Illustrator on the loose

Naughty Giraffe

2011-11-07T13:19:00.001-08:00

This little one with its tongue out is (I think) the last character...look for some floral prints next.

Hungry Panda

2011-11-07T12:09:00.001-08:00

And it all began with Billy and his zoo. This panda was inspired by a piece I did in school for a childrens book called Invisibilly.

Bunny Hop

2011-11-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

More to choose from blue or green? Hmmmm....

Milky Kitty

2011-11-05T13:29:00.001-07:00

Okay this one is going to be tough for me to pick because I had two brother cats. One orange tabby and one black & white tuxedo and one day my black boy ran away from home (where I am sure is being loved like the only child he's always wanted to be). I have to choose just one for my project but I might have sneak both in cause they're so darn cute!

Bubbly Elephant

2011-11-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

More kids art.

Untitled Magazine Stills...#1 #2 #3

2011-11-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

Awwww....here are the pieces I did the summer of 2010 for my first solo show in Portland. They were made in my makeshift bedroom studio on a long wall. Originally there were four but then came a deadline and I only finished this tryptic. Last weekend at WonderRoot in Atlanta I had pleasure to be part of a female artist roundtable with special guest Kathleen Hanna. Thankfully because of this I finally took bad photos of these pieces to share and now be able to post.

Sea Pirates

2011-11-04T14:53:00.001-07:00

This print by far is my favorite. Keep on rolling....

Space Bunny PJs

2011-11-04T12:04:00.001-07:00

This is what my cute little space bunny would look like on some pjs.

Yummy Jelly

2011-11-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

Some cute jellyfish characters. I'll take the one on the right in the middle...please.

Lady Bugs All Around

2011-11-04T10:10:00.001-07:00

Here is one of the patterns I had to create for my kids project.

Nutty Squirrely

2011-11-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

An exercise in cute girl squirrels for my kids project.

All Bowed Up

2011-11-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

I picked the one I'm using for the project. I added a bow to make her look more like a girl robot.

Awwww....Robot Love

2011-11-03T11:10:00.001-07:00

Which one of these things aren't like the other? Well actually none of them are...it's just an exercise I am doing to pick the best robot...I'll take the one on the bottom left.

Space Rabbit

2011-10-25T15:16:00.001-07:00

Bunnies in space. With or without the galaxy cutting through?

Kids Tree

2011-10-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

Some more kids graphics I've been playing with.

Robot Love

2011-10-21T15:47:00.001-07:00

Crude attempt to sketch my robot in Ai. More to come.

Under the Sea

2011-10-21T14:53:00.001-07:00

More cute creatures for my kids portfolio.

Dancing All Around

2011-10-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Dancing bunny, squirrel and cat. An exercise I did to build a kids focused portfolio to shop myself around to companies like Carters, Osh Kosh and the Childrens Place. Painted cut paper inspired by artist Timothy Karpinski. I love these little girl images.

The Devil and Mr. Gorbachev

2011-09-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

Devil heads, quick roughs of the idea of the Gorbachev having ties with the devil. The finished black and white piece soon to be a published piece for Bard College in New York.

A few pages out of the 84 for the Sketchbook Project

2011-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Here a some of the pages from my sketchbook. That yes I waited to the last minute to finish about 80% of the book. If you would like to see it posted in it's entirety check out my blog just for it. If you want to see it live and in person check out the dates for the tour.
The book cover, Mermaid, You Are a Soul, Mad Hatter, Dee and Dum

A few pages out of the 84 for the Sketchbook Project

2011-01-22T13:14:00.001-08:00

Creative Process, Hello Goodbye, Hap and Sid, Crown of Love, New York Titties

A few pages out of the 84 for the Sketchbook Project

2011-01-22T13:10:00.001-08:00

Wine List, Empty Sky, Tiana the Pirate Girl, I Don't Love You Anymore, Roxanne,

A few pages out of the 84 for the Sketchbook Project

2011-01-22T13:04:00.001-08:00

Gone with the Wind, 20/20, Calendar, Whenever the Light Shines Through, What happened to Us?

