Christmas Card

Thought I'd do my own Christmas card this year. The colors are a little off in the printing but the scan looks pretty accurate.

I included a few of my ideas that didn't make the cut. I might still flesh a few of them out if I have time.

7"x9"

Watercolor/Gouache/Colored Pencil

Hello, rain.

9"x13"

Gouache

Sloths

I haven't used gouache in a REALLY long time and thought I would do something quick while trying to simplify form still. I'm trying to see if I can draw "cartoony" animals and eventually people. Next time I want to do a "quick" painting I probably won't choose a subject that lives in such a lush environment.

9" x 14"

Gouache

The Same But Different

Ostriches

I know it has been a while since I posted anything so I will put up a few sketches I have done in an attempt to see if I can teach myself how to simplify forms. I have a tendency to be seduced by every little nuance and detail so it has been tricky for me. Hopefully I will get the hang of this. I don't know how animators make it look so easy.

Peck'N'Paw

Check out the Gallery Nucleus show tonight. This book collects some really awesome work by the nicest people I met this year at Comic-Con. If I didn't have to work tonight I would definitely be there.

www.gallerynucleus.com

www.pecknpaw.blogspot.com

Happy Belated, Alexis

I can post this now that she has her portrait of her baby, Toulouse.

8" x 10" Acrylic and Collage

Summer Program

About two weeks ago I got back from the CSU Summer Arts program where I took the class titled 30 Second Hand Drawn Animated Commercial. Not having ANY animation experience I didn't think I would be accepted, but much to my surprise, I was. It was great to be surrounded by people who have known that they want to work in animation since they were little kids because I have considered it since about.......February. I realized I had, and still have, a lot of catching up to do if I plan on being at all competitive in this field but I have to say I don't think I could have asked for a better way to get my feet wet.

The program was headed up by Aubry Mintz who was able to get some spectacular guest instructors including Bill and Sue Kroyer, Adam Burke, Andrew Gordon, and Tom Sito.

My job was to paint a few backgrounds for two of the films. I really had to move since we only had two weeks start to finish to complete these films. I was able to crank out a few backgrounds in roughly two days using only cheap crafter's acrylic paints. I see a lot of problems with them but I guess for two days I am proud of what I was able to accomplish.

School Work

For now, here are a few things that were small enough to fit on a scanner bed from my recently completed Illustration BFA. I even threw in a few spreads from my story. Not sure why the cabbage won't load correctly. Hopefully I'll get the hang of these computer things eventually.

Getting Started

I finally caved and decided to start a blog. We'll see how this goes. I've only had an email address a couple of years so hopefully I'm not in over my head. Maybe, and that is a big "maybe," one day I'll get a website. In the meantime, baby steps.

Now that the nightmare that was my graduation is over, and my school acknowledges that I did indeed finish the first time they told me I did, I realize haven't been as diligent about being creative as I should. Since I don't have to go back to school this summer, like I thought I might, I am trying to light a fire under myself and produce some work. Hopefully having a blog that I am accountable to will help. It may even get me to shell out a few bucks for a scanner.

Its time to get better. Do more. So, here goes...