(Cover to Flight Volume 2)
This second Friday of June finds me celebrating my continued post-6/6/06 existence with the art of Chris Appelhans. And seeing how today is the opening day for Pixar’s latest offering, Cars, it seems oddly apropos to feature the art of a Pixar employee. And believe me folks, it wasn’t planned this way…I picked Chris as today’s artist and then found out about the Pixar connection. That’s just the kind of serendipitous cowinkiedink you’ve come to expect here at Stainless Steel Droppings!
(Leaf Box)
Chris Appelhans did character design for the upcoming movie Monster House and word has it that he has done some of the same for Neil Gaiman’s story Coraline that is being brought to the big screen by director Henry Selick.
(Trent)
I introduced you to Appelhans’ work with the girl/robot picture in yesterdays post and the child theme is very appropriate as alot of the work that Chris has done has to do with children. There are sweet innocent images like yesterday’s picture and the one below
(Trampoline Bot)
as well as slightly darker images like the work he has done for a forthcoming adaptation of Alice In Wonderland:
(Both pictures can be clicked on to enlarge…and they look much better enlarged)
Even more concept designs can be seen at Chris’ Froghat Studios site here. I first saw these images a year or more ago so I am impatiently waiting for this book. The Alice story has always been a fascinating one to me. I like Chris’ ideas regarding children and art/stories: “Children have a capacity to handle much ‘darker’ stuff than we give them credit for — as long as the underlying tone of the story is honest and hopeful.” Gaiman has expressed the same ideas in regards to the scary story Coraline. The Tim Burton animated films also operate on this philosophy.
In addition to his detailed, photoshop painted art, Appelhans has a real talent for creating fun, interesting characters with simple lines and color.
(Sock Fairy)
His work is both enormously fun and touching at the same time.
(Fragile Fish…shown especially for you Jenn See, Mysfit, and Old Ben)
One of Chris Appelhans’ most successful ventures involves these simple line drawings: Frank and Frank.
(one panel from Frank and Frank)
Frank and Frank are cartoons with a one word title and no dialogue that simply speak volumes. They are disarmingly simple and charmingly complex at the same time. Like a nonverbal Calvin and Hobbes they exemplify the simple joys of childhood. Please go check them out as soon as you can, I guarantee they will make your day.
(Tree Bot)
It probably goes without saying that I love Chris Appelhans’ robots tremendously. This one and the one that graces the cover of Flight 2 are my favorites. Chris will have some work in the newest anthology Flight 3 coming out next month. I simply cannot wait, the Flight volumes are filled with some of the best short comic stories I have ever read. Especially the kid-friendly ones, they are the very best.
(Ninja)
Besides being an amazing artistic talent, Chris dabbles in making music, samples of which can be heard here. Chris has made a really cool animated Superman cartoon set to his own music which can be seen by clicking on the picture below
and then choosing the “New Superman Animated Short” option. I recommend right clicking and ‘save target as’ to get a quicker download.
It comes down to this. I simply like Chris Appelhans. I like his work, his style, and his approach and outlook on the world.
Froghat Studios, his prints at Gallery Nucleus, and enjoy the unpretentious genius that is Frank and Frank.
Happy Friday everyone!
You should have a look at Sempé‘s work – he’s French, but most of his drawings are mute. Some of Appelhans’ work reminded me of him, in a very remote way…
Sorry, I can’t really find any good example, so have this for a small taste.
Thanks Anne, I looked around and found some good examples of his work and its very good. Some of it reminds me of New Yorker cartoons which I like very much.
Ahhhhh, I really love the leaf box. That would be a fun print to have.
Great stuff. I’ve thought about illustrating a children’s book, but fear my work looks amateurish. Especially when compared to such talent.
Here’s a couple examples of my work from December.
http://rustbeltramblings.blogspot.com/2005/12/freebies.html
Thanks for the visit yesterday.
p
That’s fun stuff Prego, I think you need to just go for it! I especially like the Santa Claus. The many and varied kinds of “talent” are one of the primary things I am trying to show with these Friday favorites. I like all manner of illustrative styles, some that look very complex and some that look really simple and yet what sets them apart is that the artist is able to make their style work for their particular situation. There’s no sense holding back, you might as well give it a shot!
Some wonderful links you have here. I’m going back now to go through them. Thanks for sharing. *waves*
Wow, I love those.
Hello Michele sent me.
I love the artwork – amazing! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Michele sent me. Have a great weekend!
i love the leaf box one.
i’m very much looking forward to the Selick adaptation of Coraline–& now, thanks to you, the new adaptation of Alice as well.
by the by, i posted your book cover thing on the fish…hope you don’t mind, but i was highly amused & intrigued by the idea…
Don’t mind at all, I was just having fun…did you enjoy the fragile fish?
Carl,
Cool stuff.
Oh, what neat art! Thanks for showing these to us.
What a happy little pick me up.
I loveloveLOVE Leaf Box & Ninja!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Isn’t Leaf Box great..makes me wish it was autumn.
Count me in as fan of Leaf Box too. Great stuff.
I love the falling leaves illustration, it’s simply gorgeous! Thanks for letting me know about this artist. 🙂
I love these illustrations.
Some of them are reminisent of Chris Foss.
I would love to know where I can get a copy of “Alice”
Alex
Me too Alex, me too. A book is supposed to come out someday, but no word as to when.
Leafbox–I love it! I am going to post it on my blog, if that’s okay!
And I have been so inspired by the RIP Challenge, I just bought
1. The Woman in White
2. Dracula
3. Dr. J and Mr. Hyde
Ra-hah-ha
I love your work! It’s wonderful! 😀
i am fifteen and i LOVE art and your work really inspired me…ihope someday to be as acomplished as you and maybe even get to talk to you someday 🙂
Taylor, this isn’t Chris’s site but hopefully he will come by at some point and see your comment.