Linocut Bookplates

         

I've recently learned linocut, and I couldn't be more stoked. The first thing I did was the skull/candle bookplate for my buddy Shaky for his recent birthday. Last week I did the inverted "ASE" bookplate for my personal library. I haven't got any printing ink yet, so I've been using oil paint (on the advice of a fellow illustrator), and it's working really well.  More projects will follow. 

TANGERINE TERROR Finally Done!

Finally, after months of mismatched sidecovers, the flake job on my 78 Honda cb125 is done! I bought the bike last summer as a means of practicing both Kustom painting and street riding, with the goal of getting it painted and then selling it to get something bigger and at least a couple of years older (a 72-76 cb500 would be ideal). The winter here has been very cold and relatively non sickle friendly, but it's starting to warm up, so I decided it was, at long last, time to finish painting it and get it sold so I can get something going for this Spring. All that was left to do were the sidecovers, and I finished them (having filled holes and sprayed my yellow base coat about a month ago) yesterday in the paint booth at work. Between coats on the covers, I painted this helmet for my ladyfriend to wear. We got it a couple of weeks ago at a 2nd hand shop for $10! I sanded it a week or two ago, then painted it all yesterday in the process seen in the photos. It will get some personalized lettering and a good coat of clear at a later date, but it looks pretty good in the sun right now. I've still got a little de-winterizing to do to the bike before it's ready to sell, and I will get some new photos of it up when that time comes. Of course, any interested parties can get in touch with me before that if the Tangerine Terror is a bike they just can't wait to own...

Self Portrait for Life Drawing

I did this self portrait from an old photo (same reference as the ink logo at the top of the screen) as part of my life drawing midterm (that's not drawing from life, I know, I know). I referenced myself in a mirror as well, to adjust for differences between the picture and what I look like right now. (no goatee) I left the newsprint I usually do this type of drawing on up on campus, so I had to draw on Strathmore 400 medium 18" x 24". The  media is Nupastel.

gott MITT uns

I did this quick ink sketch of Brother Mitt for my friends at the BYU Political Review last week, and the new issue with my (flipped) drawing hit the stands today. I wish I could take credit for the clever captions they included on separate issues (Collect all three: "That's President Romney, Brother", "What? You want me to disclose my tithing settlements too?", and "The Nation's hardest job, and no coffee"!), but those come from the clever staff at the Review. I like the BYUPR anyway, but I think this issue is especially interesting, probing the possibility of an Mormon president (both here as well as in Mali) and the history of Mormons in politics. The plan was for a little more complex illustration, but I just couldn't swing it this time around. I'm glad they were able to use this. Hopefully there will be more collaboration with them soon. Check out the full issue here http://www.byupoliticalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/January20112.pdf or pick up your own print copy on campus. Praise to the Man who campaigned with Jehova!

Night of the Hunter

Here is the finished version of the Night of the Hunter painting I hinted at in the last post, along with the process images. As you can see, I toyed with using a different head at first. Night of the Hunter has been a favorite film of mine since high school, and the scene with the burlesque dancer always stuck out to me as being particularly strong. I've been wanting to do a painting inspired by that scene for a while. I'm happy with how it turned out. My hands served as stand in models for Robert Mitchum's. 

Sneak Peak at the latest Work in Progress

Here's a glimpse at a painting I'm working on right now, trying to finish up in time for the Society of Illustrators student competition deadline. I should be done soon, and I'll post the whole thing when it's finished.

Oil Sketch of Angela

Angela was kind enough to sit for some photos for me last time she was here so that I would have some head reference to practice with. I did this quick 8"x10" on canvas board the other night from one of the photos. It also gave me a chance to take my nifty new bamboo easel (Christmas gift from my parents) for a spin. Sure beats sticky-tacking my canvases to the extra chair I stole from the kitchen to paint on all last semester.