welcome to earth

I had a busy weekend, finally went out with friends the whole time! Actual human interaction apart from work! I think it's hard to balance the life of an artist with actually having a life. Art is such an obsession for us and it's easy to forget to live!! I'm pretty sure people can relate when you realize that it's been a month since you cleaned your space and you are getting a full beard with creatures growing in it(I don't have beard) and maybe even some sort of no sunlight disease. Scott has even been forgetting to eat lately because of his new venture with video. Anyway, so back to hanging out with people. We went and had Peruvian food which is amazing, it was my first time. It also gave the whole group deadly burps for the whole day. It was hilarious! Also, my friend Angela introduced me to scones. Oh my gosh, scones. Since then I have had a cranberry one, a ginger one and a vanilla one. Awesome. That's all. I might post some stuff from figure drawing tomorrow, if I feel like it.

artist: Rene Gruau

Rene Gruau-I never remember how to spell this guys last name when I go to drool over his work. He is one of the classic fashion illustrators that helped shape the industry. He has a gorgeous sense of shape. The detail that he chooses to leave out is what does it for me, so simple. I cannot for the life of me find a book of his work for less than like $300 so I have to get my fix from the net. Here are a couple more links to his goods:

Opera Gloves

Artnet

Flickr search

google images

A poem I wrote

I forgot to mention that I will be posting stuff a lot more often. I have so much I want to share so I'm going to! I might even go a week without updating! Haha. Anyway, here is a poem I wrote. Writing is something I have never prided myself on. But I love telling stories, so why not try it out? I mean what the worst that can happen, someone needs to edit it? There are actually a few of these poems and one story that I have always been a little hesitant to share. Here is Yamyak soup, inspired by the drawing below that I drew in 2008.

Yamyak Soup-version 2 unedited

yamyak soup is a meal that's great to share

but I hear when you eat it it makes you grow lots of hair

tell me my friend, what's in yamyak soup?

what are the ingredients that makes hair grow in groups?

well it's three eyeballs, two old shoes,

three blades of grass and mucus from a moose

then you mix it all up, ferment it for a month

add a few mice, and sweat from a nun

put it on a fire, simmer for two days

serve it to your friends, and watch their hair grow away

it is surely a great party snack

and you don't even need yams or a yak

artist: Stuart Kolakovic

Stuart Kolakovic is pretty awesome. I really enjoyed his way of using of type, pattern, and color. I love how he uses symbolic little images to tell stories in his work. Everything he does would look sweet on some kind of packaging or product. Right now he's taking a break from illustration to write his first full length comic called "Lichen."

artist: Rory Kurtz

Here is the first artist I want to share! Rory Kurtz. I found a piece of his in the most recent Creative Quarterly. I think he has a gorgeous way of "designing" his illustrations. I also love how he blends pattern into his work. Enjoy!

reset button

So I am getting pretty bored of my blog. I want to switch it up a bit and make it more personal. I'd like to be more "me" and not so much blogging about my art for promo purposes. Part of that plan is to share other artists work that I like and other things on the internet or at home. I will share more experimental art too. I also want to be a little more honest. Not that I was dishonest, but a little more real. Like for example, a few minutes ago I dumped my koolaid all over all of my computer wires and plug ins. Luckily nothing was damaged....but it scared the crap out of me. What I am trying to get at is that I am tired of feeling like there is a certain way to be on the net. I look at blogs endlessly that seem so perfect. Like the artist is living a perfect life and it puts a certain degree of pressure on me whether it means to or not. I am not perfect! I cuss like a sailor, I worry excessively, and I am constantly going through ups and downs with my art. I want to break that personal barrier that I put up and just be a little more "real" for lack of a better word. I know I do post some personal stuff already, but I hope to just share more cool stuff or whatever comes to mind. I also changed my artists statement to the right to included that I won't own the copyrights to any other artists work that I post but mine. Let's see how this goes!

P.S. Part of the inspiration of this is my friends Jessica and Michelle. They both have gorgeous blogs, and they decided to post a picture of themselves of what they look like while freelancing at home, it's great!! Here's Jessica's post and Michelle's post.

I want to start by sharing my studio. After nearly 2 years of being in Atlanta, I finally feel like my space is what I want to work in. I sucked it up and got a nice computer chair, and really made an effort to create a little space for my work. This is part of my bedroom, since an actual studio is out of the question right now. Later I will share some new paintings I'm working on along with some art books I recently purchased that are the shiznit! Stay tuned...

