs...
Savage said, on 12/12/2007 8:27:00 PM
Woot! I was wondering what was in the pants.
Mom said, on 12/13/2007 8:30:00 AM
I remember that one, Gabe!!! Actually, I have all of them stashed away...gee, maybe their worth tons of $$ and Dad and I can retire and live the life of luxury!! Thanks, Gabe...now where is that box?!!? xoxox
To Keith K. The other Swarr is only a friend. Thanks for noticing!
SteveLambe said, on 12/13/2007 11:06:00 AM
"Big Pants Mouse...I don't like it in the pants."
Genius!
More!! More!!
Julián höek said, on 12/13/2007 4:13:00 PM
it's great to see you post again gabe! awesome xmas card! keep posting more stuff see ya!
Lamar The Revenger said, on 12/16/2007 8:43:00 AM
my goodness. i've forgot about that one... i have that christmas comic somewhere too. good stuff! man, that brings back a flood of memories.
That's right, first painting with NO color comp! I went with a really loose wash this time around. It was quite fast and fun. I will definitely try more of this with new pieces...
The only drawback is losing some of the subtle shapes...
0 Comments on LA Bigfoot as of 1/1/1900
Savage said, on 8/19/2007 10:05:00 PM
That looks nice! It's like Bigfoot meets Maynard G. Krebs (the beatnik on Dobbie Gillis).
Lamar The Revenger said, on 8/20/2007 9:56:00 AM
reminds me of those model cars... you know Rat Fink...
Katie said, on 8/20/2007 3:08:00 PM
Yay!!! I like Bigfoot, even though he is scary. I want to see this in person!
Katie said, on 8/20/2007 3:10:00 PM
Hey, I just noticed I don't link to you on my own blog!! I'm sorry! I am linking to you now! :)
Alina Chau said, on 8/21/2007 10:34:00 AM
I was at the exhibition, very nice works you have!
kyle said, on 8/23/2007 12:36:00 AM
Dude, it was about time I was in the same show with ya! Awesome!
Holy crap dude this and the Pee Wee paintings are freakin awesome!! You really captured they're likeness'!!
I'm sure you've been asked this before here but what is your actual process with your paintings and are you painting on canvas or sumthing else?!?!
p.s- it was really awesome to finally meet you and the rest of the El Tigre team and it was really cool to see how you guys put the show together!!
p.s.s- I picked up a copy of your Big Pants Mouse comic at Meltdown!!
-Alex
Miss Mindy said, on 9/4/2007 6:42:00 PM
Ohhh! I saw this in person! & licked it! he he he... I'm glad we're in a show together - (awww.. *sniff*) The gals just gotta love this guys feet! :)mm
Kristen McCabe said, on 9/23/2007 11:16:00 PM
This is Great! Love his funny grin. I'm trying to figure out how you did the bg.
"I know you are but what am I?" Acrylic on Illustration Board
I picked one of my all-time favorite movies, Pee Wee's Big Adventure. I knew that someone was going to do a piece about Pee Wee's "troubles" with the law. I never really agreed with the rep that Paul Reubens got after all that, so I decided to do a straight homage to the movie.
But, I love Francis (Mark Holton). I think he is the unsung hero of Pee Wee's Big Adventure. He was just a spoiled rich kid who was so dumb that it never occured to him to hire someone to make a Pee Wee bike for himself. I guess nothing can be as good as the original...
Don't forget that Phil Hartman had a cameo in the movie, but more impotantly wrote it with Paul Reubens. Maybe next year I'll do a Big Lebowski piece...
the chung said, on 7/24/2007 7:20:00 PM
this is a great piece gabe! so do you do a color comp on the 'puter before you paint it? or was that for prints?
Marc Deckter said, on 7/25/2007 4:16:00 PM
Great piece! That's one of my favorite movies too. Pee Wee rules!
Jazzy Justin said, on 7/26/2007 8:07:00 AM
What a great homage to the movie! I love this. And I totally agree, Francis was the PERFECT foil for Pee Wee!! I love the scene where they fight in the huge bathtub, and I dig how you drew their faces!
