SciFi Now - 101 Geekiest Clips you must see!

Issue 61 of SciFi Now includes a feature of "The ultimate countdown to the 101 geekiest videos you must watch now!" showcasing some of the most unexpected and brilliant parodies, cinematics, short films and rare interviews from across the net. Any list that includes Nicolas Cages infamous "Not the Bees!" scene gets the thumbs up from us!

You can see more about SciFi Now on their website and follow SciFi Now on Twitter. 

Have fun,

David

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New! Playr 3: The world's best new webcomic based on Parenting and Gaming brought to you by the award-winning David and Sarah Cousens! http://playr3.tumblr.com/  

Day Of The Tentacle - Animated Illustration

As a kid I loved playing Graphic Adventures, especially those by LucasArts. Day of the Tentacle (or DOTT for short) was the sequel to Maniac Mansion and was the first "Talkie" game I played (this was the first game to have speech throughout which seems like a bizarre thing to mention in todays world, but back then it was a big deal!) 

For those that don't know, the main characters in DOTT, Bernard, Hoagie and Laverne used the Chron-o-John to travel through time to prevent the evil Purple Tentacle from manipulating time to control the world! As you can probably guess, it was a very surreal and funny game! 

This one was just begging to be animated!  The image was featured on Kotaku, Little Chimp Society and the creator of Day Of The Tentacle, Tim Schafer liked it, and remarked "Nice! Probably more things moving there than in the actual game! :)" 
As Bernard would say: "Neat!"

Have fun,

David

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Websites
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World of Warcraft illustration for PSD Tuts+

We were recently asked to create a Photoshop illustration process tutorial for PSD Tuts+ based on Blizzard Entertainment's insanely large and addictive game, the World of Warcraft. 

At the risk of polarizing our audience, although we've played numerous Alliance based characters, Sarah and I always had a soft spot for the Horde; the Undead quests were always much funnier! So naturally we chose to illustrate some of our personal favourite characters from the Horde side of the game including a Sporeling, Sylvanas Windrunner, Arthas, a Tuskarr and the Head of the Headless Horseman (don't ask, just trust me that he was funny!) and of course the World of Warcraft figurehead, the dreaded Murloc!

You can read the tutorial at PSD Tuts+ here

Have fun,

David

PS. "For the HORRRRRRRRRDE!"

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Drying Paint - illustration for the "Memories Project" Cancer charity art book

The Memories Project is a charity art book, the proceeds go to Maggies Cancer caring centres. I drew this piece based on Antony Kitson's story based on his father's cancer inspiring him to launch OneTenElevenMedia. Since drawing this my own Gran, the lovely Tryphena Cousens, was diagnosed and subsequently has died of cancer very recently. One day I'll draw something as a tribute to her but right now it's too much of a fresh wound.

I'll leave you with this excerpt from the Memories Website describing the project. I promise the next post will return to our usual brand of light-hearted nonsense

Cancer is such a pervasive killer these days that few of us go through life untouched by the disease. We’ve decided to do something about it by launching the Memories project and the outcome will be a beautiful art book. Proceeds from the sales of Memories will go to the charity Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.

Memories will look at the thoughts and experiences of individuals who have survived cancer, as well as those of people who have lost loved ones. There will be ten stories inside, each looking at one person’s recollection of a particular day in the struggle against cancer. For each of these ‘memories’ a dozen leading artists, illustrators and designers will be creating their own visual response. Two further stories will go ‘open brief’ and we’ll be inviting creatives worldwide to make their own images to accompany the text. The best submissions will go into the book.

That makes for 12 touching stories, and 144 smashing pieces of artwork

The cover price is £10 and you can pre-order the book now.

 

All the best,

David

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Websites
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The Best TV Show Apps - editorial illustration for Apps Magazine

Another editorial illustration for Apps Magazine, this time for a feature on the best TV Show related iOS Apps for the iPhone and iPad.   

Proof that Jack Bauer is cool? He still looks like trouble even with an iPhone AppBlaster!

You can see more about Apps magazine on their website and follow Apps magazine on Twitter. 

Have fun,

David

You should Follow us!
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Websites
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Cool Surface Lite - The Art blog! http://coolsurface.blogspot.com

Music Star! Editorial illustration for Apps Magazine

This image was an editorial illustration for Apps Magazine for a feature on IOS Apps that can transform you into a music star! With the cool Transformers noise and everything!

Okay, not with the cool Transformers noise. Actually I can't guarantee that you'll become a star just by using an iPad or iPhone either, but then I'm not in the music business.I'm not even a good singer. In fact most cats and dogs tend to get quite angry if I start singing. I'm digressing aren't I?

I've done a few illustrations for Apps Magazine recently, but this is definitely one of my favourites. This image was the one that made us decide we really enjoy working in our "animated style".

You can see more about Apps magazine on their website and follow Apps magazine on Twitter. 

Have fun,

David

 

You should Follow us!
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Websites
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Cool Surface Lite - The Art blog! http://coolsurface.blogspot.com

Shell Shock! Super Mario attacks!

