The Sketchbook of Michael Napolitano

The Union Label Sketch (2007)

2009-06-19T20:56:00.002+09:00

Here's the original sketch that I started out with for the magazine Kansai Scene.

Click to see the published and final images.

The Latest Buzz Sketches (2009)

2009-06-19T20:52:00.003+09:00

Here are two of the original sketches I had started with for the magazine Kansai Scene at the beginning of the year.

Click to see the final and published images.

The Bombing of Kyoto Original (2007)

2009-06-19T20:46:00.004+09:00

An original sketch that I turned down in favor for the actual atomic blasts that could have rocked Kyoto. This was done for the English-Language Free Publication, Kansai Scene.

Check out the published images.

Things Are Nearly Done!

2008-10-12T01:08:00.002+09:00

Well, as you've probably noticed, things look a bit different. With the coming weeks, things will be tweaked here and there. Added. Subtracted. Turned upside down and then hit with a feather pillow three times before saying some magic words. Along with the changes, I will bring up ALL the sketches I've been working on for the past little while. That, my friends, is no easy task due to the shear volume.

I hope you like the new look, and leave some feedback on how I'm doing.

Updating...

2008-08-25T00:29:00.002+09:00

Well, Hello there, sexy traveller...
I'm busy updating everything here, so things are a bit of a mess right now.

Have a bit of patience and all will be re-revealed in time.

Which, according to Del Tha Funky Homosapien, is too expensive.

Thanks and enjoy.

SUMAPPU: Kimutakoyaki

2008-07-03T18:06:00.004+09:00

Here's the Kimura Takuya design for my SMAP (A long-time-running, talentless Japanese 'boy' band) t-shirts. His shortened name is Kimutaku, so I extended it to 'Kimutakoyaki'. Takoyaki being fried balls of squid, a favorite snack of the Japanese people.

SUMAPPU: Shin5 (go)

2008-07-03T17:58:00.003+09:00

Here's the Shingo design for my SMAP (A long-time-running, talentless Japanese 'boy' band) t-shirts. Using the correct kanji, 'Shin' means 'death' and 'Go' means 'five'.

Curly Yukata Back 17 (2008)

2008-06-29T22:18:00.002+09:00

You can see a previous drawing ingrained in the paper. It sucked. This one's nicer. I went back to the simple shading. It was getting too complicated, plus I wanted to see an obi high-up on the chest, like a woman's obi, on a guy.

Curly Yukata Back 16 (2008)

2008-06-22T21:34:00.002+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 15 (2008)

2008-06-22T21:31:00.001+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 14 (2008)

2008-06-01T18:39:00.002+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 13 (2008)

2008-05-26T22:09:00.001+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 12 (2008)

2008-05-19T22:36:00.000+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 11 (2008)

2008-05-17T20:02:00.001+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 10 (2008)

2008-05-13T19:29:00.002+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 9 (2008)

2008-05-11T22:44:00.003+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 8 (2008)

2008-04-27T16:51:00.002+09:00

This is for all the boys!

Curly Yukata Back 7 (2008)

2008-04-22T21:52:00.002+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 6 (2008)

2008-04-22T21:51:00.003+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 5 (2008)

2008-04-22T21:50:00.002+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 4 (2008)

2008-04-22T21:48:00.001+09:00

A Southpaw (2008)

2008-04-14T23:51:00.003+09:00

This is a Southpaw, a creature that only comes out on windy nights. It's attracted to electric lights and hunts anyone that is bathed in it. It makes an eerie whistling sound that most mistake for the wind, and if it finds an apartment with the lights on, it will get in. Legend has it, it's allergic to firelight.

Curly Yukata Back 3 (2008)

2008-04-14T23:49:00.003+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 2 (2008)

2008-04-14T23:48:00.002+09:00

Curly Yukata Back 1 (2008)

2008-04-14T23:46:00.001+09:00

The Sporty Yukata (2008)

2008-04-14T23:41:00.003+09:00

Here's a Yukata based loosely on my very own sports jacket.

The Year of the Rat Postcards (2007)

2008-03-14T03:46:00.002+09:00

Here are the original sketches for the postcards I design for my wife.

No Brakes! (2008)

2008-03-14T03:43:00.003+09:00

Just your normal, everyday Slight-Antigravity Hamsters. Don't let them near your ankles!

The Swirly Yukata (2008)

2008-03-14T03:39:00.002+09:00

I really got into Giving a Yukata some really interesting design elements, like this swirls, cut from harder fabric. It gives the Yukata, I think, a different cultural feeling. Perhaps.