Tree Line

2010-10-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

More digital images...
Still not sure how I feel that some of my illustrations have passed over to the digital stage. It may good for me in the long run but I prefer the squiggle of my pencil line.
Some thoughts on the proposal for the ODS holiday window display.

Oregon Home Illustration

2010-09-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!! Here is my first official published piece!! With a wonderfully large byline.

3rd Street Grill Web Site

2010-09-17T09:55:00.001-07:00

Here is the web site I did for Consumer Multimedia for their client
3rd Street Grill out of Ramona, CA. This is my first web site illustration and my first fully digital illustration.

The Sketchbook Project

2010-08-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

My good friend and fellow illustrator Laura of Greener Bee out of Cleveland, OH and I are participating in The Sketchbook Project.

We are so excited about it because we are doing it together by sharing a blog and posting what we have created. Check it out at Art In Transit

Solo Show at Swift Lounge invite

2010-06-30T09:57:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow night July 1st at Swift is my second Portland solo show. Gosh, I am now a true local artist and it feeeeeeeellllsssss GOOD!!
It starts at 8pm ~ there will be laughing, dancing, happiness and of course my art.

On the wall at Urban Grind (NE)

2010-06-01T22:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the "show stoppers" at my first Portland solo show at Urban Grind Coffeehouse. The three on paper are the pieces I did for the show, the rest (to come) are from the last few years. The octopus sits nicely unveiled by the Blue Velvet curtains (that one goes out to you Dennis Hopper). The show is on Friday, June 4th 2010.

IF: Early

2010-05-26T23:47:00.001-07:00

I found these bird screen prints done in 2004 while looking for some art to donate. I donated on of these prints plus another painting to Project Grow's Silent Auction, May 23rd. All proceeds went to building a yurt for visiting artists on their North Portland farm.

Solo Show at Urban Grind (NE) invite

2010-05-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

1st solo show in Portland. Me and Portland have always had a good vibe with each other. The first time around, I became a designer at Nike within the first year of moving here in the mid '90s. My second time around (after being gone for 10 years), is my first solo art show within the first year moving back. Along, with two more shows lined up for this summer and fall (keep ya posted on those).

Nostalgia

2010-05-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

Funny with me and heirlooms...is that I would rather have a bowling trophy and an old peanut butter jar that my grandma used to put brown sugar in. Things like china cabinets filled with china or sparkly jewelry I could care less about. My elderly grandparents are starting the process of handing off their memories ~ which is so bittersweet. Thanks for the jar grandma, it will always have sugar in it at my house.

A&S first coat

2010-05-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

It's now inked and has the first layer of washes on it. It reminds me of a comic right now. I plan on building up the color of the characters and leaving the background light and washy.

A&S sketches

2010-05-05T11:52:00.000-07:00

There is such a beautiful rawness to a pencil sketch. A part of me always wanting to preserve it ~ which is what makes it hard for me to take it to the next step. Once I start inking it in and erasing the graphite ~ tighting it up and adding paint...all the softness goes away. Please forgive my bad photography once again, there are a lot more plants with shadows in my Portland garden.
This is the start of a painting for my friends Annie and Seth ~ for their wedding.

Liv Ana Altenhofen

2010-05-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

My attempt at being creative with a needle and thread. This embroidery of baby Liv Ana Altenhofen was done for my friend Pam, as a gift at her shower.

IF: Linked

2010-04-11T14:41:00.001-07:00

They all connect in his happy faced dreams.
A illustration not yet complete for an upcoming art show. My IF: Adrift post is the bottom half of this dreamland. To come the finished painting in it entirety.

My 40th Birthday Invite

2010-03-23T21:23:00.000-07:00

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah its my birthday - its my birthday!!

IF: Adrift

2010-02-15T20:32:00.000-08:00

He was floating in a sea like dream of yellow happy faces.

IF: Focused

2010-02-02T21:54:00.001-08:00

How can you stay focused on just one?
A little cluster of owls 6x6.5 in the corner of a 19x25 painting. Just a small piece of the image as a whole. Thought it fit nicely with this weeks IF topic.