Mom said, on 7/26/2007 7:56:00 PM
I LOVE IT!!!!! Great job, Gabe!!!! I can still see you and ZeeWee doing the "PeeWee dance" to Tequila!!! HA!!! Great time!!! Thanks for the memories, Gip!!! I love you! xoxox
Andy J Smith illustration said, on 7/27/2007 4:45:00 AM
Dude, that made me laugh out loud and spit my coffee all over the screen - nice work! FRAN-CISSS! This rocks and can tell you had a lot of fun with it! I think I may need to find or make myself an 'FB' shirt like the one Mr. Buxton adorns himself in. That umm, jumpsuit outfit isn't too shabby either! -Andy
Matthew Luxich said, on 8/1/2007 8:01:00 AM
this is truely fantastic... i have seen many peep wee herman illustrations but never one of Francis... excellent!
Is this going to eventually turn into a print form the show?
matt
:: smo :: said, on 8/4/2007 10:40:00 PM
FRANCIS: "are you trying to make a monkey out of me?!"
PEE WEE: "i don't make monkeys...I JUST TRAIN EM!"
you just went off the chartts on the awesome-o-meter!
:: smo :: said, on 8/4/2007 10:43:00 PM
just an aside...
i always loved the matching embroidered jumpsuits francis and his dad wore. that's how i envision rich people dressing about the house to this day.
wasn't mark holton also in teen wolf? that could be a fun piece too!
Marlo Meekins said, on 8/8/2007 5:00:00 AM
haha great work!
Dave Pryor said, on 8/8/2007 8:18:00 PM
A beauty!
Serapio Calm said, on 8/12/2007 4:05:00 PM
This is so awesome! You've captured their personality perfectly!
warren said, on 8/13/2007 9:35:00 PM
...i want one...
LeftyJoe said, on 8/18/2007 1:00:00 PM
kudos, great design elements.
sean said, on 8/20/2007 5:00:00 PM
Wow... that fantastic. I want me a big red bike now.
Ryan Wood said, on 9/20/2007 12:14:00 AM
Holy crap, this rules in every way. That Fran-ciss is awesome!
A funny account of the night on Elizabeth Ito's blog Vinyl Pulse has some pics plus a video The show is still up! You can see it the real pieces in person at Gallery 1988!
0 Comments on I Am 8 Bit Everywhere! as of 1/1/1900
Lamar The Revenger said, on 5/4/2007 1:48:00 AM
will it be up when the wife and i get out there? i hope so.
Todd Kauffman said, on 5/6/2007 6:24:00 PM
i loved the show - it was great to see your pieces!!
Mukpuddy said, on 5/7/2007 7:51:00 PM
Man thats awesome it's got so much exposure dude!! Your stuff looks awesome up on the wall aswell!!
Mom said, on 5/8/2007 5:21:00 AM
Everything looks fabulous, Gabe!!! WOW! Who does your framing?!!? We're sooo VERY PROUD of you!!!!! Hopefully we'll get to one of your openings....soon!!!! Keep up the great work!!! xoxoxoxoxox
Bill said, on 5/9/2007 11:36:00 AM
Those Marios are fantastic.
Chloe Cumming said, on 5/12/2007 9:28:00 AM
Thank you for the links, I feel I have absorbed an enlightening little new slice of culture.
I like your multiple palette concept lots.
Miss Mindy said, on 5/14/2007 10:55:00 PM
wow Gabe... you guys really do some bitchin' work! :)mm
Guillem CANAL said, on 5/18/2007 6:57:00 AM
Just one word : WoW! I really love those Mario's painting. Somehow, it remind me some good old cartoons made by Disney like "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit".
From a guy from France who luv your work!
goldenrusset said, on 6/3/2007 10:33:00 AM
Awesome.. love your stuff as always... wish i coulda been there!
xenos said, on 6/10/2007 9:19:00 AM
um, was that really your mom leaving a comment? wow, my mom is still learning to get around on the net let alone leave comments on my blog. anyhow, the coverage is well deserved because all the pieces were phenomenal.
Clinton said, on 6/19/2007 1:00:00 PM
Great stuff! How long you think that exhibit will stay up? I am trying to get over to Cali this year.
the chung said, on 7/1/2007 12:35:00 PM
Hey Gabe i love your shit! and is that forreal your mom commenting on how proud she is of you? lucky...my mom never says stuff like that to me. but anyways, it was nice to have met you (VERY BRIEFLY) last monday when Denise gave me a quick tour of Nick. keep on keepin on!
