Happy Holidays to One and ALL!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all my friends, family, and people nice enough to stop by and check out my bloggy blog.

As you can probably guess, this was this years Christmas Card.  I actually started it last November, but due to time and prioritization it got left by the sidelines until just recently.  Honestly it was a good thing, the original sketch needed work and last year I couldn't see what needed to be fixed on it.  So stepping away from it, I was able to return with a fresh eye and made a boat load of  revisions.

For the record, it's not Christmas in our household until we take our annual "Loki in a Stupid Holiday Hat" photo.  Enjoy the holiday festivities and be safe and healthy!

Sketch Dump - Fall 2010

Well, I was hoping to post the finished Christmas Card this week, but it's taking a tad longer than I thought, so this week is just a sketch book dump.  Sketches from the the last 4 months, taken from three sketch books.

The Crypt of Doom has a couple new items, like the Monster Girls Necklace and the Bookworm Bookmark below.

A Little Holiday Cheer

I spent a couple days racking my brain trying to think of something fun to make for the holidays. . . The fruitcake was fun last year, so I wanted to keep the holiday food trend going.  So, enter the "Frankenbread" Men.  Fun, freakish and fabulous, these guys have been so much fun to doodle I'll probably make 4 more and throw them all on a charm bracelet for the shop.

In case I don't upload again before Christmas, here's to a Happy Holiday Season for everyone!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Well, one thing I have to be thankful for this year is that my friend Lori gave me a bunch of those ACEO artist card thingys.  I found them a couple of days before Thanksgiving, but sadly I got sick with a doozy of a cold and was out of it for a few days.  Decided to wrap this little Thanksgiving themed food monster up today and still post it though even though the holiday has come and gone.  (He was supposed to be jellied cranberries from the can that no one bothered to slice up because he scared the bejuzus out of, but he looks more like one of those cups frat boys drink beer out of. . .)

To all my friends and family, I'm always thankful for your love and support.

Bookworms

Once upon a time, in 2005, I did some t-shirt designs.  I'd just recently been bit by an insect craze and did about 5 different little bugs, most of which were representations of their names.  This was the first time I drew my little bookworm.

Now, 5 years later I was thinking of revisiting him (since the t-shirts were never made) and making him a back to school item in my Etsy Shop.  Sadly I think that the back to school shopping has been done, so he won't get made into a charm, but at least he's cuter now.

Yes. . . just for personal fun I've posted both the 2005 and the 2010 version.

Also. . . More Sketchbook doodles!!  The crazy happy lady is supposed to be Donetella Versace.  She's got funny lips.

150

Well, whadda ya know. . . 150 blog posts.  Although I should probably post something monumental, post 150 is just going to be another sketchbook dump.

While watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition, the guy who was recieveing the makeover caught my attention.  He was a quite, manly man from Arkansas. . . spent the whole hour trying to draw what he looked like.  Not because he was amazing looking or anything, but because he was so. . . I don't know. *shrugs*

I've never just sat down and drawn people I see on TV.  It was actually really fun and Carlos keeps asking to see the page and starts laughing at it.

Speaking of Carlos. . .he got a little pissy with me this afternoon when he called from work.  Made me wonder what his day was like so I drew what I thought the other end of the conversation looked like, including his coworker Will.  Oh, yeah and the girl next to him is just having that internal battle of trying to decide if she wants to spend the $10 on the purse she likes in the store.  :P

And finally. . . posted another Spider Apron in my shop.  Had to raise the price, sadly, because a lot more time goes into those damn spider pockets than I was letting on.  This particular apron had three separate pockets made for it, but the first two had "problems" and were discarded.

Head back to the land of mischief, aka Work, aka South Park next week.  It already looks like it's going to be an interesting run!

Occasionally Homesick

On exceptionally hot and smoggy days I long for something old and familiar. . . like the fresh air, rain and grunge music.  At least I have an endless supply of Pearl Jam on my iPod and winter is coming.  :D

Speaking of home, I just recently returned from a wonderful trip home.  I was fortunate to spend two weeks up north in the Seattle/Olympia area.  As it turns out two weeks was still not enough time to visit everyone so I appologize to Dionne and Jacques for missing them on this trip up too.  Next time I'll come up for two weeks and rent a car. . .