Little Face Cards

2009-11-23T15:06:00.001-08:00

Upon arriving in Portland, I decided to make new business cards to pass out to galleries around town. These are the originals painted on vintage pattern tissue, in ink, charcoal, gouache, oil pastel ~ 3.5x2.5. The prints are have my contact info on the back. Here are all six as a group along with my personal favorite. The rest are on the post below.

IF: Music

2009-11-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

Solo Show at Alchemy

2009-11-23T14:51:00.003-08:00

Eddie and the Drunk Octopus from my September show at Alchemy in San Diego. This is the only pic I have of Eddie, he was sold. There are four other charcoal pieces I did specifically for that show. Those images to come once my photographer sister can shoot them. Its about time I got something posted from that show.

Postcards for the Opening

2009-09-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

front

back

Here are the beautiful postcards my friend Sarah Coffman designed for my art opening.
I have my first solo show up at Alchemy Restaurant in the South Park neighborhood of San Diego. The work will be up until October 2nd. The opening is on Monday, September 28th at 8:30pm.
This is all very exciting!!!

Hand Painted Sketch Journals

2009-03-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

Tiana's

Nicole's

Helen's

There is a great little art supply shop in old town San Diego that has blank ~through and through~ journals. I purchased about a dozen to make as holiday gifts for my friends. Yeah, well the holidays have been over for 3 months now and I am still slowly making them. I don't know why it takes me so long to sit down and draw/paint one, because it only takes me about 4 hours to paint the front cover of one. Oh well, each is unique and needs to be produced when the time calls for it.
The first one is a painting of my friend Tiana. That is her actual cute little profile. The middle on is just a model from an ad in W magazine for my friend Nicole. The last one is another model from Nylon magazines fashion photo shoot for my friend Helen. However, the last two are not my actual friends like the first they have similarity to each of the beautiful women I made them for.

IF: Intricate

2009-03-12T13:52:00.001-07:00

This piece started out as a birthday present for my sister. It has inspired me to create an entire series of Alice in Wonderland characters. More to come.....

IF: (Party) Time

2009-02-03T23:47:00.001-08:00

The whole group

My Favorite (yeah I'm keeping it)

A pretty teal one

A plethora of color

YAY!!! Finally after a year and four months I am hosting a party at my house. I have a new roommate, a large kitchen, a dining room set for 8 and a new couch and chair (which I finally purchased after living without furniture for a year because I was being picky).
So I put myself in charge of the invites. I will also clean, shop and prep but thankfully my new roomie is a chef so he will be doing all the cooking (thank god because if it was me no one would ever come back to my house again).
Thanks to my friend Sarah Coffman and Virgil O' Stamps I have been inspired to reuse cereal boxes for the invites. (And yes, Sarah I did get your Cheerios holiday card ~ thank you).
I started with a ink drawing of a map to my place. Printed and cut them all out (26 so far). Pulled out all of the cereal from their boxes and cut them up. With hot pink masking tape I taped maps all individually to the outside part of the box. I took a cut square from a 1970's pattern's tissue for each one and glued it on the inside of the box ~ well once was a box. I painted a few ideas for the actual picture for the invitation. I decided making a stamp would be a faster, more cohesive way of painting I wanted to have for the piece. Although I wasn't expecting it to take me over 2 hours to paint, trace, transfer and then carve out the stamp for the quicker way of going about things. The whole process took about 14 hours but it was a great project and it allowed me to hang out in my studio all day. Listening to music, creating and sharing my space with friends to paint at the same time.
However long the result its fantastic! and I was able to get it to look the way I wanted and roller on several different colors. To share all of them with you.

Dr. Sketchy SD January 09 Session

2009-01-18T10:47:00.000-08:00

Stimul8r as a 70's prize fighter.

