So many arms to cuddle you with! I want one.

I have an epic story I have been ruminating on for years that I have been taking notes on – for the first time I tried drawing one of the characters. Even tho it has al the traits i want: bald, tatoos, robe, sour expression, it doesn’t look like her yet. But i thought I would share anyway.

I will be posting tonight, got a squid kitty I want to show ya! Until then, here’s some visual therapy. I present, the “Hotel Particulier Dress” from Modcloth.

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For those who do not know yet, I am a closet materialist. Closet, because I do not spend nearly as much as I would like to. However I am constantly admiring and wishing to own things I find beautiful to look at. It is all part of my enjoyment of visual indulgence as a source of inspiration for art and painting and life in general. Fabric, colors, silhouette, all delicious and desired by my eyes.

I also find that I attract to the work of certain artists, be they illustrators, painters, or fashion designers. In this case, I find myself often attracted to the Christian Louboutin shoe (click here for video with proper pronunciation). Those fierce heels and red lacquered soles, NOM NOM. I need to make something clear: just because something is a Louboutin does NOT mean I will like it. I am a traitor to fashionistas all over the world for this. I have no loyalty to any set of designers, and I am sorry. In this way I am neither a purist, nor dependable. I am the worst kind of client. Since that’s cleared up I can continue my story.

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Thanks for the link Jardin!

I was doing my regular sweep of Architectural Digest online, when I saw this pattern.

Inspired by Suzanni designs, Dzhambul, a cotton-and-linen blend at Brunschwig & Fils, is in six new color combinations, including coral and green (shown). (June 2008)

I am usually not a fan of that particular green by itself, which on my monitor shows up as a faint pea. But enriched with those reds and the darker green tendrils framed by the auburn stroke changes it.  It creates a lovely, vibrant piece but the green is peaceful. The patterns spiral and move as if in a slow stream through a wildflowered countryside. Leaves and petals appear to float and spin. Its beautiful.

I shall post soon – just letting you know I am still here! Work gave me the left hook, and family gave plans the right hook (which was awesome, thanks guys!)- I’ll be back soon.

oops

It appears that Nautilla and Squidheart are friends – or at least this is when they first meet. I like drawing them.

As some of you know, I am a BIG fan Tony DiTerlizzi’s work. I got brave and decided to email him a link to my daily sketch blog. More than anything I wanted to say “Hey, I love you’re work, I love that its a style that’s so distinct and has gone mainstream, and as an artist I just wanted to share my work with someone I admire.” That’s the synopsis of my gushing email. And he wrote back!! That is something I definitely didn’t expect. I can imagine when you are an illustrator that has become as popular as him, you constantly have people gushing or telling you what they think of your work.

But here’s a piece of what he wrote:

“Thanks for the kind note – it always means a lot to hear from a fellow artist who is also a fan.
I think your work is fun and well-executed. Personally, I’d like to see more backgrounds and one character doing many things (like you would see in a children’s book).”

Totally awesome, plus constructive feedback – I’m completely wired. More backgrounds it is! So, here are some links to some of my favorite of his works:

The Spider and the Fly

Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You

Kenny and the Dragon

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

This was a mis-proportioned, rough sketch of an idea I want to finesse later, maybe into a painting. I didn’t have time so I just penciled it in the way I sketched it.

Playing with watercolor. Prints of this are available on DeviantArt, check it out here! There’s MOUSE PADS TOO!!
Its playing with magic.

As Aaron so brilliantly put: “they’re pure concentrated happiness”
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for introducing me!

A sketch I was inspire to do after seeing the “Naga” sketch on Pumpkinking3001′s deviant page.

Still Run from DANTE NOU on Vimeo.

I love running. I love it so much and this was like a joyexplosion to watch. It makes me want to run so bad! Its by Dante Nou from Adelaide, Australia. What an incredible artist. His other stuff is stunning as well…wow is all I have to say.

His website is here, http://dante.muxtape.com/

She all into the Nom Nom factor. Not sure she’s keen on carrots though…

If I was there, I might have peed my pants from laughter – this was a great way to start my morning, thanks so much Jardin for the link!

Mondays.

I like to think he’s guiding that little cloud out of the rain, backwards, and just noticed us looking at him.
It rained today on my way into work – it was so incredibly lovely. The clouds just broke. That incredible cerulean blue is peeking out from huge, grey, cloud masses whose weight seems more than the mountains they are floating above.

A creature which I am lovingly calling a Sea Goat. Otherwise known as a Chimera, or Chimaera. She looks so sad, maybe her ocarina is broken?

Presenting, my new watermark! YAY! As well as a very skin health conscious damsel on a flying carpet.

This is a Sherlock Holmes movie due out this year, December 2009. When I first heard about it I was convinced it was absurd. I loved the books and the stories, but I felt the elegance and campy humor of the character would not translate into a good movie that I would find entertaining. So many movies already have had that suave, know-it-all characters that solve crimes due to the influence of Sherlock Holmes the books (and amongst many others of that genre) that movie audiences wouldn’t see anything new. So I brushed off the movie as another failed attempt.

Then I saw this trailer. I am seeing this in theaters. This trailer has me so excited about the angle they are taking on Sherlock: a brawly, dirty genius. Not to mention Robert Downey Jr. seems to have nailed the campy humor which I so delight in. Without further ado, enjoy:

Director: Guy Ritchie
Sherlock Holmes : Robert Downey Jr.
Dr. John Watson : Jude Law
Music By : Hans Zimmer
Costume Design : Jenny Beavan

and check out this last one:
Aerial coordinator : Marc Wolff
That job title would look awesome on a business card!

I realize I have not been posting sketches, and I have one to post but I have not had the time to scan. I am frustrated by this, but I wanted to let you know I have not given up this project of sketching everyday. Work has been taking up a beastly amount of time, but everyday I still tell myself: SKETCH IF YOU CAN.

So, I wanted to show you what I have been working on. Here is the Princess and the Frog website, please enjoy! I was the lead designer, but in no way did I do this alone – these projects are all a group effort with brilliant people who hopefully someday I will be like.  I am very happy with this one.

This movie is awesome. Starring Anthony Dexter and Eva Gabor, this 1954 flick makes me want to make an illustrated poster for it. Oh, the GLAMOR! I just streamed it on Hulu and found myself smiling non-stop. Images of swords, ships, blushing damsels and dashing, honorable pirates are sailing in my mind, demanding paper and pencil.

The commercials are short, and the movie is all there. ENJOY!

Yep. I’m still pretty much a huge fan. I love this song, this video, her sass and sense of humor. I also love that she was posing in the wheelchair, and on crutches looking like a disjointed doll. I have a series of disjointed poses I’ve been ruminating on in my head that I’ve been aching to draw as it is, so when I saw this video I got excited. Speaking of which, as soon as I get to a scanner today I have a sketch to share, FINALLY!