(Thanks to my Bro and his wife for letting me crash there and occasionally steal her car.)

Doodle Dumpage

On my way up to Seattle, I had one of those rare days where I was happy with most of my sketch book doodles.  Drew the Harry Potter kids (kind of on accident), what I thought a Canadian Hipster might look like, and had a full metal Frappe courtsey of Tully's in the Burbank Airport.

Umbrella Girl Sketch

Lately I've been a little busy trying to follow through with projects I've started.  Most of them are promises I made a while back and am trying to finish up.  Others are new, and have had me going a little crazy.

For example. . . two posts ago I finished up a long over due painting for my friend Irene.  Once that was done, I decided to tackle an unfinished Spider Apron I started nearly a year ago as well.

Next up. . . a painting I've owed my sister-in-law for almost two years.  It's sad sometimes how family gets set on the back burner.  The drawing posted above will more than likely turn into Louise's painting.  I'm going to do a few more sketches in the next couple of weeks before I make my final decision, but this one's looking promising.

But more immediately in my future is my first ever adventure to the San Diego Comic Convention.  I've been avoiding the Con like the plague ever since I moved here almost 10 years ago.  I've heard horror stories about the crowding, the heat, and, of course, the smell.  This year would be like all the others, accept that I'm trying to branch out a little from my comfort zone (of my couch) and try new things.  This way when I say I HATE COMIC CON, I will have at least experienced it for myself.  :D

BWAN is OLD now. . .

Once upon a time I met a little potato farm girl named BWAN.  She was the ripe old age of 15 when we met at summer school, and now she's positively ANCIENT.

30 years ago, yesterday, was my dear friend's joyous day of birthing, and as a top secret gift, I contributed a page to a group sketch book.  This was my entry.

15 years of friendship entitles me to be mean. . . and silly.  I've earned it.

Oh, and this was the Facebook Invite Drawing.  Thanks to all the people who could make it out to the party!

Kacheeks In Love for Irene and Alan

A year ago now, when I was hanging out at Neopets for the summer, an old coworker and friend asked me if I could do a drawing of two Kacheeks (one yellow and one Island) in Chinese Traditional Wedding attire.

When Irene asked me for the drawing, I only intended on doing a marker drawing, but as time dragged on I decided that a painting would be well worth her and her Fiance's wait.  I just hope they like it.  >_<

I spent more time on this painting than I have on previous ones.  I had a very clear vision of what I wanted in my head and worked to try to make it happen as close to my vision as possible this time.  I started with some thumbnails, which I then expanded into a very detailed sketch (I usually just doodle something and then draw it strait on the watercolor paper and go).

After the sketch, I scanned it and did some super quick Photoshop color comps.  I initially wanted a pink cherry blossom tree, but I went for a more classic tree in the sketch.  When I tried to turn the classic tree pink, like a cherry blossom tree, it just didn't work and I just decided to keep it classic.

After the color comps I had to trace the sketch on the watercolor paper twice.  The first attempt was an epic failure due to old masking fluid that ripped the entire top layer of paper (including the sketch) off.  Once I recovered from the crushing blow of loosing the first painting (the wash on the sky looked REALLY good before it got ruined), I started over with a better brand of masking fluid and the GOOD Arches Watercolor paper.  Once the wash was complete and dry, I just finished off the rest of the painting in regular ol' opaque gouache.

Once it was finished I mixed up a little gold gouache and put a thin outline on the heart shaped sky.

The original frame Irene gave me was way too small, so I framed and matted it.  Hopefully the painting, the matting and the framing will make up for the year long wait she and her Fiance had to sit through.  :/

Baron von Cicula

Yup, it's a vampire popcicle. . . What?  You've never seen one before.  I guess you haven't dug deep enough into the back of your freezer lately.

Not entirely sure what I'm going to do with this little guy.  I was contemplating turning him into another summer charm or barette, but now I'm not too sure.

**Decision Made**

Baron von Cicula is now available as a cellphone charm in The Crypt of Doom.

Sugar Skulls

Well, as many of my Facebook friends know (as they have bombarded all week with this), I've created a new design for the Crypt of Doom, and I must say, it's doing rather well.

