Mr. Willard

End of the School Year Gifts - 2007 (Part 4)

2007-06-24T14:31:00.000-04:00

End of the School Year Gifts - 2007 (Part 3)

2007-06-24T14:29:00.000-04:00

End of the School Year Gifts - 2007 (Part 2)

2007-06-24T14:26:00.000-04:00

Here are the rest of the bookmarks. I'm tired! These kids better use them everyday. :)

End of the School Year Gifts - 2007 (Part 1)

2007-06-21T21:50:00.000-04:00

Here are four of the bookmarks I have been working on. I am so tired after a busy and productive schoolyear, but I have found some time for these. I really wanted to give a useful and personal gift to these kids who have meant so much to me this past year.

Living Room Wall Piece

2007-04-01T20:34:00.000-04:00

The partner and I are presently working on our new living room. We are going in the direction of nature greens and such. Since I am on vacation, I thought I should take out the watercolors and start working. Messed around with a grid and got out some ink and here is my little painting.

Old X-men

2007-01-15T10:57:00.000-05:00

This weekend I finally got to have some downtime and just draw. I messed around with some of the materials that Matthew's Mom gave me for the holidays. I am really having fun trying different line weights in the drawings. I used to be so rigid about using thin lines that didn't vary at all. Now drawing feels a bit more organic and less static. It is really cool.

So here I drew some new characters that were displayed in X-men. I really liked the colors of their costumes, so I thought I would make a fun drawing.

Student Gift and Holiday Card

2006-12-19T19:19:00.000-05:00

Every year, I make a holiday season card for my students. I put the Hulk, SpiderMan, Storm and Wolverine all together with a little bit of snowball fight humor. Hope they can recognize who is who.
Also, made a going away present for one of my students who is moving away duing the vacation. He is a really great kid, with a totally positive attitude. He will be missed.

Hannukah 2006

2006-12-18T09:14:00.000-05:00

For Hannukah this year, well more like, for my first Hannukah, I made magnets for the significant other's family. I think I might be a little bored with magnets. I need to find a new way to make superheroes for people. So here are: Nanny, Isaac, Jessie, Max, Heidi and Nate. Enjoy!

Spidey

2006-11-23T07:43:00.000-05:00

This week one of the teachers at my school had to go for surgery. So another teacher asked me to make a card of SpiderMan for his students to sign. I love that there are three of us comic dorks at the school. It is not uncommon for male teachers to be into comics. I think it is our love of the printed word, in comic form, that helped us excell at school, or at least in literacy. So we probably have pretty positve associations with the place.
I never draw SpiderMan. I am not too into him, I think he is way to hyped up of a character, but people seem to like him. So I tried my best in the time I had.

Comic Book Class

2006-11-14T21:17:00.000-05:00

This week I found out that there will be enrichment classes starting in February at my school. I think they will be happening during the school day once a week. So I had to put together a blurb for what I would teach. I proposed a comic book workshop where the students can take true stories they have written and turn them into comics. Then they would make their own fantasy comics that will be compiled into a group comic book.
I then made a quick image that would get the students excited about the workshop. I am happy with it, it is pretty clear and straight forward. Hopefully I will get to teach the workshop.

Halloween 2006

2006-11-01T19:58:00.000-05:00

Every year I make my students a Halloween card. Usually with some recognizable super heroes. So here are the Teen Titans and some black cat. I like to think the cat ate the game system that the Titans are mighty fond of.
Now I have to figure out what I will do for the holiday season. I think maybe some X-men having a snowball fight.

Samurai

2006-10-16T22:15:00.000-04:00

I thought by posting a fierce image of myself in my 2005 Halloween costume I could inspire myself to make an equally rad 2006 Halloween costume. I am not really sure what to be yet. Also, I just needed to do something. I promised I would do more work for this blog. I will try to do more! I mean it.

Maisie Magnet

2006-09-27T19:25:00.000-04:00

Here is sweet Ms. Maisie. I thought I would go a little 80s with this one 'cause of her present haircut. I think it channels a simpler time and updates her with a sleek look.