I miss the days of playing Frisbee out on a big field with friends. Cool bear painting. It looks like he catching more snack food then Frisbees. :)
Lamar The Revenger said, on 4/12/2007 2:14:00 AM
frisbee.... aahhh. that's a fun game of the past. maybe in june we'll have to play. i have to find one as soon as the winter ends here on the east coast.
I like the technique! Has that friendly Jolly Roger Bradfield vibe...
Bonus points for the head + wrist bands.
Daisy Edwards said, on 4/26/2007 8:31:00 PM
this is my first visit to your blog...man you've got some awesome stuff to show. I particularly like the way you coloured your frisbee bear, he looks great! cheers, daisy
Josh said, on 4/27/2007 9:45:00 AM
Hi...
Question: Can anyone tell me how to achieve this texture with acrylics? I noticed Amanda Visell also does an excellent job with acrylics.
What kind of illustration board, paints and brushes are needed to get this classic and inventive look?
Any suggestions? Knowing is half the battle.
Best Regards, - Josh
Todd Kauffman said, on 4/27/2007 11:46:00 AM
it was cool having lunch with you last week - i would've sent you a proper email but i ain't got your address.
nice piece btw ;)
Stephen Studios said, on 4/29/2007 7:05:00 AM
Sweet illustration dude!
Gabe Swarr said, on 4/29/2007 6:28:00 PM
I did the bear texture by stippling with slighly watered down cel vinyl.
Amanda Visell is all about dry brush. She's the queen of that technique.
Thanks for the kind words one and all! I'm going to a lot more like this...
SmittyCartoons said, on 5/2/2007 4:34:00 AM
I like!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, I've seen your picture all of the interweb before I saw it pop up here. Wario looks great! I look forward to seeing you at the show. It will be fun.
Wow, the colors in the painted version are so much cooler and sophisticated than the screaming hues of the digital rough! I've been pulling away from stark flat colors a lot lately, too; they're still fun but adding some kind of texture makes it feel so much more complete.
garyfields said, on 3/28/2007 1:28:00 PM
Gabe, Really like your painted art. I also like how you show your digital "rough" with it. I remember seeing ads on your site from years back about your Big Pants Mouse comic book. Good luck on El T!
THose look awesome! Can' wait too see everything else you did for the 8 bit show =)
Lamar The Revenger said, on 3/29/2007 5:28:00 AM
well.. the top one has more of a manic quality to it the the bottom one feels more saturday morning. both have that swarr mentality of here i am, let's change the way we look at life.. i quote your brother... "It's all good!" and yes, it is.
These are what we can "specialty poses". These are poses hand picked by Jorge, Roman, and I. We choose these poses for many reasons. Maybe you can't create these poses with just the stock flash main character model pack, or maybe we feel we can plus the storyboard drawing, and sometimes to make it easier on the overseas studio.
I bring the storyboard drawings into flash and basically redraw/tighten up the pose. Sometimes that means a total redo, but mostly it's getting it basically on model the right way with the "Tigre" type of cheats.
Wow dude, now this is a post!!! This stuff looks crazy cool!!!
The GagaMan(n) said, on 3/16/2007 3:14:00 AM
Interesting how you get the characters in a default template pose, then tinker them to fit the original drawings. It's almost like your posing 3D models from their default pose! Nicely done!
T' said, on 3/16/2007 7:55:00 AM
Thanks for posting stuff like this. It's really cool for us not in the biz to see how this is done.
Poe-Sister said, on 4/2/2007 7:36:00 PM
Oh wow, I didn’t know that you were working on this cartoon. But now that I do, it feels like it should have been obvious. I really love the character design for that show. The grandfather’s hat is my favorite! Whose idea was it to have all the little dangling skulls? I love the little details like that. Even the backgrounds a wonderful to look at.
Gabe Swarr said, on 4/29/2007 6:30:00 PM
Jorge Gutierrez came up with the idea of the skulls. He's amazing!
This is a very cool idea, I think the gameboy one might be a favorite. It's funny to see how many combinations there are. (the el Tigre stuff looks funtastico!)
Dave Pryor said, on 4/23/2007 8:13:00 PM
Wow! More Mario than I know what to do with. I just saw some Mario (or a Mario bros. lookalike) on a recent El Tigre. Must have been your influence. Cool!
