AW PRUNES! by Larry Levine and Lynne Welkey

MOVED TO AWPRUNES.COM

2012-01-14T07:56:00.005-05:00

2012

2012-01-12T22:44:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL GUEST VOICE

2011-11-15T06:01:00.000-05:00

TIME FOR SCHOOL

2011-10-25T14:49:00.000-04:00

Opening background art of Dewey & LI'l Lynne's school.

SCHOOL BAND

2011-10-24T19:27:00.000-04:00

CHERL CHASE RECORDING SESSION 2

2011-10-14T00:13:00.000-04:00

RUSSELL CALABRESE

2011-10-12T17:49:00.001-04:00

CHERYL CHASE RECORDING SESSION

2011-10-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

CHERYL CHASE VOICES

2011-09-18T22:53:00.001-04:00

MEET CHERYL CHASE

2010-11-16T11:09:00.008-05:00

Voice actress Cheryl Chase creates the voices of Dewey, Li'l Lynne, Meowy and Ms Pop in the AW PRUNES! pilot. Cheryl is best known for her voice work on REN & STIMPY and most famously as Angelica Pickles on THE RUGRATS.

Cheryl now has an Official Facebook Fan Page, please check it out to see what else she's up to: Click Here

CONCEPT DRAWING OF THE BELLHOP (Voiced by Russell Calabrese)

2010-04-03T19:42:00.001-04:00

CHERYL CHASE AS DEWEY

2010-02-11T00:37:00.004-05:00

Cheryl Chase voices Dewey, along with Li'l Lynne, Meowy, Katie, Ms Pop (and a few surprises) in the AW PRUNES! Cartoon Pilot.

AW PRUNES!The Official Website of Dewey & Li'l Lynne

OSCAR THE PUPPY & SANTA

2009-12-31T16:32:00.001-05:00

MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE 2009

2009-11-26T15:01:00.000-05:00

RUDY THE CAT: FALL UPDATE

2009-11-09T01:22:00.001-05:00

Rudy the Cat has a new cousin...
...Oscar, age 8 weeks

Photos (c) 2009 by Lynne Marie

RUDY THE CAT: JUNE UPDATE

2009-06-13T14:04:00.003-04:00

Rudy is still enjoying his new bed...
...and STILL hamming it up for the camera!!!
Photos (c) 2009 Lynne Marie

THE LATEST IN PEASANT ATTIRE

2009-06-12T10:47:00.002-04:00

Final model sheet for Li'l Lynne's PEASANT DREAMS attire.

GO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

2009-06-02T17:07:00.004-04:00

Background/lighting test for PEASANT DREAMS.

MAIN FLOOR

2009-06-01T02:42:00.003-04:00

Here's the background that follows the WATCH THAT FIRST STEP... post.

LIFE OF THE PARTY

2009-05-31T17:10:00.000-04:00

I was going through some DVD files & stumbled upon this oldie.

(Click Image to Full Size)

KING OF TERMITE TERRACE

2009-05-31T01:13:00.002-04:00

AW PRUNES! IS NOW ON FACEBOOK

2009-05-30T14:09:00.004-04:00

If you're on Facebook, please visit the new AW PRUNES! Fan Page. You can find the link under 'My Other AW PRUNES! Sites'.

WATCH THAT FIRST STEP...IT'S A LOO LOO

2009-05-28T07:23:00.003-04:00

Again, sorry for the recent shortage of new posts :(

Here's the link to the (almost finished) new website for a sneak preview: (click)

A LESS THAN HUMBLE PEASANT (plus updates)

2009-05-17T22:51:00.017-04:00

Sorry for the lack of new posts, still hard at work finishing PEASANT DREAMS. I retired AW PRUNES! on Comics Sherpa after a 3 year run & about ready to launch the new website. STAY TOONED for the official announcement!!!

I have another all-nighter awaiting...nite, folks.

BEING A PRINCESS IS HARD WORK

2009-05-03T09:59:00.002-04:00

Testing the final background art for Li'l Lynne's tower in PEASANT DREAMS.

THE DRAGON WENT THATAWAY

2009-05-01T07:36:00.003-04:00

A BEDROOM WITH A VIEW

2009-04-20T02:02:00.000-04:00

Following up to an earlier post, here is the final background art for Li'l Lynne's bedroom in PEASANT DREAMS.

