And so it begins...

Hello. Nothing special today. Just me babbling.

It's been nice relaxing the past couple of weeks. I have produced pieces, but it's nice to sit back and let ideas form. I made a promise to myself to put ALL ideas down, no matter how crazy or weird they are. They may not produce a finished piece, but at least they have life.

Thanks again for all of your support this year. It means the world to me to hear from you, and to know that even if I don't actually post a good piece, or a piece at all, you still visit.

I have a feeling deep in my heart that 2009 is going to be a great year, career-wise. I will continue to draw, study, learn, observe, etc., and let my ideas pour out. I will work my tail off to achieve my goals. There will be ups and downs, but knowing that I have a loving, supportive wife and fantastic families, those ups and downs will just be an inconvenience.

Thanks again, and see ya next year!

Hush-hush (clandestine)

"I thought I heard her calling my name now..."

or

"eye to eye, too shy shy, hush hush, eye to eye"

Ow! My shoulder!

Batting cage in Wisconsin Dells. I made the mistake of trying the "Really fast" pitch.

I have the tendency to let go of the bat with my right hand as I follow through, and that always leads to extreme pain as my left shoulder separates quickly from the socket and returns. Such joy!!

Note the sausage-like physique.

mmmmmm...wine...

At the Andretti Winery in Napa Valley...

Victorians

Some Victorian houses in SF...

This blog currently under construction...

...plus, I'm just relaxing today.

The real Christmas gift...

Merry Christmas!

I believe that if one has faith, they can enjoy both the real meaning of Christmas and the tradition it has become.

Have a fantastic day, God bless, and be safe.

Thank you for all of your support!

Voices within...

So many to listen to...

Not my best, but I'm glad that I posted a new piece.

Old gardening tools drawing...

I was leafing through some old drawings last night...

What up?

I've been consistent at being inconsistent. I have several ideas on paper, and have been trying to draw everyday. I just can't pull the trigger and finish something. I'm not really lacking confidence or ideas or anything. I think my brain may have froze from all the shoveling we've been doing...I promise to post more soon.

Thanks for your patience!

Was I always this happy?

Me on my second birthday...

Memories

A stroll down memory lane. My dad, my brother and me...

Check out my pose. I'm 3 in this picture. I look like a David Cassidy-wannabe, leisure suit and all...

Similar

A bit late for Illustration Friday, but it just came to me today. Oh well...

Here we go again...

Another snowy winter! More than normal, that is...

FYI - That's the State of Wisconsin

Dark snow...

Demon snow fell from the sky. We are expected to get 8 - 14 inches Thursday night into Friday.

The street light looks like a desk lamp...

You know, by calling it "demon snow", I'm probably jinxing us. I take it back!

Commercialization...

A drawing from 2005. I thought it was fitting, given the time of the year...

Busy, busy, busy...

It's been a very busy past couple of weeks. With the holidays and such, and being busy at work, I haven't really had a chance to just draw.

Thank you for your continued support through this slow art period.

***

Of course, I wish being busy meant working on commissioned pieces (actually, one was, so I am truly grateful for that). In time...

Eastern Bloc?

Nope. The Budweiser plant in the STL.

hmmm...

My computer screen through bubble wrap...

More doodling...

Sorry for the lack of new work this week. I've been relaxing, and it's just been one of those weeks. Plus, I've been a little brain dead...

Polaroid experiment...

A little experiment. To be honest, I don't remember how I did this. Looks like a fishing lure...

Wintery observation...

My sweater on the back of a chair. A drawing completed as demon snow fell from the sky...

-Ball point pen

This blog is closed due to inclement weather...

We have a lovely snowstorm that started last night and will end today. Becky has a test that she HAS to attended today. Of all the days to have a major storm.

Oh, and for those who at some point may visit Wisconsin in the winter for some reason, always remember this formula:

Heavy snowstorm + low visibility + four wheel drive = drive super fast

I just don't get why people (idiots) insist on driving fast in the snow...

Idea in hand...

Fun with mousse. Last "thought/speech" bubble for a bit...maybe.

College Punk

(click for larger image)

Ha! Me at my senior show in college. Look at me. I look like a punk. Elvis hairdo. Big goggly glasses. What's with me flashing "The Shocker" sign? *sigh*

Check out the work. Not too bad. I was big into The Maxx at that point, and into watercolor. How things have changed.

Mexico

On a trip to Mexico taken ions ago...

*** update ***

"ions"?!! "eons"...

Think Green (in technicolor!)...

With background:



Without background:

Think Green...

Just a black and white drawing for tonight. Kinda schleepy. Will post the coloring tomorrow or next week.

Thanks again for your support!

One-sided argument

I figured I'd continue with the thought/speech bubble motif for the rest of the week...

Oh, and I still suck at coming up with creative titles.

Balloon (IF)

Tag, you're it!

I've been tagged by Josh "Musarter" to write 7 random facts about myself. Here it goes...

1. I am of Hispanic and Philippine decent.

So, that means I’m not the tallest person in the world, I have a large head, and am quite gassy. Not really sure if that has anything to do with my heritage (no offense to others like me), but it’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

2. I am a big geek at heart.

I’ve always been a geek. Not so much a nerd. I was never into D&D, or the sci-fi genre. I’m more into gadgets (iPods, cell phones, HDTV, etc.). I don’t know much about HTML, XML, or any of the other Internet acronyms. I just kind of skirt by when it comes to setting up my website. I sit in front of the computer, press all of the wrong keys, get upset, and Becky comes and rescues me.

