Super Mario Bros. Theme Park Attraction - by Josh

I've recently started to play around with the 3D software Google Sketchup, trying to find away to incorporate it into illustrations. This is my first test. What I did was create a very basic 3D model in Sketchup. I then took a JPG from a certain angle of the model and painted over it as my bases for an illustration. My goal was to see if I could create a drawing where it would not be blatantly obvious that I used a 3D model.


The drawing is an exterior of a Super Mario Bros. Theme Park Attraction that I made up. I plan to make this a part of a series of drawings where I also explore the interior and the ride itself, which is primarily a motion simulator.


The setting is the Super Mario Bros. Plumbing Service Center. Mario and Luigi have created a plumbing company and they have opened their doors for tours and plumbing recruits. The company guarantee is that they will send a plumber to you not matter what the terrain (land, water, or air). From these headquarters they blast their plumbing vehicles, like cannon balls, from the four large pipes at the top of the building.

St. Patrick’s Day Project – 02 (Josh)

This is an ongoing annual project that I try to add more to every March. Check out my last POST on this. Sadly, all I have to show right now are just some rough pen sketches from my small sketch pad.
For this year I’ve included an addition to the stone chamber with the pot of gold. This room is round, and lined with Stonehenge-like arched pillars. Many vines and roots cover the room flowing out from the ceiling which is designed to look like the underside of a huge tree and its roots. This will hopefully suggest that the audience is standing beneath an enormous tree that was seen on top of the exterior of the attraction. After the magical event takes place (see last POST), the many roots and vines magically come to life. In the arch opposite of the entrance, the vines and roots collect together like fingers of snakes and form in the center a large face of the mysterious Green Man.The face come to life and welcomes (in an ominous manner) the guests to a magical realm of Celtic folklore.He then introduces the audience to various elements and creatures of Celtic folklore. As he does so, vines and roots part in various arches to reveal ancient relief images of the subject manner the Green Man speak of. Once his presentation is complete and all the arches (including the one the visitors entered through) display their images, the Green Man bids them to enter his realm. The plant work that formed his face parts to reveal an exit to the next part of the attraction (a motion simulator). Once the visitors leave, the vines close and the room resets itself for the next group.I drew these sketches of my version of Leprechauns (sadly I have not had time to color and render any of these drawings). Based on various descriptions of these little people, I learned that they burrow into the earth and that some have large pointy hats. So I decided to combine these two elements by giving them hats that can act as drills which they use by magically spinning fast so as to dig into the earth. Aside from red vests, I picture them with very earthy tones to match their forest environments.My Leprechauns also have bodies and digits resembling a frog’s. This is so they can jump fast and far, along with clinging onto trees.
Hopefully I can get more made on this.

Class Theme Park Project

The Spring Semester is over and I just turned in my last project for my Illustration class, taught by James Dowdalls. For this project we needed to create a perspective drawing of our own original theme park. I came up with a few ideas and made the following thumbnails.From there I narrowed my ideas to these two concepts.The class and teacher said that although my American Tall Tale theme park was the best concept, the Folklore/Mythology theme park was the better illustration, so I chose to go with the latter.I took the thumbnail and created two color concepts.The class wanted me to take the second color comp. into my final. Around this time Katie gave birth to our beautiful daughter so I we a little busy and distracted from getting my final piece done in time for the due date. Unfortunately I had to turn in my piece with what I had made so far.The class really liked what I made but I’m not satisfied with it. If I get a chance in the near future, I would like to redo it with a new color palate that will unify the elements better. I would also like to redraw the overall image with a better design and composition.

The Mountains Win Again

As you may or may not know, we’ve been getting some rain down here in Southern Cal, and BOY did we need it! Not only is the rain great for the soil but it clears out the haze and smog, making it look a lot cleaner here. For instance, on a Saturday (1/26) there was a break in the rain clouds resulting in a beautiful, sunny, blue sky day. With the thick dirty air washed away, we were able to see all the way to the mountains, and MAN what a gorgeous sight!They were caked in snow creating a striking contrast to the surrounding terrain. We took these pictures from Mountain View Park (which is where I proposed to Katie almost four years ago) on the corner of Bastanchury and State College in Fullerton- across from the Summit House for all you locals. The park has a breathtaking view of the valley below.Believe it or not, on a clear day such as this last one, you can actually see all the way to the cluster of buildings that make up downtown Los Angeles.We actually had trouble finding a parking place near the lookout point because everyone and their dogs were out to get a view of these now rarely seen giants. We spoke to one man who had moved here from out of state last May and didn’t even know these mountains were there until now. There were cars everywhere on the road, many with just their hazard lights on, so people could stop and get a quick snap shot of a side of California that is usually hidden from us busy city dwellers. Sadly, now the curtain of smog is closing and these snow-capped peaks will soon be completely out of sight again. Thankfully, though the photos hardly do the scene justice, we were able to capture some of the beauty before it faded away.

Better Late Then Never (SPD-01)

Last year for St. Patrick's Day (SPD) I began an annual project which I shared with some friends. The following is the email I sent out:
3/17/06
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
I thought I'd share with you guys something kinda unique for this day. Instead of celebrating the life of the man who brought the Gospel to Ireland, I did what any average Joe would do and designed a theme park attraction.
This attraction is not a St. Patrick Day theme, instead it is a tribute to Irish myth and folklore, but it is hosted by Leprechauns. I actually came up with the idea when I was a freshman in College, but I haven't drawn anything for it until now.
I apologize for how rough and crude these drawings are, I made most of them during my breaks at my job within the last day or so.
I have only scratched the surface of designing this attraction. After the "stone room" comes another section that transforms into a motion simulator, and there is even more after that! I might continue drawing all of this, or I may just wait till next year and make this an annual tradition.
Well, thank you for taking your time to read about my crazy ideas, and have a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!
Back to Present Day: This year I was swamped with personal and professional matters that kept me from getting any more drawings done on time for SPD. About a week ago I got this drawing done during my morning break (I latter painted it in PS). It is my first attempt at designing a Leprechaun. I followed a few descriptions from various folk tales, such as the face and the red vest.Kenfied Trivia: Katie's mother tried to bribe her doctor to ensure a SPD birth, but was unsuccessful and Katie came two days later by way of emergency C-section. I guess mom does know best.