It sure is good to be back. I will be posting here more often even though this school year has been kicking my tail.

Batgirl at the Beach

2006-08-24T19:24:00.000-04:00

A beautiful vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina would not be complete without a sand creation. Matthew, Jonas and I, all worked for four hours shovelling, re-sculpting and re-sculpting the spunky and dangerous Batgirl. Not many people came by to see our creation, but I was pretty excited about it. I think we did an excellent job. Sadly, some kids came by to ask if they could help, but me being the mean person, had to tell them they couldn't because we had finished all the non-detail work.

Metro (circa December 2000)

2006-08-03T14:23:00.000-04:00

At the end on my first semester in London, I made this short comic book for my art studio class. I was a little too into being urban and hip. I still am, but not too much now. I thought it would fun to make up an organization that does black-ops for some corporation that is crooked. I feel, in five pages, I got a mystery started, and fleshed out three characters pretty well. Maybe I will return to this concept one day.

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The Wise Girl (circa May 2001)

2006-08-02T16:51:00.000-04:00

This was my senior thesis project for my Russian Studies major at CMU. I completed it while abroad in London. I found a Russian folktale, мудрая девушка (The Wise Girl). I translated it into English and researched Russian folk art styles and historical, peasant clothing. I then created a five page comic in tune with the narrative. I was satisfied with results of my work. I like the style. Though, I wish I made the typography a bit clearer and larger. Oh well, I had fun creating this piece none the less.

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Page 2

Page 3

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Part 2 - The Green Coat

2006-07-30T20:49:00.000-04:00

I decided to make this narrative into a comic strip that scrolls vertically. I didn't place any text. I figure I would let Marcos ink it and put his own text into it.

Finally, I just got a new scanner in the mail. I will be putting up my old comics I have done over the years. It's cool to see how my style has changed and what I got away with for my independent studies in college.

Part 1 - The Green Coat

2006-07-26T15:10:00.000-04:00

Finally, I am getting back to some of my comicbook endeavors. I was just upstate for a couple of weeks studying Spanish. I feel pretty comfortable talking in the present tense and a bit in past and future. Don't want to mess with subjunctive though. I do need a good idea on how to download some more vocabulary into my brain, especially verbs, Anyone have ideas?
Before I left, I told CosCreative that I would turn his "The Green Coat" story into a small comic book. I am presently sketching some characters to find a look that I think would be appropriate for the comic. Next I need to layout the narrative. I think I can do it in like 4 - 5 pages. We'll see.

Student Superheroes - Team Shot

2006-07-12T20:45:00.002-04:00

A few weeks late, here are all the magnets on the chalkboard. It is like the meeting of the Superheroes of Class 1-223. The kids really appreciated them. I hope they are on their refrigerators holding up Chinese food menus and their drawings. I hope they don't forget me, 'cause I will never forget them.

I am at SUNY New Paltz right now studying Spanish so I can talk to some parents in the Fall, so I am slow to getting any visual arts work done. I promise to get back on the wagon when I return.

Completed - Student Superheroes

2006-06-25T09:15:00.000-04:00

I just finished putting magnet and contact sheets on the rest of the images. This has been a real test to see how long it takes to produce these magnets in a great quantity. It wasn't too bad. But I did dedicate a lot of time to these. I want my students to really feel like someone knew them intimately and cared enough about them to spend their spare time on creating something for them. I have found that these are the best kinds gifts. Now on to my next project. Since I haven't received any comic scripts, I will have to find one on the internet. I was really looking forward to one specially made for me to draw, but it's alright.

2006-06-25T09:11:00.000-04:00

Part 7 - Student Superheroes

2006-06-19T18:55:00.000-04:00

Two more kids to go. Then I will apply manget sheets and contact paper. And hopefully I will have 21 happy children. Now what should I make for my co-teacher and paraprofessional?