Also, I have all of my old, and new, Transformers on display in our office. I was 10 when the Transformers toy and cartoon came out, and I’ve never lost my liking of them. Yes, I own the movie, and no, I don’t play with the toys….yet.

Plus, I like to think that I dress pretty well for a geek.

3. I have a very short attention span.

I always say that I have the attention span of a tadpole. And, truth be told, I believe that I have adult ADHD. For instance, while working on this very piece, I walked to the kitchen to get some water, and instantly started to wash the dishes. I never thought that I should finish what I started. In fact, I had forgotten that I was working on this.

One day I was cooking some eggs, and the thought of doing the laundry entered my mind, so I started to make my way downstairs as the eggs cooked. ADHD? I’m not sure, but I can’t concentrate if my life depended on it. Actually, that’s a lie. Babe, you can count on me!

4. I have never broken a bone in my body.

(currently knocking on wood)

5. I’ m an artist with bad astigmatism. Really bad.

I have worn glasses since kindergarten. I tried contacts from my senior year in high school to my sophomore year in college, but became tired of them. They were gas permeable, and they pretty much sucked. I finally brought myself to the 21st century, and got some modern glasses.

6. I holler at only 2 things in life.

Other drivers, and Wisconsin sports teams.


7. I married the bestest woman in the world.

‘Nough said.

Now you know a little bit about me. If you'll excuse me, I have to go start something, forget that I'm doing it, and start something new.

What was I doing?

Majestic...

On our way to Vegas...

Shelter...

...from the harsh reality of Alcatraz.

I know I lied about no more SF pictures. Whaddya gonna do?

Mike the Human Troll Doll

Me as a baby.

(sorry for not posting an original piece. Kinda relaxing for the next few days).

For my eyes only...

I've been working on a commissioned piece for the past few days. I'm a night owl, so I tend to stay up way past my bedtime. Plus, I have to get up at 5:30 for work. zzzz...

Sorry, no image today

I'm currently working on a commissioned piece, and by the time I looked at the clock last night, it was 10:45. That meant it's sleepy time! I was too tired to scan in the image I was going to post today.

I'll post it tomorrow.

Barf...

Taken atop the Stratosphere in Vegas. I, of course, did not take the picture because I am quite afraid of heights...

My wife Becky took the picture. Bless her steel stomach. I instantly become dizzy when I look down from just 5 floors...

(Opinion) Even my two cents...

are in disagreement...

Padre Island - 2

Padre Island - 1

Some images from a trip to Padre Island with Becky and my family...

Housing problems

A piece that I'm currently working on. I have some other things in the works, just need to put more ideas down on paper.

Thanks again for all of your support. It means a ton!

Men's Health - Road Rage

Some illustrations I did for Mens Health - Philippines.

AD: Glen Concio (fantastic to work with).

Sometimes we pretend...

...to be something we're not.

Men's Health - PC Ailments

Some illustrations I did for Men's Health - Philippines.

AD: Glen Concio (fantastic to work with).

Happily medicated...

Playing with some different textures and such. I like the line work, but would like to add a little more "rough" lines to it, kind of like the lines in "Wise Choice". But, I'm not sure yet.

I definitely like the direction. I think including a few more "looser" lines with the texture, and I'll be closer to what I'm looking to accomplish. I still think that I need to add more dynamification (my word), though...

My baby and I...

What a great time...and nobody better to experience San Francisco with than my baby.

Alright, last San Francisco picture, I promise.

Another page....

...from my sketchbook. I know, I know. It's not as fun. Well, I've been kinda tired as of late, and haven't gotten around to doing a real piece.

Cilantro

A little drawing for my mom. Long time no gouache.

Yesterday's observation...

A quick drawing of my water bottle...and some squid/box thingy.

Wise choice

"You have chosen...wisely"

Indiana Jones is the sh*t. Maybe I'll get the DVD box set for Christmas...

*****

For those of you who haven't seen Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, a quick synopsis of the part I drew (courtesy of Wikipedia):

"Guided by the diary, Indiana circumvents three deadly booby traps, reaching a room where a knight of the First Crusade, kept alive by the power of the Grail, has hidden it among many false cups, while Donovan and Elsa (from the nazi party) follow. The knight informs them that, if they wish for the Grail, they must choose wisely for it, for while drinking from the true Grail will bring them everlasting life, a false Grail will take it from them. Elsa identifies a golden, bejeweled cup as the Grail, and Donovan impatiently drinks from it. Realizing the Grail is false, Donovan dies, aging rapidly into dust.

Indiana picks out the true Grail, a plain cup with a gold interior, worthy of a humble carpenter (Jesus), and drinks from it, whereupon the knight advises him that he has chosen "wisely". "

Sorry...

...for the lack of "finished" pieces as of late. I seem to have hit a wall, and sketches are all I have at this point. I'll have some more completed pieces soon...hopefully. Just another bump in the road, that's all!

Artwork for the living room...

Some artwork for the living room I created last night...