Like most adorably macabre artists, I have quite a sweet spot for Sugar Skulls, but I've been hesitant to draw any.  I think part of it is that I wanted to really try to make my Sugar Skulls look like the actual thing and not one inspired by tattoo art.  I love the bold colors and the fun patterns.

Anywho, so far I've used the one design to create the typical Cell Phone Charm, a pair of earrings, and for the first time, a hair clip/bobby pin.

Sugar Skull Cell Phone/ DS Charm

Sugar Skull Post Earrings

Sugar Skull Hair Clip/Bobby Pin

I think I'll probably do one or two more Sugar Skulls (for variety) and then move on to other adorably macabre subject matter. . . like my dear old friend the Voodoo Doll.

This week I'm going to be attempting to finish a long over due painting for a former coworker.  Which I will probably post next week once complete.

Sketchbook DUMP!!

So last week I posted this little print in my shop.  Usually I only post my finished paintings in the Crypt of Doom, but something about this sketch is just funny and I thought I'd see what would happen.  The first two prints of this (which I've called Career Day) I posted were a special commission and sold right away, but I've posted a third to see if anyone else might like to take it home with them.  :)

And the other sketches are fairly self explanitory.  I started drawing my fiance as Pig Pen from the Peanuts a while back.  Once or twice a week I document his rituals in my sketch book.  It can be something he's said to me, or an event we went through together, but most of the time it's how he makes me feel.  I wish I could say I make some of this stuff up, but sadly some of it's very real.

Oh, and I do have his permission.  He actually prefers me drawing him as a child as to an adult (which you can see in the second sketch).

One final reminder. . . Kids Rock, Saturday, June 12th from 2pm-7pm at Griffith Park's Old Zoo.  My little owl painting will be available in an auction.

Kiss the Cook

Okay, I haven't really posted anything I guess since blogger changed their upload template thingy.  After much frustration, I have finally figured it out and here is a new post.

This little guy is for a charity event, entitled "Kids Rock," coming up on June 12th at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.  Proceeds go to the Children's Nature Institute, which you can learn about more on their website: http://www.cni-kids.org.  This little guy above will be part of the "Birds of a Feather" art show at the Kids Rock Festival.  I'm not quite sure if he is for auction or if it's a raffle type situation, but if your interested, head over to the Old Zoo at Griffith Park on the 12th of June.

This is what he looks like in his cute little frame.  He measures 6"x6" square, and he and his little buddy are ready for summer with their BBQ equipment.  Below is the color comps I did in flash while I was procrastinating on actually starting the painting. . .

And this was the original sketch that showed up in my sketch book late one night.  I was actually going to do Miss Vulture's Tea Party, but she looked so cute I didn't want to share.  Actually every one I showed the sketch too, all turned to the little owl and wanted to know what he was, so he's the one that got made.

So yeah.  If your interested in turning out, the flyer is below.  :)

Cute Flower Hoarder and a Trash Collector

Thought these were cute.  :)

Sharks

Had the opportunity to draw some sharks this last week.  It took longer than I would have liked to get the ideas flowing, but I loved getting the opportunity to draw a shark.

I think the shark on the top right is my fave, but the bottom right one runs a close second.  The top guy kinda looks like he was chewing on rocks or something.

More Gadgets and another Bat

Well, with Valentine's Day being this Sunday, here is my final lovey-dovey post for the year. :) If you can't tell, bats really do love Valentine's Day.

Any who, this little guy was designed as a back up to the Bat's Kissing drawing. Bat's kissing was supposed to be a cell phone charm for all the little dark darlings out there who enjoy the holiday. Unfortunately, once it shrank, it was a tad too dark and detailed for anyone to see what was going on. So it was back to the drawing board.

And here is the finished Valentine's Day Bat charm. It's on sale in my little Crypt of Doom as we speak (read?).

And yes, I drew more Gadgets. I was lucky enough to get a test for a yet undisclosed boy's action show that is to be set 5 years into the future. They needed some gadgets and a vehicle to see if I could cut the mustard. . . and although I cut the cheese instead, it was a lot of fun to work on.