Political Voices

Here is an illustration that I really enjoyed doing. It's very tongue in cheek-only it's someone else's tongue in their cheek! There are too often cases where the message of government is that's of the group which paid the most to be heard- for better or worse. This piece illustrates that problem.

Any one else have an opinion or criticism... slide over 5 bucks and I'll allow you're voice to be heard. J/K

I'll try to get in another post before Christmas more in the spirit of the Christ child, but just in case, Merry Christmas to all.

IF- Identity as a matter opinion

Who we are is really a matter of opinion, whether our own opinion or someone else's. As an example here are three sketches of the same person done to quickly explore shape dynamics. There are so many ways of seeing the world.

Since my painting style is largely realistic traditional, I sketch most of the time in caricatures and shape explorations like these. It helps me remember that the movement and shape of the figure add depth to emotions communicated much more than good rendering...well, for that reason and I like cartoons!

What's your opinion?

IF - Some pretend and some really believe

How long did you believe? Is there still a part of you that believes...if not in Santa than in Believing itself. The holiday season is wonderful for its ability to rejuvenate and enrich our ability to hope and believe in that which is good in ourselves and others.

This is not merely pretending-to presume without a foundation for the hope- but placing faith in true and guiding principles. Even though I can't always put my finger on it at times; just because as I can't show you that Santa exists, I can believe.

Repair: Holiday Camera

Ok, so I'm a camera nut. I have around a dozen cameras around my studios. I think of each them as offering a unique new vantage point on the same set of objects/events. This is one of my favorites, an old Holiday II home movie camera, yup just like in the Wonder Years.

I did this illlo completely in Illustrator a little while back and thought it was amply suited for this weeks topic. I'll post a more detailed version a bit later for those interested.

Cheers!

If Late... bring a gift!

If you find yourself falling behind schedule for some ghoulish party this Halloween bring a gift...eyeball stew is a real crowd pleaser and is sure to leave your host speechless. This is a fun little sketch I did and just wanted to give it better treatment then scribbly (yes that's a word) pencil.

Happy Halloween just in case I don't see before that frightful night.

String- A cat can never resist

A promotional cover that fit well with the subject. I tried to reveal the narrative subtly, using the string from the "mousetrap" winding u[to the window to add some intrigue and give the viewer a second or two before realizing that the mice in the window are baiting the cat.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions of comments, Enjoy.

Gardeners Only...Most of the Time

Gardens are a miracle box. This year I watched yellow gourds, red tomatoes, orange carrots, purple onions, green zucchinis explode out of the ground. Anyone over the age of 2 was allowed into the Wilson Garden Clique, needless to say some of the less privileged were jealous. From time to time a few duds were caused by curious fingers, but that's what a garden is for. It is a microcosm classroom for life's best secrets- A little tenderness and patience with some persistent hard work brings fulfilling rewards. Enjoy and see you back soon.

Traditional Charcoal Drawing

I've posted a few digital pictures and oil sketches lately and wanted to do something a little different. I got an itching to feel the grit of charcoal on board and this is the night's result. It blows me away how nice it is to feel bumps, chunks of charcoal, etc. Sometimes a wacom tablet is just sinfully smooth, taking out all the unexpected and even giving you the "Control Z." It's almost too much, almost.

This is not to say that I don't love working digitally; I do. Just different strokes for different projects. I think the broader your abilities are the more choices/options you have to to play with. This time it was charcoal; what's your flavor today?

Memory-Sketch it or it's lost

Memory is sharpened in the recording processes while sketching. I sit in about 2 hrs of council meetings on Sundays and often find myself filling my notes of people in the room. Details of the meetings come by looking at the sketches and caricatures. These sketches are little pen doodles from one day when I was fascinated with a certain mustachioed sage. I was sitting to his left, but for some reason I mirrored his face for two of the sketches. Maybe things got mixed up going back-and-forth between right and left brain functions.

My memory records angles of people's slouching and jowls from months ago but can't recall what I had for lunch two days ago. Maybe I should start drawing my meals.