WOW! These are amazing. Great colors and textures!
Lamar The Revenger said, on 3/1/2007 5:26:00 PM
love them all! SMB3 stand out the best. i would've partial to SMB2 if that was shown just because that was the first game i played at your house so long ago when we were fab. (sorry, been getting sentimental for the late 80s.) give wishes of good luck to all involved for saturday w/ el tigre!
Great pieces! Love your take on Mario. The SMB3 colors are my fav of the bunch. So, no more Mega Man pieces for this show? Loved the ones you did last year.
Happy New Year everyone! Sorry I've been negelcting this little blog 'o mine, but it was for a worthy cause. I've been feverishly working on my pilot for Cartoon Network up until a week ago, now it is the capable hands of some talented animators. (Let them worry about it--hee hee)
Here's some doodles, one's fresh one's from last year:
There will be some mario goodness coming next, that pesky I am 8-bit show is in April already!
12 Comments on New Doodles For All, last added: 3/1/2007
Here's the first part to the Teenage Robot that I boarded. I can't take as much credit for this, Rob Renzetti and Alex Kirwan are to thank. They came up with some funny stuff for this one and let me put all my weird stuff in there too. Enjoy!
2 Comments on Love'em or leash'em - MLaaTR (part 1)
Here's the f..., last added: 3/1/2007
Hello Gabe I enjoy your artwork very much, Realy great work! My name is Luis Vazquez, I’ am an Ilustrador. Grettings from Mexico Visit this site and feel free to post my blog or send me an e_mail of your comments www.luisvzz.net http://luisvzz.blogspot.com/ Luis Vazquez
Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been super busy doing work on Nickelodeon's El Tigre created by the greats Jorge Guitterez and Sandra Equihua. If you haven't heard of it, check out this!
(yes, I did draw two out of three of these poses)
More to come soon!
17 Comments on El Tigre Is Coming!, last added: 3/1/2007
The show looks nice, though I think I lost a lot of the teaser's punch by watching it with the sound off. How much of it's being done domestically?
Lamar The Revenger said, on 11/27/2006 5:34:00 PM
YEEEEEEAAAAAH!!!!! i've been looking forward for this! let's do it! kick the tires, light the fires, big daddy! i quote "their defenses are broken! let the slaughter begin!" if the series is as rocking as the pilot, hoo dawgie! it'll be the reason we get cable! when does it premiere again?
Alan said, on 11/28/2006 11:49:00 PM
The pilot rocked my face. I'm sure the show will do the same.
very cool , I cant wait to watch it !!! You are welcome to comments in my blog anytime Gabe ! Bye !
:-)
Franfou said, on 11/29/2006 4:02:00 PM
very cool , I cant wait to watch it !!! You are welcome to comments in my blog anytime Gabe ! Bye !
:-)
Chris Battle said, on 11/30/2006 2:42:00 PM
Replica Louis Vitton sunglasses and free credit score reports? AWESOME, Gabe! What are you waiting for???
Gabe Swarr said, on 12/7/2006 3:13:00 AM
Just the preproduction is done domestically and any retakes we want to pull to do here as well. Normal production model. We do full character layout on a handful of scenes in each episodet though. The amaazing Fred Osmond is kickin' butt! See if you can spot those scenes when they air...
Gabe Swarr said, on 12/7/2006 3:17:00 AM
Oh, and all the footage for that promo is from the 14 minute pilot that was finished last October. We've gotten a lot better at drawing the characters since then...
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Hey, cool. I've been wondering if I'd ever see this sucker! Definitely your version of Dexter, with some of the tiniest Dexters I've ever seen outside of shrink gags...
You might be able to find the second one by hunting around for a torrent of the appropriate season of Dexter. I'm sure there's a few of those floating around.
Mukpuddy said, on 10/26/2006 9:08:00 PM
Man this is great!! What an awesome way to write a show aswell!! I'm a huge fan of Dexters Lab, the last few seasons were particularly rad, they got even more styler, now I know why, coz they had peeps like you working on it!!!
Thanks for sharing that with us. It's pretty cool seeing more of your handy work!
It reminded me of two different Warner Bros cartoons. "Hyde and Hare" where Bugs Bunny plays the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde theme and the hiding theme from "Tom Turk and Daffy".
When did Dexter start listening to his silly sister?
