The Blog of artist David "Draculasaurus" Burson. -
-Doctor Who fan art - Comics - Whatever else seems interesting

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

BANDRIL & TOMTIT


Twin full colour fanzines BANDRIL & TOMTIT are now available to order!
Featuring some art by me!
http://www.bandril.blogspot.com/


BANDRIL Issue 1 (28 A4 Colour pages) features a brand new exclusive comic strip "Top of the Ponds" written and illustrated by David Carey, a review of Torchwood: Miracle Day, a review of Series 6 of Doctor Who, a "true-life" story called Looking for a chicken dinner, The Keys of Marinus comic strip by Paul Hanley, A look at the story of Regeneration, Love at first sight and Do you remember the first time? and all your latest communication in our Letterbox and much much less...

TOMTIT Issue 1 (24 A4 Colour pages) has an exclusive Ben Chatham story written by the legendary Sparacus called The Ghosts of Peversham Station, "All your planet are belong to us" is a story presented in the classic Doctor Who Annual format by Paul Hanley, an interview of UFO investigator Nick Pope by Richard Thomas, Are the right episode lost? looking at the still missing 108 episodes of classic Doctor Who, A Love Letter to Character Options, TARDIS TV and much much less...

Both Issues will ship with a mystery FREE gift.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Celestial Toyroom 400

The latest cover of The Doctor Who Appreciation Society's long running fanzine, Celestial Toyroom is out.
I'm very proud to have been asked to do the cover for their landmark 400th issue.

In case you were wondering, no there's not an app for that. It's a hand cut three color stencil and acrylic paint.
If you've been thinking about joining the DWAS, there's no time like the present. Their website is here.

CT issue 400 is now at the printers. Contents include:

Nicholas Courtney RememberedLinkReview - Claws of Axos
Interview - Nicholas Courtney
Review - Inferno
Matrix Lava Lamp - The Web of Fear
Matrix Lava Lamp - Battlefield
Review - Mawdryn Undead
Monstrous Motives - The Brigade Leader
Colin Baker Welcomed. Previously unpublished Press Call Photograph from 1983
Full colour cover

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Alien civilizations in modern Doctor Who

Seeing alien cultures and civilizations is one of my favorite things about science fiction.
Doctor Who is a show about a man who has all of space and time at his finger tips. It's a show that's full of alien cultures, isn't it?
Let's take a look at the revived series and see.

End of the World - Off to a great start here! Even though Cassandra is "human" and is behind it all, the space station is alien run. We see alien customs, living quarters, hierarchy. It's also a veritable parade of alien races.

The Parting of the Ways - Here we see a Dalek who has set himself up as an Emperor and a God.
This barely counts as an alien culture, it's more of a standard invasion with a dash of megalomaniacal flavor, but it's still worth mentioning.


New Earth - Some great looking alien cat ladies, but living in a human culture. It's still New York, even if it's new new new. Not an alien civilization.

Smith and Jones - We don't see a full blown alien culture here, but we do get some nice implications of culture. The Judoon are representatives of an alien culture, going about their business. Not an alien civilization, but in the same spirit.

Gridlock - Cat people again, but assimilated into human culture, not a civilization.

Utopia - A full blown alien culture on the planet Malcassairo! Unfortunately they're long dead except for Chantho. It's a shame because Chantho looked great and had interesting mannerisms.

The Stolen Earth - The Shadow Proclamation isn't really a culture, but it's sort of part of a culture. There's not a lot of information here, The Doctor stops by, figures out some plot points and leaves.

Voyage of the Damned - I guess technically, they're all aliens from the planet Sto, but almost none of their culture is on display here. Their ship, clothes and food are all based on Earth culture.
Even Bannakaffalatta is wearing a tuxedo.

Planet of the Ood - Here's an alien culture, sort of. Tragically subjugated by humans, but we do get a hint of what they might be like, sitting in a circle and psychically singing to their chief brain. Their culture is pretty boring, but we do see something of it.

Planet of the Dead - Here we have the lush and vibrant planet San Helios, with a fully developed advanced culture, except, oops, we just missed them. Every tiny scrap of their civilization got eaten before the episode starts. We do see some fly-headed Tritovores, but we don't really learn anything about their culture except what they like to eat.

The End of Time - We see the Ood again in this one. The Doctor remarks about how advanced they've become, and is then ushered into a cave. (Maybe he was just being polite.)
We do get to see some of their architecture though.

