Interview on Character Design Notes

Thanks to Mike Corriero for a fun interview!
Part two coming soon.

LINK

DrGrordborts.com relaunches!

 

After months of hard work, I'm pleased to finally reveal the re-launch of Dr. Grordbort's official website.
We started the website to showcase my Rayguns, books and dozens of other curios many years ago now, but after focusing my attention on bigger, longer term aspects of Dr.G  over the last year, it kinda fell out of my day to day focus.
No more!
DrGrordborts.com is back and better than ever.

The website is the result of a lot of hard work by amazing artist and graphic designer Hans Kleinenberg, and futuristic space coder Eli Thomas.

So please, hop over and enjoy the new site, and check out the new Dr Grordbort video, Onward to Victory, animated by Steve Lambert.

Keep checking back - we have some exciting news on the horizon!

DrGrordborts.com

Weta Auction in Support of the Christchurch Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.

We're having an auction at Weta - selling signed collectibles including one of my rayguns.
Proceeds go towards Red Cross relief efforts from the catastrophic quake that's hit Christchurch here in New Zealand.

Please check it out and share with any friends who may want to help.


LINK

You can also support directly via the Red Cross

UPDATE 8/4/11- the auctions closed yesterday and made a total of $13,855!

Thank you to everyone who spread the message and especially to those who bid.

The Bestiary of the Cosmos Part 3

The last in a short installment on the exotic creatures from Dr. Grordbort's Venus.

Check out more at DrGrordborts.com

The Bestiary of the Cosmos Part 2

More xenobiological oddities for your amusement!


Discover some scintillating scientific facts about them at DrGrordborts.com

It'll make your brain happy!

THE THACKERY T. LAMBSHEAD CABINET OF CURIOSITIES

The new book  The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities edited by   Ann & Jeff Vandermeer is due out soon and it's featured on IO9.

I've done four pieces for the book (one featured above of an automated nanny) which will be featured alongside art from Mike Mignola, Jan Svankmajer and others.

It's a compilation of short stories about an unearthed range of artifacts, curios, and keepsakes and is written by authors such as Alan Moore, China Miéville, Ted Chiang, Garth Nix, Naomi Novik and Michael Moorcock (amongst many others).

Shit - what a clever bunch of bastards to be in a book with!
I feel all smilish just thinking about it.

IO9 article

Preorder it on Amazon

Draw a Dinosaur Day

It was yesterday and it was great.

Link.

The Bestiary of the Cosmos Part 1

Here's a few space critters I've done over the years - most featured in my book Victory from Darkhorse and  on the Dr.G website DrGrordborts.com.

Alien design is one of my favourite things to do in concept design, and creating beasties for Dr. Grordbort's is the most satisfying of all.

If you haven't seen them before, check out our Dr. Grordbort's Bestiary of the Cosmos Weta collectibles sculpted by Jamie Beswarick

 Here, here and here!

More to come.

What is Love?...

It is what the robots will ask after all.

Lonelybot Print

Signed and limited to 30 prints, they're selling for about $150 NZD

Available at The Dowse Museum (as part of the White Cloud Worlds exhibition) and at Rebel Yell gallery in on K' Rd in Auckland.

I'm not sure if either venue is selling the print online so it may be just at the location.

Online sales coming soon.

Module - Angry Little Machine

Module has just released a new single - Angry Little Machine, and I did the artwork for it.

Super fun song and super fun to do artwork for.

This was one of those natural illustrations to do - Module's incredible music just makes these kinds of images pop into your head.

Thanks to Jeramiah for being a choice cunt - dude is permanently dialed to 11!

Buy the single here.

Phlogistosaurus

Flamosaurs are extinct, long live the Phlogistosaurs!

"What's the evolutionary difference?" you definitely just asked in your head because you read that sentence.

About two ambling, booze filled, Call of Duty interspersed days of illustration why thank you for asking! I also played Osmos on Iphone during tea breaks.

