#100 - Keanu the KRILL

whoo hooooo, number 100. It may have not ended like it started but the journey there was great and i'm still happy with the results.
This alien/hipster/arthropod-gangster comes from that little space in my head where an idea floats by, collides with others and randomly comes out when im lucky enough to have my sketch book around. I'm still trying to really identify the process so I can better explain how and why I draw what I do.

With any luck in the next year a selection of characters from these 100 will find their way onto apparel of some kind and any other product I can squeeze them into.
Thanks to all who follow my work! keep up the support.

#99 "Jean-PierreCamembert"

A new job, a new transit route (shorter, more crowded, and divided between a bus and train) and some life changes are all putting my character sketching at a slower pace. — but, I enjoy making them enough that I think I'll keep doing it anyway, even if that means 1 character a week or even a month.
Don't be mistaken, I will continue on with apparel designs and other fun things related to my style of art.

This particular sketch was created while on a trip to Paris, where I found out how many people like Camembert cheese... how many people except me. I like almost every form of stinky cheese I can get, but when it comes to soft cheeses... not my thing, and Camembert is even lower on the list for me than brie. Sorry all you French people and soft cheese lover, but don't worry, Jean-Pierre the cat is on your side and he'll sit right beside you in that tiny corner cafe (on of hundreds) and tell you all about his favorite Camembert related stories.

98 - HarryHamster's caper kaput by OctoBluebottle

Annnnnnnnd, it's back, finally, the character sketching returns after its long hiatus. (this one was actually finished right after the lastest one, only now to be posted) Due to some big changes I ran out of time to sketch and post for a while. Finally the world has settled a little- and i'm left with a new commute and a new day job. This new commute is much shorter and requires a transfer from a train to a bus, thus leaving no time or room to sketch on the commute. Why sketch and post? why find any time for it when this style and these characters don't really convert well to shirt designs or posters and products that have a high-sell value. When I look back at the last hundred characters (almost 100) I can see how much good it did for me personally, I got better at what I was doing, I found it easier to come up with something so random, and it was a good exercise. Most of all, I like doing it and now I have a day job that i'm happy with and supports my life so whatever I do here I can do for fun and do what I want with it. It doesn't have to sell well, it doesn't have to cater to anyone. This is why I will keep up these sketches, because I enjoy it... they are still called "inks on the bus" but no longer take place everyday or on the bus....

#97 - Kane Koala the croc hunter

"the Inks on the Bus" series slowly continues with a new character straight out of the Outback, and ready to serve up some fresh croc, who said Koalas sleep all the time? ("that's not a knife, THIS is a knife")

#96 Slime-Rockin Steve

Why do I keep making these posts? Because I need some sense of accomplishment spending 10 hours of my week just sitting on a bus (besides reading, sleeping and playing ipod games of course)

#95 Terrence the Terminator Teddy

Cuddly on the outside, and a malicious intent on the inside...nothing is ever what it seems.
...never enough time... for the first time i have more sketches done than getting them posted.

#94 Darryl Deadbird

This is an edited version of an "ink on the bus" I did specifically for a nice guy that calls himself "Fuzzy Logic", The original sketch in all it's mistakes and crappy paper glory will be given away at Teefury in a huge giveaway that will be happening for their anniversary. The prize will include an enormous amount of artist originals and other goodies from artists much better than myself. If you are interested, stop by their site and look through the forums for details.

At this point I think Darryl Deadbird is still alive for a while... or.... maybe he will Live for much longer like this chicken

#93 - Chezare the CTHULU

Once again, it has been a while since I was able to finish another "ink on the bus".... however, I have managed to fit in a few more that are in the queue to be added to the blog later this week.
For now on another (fittingly) rain filled weekend. I stayed in and fixed up this sketch for posting.
Watch the skies Chicago, it's only a matter of time....

The business cards have arrived!