Yes, Timelords count as an alien civilization I suppose. We see some of their fantastical architecture and costumes. We also learn that they utilize some sort of clairvoyant seer, and we see their government in action. We don't really get to explore their culture or learn much about them that we didn't already know, but it still counts.

The Time of Angels - Here we see the planet Alfalva Metraxis, home to an advanced race with two heads. Unfortunately they're all dead and we don't find out much about them except that some of them wanted to marry themselves, and that they bury their dead in a labyrinth.

The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood - Well, Silurians aren't really aliens and we don't really get to see their culture, but we do learn a few things about them. Their society is split by caste system, there's a warrior class and a scientific class, but the balance of their culture doesn't make an appearance. Cool underground city though.

The Pandorica Opens - Here we see a full blown alien bar. Star Wars cantina style. Sadly it lasts only a minute and is gone, but no one is long dead or asleep. What a tease.

A Good Man Goes to War - We don't learn a lot about the Headless Monks, but they seems to have their own thing going on. I'm not sure if it's a culture or not, but they have rituals and some kind of system of belief. Either way we hardly learn anything about them.

The Girl Who Waited - Apalapucia is an intergalactic vacation destination, home to an advanced culture. Presumably they're humanoid, based on the robots they created. That's about all we see of them. Just an empty hospital facility and some borrowed art.

The Wedding of River Song - High stakes live chess with an alien! This sounds very interesting, but that's all we know about it. It's just a brief glimpse of a culture.


Well, that's about it. Not nearly as many as one might think.

It almost seems that we saw more fully developed cultures in the supposedly earthbound Pertwee era. Peladon, Metebelis III, Inter Minor, The Draconian Empire, The Silurians (if we're counting them).

I'd love to see some more in series seven, but I guess it's a trade off, fleshed out companions or cultures. Hopefully they can strike a balance that will work for everyone.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

The Impossible Assassin



watercolor
click image for a 1024x768 desktop wallpaper, or click here for a 1600x900 version.
-also, just for fun here's a 640x960 iphone wallpaper crop.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

from the ministry...

I'm sure everyone has secretly been wanting a Mr. Chinn Desktop wallpaper.
well the wait is over!


Charcoal on paper
click on image for a 16x9 wallpaper version, or click here for an old fashioned 1024x768 version

Featured in the Doctor Who fanzine The Terrible Zodin #12 -available for free download at http://doctorwhottz.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Space 1889 & Beyond



Untreed Reads Publishing is releasing a series of eBooks based on Frank Chadwick's legendary 1988 steampunk role playing game, Space: 1889.
The first book in the series, Journey to the Heart of Luna by Andy Frankham-Allen, is available now.
You can find out all about it at the Space 1889 & Beyond Facebook page. -or follow Andy Frankham-Allen on Twitter.
Take a peek at the first two covers. Art by yours truly, cover design work by Steve Upham, original HMS Sovereign design by Andrew Orton.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Panic Moon fanzine: July 2011 issue out now

Panic Moon fanzine: July 2011 issue out now: "July’s issue of Panic Moon is published today. It’s been produced in a slightly smaller batch that previous issues, so order early to avoid..."

Friday, May 27, 2011

Jo leaves the nest

Conte pastel pencils on black card stock
The heart breaking scene from The Green Death.
I couldn't decide how to crop this one, so here's two 1600x900 wallpapers.
click on images to see full sized


Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The Seventh Doctor

India Ink & "sepia" tinted ink on heavy watercolor paper

-and here's a nice 1600 x 900 wallpaper crop.
click images to see full sized.


Wednesday, May 11, 2011

What is a spoiler?

There's been a lot of controversy about spoilers in Doctor Who fandom recently. Spoilers have always been a topic for debate among fans, but Steven Moffat's impossible time loopy type of storytelling seems to have raised the stakes and brought the issue to a boil.
There are a lot of different opinions on what constitutes a spoiler. There's even a newly resurrected term going around, "Teasers". Teasers seem to be basically spoilers, but with a critical bit of information withheld. (One of these four characters will die!)