Above: The space...I got my screenprint from Raquel up there, she is awesome.

Above is an illustration I found of Annie Oakley while I was junking in Kansas City and some other tacky knick knacks.

Above: A couple of old fashion silhouettes my friend Angela got me. I am a sucker for those romantic pouffy dresses.

Above: I got some gouache, and for the first time since college I am creating a series of paintings...Will post progress soon.

Look, you can see the stupid glass of koolaid. That elementary school chair on the left was the chair I use to work in, it's better for looks, haha.

CQ #17

I just got the issue of Creative Quarterly that my Seamonsters piece was featured in! They are in bookstores now, go check it out. For the artist readers, the magazine has managed to keep submission prices to $10 so you should totally submit!

Anita Kunz is to the left, crazy!!

They also had the artists submit a portrait of themselves for the inside and a picture of what inspires them. I thought that was a neat addition. Thanks to the people at Creative Quarterly for putting it together.

inspiring music

I thought I would share some music videos that I've been obsessing over!

Florence and the Machine-Drumming Song Beautiful singer and her videos are so creative. I also loove her hair.

I think she does sexy tastefully.

Florence and the Machine-Rabbit Heart I especially love the beginning of this song.

Bat for lashes-Pearls Dream

This video is neat-reminds me of a Boris Valejo painting meeting a cheesy 80's music video.

I love the way she looks when she is contorting her body with that jacket on. Awesome!

Bat for lashes-Daniel So weird!

west palm decal

I was recently contacted to work on a job for American Express. The assignment was an illustration for a window decal for business windows in West Palm Beach. I can't say much else other than it was a great experience. Enjoy!

Oh and I finally put a client list on my about me section of my website if you're interested. Hope everyone is staying warm!

haha

A drawin' I had to share....

Miss Ludella and a new year

Here is a piece I did with a different process that my norm. It is mostly in photoshop with just a little ink drawing. Usually it is the opposite. And below this are some thoughts about the new year if you want to read...

Miss Ludella tickling her mutt, lol.

So, 2009 was a tough year for a lot of people. It seemed like everywhere I looked there was someone losing a job or someone having sicknesses or financial troubles. I learned some good stuff when I went home for Christmas this year. I was reminded of what it was like to enjoy life with two things-love and friendship. My mom has been out of a job for 8 months or so now, and her knees are going out with no insurance to fix them. But my mom is awesome-her undying joy for the people she loves always keeps her lifted. She was in pain when I visited but was so happy because I was home, and that felt so good. Also, hardly anyone had money for the week Scott and I were there, or anything to do(Port Richey is pretty lame) but I had an awesome time just enjoying the company of people I care for. That is how I want to live this year. I feel like being an adult has clouded my beliefs. Bills, money, work, making art, promoting, work-I get caught up in silly ruts of stupid thinking and forget how to enjoy life. I don't want to be like that. I want to enjoy all of it. Anyway, with that here are some of my resolutions.

2010 resolutions.....

I want to:

-stop caring about the stupid details and just relax!

-take my time when I need it.

-always be thankful for what I have.

-live in the current time only and just occasionally glimpse in the future.

-appreciate those who are there for me and pay them calls and visits.

-go to more concerts.

-travel more this year.

-maintain my weight and try to eat healthy (so cliche! haha)

-find a new put-put place with Scott.

-try new stuff with art! Switch it up.

-write more stories.

-do some things I never wanted to do.

I always think how silly it is to write these down, like they should be easy to remember, but when the year gets going I can easily forget and get into a cycle of thinking that isn't what I want...I think writing it makes it real and more likely to happen. So here's to a new year that will be bright, and for those who are struggling-keep on truckin.' Thats all you can do, and it is so worth it.

merry times

Enjoy this amazing compilation of creepy Santa Clauses-Sketchy Santas.

Above is a quick drawing of my sketchy santa.  I hope everyone has a great Holiday.  I will be going to Florida to see family and friends.  See you on the flip side in 2010.  

wintery updates

So I.C.E. went really well this year selling the prints with Melissa for Kilroy and Maw. We still have them on sale online so if you are interested in the prints from the previous post or others please visit the Etsy site! AND, most of the prints are around $10-we are big on offering affordable art right now so go check them out.

In other recent history I finally finished a book cover and chapter header illustrations for a young adult story for Tricycle Press. I am so excited about this book, it will be available in Summer of 2010! I will update with more info when it becomes available.