Super Mario showing a Koopa Trooper who is boss!

Have fun,

David

Websites
The Art of David and Sarah Cousens - www.CoolSurface.com
Cool Surface Lite - The Art blog! http://coolsurface.blogspot.com

You should Follow us!
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Star Wars: "Unlikely Heroes" illustration for SciFi Now Magazine

Issue 58 of SciFi Now has a huge feature on Star Wars that includes an article called "Unlikely Heroes" that looks at some of the best characters that may have only had small cameos onscreen but have developed a huge following since being looked at more closely in the Star Wars Extended Universe. I was asked to draw them in the style of the Trainspotting movie posters. Unsurprisingly, drawing Star Wars characters was great fun!

You can see more about SciFi Now on their website and follow SciFi Now on Twitter. 

Have fun,

David

http://twitter.com/#!/DavidCousens

101 of the Best Geek-Out Moments illustration in SciFi Now

If you pick up the latest issue of the excellent SciFi Now (issue 57) you can see the illustration we provided for their feature "101 of the Best Geek-Out Moments". It's a great article that looks at those excellent moments, in-jokes, easter egss and pop-culture references that really appeal to sci-fi and fantasy fans; including Stan Lee hulking out in the Incredible Hulk and the legendary Bruce Campbell getting the best of Spider-Man. "Groovy!"

You can see more about SciFi Now on their website and follow SciFi Now on Twitter. Seeing as we mentioned him, you can also follow Bruce Campbell on Twitter too!

Have fun,

David

http://twitter.com/#!/DavidCousens

The Line Up - editorial illustration for How It Works Magazine

Issue 22 of the excellent How It Works magazine recently looked at "explaining the worlds's 100 Greatest Myths" which either verified or debunked some of the most commonly believed "facts". The feature looked at spurious claims like "A ducks quack cannot echo" and "a penny dropped from the Empire State building could kill you" which were both false, to proving things such as "Elephants are scared of mice" and "Metal explodes in a microwave". 

In fact I accidentally proved that last one first hand once when I left a fork in a bowl once, you actually get these tiny mid-air sparks! Fortunately I stopped the microwave prior to it actually exploding! This is what happens when I'm left to cook for myself! And yes, I did just refer to using the microwave as cooking!

This is our editorial illustration to go alongside the wrongly-believed idea that "Napolean Bonaprte was incredibly short" which although he was 5'5'' at that time it was a fairly common height to be. Having to draw world leaders in an homage to The Usual Suspects was great fun, and Churchill really came out of it looking quite the bad-ass, which we're fairly sure he'd approve of!

You can read more about How It Works Magazine at their website and follow How It Works on Twitter

Have fun,

David

http://twitter.com/#!/DavidCousens

The Mighty Pencil - “A collection of contemporary illustration talent from around the globe” featuring "Sea Monkeys" by Cool Surface

Here’s an image I've been waiting ages to show you all; a while ago the enigmatic illustration guru/organisation/oracle known only as The Mighty Pencil (@TheMightyPencil on Twitter) asked me to be in their first publication dedicated to championing quality illustrative talent across the UK and beyond . The book is “A collection of contemporary illustration talent from around the globe” and features a plethora of amazingly talented illustrators, such as Steven Bonner, Ben The Illustrator, Bex Glover, Stephen Chan, Julian James and many more, so I'm honoured to be involved.

The book is an industry only publication, so if you’re in a position to commission illustration, if you’re an art director, art buyer, magazine editor etc, then send an email to The Mighty Pencil and request a free copy! Copies are 68pp A5, full colour, printed by RipeDigital.Note: Please don't email if you aren't in a position to commission artists and you just want a freebie.

Have fun,
David
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Battle Books: Arnhem is available now!

You can now buy: Arnhem, part of the Battle Books range from Franklin Watts/Hachette Publishing's Edge imprint. I've just recived my copy and it looks rather nice if I do say so myself.  When I first received the commission I was concerned I was going to be asked to tone down the violence and make a sanitised version (as often happens in publishing), but thanks to the excellent senior editor Adrian Cole I was allowed to put in plenty of gore, blood and severed limbs. Drawing this book and it's sister title Iwo Jima was a real treat for my inner 14 year old.

We've provided the art for 2 books in the Battlebooks series, and the other 2 books have been illustrated by good friend of Cool Surface Ollie Cuthbertson go check out his blog to see more art from his Hastings book.

Buy Arnhem from Amazon.co.uk for the bargain price of £5.39 delivered now:

Have fun,

David

Preview Art for Battle Books: Arnhem by Gary Smailes & David Cousens from Franklin Watts/Hachette

Happy New Year! 

Here is our first official art preview of the upcoming book: Arnhem, part of the Battle Books range from Franklin Watts/Hachette Publishing's Edge imprint.

It's written by the excellent Gary Smailes and illustrated 100% by some handsome chap named David Cousens and will be released very soon.

We'll be posting some more preview art soon and will let you know as soon as the book is released.

Have fun,

David

twitter.com/DavidCousens