Earthworm Jim: I Was 8Bit

Wow, Ray, I must to say I love your artwork and your illustrative style, after months of view your blog.

Okey, now I have some questions I hope you answer me:

1. How you learn to draw the human figure? I mean the anatomy. It is not perfect for your style, but I note you have a great control of it.

2. I am an artist and I draw since I was a child, like you I can imagine, but my knowledge of human anatomy do not permit me to draw any quick pose. In fact, sometimes I am who must to respond to my drawing instead my picture of what I represent, I do not know if you understand me. What can I do to remedy this? Practice, I guess…

3. To finish, do you using references for your drawings?

Well, thank for share your blog with us!

Thanks for the interest. The answer to all three questions is interrelated.

I’d drawn a bit as a child, largely making comic stories in gradeschool. I fell out of favor with it and felt a gradual dropoff in time spent drawing. By sophmore year of highschool, I’d stopped drawing almost entirely.

About four years ago, I received a Wacom tablet at work. I immediately rekindled my near decade abstinence from drawing and haven’t looked back since.

I’ve never taken an art class, save one that was more geared towards the absolute fundamentals during high school. I’ve only gone to one or two life drawing sessions.

I tended not to use photoreference often, but that was a bad habit. I really see nothing wrong with it and rather encourage its use. Tracing things is another matter entirely and I’d rather not draw than stoop to such levels.

My anatomy has gotten better of late. I’ve made an effort to use reference more often. My work is more grounded as a result.

My best advice is to draw often from life. The more you do it, the more you become familiar with the subject matter. The more familiar you are with the subject, the more you can bend the rules and forgo reference!

:), thanks Ray.

No problem.

Kids today. Don’t know the old school.

Hey Ray,

Love your work.. I’ve been visiting here ever since I saw your “Braaains!” T-shirt up on threadless… i had followed your link and I stop in every now and then to check out your work. Your videos with you using Painter to work on those rabbits even motivated me to get that program for x-mas.. I’ve only just started with it, but I’m psyched.

Long story short, I just voted for your Braaains! T for the People’s Choice Bestee Award.. even tho I haven’t been able to get a hold of the T (Medium was quickly sold out). I liked a lot of them, but I think yours was the best for the medium of T-shirt and not just a nice illustration or design.. yours’ fit the idea of t-shirt in fun and awesome way. Anyhow, maybe you wanna post something about the award being voted on currently…? Encourage people to get over there!

I hope you win! best of luck!

Tony, I think your comment is misplaced. I am 25 years and I am about 7 into the art world, painting, sculpting, drawing from the natural, illustrating some books covers… I explained my work in some galleries and I have won several competitions of various kinds enough :)

I only mean one thing: respect the other. The world will be happier then.

Drewn, I really appreciate the vote! I thought it might be a bit weird to solicit for votes. Are other people doing it?

Tony, no kiddin! I can appreciate a modern masterpiece of gaming as much as the next guy, but you gotta know your roots!

AWCH, Tony was using a colloqualism to respond to my comment that Earthworm Jim was fading into obscurity. He wasn’t referencing your question about schooling or technique.

I am sorry then :P

My fav. was Toe Jam & Earl I would love to see those two recreated in your style that could be fun! Might look good on a T-shirt too. 80′s and 90′s rocked!

I totally miss Earthworm Jim. My brother and I used to play it all the time on our Sega Genesis.

Oh yeah, I love the illy too. The sly look in his eye in the first one is perfect!

I think you should start selling some tees Ray. I would buy! No doubt! :)

Jarrod, I played Toe Jam and Earl; didn’t they have a Dreamcast sequel too?

BetterThanHuman, thanks. The art direction for the original EWJ games really floated my boat as a kid too.

Jim, I’ve looked into it and am pursuing prints first. They’re a bit more affordable to start out with.

They made TJ&E one and two on the Sega Genesis and TJ&E 3 on the Xbox. http://www.tjande.com/tje3.html Dreamcast was not out very long so I don’t think they had many games.
Thanks for responding keep up the great work!

That’s right. It was an xbox title. Awesome.

Hey – just wanted to say I just discovered your blog and your artwork today…. and I love – pure genious!

Thanks, Mike! It’s appreciated. Genius is far too kind!

Well, I appreciated artwork and illustration and really dig your style… so, ya know, just wanted to let ya know!

Keep it up, I enjoy browsing :)

This is freaking weird and nice.

amazing !!!
i played this game on SNES (1 & 2), and it was hillarious…
i see, it’s not the same character, the old one was more funny…
but i prefer yours…
it looks like a REAL CRAZY SPACE WARRIOR, an earth worm !!!
thanks…
VERY EXCELLENT JOB

Thanks, Mike.

Parka, I like weird.

Sofiane, thanks.

Heck yea favorite game when my sega genisis use to work! Amazing piece by the way.

“Notify me of followup comments via e-mail” grrrrr I keep getting email comments about EARTH WORM JIM a year later! Which is funny but it keeps me coming back to FRENDENS amazing artwork…
-THANKS FRENDEN

holy crap. awesome pics man. love it. hope you do more different games.