Fall is here...

Monster Mash(ed)

In honor of Halloween...

Peace Agreement

Stuck in a rut

Gambling Addiction

String Theory

Partly Cloudy

Partly Sunny

"Pails" in comparison...

Must see TV...

Food for Thought

A - Z

Shaving off a few pounds...

IF - The Blues

I remembered, with the help of Elizabeth Dulemba, that I too have a Bluebird drawing. I did this for my mother-in-law who loves birds.

I've begun to post a daily image on my blog. It's a nice challenge, and gives those little crazy thoughts I have a life.

Thanks in advance!

More clicks anywhere you are...

Man's first attempt at wireless technology. It didn't work out so well...

DEVOum FLYTRAPus

Soap Box

I'm really not understanding this whole "soap box" thing...

Well, I have decided to challenge myself and produce an image a day. I got this idea from the brilliant Michael Renouf.

It will be formidable to create a new image each day, but in a way, it's very liberating. I can post an image that comes from my wandering mind, and be happy with it. It may be a weird idea, or it could be a portfolio piece.

I am very excited and anxious.

Thank you all in advance for your support!

IF - Juggle

Mama Jug and her "Jugglings"...

Long time no post. I've been busy working on portfolio pieces and just relaxing.

Also, I've spent some time thinking about the direction of my work and what feels right to me. For far too long I've distanced myself from my sarcastic humor and my cartooning. I've decided to follow this route, and in my heart, I know I will be successful.

2 big inspirations to me are Michael Renouf and Christoph Niemann. They have brilliant concepts, and fantastic work. I strive for that in my work.

Thanks in advance for your comments!

IF - Moon

The Goddess just got a pedicure...




The real reason why there's a crescent moon...

I have 3 new pieces up at my work site http://www.mvillos.com

I've been playing around with digital coloring and really like it. I will produce 2 more new pieces, then send out a new postcard. Don't know which image to use yet! Do I create a new one specifically for the card? Or do I use an existing image?

If you have any tips or suggestions, I'm all ears and thanks in advance!

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Geeky

The subtle differences between Geeks and Nerds...

I myself am a geek. I was 10 when Transformers came out, and I'm still a fan today. I've even begun to collect the figures again. The movie was great, and I'll be buying it as soon as the DVD comes out.

Not really happy with this piece. It looks a bit sloppy and washed out. Not "clean" enough. I do like the direction I'm going though. A little more graphic, which I like.

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Twist

In an unfortunate twist of fate, Johnny Appleseed was done in by one of his own...

I'll be sending out a new self-promo postcard pretty soon. It'll be my 3rd. I've collected about 170 contacts, but I will definitely be buying a database next time. It's a pain collecting and updating names.

I may use an existing piece, or one of the new one's I'll be working on soon. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears and appreciative.

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Camouflage

I got inspiration for this piece from the one I did for the "Tattoo" topic last year March on IF. http://mvillos.blogspot.com/2006/03/illustration-friday-tattoo.html

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Suit

Great work, Illustration Fridayers! Have a great week!

IF - Your Paradise

Ooohhh! Your "PAR-A-DISE"! I was thinking "Your PAIR-OF-DICE"...hmmm...I guess the synapses weren't firing properly on this one.

Yes, that is I in the mirror, big head and all...

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Cars

Here's a quick little sketch I did while my wife and I were down in St. Louis visiting my cousin this weekend...nothing fancy at all, but for some reason I REALLY like it. Hmm...

A bonus picture of Mr. Bill after the Budweiser tour...

IF - Signs Pt. 2

A quick little sketch done at work...

IF - Signs

A much needed sign for the impending onslaught of cicadas we here in Wisconsin will soon see. Fun stuff!!

IF - Citrus

An idea that invaded my thoughts as I did mindless work in my cube. I like the line work, but will continue to practice...

I will soon be shopping for some new watercolor brushes, and if anyone has any tips on what to look for and which brand you like, it would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance, and keep the drawings flowin'!

IF - Remember

I'm terrible at remembering things...So I decided to tie a string around all of my fingers. Now, what was I going to do?

Another hand drawing. Not my best, but I gave myself a 1/2 hour time frame.

Question for ya. I'm debating whether I should make the black line thicker around my drawings. What do you thing?

Also, I've caught myself looking at too many other illustrator's work. I love looking at other art, but I tend to get lost and find myself questioning my work. What I mean by that is I tend to pull from other work and use their style, not influence, but their style creeps into my work. I have a great respect for architecture, and am beginning to take inspiration from that. I know I'll NEVER be able to not look at other artist's work, but it's something I must contain.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. Keep up the great work!

IF - Polar

Bipolar.

I intend to do another version and put it in my portfolio. I really like the idea, but want to "straighten" it up a bit...

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Green pt. 2

Another previous piece I did in regards to "green" alternatives. Thanks in advance for your comments!

Keep 'em flowin, Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Green

This is an image I did at the beginning of the year for an article I read in Metropolis. The title of the story is "How Green is Your City?" It's a piece that I did for my portfolio.

Great work Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Snap

I hate it when this happens...

My obsession with hands continues. Keep 'em flowin Illustration Fridayers!

IF - I Spy...

I Spy, out of the corner of my eye, an idea that got away...

A quick little sketch I did while bored at work. Great work Illustration Fridayers!


ps.. does anyone know how to get rid of the line around the image box? Thanks in advance!

IF - Total

I'm TOTALly pissed that I couldn't come up with anything for TOTAL...so, here sits a blank sheet.

Great work, Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Wired

For all of you Soprano fans.

For those who have not seen The Sopranos, Vincent Pastore plays Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero. In the show he wears an FBI wire to help bring down the Soprano crime family. Well, let's just say that later he "swims with the fishes".

I haven't done a portrait in a long time. I need a lot of practice.

IF - Hide

"She hid her emotions in the only place she knew no one would look."

Great work, Illustration Fridayers!

IF - Red

Hello everyone! Long time no post. Here's my entry for "Red". The health benefits of drinking red wine. mmmmmmmmmm...red wine....The background is just something I was playing around with. I'm trying to add texture and such. Don't think it fits, but that's what experimentation is for!

I have some good news! This past October, I sent out my first round of postcards. I know from research and speaking to other illustrators that not much comes from the first few rounds of postcards. Well, I was contacted 2 weeks ago by a local paper in Madison, WI, called the Isthmus, to do a cover illo. for a story on alternative fuel (they liked the alternative fuel image I had on my postcard). It will be published for this Thursdays issue. Here's a link: www.thedailypage.com

Also, I was asked by Postcard Collector magazine if they could include my postcard in one of their articles! People would send me a SASE if they would like a sample.

So, I feel that I have truly been blessed thus far, and I will keep saying my prayers, thanking Him for the talents He has blessed me with (I'm not a VERY religious person, but I have my beliefs, and I know that people aren't just born with their talents, they are blessed with them). And, no worries. I'm not gettin ahead of myself. I know there is a ton of work to do, but I am very grateful for the work I've gotten so far.

Thank all of you for your support and kind words! It's a blessing to be part of such a nice and talented community of artists. Keep up the great work!

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!