DEFEAT OF STRENGTH

2009-03-31T16:29:00.005-04:00

Here is the first time I drew Li'l Lynne back in 2003, three years before I launched AW PRUNES! on Comics Sherpa. The strip originally focused on Dewey and his explosive relationships with his older sister Katie & her bratty cat Meows. This is a colorized version that I later posted on Sherpa.

(Click Image to Full Size)

Here's Li'l Lynne six years later (and amazingly still only six years old) testing the background art for her bedroom in PEASANT DREAMS.

CHEAP EATS

2009-03-31T07:03:00.003-04:00

Here's a 'tasty' strip from AW PRUNES! early Sherpa days.

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IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING NICE

2009-03-28T05:33:00.003-04:00

The last post showcased an older strip with the occasionally seen Pecky (who will appear in PEASANT DREAMS), here's another strip of the same vintage with Dewey's seldom seen older sister Katie (who will resurface in HOME SCHOOLIN').

(Click Image to Full Size)

AIR PECKY

2009-03-25T07:04:00.003-04:00

Here's yet another early AW PRUNES!, though not as old as the ones I've recently posted. Here the characters look pretty much as they do today, though the backgrounds are still slightly less detailed than the Tower of Termite Terrace posts.

(Click Image to Full Size)

TOWER OF TERMITE TERRACE II

2009-03-24T07:06:00.003-04:00

Following-up last week's post, here's an exterior background test of Li'l Lynne's castle for PEASANT DREAMS. Li'l Lynne is hand-drawn/inked, the castle & sky are digitally created and the mountain is a photograph by Lynne Marie that I 'cartooned-up' on Photoshop.

BEEP BEEP

2009-03-23T07:51:00.006-04:00

Recently I've been posting early pre-Comics Sherpa AW PRUNES! strips, here's one of the first that I drew specifically for Sherpa & the first of several with a special nod to Chuck Jones.

(Click Image to Full Size)

For those wondering about the Crawford reference, that was the named of Chuck's syndicated comic strip:
http://www.cartoonresearch.com/crawford1.jpg

RAISING THE PROPERTY VALUE

2009-03-19T23:43:00.004-04:00

Here's a follow-up to the PEASANT DREAMS background test of Li'l Lynne's front yard.
As you can see I've built up the property up since posting this earlier version.

WHAT'S FOR SUPPER?

2009-03-19T08:07:00.004-04:00

Digital background test (sofa was hand-drawn) for Li'l Lynne's foyer in PEASANT DREAMS.

THE NICEST THING I'VE EVER BEEN CALLED

2009-03-19T00:01:00.002-04:00

BULLY

2009-03-18T13:02:00.017-04:00

Here's another early strip, which I later colorized & posted on Sherpa. It's interesting for me to rediscover how minimal the backgrounds were in the early days compared to my current work.

(Click Image to Full Size)

It's also interesting to see how 'less polished' the characters looked back then (though Li'l Lynne & Dewey look pretty close to current model in the 2nd panel).

Chuck Jones noted about reaching a point where he stopped drawing pictures of Bugs Bunny & began DRAWING Bugs Bunny. By late 2006 I began feeling the same way with Dewey, Li'l Lynne & the gang and they began looking pretty much as they do today.

THE (would be) LION KING

2009-03-18T09:08:00.008-04:00

Don't forget to look for Rudy the Cat's cameo in PEASANT DREAMS.Rudy originally demanded too high a fee to appear but we finally reached an agreement....being offered control of the TV remote for two weeks was JUST too tempting for him to pass up!

Photos by Lynne Marie
2nd photo (c) 2009 by Lynne Marie

TOWER OF TERMITE TERRACE

2009-03-17T00:13:00.003-04:00

Digital background test (work in progress) for PEASANT DREAMS.

I HATE WHEN THE CHARACTERS GET INTO MY STUFF

2009-03-16T15:02:00.002-04:00

GLUTTON FOR GLUTEN

2009-03-16T08:14:00.002-04:00

I'm addicted to bread, which I admit to with no shame. Here's an early strip which focuses on Dewey's passion for the stuff.

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HOT LUNCH

2009-03-11T10:42:00.003-04:00

Here's another early Sherpa strip.

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GO TO YOUR ROOM

2009-03-09T19:20:00.004-04:00

Early in PEASANT DREAMS Li'l Lynne is sent to her room for tracking mud into the house (yet again). Here is the final background art for her bedroom..
..and a test shot with Li'l Lynne.

