Sunday, April 14, 2013

Hi All.

I've moved sites!  

Everything that is on this blog is now also here: cliocalman.com

Please take a look!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Ghost Squirrel Character Designs - Intrepid Owl

Intrepid Owl

INTREPID OWL:


Furtive Squirrel’s friend, ally, confidant and house mate.  She is one of the few people capable of interacting with Squirrel while he’s in Ghost form; so it’s a good thing she gets along with the guy!

Intrepid Owl moved to Woodland City to join LIBRARY CENTER, but while the scholarly Owl cares for research and knowledge above all else, she is not content to spend all her time in a library or lab (just most of her time).  She is just as eager to travel to weird locations to discover new cultures, previously undiscovered ruins, or just a good view.  

She is not normally keen on people, however, and having to act as Squirrel’s middleman pushes her outside her comfort zone.  Conversing with someone who most people can’t see can get a bit awkward!

Since she spends most of her time in the field with Squirrel, she only gradually realizes that while Library Center (run by the esteemed Eminent Bull) is the premier center of culture and learning in Woodland City, it might also be the sinister root of the City’s supernatural problems.



Thursday, March 14, 2013

Ghost Squirrel Character Designs - Furtive Squirrel Part 2


Furtive Squirrel in Ghost Form


FURTIVE SQUIRREL (cont'd)


It’s not all fun and superpowers, however: being a Ghost comes at a cost.  Most people can’t hear or see him, nor can he partake in the everyday activities living people take for granted – interacting with solid objects, conversing, having lunch.  

Not being alive anymore came as a serious blow to the normally fun-loving, life-living Squirrel.

Luckily he has managed to acquire a magical device (the SPIRIT CAPTURE CLOCK) that grants him the ability to flip between his usual Ghost State and a tangible form.  The Clock, however, can only make him tangible for a limited period of time over-all.  While Squirrel would love to spend that time enjoying normal activities, he is ultimately too focused, too responsible a guy.  He only uses the Clock’s ability when it’s important and necessary (knocking people out of the way of projectile glass, for example) and he never uses the ability for personal enjoyment – unless he can do both at the same time of course!


Ghost Squirrel Character Designs - Furtive Squirrel Part 1

Over the next few days I'm going to put up the existing character designs for Ghost Squirrel along with a bit of bio.

Furtive Squirrel in Tangible Form


FURTIVE SQUIRREL: 

This young cop is on his way to becoming one of the best detectives in Woodland City – no perp has gotten away under his watch yet!  His career takes an unexpected turn when a seemingly routine chase throws him into the affairs of the Old Spirits.  Not only does this cost him his badge, but his physical body.

Now back as a Ghost, Squirrel sets himself up as a private “ghost” detective.  His slogan: righter of supernatural wrongs.  His mission: aid and protect Woodland City from the supernatural forces conspiring against it, and getting stronger by the day.

Being a Ghost certainly has its perks – invisibility, intangibility, the ability to see supernatural energy (GHOST-VISION) – and Squirrel, never one to let a good opportunity go to waste, is more than happy to exploit these powerful abilities.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Ghost Squirrel - Cover Page

I've put up some sample images and sketches up already, but I think it's time I officially announced my next project:

GHOST SQUIRREL: Woodland Mysteries



A supernatural action-adventure featuring Furtive Squirrel, a Private Detective and a Ghost, and his friend Intrepid Owl as they take on everyday nefariousness, and otherworldly phenomena.

Is Eminent Bull a legitimate scholar, or criminal mastermind?  Who are the mysterious “Old Spirits” that haunt the woods?  And will Furtive Squirrel solve the biggest mystery of them all: who wanted Furtive Squirrel…disappeared?



I've been working on this as a animated TV pilot pitch (and I've officially registered my first project with the WWGA, very exciting).  I've been getting increasingly into comics, however, and will probably make this a comic book/graphic novel instead.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Ink Spirit - Color

A color version of the Ink Spirit from "Ghost Squirrel."  I think the color scheme could be described as twilight meets lava volcano.  If "lava volcano" isn't already a paint swatch name, I will be very disappointed

Even more twilight scene goodness

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Ink Spirit – Pencil and Ink Comparison


I've been doing character designs for a project I'm working on called “Ghost Squirrel.” I've posted some pencil sketches of the villain characters and I'll do a big post of all the finished color work in a bit.

Since I got sick of drawing everybody just standing around being vaguely happy, I decided to make things more interesting by putting this design in a landscape.

A Twilight Scene...before a certain franchise co-opted the word.

I also think I've officially gotten a handle on inking drawings with dip pen and nibs. I've never inked anything before working on “Ghost Squirrel” but after the pain in the ass that was using pencil for the final pages of “Circus Insurance,” I figured it was time.

Here's the original pencil image for comparison: