ooblog

So I’m sure you have all heard the Katy Perry “California Gurls” song featuring Snoop Dogg.  I can’t get it out of my head.  The video is cool, fun and colorful too.  As everyone knows I have a sweet tooth so the Candyland theme doesn’t hurt either.  The song makes me think of being creative for fun sake.  The act of creating art is not always about trying to convey a message or to make better art, but to just simply have fun and be in the moment.  Here is to making some new work just for the sake of making something.

Although the piece below is a specific piece for a short story, it reminds me of summer fun.  Maybe even a Coca Cola ad.

With economies collapsing, needs for extreme energy conservation with few consumers actually taking action, and the internet becoming our biggest source of connection to the world, I wonder when the downward spiral will change direction. Most of us don’t know who our neighbors are, and what they are doing.  The fragile structure that holds everything together appears to be weakening. The what is in it for me approach consistently becoming the norm.

I did the following piece for a short story about a struggling couple living in a trailer park.  The story address communication and a desire to connect with loved ones along with strangers.  When I did this piece I thought about the couple, but I also thought about the lives of their neighbors in the trailer park community they live in.  Even if the struggling couple makes it, what about everyone else, and what does that say about the community.

Speaking of community, this piece is in the first issue of Carrier Pigeon.  We are attempting to raise funds for publication through kickstarter.  If you are in the giving mood or have funds to donate please contribute.  Thanks in advance for all of your support.

“Carrier Pigeon is a magazine of illustrated fiction and fine art. By giving full creative control to the artists, illustrators, designers and writers this magazine hopes to level the conventional perception of the singularity of each artistic discipline. Carrier Pigeon provides artists with a venue for telling stories in an undisturbed environment by offering the chance to show full bodies of work and unconditional artistic freedom in both direct subject matter and the interpretation of text. This publication will be printed quarterly.”

To contribute to Carrier Pigeon please take a moment and go here.  http://kck.st/9lVXM2

My friend Almitra told me about a Craig Macneill film project she is working on from a chapter in a novel by friend Clay Chapman.  It is in the final stages of completion.  To contribute to Henley please go here. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1801923751/henley

There are great stories originating from books that eventually get made into movies.  Sometimes the movie is a good adaptation, but we know it will never be as good as the book.  My theory is partially related to the fact that descriptions of taste, thoughts,  mixed emotion vs actions, as well as things left up to ones imagination are often solved in the readers mind.  Interpretations of how to keep the story moving, relevance to plot, and engaging the viewer through action are often dilemmas addressed in movies.  Outside of this one might also think that the director is using the story line loosely to secretly tell his/her own story.  Regardless of the outcome, a person interested in reading should rarely decide not to read based on a movie interpretation.  A movie can only inspire people who haven’t read the subject, to give the book a chance.  In short, movies which are based on books should only increase readership and not the other way around.

I worked on the image below back in January of this year  for a PBR Contest.  I didn’t make the cut, but have decided to post the stages.  The idea was to make a Professional Beer Rocketeer.  Thoughts of a mechanical beer bull also came to mind.

I hope everyone was able to enjoy independence day.  I witnessed the Macy’s fireworks displayed off of the hudson river.  I could feel the explosions, smell the smoke and enjoyed the panoramic type visuals with surround sound echoing off of the building behind me.  It is always ironic to me how much people complain in crowds while the nation commemorates unity and freedom. I can only hope that when it really counts people will always work towards what is best for everyone.

There are only a few more days left to check out the Post-It show at Giant Robot off of 9th street.  The piece below is an image I recently did for the NY Times.  Many thanks to Aviva for the direction and the work.

Here is to not all things digital.  Contrary to mainstream belief,  digital is not always the answer.  I keep thinking of what Yoda said about the dark side. “Is the dark side stronger? Faster, more seductive…”  Ultimately it cost Luke his hand.

Here are some stages of a more traditional approach to image making.  Some of the work was enhanced digitally, but the concept and execution started with a little sweat, a treated surface and some ink.  I did this in response to the Rolling Stone article about McCrystal.

Many of my friends and family have children and with that being said, “Happy Father’s Day.”  Below is an illustration I did for Nylon Guys Magazine which is currently on the stands.  Nylon is one my top choices of magazines I want to get illustration work from so this was pretty exciting.  Thanks Alex for this wonderful assignment.

And Ozzy, I hope you like my illustration of you.  If you ever happen to read this, I’ll send you a copy of the image if you are interested.  Happy Fathers Day.

I’m going to be in the Giant Robot Post-It V show in NY.  Although the show will be up from June 19 – July 7, if you see something you like, you take it with you so getting there early gives you the best choices and a chance to see the whole show.  The shows reception is Saturday June 19th from 6:30 – 10.  I’m excited to be in the show which includes some pretty heavy hitters.  Below is the info along with my pieces for the show and three close-ups.  Hope you can make it!

Several years ago I purchased my first digital camera.  A few weeks ago the retractable lens jammed, so I decided to do some research for a new one.  The digital revolution has evolved faster than any other form of evolution I can think of, with the exception of the creation of the big bang theory, and in many way is on the consumers side.  I was able to buy a better camera for cheaper. (330.00 vs 212.00) for almost 4 times the digital quality.  Which brings me to a similar thought?  Does anyone buy extended warranties on items under 500.00 anymore?

Below is an image I made recently showing a woman surrounded by the almost defunct negative strip.  Version 1, although less traditional color wise, slightly emphases the ink work more than the other one.  Enjoy.

Recently I had a chance to look at the moon through a telescope.  I haven’t had that experience in over 20 years.  Although we accept the fact that space/planets/galaxy/universe exists, I couldn’t help but think “What is that thing doing out there.”  As this is Memorial Day weekend and people try to spend time with loved ones and family, I couldn’t help but think about those who aren’t here as well.  An appreciation for the now is always something to be thankful for.  We all have something to be thankful for even in memory.

Below is one of my favorite figure drawings, along with some details, from a sketch book still in the works.

One of my favorite pastime work horror stories starts when I was turned down for a higher position at a company I was working for.  I was pulled into a room and my manager gave me a review of what I had done and what might have gone wrong.  About a half an hour into the process my manager says, “It looks like you didn’t do so well on the …survey.”  My reply was” That’s funny,  I was never given the …survey.”

Below is a detail and image I made recently.  Reminds me of a Sherlock Holmes mystery.