Show Off and two new tees, “Heavy Reading” and “Faces,” are in and available for order in the shop. The shirts are available in multiple color combos. Get ‘em while they’re fresh. All order aways get a few extra goodies.
June 2, 2009
Rare Words process
I’ve been doing the Rare Words blog now for only about 2 months and in that time have done about 50 drawings. The response has been fantastic and it’s become the collaboration I had been hoping it would. I thought I would show a bit of the process behind one of my favorite submissions.
Trisha Alaniz submitted the phrase “relatively unscathed.” I begin each drawing in my sketchbook doing very small, loose thumbnails. If I find myself laboring over a drawing, a move onto the next one and will revisit it later. My first thoughts were to show some bodily harm that leaves the person still functioning (as you see from the 1 legged guy and the other split in half), but then the idea of a natural occurrence like a downed tree popped into my head driving home. Those doodles were done while driving and not looking down at the page!
I then pencil (again very loosely) onto a sheet of 9 x 12 watercolor paper. I knew I was going to ink this with a brush so I wanted the soft edges and dry brush effect that watercolor paper can give.
I scan the page in without erasing the pencils and as a grayscale image to retain the uneven blacks in the drawing. With all of the drawings, it’s been a goal to not be too precious with each drawing and to act on first instincts. While each drawing is colored in Photoshop, I used only flat colors and no textures that were not present in the drawing to begin with (ie. no fake backgrounds, gradients, etc.). I love the muted color palette in the finished piece.
May 31, 2009
Zombies!
This is a detail from my new skateboard deck for Coda. I can’t show the whole thing yet, but rest assured, it contains a whole lot more members of the zombie army.
I think this marks my first zombie drawing. I’ve been trying to think where this idea came from because I’m not usually one to draw the undead or monsters in general. I’ve been re-reading the old Swamp Thing comic from the late eighties and have been enjoying the monster melodrama that series is packed with.
May 21, 2009
MoCCA Art Fest 09
I will be at the MoCCA Art Festival in fine New York City June 6-7. The show is at a new venue this year at the 69th Regiment Armory (Lexington Avenue and 25th St). I’m looking foward to seeing it.
This will be your first chance to pick up Show Off (see previous post for a bit behind that book) and 2 new t-shirts—one with books and the other with faces. They’re being printed now so pics will come soon. If you can’t make it to the show, they will be up in the shop shortly after. For the Rare Words watchers, I’ll have the originals with me as well.
May 15, 2009
New Souther work
My friend Souther Salazar is having a new solo show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in NYC May 16 thru Jun 13, 2009. The new work looks amazing. Stop by if you are in the city or try to purchase a piece before they sell out.
