Monday 27 July 2009

Sun Wukong (Monkey)

Well, more Monkey. I really shouldn't have found this brilliant topic as torturous as it has been.
I think it's a fairly common phenomenon. Given a job/topic that you'd love to do and do well - there is a tendency for the creativity to freeze up on you. A psychological road-block that gets in the way of you and the destination you'd hoped to arrive at. I think you need to keep going though - being a professional dictates that you can't just give up entirely. By taking a couple of detours, you might not end up where you thought you'd like to go, but the journey will have been interesting and you might end up somewhere just as good.



And with that word "journey" in mind. Sun Wukong is the traditional name for the character "Monkey" from 'Journey to the West', an old Chinese legend. Popularized in the 70s by the classic TV show "Monkey Magic" and then again in recent years by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's stage adaptation.

I'm fairly happy with the treatment and approach to this, albeit a reasonably straight copy of the TV show's. My inked sketch, quickly coloured in photoshop would serve as a character design for a more dynamic martial art style action pose, but time has run out on me, so this will be my submission for DrawerGeeks this time round.

7 comments:

Dave said...

Great job with this one mate, one of my favourite TV shows as a kid and your take is very cool.

matt dawson said...

We all have projects like that sir! The perfect brief may well open up a whole can of insecurity worms. For what it's worth this is a crackin' Monkey study, a sketch work in progress but none the less skilful or stimulating for it! (needs a 'cloudmobile' at some future date :)

Anonymous said...

A fine, funky, furry fellow indeed! I like the prospect (one that Darwin overlooked) in that we are not only evolving from monkeys but back to monkeys! Perhaps just like your noble example - well done indeed! Horsefair Humpledonk

Phil Toodle said...

An excellent wee sketch you've got there sir.

Emperor said...

Great stuff - I love Monkey and that really evokes the character.

You might want to have a look at Monkey Subdues the White Bone Demon (a comic adaptation of one chapter of the Journey to the West). I've got the book but it is free online from places like the Internet Archive. Fascinating art and a very different style from one we are used to in the West.

dugbuddy said...

Love this. Flat out love it.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

Yay !! Monkey is class !!!