Real life has no theme music

Remember those totally motivating training montages in each of the ROCKY movies?

Eye of the Tiger is blasting away while Rocky kicks the crap out of adversity and builds himself into the ultimate boxing machine. Remember how amped up you got watching those? I'll bet I'm not the only one who wanted to go work out after leaving the theater.

Well, maybe for you it's not about physical training. Maybe it's about building a business, working on your art, studying, etc. Whatever it is, you know it requires a ton of hard work but you want the hard work to be somehow cool and inspiring like those training montages from Rocky.

BAD NEWS...
...out here in real life there's no theme music. There's no soundtrack following you around to make you feel invincible and you can't just cut the camera from shot to shot in a glorious emotionally compelling montage of your own hard work.

No, out here in real life hard work is a grind. It can be boring, dull, repetitive, lonely, inconvenient and exhausting. It's not sexy. It's not even close to sexy. A lot of times it just sucks.

You're busting your hump but you don't feel like a "Go-Getter". You don't feel like a future billionaire. You just feel tired. And you're making such tiny steps each day that you can't really even feel yourself moving.

It's not worth it. You probably won't make it anyway. Put down whatever it is you're doing and watch T.V. At least that's relaxing and you deserve a little relaxation, dammit!

Or...

GOOD NEWS...
...success is made in those long, lonely, quiet, non glamorous hours of hard ass, dull, repetitive, grinding work. There is no secret sauce for success but if there were, this is EXACTLY what it would taste like.

There won't be any theme music, you won't look cool doing it and most days you'll daydream about winning the lottery. You'll just have to gut it out. Plain and simple.

And then, after awhile, you'll suddenly be living your dream. That day DOES actually arrive eventually. And when you're at that point, looking around your life in amazement; you will not regret a single day of the dreadfully difficult work that got you there.

Next time you want to blow off work for awhile ask yourself if your future self (who's living the dream) would regret working today.

What do you think the answer is?

Motto

Yep. I'm in!

My sweetie pie sleepin’

Watching a woman sleep is a beautiful and soothing experience.

I’m an early riser so I often have the occasion to see Lauren sleeping. It never gets old.

There is just something so peaceful and wonderful about her feminine form laying comfortably on our bed while the rest of her is away in dream land. This time (as I’ve done in the past) I really wanted to draw her. I was short on time that morning though so I took a picture.

Months later, she came to me and asked me to do a series of figure drawings to frame and hang in our living room I knew right where to start!

"BOOK" - for IllustrationFriday.com

When you're a teenager it's campfire ghost stories. When you're a grown up it's horror movies. Ultimately though, it all starts right here at childhood.

Mom and dad have tucked you safely away in bed and you still take it upon yourself to pull out the flashlight, crack the spine on a book and scare yourself silly.

Lots of fun memories doing this!

How to Change the World is on a roll...

WOW!
My little cartoon is picking up some serious momentum! Thank you!

Many of you may remember me originally posting this cartoon last July. Well, suddenly it seems to be really resonating with people and picking up steam.

I've received numerous positive emails from people and solicitations to use the cartoon on products, it's also getting passed around Tumblr at an amazing rate.

Most mind blowing was a request from a nationally syndicated radio program to reference the cartoon on-air and post it on their website KeepThe Faith.com.

All of this feels so amazing because the attention is centered around something I believe in so strongly; the true and sincere power of love.

It's so easy to feel like one person can't make a difference in a sea of negativity. But I drew a little cartoon and it's really resonating with people. There is no better use for my creative abilities and I am beyond honored to know that I'm helping in some small way.

P.S. For those of you who haven't seen it yet I also created a Youtube video for this cartoon.

Sketching at LACMA

Sometimes the most beautiful works of art are found OUTSIDE the museum.

I recently visited LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and spent some time sketching in the outdoor courtyard.

This is a sketch from that trip. The weather was gorgeous and it was an absolutely perfect day to be sketching outside!

I was thinking...

…a life is kind of like a drawing.

Whenever you’re ready you can imagine it exactly as you’d like it to be.

Then you can begin to work on it.