Here's a link to one of the Dexters' I wrote and storyborded and directed by the great Chris Savino. The way the show was done was great! They would give me like paragraph and I got to come up with all the jokes and write all the dialogue. It was tons of fun!
I've never seen the second one. It was about Dee's stuffed animals comin to life and Dexter and Dee Dee trying to hide them. If there is anyone out there who has it on tape or DVD, please email me!
5 Comments on My Dexter's Lab, last added: 3/1/2007
where's the link gabe? eh? eh? you holding out on us?!
Chris Battle said, on 10/27/2006 1:24:00 PM
Whuddya know.... I did all the models on that one.
Gabe Swarr said, on 10/27/2006 1:49:00 PM
Chris! You did an amazing job too! I'm so hapy to see all the weird runs and deformity gags make it to the screen! All that stuff usually gets killed, but thanks to your hard work it made it! Thanks!
Lamar The Revenger said, on 10/27/2006 7:07:00 PM
It's about time i saw this. i mean come on.... i've been slackin' or somethin'.
Heres Ben's most important invention the lightning rod. Why is it the most important invention? Well, houses keep being struck by lightning and burning down, so Ben invented the lightning rod at the ripe age of 46 after doing his famed kite experiment with his son.
Ben wanted to install one of his lightning rods on a church. They thought it was going against God's will and refused. Ben explained that there is no objection to roofs to stop rain so why not lightning rods to stop lightning?
Lightning rods were popular and fashionable that people started putting them on umbrellas. I thought it would be funny if Ben invented the first lightning rod hat...
17 Comments on Lightning Rod, last added: 3/1/2007
Zap! Ben look so electrified. Great expression that you put on him.
With all his inventions, Ben must have been as busy as Gabe is now-a-days. :)
Peggy said, on 9/30/2006 5:57:00 PM
So when's this series going to turn into a pitch package for "BEN FRANKLIN: MAN OF DESTINY"? *grin*
And what do you have planned for an image on Franklin's reputation as a rake? I think that even made it into the children's book "Ben and Me", a biography told from the point of view of a talking mouse who befriended him and tagged along through his life...
Matt J said, on 10/2/2006 7:20:00 AM
The painted versions are TERRIFIC!!
Mukpuddy said, on 10/2/2006 6:12:00 PM
Possibly my favorite so far dude!!! Awesome!!!
Lamar The Revenger said, on 10/3/2006 9:16:00 PM
shocking!!!! electrifying!!!! the new movie the fall.... ZAPPED!! starring scott baio as ben franklin.. a gabe production (i couldn't resist)
TonyC. said, on 10/6/2006 6:46:00 AM
yo dude, great to see you! You are now linked?
Alina Chau said, on 10/9/2006 5:42:00 PM
cooool character design!!
Scott Warren said, on 10/10/2006 1:03:00 AM
I really like this series of paintings. These posts about Ben Franklin so far have been facinating.
Son, This a great series on Ben. I think you should get in touch with my friend who wrote the 2 books on great American Heros. I can't wait to see your series on Manheim's legendary character "Jack Fasig".
Vanoni! said, on 10/16/2006 12:27:00 PM
Three cheers for Ben!
Nice paintings!
- Corbett
bsleven said, on 10/19/2006 4:30:00 PM
Your stuff is so cool. : )
Chingyi said, on 10/20/2006 6:47:00 PM
I learned something today. hehehe
I like the your painting style very much, it makes me smile :)
Here's Ben's Glass Armonica, which is also inaccurately called a Glass Harmonica. See, the amazing Mr. Franklin invented this insturment 60 years before the harmonica! Ok, with that said, this insturment is based on wetting your finger and running arouud the rim of a wine glass to make a haunting noise. This is the same principal. In fact Mozart actually composed a piece for the Glass Armonica, you can hear it here.
Hey Gabe! I'm new to blogland--but was directed to yours and boy, am glad I was. Your work is tight and definately matured...from already a great starting point; this new stuff blows my mind!
Andy S.
wolfboy said, on 9/18/2006 3:22:00 AM
P.S. "matured" sounds condescending--"evolved" is better!
Another excellent piece of artwork from Gabe! It looks like Ben is really into his music.
Alexei Martins said, on 9/20/2006 10:52:00 AM
Awesome painting!!!!! This painting make me relax...
