pumpkins [update]

Here it is-- all I could manage to get was a crude picture off my phone before it rotted and died. The pumpkin, not my phone.

Erin works at a architectural design firm downtown, called Design Strategies.

Needless to say these folks know how to draw and and you cane see by the one pumpkin next to mine, there were some cool pumpkins. We were not expecting to win, due to the awesome nature with which these folks design, (I mean come on! They make buildings-- geez!) however, the grand prize was named and the Horrible Goblet Thieving Beast of the Mountain, won. $300.

And Erin, you can the top of her pumpkin just below mine, also won a $20 prize. Her pumpkin had kittys on it.

**********************

Did some pumpkin carving last night in preperation for a contest at the office (this afternoon) where my wife works.

I've always had this affinity for pumpkins and I really don't know why. One of my earliest memories as a little boy is being made to eat a piece of pumpkin pie in kindergarten (k-4) by my teacher and throwing up. You would think that would've kind of pushed me off.

Illustration Friday: "Wind"

Landon Snow 3 & 4

Currently reading the third book in the Landon Snow series, Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum and I am enjoying it. I don't get a manuscript when I illustrate it, I just get a request for a spot, or I get an idea for the cover from the author and publisher so it's fun to finally be able to hold the book, see the whole project come together finally, and actually read it.

What I'm enjoying in this story, in the beginning here, is how the story sets you up to think that certain events are going to take place like in book 1 and book 2, but they don't... not at first, and not in the way you'd expect.

This was probably my favorite cover to do. I did it around this time last year when a terrific ice strom hit Greenville. Power was out at the studio, so I worked from home (somehow my roommate and I had power.)

The head shot of Landon for book 3, I think has turned out to be the best of them:


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

And, since I just saw it on Amazon.com, Landon Snow 4 is coming, so I figured it'd be ok to post something here:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
links to Amazon.com to pick up your very own copy of the Landon Snow titles:

Book One: Landon Snow and Auctor's Riddle
Book Two: Landon Snow and Shadows of Malus Quidam
Book Three: Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum
Book Four: Landon Snow and Igneus Forest (not yet released)

print store update, II

Hey folks, the store is not up today and for that I apologize (cause I said it would be and it's not), however, in a fantastic development:

Benjamin Young is creating the site for me.
He is a good friend and brilliant haberdasher.

Illustration Friday: "Ghost"

cat & the fiddle/ out of work

Illustration Friday: "Smitten"

rather than flowers or kissy faces this friday morning, we all need to be... SMITTEN!


****************************************************************************
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)

smit‧ten  /ˈsmɪtn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[smit-n]

–adjective

1.	struck, as with a hard blow.

2.	grievously or disastrously stricken or afflicted.

3.	very much in love.

–verb

4.	a pp. of smite.

---

[Origin: 1200–50; ME; see smite, -en³]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

print store update:

Things are moving ahead and we hope to be able to get something going as early as the middle of next week and definately by the 23rd.

October is...

"No Drama Month" here in the luxury wing of Portland Studios. Nothing will be dealt with until November.



this PSA brought to you by Justin, the other member of the luxury wing of Portland Studios.

the idea

* * * NOTICE * * *

To any and all of my favorite people who look at my blog:

This is the idea I mentioned yesterday and I’m testing the waters with this question:

what would the response be if I offered hand titled, numbered, and signed prints of certain pieces of my work?

I recently had some prints made and I marveled at the loveliness of the print quality, timeliness of the getting printed, and the cost effectiveness of it all.

I thought to myself, “This is maverlous, this is fantastic.” Then I forgot about it for a day.

But as I mowed the yard on Saturday it all came back to me: Prints.

* * *

I’ve got several pages of notes and plans writtnen out and a starting set of pieces lined up but here is where I need your help:

Just a simple response of interest or not interest would help me decide my next course of action.

Prints would be $20 + $1 for shipping supplies. (The dollar wouldn’t cover everything but it would help off set the packaging supplies.)

Digital woodcuts (if you’ve been around my blog for a while you probably know what I mean) would be $10 + $2 for shipping (they’re usually a little bigger and require printing on 11 x 17 paper and that means more expense in shipping supplies.)

This is all in a state of working out, but this is how I have things planned at this point.

I’ve got an initial starting series of 10-15 pieces lined up with more becoming available. So give me some feedback!

Thank you all!

[edit: I have a number in my head of responses I'm looking for before I decide if this is truly a worthwhile venture for everyone involved; namely, you and me.]

just leave me a yea or nay comment:

pumpkins and an idea

It's the time of the year to get pumpkins. I have one on my desk and we have three on our porch at home. It is also the time of year to get terrific ideas which I got one over the weekend. I'll be posting more on this terrific idea later this week.

Meanwhile, enjoy the pumpkins, elephants, or whatever else you find inside.

Illustration Friday: "Trouble"

Trouble? or not.