HOPPING 101

2009-03-06T11:01:00.001-05:00

(Click Image to Full Size)

BLUE SKIES & CLOUDY DREAMS

2009-03-01T06:42:00.007-05:00

Here's the completed title card art for PEASANT DREAMS.

LI'L LYNNE & LITTLE LYNNE

2009-02-27T18:31:00.002-05:00

NATURE CAT

2009-02-24T06:50:00.002-05:00

DEDICATED TO TERMITE TERRACE

2009-02-23T14:23:00.006-05:00

PEASANT DREAMS is dedicated to all the residents of Termite Terrace (excluding the actual termites). This is the background for the opening shot.. ..which contains the first of several nods to Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng, Bob Clampett & far too many others to begin listing here.

KUNG FU LI'L LYNNE

2009-02-21T21:49:00.006-05:00

In the upcoming HATS OFF, after the girls at ballet school tease Li'l Lynne about her less than graceful moves----she shows off a few she learned at karate school.

THINGS ARE HOPPING

2009-02-20T08:07:00.003-05:00

Sorry for not posting this week, been VERY busy drawing (and resolving a software problem).

I LIKE TO SAVE THE BEGINNING FOR LAST

2009-02-06T15:08:00.010-05:00

Here's a rough color drawing of Li'l Lynne layered onto the finished title card background for PEASANT DREAMS.
There were several concept designs, but once the story was completed it became clear this one worked best (plus I liked it's simplicity & classic cartoon look).Next step is to hand ink the original rough, color it on Photoshop & merge the layer with the background.

RUDY'S LIFE OF LEISURE

2009-02-05T19:58:00.007-05:00

YOU ATE A MOUTHFUL

2009-02-01T20:18:00.003-05:00

Here is an early AW PRUNES! strip from 2005 (a year later I added color & ran it on Comics Sherpa). Back then Dewey (briefly) had a neck and Li'l Lynne's name was minus the Li'l.

(Click Image to Full Size)

INTRODUCING PUGGA

2009-01-31T18:21:00.010-05:00

It's my pleasure to introduce Pugga, the latest addition to AW PRUNES! (look for him in the upcoming LUNCHTIME FOR TWINKLE).

As you can see, Rudy the Cat was more than happy to pose for a publicity photo with his new co-star.Photography by Lynne Marie

NEW CHUCK JONES BLOG

2009-01-28T10:55:00.008-05:00

Craig Kausen, president of Linda Jones Enterprises, Inc. has launched an excellent new blog devoted to his legendary grandfather Chuck Jones & the wonderful galleries that bears his name.

Check out Chuck Redux here: http://blog.chuckjones.com/

With Craig at the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity booth, 2007 NY ArtExpo

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity also has a new blog. You can find NOW HARE THIS here: http://blog.chuckjones.com/now_hare_this/

EVERY STORY NEEDS AN OPENING SCENE

2009-01-24T20:07:00.005-05:00

Concept art for PEASANT DREAMS (opening scene).

TOOTHLESSLY SERIOUS

2009-01-21T11:48:00.001-05:00

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RUDY UPDATE

2009-01-17T11:29:00.004-05:00

DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS

2009-01-16T07:16:00.001-05:00

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PEASANT DREAMS UPDATE

2009-01-08T08:56:00.005-05:00

Due to creative differences, Bud Beaver has left PEASANT DREAMS. Here's a concept sketch of his replacement.

THAT'S THE YEAST OF MY TROUBLES

2009-01-05T01:37:00.002-05:00

(Click Image to Full Size)

2009

2008-12-31T09:33:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year!!!

ON THE MOVE

2008-12-29T01:06:00.008-05:00

AW PRUNES! will shortly be moving to a new site. Improved features will include larger images, click-free animated strips & stories including PEASANT DREAMS (oh, did I mention LARGER images?).

Until the move I will continue posting here so please don't go anywhere.

Dewey in PEASANT DREAMS

Stay Tooned

SEASON'S GREETINGS

2008-12-25T06:26:00.000-05:00

BILL MELENDEZ & SNOOPY

2008-12-24T06:35:00.003-05:00

Meeting Bill Melendez for the first time at the 2004 NYC ArtExpo--in my excitement I forgot to take the ol' hat off for the pics....which I remembered to do the following year!

THE FACTS OF LUCK

2008-12-12T00:05:00.003-05:00

GOOD CAT(CH)

2008-12-07T10:30:00.005-05:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING (2008)

2008-11-27T15:24:00.006-05:00

I went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this morning & ran into several of my favorite (larger than life) characters.

