Saturday, December 24, 2005

Monster Hunter: The Comic


During the early 1990's I was a partner in a small design studio known as Zillion Concepts. We did Illustration, toy design and protyping service work for a variety of toy, model kit and collectors product companies around the world. I myself not only did concept sketches and marker roughs, but sculpted prototypes and tooling ready models as well. My clients included companies such as: Hasbro Toys, Kenner Toys, Oddzon/Captoys, Ertyl Collectables, Polar Lights, Playing Mantis, American Greetings, and N2Toys to name a few. I worked on toy lines and model kits based on such entertainment properties as: Star Wars, Godzilla, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, The Universal Monsters, The Mummy, Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow ect. These were fun and prosperous years, and a very creative time in my career. I look foreward to posting some of my work from this era of my life on this blog in the near future.

At this time I began work on a line of toys based on a character I created named Monster Hunter. Here is a seven page introductory story I wrote and penciled. The fabulous inks were done by my good friend and fellow illustrator at Zillion Concepts, Jim Elliott.
More on Monster Hunter later...

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Saturday, December 10, 2005

King Kong Kountry...




Lets get things started with a couple pieces of art. These are a few years old, but are somewhat appropriate considering the release of Peter Jackson's film next week. Like Mr. Jackson, the original 1933 film is my favorite motion picture of all time, so I did these two massive drawings/paintings in between freelance jobs back in the 1990's. Can you imagine it? One of the greatest film makers of recent times remaking my favorite film of all time? Be still my heart. Needless to say, I've had my tickets since the day they went on sale, and will be seeing the midnight showing on December 13. Advance word on the film is fantastic, so I'm expecting a real treat. (I wonder if there is a show following at 3:oo?)

Its about time....

Hello,
Yup. It's about time I got to Bloggin'.
It has been a while since I let my Website lapse. I was hired by Hasbro toys a few years back (they actually found me through my defunct website....) and just did not have the time to keep it updated. I recently left Hasbro in Rhode Island and am back at my old stomping grounds in Cleveland, Ohio working for American Greetings. All my new buddies at AG have been Bloggin' for some time now, so I figure I would join the fray...
In the next few days I will introduce you to my art. I'm an illustrator, designer (mostly toys and model kits) and sculptor (once again...mostly toys and model kits.) with an interest in Science Fiction, Horror, Movies, Animation and Comics. I am looking forward to posting my work. So please check back from time to time to see what twisted abominations have reared their ugly heads on my new crazy-ass Blog!
Thanks,
J. Groman

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