Cutie Pie #1

Here's my latest Cutie Pie...

This was a lot of fun! I completed the sketch (seen above in blue) for this piece last month but I was in the mood to color it today so I took a swing at it. I had intended to just whip out a quick, sketchy coloring job in marker. As it was coming together though, I realized how finished and nice it could look if I just took a little more time with it. So that's what I did.
The color was done with Prismacolor marker on laser paper with accents in colored pencil.

Enjoy!

P.s. I worked on this while listening to online archives of one of my all time favorite radio programs called This American Life. The free online archive contains every one of their weekly hour long shows for the past 14 years (including this year, 2008). That show is a regular companion of mine while illustrating and I highly recommend it! Here's a link...

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Archive.aspx



And that's my truth.

Self Portrait

A cartoon sketch of myself.

I have sketched myself dozens of times in my sketchbooks. I usually do it in the context of a funny story or along with some notes or personal insights. I have never taken the time, however, to sit down and draw an actual self portrait. So here's one that combines the fun, lighthearted spirit of a sketch with a little more effort and attention on my part.

I drew this while listening to a variety of songs that have moved me in some way over the years. It was fun to take a little emotionally nostalgic ride and think of all the different things that make me who I am.


And that's my truth.

Cupid's Cashing In!

"Puppy Love" - A fun little valentine's day illustration.


Wow, man.
Cupid is quite the capitalist. Not that I mind, really. Arrows aren't free, I realize that. But today I was caught off guard by his guerrilla tactics. Here's how it all shook down...

Every month I take my Sweetie Lauren out for "Date Night". This month I decided to have date night on Valentine's day. Makes sense right? So I had a nice gift for her and I made reservations at a restaurant that she really likes. The place is a little pricey but so what. It's date night and Valentine's day besides.

So Lauren gets home from work and I tell her about the dinner reservations and also the romantic movie that I'm going to take her to. She's excited and I'm feeling great because I've planned a fun evening for us that we'll both love.

We get to the restaurant and the place is all decorated for Valentine's day, nice touches. As we're ordering drinks our server tells us that the meal comes with 2 glasses of champagne. Cool. My brain did a quick hesitant calculation that it might be some scheme to charge us more for the meal but then I let it go. After all, there hadn't been any signs or indication that this was an added cost for a Valentine's day promotion. I enjoyed the optimistic yet ultimately naive idea that the restaurant was going the extra mile and doing something nice for it's customers. So we ate and laughed and had a great time. As we were finishing up, our server asked us what dessert we would like (because it was included) and that's when I knew the trap had been sprung. The dessert was rich and delicious.

The bill was equally decadent. They jacked up the price for all of us lovebirds.

Now listen, I'm not a cheapskate. I like to take my girl out and we have a great time! But I don't appreciate the sucker punch. Very uncool. I had to cancel the movie part of the date (dinner bled me dry, man). But we made up for it by going home, watching "Sixteen Candles" on cable, eating Valentine's chocolate and then I drew her a bath with some new bubble bath.

Ultimately the money was inconsequential. I was just really disappointed that I couldn't deliver the fun date that I had planned. I look forward to our "Date Nights" because they're so much fun and I get to treat Lauren to a night out, guilt free. It really bummed me out and made me sad.

So, Cupid, well done. You've mastered commerce and financed your operation for a little while longer. Hopefully this little score will buy you enough arrows to fire off a few for free next year.


P.s. Yesterday I was listening to a radio interview with a famous romance novelist and he shocked his interviewer by admitting that he and his wife are completely opposed to Valentine's day and don't celebrate it. His reason was about what you'd expect. He feels that the commercialization of something so beautiful and rare as true love cheapens the experience, reduces it to a wad of cash and someone else's words on a card.

I didn't think much of it at the time. But I thought a lot about it today.


And that's my truth.

Coffee Shop Sketching #1

A page from my sketchbook.

How does an illustrator spend a Friday night? You guessed it kids...drawing!
It's almost 1am and I'm back from a night of sketching at my local coffee shop. Lots of activity and conversation tonight. People stopped by, complimented my work, asked for my business card, etc. Early in the evening a group of little kids formed around me to watch. That's always fun. Incidentally adults also form the same sorts of groups to watch me as well. That's also a fun feeling.

I remember one time I was sitting by the corner window (like tonight) and working on an Al Pacino portrait for a client. I became aware that there might be a couple people watching from outside. When I looked up I was stunned. A group of about 10 to 15 people had gathered around the windows to watch me. It was crazy! I remember smiling sort of sheepishly as a bunch of them started giving me thumbs up and gesturing "Good Job!"

Well, I just thought I'd drop a quick blog and share this page from my sketchbook. I think I'll hop over to the drawing board now and make a little progress on a portfolio piece I've got cookin'.

'night!

And that's my truth.