There's also a lot of disagreement about the source of the information mitigating the spoilerishness of the spoiler. Some people believe that any information released by the BBC or by Doctor Who Magazine can not be considered a spoiler, but there seems to be just as many people who disagree.
For instance, When I watched The Impossible Astronaut, there was a scene where an "astronaut" comes out of a lake and the Doctor turns to his companions and says, "Whatever happens here, do not interfere.".
This scene was intended to be quite surprising, the audience is meant to be experiencing certain specific thoughts, specific questions posed by the author. Instead of experiencing what the author intended, I was thinking "Here comes the scene where the Doctor dies.".
While watching this scene my wife gasped, I did not.

The knowledge I gained from the cover of a recent Doctor Who Magazine, altered the viewing experience intended by the author. -but did it "spoil" it?
This is largely a matter of opinion. I certainly enjoyed the episode and found it highly entertaining. Would I have enjoyed it more without that knowledge? Yes, actually I would have, but only a little.

Spoilers aren't a black and white thing, there's a large grey area where fandom can not reach a consensus. The same information that "spoiled" my experience also tantalized casual viewers, driving up viewing figures and helping assure Doctor Who's continued production. (or so the theory goes.)
I think Doctor Who fandom can cope with the spoiler debacle, or at least debate the issue intelligently, but like in any rational debate it's necessary to define the terminology. This hasn't really happened yet in the fan-lexicon concerning spoilers.
That's why I'd like to propose a system to quantify spoilers into definable terms.
It won't be a perfect system and it definitely won't please every one, but maybe it'll be a step in the right direction.

The Spoilcon System
Modeled on the United States Armed
Forces Defense Readiness Condition system, DEFCON, this system categorizes information about upcoming episodes of Doctor Who into five graduated categories based on it's potential for spoiling the viewing experience.

The Spoilcon system does not take the source of the information into consideration, nor how widely known the information is thought to be, it only considers the information itself.

Spoilcon Zero: (Not a spoiler)
Any information from a "Next Time" trailer, Episode titles, air date, length of episode, whether or not it's a two-parter, or any other information that the viewer is usually likely know beforehand in the television format.

*If an episode title gives too much away, that's bad writing/producing, not a spoiler.

Spoilcon 1:
Episode location/setting, unless that setting is a returning setting or one with special significance.
Casting, unless the actor has previously appeared.
General episode type description. (a historical, a romp, continuity heavy, Doctor light episode, etc.)


Spoilcon 2:
Historical Figures
Historical Events
Returning settings, unless that setting has special plot significance.

Spoilcon 3:
General episode plot descriptions, unless involving a returning villain (Children are disappearing in ancient Persia. The Doctor races to stop the mysterious
Semerkhet before he awakens an ancient evil.)
Casting of returning actors, unless having played a character with special significance.

Spoilcon 4:
Returning villains, unless arch enemies.

Spoilcon 5:
Returning arch enemies, or the casting of actors who have played arch enemies.
Returning characters who supposedly died, or otherwise supposed to never appear again.
Returning locations/setting with special plot significance. (Gallifrey, Mondas, etc.)
Specific plot details.
Character deaths.
Regenerations.
Appearances of past incarnations of the Doctor.



Well, it's not perfect, but it can be improved.
Let me know what you think.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Flying Saucer

I finally got some pictures of the flying saucer that's been hanging around my house!

Here's one of it hovering in the field behind my house.

Here's one of it investigating my house. I think it was probably just trying to get into my wi-fi network. Sorry suckers, it's password protected.

*** this is art by the way, not real***

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

WTF Google?

So, recently Google changed their search algorithm in an attempt to weed out low quality sites and "content farms". Some websites gained in search rank, and some declined.
I decided to do a Google search for "Draculasaurus" to see how I did.
What do you think came up first?
My registered domain name "Draculasaurus.com"?
No
My copyrighted comic "Draculasaurus" for sale on IndyPlanet?
No
The top result is a twitter account with one follower which happens to also use my habitual moniker.
(I'm @Draculasaurus13 on twitter by the way, because plain old @draculasaurus was already taken when I joined.)
Seriously Google?
Google says-

This update is designed to reduce rankings for low-quality sites—sites which are low-value add for users, copy content from other websites or sites that are just not very useful. At the same time, it will provide better rankings for high-quality sites—sites with original content and information such as research, in-depth reports, thoughtful analysis and so on.

Sorry Google, it's a fail. -at least in this case.