Jo Bling said, on 9/20/2006 5:32:00 PM
Lovely jubbly artwork, Gabe! Liking longtime
CJ
Marc Deckter said, on 9/22/2006 1:24:00 PM
Wow, crazy instrument.....
Stephen Worth said, on 9/22/2006 5:02:00 PM
Franklin had a million illegitimate children by dozens of girlfriends. He was a real party animal!
See ya Steve
Jared Deal said, on 9/26/2006 8:40:00 PM
i grew up 'bout a half hour outside of philly & ended up goin to college right in center city. mr. franklin is definitly a staple in that city. so... growin' up in PA, does that make you an eagles fan???
This is one of my all time heroes Ben Franklin. I'm from Pennsylvania, and growing up close to Philadelphia, all us kids would be told how great Ben Franklin was, but I didn't really believe it until much later.
I think it was something like 3rd grade we all went on a field trip the "city of brotherly love" and went to visit all the sites: the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and Betsy Ross's house. Then when we thought the day was over, the teacher walked us up to a fence and showed us a slab of concrete on the ground. She told us it was Ben Franklin's grave! That's when I knew he was a real person! We threw pennies on the grave and moved on, but Ben stuck with me...
Later in school we were told more about Mr. Franklin. He would schedule out every second of every day to be as efficient as he could including baths, time with his wife, and prayer. I vowed to do that very thing... Years later, I don't schedule out every second, but as my friends can attest, I get close!
Last year PBS aired a really cool documentary all about him and it rejuvenated my interest in Mr. Franklin. He invented a whole bunch of cool stuff just from tinkering around his house, and having a curious mind. He was a scholar, printer, diplomat, writer, and revolutionary.
He was called "The First American" because up to that point in history, everyone living in the colonies were thought of as citizens of England. He was born in America and got a lot of world recognition for his inventions, discoveries, and diplomacy. So he might not have technically been the very first american, but he the world regocognized him as such...
2006 his 300th birthday and I needed to do something to celebrate the guy...
That's Franklin in a prim and proper pose - peachy painting!
He was an American printer, author, diplomat, philosopher, and scientist. He's one of the only non-presidents on paper bills. Plus, I have him to thank for my bifocals.
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Lamar The Revenger said, on 9/4/2006 10:36:00 AM
Very nice. You got his style down perfect. you forgot he was a ladies man.
WIL said, on 9/4/2006 6:55:00 PM
He's okay...
Mukpuddy said, on 9/4/2006 8:46:00 PM
Great job dude, man your paintings are very very cool!!
Dave Pryor said, on 9/5/2006 1:14:00 AM
Nice work - First time visit to your blog. Love seeing the process here. Awesomeness.
Franfou said, on 9/5/2006 8:24:00 AM
Gabe, thats great !!! you got style, you got simplicity and technic, thats awesooome !
By the way my illustrations style is now a little bit influenced by japanese style, thats fun to experiment. Feel free to visit my blog and leave a comment ! bye !!!
irisz said, on 9/5/2006 10:35:00 AM
i really like your works, nice style!
enzo avolio said, on 9/5/2006 11:16:00 AM
A friend of mine (who is a Canadian-like me) told me about the PBS documentary and about how BF was very instrumental in American history.
By the way...I love your work- very inspiring! ALways brings a smile. I hope you don't mind me linking you.
All the best.
Sunny Day said, on 9/5/2006 11:24:00 AM
i heard he was a nudist. you should paint one of the grand old man in the buff.
maybe cover his junk with a modern 100 dollar bill with his face on it. man, that would be some weird, crazy stuff. an actual franklin covering his own "franklin."
not only would you stir some wild controversy, you could get people to start using the new slang word "franklin."
Excellent job SON! You nailed him! That was a fun trip to philly, even I learned new stuff about Ben.
el-ed said, on 9/6/2006 12:48:00 PM
nice work
geenpool said, on 9/6/2006 8:20:00 PM
This is great!! I've liked ben ever since i saw a slide version of "Ben and Me" in which the mouse invents everything...i just thought he looked really cool...he had so much character to his face and gut. excellent painting.
Laura A. Dalesandro said, on 9/8/2006 12:54:00 PM
Great work from a person who is also from PA. I grew up in the Radnor area...but somehow made my way to beautiful Van Nuys, CA! YAY!
Again, nice painting!