Sailing...er, really "canned" late

"Stuck" is another spot illustration from the book I'm working on; it worked perfectly for last week's Illustration Friday theme "Canned." This is also the follow image from the previous entry so it gets added even if it is by devious means. I hope you all enjoy the images and thanks for the great feedback.

Poof -Genie Magic

This is a spot illustration for a book I'm working on for Sara Gifford. I love breaking expectations that cause a little double take, like a genie who floats her head like the Wizard of Oz as she grants your hearts desire. I'll post the results of the first wish in a couple days.

Mindful of Each Sparrow

This is another little painting I've done recently, "Mindful of Each Sparrow". It's was a Mother's Day present to my spectacular wife Leslie. She is so sensitive to others needs and emotions, especially our little ones (this painting is of Kylee).

It's based on the scriptures Matt 6:26-32 & Matt 10:29-31.

What's been bugging me? Actual Size

Publish Post
Hello folks- I am not dead, stop calling. Here is a little painting (3.5"x2") that I did just because I've had an empty black frame sitting around. It's not a groundbreaking piece by any means but it cleared away the dust off of my acrylics. Over the past few months I've done mostly digital painting and photography and felt the sting of guilt. Ha,--Sting...wasp-- oh I'm too much. See ya soon.

New Sketchbook, New Goals--Primative

A new sketchbook's in town and I've made some definitive goals to let my sketch explorations stretch me technically and creatively. The permanence of inking has always scared me even though I like to sketch with a ball-point pen. Although it may sound funny, I love how forgiving oils and acrylics are; thus all of my professional work has been in those two mediums. This is one of my first attempts at inking; the reference image is not original (Tom Stone's amazing homeless portraits) but gave me an opportunity to explore a bit.I love combining traditional and digital mediums. A quick drawing, a beautifully aged piece of paper, and some digital painting (another goal). I'm fairly pleased with the result and look forward to the next 1,000 pics to help me really nail down this whole inking thing.

Please leave me some of your pointers, experiences inking, or sketch book goals. Tchao.

Children's Literature Conference

This last week I attended a great SCBWI Conference at UVSC (UVU) for authors & illustrators of children's publications. It was a fabulous experience I'll repeated for years to come I assure you. The conference had been geared to provide industry specific lectures, forums, and guests for illustrators this year. David Small -if you don't know him you still have time to repent- was the key note speakers for illustrators. He and his author wife gave fantastic lectures and gave generously of themselves to attendees-I must say I was given far more time than I deserved.

The Editor/illustrator's Best Illustrator Award was given to me-a genuine suprise. There were quite a few strong illustrators there. Of additonal signifigance I was invited to be a co-author in a The Children's Book Blog for Illustrators, a source of info for illustrators. If your looking for substantive comments and resources it's a wonderful place to bookmark.

I'll be adding a lot more images here and on my website soon. Look for more pics from my sketchbook too. See you soon.

Genie

Here is the other character sketch for the children's book I'm working on. Much thanks to Shawn Boyles for helping me get back to basic shapes. In this painting I had been making the forms look too life-like and had to simplify the form for the right audience.

I'm having a lot of fun on these illustrations in that they're largely digital with very graphic flat areas. Form and color tend to make or break the effectiveness of each picture.

Good Morning Sunshine

Here is a fun digital piece for Illustration Friday. I'm combining the Blanket topic with Horizon from a few weeks ago. You could call it illustrative repentance. Anyway enjoy!

It's so cold I can see my breath.

The snow here in Utah has been relentless, so here's a quick digital sketch to let you know just how I feel about it. I am enchanted by snow; the way it shoots color and value into extreme mode and lets you know how colorful "white" is. There are seemingly supernatural normalities-hoer frost in the morning, icicles,snow drifts, and of coarse seeing your breath. BUT there is always a subtle sadness that lingers...and in a way that's beautiful too.

I hope this little sketch can warm your day a little. Toodles.