Just Some Suits (2008)

2008-03-14T03:37:00.003+09:00

Just a couple I knocked off one day

New Website Title Cards (2008)

2008-03-14T03:22:00.003+09:00

I'm designing a new site for the RocketRat Blues comic that I'm currently working on, and I was thinking about what kind of titles do I want to see. These were the first, one of the heroes and one of the villains.

New Website Background (2007)

2008-03-14T03:20:00.002+09:00

I'm designing a new home for the RocketRat and my portfolio, so I was toying around with different backgrounds that I might use, this being the first.

The Pregnant Greek Lady (2007)

2007-10-16T01:13:00.000+09:00

Now that my wife is pregnant, I figured I should design her some clothes, that admittedly, may never see the light of day.

A New Suit (2007)

2007-10-16T01:11:00.000+09:00

I've really been into the idea of wearing casual suits. "Geek Sheek" as one bloke put it.

The Natives of Kudaza (2007)

2007-10-16T01:06:00.000+09:00

Here are the two native types of Kudaza; the Aggressives (Left) and the Dociles (Right).

KK Morinomi (2007)

2007-10-16T01:04:00.001+09:00

Here's an early sketch for the main character for the first (couple of) books(s) of Kudaza.

American Empire Propaganda (2007)

2007-10-16T01:01:00.000+09:00

I'm Working on some thoughts for this...

American Empire Yukata (2007)

2007-09-06T14:14:00.000+09:00

I did this one on the train just recently. No particular reason why, it's just where my pencil took me.

Whimsy Sketch (2007)

2007-09-05T21:24:00.000+09:00

Here's an initial sketch for a larger illustration I'm working on right now. It's of one of my main characters for my current comic project, a robot-fantasy called Kudaza. The image will be surrounded by the illuminated frames in the sketch below.

Illuminated Frames (2007)

2007-09-05T21:21:00.000+09:00

Here are the frame designs for a large illustration of one of the main characters in my fantasy story, Kudaza. There may be some text, but the sketch above will surrounded by this frame

Kudaza Title Strip #1 (2007)

2007-09-05T21:18:00.000+09:00

Here's an Illuminated title for my current comic project, Kudaza.

Kudaza Cover Initial Sketch (2007)

2007-09-05T21:11:00.000+09:00

For the comic book I'm currently fleshing out, here is the initial cover design, both back and front. I'd like all my stories to be connected by Illumination, so I want the books to have a medieval manuscript feel. Well, a robotic, medieval manuscript feel, anyway.

I'm thinking of giving each story a different seal, and the round one on the left is the first draft for Kudaza.<.p>

Tom's Descent (2007)

2007-08-18T02:14:00.000+09:00

Waffle's Carrot (2007)

2007-08-18T02:13:00.001+09:00

Tom's Breakfast (2007)

2007-08-18T02:12:00.000+09:00

RocketRat's Dream (2007)

2007-08-18T02:11:00.001+09:00

Enter The Villains (2007)

2007-08-18T02:08:00.001+09:00

Enter The Heroes Sketch (2007)

2007-08-18T01:57:00.000+09:00

The Teddy Hero Sketch (2007)

2007-08-18T01:38:00.001+09:00

I'm going to color this awesome little guy and put him onto a T-Shirt!

The Hero Returns Sketch (2007)

2007-08-18T01:23:00.000+09:00

The final inked piece made it into the Glico candy company portfolio.

Milk's Not Good For Robots Sketch (2007)

2007-08-18T01:11:00.000+09:00

This is a Sketch that I finished and put into a portfolio I gave to the Glico candy company. Below is the alternate ending that didn't make it into the final piece.

Angel Battle Doodle (2005)

2007-08-18T00:38:00.000+09:00

I whipped up this idea when I was on an airplane leaving from Osaka, going to Tokyo.

The Smoking Star (2006)

2007-08-18T00:35:00.000+09:00

This guy's a character I have for one of my thousands of stories, Mike Dondle. A ridiculous name? Oh yes, but since I haven't developed anything in a while, his name it remains for now.

Little Masako (2005)

2007-08-18T00:31:00.001+09:00

I'm not sure what I wanted to do with her. I doodled this sketch while waiting for my wife in Osaka.

Girl Cop and Ninja Nambus

2007-08-18T00:26:00.000+09:00

After college, one of my roommates had a gerbil that she named Nambu. He was the inspiration for this illustration.

