IF - Help

Everybody needs a "helping" hand...

Excellent work, Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Invention

Some "fun" inventions that have helped out in my life. Some good, some bad, but all very useful!

Keep up the great work!

Left to right: beer(particularly Newcastle), the iPod, Email (especially Gmail), Moleskine sketchbooks, Orbit gum, artificial light, cell phones, glasses, football, the internet, soda, the ballpoint pen, tv, pizza, watercolors, the Griffin iTrip

IF - Clear

The one piece of equipment that makes my world clear.

Kinda ironic, an artist with astigmatism (glasses since kindergarten!)

Great work, Illustration Fridayers!!

IF - Smoke

I guess I'm still on my ghost-like hand and squiggly line phase. Hmmmm...

I've enjoyed all of the pieces I've seen thus far. Keep up the great work!

IF - Wind

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

There is a wind of hope for those afflicted with breast cancer. May God bless all of you.

IF - Ghost

Our loved ones will always be with us.

A quick update: I sent out postcards 3 weeks ago, and haven't had a nibble, which I fully expected. I will send out others quarterly, and will be redesigning my site. Thanks for all of your comments, and keep up the great work!

IF - Smitten

I am, and will always be, smitten with my wife Becky. She is my everything, and with her love and support, she has given me the courage to follow my dreams.

There is some major down time at my job, so I've been doodling all day. This is a bit out of my norm for drawing, but it was fun.

Keep up all of the good work, Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Phobia

Ideophobia. Something us artists shouldn't have.

This topic stumped me at first. I googled "phobia", and there are a ton out there. I ran across Ideophobia, and thought it would be a challenge. While my wife, Becky, and I were driving out to Madison, I began to think that I should do another phobia, since I was struggling with this one, but as soon as I thought that, this image came to mind. A person afraid to "think outside of the box". This site is great for quick, challenging ideas.

IF - Change

Long time no post. My wife and I purchased a house in June, and have been working quite a bit on it. I can finally relax a little and start posting again.

This isn't one of my best pieces, but I've decided to use Illustration Friday as a quick, 2 hour turn around piece. Whatever comes to mind, I'll quickly do it.

I am going to receive my first round of postcards to send out tomorrow. Wish me luck! I'll be mailing postcards every 4 months, or every quarter. I'll be updating my blog with what's goin on, how the road towards freelance illustration is going, and so forth. It's nice to be creative again!

Rogue Wave Poster

Here's a version of the poster that I may go with. If you have any suggestions, they are much appreciated!

Illustration Friday - Sorry

"i'm sorry for what i've done
i went into it like a man
and the only thing on my skin
is some beach blown images"

- rogue wave "salesman at the day of the parade"

Here's my take on the topic "sorry"...I'm currently working on a poster for Rogue Wave who is going to play in Madison on 6/22. I really like the image, and like that passage from the song. So I figured, what the hell, I'll included the saying and image together. The bird, sitting on top of the tree, sorta represents someone hiding up high, sorrowful and apologetic.

I've added the concert poster to my main blog. Please visit and give any suggestions and/or criticism. Thanks!

Illustration Friday - Angels & Devils (part 2)

A second version of my original idea. I like this one the best. The first round is on my main blog. Again..mmmmmmmmm...cake....

Illustration Friday - Angels & Devils

mmmmmmmmmm.........cake........(kinda following last weeks theme).

Illustration Friday - Fat

My take on this weeks topic. As you can guess, the image shows America's journey down the road of obesity. To each their own.

I have added another piece to my blog as well. Please feel free to visit my main blog, and to post any comments and/or critiques of the other piece. I intend to put the "Globalization" piece in my portfolio. Thanks for all of your comments and support!!!

Globalization

This is a piece that I created based on a book review. The book is titled "The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger". Please feel free to post any comments and/or critiques. I intend to add this piece to my portfolio.

Health Magazine - Spot Illustrations

I found an article in Health Magazine rating the best snack, dinner and lunch items for 2006. On this project, I decided to go back to my watercolor roots and test my patience with them again. In the past, I didn't take the time to "work" the color. Well, I "worked it" this time, worked my patience and am very pleased with the outcome.

I'm sticking with using a bold line around the image. I liken it to melding the traditional with modern touches. The other pieces on this blog were created using colored pencil, ball point pen, and sharpie.

