Don't let 'em the the best of you, you're better than that!

Swing when it's toughest. Swing when they say you can't possibly succeed. Swing when you ain't got no mo'.
Show the world that you're made of tougher stuff. Just don't give up.

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Part of something bigger

We all want to be heard, even for a single screaming minute. Unlock and release your fears. You are crucial to this world and give it color. You are wanted even when you don't think you deserve it. You are part of one giant screwed up family, mankind.

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Peep, baby, peep!

Egg-tastico!

Hoppiness is a warm bunny

I Have a Question.

Raise it higher! Don't choke. Just throw it out there, because there are no stupid questions. Unless you're the one who's about to break that stupid mold.
Ahhhh, screw it! Just do it!

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Feel it

Many thanks to my benevolent benefactors for springing for a new scanner. Thanks folks!

A Tree for You

The holidays are upon us and I wanted to get you something, so I made a little tree and had a little thought. During this season of giving, be nice. Throughout the year, be nice. Hell, be nice to someone with out them knowing. Be nice when someone pisses you off, you'll be all the better for it. Don't expect anything in return for your generosity, because most folks don't know how to behave when someone is nice. Just be nice for the sake of it. Happy holidays for whatever you celebrate. Have a the best day possible every day and you'll see how being nice will be en epidemic.

Pass this post along and remember, you can also be naughty, but keep it to a minimum. Hahahahaha!

Big Red

(singing) Big red monster with big ol' yella teeth. Big smiling monster with big ol' yella teeth.

If he attacks, I'm sooooo tripping you. Ha!

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Excitosaurus!!!!

The Elusive Strawberry Jellyfish - CAUGHT!

After almost three decades of searching by academic, nature enthusiast and gentleman, Sir Archibald James Tomlinson VI, the once thought mythological sea creature, the Strawberry Jellyfish was finally captured on paper off of the Western California coast. Sadly, after years of tenacious pursuit, taxing his family life and savings Sir Archibald was forced into a life of solitude, living until 1992, on a small uncharted island off of the coast of Loka Chica'n Choka Heimlichi where at the ripe age of 96 passed away in his sleep after being eaten by a Great White Shark. The widow Tomlinson is quoted as saying after being told of the jellyfish discovery, "F**k." The family, who had suffered and both financial and emotions distress has established a Strawberry Jellyfish conservation fund to protect the once thought extinct species that Sir Archibald wasted his life for. Filming of the TV movie based on Tomlinson’s life begins this spring with 5 different actors playing the enthusiast at different phases on his life.

A girl I spotted on a passing bus.

I Roar, You Giggle.

You might not be able to control them, but don't let it control you.
Laugh, the world loves you, dude!

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Bearly There

Sometimes a little gloom is just what you need. Don't avoid it, but don't live there. Get a hug, hell, ask for one it'll get better. Pass it on. :)

Rising Star

See You Next Year, Turkey Baby!

Which Are You?

Sometimes (not frequently) I want to be left alone, not even touched. I'll gnaw your arm off if you bother me during these moments. On the other hand, I'm also the guy who wants the reaction, good or bad or even unsuppressed laughter. It's a fine balance knowing how you're feeling, but we are both. The people around us see it and evolve into it.

Be a jerk and you'll form that around you. Be cool and you'll get that too. Be amazing and the you've made a place to flourish! Do it! Make your future brighter!!

My goal is to be the person that I’d want to hang out with.

Which way do you lean?

Hrrumph.....

Auditory Sketch: I heard this person on the bus behind me.

Sketches and bus paintings

Gross coughing lady on the bus inspired me

Hot Coffee

Ghostly Gas

Rolf the Dog

Snowmen

Happy Together

A friend of mine recently got engaged and asked for a piece to hang in her home.

It's really a personality caricature of them, I hope they dig it!

Happy Halloween!

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Halloween Hater

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Pugly Lookin'

Inner Light

Keep the fires inside you lit, even when the world is creepy.
Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Sy Livingston

Winter No Flyer

This one was a lot of fun. Thanks for the help Isabella, the collar looks great!

Little Batty

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Unfitty Kitty

I was doing the paining on this at the bus stop again and the same dude said, "Damn, dude! That's one fat m@!#*&f?%^!^g cat, man!" Some people just like saying out loud what is fairly clear to most, but I still like his enthusiasm.

Snoots

This dude stopped me as I was painting while waiting for my bus, "Hey, yo. You're a good drawer." It's fun getting comments on the street.

Stinky Lump

I just bought a new portable watercolor set, so I'm sketching and painting everywhere now.

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Spaced Kid

Koi WaterColor on Strathmore 400 Series Watercolor 140lbs Cold Press

Lunchtime doodle

Random Sketchy and Disney Studies

Progress Piece 01: Batman Final Traditional

More color was added, as well as a wash to unify things overall. Highlights and shadows were built, giving a stern and serious thought to light source and texture. The background was fun and consists of about 5 layers or varying gradients, each one thinned out considerably and washed onto parts of the character to tie them together, while still creating depth between them.

In speaking to our art director, he pointed out a anatomical error that can only be corrected with a drawover and re-painting. That could be fun, but I'm not sure if I have the time just yet to do it.

So, I'm sure that I could tool around with him a bit more traditionally, but have decided not to. As an exploration exercise in painting, I've learned much about patience, control and scan vs. practical. This piece could very well be pulled into Photoshop and manipulated, for now however, it'll go up on the blog.

So turn on the Bat Signal, he'll be with you after he finishes his soda!

Batman is a registered trademark of DC Comics and Warner Brothers. Copryright 2010

Progress Piece 01: Batman Color/Tones

So here's a little more color and an attempt to give him volume. I need to get a little more agressive with the shadows, but am still a bit nervous about jumpin' right in. I've had little "oh no, oh no, oh no!" moments but overall, it's truning out cool.

The background was fun and will hit it again tonight, to darken up the gradient and give a little texture and depth. I ran into a little funk on his face right at the smile. A verticle crease is visible due to using too much water. Grrr. I'll fix it on the digital version, but this blog is about warts and all.

The plastic cup looks nice until you get to above the liquid, I need to hit it with some white to continue the shiny plastic illusion.

Nuff said today.

Batman is a registered trademark of DC Comics and Warner Brothers. Copyright 2010

Progress Piece 01: Batman Flat

So semi-flat color has been added to the shaded sketch with pre determined highlights and shadows. I got a little too far ahead with the orange soda and kept defining it. I get excited that way with fizzy orange drinks!

Tonight, I'll build on this layer with more patience with thin coats of paint in varying degrees of tonal difference.

I like where it is headed, but don't care for the highlight on the left side of his mask and will have to tweak it later.

Overall, I'm diggin' it!

Batman(TM) is a registered trademark of DC Comics and Warner Brothers. Copyright 2010

Progress Piece 01: Batman sketch

Let's start out with a simple pencil sketch. I think I'll adjust the cape tonight, it doesn't flow as well as I'd like.

I'll be scanning and adding color progressively through a traditional medium. After I've taken it as far as my traditional skills will take it, we'll go digitally.

Let's see how this turns out!

Tune in next time, same bat time, same bat blog!

Batman (TM) is a registered trademark of DC Comics and Warner Brothers. Copyright 2010

How was your day?

Demon Lord Submission

So here's the story, I've recently joined a forum that has monthly submissions with a theme. I don't normally do this type of art and have never been a traditional painter. The rule was no digital work. So this was my submission to the forum, pencil, acrylics and fear.

Look Inside Monkey Fuse