With a bit of spare time over the holidays, I decided to spruce up the quick Flamosaur sketch that I did a few weeks back.

Now it has way more brush strokes.

It was like I was having a brush stroke contest with myself.

Thank god there was also some interspersed perusal of pornography to give my arm time off.

The close up of the head is at the original pixel resolution.

It's like looking directly upon the original illustration for your very own self..... holy ghostly fuck crime, pray for mercy upon your eyes.

The Party

He turned up at the party, a little unsure, a little apprehensive.

He needn't have been.

His knock-knock jokes were a total hit and his keratinous carapace made him the perfect mobile jungle gym.

Apologies to H.R. Giger for stealing your shit. Just joining a long queue.

Tommy

A quick sketch from a few years back of a World War 1 British Tommy.

Depicted in the classic 'head on an angle' art style, popular of the era.

The Nosh

The Finger

Dr. Grordbort Prints

WetaNZ have just put on sale two of my Dr. Grordbort prints, both featured in the Exceptional Exhibition which after returning from Shanghai, will be winging it's way to Switzerland.

The prints are on archival paper and bound in Chinese silk (they were created for us by Steve Yuan of Leewiart in Beijing)

They look stunning (if I do say so), and are limited to only 50 of each.

Get in quick.

Moon Maiden print

Earth Elite Forces Print

Angry Vagina

I'm thinking this is perfect for a Saturday morning cartoon character. No?

Dorsal Dong

Flamosaurus

After writing all day, I start to get drawing withdrawal. A quick Dinosaur sketch was the solution!

Environmental pressures would eventually select for a Flamejob right?

What are genes for otherwise?

Jealous

Blogging equals hard

Yo!

I have no idea how most people make time for blogging or updating a site. I suck at it, especially right now as I'm writing my next Grordbort's book. Very exciting!

Been percolating new ideas for it for ages and now it's underway.

So that means hardly any new work on the blog, even though I have dozens of sketches and ideas lying around just waiting to get brought to life.

In the meantime, please enjoy some random five minute doodles from my sketchbook.

Some of these may end up as fully realised paintings, or they will if I find that ever elusive spare time.... Where are you spare time you elusive little asshole! Oh wait, now that I think about it I spent it on Call of Duty. Shit.

Just the one to start with you greedy internet!

Steampunk Oamaru

'How was your weekend, Greg?' you ask. Well thank you for asking, it was pretty bloody brilliant!

I was very graciously flown down to Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand by Sally, Iain, Helen and Patrick of the League of Victorian Imagineers Oamaru as a VIP guest for their Steampunk celebrations.

The town has been celebrating its Victorian heritage for over twenty years and The League along with other like minded and artistic locals like Steam Punk Oamaru and others, have taken it upon themselves to inject a massive dose of Steampunky creativity into proceedings.

The town has beautifully preserved Victorian architecture running throughout and each year the locals have a Victorian Fete and thousands dress up for balls, functions, street parades and the like.

It's really quite unlike anything I've ever seen before.

If you're a US or European Steampunker wanting a fun trip, then I'd seriously look into bowling down to New Zealand and checking Oamaru out.

Christ, if you just like rad shit, and you live up the way in Wellington or Auckland you should get down there!

Oh yeah, we were put up at the amazing Pen-y-bryn lodge - sweet digs. Thanks!

Ok, I have completely turned into a tourism agent for Oamaru now, so I'll call it there.

Check out some photos and follow some links!

The League of Victorian Imagineers Oamaru

Victorian Oamaru

Prints at Eyeball Kicks

I've had these two prints for sale at the fantastic Eyeball Kicks gallery in Wellington, NZ for a while now, and I don't know that I've ever pimped them!

Bad Greg!

They're selling quickly nevertheless, so get in quick if you want to grab either of them.

They are limited to 20 (Idrisopod) and 30 (The Fall) prints, and are signed and numbered.

New prints on the way too, to coincide with the White Cloud Worlds exhibition at the Dowse.

EYEBALL KICKS!

