Viking expedition contest entry!!(?)

I just entered a short video contest for place on an a voyage to an ACTUAL patch of plastic marine debris in the Atlantic. The expedition, conducted by the 5 Gyres Institute, will be in June, and it seems like a great opportunity to increase awareness of this important environmental issue, as well as my current book.  

Here's the (terrible) video I made for the contest!:

If you're pickin' up what I'm puttin' down, please vote for me on the 5 Gyres Institute contest site !!!HERE!!!

You can vote once a day until the contest ends, please vote early and often. Thanks for your support!

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Progression of page 25 (bottom)

Inked, erased

painted

Blogged.

Progression of page 25 (top)

Inked, erased, masking fluid applied

painted, (re-inked), masking fluid removed

MoonriseMoonset

This is detail from a piece I entered into a group exhibition at Matthei Botanical Gardens late last year. These photos were taken in 2013, and for the exhibition I put them in a frame I found in an abandoned house outside of town.

The title of the exhibit was "50 Shades of Green" and challenged artists to interpret and explore the color green. It was a fun theme; this was my artist's statement displayed with the piece:

"MoonriseMoonset - Luna moths (Actias luna) emerge from their cocoons mouth-less. They have a week to mate, and then they die. In the top photograph, we see a male at the height of his splendor. Surrounded by the lush foliage of early summer, he hangs from a leaf, coupled to his mate. In the bottom photograph, we find a decaying Luna, perched on a mushroom in early autumn. The colors and telltale markings are still visible, leaving us to ponder the week during which those delicate, green wings were perfect, and the promise of life was at its fullest." 

The grind

Just finished painting page 25 of the new book. I might take a break tomorrow to focus on some of the less-creative aspects of this artist/author/illustrator life (taxes, shipping orders out, website stuff, taxes, TAXES).

I ain't even mad tho: motivation is still high, and there's plenty of chocolate milk in the fridge. Here's a glimpse of the last few days.

WIP + love for my corporate sponsors (not actually)  

A quick word about gear, if I may: I've definitely fallen out-of-love with my stockpile of Pigma Microns. I've amassed a rather impressive arsenal since my "Woodcutter" days, but I think the time has come to transition towards pens that...how can I say...don't start inexplicably leaking all over the work? So, let me introduce you to my lusty new partner: Copic Multiliner.

What I like:

• Refillable (less plastic waste - BAM)
• Replaceable tips 
• Aluminum barrel
• Water-based pigment ink - archival, waterproof, lightfast
• and lastly...LEAK-PROOf

So, as my dear Microns rupture, one by one, I will replace them with various sizes of Multiliners. 

New record!!!1

I don't...how even does this...

lol

New book - illustration samples

Here are a few snique-piques from my current project. I'll not go into too much detail about the illustration, except to say that the style is a bit more "realistic" than The Woodcutter. Each page (currently on 24 of 40) has had unique challenges, and these have encouraged me to grow and develop my craft in ways I'd not anticipated.

Japanese Cranes

A gift for a friend

Symbols of luck, longevity, and fidelity. I'll be painting more of these, I think. The red squares were made using a stamp, called a hanko, which has a reading of my name in kanji. It was a gift from a co-worker in Japan; using it brings back many fond memories of my time spent there.