IF: Resolve {HAPPY NEW YEAR}

2009-01-03T15:34:00.001-08:00

Wow! Resolve has so much meaning. I hope everyone has great success with all their resolutions this year. Happy 2009 :)

re·solve
Pronunciation:
\ri-ˈzälv, -ˈzȯlv also -ˈzäv or -ˈzȯv\
Function:
verb
Inflected Form(s):
re·solved; re·solv·ing
Etymology:
Middle English, from Latin resolvere to unloose, dissolve, from re- + solvere to loosen, release — more at solve
Date:
14th century
transitive verb
1obsolete : dissolve , melt
2 a: break up , separate ; also : to change by disintegration b: to reduce by analysis c: to distinguish between or make independently visible adjacent parts of d: to separate (a racemic compound or mixture) into the two components
3: to cause resolution of (a pathological state)
4 a: to deal with successfully : clear up b: to find an answer to c: to make clear or understandable d: to find a mathematical solution of e: to split up (as a vector) into two or more components especially in assigned directions
5: to reach a firm decision about
6 a: to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote b: to change by resolution or formal vote
7: to make (as voice parts) progress from dissonance to consonance
8: to work out the resolution of (as a play)
intransitive verb
1: to become separated into component parts ; also : to become reduced by dissolving or analysis
2: to form a resolution : determine
3: consult , deliberate
4: to progress from dissonance to consonance

IF: Voices

2008-12-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

I had a drunk octopus recently whisper "trust me, just trust me" in my ear...yeah it was a bit creepy.

IF: Opinion

2008-11-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

She thought highly of herself...allowing her to do extraordinary things.

Dr. Sketchy SD November 08 Session"s"

2008-11-18T10:31:00.001-08:00

secretary tribute

secretary tribute

ed wood tribute

ed wood tribute

secretary tribute

Some times I'm not sure if I get better or worse attending Dr. Sketchy's??

IF: Wise

2008-11-10T01:43:00.001-08:00

WOW...this has got to be the oldest piece I have digitally (uploaded). I believe it is 11 years old and about 4 years prior to my formal illustration education.

This piece is done in charcoal and pastel...and has been hanging in my grandpa's studio just as long.

IF: Vacant

2008-11-05T17:15:00.001-08:00

Another page from my blank sketchbook.

Sometimes men and women never fill each others expectations or aren't really interested in one another ~ just themselves........

Pages in a Book

2008-10-30T13:59:00.001-07:00

More pages from the blank sketchbook. It's becoming a great exercise on thought process and journaling. I haven't done it in quite a while. My previous journals were endless thoughts poured onto pages until I forgot what I was writing about. This piece is teaching me to put one or so thoughts per page then elaborate with drawings, collage and paint. The way I have always wanted to journal ~ I am training myself to do so........

IF: Repair

2008-10-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

Realizing too LATE that I just finished last weeks topic which was 'late', I quickly made this painting of the right topic for the week. If you would like to see the 'late' piece please view my entire blog.

IF: Late

2008-10-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

From one of the pages inside my "Good Fish Die" sketch diary. I enjoyed using Illustration Friday's topic into the book. Good way to keep myself sketching and also continually entering each week.

Book Beginnings

2008-10-27T16:27:00.001-07:00

The other day I was in my friend's neighborhood and stumbled across the art store I vaguely remember seeing from the freeway about a million times. It took me back to the days I was in design school for the first time ~ loads of vellum and rapidograph pens. An art store is (me) as a kid in a candy store. The first isle I walked down I came across this blank sketchbook. Not only was it blank inside (like all good sketchbooks should be), it was also blank on the outside. A pretty white canvas for me to create the entire book myself. There are so many times that I have wanted decorate or redo, if-you-will, the cover of my sketchbooks but never really do. This one completely lent itself to creating the perfect personalized cover. Added bonus for me with this particular book was that it had very few pages...28 to be exact... because my problem always lies with never finishing a sketchbook. They are always big and thick like a novel to read or something. I put it down ~ forget about sketching or use other books, until another really great one I MUST HAVE comes along. It's a bad habit ~~ because how am I to publish my sketchbook memoirs ~~ if I never finish one.

I am truly hoping ~ with all the willpower I can muster ~ I finish this precious little journal. Thanks for stopping by, I'll post the progress.

