Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Blast from the Past #11 repost: "The Art of Mirage Studios"

This makes me kind of sad to think about. “The Art of Mirage Studios” was a project that I put a lot of work into, back in the early 1990's, and which -- for a variety of reasons -- never quite came together. It was to be a hardcover “coffee table” type book featuring representative samples of artwork by the various artists at Mirage Studios, along with short bios of each artist and some candid photos. For the cover, I drew this black and white rough...



...which I then split up into eight overlapping segments. The segments were distributed among the artists to be finished in their individual styles, and the only rule was that they had to keep the basic positioning and shape of the turtle(s) in each section.



After everyone had finished their segments, I composited them together. Below, from left to right: Steve Lavigne, Eric Talbot, Dan Berger, Mike Dooney, Ryan Brown, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird, and Jim Lawson. It’s too bad this project didn’t see print... it would have been a neat book. -- PL

21 comments:

  1. If Steve is reading, and did the first one of Leo in all blue on the left, I'd LOVE to see a rendition like that of all four turtles battling Shredder and Krang/Bebop and Rocksteady.

    IF we ever got a new book on the old show, they should look like that ;)..

    This piece would make a great framed art for the 25th at the very least..

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  2. Incredible! It's like the Dream Team, except for the TMNT instead of basketball. It's a shame that the artbook never got off the ground, but I agree with Neil. This image should be incorporated into the 25th anniversary somehow.

    BTW Peter, I got my "Four Reptiles And A Rodent" portfolio and I'm totally digging it. You, Dan, and Steve did a bang up job. Thanks again for making some of the extras available for purchase online.

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  3. -->> ..just exactly how far into the process,planning and production did this book go ?!

    Just the cover ??

    >v<

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  4. "~ tOkKa said...
    -->> ..just exactly how far into the process,planning and production did this book go ?!

    Just the cover ?? "

    I had actually created a layout for most of the book, collected a bunch of art (in photocopy form) from the artists, and a writer friend of mine had written short bios of everyone involved. All of this stuff is sitting in folders in my office right now... it's been there, gathering dust, since the project fell apart. -- PL

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  5. -->> damm that's a shame.

    Maybe in time this project could be resurrected, updated, reconfigured and reconstructed ?? ( or maybe not, the circumstances involved may be be beyond my understanding )


    .. like the prior posts indicate tho' , this is a dream book.

    >v<

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  6. Why not bring the book project back to life? It sounds great!

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  7. I'm with buslady on this one.

    Putting this out would be simply amazing. If anything Peter, I'd love to see a print version available of that print.

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  8. A total shame that this didnt see print. I would have loved to have this on my coffee table. Someone ought to be writing about the studio.

    I've actually always wondered why no one wrote a book about the turtles fandom, and phenomenon. There's been some really great work along this line for the big 2 (Dc and Marvel) and Anime too. I'd buy it.

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  9. Well if it makes you feel any better Peter, your piece is my favorite of the lot.

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  10. "PL said...
    I had actually created a layout for most of the book, collected a bunch of art (in photocopy form) from the artists, and a writer friend of mine had written short bios of everyone involved. All of this stuff is sitting in folders in my office right now... it's been there, gathering dust, since the project fell apart. -- PL
    "

    Post everything at ninjaturtles.com

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  11. Yeah I'm with the rest perhaps it's time to fix the past & maybe a bit of the present as well.
    -Vaughn M.

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  12. While I too feel like this project should see the light of day, I don't think it should be in this format. With the 25th on horizon and just from the few things I'm aware of personally that are in the works. I simply don't think there's enough time in the day to get everything accomplished.

    Also (and unfortunately) I don't believe there is a big enough audience for this book in it's present form any longer. I DO however think that a 25th TMNT retrospective (with all the content from this proposed book) would be able to get a broad enough appeal that it would a. hopefully make back the $ and time put into it. and b. finally be a historical retelling of all the TMNT history but those who made it happen. It could also serve as a sort of faux-Laird autobiography (which is something I've always been waiting for BTW).

    Anyways the content definitely needs to be released, but in a means that can actually get some attention. Even though Mirage hired that firm to handle the PR for the 25th, I still think Mirage needs to do as much as they can on the publishing front to make things special.

    Also another idea do some crossover material with NECA and/or Playmates ex: Free comics, posters, whatever. It could only serve to help get the Mirage name back out there. I really think one of things that hurts TMNT these days is that the property is more synonymous with 4kids and Playmates, and not nearly enough with Mirage.


    ...just my two cents, probably for what their worth. :^)

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  13. /-\ [) @ (\/) said...
    "Also another idea do some crossover material with NECA and/or Playmates ex: Free comics, posters, whatever. It could only serve to help get the Mirage name back out there. I really think one of things that hurts TMNT these days is that the property is more synonymous with 4kids and Playmates, and not nearly enough with Mirage."


    I believe there needs to be at least three internal divisions at Mirage, one to spearhead the revitalization and development of the Mirage Comics, another to cater to the OT fandom, and one to watch over the kid related portion of the franchise.

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  14. I definitely agree with many others here that the material should see light again in one form or another, even if it is digitally on the screen...

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  15. HEY! Mr. Laird, it is great to have such an easy access to you. Thank you very much for taking your time to do this blog. You are an incredible artist, and you bet you have a fan here.
    I never wrote to you before, but I find this one piece of art very accurate for me to write, because it is simply a masterpiece.
    If you have the time, can you answer me this: I live in Puerto Rico, and I have no copies of any of the comics of the turtles, as a comic fan, (And most defenitely a TMNT fan), I was wondering when are the 25th anniversary versins are coming out, and exactly what will they include?? And also, will I be able to find them here in Puerto Rico?? Thanks for the time!! Your fan, Alkunkunka .
    P.D If any of the guys that post know the answer to this, please let me know as well! Thanx!

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  16. AAAAAUGH, this would be a fantastic little collector's item to have. If you still have all the files, maybe we'll see it completed in the future?
    -Wil Brendel

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  17. Wow, it sounds to me that you got very close to making the book a reality. What a shame a gem like that must sit on the wayside. I would certainly buy a copy or two!

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  18. Don't give up Peter.

    That's what this BLOG should be for.
    If you don't think the book will ever happen. Cause that's how it's sounding. Then please, SCAN IN a little at a time, a post them here.

    I think us loyal turtle fans, should still see the HARD WORK you guys put into it.

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  19. I love the way this turned out. You can really see each artist shine.

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