Here are a few pics I snapped at the festivities--Happy Thanksgiving!!!

NOVEMBER 18, 1989

2008-11-17T23:55:00.018-05:00

Nineteen years ago today I met my idol Chuck Jones at the Central Park debut of the Bugs Bunny Thanksgiving balloon. I didn't know he was going to be there & regrettably didn't have a camera with me (this was long before camera phones).

A decade or so later I acquired this photo of Chuck at Circle Gallery posing with an enlarged image of the Central Park event (Circle had hired a photographer for the balloon festivities/gallery show) .

Along with the photo, I received a signed dedication from Chuck to frame with it. I can't think of a better way to remember that incredible day.

PEASANT DREAMS: CONCEPT DRAWINGS, STORYBOARDS & OTHER SILLY DOODLES

2008-11-12T09:32:00.021-05:00

Dewey in his peasant attire

Li'l LynneRoyal Nurse TwinkleDewey the Peasant

The Cave sceneBud facing the music Bud Beaver (hand inked & ready for Photoshop)Dewey eavesdropping

Bud doing some eavesdropping of his own

Storyboard featuring The Sorcerer, Li'l Lynne & Dewey
A less than humble peasant

A somewhat bewildered looking SorcererStumped

Test design for the title cards

SHORT STORY/LONG TAIL

2008-11-07T07:51:00.003-05:00

Coming Soon!!!

THE RELUCTANT PRINCESS (Updated)

2008-10-30T14:44:00.009-04:00

More concept art from PEASANT DREAMS:

CG Background test of Li'l Lynne's house

Rough Sketch of Princess Li'l Lynne
Li'l Lynne seems much happier being a peasant

A TEST THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE A SHARPENED NO. 2 PENCIL (though a 4B came in rather handy)

2008-10-23T19:06:00.015-04:00

In designing PEASANT DREAMS I created several color, lighting & texture tests to insure the hand-drawn characters and CG backgrounds mesh correctly.

Here's a test with Dewey & Bud Beaver in the Sorcerer's dungeon.

EVERY FAIRY TALE (especially a satirical one) NEEDS A NAUGHTY VILLAIN

2008-10-21T08:47:00.009-04:00

Along with meeting Bud Beaver, Dewey & Li'l Lynne will cross paths with another colorful character (in this case a green one) in PEASANT DREAMS, I'm pleased to introduce AW PRUNES! first resident villain--don't let the smile fool ya!!!

INTRODUCING BUD BEAVER

2008-10-15T18:54:00.010-04:00

Part of the fun in doing PEASANT DREAMS is transporting the regular cast to a different setting and introducing them to characters they normally wouldn't meet. One of these 'guest stars' is Bud Beaver (who seems a bit bewildered working with Dewey).

FEEDIN' RUDY (Archival Edition)

2008-10-13T15:32:00.042-04:00

FEEDIN' RUDY is an oldie that originally ran (in strip format) on Comics Sherpa. A few months ago I decided to remake it because my drawing style & Photoshop skills matured since then, plus I wanted to expand the story (especially leading up to Dewey's 'encounter' with Rudy).

Short Version: My old computer died--I lost all of the new art & the old Rudy photos--so here's the original ARCHIVAL EDITION with new title card art (the only thing I had backed on CD).

PS: There's a wave of NEW AW PRUNES! on the way including PEASANT DREAMS, HOME SCHOOLIN', KOOKY KITTY & PUGS ARE MADE OF CHEESE.

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

(Click Images to Full Size)

HAPPY 59th ANNIVERSARY TO THE ROAD RUNNER & WILE E. COYOTE

2008-09-16T13:29:00.005-04:00

September 16, 2008

Seems like they turned 50 only yesterday.

DEWEY GOES TO CAMP

2008-09-10T09:50:00.009-04:00

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

This originally ran in strip form on Comics Sherpa during the summer of 2006 & was 'tweaked' in 2007 when I reran it during the Labor Day weekend, adding new material/deleting some old stuff.

Click pages to full size:

(Click Images to Full Size)

GOTHIC EMPIRE

2008-09-10T02:08:00.006-04:00

This was taken by my friend Lynne Marie. Lynne is a very talented photographer & this photo is my personal favorite.

