Aircraft graffiti has never looked better - A 1UP classic from February 15, 2010

Happy President's Day amigos! How was your weekend? What did you get up to? Did you enjoy Valentines Day? What about the Lunar New Year? Happy Year of the Tiger to my friends! The opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics was pretty classy. Too bad that there was a problem with the indoor cauldron but that was nothing compared to the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili on the luge track. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

My weekend is still going on. I am enjoying the time spent with my gals. We went to the Japanese bookstore and Korean market. There's always something good to be had at both places.

I picked up a real gem at the bookstore. Writer / artist Nobuo "Nob" Shimoda has published a few books with Kojinsha. Nob's Aircraft Graffiti are volumes of illustrations and notes on the various aircraft through history. The majority in the books are military planes but there are great pieces on service planes, helicopters, ultralights and various other craft.You don't have to be a fan of aircraft to get caught up in Nob's illustrations. Each plane is presented in a cartoon, almost "super deformed" format. Similar to the great Dave Deal and in particular his plane cartoon art.

Nob is only far more prolific in his work as he has amassed hundreds of illustrations in the books. In fact I have to order the third book in the series now that I think about it. Each of these books is a treasure trove for cartoonists and artists looking to expand their repertoire. Nob is very subtle with his proportions, the aircraft are very detailed and still very recognizable despite their shortened proportions.

Animators, like those that worked on TaleSpin could have learned so much by studying Nob's work and game designers like those that worked on the Snoopy vs Red Baron games would have had an easier time making their planes cartoonish if they had seen what a master artist had already done with vintage aircraft. Heck, the applications for this type of art can be used just about anywhere. Even in toy design Nob's proportions could have inspired Rohby's Bomber Zero.

Now if you will excuse me, I have games to play and laundry to get taken care of. Have a great Monday and I'll see you soon. Also you artists out there, try to track down a copy of Nob's books. You wont be disappointed.

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