So I decided to give Moo.com printing a chance at finally making some business cards. The result was a pleasant surprise, and not just because of the product. My first set of cards came with a slight problem that would normally leave me to complain to deaf ears. Not Moo! Pretty much the next day they were in touch with me and worked to fix the problem and get me a new set of cards. Amazing customer service and a nice product. The set also comes in a great hard case.
You can print up to 50 different backs on your cards, so I present the first edition of theJCW (business) trading cards-featuring some of the "Inks on the Bus" series.
Order your own business cards

# 92 JellyFRIED Jerry

It's been a long time since the last "ink on the bus" after all those weeks of posting every day toward that 100 goal it almost seems pathetic to "beat the dead horse" at this point....but, however long it takes I will reach the 100 goal (as soon as I run out of good books;).
This was done almost a month ago and has been in my "to-do" Queue to scan and post.

Also, if you are reading this be sure you are a fan on facebook, the next t-shirt giveaway will happen there once we have 100 fans.

#91 Sayoka and the Serpent

Slowly but surely on the way to #100, I am sticking to the idea of quality rather than a lot of quick simple characters. Again, there was a bit of editing on this one, I didn't have such a steady hand lately with my trusty Staedler fineliner markers....to many times falling asleep mid-line;)
It may not look very similar but this was partially inspired by watching Avatar, the slimely serpent and parts of the character.

#90 - Shipwrecked Shamus

For a while the computer was in a different room than the scanner and me being the lazy guy that I am didn't move it back until now. That means I can post more "inks on the bus" and slowly work my way at long last to 100 strong!! 10 more to go...and for # 90 something a bit darker than usual.

#89 Charro the Chipmunk and the Acorn Apocalypse

In today's sketch Charro returns to his hoard of acorns to make another deposit only to find that he has narrowly escaped death and the battle is now brought to him!

Back from vacation and finishing a few good books and I realized I couldn't stay away to long from the fun of my "inks on the bus". No, I won't be adhering to any rules of posting daily, but i will keep it going and see what other crazy things are living in my head:)

#88 - Oscar Jr.

- Kickin back in the streets of the "Children's television workshop hood" -


Getting behind on my posts and work, too much outside work to take care of, vacation to come:) hopefully more posts as well...maybe more characters.
(having time to work on this a little at a time for a couple weeks gave me the chance to also add a bit of environment, what do you think?)

#87 - Choppychops

The cook on Trenglarak7 Serves up the freshest soylent green steaks, stop by some time.

-finally a new addition to the "inks on the bus" a new week, a new character sketch,and even though I am enjoying catching up on my other duties I still miss drawing something new everyday on that bus ride.

#86 - AudioLion

Riding into the picture is the great Audio Lion. a huge lion exercising on a tiny red bike is a little emasculating so he always wears a mask....don't judge him!

On a side note: yes, this is the start of new characters appearing a minimum of 1 time a week, made it to 85, but no more time for daily posts:(

#85 - Vinny "the shark" Anemone

Proof that even life under the sea has been affected by the housing crisis! This clownfish couple picked the wrong anemone to live with, Vinny doesn't like mortgage extensions and their time is up.

#84 - Zee "the Platypus" Murphy

Zee spends every evening signing the Monotreme blues. He's got no money, got no home, got no family, and looks like a duck but can't fly.
Will there be another one tomorrow, we will see...

#83 - Mr. Norm Al

Be very careful of the seemingly honest and trustworthy businessmen. You never know who beneath that fancy Armani suit could really be Mr. Norm Al; good day to you sir! Let's work up a deal!

#82 Tyler "trashin" Tad

Another day on the bus, another ink on the bus with great steadler triplus fineliner pens. Face is almost based off of brother in law, I wonder if he will notice I said that?

-Oh and in other news, today I had my instincts confirmed by yet another reliable source that character sketches will not really get me anywhere in terms of shirt design as they very rarely sell well. Oh well, I am not doing this for any reason other than to get my mind open more and have fun with a new style, I will continue with it anyway. I will never give in to the popular trend of pop-culture tees simply because they sell, I'll keep coming up with fresh new original ideas and whatever happens happens.