Cat Process Post

Here's a tangled kitten for your typical Tuesday!

Temptation (scan)

I did this guy a couple months back, but I finally got to put him through the shmancy scanner.  So, here's "Temptation," without the horrid mobile upload.

Happy Friday!

Temptation

Happy [Late] Halloween!

Okay, it's a little late.  Unfortunately, due to Sandy's nasty temper, the completion of my trick-or-treat piece is a tad delayed.  Although according to Governor Christie, New Jersey's Halloween is November 5th.... so technically, I'm just ahead of schedule.

Also due to Sandy, I'm lacking the quality scanner I really need to capture this 16x20 watercolor.  I'm restrained to using the contemptible one I have at home. You know, one of those "amazing, all-in-one printer-copier-scanner-fax-machine-space-shuttle" kind of boxes with a plug.  It'd probably claim to cook too, if you leave it running long enough.  Anyway.  Once I'm able to get my hands on a smooth talking artist-quality scanner I'll be back with a better image and details.

In the meantime, my thoughts are with those affected and struggling through the aftermath of Sandy's wretched storm.  A terrible tragedy for our piece of the East Coast... I still can't believe this place I've called my home all my life has been washed away.  If anything, we are a strong slice of the country here in the NJ-NY merge, and I've witnessed a strength and bond in us stronger than I ever have.  I'm confident in the love I've seen of our homes, families, neighbors, and states, that we'll be back in no time.

Stay safe and strong, everyone.

Oh and, Happy Halloween.....

Animal Alphabet (take 2)

I'm sort of obligated to tell you this now, because with the announcement of my new website the cat is already out of the bag.  The "secret project" I was working on that delayed me from my book is.............drumroll.............. 

"Animal Alphabet," the 2nd Edition.  If you're familiar with the first edition you may notice some changes(but it's no fun if I point them out, so go ahead and have a ball), but the main difference is my choice of materials.  This one is strictly watercolor/colored pencil.

The above image is severely condensed, since the original is a whopping-half-my-size-20x30.  I know that doesn't sound huge, but when you're carrying that thing across campus in the middle of a wind storm and you find yourself singing Mary Poppins "Let's Go Fly A Kite," get back to me.  Due to the condensed size, I posted a few spot illustrations below to depict better detail.

And as usual, my favorite feline helping me do my work.  

Sloth!

Did you know sloths move so slowly their fur becomes a breeding ground for butterflies, beetles, and other insects?  Actually, they move so slowly, algae grows right on top of them making their fur turn green.  Ha!  Cleaned this guy up though, just for the shoot.

First Image of the Year

I wasn't quite sure how long this exploratory series was going to last before I lost momentum. Peculiarly enough, I seem to be picking up speed. These are still only trial pieces, but fun little images to keep my wheels from rusting over the holidays.

Happy New Year!

An addition to my new series of experimentation....

                     

As I'm sure many of you do, I have plans that I am very much looking forward to between now and the new year, so it's quite likely you won't hear from me until after the ball has dropped.  If that is the case, have a Happy New Year, everyone!  Stay safe, and best wishes.

Portrait Play

Here's a little something I've been playing around with lately.  I don't quite know what I'm going for, all I know is I've been filling the most recent pages of my sketchbook with portraits of animals in costume.  Sometimes I just need to do off-the-beat transition pieces to open the doors to something a little more substantial.  This is only the first of many of these silly little portraits, I did lots of fooling around.... desperate to open those doors.  Whether or not the others make it to the blog depends on how long I can maintain my motivation for.  Time is also the enemy, as always.