THERE IS NO PLEASING SOME PEOPLE (or cats)

2008-09-09T15:14:00.005-04:00

$300 worth of groceries in the fridge & Meows still has a (fish) bone to pick!

BILL MELENDEZ @ WORK

2008-09-05T19:14:00.009-04:00

Here is a series of photos I took of Bill Melendez at the 2004 NYC ArtExpo doing what he did best--being a cartoonist. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then hopefully seven will fully express the respect & admiration I have for this brilliant cartoonist/animator/animation director.

BILL MELENDEZ 1916-2008

2008-09-04T00:26:00.010-04:00

September 3, 2008

(Bill last year at the NYC ArtExpo)

The loss of Bill Melendez hits on so many levels. Bill was part of animation history: whether it’s Disney, Warner Bros, UPA, television's earliest animated commercials or the Peanuts specials & feature films we have all grown up with–Bill was there (both in creating these classic cartoons & fighting for the rights of his fellow animators).

Most importantly, we have lost a true gentleman. I had the honor of meeting Bill several times & he was the real deal, the nicest person you would ever want to meet.

Rest in peace, Bill.

BACK IN ACTION

2008-08-25T19:13:00.017-04:00

On August 15th my trusty computer died, resulting in the loss of an old friend..and A LOT of (still in progress) artwork!!! After the slow process of patching my Windows XP software to become Vista friendly, I'm redoing the lost work & back to finishing "Peasant Dreams".

Here's a test image I did of the King to make sure the software was functioning properly.

CHUCK JONES & PROXY

2008-08-11T11:25:00.028-04:00

Here's a photo with my idol Chuck Jones. Though I was 3,000 miles away, this minor detail wasn't going to stand in the way of having my pic taken with him.

Besides, Chuck Jones posing with my self-caricature easily beats actually being in the photo!!!

Sneak Peek: "PEASANT DREAMS"

2008-08-05T22:40:00.023-04:00

AW PRUNES! ode to animated cartoons (past & present) is in the editing room--actually, it's in Photoshop & will be posted very shortly. Stay tooned!!!

PS: I'm using the png format for the first time which offers sharper color resolution than the jpgs I usually post.

COSTUME EPIC

2008-06-04T12:47:00.004-04:00

"FEEDIN' RUDY" TITLE CARD

2008-05-09T23:08:00.002-04:00

(Click Image to Enlarge)

HAPPY CARTOONIST DAY 2008

2008-05-05T15:39:00.007-04:00

May 5, 2008

Remember to hug your favorite cartoon character today!

ACME DIAMOND

2008-05-03T11:06:00.003-04:00

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

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2nd SET of PAW PRINTS

2008-04-15T16:51:00.008-04:00

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

(Click Images to Full Size)

OLLIE JOHNSTON 1912-2008

2008-04-15T16:42:00.024-04:00

April 15th, 2008

Frank Thomas & Ollie Johnston

What can a person say when a personal hero passes away? Ollie Johnston, the last of Walt Disney's Nine Old Men passed away yesterday at the age of 95.

Ollie Johnston's legacy will forever continue to capture people's imaginations, inspire future generations of cartoonists & most importantly--make all of us smile.

Here are a few excellent links & tributes:

Cartoon Brew: Ollie Johnston 1912-2008

John Canemaker

The Disney Company on Ollie Johnston

DAWG TIRED (Click to Animate)

2008-01-25T02:14:00.016-05:00

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

(Click to Animate)

EXTRA!! EXTRA!!

2008-01-23T19:19:00.003-05:00

The GAYLORD (MI) HERALD-TIMES has recommended a selection of webcomics to follow in 2008, one of 'em being AW PRUNES!

Link: Gaylord Herald Times - Archive Search Results - OUT OF THE INK BOTTLE: Something New!!!

GRAVITY OF DEWEY'S SITUATION

2007-11-26T06:56:00.001-05:00

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

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TAKE TWO PICKLES & CALL ME IN THE MORNING

2007-11-08T14:11:00.002-05:00

(Click Image to Full Size)

EYE BEFORE Z (Click to Animate)

2007-11-02T17:28:00.001-04:00

LEAF IT TO DEWEY

2007-06-27T11:01:00.000-04:00

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BORROWED GRIN

2007-02-21T01:45:00.001-05:00

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LATEST BUZZ

2007-02-13T21:26:00.002-05:00

Comics Sherpa Editor's Pick

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HERE'S THE SCOOP

2007-02-11T23:34:00.001-05:00

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