If you have the diligence to continue creating the picture in your head even when it’s extremely difficult; and if you have the patience to work on it even when you’re tired and it’s far from over: you can create that beautiful masterpiece that you first imagined and then enjoy sharing it with others.

I love that.

New girl art everyday! - DailyDivaDrawing.com

BOO!

I'm super excited to finally announce my daily blog exclusively devoted to girl art!

It's on Tumblr.

If you're a fan of buxom bombshells, sexy superheros or even just a girl in a tee shirt and jeans then head on over to www.DailyDivaDrawing.com!

I post a new piece of girl art literally every single day. I'm up to day 99 already so there's plenty of goodies to see over there!!

I hope you'll join me in the fun with daily doses of cutie patooties but if that's not your cup of tea, don't sweat it. I'm keeping this blog goin' too.

Happy Halloween everybody!

Vampirella Halloween Illustration

With all this Twilight madness bringing vampires back in vogue I gotta think that old school fans of Vampirella are gnashing their teeth fangs.

Well, this one's for you!

I drew this 8x10 on chipboard with Prismacolor markers and pencils.

If you'd like to own the original art it's available here on eBay for a few days!

10 reasons why you’re beautiful the way you are

As an artist who draws an awful lot of physically idealized bombshells I'd like to share my sincere thoughts about beauty. 


This is not about the lies our culture feeds you to keep you insecure and buying things. This is not about you believing those lies & obsessing over your tiniest flaws.

This is about truth. The truth that YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and just a few of the reasons why…

10 reasons why you’re beautiful the way you are.

1. Your flaws. Your flaws are part of your unique and beautiful stamp. They’re attractive. You want to fix them (and the magazines agree) but don’t! You have a crooked tooth? Beautiful. A scar? Beautiful. A weird sneeze, cellulite, a pug nose, blah, blah blah: Beautiful! Personally, I LOVE flaws & I’m not alone on this (trust me).

2. The crush you don’t know about. Have you ever had a crush on someone but were too nervous to ever tell them? Of course. Everyday that you’re walking through life someone out there is promising themselves that this will be the day they get the guts to talk to you. That person (and hundreds of others who pass you on the street) will think you’re the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen and never have the courage to tell you.

3. You said yes. Remember that time when someone asked for help and you said yes? Remember what a difference you make in other people’s lives? If you’ve forgotten then it’s time for a refresher. Helping people is beautiful!

4. You love. It doesn’t matter what or who you love or if the love is ever returned. The selfless and unconditional positive energy that you give when you love makes you more beautiful than any amount of reciprocated approval. You love, and that makes you beautiful! 

5. They way you look when you think no one is watching. You adjust your skirt or sing in your car or drop your keys or blow your nose. Those small moments that you think are private rip away months of getting to know you and expose your humanity. And you know what? You’re beautiful! 

6. Your interests. Fashion? Manga? Movies? Art? People? Music? Underwater nickle stacking? Your interests are one of the most beautiful things about you. They are a window into what excites you and ignites your passion. That’s beautiful!

7. Your body. Yep, I said it. Already you disagree. You have a long list of things you hate about it. Well, sorry to spoil your party but your body is beautiful. If you wanna test my theory then go ask out five guys today. Watch what happens.

Turn off your television, close your laptop, burn your magazine and look outside. How many “Perfect” bodies do you see? And yet people are attracted to each other, loving each other and enjoying each other’s unique beauty. YOUR BODY IS BEAUTIFUL. Deal with it.

8. You just rolled out of bed. Have you ever had guys approach you or check you out on a day when you thought you looked like crap? Every woman I know talks about this. Wanna know why this happens? It’s because your walls are down. We see the real YOU and not your facade, and guess what; YOU are beautiful! Duh!

9. Your story. Your memories, your experiences, your fears, your strengths, your insecurities, your passions, your concerns your laughs and your cries. Your story. Maybe you don’t think you’re interesting. Maybe you shrink away from sharing how great you actually are but that doesn’t change the fact that you are great. Your story makes you beautiful.

10. The whole you. You are not a segmented & fragmented collection of characteristics, flaws and traits. You are a whole and complete human being. Everything about you (whether you judge it to be good or bad) contributes to the whole that is you. And the whole you is beautiful!

