Thursday, September 01, 2005





UPDATED UPDATED UPDATED

And this is MY favorite drawing right here. I remember doing this coming straight from the very first meeting with Chris and Kevin, after they had introduced me to the project, asking if I was interested. OK, I thought, they want me to do Gorillas, what do THEY look like again , and I did this small drawing , without reference with just a ballpen, some watercolor and a bit of coffee, ...yes coffee , and I was just lucky.This gorilla has an incredible presence, he's just "there". Its one of those phenomenons , its your first go at something, beginners luck maybe, and I spend month after month trying to do it again, working hard at it and failing again and again. All the books and tapes didn't help, couldn't find that first energy again.
I reposted it in a higher resolution, hope it helps. I alsoadded another sheet with Kerchak-sketches. In the left corner you'll see KENT MELTON'S marvelous maquette. That guy is a true genius.Also what he did with Clayton, he sculptured what I couldn't draw....

Daniel has asked about my "books and tapes didn't help"- remark. I was referring to books and tapes about gorillas, reference in other words, and I meant the energy of the drawing, not my own.
If you ask me about my working music , good old Bernard Herrmann works best....

11 comments:

gur-B said...

This drawing gives me goosebumps. Beautiful.

Matt Jones said...

Fantastic harald. The gorilla has a very regal presence - awesome.

stephen Silver said...

Great !!!!! Do you have any plans on publishing a sketchbook series of your work?

Unknown said...

Amazing sketch Harald! so strong! can we have it bigger on your post, it's still very small when you click on it.

Daniel Chappelle said...

H,
Please do tell.
All the books and tapes didn't help, couldn't find that first energy again.

What books and tapes give you energy? :)
Awesome work!
Dan

HaraldSiepermann said...

Stephen,
I'd love to publish a book, I was told I wouldn't have a chance in Germany , though , so I always plannend to speak to an American publisher , but I was too lazy till now.

Wingman said...

Wow, I have never sketched with coffee before (only left those marks on magazines and tables).
Good to know that Germany has talented animators, too. Would that be a book about animation like "The Illusion of Life"?
P.S.: I also live in Hamburg.

Matt Jones said...

Harald, maybe it's worth approaching CHRONICLE BOOKS of San Francisco. They publish the Pixar Making of books & also Amid Amidi's forthcoming book on 50's animation design. Their books are always of the highest quality, stylishly designed & well laid out.

HaraldSiepermann said...

Thanks for the tip, Matt

Shawn Escott said...

Beautiful. You can just feel the weight. Nice work.

Glenn said...

Kent is my cousin. I seldom see him, but it's cool to find a dude referencing him as a genius.