I used a paper cut-out technique for the art on my 1996 card. This wasn't my attempt to copy the look of South Park (South Park didn't premiere until 1997), but to copy the look of Mary Blair. Mary's art is very cute and charming, and I wanting my elves to look cute even if they were doing something very weird.
Head cheese has to be one of the grossest food products ever, and about the strangest thing I could think to substitute for gingerbread. On the inside I didn't have any clever text, it just said "Happy Holidays."
Here was my fake company name for 1996...
Friday, December 28, 2007
Homemade Christmas Card Retrospective #6
Labels:
art,
christmas,
christmas cards,
elf
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Homemade Christmas Card Retrospective #5
In 1995 I got a little religious, but it was a geeky kind of religious with the three wise men depicted as robots.
On the inside it read...
On the back is my fake card company name for the year...
On the inside it read...
On the back is my fake card company name for the year...
Labels:
art,
christmas,
christmas cards,
robots
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Holiday Spirit
Here's my Christmas gift to the world, or at least the handful of people who visit this blog each day.
Instead of sending out cards each year I've stated doing short holiday animations. This years animation is about a cute bell ringing elf, and the holiday spirit that possesses him. Enjoy...
I'm planning to do a few more homemade Christmas card posts this coming week, and one last special animation to ring in the New Year.
Instead of sending out cards each year I've stated doing short holiday animations. This years animation is about a cute bell ringing elf, and the holiday spirit that possesses him. Enjoy...
I'm planning to do a few more homemade Christmas card posts this coming week, and one last special animation to ring in the New Year.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Homemade Christmas Card Retrospective #4
We're now up to 1994, and I decided to place something disturbing on the front of the card.
On the inside it read...
On the inside it read...
Labels:
art,
christmas,
christmas cards
Monday, December 10, 2007
Homemade Christmas Card Retrospective #3
Two years of hand airbrushing each and every one of my Christmas cards, not to mention coming up with a totally original idea, is grueling work. So in 1993 I made a quantum leap into the future by photocoping my cards, and I further cut down my labor by simply altering the artwork of an existing card.
I found a cheap card that featured some corny old-timey artwork, and I spiced things up at bit by carefully painting in a stick of dynamite. Years of watching Loony Tunes is bound to have an effect on ones' mind.
I kept the original inside text which now took on a slightly new meaning...
On the back of the card where you'd find the Hallmark logo (if this was a real store-bought card) I made up my own brand name. I don't remember where I found the word dactylogram (it means finger print), but I think I liked how it rhymed with the word brand. It also sorta ties in with the OK hand gesture clip-art.
The addition of the dynamite in the pants was so subtle that some people didn't even notice it. Upon news of this one of my friends profoundly stated, "In life there are those who notice dynamite in the pants, and those who don't."
I found a cheap card that featured some corny old-timey artwork, and I spiced things up at bit by carefully painting in a stick of dynamite. Years of watching Loony Tunes is bound to have an effect on ones' mind.
I kept the original inside text which now took on a slightly new meaning...
On the back of the card where you'd find the Hallmark logo (if this was a real store-bought card) I made up my own brand name. I don't remember where I found the word dactylogram (it means finger print), but I think I liked how it rhymed with the word brand. It also sorta ties in with the OK hand gesture clip-art.
The addition of the dynamite in the pants was so subtle that some people didn't even notice it. Upon news of this one of my friends profoundly stated, "In life there are those who notice dynamite in the pants, and those who don't."
Labels:
art,
christmas,
christmas cards
Friday, December 7, 2007
Homemade Christmas Card Retrospective #2
For Christmas of 1992 I made another airbrushed card, but unlike the snowman card I only did the front of the cards this time.
I liked the word play of "Christmas on Easter Island," and using the island's iconic statues in a fun way.
I liked the word play of "Christmas on Easter Island," and using the island's iconic statues in a fun way.
Labels:
art,
christmas,
christmas cards
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Homemade Christmas Card Retrospective #1
In 1990 I got the idea to make my own Christmas cards. Here is my first official card. I only made about 15 since the cards were a bit labor intensive. Each card was hand drawn and airbrushed. That's right no photocopying here, each card was an original, and made with love.
Front
Inside
Inside
As you can see my card tackles a bold hypothetical question about snowmen having skeletons. I liked the idea of a sweet looking Christmas on the outside hiding a something slightly ghoulish on the inside.
This time my idea was totally original. Although I think I've seen a cartoon in resent years that used this same idea. I'm sure it was just a coincidence, or maybe it was karma payback for the Seasonings' Greetings photo.
This time my idea was totally original. Although I think I've seen a cartoon in resent years that used this same idea. I'm sure it was just a coincidence, or maybe it was karma payback for the Seasonings' Greetings photo.
Labels:
art,
christmas,
christmas cards
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