Thundercats Tuesday - (Day late ,again) - TC #125, TC #126

Here's a batch for Show #125, and #126. This is a special posting for me since I wrote "Shadowmaster" and designed him and his shadow creatures. It was a thrill to see my script and designs come to life. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - John Basile & John Abercrombie, John Pizzarelli

This Sunday Music Muse Day has me presenting three "Johns". First up, John Basile and John Abercrombie Animations.  The late John Abercrombie is one of my favorite jazz guitarist, since first hearing him in the early 1970s, so I'll pick up any recording of his as a leader, or sideman.  Guitarist John Basile is new to me.  This is a nice duo set that was the second release from Basile's label, Underhill Jazz, recorded in 2003. It's a little annoying that song composer credits are missing, I recognize the jazz standard "Sweet and Lovely", but I couldn't tell you its composer off the top of my head.  It would be nice to know which tunes are their originals.  This CD is still worth a listen.

The third "John" is the leader of The John Pizzarelli Trio Live at Birdland.  This a 2 CD set of warm and entertaining live set.  It's casual, laid back presentation is very inviting.  I'm not sure that it's my cup of tea (jazz) for repeated listening, since there is a lot of stage banter throughout.  John, of course, is the son of legendary jazz guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli, but well-known and accomplish in his own right. This CD set, is worth a listen, too.

So, these are two nice CD to keep an eye out for.  Enjoy.

"Story Saturday"? - Revised Journeyman Artist Saturday art prompt.

"Story Saturday?" My crazy timeline graphic helped me remember that I did a lot of personal creative stuff during an involuntary gap year after I graduated from high school and before entering SVA. That year, I discover Conan paperbacks with the Frazetta covers, and started doing sword & sorcery art which led to my Blackwolf character. Plus, there were several written out ideas, and scripts for my comic art. Now, I think of giving Saturday the prompt title: "Story Saturday" to explore those old writing, Yes, some are a just as horrible as you a can imagine for 18 yr old nerd, with questionable writing skills, and an overused dictionary and "Word Finder". Well...you know, "Jack of all trades...", etc. 

                                       

                                        

Thundercats Tuesdays video for Show #100, and #101

Here's my latest l "Thundercats Tuesdays" video for Show #100, and #101. Enjoy.

Sunday Music Muse Day - Jan. 21, 2024 - Brad Mehldau Trio, The Blue Note Years

This Sunday Music Muse Day finds many in my area anxiously awaiting the Buffalo Bills game against The Kansas City Chief in the NFL game tonight. Some maybe more interested in Taylor Swift attending.  In any case, here's two jazz selections to help fill the time. First up, Brad Mehldau Trio Day is Done. With the leader on piano, joined by Larry Grenadier on bass, and Jeff Ballard on drums.  This is a tasteful collection of movie themes, a couple of Lennon/McCartney tunes, a Paul Simon tune and some originals all done in Mehldau's uniquely modern piano styling.  Well worth a listen.

Next is an anthology collection, The Blue Note Years 1955–1960 The Jazz Message. Many of the recordings of the artists on the 2 CD were made long before I was into jazz, but of course I've learned of importance to the music over the year.  I like to recommend anthologies like this to new jazz listeners as it gives them a wider range of musicians and styles to sample, in contrast to suggesting a certain artist or album like Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (a great choice, but variety is the spice of life).   This would be a perfect CD for background music for a Jazz brunch, or ease you into a football game.  

Lets's hope for and Bills win.  Enjoy

Rock Raps of the 70s - Revisited - Book Cover Design

For Throwback Thursday (I used these daily prompts to keep me from slipping into inactivity), here's a Rock book cover I did in 1972. It was one of my first professional jobs. The color separation had to cut with rubylith (remember that tech). I didn't do the best job, but they used it. I found the Sly Stone pic and two pics close to the Alice Cooper and Janis Joplin ones. I'm thinking of doing a digital update, at some point, just for fun. (or just another Dime-A-Dozen idea) Enjoy.

Thundercats Tuesday - TC #123 and #124.

Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist who designed the secondary characters, props, and backgrounds for last season of the original show's episodes #96 to #130. I thought I might start sharing my designs on what I'll call "Thundercats Tuesdays". Here's a batch for Show #123, and #124. The first image is the title page of the script, which was marked up to tell me which elements needed to be designed. Enjoy.

Better late than never.  Here's my monthly musical tribute to jazz artists who have a birth in January. Jazzy Birthday is a tune, written in 1978, with the original title "More or Les". The "Les" in the title refers to a old friend of Les Bernstein, not Les Paul the great guitar player, and father (inventor) of the solid body electric guitar, although it could, also. This jazzy tune was inspired my a jam session I have with Les (B.) when we work together at an animation company back in late '70s. The tune was my early attempt at jazz chord melody, It laid dormant until I posted a video in 2009. I wrote the lyrics Jazzy Birthday about that time. Actually, it was the first lyrics I'm wrote since the 1980's. It seems I could never pull off playing the tune and singing it at the same time. Finally, technology solved the problem.