Coilhouse Illustrations

Recently I did some very quick pieces for an amazing magazine, Coilhouse.
It's the brainchild of the super cool Meredith Yayanos and is one of the flat-out styliest, high production value magazines I have ever worked on.

My illustrations on he other hand are very low production value as I took the job on because I love the mag, not realising how little time I had to actually do them due to my many commitments and projects.

Nevertheless, fast illustrations are super fun for me, and often come out better than those laboured.

The magazine article for which these accompanied was about a lost era of Chinese science fiction. Something I never even knew existed before Meredith brought it to my attention.

The mags been on sale for a bit, and is near to sold out, so get in quick if you want to pick up a copy.

Also check out Paul Tobin's blog for a glimpse at his amazing piece for the same article.

Check out the magazine!

COILHOUSE

The Wrong Directions

He is lost.

White Cloud Worlds signing at Unity book store in Wellington

Yo!

No new artwork yet I'm sorry. Coming soon, I promise.

In the meantime, if you're in Wellington, come on down and say hi to us at Unity bookstore (best bookstore in Wellington) for the White Cloud Worlds book signing.

And thanks to everyone who came by at Armageddon in Auckland.

Was fun!

5pm Saturday 30th October 2010.

New Books - Art of District 9 and White Cloud Worlds

Two new books featuring my work, as well as that of many others from Weta Workshop are nearing release.

The Art of District 9 which was put together by Weta's Daniel Falconer is out soon. This weekend in fact.

I, along with Leri Greer, David Meng, Daniel and Richard Taylor will be presenting a short talk this Friday about the making of the movie at Wellingtons Embassy Theater as part of a launch event for the book, and following that a few of us will be signing copies at the Wetacave.

If you're in Wellington, come along and say hi.

It's a pretty stunning book if I do say so, and showcases a massive chunk of the work we did on the film. You'll get to see plenty of art that's never been seen before, like Christian Pearce's early concepts that didn't make it into the film, but formed a bedrock for us to work from, as well as some of my production art featuring much earlier iterations of the final designs.

Following that, White Cloud Worlds is due out, which is an anthology of New Zealand fantasy and sci-fi art.

It's the result of the earnest efforts of my good friends and fellow Wetites, Paul Tobin and Kate Jorgenson.

I'm super proud to be part of it as I've always sought after books of this type my whole life - compendiums of fantastical art - and now I get to be in one of the best.

I hope you enjoy them!

Update - link to limited edition version White Cloud Worlds at WetaNZ
link to White Cloud Worlds Official Website

Dr. Grordbort's: RAYGUN App for Iphone

Yo! Apologies for the lack of new artwork round these parts. I did some really great stuff, but the dog ate it, I swear.

In the meantime though, check this shit out - We went and made a Dr. Grordbort's raygun app!

Well, more accurately, Touchcast and Carnival Labs went and made it, and I looked at it and said "oooh, that looks nice!".

Now, those high falutin' types who have an iphone can get their hands on one of my rayguns and do what they've always dreamed of - Turn a defenseless animal into giblets and mist.

ZAM!

Link to app on Itunes

Link to app at Touchcast

Interview with Sci-Fi Universe

While I was in Switzerland for the NIFFF and Imaging the Future Symposium, I did a few interviews, this one was with Romain Basset from SciFi Universe.com

It was mainly about District 9 but they will be following up shortly with another focusing on my science fiction world, Dr. Grordbort's.

Oh yeah, the article is in French, but the video interview is in Freddie Mercury's English.

Link

Simian Wukong

This is a piece I did a few years back now. Found it buried at the back of my garden - I clean forgot about it!

I've been really interested in Sun Wukong, the Monkey King since I was a kid.
A lot of people might remember the super fun Japanese television show, and while that hooked me, it wasn't until I read an English translation for Journey to the West that I became properly fascinated with the character.

While I was in Shanghai I got to talking about Monkey again with a young guy, Jackee, who helped us put on the Grordbort's and Weta exhibition there, and he gave me a new, four volume set of Journey to the West, by a different translator.

