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.

Best Two Years x 6

This is a family missionary portrait that continues the Isaiah theme of "How Beautiful Upon the Mount." This one carries the scripture to a modern application, "And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!" Mosiah 15:16. It's important to recognize that the scriptural patterns continue to ripple into the present.

You can check out the earlier three paintings from this ongoing series on my website www.davidwilsonillustration.com

Displayed in the picture are artifacts and mementos that represent missionary service from my family. My father served as a missionary in Japan-a letter of his, his hand stitched hymnal (Shoto Wilson), my own mission to Brazil-Portuguese Bible,worn shoes, letter, & missionary papers in the shoe, my brother & brother-in-law's missions to Italy- name tag, letter, another brother's mission to England-His tie & Book of Mormon, and a younger brother who has yet to serve-his journal. All missionary service is focused on the Savior Jesus Christ.

I wanted to show the growth that occurs laboring, studying the scriptures, & serving as well as a family bond that grows even stronger through serving the LORD.

Hope the explanation of the painting hopes you enjoy it a little more. Toodles.

Oil Sketch

Here is a small oil painting I did the other day. I really love doing these quick paintings, there is a lot that stays fresh in the shapes and color. However, they generally lack substantive depth.

This one has a lot of personal meaning since I'm giving to my mom for Christmas. I did this painting in celebration that I am not the artist I was before. When I was about 12 my mother asked me to paint a nice picture for the house. I was twelve and very angst, so I painted an abstract interpretation of a suicide that had taken place in my middle school. Skeleton's, black and gray, very sparse color-yeah, like I said, I was 12.

I scoffed at being asked to paint a "nice picture." I didn't do "nice."

This painting is bright, playful, uplifting and hopeful. There has been a lot of maturing and self-evaluation happening. While there are real dark emotions and negative things that need to be addressed in life, I know that don't need to wallow there to be "artistic." Life generally is bright and hopeful; I hope you enjoy the post and will excuse me for sharing something personal.
Merry Christmas, a season of glad tidings of great joy!

Backwards

These little acrylic paintings I did of my brother's struggle with ADD; I thought it worked out perfectly with the Illustration Friday theme. Sometimes we all end up a little backwards, even after the simplest of tasks.

Tooth Time

Here's one character I made up for a series of tooth adventures. There will be a cowboy(floss), rocket ranger(toothpaste), and celebrity (toothbrush). I'd like to incorporate a female tooth as well to make the set be more gender neutral, let me know if you have any ideas.

When an elf gets an idea...

A little known fact: When an Elf gets a good idea a bright incandescent bulb doesn't appear, but a whole strand of colorful Christmas lights. This Elf is looking for the burnt-out bulb in his string of good ideas. The Elf joins the Snowman & Santa that you've already seen. Thanks to Mark R. for pointing me toward increased saturation.

Enjoy, I'll try to post all three together to show the Christmas character set.

I said SKAT, not cat.

Here is a painting I did as a self-promotional piece. The primary reason, I've never painted animal characters before! I know, I know, but it's the ugly truth. I had a blast with the cat's facial expressions & humanizing the anatomy.
I've also discovered that I unconsciously try to break a story down to it's minimalist components, a good AND bad thing.
It's now open to criticism, how can I improve? Thanks to you all!

Dave

By the way, my wife and I added a baby boy, Caleb Wilson, to our family on Sunday. You may see a surprisingly good looking young model appear in upcoming paintings.