Brain Freeze

2007-08-17T19:56:00.002+09:00

Radio

2007-08-17T19:56:00.001+09:00

Mean Rachel: Bikes Are Gay

2007-08-17T19:55:00.001+09:00

Mean Rachel: Stop Cheating

2007-08-17T19:54:00.000+09:00

Let the Fingers Do The Strolling

2007-08-17T19:53:00.002+09:00

The Big Homey

2007-08-17T19:53:00.001+09:00

The Mic Can Bite

2007-08-17T19:52:00.001+09:00

The Horse

2007-08-17T19:51:00.001+09:00

Milk-Water Is A Killer

2007-08-17T19:50:00.000+09:00

On Her Last Legs

2007-08-17T19:49:00.000+09:00

Solemn Sportsman

2007-08-17T19:48:00.001+09:00

The Gangster: She's No Lady

2007-08-17T19:46:00.002+09:00

A Mighty Roar

2007-08-17T19:46:00.001+09:00

Topless

2007-08-17T19:44:00.000+09:00

A Head and Eating Itself

2007-08-17T19:43:00.000+09:00

Oh, PLEASE, Honey

2007-08-17T19:42:00.000+09:00

Bound Conspiracy

2007-08-17T19:41:00.000+09:00

Hooligan

2007-08-17T19:40:00.000+09:00

The Appraisal

2007-08-17T19:39:00.002+09:00

Fight The Rocket!

2007-08-17T19:39:00.001+09:00

Coat of Arms

2007-08-17T19:38:00.001+09:00

Surprise

2007-08-17T19:29:00.000+09:00

Himeji Castle on a Ghostly Night (2007)

2007-08-17T19:03:00.000+09:00

Farmland (2006)

2007-08-17T18:59:00.000+09:00

Simply practicing my trees and landscapes.

Creepy Baby (2005)

2007-08-17T18:53:00.000+09:00

I have no idea what I was doing, but this picture "Creeped me out", said my wife.

American Breakfast Yukata (2007)

2007-08-17T16:08:00.000+09:00

Voluptuous Yukata (2007)

2007-08-17T16:07:00.000+09:00

Yukata Design 2 (2007)

2007-08-17T16:00:00.000+09:00

Yukata Design #1

2007-08-17T15:55:00.000+09:00

Yukatas are robes, much like Kimonos. However, they are only a single layer and worn during the summer, or as bathrobes in hotels and hot springs. They're worn by both men and women and it's high summer fashion here in Japan. I have one myself, and it's crazy comfortable! Anyway, I decided to design my own Yukatas, but in the spirit of modification, I wanted something a little more interesting. Something with pockets and openings and other crazy things. This is the first of my designs.

MechPants Variations (2005)

2007-08-17T15:31:00.000+09:00

I've been interested in the leg design of Japanese Comic and Animation Mecha for a long time and decided to design some pants that fit these molds. To make them would take more time and skill than I have.

A Suit for Taking Care of Business (2005)

2007-08-17T15:29:00.000+09:00

Future Rider (2005)

2007-08-17T15:26:00.000+09:00

Dress Casual 2 (2005)

2007-08-17T15:24:00.000+09:00

Future Misfit (2005)

2007-08-17T15:20:00.000+09:00

Future Greek (2005)

2007-08-17T15:19:00.000+09:00

Royal Wedding (2005)

2007-08-17T15:18:00.000+09:00

Future Biker (2005)

2007-08-17T15:15:00.000+09:00

Water Dress (2005)

2007-08-17T15:13:00.001+09:00

Dress Casual (2005)

2007-08-17T15:11:00.000+09:00

Future Casual 2 (2005)

2007-08-17T15:08:00.000+09:00

Corsetted Dress (2005)

2007-08-17T15:03:00.000+09:00

Future Military (2005)

2007-08-17T14:58:00.000+09:00

I was inspired to do this after going to a photography gallery in Japan and seeing miniature work based on the belt seen around the sketch's waist. Japanese soldiers were given these belts by family and friends. Each belt held 1000 dots which, in turn had 1000 knots (1000 being a lucky number for the Japanese - like the 1000 paper cranes). Sometimes, a five or fifty yen coin was also sewn in (made easy by the hole in the center) as these numbers symbolize "Life". They were worn to protect the wearer from harm.

Future Suit (2005)

2007-08-17T14:56:00.001+09:00

Future Casual (2005)

2007-08-17T14:52:00.000+09:00

Dress for the Phillipines (2003)

2007-08-17T14:47:00.000+09:00

This dress was made for a friend that she had made and wore to a wedding in The Phillipines.