PIG!

But I want to be a paperback writer...

Everyone's favorite Landon is headed to new paperback editions with revamped cover designs.

The illustrations are the same but the ornate-ness of the cover has been pulled back. Apparently to let the illustrations shine. Or so I would like to think :)

See them all here.

Rule Britannia!

I've been looking to get a little time to make a large piece to go in one of my windows here at work. Our office is located on the second floor of a building (there's a nice restaurant below us) at a busy intersection.

Theoretically, if I put a big drawing/painting in the window I could make one of two things happen. Maybe both. There's a disticnt possibility they might even be related. Or at very least correlated. Which is to say that they may be mutually or reciprocally related. Enough. Here's my thoughts:

1) Make people look at the window.

2) Cause traffic collisions.

For the one who would protest, saying, "But those are not reasons enough to do anything."

I would reply, "If those are not reasons good enough for you then perhaps you are not doing anything worth doing anyway."

I'd like to make this a rotating, one piece show. Below you'll find the beginnings of my first entry as well as the thought behind it:

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When Britain first, at Heaven's command

Arose from out the azure main;

This was the charter of the land,

And guardian angels sung this strain:

"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:

"Britons never will be slaves."

The Ballad of Matthew's Begats

A book? Yes it is! In fact it is the first book idea that Portland Studios pitched to a publisher and a publisher bought it.

I believe it was Brannon thought the idea up and I developed it and concepted it. I boarded it out and kind of made it up. Then I drew pictures for it. The art for The Ballad developed over several months, almost a year. Growing from a book of headshots of funny looking old people to a more complete, fuller presentation-- with ancient Polaroids (which you'll be able to see for yourself very soon)

It's true, you've heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Well folks, grip the arms of whatever chair you happen to be sitting in (or, if you're not sitting in a chair you may hold onto your face if you need to)

Behold, the Dead Sea Polaroids

Anyway, the reviews are starting. This one, is very kind and positive.

It's that time of year it would seem.

society of illustrators annual 50

Update : For the record, I was accepted in two categories, Book and Sequential. Yeah!

Sent off my entries to The Society of Illustrators Annual today. For anyone who may not know, it is the most prestigious and recognized publication of illustration in the world. As such I haven't been accepted before. This year however, I believe I've got some solid entries.

I've entered three pieces, one in Uncommissoned, one in Book, and one in Sequential.

***Uncommisoned***Dandelion Embers

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***Book***Grimble Crossing the Alps
from Jack & Inar, pub. date early 2008

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***Sequential***


DVD cover

I haven't ever entered Sequential before, mostly because (as one might imagine) I haven't had anything to show. I also hadn't ever noticed that they accept animation entries. So, edited down to 2 minutes, The Ruin of the Beast has been submitted for cosideration.

included inside the jewel case with the DVD:

I'll make information concering these entries available as I find out-- which won't be for a while anyway.

Thankfully, S.I. let's you know if you've been accepted or not accepted so you're not wondering until you see the book.

Cheers.

more notes from today's meeting.

view of the water tank

Illustration Friday: "Juggle"

Juggling home and work life has never been easy for this pig.
Between acting like a sullen cry-baby and working at Starbucks, life is tough.

RV CAMP!

A whole lot of tshirts going on! Proofs back from the printer and enjoy! sunny PORTLAND STUDIOS RV CAMP looks perfect.

Now you to can enjoy! a visit to the sunny, relaxing, and refreshing PORTLAND STUDIOS RV CAMP every time you wear this shirt! Where you never met a stranger and a slice of apple pie is as close as the nearest window sill.

When you pull on this 100% Fine Jersey cotton, American Apparel tshirt, you'll know that our horse ranch is second only to Kentucky and you and your whole family will enjoy! tubing down the sunny PORTLAND STUDIOS RV CAMP river.

No sasquatchs come near our well defended borders.

Don't delay, reserve yours today!

Portland Studios Store!

subculture pig

Here's a bad quality photo of the beginning of a new piece.
He's all set; a piggy subcultured buffoon.

speak

You know what day it is, so talk like one already!

regularly scheduled tuesday meeting.

magic pouches

Who wouldn't like some magic pouches?

interview

A little while ago I was interviewed for a magazine that's a division of the Greenville News, the local paper.

For any interested one, here's the link to the online version of the article.

Illustration Friday: "Wedding"

drawn after an old photograph I found.

drawing from an old photograph + color

a doodle

more shedu, in progress.

young neptune with sea leaves

I used myself as a model and gave my hair and beard superior growth.
As well as the power to control the oceans.

DOOM

23-19

My illustrious sister gave me this shirt for my birthday. Could I have received a greater t-shirt? Maybe. But probably not.

Illustration Friday: "Momentum"

This monstrous troll would surely gain some momentum-- if he could get moving that is.
Or if I'd ever get around to finish painting him.

small tribute

I got to meet Maurice Sendak once, only for a couple minutes. It ranks as some of the greatest couple minutes I've ever had.

Here's a watercolored wild thing in his honor.

pieces

For every real piece I do, there's usually half a dozen smaller ones. I'll work on a painting or a drawing for a finished piece and by the time I'm done there's generally five or six completely unrelated little watercolors or pencils. They've got nothing to do with the main piece, no way to just glance at them and recognize the connection, they're just there.

Yesterday I figured it out, why I do them. I think I figured it out-- it's got to be one of two things. Either, I get bored too fast from the real piece, or, I like to feel more prolific than I actually am. So I do a bunch of little paintings to make up for how long it takes me to do one "real" piece.


I finally have the working space I've been wanting. Erin and I have a house and we've spent the past forever ripping out floors, putting in wood floors, painting, replacing, removing walls (not us personally) and doing our best to not let the cats get out.

I finally have a room where I can leave all my mess out, desks lining the wall, and my keyboard (I pretend I can play the piano)

I'll have to put up some pictures.