It's Not a chicken, it's a Crow!

At least for the day...thought I would pay an homage to one of my favorite movies-- The Crow :) I enjoy how darkly romantic it is...I mean, if someone comes back to evenge your death, like after death, and then wants to be with you for all eternity, even when you are both dead-- it's kinda hot!!!Hope you like the drawing! It was done in pen and ink

The Moment I Held You Here Was the Best of All

Here's the latest chicken!!!! This one was created using graphite, and was based on a dream I had. In the dream I was standing on someone's porch. I'm not sure who it belonged to, but it was a white, wooden house, with a gray wooden floor. It was very nostalgic, slightly worn, but oddly charming and beautiful. In front of me was an empty boat, and above it was a sign that read, "The moment I held you here was the best moment of all." And then there was an arrow, pointing to a little sign of the boat. In the dream the boat was empty. For the picture I created, I added the chickens :) The whole thing kind of reminded me of the movie, "The Notebook."

Another Page from The Sketchbook Project :)

OH man, I just realized I have to put this sketchbook in the mail in less than a month! Uh oh...I think I need to make less detailed sketches at this point so I can actually finish it on time. Wait, have I done one about procrastination yet?!?! I think I need to...

Anyway, back to the theme of the sketchbook: "things that change other things"...this sketch is about moving into my own apartment. I haven't really had my own place in 3.5 years, so getting a "room of my own" so to speak has definitely changed things....I wasn't sure how it would work out, what I would find-- hence the question mark, keys, clouds, etc....but my gut instinct told me it was the right thing to do :)

And sure enough it has changed other things-- doing more art, reading more, I started swimming again (I'm only 5 minutes from the YMCA)!, and generally focusing on what I need to do. I think moving out of the city has really helped with that. It is peaceful out here with lots of trees! It's interesting how a geographic switch can make all the difference.

Hey Man, You Can Be Girly and Badass at the Same Time...

Think skulls and butterflies...this is what I have been working on lately. It was a drawing originally intended for a t-shirt design, but I'm not sure exactly where it will end up...It almost looks like a tattoo design at this point...either way, it was fun to work in ink again for a while. Nothing like a good old Bic pen. It's amazing what you can create artistically with inexpensive materials! :D

3 Custom Orders in the Same Week! Ahhh!!!

Actually, it's a good thing :) I admit I was kind of stressed out for the first couple of days, but after order #1 was done I felt a lot better.

That was a pretty cool request. I made 3 friendship bracelets with hand embroidered astrological symbols. The colors represented the particular astrological signs :) And as I am a fan of astrology I thought this idea was pretty neat-- Ooh! I might have to make one for myself!...(I'm a wierdo Aquarian with a Capricorn rising and moon in Leo :)

In addition, I'm working on another custom order for a total of 5 friendship bracelets, and also a personalized Mr. Chicken painting.... (I am working this one into the series). Initially, Mr. Chicken was next going to get in touch with his inner Mr. Myaiagi (how spell)?)...but now he his taking a detour to Quebec for a weekend of personal enjoyment :)...don't worry-- he won't do anything illegal... :D

I Present to You..."Pickle Head"....

Yeah!!! I actually finished it :)...and it only took me a month!

For the record, finishing a surreal piece, for me, usually takes MUCH longer. I have been known to work on surreal pieces for months, even years. Often because I get frustrated and set the piece aside (for months, or even years)...and I"m very much a perfectionst! I worked on this one for about a month straight though (minus a few days when I made paper)...and here it is! :)

Makes me wonder if I should rethink my artistic strategies...I often work on multiple pieces at once, and set aside works of art for extended periods of time. I don't know if I will change my strategy really, but I do wonder if I would be more productive if I just worked on one at a time...just thoughts I'm having currently :)....Knowing myself I probably won't change a $#@!!@# thing! :)... :O ...(we'll see though ;)

The Latest Round of Wierdness...

So lets just say I've had a creative block since 2001...I kid you not, I'm dead serious...This was the last time I planned a major composition...

I think when I finished college, and went out into "the real world" I lost a bit of my creative edge. I was no longer doing art 5-7 days per week, nor working in my sketchbook. In fact, I did little to no art at all for 4 years....I refer to those years (late 2001-late 2005) as my "lost years"....I was busy just trying to make ends meet, and often working up to 3 jobs at one time...It didn't occur to me that I could try to earn a living as an artist. (I think this is what happens when you don't think outside of the box (which I often don't) and when you have main stream parents who work in education)...

Anyway, when I say "major composition" I am referring to the surreal images in my Snitterdog shop. I started them in college, and finished them in the last 2-3 years. (they just didn't look done, so I went back to mess with them :)...Anyway, this is the type of art I am most interested in creating. This is the type of art that is also the most difficult to create -- it is very time consuming and intricate. I have not started a "new one" until recently. This is the sketch I plan to turn into a painting. (Supposedly)....we'll see what happens...

I'm trying to tell myself that I'm not any less creative than I used to be...I was just preoccupied for a few years, and my brain got lazy...(by the way, I tend to do the leaves and flowers because it' "easier"...I hope that doesn't sound horrible)...My goal is to get back into the wierd stuff-- I hope I can still pull it off! :)