Part 6 - Student Superheroes

2006-06-11T20:29:00.000-04:00

The last day is approaching. I have decided I have enough time to color all of the magnets. A little pencil here, a little marker there, and some gel pen for good measure.

Call for Submissions

2006-06-10T07:29:00.000-04:00

Hey friends! As most of you know, I am a teacher. So I have my Summer off. I have filled it with some activities, like studying Spanish. Though, I would like two projects to do. If I am ever going to break into comics I need to keep the juices flowing and the pencil moving.

I would like to work on two four-five page mini-comics that I will post here on KevlarSoul. The catch, I don't want to write them. I need you to do that for me. So submit a script. If you are not sure how a comic script is structured, check out:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=pipeline&article=1630

I will pencil and letter both scripts by the end of the Summer. Any narrative, any setting, any characters. I will not be phased by them. Challenge me! E-mail the script to mwillard@gmail.com

Part 5 - Student Superheroes

2006-06-09T15:37:00.000-04:00

Silly Blogger, couldn't post for two days. Here are two more of my little Gs. I'm gonna miss those little buggers.

Part 4 - Student Superheroes

2006-06-04T22:18:00.000-04:00

Eleven more students to go. And only seventeen days of school left. Gotta increase production at the factory.

Part 3 - Student Superheroes

2006-05-29T20:51:00.000-04:00

I know these look a bit bland, but I don't know if I will have time to fully color 21 of these. We'll see. Tell me what you think.

Part 2 - Student Superheroes

2006-05-22T18:39:00.000-04:00

Now I have one student who can create damaging sonic blasts and another who is a cute and lovable predator.

Part 1 - Student Superheroes

2006-05-18T21:19:00.000-04:00

I just started working on my students' "end of school" gifts. I thought it would be pretty rad to make each of them a superhero. I feel their superhero identities match their personalities pretty well. Here are four of my kiddies.

Giant Quads

2006-05-10T16:22:00.000-04:00

Mark just sent me this magnet I made for him a year ago. I went a little overboard with the muscles. Ah, I love superheroes. They can be as ridiculous as you want them to be.

Part 4 - Mermaid Painting (Final)

2006-05-05T18:50:00.000-04:00

It's finished. I am pretty happy with the outcome. After working on a piece for a few days, I feel I just need to stop because I will keep working on it. Then, I will most likely mess sit up. So I needed to just stop, and hope that Shannon and Milton will be happy with it.

Stay tuned! I am doing little superhero drawings of my students as "last day of school" gifts. I will post each of them, no names of course.

Part 3 - Mermaid Painting

2006-05-04T20:10:00.000-04:00

The mermaid now has scales and some skin. I'm not sure where to go from here, but I think I will layer on some light highlights to make her pop more from the water.

Part 2 - Mermaid Painting

2006-05-02T20:40:00.000-04:00

The water is taking shape. I am still trying to figure out the appropriate color palette for the mermaid. I just don't want her to look too tacky. Mermaids have that tendency. I want her to look soft and bewitching.

Part 1 - Mermaid Painting

2006-05-01T22:22:00.000-04:00

This evening, I began a painting for Milton and Shannon's re-housewarming party. The image shows the sketch and first wash of the painting.

Liisa & Johan

2006-04-30T14:08:00.000-04:00

Here are two magnets I made for my friends from Stockholm. They aren't as dangerous as they seem.

Page 12 - KevlarSoul

2006-04-02T21:21:00.000-04:00

Chapter 1 has come to a close. I am still putting together ideas for chapter 2. So be prepared for lots of character and location sketches in the weeks to come.

Page 11 - KevlarSoul

2006-03-28T19:28:00.000-05:00

The end is near!

Page 10 - KevlarSoul

2006-03-25T14:20:00.000-05:00

It has been a while. I have been deciding if I should teach in Mexico, so I have been using up all the mental energy I would usually use on KevlarSoul. I hope to get this situation rectified.

Page 9 - KevlarSoul

2006-03-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

I am addicted to putting little bits of orange here and there. Thank God I am posting this online, cause it would cost a bit to add a color to black and white paper printing.

