Happy (almost) New Year

For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~ T.S. Eliot

Christmas Stuff

This year was sort of the Christmas that wasn't. It's my first holiday away from home, so I guess I wasn't really in the spirit. In fact, this morning I thought that Christmas was NEXT weekend, not this Sunday. Oops. Such is life of the self employed...

But I've been keeping a bit busy with some holiday activties...

I made a couple of Christmas Cards with markers. I was getting tired of doing everything digitally, so I broke out the ole' copics, which I usually just reserve for my sketchbook.
Christmas trees are expensive and a pain to haul up three stories, so instead of a tree, this year I decorated my studio Jackalope. Isn't he fancy?
I think that's pretty much it for 2011. January 1st and my whole life will focused on my Thesis, so I think I'm taking the rest of the year "off". Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jolly Festivus, etc.

Coaster Snowman!

For the last two years I've had the great opportunity to work with the fine people at KATZ Americas, creating illustrations for their Holiday Card. This year I got to make a cute assemble-able snowman, full of neat features like a scratch and sniff peppermint candy cane, spot UV, and lots of glitter! Very fun project, and happy to see that it turned out great!

Evolution of a Drawing

I got so busy in the last few months with other projects that I am just now getting around to finishing this up. The original has already been finished and sold, but I decided to revamp it digitally. It's about 60% done, and as you can see, it's got some really rough, flat areas, and a few more complete and pleasing areas.

One thing I've learned, is never show a client an illustration at this point. More often than not, they get extremely worried and focus on the unfinished parts, and question your ability to pull the job off. But I figure I can share this with you, dear readers, as you probably understand that an illustration goes through many phases. Mine usually are as follows-

1) I've got a brilliant idea for a new drawing!
2) Look at this beautiful sketch I made! Praise me!
3) Ok, it looks little boring now, but some color will jazz it up!
4) Hm. Well, don't worry about how flat it looks, it's going to pop soon.
5) This isn't turning out right...
6) This is the BEST piece I've ever made!
7) What happened?
8) I don't want to do this anymore.
9) OK, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...
10) Done! Isn't it good? Praise me!
Epilogue: (two days later....) Yeah. That turned out OK. But I've got a really brilliant idea for a new drawing!

In other news, I'm trying to find ways to entertain myself while being chained to the chair. Afraid of gaining the dreaded THESIS TWENTY, or worse, THESIS THIRTY pounds, instead of munching on cookies I've decided to munch on garlic. Garlic, you say? Yes, Garlic. Not only does it have amazing health benefits according to various hippie websites, but it is painful, and thus, somewhat entertaining and time consuming to eat. Note that this is a activity best suited for those in serious, understanding relationships or those who are reclusive and single (myself being latter).

Christmas is coming and my dear friend and amazing writer Kate demanded, cough, politely requested that I make her some gift labels. Since they are already made, here they are for you to print and use for whatever you wish. Ho. Ho. Ho. I suggest printing them on sticker paper to make life easy, but I'm sure the office laser jet and some double stick tape will work just as well. Just click to download and there you go.
Back to drawing. Right now I'm pretty much in the "I don't want to do this anymore' phase, but what can you do. Maybe I'll break out another clove of garlic and see how long that entertainment lasts.

New Studio, and 2011 Recap

2011 has been a heck of a year. I moved from Humboldt County, CA to Portland, OR all by myself, without knowing anybody here. Since living in Portland, I've moved FOUR times. However, I'm happy to report that now I finally have upgraded to a place where I can have my own studio, and not have to clumsily climb over my bed and kick a pile of dirty clothes to get to my computer. What a nice change!

Moving to a city young and alone, and with a freelance career to boot certainly brings its share of challenges. But on a good note, constant solitude encouraged me to gain some confidence and seek out a network of friends, and I've been lucky enough to meet a ton of fantastic artists, from painters to tattooists. I am especially thrilled to know illustrator Kevin Cross and fellow Hartford MFA candidate Lee White.

