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!

Rogue Wave Poster

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