Anonymous said, on 9/9/2006 1:23:00 PM
dam your shapes are tooooo good
Alden V said, on 9/13/2006 9:29:00 PM
that's a really great painting
SmittyCartoons said, on 9/14/2006 10:21:00 AM
Rock on! I think the 'aged' look you gave it, including the texyural treatment really aids the piece! Very very cool! It's my new desktop image!
brian smith said, on 9/24/2006 10:00:00 AM
nice work, Gabe.
:: smo :: said, on 11/9/2006 1:41:00 AM
Wow! that's great Gabe! I've always had a special place in my heart for Mr. Franlin, and I do love philly! Isn't Ben considered the first cartoonist as well, with his "join or die" snake? I'm sure he'd be proud!
The show went really well! It was a lot of fun, a lot of my frinends showed up to show their support! Thanks all!
If you are a fan or a food eater, swing on by the Gallery 1988 website to see phots of all the remaining pieces, and maybe even one of the lucky few proud owers of said paintings! You'd better hurry though, the show is only up until September 14th!
Enjoy!
8 Comments on Four Wheelers Art Online!, last added: 3/1/2007
Hey , I went on website Gallery 1988 to see your arts and I must say that they all look fantastic !!! Bravo Gabe, you have created your very own style !!!
lamar the revenger said, on 8/23/2006 7:55:00 PM
the evil sprout lady... hmmm... now mind.... nice stuff. the wife LOVED the ben franklin stuff. alot. no peaches & cream though... that would be a GREAT painting!
Some guy with a pen said, on 8/25/2006 3:19:00 PM
You slay me! You make it look so easy to be this great, and you seem like a truly nice guy about it all, the type of artist I plan on becoming. i can do nothing but worship your work, Mr. Swarr.
Meg Shaw said, on 8/28/2006 1:50:00 PM
Hello! I really enjoy your blog. My favourite food pic is the Belgium Waffler. Hope you don't mind if I link you.
Dee C.K. said, on 8/29/2006 8:05:00 PM
Yey! The show was good! Congrats on your sales! Can't wait to see more! Cheers! -dee
Angel said, on 8/31/2006 12:10:00 AM
I think you have a wonderful gallery! Nice work. Reminds me of Tim Biskup.
Chingyi said, on 9/1/2006 6:32:00 PM
great blog! these illustrations are lovely! i really like the way you paint, wicked!
Man, you are a work-horse! ... and every one of these pieces is SUPERB! I really love the inventive shapes you are coming up with, like the lil' 'bump' on pizza guy's noggin... very cool! Keep up the wonderful work, and good luck with the show! Always an inspiration when I stop by here... :) -Dagan
burgerlog said, on 8/16/2006 1:08:00 AM
the one I like most is one you have not shown yet. the corn cob eater!
The Swarrs said, on 8/16/2006 1:28:00 PM
Hot Joe Joe is my fav. Good work.
roque said, on 8/16/2006 2:00:00 PM
Merry Christmas to me....Merry Christmas to meeeee...
Right? Right?! Dang....
geenpool said, on 8/16/2006 3:32:00 PM
damn dood...your paintings are superfantastic!! You should sell them online...i'd buy one...sigh...vury, vury, vury nice.
Mukpuddy said, on 8/16/2006 9:24:00 PM
Rad dude, good luck for the show!!!
lamar the revenger said, on 8/17/2006 12:15:00 PM
you forgot peaches and cream.....
goldenrusset said, on 8/18/2006 2:10:00 PM
hahaha! num num num ! you are so prolific!
TURCIOS said, on 8/21/2006 9:04:00 AM
fantastic world!!
Some guy with a pen said, on 8/21/2006 3:59:00 PM
I love you Gabe Swarr! I can't think or say enough good things about you, your work, or the joy it brings to everyone and anyone who looks at it!
"Shiggy" Shigeru Miyamoto. I hope I've done him proud!
Thanks again everyone for such a fine job, and especially New Line for paying for it!
I am still amazed at how much effort you put into your cards back then!
Oh, and: here's my Solstice card for this year. Have a good '08!
that's funny. i miss the classics. merry christmas my good man. may you get what you want.
Freakin retarded dude, I love it!!!!
I love this comic!! My favorite drawing is the one with the dignified beast sinking his teeth into the other happy animal!