IF: Strings

2008-10-13T18:52:00.001-07:00

I like to use string/thread often in my artwork. This actually a fragment of my self portrait I did back in August for my mom. It works with the theme once dissected. It's a great way to reinvent and reuse art.

Vaute Couture's Design Contest - the vaute

2008-10-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

Leanne Hilgart Meyer of Vaute Couture recently found my blog, from my IF: Clique entry. She asked me to enter a contest for her company : http://www.vautecouture.com/

There were three differnt coats to design...I entered all threee catagories. I loved doing the project so much that it inspired me to continue with some of the designs even past their deadline.

Please let me know what you think.

This is 'the vaute' it is inspired by the classic peacoat with a girlie-girl style. It is a charcoal grey outter with a silky turquoise liner for a fun pop of color. Wear it to class, the grocery store or out to lunch.

the awe also... IF: Sugary

2008-10-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

This one is for the most haute couture coat. It's for a bride at her winter wedding or for a holiday party goer. The glittery snow fall reminds me of sugar ~ and what a sweet thought for a winter wedding.

the el

2008-10-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

This jacket was to be long like a trench. The outline was for a dramatic coat a Chicago winter girl with beauty, brains and heart.
All of the coats themselves are cut paper with the paintings underneath.

WISH ME LUCK!!

IF: Packed

2008-10-01T16:52:00.000-07:00

This piece more represents baggage then packed but the suitcase is packed with a lot of crap that needs to be let go. This is the first of a triptych self portrait I started in school in 2003. I have the other two pieces drawn out but never got around to painting them, guess I'm not quite ready to get rid of the baggage?? This is one of favorites from my collection. It's dark and moody. I place I wish I could take my painting style more. ~~** shrug**~~

IF: Clique

2008-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

I love remembering that I have old pieces that fit IF's topic...especially when I wait to til the last minute to post it. These were done for a fashion show in Atlanta back in 2004. Done with cut paper, ink and pencil.

Dr. Sketchy SD September 08 Session

2008-09-24T16:22:00.001-07:00

IF: Memories

2008-09-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

This is Mary. When I met her back in early 2003 she was a 25 year old retired Grand Canyon pack mule living in Madison, GA. This was her barn...months after I painted her, a tornado came through and wiped out the farm taking most of the animals with it...Mary was one of them.

This painting was a school project. Our instructor Lindy Burnette took us to the farm and we were then to create a piece of floating livestock.

IF: Routine

2008-08-22T17:03:00.000-07:00

You are my sunshine,
My light at the beginning of everyday.
You are my longing breath,
The exhale I so deeply crave.
You are the moon in my sky,
The shining in my vacant darkness.
You are the softness in a whisper,
That keeps harshness at a distance.

I painted this as a wedding gift I am giving my friend Selina tomorrow August 23, 2008.
I figure what was more routine then the sun and the moon.

The Three Faces of Me

2008-08-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

me

myself

and I

The process of the self portrait I did for my mom as a birthday gift this coming Sunday.
I usually have the hardest time finishing pieces for my mom and my sister ~ so I have a lot of half projects meant for them all over the place. I was determined to start and finish this piece this week. I was so proud of myself when I signed it.

Dr. Sketchy SD August 08 Session

2008-08-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

It's been too long since I've posted. Thanks to Dr. Sketchy's August session I have something good to put up.

Dr. Sketchy SD June Session

2008-06-23T15:28:00.000-07:00

These are the 20 minute poses. From these I need to pick one or continue sketching Marie Antoinette for a local band the Kyle Van Band. For the cover of their single called Marie Antoinette. I also just bought Sophia Coppola's movie ~ because I've been wanting to anyway and now I have a legit excuse. So more of this queen to come.

Dr. Sketchy SD June Session (quick pose)

2008-06-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

These are 1 minute thru 5 minute poses

WTF?

2008-06-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

...was the last text I got from my sister when I told her my flight was delayed another 10 minutes. This was in the plane on the way to Portland after a glass of terrible red wine (thankfully it was free). I spilt some of the wine and used this page I was drawing on to soak some of it up. I think it turned out great!