I hope everyone is digging their winter. I am finding myself missing friends and making new ones at the same time. Winter time always makes me a bit nostalgic. I am also really loving pumpkin pie and scarves, and sometimes miss the warm weather. I recently went with Scott and my brother to visit family in Michigan and it was super cold! We had an awesome time and I am glad we got to see family. Here are some pictures I took from the Henry Ford Museum that Scott's mom took us to...

Love this ad.

Vintage airplane used for air tricks.

Cool ads.

An old hearse.

This car was made for a dwarf couple! I need one.

Cool label.

Trains are so creepy!

Gyspy Wagon.

That museum was pretty insane. They also had the car the Kennedy was assassinated in as well as Lincoln's chair and the Rosa Parks bus. I learned a lot and got really inspired from the imagery.

Till the next random jumble post. Keep warm with some nice tart apple cider (or whiskey)

poster dump

I've been excited to share some poster work I've been making for K&M for the craft show this Saturday. There is also a poster for Califone's show here in Atlanta that was cancelled (bummer) but the prints are still for sale and they will reschedule. Melissa came up with the idea behind the pig piece as well as the Califone frame idea. She also knew all of the cheeses off the top of her head which I thought was rad. Anyhoo, this was a true exercise in lettering and it gave me a good chance to sharpen up on it. These will be on my site soon. K&M will be selling these at ICE, so if you want some for Chistmas presents be there Saturday!

Above: An Atlanta lover print and cheese lover print.

Above: A print for pork lovers (this one was fun to draw) and one that celebrates singing in the shower!

Above: This poster is inspired by Califone's recent soundtrack for the film "All My Friends are Funeral Singers." I really enjoyed drawing this one.

Above: A music-related print for the house. Hope you digg.

yay!

Today marks 7 years that Scott and I have been together. We are still goin stong! Even after 4 years of long distance through college, I don't know how we did it. woot!

This is us circa 1883.

wow

This is so inspiring! Just wanted to share.

drawings from KC

About two or three weeks ago I took a trip to see my friends Jane and Trey in Kansas City, MO. Andrew, Robyn and Edward were visiting at the same time. We went to a brewery, got to visit with some of my old Academy instructors, saw Mark Englishes studio, museums, toured Hallmark and so on. It was nuts! It took some time to get readjusted when I returned to Atlanta. Like most trips, when you return reality slaps you back in the face. So I am just now scanning some of the drawings I did while I was there.
Here is some sketchbook work. Something I loved about Kansas City was the old typefaces. A lot of the buildings were preserved so there was a lot of vintage charm there. And trains and creeking wood floors.

The above one might be an illustration one day. I can feel it brewing.


The above are of the model Rosa, she was awesome.



And here are some figure drawing from life. I actually haven't drawn from life in such a long time. I honestly didn't enjoy it that much in school. I think the reason is that I had a difficult time making a connection with it relating to my work. So it was really neat this time around because I still learned while drawing from life, but I drew them in a way that felt like my own. Like some of the faces, haha. My no-neck hallow-eyed people, haha.....Anyway.




The cats weren't really there, hehe.

Now I am in one of those strange points in my personal work where I feel almost lost, not sure what direction to go in next. Maybe that's normal. Haha, I am just going to enjoy life and see what happens.

happy halloween

Here is a drawing I did for a gallery show we had at work. I won some really cool spider shaped salt and pepper shakers for it, haha. They let us out early today too, it's like a serious holiday there.


"Don't Step on the Grave"

Halloween is my favorite. It's the day that everyone feels the most comfortable being themselves. I hope everyone have fun tomorrow night! I'll be back soon with sketches from my recent trip to Kansas City.

memory#4

The 4th Memory of Ella's commission. Her funny recollection of the first time she had to pee in the woods. I decided to go a more subtle route.

AND, my Etsy shop will be closed for a week or two. I am moving this weekend finally! Also going to visit some close friends in Kansas City for a week on Wednesday, weee!

fisherman and hairdresser

I did a little drawing of two people making a living in different ways. I may explore the theme more.


Also, here is a really pretty song.

I am currently packing for a move closer in the city. It's nice to be diggin through all my old junk. Most of it is junk, but I call it treasures. Nothing like going into a thrift store and finding that one little knick knack that calls to you. You walk over, and shriek. "This is so awesome" you say to yourself. Your friend questions your taste out loud. You buy it anyway. For years it sits on the shelf. When you walk by it, you know its your little treasure.

Till next time home skillets.