Please feel free to make comments, give out some tips, or constructive criticism.

Illustration Friday - Spring

Just a quick sketch. A little dark and blurry. It's not my best. I'm workin on some more pieces for my portfolio. Nothing yet on the postcards. We're in the process of buying our first house, so I've had my mind occupied lately. And now, time for a nap.

Illustration Friday - Feet

Here's my interpretation of the word "feet". I went through several ideas before this one popped in my head (while I was on the phone at work).

Currently, I am working on a piece for my portfolio based on the "impending" burst of the housing market bubble (I hope not. My wife and I are going to start looking for our first house next month). After that, I am going to do some spot illustrations on anti-virus software, Firewall, etc. I'll post those on my blog, and feel free to comment on them.

Question. Does anyone know when it is a good time of the week to send out postcards? My cards are going to print this weekend, and I am wondering if there is a good time to send them, like a Monday or Tuesday, so the art directors can get a quick glance and not bogged down by so many at the same time. Thanks for the help and comments!

Illustration Friday - Tattoo

Here's a little sketch that popped in my head the other day. I've always liked the look of tattoos, but would never want to get a sleeve of them. I have one, and am looking to get another in the near future. I have some touching up to do on this piece, but I like it thus far.

Currently, I am working on 2 more pieces for my portfolio. I hope to get them done by Sunday and have them up on my main site.

Illustration Friday - Insect

At first I wasn't going to do a piece for this week because I am concentrating on doing a few more pieces for my portfolio, putting the final touches on my postcard, and rounding out my mailing list. But, this little fella popped into my head, and I couldn't resist putting him down on paper. Enjoying a drink of that sweet golden nectar. mmmm....

Hopefully I can get my mailing list done, and get the postcards sent out asap. I'm going to be putting my work on some illustration sites so I can have my work viewed in other arenas. Thank you all for your positive comments!

Illustration Friday: Tea

The refreshing taste of natural tea. This was the first idea that popped in my head, so I decided to run with it. I'm still working on a few things with my drawings, but am ready to send out postcards and lookin forward to getting some jobs soon!

Illustration Friday: Song

Here's my interpretation of the word "Song". Portable mp3 players are very prominent right now, and the iPod is leading the way. I myself have an iPod, and it goes everywhere with me. That's why I made the iPod "fade" into the users hand, as if becoming a part of them. Just put it on shuffle, and you're taken to another world, from Jimi Hendrix ,Feist and Motorhead, to The Chemical Brothers and Sam Cooke.

I'm not too sure if I want to include this on my main site or not.

Illustration Friday: Simple

The simplicity and elegance of an egg. Plus, they taste good.

Illustration Friday: Chair

Here's my post for Illustration Friday's topic: chair. I sat and thought for awhile, and the image that kept popping in my head was that of a chair with it's back forming into a tree. I figured, since that's where a lot of chairs come from, what the hell.

America's Savings Rate

Here's my lastest piece that I just completed. It's a piece on how America
is actually in the red when it comes to personal savings. I know I used to be
in that category! I posted this at my main site as well.

My next piece will take on the topic of a father speaking to his Instant Messaging
savvy daughter.

Well, back to work! Postcards and self-promo pieces will soon be flyin outta this place!

See ya next time!

Illustration Friday - Glamour

Here's my first post for the Illustration Friday subject matter. With the paint by number concept, I was trying to convey how beauty nowadays is created artificially.

Hello!

Welcome to my blog! I hope to use this blog as a channel for self-promotion of my freelance illustration and also as a way to keep myself accountable as I move toward a successful illustration career. My ultimate goal is to employ myself full-time as an illustrator. Short-term, my objectives include marketing myself through direct mail and the web and obtaining assignments through these efforts.
I will be posting weekly to update my progress and to make commitments for the upcoming week.
Week One: January 29 to February 5

Monday-Saturday:
Each day I will work approximately 1 hour on obtaining names and addresses for my promotional mailing through the book, Artist’s and Graphic Designer’s Market.
The remaining time will be spent working on concepts for new illustrations. I am currently working on a concept for Illustration Friday's topic of the week; Glamour. I’ll be back later in the week with my finished product.