Page 8 - KevlarSoul

2006-03-07T20:27:00.000-05:00

Kevlar returns from his dialogue with the "Guardians."

Kimono Project

2006-03-01T16:25:00.000-05:00

Marcos requested some comic drawings to work off of. So I made a quick drawing of a woman wearing a kimono for him. Click the link (Cos Creative) at the side of this page to see what he did with my pencil work.

Page 7 - KevlarSoul

2006-02-23T14:32:00.000-05:00

I feel like a factory today! It will be sad when work starts again, back to working little by little.

Polaris

2006-02-23T10:58:00.000-05:00

These are some sketches of my favorite X-woman. She is Magneto's daughter, and also has electro-magnetic field manipulation abilites. You can't go wrong with a mutant with green hair.

More KevlarSoul Sketches

2006-02-23T10:54:00.000-05:00

Here are some sketches I am doing for the "red" character in the KevlarSoul series. The "orange" character is not the only one.

Page 6 - KevlarSoul

2006-02-23T10:49:00.000-05:00

I love being on vacation, I can just bang out pages for your viewing pleasure. I wanted to use a black background, but I didn't want to ink up the drawing. I will wait until I get PhotoShop.

Page 5 - KevlarSoul

2006-02-21T23:20:00.000-05:00

I hate drawing trucks. I need to find a way to love drawing vehicles.

Character Sketches

2006-02-15T22:03:00.000-05:00

Things have been a bit busy, but I wanted to post up some new work. Here are some sketches I did of KevlarSoul if he had an underwater mission. I am not sure if he would use oxygen tanks, or just create a telekinetic bubble, who knows?

Page 4 - KevlarSoul

2006-02-05T21:14:00.000-05:00

Kevlar was falling, in case you didn't notice.

Page 3 - KevlarSoul

2006-01-30T21:00:00.000-05:00

Sorry, just one line of dialogue. Don't worry, it is going somewhere.

Page 2 - KevlarSoul

2006-01-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

Page 2 continues our introduction to the character, KevlarSoul. What will happen next? If you know my famous "staples" story, you'll already know.

Page 1 - KevlarSoul

2006-01-22T12:51:00.000-05:00

I've decided to start inking a graphic novel piece I put together for a workshop I took at the New School at the end of 2004. I've let it sit around for too long. So now you all get a treat once I finish inking a page. I am posting digital pictures of it for now. When I get a scanner, I'll post better images of the pages. So here is page 1 of Kevlarsoul!!!!

KevlarSoul in all his scrappy glory.

Weekend in DC

2006-01-17T08:56:00.000-05:00

Spent the MLKJr. weekend in DC. I relaxed with MeeMee, Samu, and the Changs. Samu gave me two words, "wedding" and "chic." So I drew a dress based on that.

Matty Saul bought me the Aeon Flux DVD set for the holidays. I always liked this series, and for some reason never tried my hand at drawing the main character. I mean, see barely wears anything and has the weirdest angles. It is a match made in heaven.

Past Magnets

2006-01-17T08:46:00.000-05:00

In 2005 I made several magnets as gifts for friends and loved ones. This one is my BF, Matthew Saul. He is magic!

Here is LoLo sending over some occult blessings.

The always elusive Maria

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This one of Matty's brother-in-law (up). The next his sister(down). Notice how they are sporting similar outfits to two certain DC superstars.

Ninja-2005

2006-01-17T08:36:00.000-05:00

Jonas as a vigilante of the Alphabet City night.

Vanessa

2006-01-12T16:31:00.000-05:00

I created a refrigerator magnet for my dear friend, Nessa, for her birthday. I know her outfit is not realistic for these cold winter months, but her meta-human abilities are thermal in nature, thus making her always feel like she just drank a toasty hot chocolate.

It has begun

2006-01-12T15:57:00.000-05:00

I should be out buying stamps for my international school applications, but I am here giving birth to my first blog. I will be posting comic stuff and magnets I create for people I like. Maybe a picture here or there.
Enjoy!