Publicity

Gabrielle wrote an amazing piece about me for her blog! I am so honored to be written about and there is audio too...wowza.

Two More New Yorker entries

Eustihpster Tilleyberg:

Eustace Marshmallow Man:
I think its time to stop...but its soooo hard once you have started. Some ideas are better than others and I have been double checking to make sure I am not doing something that has already been done. This might seem unlikely, but so far Godzilla and batman (well twoface with the bat signal) have already been done. So, all good ideas have definitely been done. I am trying to think outside the box a bit, but I still worry that some of these might actually be themes. Going to attempt to stop now that we are going home and I probably won't have time anyway.

To see the entries so far or browse from previous years: The New Yorker

Wine Totes

They came right before we left for Xmas and here they are. I will be putting these bad boys on etsy as soon as we make it back. I am so thrilled with how they turned out. January I am going to spend all my money on making new totes.

Shout out on Theispot

Eustace Tilley entry 2

The second entry for the Eutace Tilley contest. I am using a foreign scanner so the quality is a little less than I would like, but I have a lot of time now so I feel compelled to get them up on the site before I lose time and desire.

Eustace Tilley entry 1

This is my first entry for Eustace Tilley cover contest. I am happy with the entry. The only real issue I have with the entry is that I made liberty facing forward and not side ways as Eustace Tilley would be. I felt that to get the image to read effectively she needed to face forward. I am going to try to do a few before the Jan 24th deadline. I looked at the winner from last year and I do not image winning, but either way its a great exercise.

Frozen Winter

Stuck in Maryland for another blizzard..it feels like last year. I am using a different scanner so excuse the lack of photoshopping it looked washed out when I adjusted the levels. Its cold out there luckily I am inside by a fire with my sketchbooks and watercolors.

IF: Winter

Food Network Blog

Hey I made it on the Food Network Blog!

And there is still the grand prize to wait on. Check They Draw and Cook at the end of the month.

Welcome to the green room

This is the only page I am uploading in its entirety. This is the first page of the new book. I probably should not be giving it away so early, but I am too excited. I hope to have it done by the end of January, but it all depends on how slow that month is. December has been my busiest month since we moved here (in terms of commissions and projects), but I have a feeling January will be slow. So, get excited and I will post some detail pix of the pages that follow.

Air Mail

Some sketches of mail...you know the kind you can hold in your hand. Its hard to remember what that stuff looks like.

IF: Mail

Mo and Adzuki

Say hello to Adzuki and Mo (possibly the last animal commission of 2010)! These cute little shitzu's belong to Anita Lo the owner and chef of Annisa. It was a complicated task working on this commission as her partner wanted me to include their favorite toys (piggy and bee) and Annisa as Mo and Adzuki are there every day to eat scraps, guard the door, and bark at bad waiters.

The solution I came up with was to make a close up portrait of the two dogs and their toys and use one of the squares, I usually just have a block of solid color, as the window. The windows of Annisa lend themselves to this ideas as they are rather large and square. I created different washes of orange to help create depth and the idea of the interior without being too distracting.

It was a fun exercise and I am really happy with the end result!

Confession

I have been in a state of complete silent panic over the past couple of days. I am competing in a competition for baristas...yes these things exist and the big ones like U.S. and World champions are even on CNN2. ANyway, I am training, which is super stressful, as I hate public speaking and being watched, but if I am ever going to try, now is the time. So, this has been occupying my brain along with something way more embarrassing...Twilight. I am reading the book. I have lost the respect of friends and it might ruin my reputation....but its actually really good. I am so happy I am not a teen anymore, but its fun and just as well written as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books. So, now that it is out there I am off to continue reading and try to focus on the last, potentially, animal illustration of 2010.

Above is an illustration show poster commissioned by Krista, the voice behind AFTERNOON, go check her out the music is amazing.

Animal Phenoms

I am feeling a little burnt out, but here are little doodles on the theme.

IF: Phenomenon

Biriba in Hermes

Doggone

Many many dogs. Here are the latest dogs.

Airbag

Say hello to Airbag! Also known as Chaplin...but here he is in serious form and silly doggy form.

Meet Teddy

The Dauphin of Dogs

Commission Remission

I have been in the slog of animal commissions (which I am grateful for) so doing any work for myself has been pushed to the back burner. I am going to cut back my schedule at work in January to focus on the book I want to write and illustrate. The last book I did was sent out, got good rejections and feedback, and it went no further. So I writing and illustrating a book that takes into account all the feedback I received. I think this project will be really good. So, for now, 6 more animal commissions to work on, but here is a little doodle I did last night.

The More the Terrier

Prehistoric Greeting

Hello!

IF: Prehistoric

One happy family

Animal commissions.

What the Butt

Inspired by my cat and something for V-day. More to come....right now doggie commissions and there are hats!

Savour it for later

5 animal commissions in the works....which translates to 8 because a few have multiple animals. I love the holidays because of the gifts I get to make, but I hate how little time I have.

Very quick illustration for IF: Savour

Wine totes

I put in an order for wine bottle totes...this is extremely exciting. I have been super slow on my tote reordering this year as I have been so busy. They are super affordable and its a place that does their bags and printing in house. If all goes well I might put in two orders. I have to decide what is going to be printed on the next grocery tote. Suggestions are welcome, of course.

Chicken Sausage Stew

Last contest entry image! I did this one while at home. I happened to make up the recipe last week. It was getting really cold again and I wanted to make a stew and behold! It was really really good. I might even need to eat some right now....

wish me luck. They will start to be posted on they draw and cook December and the winners will be announced at the end of the month.

Sneaky Frenchy

Had no time to do an illustration for IF this week; however, I am currently stuck on a bus with nothing to do but play on my computer. So, for a departure from my usual gouache illustrations here is a little digital adventure. If I have time I will do a little something in gouache, but for now enjoy the frenchy!

IF: sneaky

They Draw and Cook contest Judge info

This judge line up is amazing! It kinda makes me wanna puke a little actually...ok, maybe there will be time for one more illustration submission; if I can swing it it would be so awesome. I think 3 submissions for this contest is pretty solid and so far I am happy with the work even if it does not place.

Actually, our new art show is half up at 13th street Joe and it looks so great. I printed the recipes at 13 x 19 with frames and they look so nice really big. I will have pictures when I get back from DC for the holidays. We are having an opening on Dec. 2nd from 8:30-10 so if anyone is in town and wants to come shmooze, drink a lil 3 buck vino, and buy some holiday stuff it will be amazeballs.

My favorite recipe

Another Recipe!

Cannot wait to be home to make this for Thanksgiving

New Mugs!

Roasted Root Veg. process drawings

Sneak peak at the newest illustrated recipe! Color is on the way and I am excited to have moved out of the kitchen and into the back yard.

Squirrel of a time

Squirrels! Tags for Xmas/Hanukkah presents down to the wire and behind schedule as usual. I feel overwhelmed, but hopefully it will work out well. Also, I made some awesome mugs that I will put up on etsy tomorrow....or saturday. They look great and I will try to get some other ceramics done with enough time to mail for the holidays.