It reminded me that I really like these types of characters, and that in a way, I've made my own, Lord Cockswain in a similar mold.
Sun Wukong is really an anti-hero, and an indomitable ego, someone beyond the influence of anyone - Kings, Gods and public officials are just obstacles or annoyances.

Something about that sort of impervious psyche is appealing to me, and fun to embody in a character.

The Ass Scent of Man

Oct

This song was recorded ages ago, before I started at Weta Workshop even.
I was always planning on re-recording it with actual drums, but I still like it as it is.

Dr Grordbort's Exceptional Exhibition moves to Shanghai

After Sichuan and Hong Kong, it's time for Dr Grordbort's Exceptional Exhibition to travel to Shanghai.

This was announced at a press conference with actor Jackie Chan, director Stanley Tong and Richard Taylor. The exhibition will open in Shanghai on 8 August, during the World Expo that's currently taking place in Shanghai.

I just copied and pasted that from our Weta newsletter. What a lazy cunnagle I turned out to be.

Yes, you read it right - Jackie Chan! The proceeds of the exhibition go to his charity.

I can't tell you how spacked out I am by this.

His films ruled by pre-teens. I think I ruined the Whakatane video stores VHS copy of Project A when I was a kid, by watching Jackie fall down that clock tower again and again.Pow! Right on his head! Maniac.

Anyway, geek out aside, it should be a great exhibition. This time I will be alongside some incredible artists and hopefully these will be publicly revealed soon.

On top of that, some previously unseen Weta movie props will be showcased, and my good friend and fellow District 9 designer, David Meng will be coming and exhibiting his sculptures.

Looking forward to it already.

The Stroll

Nice day for a hikoi.

Neuchâtel Fantastic Film Festival and Imaging the Future

I'll be attending this years Neuchâtel Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland and giving a talk at the 'Imaging the Future' symposium.

I'll be talking about designing District 9 and the creation of the world of Dr. Grordbort's.

Come along and say hi if you're in the neighbourhood.


links

NIFFF

Imaging the Future

The Trapeze

Sweet mother of Chris Christopherson, it's more god-damned music.
I know, I know, you come here for the strange robots and what do you get for your troubles? Half finished, poorly recorded music!
Well, give it a listen anyway. If it sucks, write me and I'll email you back your lost minute.
I promise.

It's another quick loop piece called The Trapeze. Why does it keep on looping you ask? It was made on a loop pedal
Give a cousin a break!

The Ballbuster

Nice robot. He's friendly to children, good natured and clean.
He really is a great robot, but needs more space to run around than what we have to offer. He is a very fast learner, and great company. He is microchipped but not de-sexed.

Hydrochloric Euphoric

I thought I'd see if you can embed music in a blogspot post, and holy crap, you can!
So this is a piece of music I wrote a while back. It's called Hydrochloric Euphoric.
I wrote it under the band name Mucho Pudenda.
Now that I know how to embed an MP3, I may post a little more from time to time , although I very seldom record anything so don't expect a flood.

In case you wonder how it's made, and why it's so lo-fi, it was created in several impromptu takes on a loop pedal.
I play something, and if I like the sound of it, I record another take right over it, and repeat to taste.
You have no ability to adjust levels, and it renders it all in glorious mono, but it's a fun way to make off the cuff music, which is about all I have time for after working all week on Grordbort's and other Weta film work.

Hope you like.

Back from the void

Long time, no post.
Been busy, lazy, drunk. You name it.

I haven't done any personal work at home for months, and I thought, tonight is the night.
I've been pretty slow with my illustrations lately, so for better or worse, I decided to do this in one sitting.
I think it took about three hours (not including the original sketch).

It's in it's original form at the bottom, and because the creature is kinda small in the frame, there's a close up for your edification.


Oh yeah, exciting news on the Dr. Grordbort's Exceptional Exhibition coming soon!
New city, new exhibition partners.
Can't wait to reveal it.