ToughPigs.com - The Great Muppet Mural

I LOVE doing a collaboration with people!  It can be so much fun to share ideas and build something HUGE together.  

When given an opportunity to participate in The Great Muppet Mural, I couldn't say no.  It would be a HUGE undertaking for several artist friends who I admire, and would celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fansite ToughPigs.com with art direction by James Carroll, Kenny Durkin, and Dave Hulteen, Jr.

Dave even created a three-part documentary that will be put together as one whole film soon (links below)!

The art directors got to take place in the mural, as did 72 other artists creating 270 characters in the mural.  You can learn all about the artists HERE, HERE, and HERE.  Don't forget to visit the bottom of the ToughPigs story about the mural where you can find an artist/character key!

 

My three assigned characters were Sesame Street's The Amazing Mumford (and a bunny that is well-loved by Animal from The Muppet Show), Zoe and her pet Rocco, and Hup from The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.  Getting a great classic character such as Mumford was a blast, and of course we love Zoe.  It was a bit of a fright to get Hup as I always stink at doing Creature Shop characters, especially new ones, but after a little research on the design I feel I caught him well in my style. 

Here, I've compiled my three characters onto the 70s set of Sesame Street because - well, why not?

You can also see the three-part "making of" documentary on the official website by clicking these links:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The Great Muppet Caper 40th Anniversary

 Hi-ho!  Kevin the Human here, and today I'd like to share something that I love very much.  One of my favorite mystery films of all time, with excellent performances and show-stopping songs:

The Great Muppet Caper!

2021 marks the 40th Anniversary of the film, so I had to go see it in theaters - the first time I've seen it on the big screen since I saw it during its original release in 1981.  This company set it up in theaters:

You need to see this movie if you haven't already.

So, my pal Zach Haumesser literally winged-in from Buffalo, NY, to go hang out and watch this movie, bringing with him his Kermit the Frog.  We celebrated The Great Muppet Caper with some skits we threw together, nothing scripted, all improv - created as we went along.  

Keep checking back in here for more photos and videos as time moves forward and more is shared.

Speak of 'checking back' we put together a video of Kermit and Fozzie looking at their checklist 

We also shot this video to wish a kid, James, quick recovery after breaking both of his arms:

So, the checklist out of the way and the ticket bought, Kermit and Fozzie GO TO THE MOVIES!!

There were Trivia Cards before the movie started:

And, then, the first of a series of songs from the film: Hey, A Movie!

Second song is a bit of "Happiness Hotel!"

Third song is some of "Steppin' Out With a Star!"

Here is the last song we did and the final video, "The First Time It Happens" with a VERY SPECIAL TWIST ENDING!!!  WHO COULD IT BE!?

More photos will come soon, too, so check back!

Hope you have fun with these and I look forward to hearing from you about how much you (hopefully) like it!!

Sesame Street's 50th Anniversary Nov. 10, 2019

On November 10, 1969, PBS and the newly formed Children's Television Workshop premiered a program that would revolutionize education and create a cultural phenomenon unmatched since!

Joan Ganz Cooney partnered with Jim Henson to create a street filled with humans, birds, monsters, grouches, and all kinds of creatures, especially my favorite and best childhood friend: Big Bird!

From the show, I learned about friendship, love, diversity, death, why hating someone for having a different skin color is bad, caring for the environment, helping animals and others, and about numbers, reading, and letters.  I learned that you can be friends with someone who looks and thinks differently, and that you can even be friends with monsters (as a kid, monsters didn't scare me because Grover and Cookie were my friends, also - even a vampire).

A lot of those lessons about life have stuck with me throughout my years, and I've remembered them all.  I also know that lots of others have forgotten those lessons and I wish would go back and learn them.

I digress.

Without my felt and fleece friends in feathers and fur I think my childhood would have been less fun or interesting.

I've drawn these beloved characters since I could color in the lines of Sesame Street Coloring Books (which helped fund the show), and collected them as often.

Sesame Workshop has announced their 50th Anniversary year-long celebration:

• A 50th television season which focuses on the power of possibilities, empowering kids to take safe risks and learn from their mistakes.
• A nationwide road trip where Sesame Street characters and friends host community events in ten cities around the country.
• An expansion of the growing Sesame Street in Communities initiative, addressing issues including substance abuse and foster care to better support vulnerable children and families. (Note: Memphis, TN, is one of the cities that will receive help from SS in Communities.)
• The launch of a new local version of Sesame Street created for displaced Syrian families and their new neighbors in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, as part of a large-scale early childhood intervention in the region.
• A signature research report that will explore an important issue facing kids and families today.
• Celebrity- and fan-fueled social media campaigns including #ThisIsMyStreet, showcasing favorite Sesame Street memories.
• New collaborations across fashion, lifestyle, and themed entertainment for Sesame Street fans of all ages.
• A November star-studded prime-time special, featuring new takes on classic segments and visits from Sesame Street icons.

In celebrating the 50th Anniversary Season of Sesame Street, I created the image below to share with you all.  It's a quick sketch; but, one I had fun creating.  I used actual photos of the characters to sample the colors for each part of them (clothing and more), so they more closely match their real counterparts.

Of course, I have too many favorites to include in this, so from my sketch to this piece I wanted to give you a quick anniversary wish of thanks and love to the happiest street on earth.

Now, someone help me get to Sesame Street to meet Big Bird!  PLEEEEEASE!

Enjoy!

Ghostbusters Has a Blue Ray

A blue brother in the Ghostbusters' ranks.  #Ghostbusters30