Have a Merry, Moddy Xmas!

This is one of my latest creations, it's currently available as a card on the Foldsy site. Kind of an experiment for me, I haven't done anything quite this "design-y" in awhile. I am not sure where the initial idea came from, though I was inspired style-wise by this great book I picked up recently! It's called "All Wrapped up!" and it's a collection of all kinds of mid-century wrapping paper designs, complied by a fellow Bay Area artist named Kevin Akers. I swear, Chronicle Books always seems to have the most wonderful, unusual stuff... Check it out here:

All Wrapped Up! Groovy Gift Wrap of the 1960s

Anyway, other than that I have been busy with a new round of Flash work for a longtime client, and have been looking to drum up some additional ones. These days, you can't have "too much work."

A Happy Birthday indeed!

This is my submission for a new online card site, Foldsy.com. This idea for a birthday card came to me unexpectedly, and oddly enough, close to my actual birthday! Sort of what I imagined to be the unconscious desire of a maladjusted magician, or a sexually curious Looney Tunes fan. I wonder, how many times DID Bugs Bunny show up in drag over the years...

A Message From The Colonel

Just a little something that expresses the true desires of the dear Departed Col. Sanders...

Video Link

Rest in Peace, Barbara Bradley

I was surprised and saddened to learn today of the death of Barbara Bradley, an accomplished illustrator and longtime teacher at the Academy of Art in SF. Barbara is a legend amongst legions of artists, for she taught generations of students after a career in commercial illustration. I had the chance to study under her a few years ago, and it was an exciting, rigorous, enlightening, and rewarding experience for me as an artist and as a person. Barbara was honest and direct in her observations and criticisms, which could be hard to hear sometimes. She was never mean or vindictive, rather she was kind, but firm. Like a strong mother figure. She helped me improve in a lot of ways and always pushed all of us in her class to take our work to the highest level we could. I'll never forget those times. When I think of Barbara Bradley, I remember someone who loved what they did and was always willing to share their insights and experience with others. She was a witty, insightful, and positive person. I am sorry that she is gone, but glad that she is not suffering, and that she will be remembered by many people for many, many years. Her work will live on, as will the knowledge she shared. She helped foster the abilities and creative drive in so many people who now can take pleasure in and share their own wonderful creations. Those are her gifts to this world.

Orderliness feels good!

After a somewhat chaotic period, I have finally had the time to get my house in order, both in the physical and digital realms! When you are working full time little things start to creep up, and before ya know it there are little piles of paper and DVDs and assorted ephemera that can become big piles if you keep stepping over them on the way to work or bed. The computer can suffer a similar virtual dilemma, with all manner of mp3s and URL links scattered into digital clutter. Suffice it to say, as a generally orderly person I dinna like it when this clutter creeps up on me. With a more moderate schedule I have been able to get my PC un-frazzled and my desk and floor as well. Small triumph? Perhaps. Small triumphs can still feel good, and put one in a positive mood conducive to doing bigger and better things. I will take joy in every little thing I can!

What I've been up to

I've been away from my blog for a while now, so what have I been up to? Mostly a ton of work for my main client, but also, working up some new character designs as part of an online class I took. It was taught by Steven Silver, and it turned out to be a great experience that gave me valuable insights into what I am doing right and not-so-right with my character designs. Here are a couple of my creations from that course. Updated versions of them are likely to follow...