YOU, personally, are the only chance the world has ever had and will ever have to know the complete and unique expression of humanity that you are. You can share it or hide it but a flower is still a flower; and it’s beautiful even if no one ever sees it.

“Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.”

-Oscar Wilde

Halloween Black Cat

The Halloween Hottie hi-jinx continue! This time The Black Cat's got a gentleman caller...

8x10 on chipboard with Prismacolor markers, Prismacolor pencils and a few other odds and ends.

Halloween Batgirl

She may have the bats on her side but those ghosts are a different story!

I sold the original art for this on eBay and now I kinda want it back. Lol. It went to a good home though!

Just like the Catwoman I posted yesterday, I drew this on 8x10 chipboard

with Prismacolor Marker, Prismacolor Pencil, and other mixed media.

Catwoman Halloween Illustration

I gotta say, If this little feline gave me the option of Trick-Or-Treat, I'd definitely be thinking Treat!

It's time to get into the spirit of the holiday season by golly! Here's a little something I finished recently.

I drew this on 8x10 chipboard with Prismacolor Marker, Prismacolor Pencil, and other mixed media.

Self-Esteem & Building an Animation Portfolio

I've decided to take a good strong swing at building a solid Animation Portfolio.

For years I've lived right here in Burbank, CA among the studios and I've been terrified of rejection. A couple of years ago I submitted my portfolio to Nickelodeon and I received a follow up phone call to discuss it. The head of recruitment told me it was "Delightfully good" and had some notes for me on how to improve and resubmit.

I never did. The truth is that I've secretly always considered myself a hack and unworthy of any real level of success. That awful self-esteem has blocked me from passionately pursuing so many wonderful things in my life.

All that is over now. I almost died recently. I had a doctor tell me I was lucky. It was a close call and I'm quite simply finished doubting myself and settling for less than my best effort and full potential.

Wish me luck.

Close-Up Cutie: Wonder Woman (2 of 2)

I can think of two good reasons not to resist...

3x5 drawn on chipboard with Prismacolor marker, Prismacolor pencil, gel pen and brush pen.

Close-Up Cutie: Wonder Woman (1 of 2)

So let me get this right… you’re gonna tie me up with that lasso and then all you’re gonna do with me is make me tell the truth???

MAN! I just can NOT catch a break!

I've started a fun little series of these chipboard sketch cards called "Close-Up Cuties". They're a blast to draw and give me a free pass to focus on...uh... the details.

Tune in tomorrow for Wonder Woman's northern hemisphere!

I drew this on chipboard with Prismacolor markers, Prismacolor pencils and gel pen.

How To Approach Women

FINALLY! Here's an easy guide for those of us who weren't born with "The Gift."

I've had my share of epic failures in this department. I once spent about twenty minutes working up the courage to ask out a total bombshell at a restaurant only for her to flash her engagement ring in my face while her friends giggled.

Or the breathtaking girl in my old office building who rode the elevator with me every morning for months. Every night I would go home promising myself that the next day I would ask her out.

One morning (in a moment of pure bravery) as I was about to exit the elevator; I turned, began to speak and was suddenly smacked on both sides by the aggressively closing elevator doors which knocked the papers out of my trembling hands and squeezed me out of the elevator and out of her life forevermore.

So, for all of you fine fellows out there who are maybe just a little less than smooth when it comes to the opposite sex, this one's for you.

P.S. I eventually found out the name of the elevator girl: Angela. A friend of mine learned it when he met her and she took an instant and amorous liking to him. 

Video - How To Change The World

Sometimes a great idea can be even better.

That's how I felt about the cartoon I posted on Monday. It occurred to me that I might be able to enhance the emotional weight of the panel cartoon by creating a video with music. Hopefully I've done that because I really love the way this turned out. :)

A great big thank you to Dan-O for the free royalty free music: http://www.danosongs.com

How To Change The World

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."

-Margaret Mead

Courage: a remedy forged by individuals

Nowhere is your courage more evident or your strength more demonstrated than in the bold use of your individual voice in the face of group opposition.

Within you is all the strength and power necessary to begin to heal the world. Your voice. Your truth. your courage.

Use your voice! Love courageously!

Wear your courage like a badge of honor. 

T-Shirts available: click here.