Sundy Music Muse Day - Marcin Wasilewski Trio, Michael Cain, Ralph Alessi, Peter Epstein

On this Sunday Music Muse Day, we just outside the range of the massive snow storm event hitting Buffalo, NY, causing the NFL playoff game to be postponed to Monday afternoon. But it's still a little snowy, and bitter cold here in Rochester.  I'm quite happy to stay in, stay warm, and enjoy these two ECM releases. First up, the Marcin Wasilewski Trio, the leader on piano, Slawomir Kurkiewicz on double bass, and Michel Miskewicz on drum.  I admit I never heard of these musicians, except I came across their CDs in posts on the ECM Facebook group.  Since, I'm a big fan of ECM records, I'll any of their releases a try.  I like this trio for it introspective ECM feel.  

This next ECM release, like the first, was another leap of faith. Michael Cain, Ralph Alessi, and Peter Eptstein Circa.  This trio with Cain on piano, Alessi on Trumpet and Flügelhorn, and Epstein on soprano and tenor saxophones.  I didn't enjoy CD as much as the first, as some of the tunes came off too pretentious. But still worth a listen. 

Again, for friends in upstate New York, and other areas enduring heavy snow and cold weather, stay warm, stay safe.  Enjoy.

ExoSquad Pin from ExoSquad Archives

After an addressing mistake, I got this ExoSquad pin yesterday. My thanks to ExoSquad Archive for the fast service.

"We Got Nothing" CBTV - Comic Book Television Video - Rankin/Bass Lost Pilot

Spoiler Alert. "We got nothing", was the first comment from producer Arthur Rankin after the pilot was reviewed.  

Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist for Rankin/Bass for the last 30 episodes of the Thundercats for which I designed the secondary characters, props, and some backgrounds, (plus, I wrote two episodes, "Shadowmaster" and "Well of Doubt"). I also handled post production duties on the Comic Strip shows. In 1988, after the completion of Comic Strip, Rankin/Bass looked to develop a new show to present to new owner, Warner Bros. CBTV was that show that need to be produced at lower budget due to the cratering of the afternoon animation syndication market. CBTV was the show to fit the bill. To his credit Arthur Rankin, still pitched the show to Warner Bros. His "we got nothing" remains my most memorable quote of my animation career from any executive. My comic book loving friends will enjoy the seeing the indie comic books selected to be featured in the show. 

Outpost 3 Storyboard and Outline

Hump Day: Odds & Ends, here's short story outline and storyboard for a sci-fi project I came across in my files that actually might be worth revisiting. I can't remember how i planned to finish it, as a video or comic, but I did do use the title in an Inktober piece.

Thundercats Tuesday - TC #120, #121, and 122.

 Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist who designed the secondary characters, props, and backgrounds for last season of the original show's episodes #96 to #130. I thought I might start sharing my designs on what I'll call "ThunderCats Tuesdays". Here's a batch for Show #120, #121, and #122. The first image is the title page of the script, which was marked up to tell me which elements needed to be designed. Enjoy.

Thundercats Tuesday - TC # 117, #118, and #119

Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist who designed the secondary characters, props, and backgrounds for last season of the original show's episodes #96 to #130. I thought I might start sharing my designs on what I'll call "ThunderCats Tuesdays". Here's a batch for Show #117, #118, and #119. The first image is the title page of the script, which was marked up to tell me which elements needed to be designed. Enjoy.

Thundercats Tuesday - TC # 113, #114, #115, and #116

 Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist who designed the secondary characters, props, and backgrounds for last season of the original show's episodes #96 to #130. I thought I might start sharing my designs on what I'll call "ThunderCats Tuesdays". Here's a batch for Show #113 - #116. (If you're following this series of videos, you'll notice TC #114 & #115 episodes needed no new designs, they used stock art) The first image is the title page of the script, which was marked up to tell me which elements needed to be designed. Enjoy.

Thundercats Tuesday - TC # 111, and #112

 Hi, I'm Dennis J. Woodyard. I was the staff artist who designed the secondary characters, props, and backgrounds for last season of the original show's episodes #96 to #130. But really the Pacific Animation Company (PAC), the Japanese animation studio, was such a well-oiled machine, I only had to give them rouch designs and they did their magic. I thought I might start sharing my designs on what I'll call "ThunderCats Tuesdays". Here's a batch for Show #111 - #112. (If you're following this series of videos, you'll notice there isn't a TC #110, because that episode needed no new designs, it used stock art) The first image is the title page of the script, which was marked up to tell me which elements needed to be designed. Enjoy

Hellhound nad Other Image History

I'm decluttering my art files and here's a collection of drawings I found in my artist file that used for several art pieces. Enjoy.

Merlin & the Dragon - Opening and Flipbook

Here's a short video of the opening for my Merlin and the Dragon. Here's how Wikipedia describes it, "Merlin and the Dragons is a 1991 animated film adapted from a story by Jane Yolen and illustrations by Alan Lee. It was directed by Dennis Woodyard (as Dennis J. Woodyard) and Hu Yihong and includes a musical score by composer Michel Rubini. The production is a retelling of the Arthurian legend, with Merlin the magician, based on material from Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth.[Yolen is a prolific author of Arthurian-themed texts, and this production continues her series of retelling of the Merlin story. The half-hour film is narrated and voiced by Kevin Kline and was originally broadcast as an episode of the PBS program Long Ago and Far Away, which first aired on November 9, 1991". I'll have to do a fuller, personal blog about it sometime. I erroneously thought it aired on Levar Burton's Reading Rainbow, but I guess I was wrong. Enjoy.