The Making of Fiesta Sammy

Ever wonder what goes into the making of a Sammy Bearkat illustration?

No?

Oh.

Well, I'll tell you anyway. Actually, I'll show you. Unlike the last time, I remembered to capture the whole process. Actually, what you don't see is the stuff that isn't done on the computer: the sketching, drawing and inking process. But this part is pretty interesting, too, I guess.

This is an illustration for the upcoming Bearkat Family Weekend 2010 with a "fiesta" theme. The client wanted a postcard look with a "fiesta Sammy" playing the guitar in a an "Old El Paso" kinda environment.

First, the finished product:



And now, the video, sped up 21x, showing how a Sammy illustration is taken from scanning from proof. I hope you enjoy. And please forgive the little popup at the beginning. YouTube thinks it's okay to put a tag on my video that I can't seem to find a way to remove. The video is also available in HD on YouTube.

Why The Kat Pack?

Why "The Kat Pack," you might be wondering. Why not "Sammy's Adventureland" or "Old Sammys Rock" or "Sammys Don't Grow Old, They Just Smell That Way?"

Well the name is a play on The Rat Pack, the famous - and completely awesome - group of entertainers from the '50s and '60s that included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.

The image up top is also a bit of a reference to that. It was based on an image from Ocean's 11 (the original one from 1960).

Here's the original photo:



The Kat Pack image is all seven Sammy suits walking down the street in black or gray suits and ties.

I hope you like.

-James