D

Friday, April 15, 2011

Charlie Chaplin

Oil on canvas board

Here's a painting I did way back in high school. It's Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Coogan from The Kid. Yeah, that's the same Jackie Coogan, who later in life, played Uncle Fester in the Addams Family television show.
Today is Chaplin's 122nd birthday.
For a while I was obsessed with Chaplin, I read every biography I could find, watched every film.
It's hard to imagine the scope of his influence today, but Chaplin was the first person to become truly world famous within his own lifetime.
His work is a major influence on my art as well.
It's no coincidence that I write a "silent" comic book, there's more than a little of Chaplin's little tramp character in Draculasaurus.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

A new pen


Trying out a new pen. It's some kind of Pilot roller-ball with a clicker.
lays down a nice fat very black line. So I drew a third Doctor to take it for a spin.

Monday, April 4, 2011

The War Games

The Second Doctor Defeated
Check out some of my art in The Terrible Zodin #10, a free online Doctor Who fanzine.
Tons of other fantastic art, plus an exclusive interview with the legendary writer Terrance Dicks!
What are you waiting for? Go get The Terrible Zodin #10

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Andrew Skilleter Website


The fantastic Doctor Who artist Andrew Skilleter has a shiny new website.
You can go check it out here.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Keep'r on Trak'n



They say that if you have to explain a joke, it's probably not funny.
This one, I've had to explain a few times, so.. Oh well better luck next time.
It's the fourth Doctor drawn in the style of R. Crumb's iconic "Keep on Truckin' " design.
The joke is, that the words Keeper of Traken look a lot like Keep on Truckin'.
As you would expect, I've been pedanted about it. Yes I'm aware that he "should" be wearing his season 18 outfit from Keeper of Traken. It's purely an artistic choice. The season 18 outfit wouldn't go with nice avocado lettering I wanted.

T-shirt available here.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Take The Lift!


I guess I'd better post this.
TARDIS Newsroom was nice enough to feature it, and later Life Doctor Who & Combom featured it as well.
If I'd known it was going to get so much kind attention, I would have spent a little more time on the art.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

TARDIS Tavern logo


So I reworked the logo for the TARDIS Tavern podcast. Have you heard them? They're fantastic.
I just did the caricatures and tinkered with the background by the way, full credit to whoever designed their original "shield" logo.
You can hear the drunken duo, Sean and Steve, on the TARDIS Tavern website at http://tardistavern.libsyn.com/
-or through the Doctor Who Podcast Alliance site - http://www.doctorwhopodcastalliance.org/
Or if you'd like a desktop wallpaper version of the new logo, it's available on their Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=263919690784

Friday, February 25, 2011

My new prize possession

The postcard I designed for Gallifrey One signed by the Fifth Doctor himself, Peter Davison!
Just wow!
I wanted to get him to sign it, but I didn't understand how the autograph procedure at Gally worked, until it was to late. I missed my chance.
Steve, from the TARDIS Tavern podcast, came to the rescue and got it signed for me. What a great guy.
Thanks so very much Steve!
If you aren't familiar with Sean and Steve, check out their hilarious Doctor Who podcast; The TARDIS Tavern, HERE


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Exiled to Earth


digital art - Done by request of and featured in the Doctor Who fanzine Rassilon's Rod.
- check it out!
click on picture for a 16x9 desktop wallpaper version.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Rassilon's Rod Issue 3
is now available to buy! You lucky people!

Christmas Carol assessed
The Third Doctor
Delgado
Matrix Data Wank - your queries answered by Salateen and Chellak
Opening Nights - what makes a good first episode
Reconstructed - fan recons and The Web Of Fear
The Krotons part 3
Philip Hinchcliffe's Production Notes
plus toons and daft gubbins

20 pages, A4
UK
'Gift' £1.50 by paypal to davidmacgowan@hotmail.com

REST OF WORLD
'Gift' £3 by paypal to davidmacgowan@hotmail.com


Monday, January 31, 2011

Year of the Pigbin

After two years in the making, it's finally here!
The Year of the Pigbin Calendar - 2011 (Destitute in Dungeness)


This series of watercolors, charcoal drawings and ink washes chronicle the misadventures of a deranged scrap collector wandering in a bleak and miserable wasteland.
-
It's a little silly, but it's no slap-dash product. Each lovingly created picture is reproduced in 300 dpi resolution with full bleed printing.
All your friends and coworkers will say "oohhh arrrgh!" when they see your unrelentingly dreary Year of the Pigbin calendar.