With Stars in His Eyes

2008-06-21T11:10:00.000-07:00

...it started with a star and ended with a 5 o' clock shadow.

Birds of 60 Feathers

2008-06-15T14:30:00.000-07:00

Can you believe these birds have been together for 60 years......WOW!

This painting was made for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary that the whole family is celebrating on Wednesday at their home in Richland, WA. I spent the 70's there as a child before I moved away to Arizona. For some reason looking back this color combo along with the 70's icon the owl just seemed appropriate to paint.

The Present of Madonna

2008-05-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

This quick sketch has turned into one of my favorite illustrations of 2008. I've been looking a 100s of published illustrators sites and blogs to see what they have that I need. I realize that I would love to have an illustration or many in Rolling Stone ~ so I have decided to embark on a celebrity painting quest. This is the first of a least 5/hopefully more. Then I can send the package around to potential reps.
Of course I started with Madonna because she is my all time favorite celebrity.

IF: Worry

2008-05-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

She is very upset that her husband left to become a rodeo clown. She believes there are other motives behind it besides his love of being a clown and large live stock. From the depth of her soul however, she knows that there is a woman. ~~ A lovely woman with skin that tans and the ability to apply little or no make-up...that has captured Alfred's heart.

"Alfred, why'd ya do it?" and "WHY?!?" are two of a four piece series (the other two are still in my head).
Acrylic and mixed media ~ collage.

Dr. Sketchy SD April Session (the kill poses)

2008-04-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Beginning with this series of Dr. S's April sketches you will need to start at the (quick pose) and from the bottom work your way up. In order to see how awesome these models where in reenacting Jack the Ripper's kill for the night. I know I show you the most macabre sketches when you first open my blog ~ it was in hopes of catching your attention long enough to scroll through all of them.

Dr. Sketchy SD April Session (10 minute pose)

2008-04-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

Dr. Sketchy SD April Session (quick pose)

2008-04-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

pancho villa ~ BABY!!

2008-04-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

I work at a restaurant/bar in Alpine, California which is a suburb of San Diego ~ about 25 miles east of downtown SD. This Spring we launched theme parties once a month on Saturday nights (starting off with Nicole's 80s hair-band birthday party and my pirate hooker birthday party).

May's theme party is a Pancho Villa Mustache party coinciding with Cinco de Mayo. Since I'm the artist of the group it is my duty to make the flyer. I did it all out of cut paper, white charcoal pencil and ink.

Arrrggrrrrh...matey!

2008-04-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

So I just had a birthday...with that included a theme birthday party this year. I went with pirates ~ cause everyone wants to be a pirate right?? After that crazy night of swashbuckling turned out some really great pictures. I love this one of my friend Keira a.k.a. Kiki. So much so I had to draw it and now it's in it's first stages of a painting...which will come soon...

The initial sketch.

I love when things like this inspire me...and I act on it.

The beginnings of 'Flatso'

2008-03-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

More monsters...

This is the beginning of Flatso ~~~

He is flat and can come out from behind a chest of drawers or lie under the rug or even behind a poster tacked on the wall. I first think of him rectanglelor but then again maybe he's as flat as a pancake and purple in color. He is the first monster from the pages of "What Kind of Monster?" that I am going to explore...I think I got most of my just to doodle monsters out of my system.

P.S. With that mustache he kinda looks like he's in a mariachi band...maybe his body or hands need to be the shape of a mariachi guitar???

Just Another Day in North Park

2008-03-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

This piece was created for an upcoming show at Bluefoot Lounge in San Diego's North Park, on Thursday April 10th. It's a collage of items I randomly and not~so randomly came across through my daily jaunts through my neighborhood of North Park.

Frightening doodles

2008-03-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

More monsters from my sketchbook. I have been doing other projects and attending my high school reunion in the last few weeks. So I am now back on track with the monster scribbles again.

Rhino monster shark on wheels...what?

Something frightening after a few beers with my cousin...it's his "Fu Man Chu" coming out of the other dudes forehead.

A parade of cute monsters.

Some character development of the main kid character of the book.

