Last, but not least

Blogging about my blog.

Its very meta.

A quick hello goodbye

My amazingly talented friend and colleague built the brand for The Look Chicago and asked me to do some watercolor washes and the logo type for it! It has launched so go check it out.

The amazing friend also did my website and more recently built his own fancy website.

In the next couple of months we will be collaborating on a very exciting project so get your panties in a bunch with excitement.

I will also be doing a little photograph taking in Europe so be prepared for some unprofessional pictures and if you cannot bare to see bad vacation pictures I am sure this lady will do a better job of documenting our adventures.

I think I have linked all that is awesome in one short blog post....except maybe my oldest bestie who recently has been published in two different literary magazines namely Nerve and The Morning News...like woah.

Ok, off to see the Europeans!

Getting in a Jam

Immovable jam lid...we've all been there

(I am going away for two weeks to Berlin, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam...so no updates until I get back and then a thousand updates for all!)

IF: immovable

Camp Time

I finished this amazing project yesterday. It had a very very short turn around time and I was unsure of the project, but I am happy how it turned out. I usually do not do illustrations of people its just peoples animals. My client gave me a photograph of her uncle and his partner wearing something "matchy-campy" and she really wanted it as a humorous illustration.

Additionally, she wanted herself as a pig because her uncle calls her his little piglet. Yeah, it was a lot of concept and let me just say it is really funny on its own and then throwing in a piglet.....wearing a t-shirt, need I say more.

Catmoshere

Pun pun punny time. I am late in the week as usual. I wish I had a good excuse other than time, but really will attempt to get better when we get back Europe.

IF: atmosphere

Recipe time!

A new illustrated recipe that I submitted to theydrawandcook. Will update if/when it is published.

A productive day in hiding

I received my check today for the big freelance job I did and let me say, yay! Now if only I could get checks like that more often.

I spent the day drawing and painting this illustration. I wanted to do something fully developed because I have been feeling a bit stale lately. I just have had no time at all and what little time I have had I have spent on work stuff. I am going to try and do more concept driven work as it is always super satisfying. I am going to start on another illustration for theydrawandcook as I am a bit bored with what I submitted. It is ok, but they are going to publish a book and I want my best foot forward if something gets picked.

After that I really need to edit the chidren's book that my lovely bestie edited for me. It is a first draft and needs a lot of work and reworking so this fall is going to be a busy one....poop. I am hoping I can get the book printed by winter. This time I am going to look around for a local place to print 5-10 copies for submission instead of digital files. I also might try and self publish the ugly sweater if I can fix the formatting formatting issues I am having in InDesign.

Good things come to those who waste time

I have been busier than ever at work with our world coffee map, coffee education, and just working on the floor...and school is not even back in session. Drawing has been going slow and while I have a book to edit we are only a week and half away from the European tour. So without further delay here are the things that are the most exciting right now:

Receiving books from Emma Adbage one of my favorite children's book illustrators and writers.

Finally getting my new totes in! I have actually had them for a couple of weeks now, but I had not had time to take any pictures. They are very different than the last one, in terms of color, and I hope people buy them.

Star Blazing

1.

2.

3.
More for IF: star gazing (note I threw in a squirrel for good measure)

In the Mix

The theme of illustration friday last week was caged, but I did not get my act together to post it in time...so here it is now.

A tit mouse for good measure.

The dog, the bird, the local tomatoes, and the sleeping cat. Its not much, but some choice sketches from the little holiday.

I am feeling a bit stagnant with the drawing lately. I wanted to take a class or something, but the one figure drawing class that I wanted to do is the day we leave for europe...not that I am complaining about going to europe.

Starfish Gazing

Get it star gazing star fish....I mean really can I channel more dad humor than that?

IF: star gazing

Winnie's ways

Baby cage

Winnie as a baby reaching the candy mobile.

IF: cage (better late than never)

Zelda

This is Zelda, she died this year and a friend of her parents wanted an illustration to give as a gift to the family. I cannot get over how sweet a gesture this was and when my customer came to pick it up he gave me a big hug. I love animals portraits I kind of wish I could do them all the time.

It has been a slow summer for projects. I have been selling some prints and a few animal commissions, but nothing huge. I am anticipating a busy fall, but it all comes down to time. I was promoted at work, yay, but it also means I feel even more pressed for time. I am going to try and get the book done before things really rev up.

We have been going away on a lot of mini holidays, which is another reason I have not been updating or uploading work as much. I was reminded today that we only have 2.5 weeks until we run away to europe for 15 days. Berlin, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam here we come. If you are located in any of these cities and want to get together for a coffee shoot me a comment...and if you want some good single origin coffee from the states or art let me know maybe we can do a trade!

Recent observations: pigeons sit in the middle of street, like they are nesting, early in the morning on the streets of Manhattan. I thought one was hit by a car and just sitting there in shock, but then I saw two more the next morning nesting...and who said New York never sleeps.

Digidogs

Rope Swings and More

Winnie and the candy continues

Going to the Birds

Going away for the weekend again.

This is a little commission I did for one of my customers as a gift for her boyfriend.

I have a lot of illustrations I have not had the chance to correct and upload, but this is a start.

Lake Sketches

(Pimbies of Prospect Park wreaking cute havoc on the people of New York)

In the Wake of the Lake

The cute house we stayed inThe amazing view we had (basically I would walk out of the house, down the stairs, and straight into the water)
My Aunt's new dog Kazoo in all his glory