Looking back, I guess I would sum this year up as "The Year of Transition". I completed my first year as a full time illustrator and learned enough to fill volumes. Unfortunately, because of so much personal growing and changing, despite working full time as an illustrator, I didn't create as many personal works as I had hoped. I did, however, grow more confident with a pencil from constant sketching, and gained a better understanding of business in general, which I know will prepare me for my thesis work ahead of me...

I am really looking forward to 2012 and I have a feeling it is going to go fast. From January to March I will be creating my body of work for my thesis, and from April to June I will be writing and publishing my written thesis, along with revamping my business plan. Then in July, I'll finally be completely done with college and have my Master of Fine Arts degree!

Everything past July looks a little hazy. I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen. While I enjoy the freedom of a freelance career, I honestly want to get back into the working world. I'm not sure if that means in the form of a professor, or as an artist in the entertainment field, or something else entirely. I love Portland, but I'd go anywhere for a fresh opportunity, so we will see. I am optimistic and excited for the future.

Chicken Little

A sinking feeling set in as they realized..... The Sky is Falling!

WIP

Drew this today... will post process and finished illo soon!

Back from Pasadena

It's been a few weeks since we have returned from the University of Hartford's Low Residency MFA Pasadena trip. I can't believe that the class of 2012 only has one more contact period before our final summer session and graduation!

As usual, our program director Murray Tinkelman lined up amazing illustrators and fine artists to speak to us about their careers as well as the illustration industry. Speakers ranged from children's illustrators to concept artists and even a court illustrator to expand our idea of all the different avenues illustrators can choose.

Speakers included illustrators and artists, Joan Charles, Gary Meyer, Keith Batcheller, Kenton Nelson, Paul Rogers, Scott Anderson (2007 alumni), Rob Ruppel, Dan Quarnstrom, Joe Cepeda, Bill Robles, and Lon Levin. We also had a great presentation by Crystal Falcioni of Magnet Reps, who helped us understand an agency/artist relationship, and we visited Jeff Hardy's Floor 84 Studio in North Hollywood, where we got to see a gaming studio in action. Below are some highlights from the trip!

Courtroom illustrator Bill Robles shows illustrations from famous court cases including the Manson trial, OJ Simpson trial, and others
Joe Cepeda discusses compositions in his children's book illustrations, and the controversy of his illustrated book Nappy Hair.
Rob Ruppel discusses creating concept work for gaming and motion picture entertainment.
Class of 2007 Alumni Scott Anderson shares recent work along with discussing his life and career post MFA.
We were invited to the famous and beautiful Castle Green to attend lectures given by Kenton Nelson and Paul Rogers.
After visiting Castle Green, we were invited to Kenton Nelson's beautiful studio to view more of his art and workspace.
Thesis advisors Doug Anderson and Bill Thompson lead our illustration in context critique. Our assignment was to choose a subject, illustrator, and magazine from a certain era emulate their style for a cover piece.
Of course, this whole contact period took place in Pasadena which meant there were many other exciting things to see and do outside of class! Some of us spent an extra day going to Disneyland! Pictured is class of 2012 Inga Polsitur, Magge Gagliardi, Jim Burke, Ryan O'Rourke, and me, Aja Wells.
Other students went to the La Brea Tar Pits. Pictured class of 2013 Brad Albright. Many others spend their time at the Getty Museum, the famous Hollywood hills, and various other galleries and museums.
The weekend following our contact period, many students also went to the CTN Animation Expo. The CTN Animation Expo was a wonderful event showcasing some of the most talented animators and illustrators working today, including Bobby Chiu, Stephen Silver, David Colman, Peter de Seve, and James Gurney. Class of 2013 student Lee White was also a featured exhibitor.

Super-team Bobby Chui and Kei Acedera of Imaginism Studios were incredibly friendly people.

At the expo we also got to check out the new 27 inch Wacom Cintiq tablets. Definitely made me ache and wish I could turn in my 12 inch tablet for that thing of beauty.

Overall, it was another wonderful trip! Looking forward to this March, for Class of 2012's last travel period to Fort Worth, Texas!