Ummm...cause green doodle birds are funny.

The last two were drawn in green in honor of St. Patty's Day.

1969 ~ the band...Maya ~ the album cover

2008-02-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

My wonderful friend Cinnamon ~ who is always looking out for me ~ turned me onto one of her friend's new band's album cover contest (boy that was a mouthful). And me always pushing time to it's limit just submitted it when the deadline is 5pm today ~ HOLY CRAP!! I am super excited about the piece as well as really nervous about being judged and actually having the painting chosen.

Open to anyone...there are about 220 submissions as of 1pm today. It was to have the title of the CD which is "Maya" and the band's name which is also suppose to be their logo "1969". If you are interested in viewing all the entries: http://www.friendsorenemies.com/web/foe/groups/1969artwork/

WISH ME LUCK!!!

IF: Multiple

2008-02-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

I have redone the number 1969 multiple times to get just the right one for my painting (to come ~ look for a new post on Friday). It's for an contest for a new band called "1969". It called for the name of the album plus the band's name as their new logo. The deadline is tomorrow...just like IF's is tonight. I LOVE PUSHING THINGS TO THE LIMIT!!!

The previous post may also be used for this week's IF topic...look for Ty's Taxi.

Ty's Taxi

2008-02-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

This is my sister's christmas painting...yeah I'm a bit of a procrastinator. I went way out of my norm with this piece. I didn't try to over think it and it kinda went all over the place but in a cohesive way ~ I feel.

Little Monsters con't....

2008-02-18T16:17:00.000-08:00

Another addition to my growing monster collection.

Dr. Sketchy SD Febraury Session

2008-02-17T15:59:00.001-08:00

I am finally getting around to posting Dr. Sketchy drawings again. I have gone to every session..it's just that this one yesterday I really got a lot of good stuff out of it.

HAPPY DOMINATRIX VALENTINE!!

Fifteen minute poses:

Five minute bonus ;) sketch:

Two minute sketches:

One minute sketches:

Dr. Sketchy SD January Session

2008-02-17T15:38:00.001-08:00

This was our first male model...STMUL8R.
The last sketch was a contest about the upcoming elections.

Dr. Sketchy SD December Session

2008-02-17T14:40:00.000-08:00

Took me a bit to post this. I wasn't feeling my sketches for the last two sessions but I did get a couple of nice drawings. Sorry again for the bad quality of photo...I'm getting a scanner next week.

Little Monsters...made of ticky~tac

2008-02-12T11:29:00.000-08:00

Beginning sketches for a childrens' book about monsters and crushes. A couple of weeks ago Karl Backus of Blue Horse & Trumpet Advertising, Public Relations & Design contacted me through my LinkedIn account. We are both alumni of Portfolio Center in Atlanta and he wanted to broaden his San Diego network. I had lunch with him and his wife Summer at their office. I had a great time there and talked with them for hours. At the end of the lunch Karl approached me with his wonderful book idea for kids. It's about monsters ~ which isn't a subject I draw a lot ~ and asked me to be the illustrator. I am honored and have decided to try to sketch one a day to get the right character for each of his monsters. Then he will have some characters and a look that he can take with him when shopping around for publishers.

As always I would love to hear some feedback.

Attempt at the Surreal

2008-01-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

This is my illustrated attempt to do my work in a more abstract state. These are on~going skethes for a new poetry book for SunnyOutside Press. The title is "My Fingernails are Fresnal Lenses". The publisher was thinking abstract - so I have to pretty much stop thinking to get 'abstract' out of me and onto paper.

The more conceptual idea behind the poem.

Purely abstract without thought just intuitive happenings.

Abstract with human element.

Orange Sketches

2008-01-26T16:42:00.000-08:00

Good grief...it's been a month since my last post. I have been wasting my time getting my tail chased. So no more playing hide and go seek I am back in drawing/painting mode!

Here are some beginning sketches for a new project David McNamara from SunnyOutside press has asked me to do for poetry book. They will be inside and possibly the cover...wish me luck!! Sorry for the crappy quality of the photo...I am sans scanner and a bad photographer.

Finished Madonna

2007-12-24T12:38:00.000-08:00

The finished Madonna True Blue piece for the "Let's Bolt, Again" show at Rock Paper Scissors Gallery in Oakland, CA.
As you can see, if you keep scrolling down, the process that it took to get her to this. I am very, very happy with the result!
It shipped today so that they can have it to hang by Friday. I am still terribly sad that I won't be able to make it up to the show. The gallery sounds awesome and the show should be fun!

From the side.

Then the other.

Half way there.

Purple/Orange Madonna

Blue Madonna

True Blue

2007-12-06T19:21:00.000-08:00

These are some beginning sketches of a piece I am painting for a show in Oakland, CA at Rock Paper Scissors Gallery on Jan. 4th.

This is the one I will work from and I am going to try to get it as paintly as possible when painting. I am not sure yet if I will paint it in acrylic or oil.

While I was tracing the outline to be transfered onto the wooden box I am painting the final piece on, I need a light colored surface under my tracing paper to see the outline better. This scrap of test paint paper with written out random thoughts was laying on my drawing table, her outline was transfer onto it. I decided to take it a bit further and ink it in with a blue rolling ball pilot pen. I really liked the effect...sometimes magic happens when you are not even trying.
I also love that it is blue and so is the writing...strangely coincidental because I did this weeks before working on this TRUE BLUE piece.

When I first thought of this idea I remembered a painting I did in high school of this image of Madonna's True Blue album cover. This was a quick sketch from the recall but realized when I looked up the image it looked nothing like this.
I will post the final piece sometime in the next week, it is due on the 15th.

IF: Excess

2007-12-03T20:09:00.000-08:00

Inspired by P.J. Harvey.
Songs from the City ~ Songs from the Sea
Lyrics from "We Float"

When seeing the topic for the week...this song kept playing on repeat in my head when brainstorming excess. I didn't want to do something cliche' or obvious this week and I have always wanted to draw P.J. Harvey. So here ya go ~~

I thought I would add this photo because it's a nice view of my current workspace, in my additional ~ why do I have a second kitchen ~ kitchen, acting as a temporary studio.

Meet the Sharks

2007-11-26T17:45:00.000-08:00

Since the shark video, for the time being, is not the highest quality, I thought I would introduce the sharks in their stationary mode.
Please click on them to enlarge them to get their full effect.

Alan

Dave

Ms. Heloise

The Shark Council

Dr. Sketchy SD November Session

2007-11-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

I am very happy with my progress since attending the first Anti-Art School session back in July.

10 minute

10 minute

20 minute with added arms

20 minute

Dr. Sketchy SD October Session

2007-11-20T12:17:00.000-08:00

As you can see I am a month behind with this set of sketches. The model was very vampy for Halloween.

5 minutes

5 minutes

15 minutes

20 minutes

Flying Society of Sharks

2007-11-19T16:01:00.000-08:00

My new San Diego friend, Brandon and I worked on this film for the last couple of weeks. It was a call for video artists to come up with a mocumentary of Artificial Anthropology. We found the flyer at T-Deli in Hillcrest and had until the 15th to make the entire film under 7 minutes. If chosen it will be played along with other films at the Bamboo Lounge in Hillcrest, SD Saturday, December 1st, 8pm.

Honestly, Brandon was the brains behind the project (he is a filmmaker). He came up with the script, the thought behind the rock wall/gardens and the society of flying sharks. He got the actors for the parts, filmed the entire piece, the music in it is his original score and he edited it as well.

I decided to make the sharks out of cut paper. The first idea in my head was simple and boring. However, I kept receiving every kind of catalog you can think of in the mail for the former tenants of my new house in North Park. So the sharks evolved from the pages of catalogs and fashion magazines...I hope you find their bling as beautiful as I do. I also painted the backgrounds and the shark castle, where Ms. Heloise meets with the shark council. I really wanted the Hanna Barbara repeating background effect and it worked nicely.

I hope you enjoy it, I personally find it truly hilarious and one of a kind, it makes me laugh every time.

Thanks for watching!