today's birthday

My original intent was to publish something on the day itself and I misplaced yesterday's paper from which this was taken.

"Today's Birthday (June 23, 2008) You're realistic about money, security and
everyday happenings. Your enormous tenacity and determination help you to
overcome all obstacles. You're very sensitive as a child, and need lots of
hugging and a sense of security. Privately, you can be quite playful. An
important choice awaits you this year. Choose wisely."

Personally, I have fun with horoscopes and rarely put much value in them. My own view of this year in particular is similar to Paul Pope's essay in Pulphope in which he describes an odd fatalistic view of what it meant to be 27 and that one can sometimes expect to pass on from it. So I'll be glad that the age itself passes that way I can get some more things done. In the meantime, I'm keeping away from large animals that can eat me, open bodies of water and dinosaurs, but that falls into the first category.... hmmm, alright, I'm staying away from volcanos then!

And what's this big decision I've got to make this year? Either way, my birthday was spent with family and friends and that made it pretty sweet and very enjoyable! Thanks to all who wished me a happy birthday!
Cheers! Happy Days to 27 years!

productive monday

The following images were completed in a bit of a flurry of inspiration beamed in from, well, I don't quite know where. Anyways, this is the completion of the colour phase of the process. At times, I purposely wanted the colours to get away from me, to have more play in the overall piece. Now comes the linework of the piece. It is kind of my most dreaded and yet favored part of the whole process. 

I like how the paper kind of "ghosts" on top of the inkwash below. There is more subtly than I had previously envisioned but I really like where it is going overall. 

Que Sura!

It is rare to post or blog about my personal life, I try to keep it as art-related as possible. This week has been a bit of a mixed bag. I injured my drawing hand, had some kind of crappy personal stuff occur that bummed me out. BUT after the poop-start to the week, it finished itself off quite nicely! I got the mobility of my hand going again, my personal life is looking up and I've got myself a new family member as of Friday, yes, the 13th! Her name is Sura Mia Mamott (weighing in at 7 lbs. 10 oz.). She has restored the shine in this uncle's eyes. Okay, I'm done gushing, I'm just so elated! 




c'mon, cute, right?

a step or two towards finishing

This past week, I've been held up from any real amount of progress due to a nasty bout of stomach flu.  Its not right, not right at all! I did manage to make it to the studio twice this past week, queasy and all. It is a new round of photos, I just purchased a new digital SLR for a new body of work ("heh") that will be making its presence known very soon. I have just the current workload to finish up and deliver before moving onwards. 

the inkwash stage, the camera doesn't quite pick up the slight tinge of blue in the black inkwash. The blue is from a dirty brush
More inkwash. It is kind of cathartic to mess up something so meticulously fretted upon
I thought the test piece of paper was kind of nice, in a messing-with-ink kind of way
I think this shows the scale nicely of the drawing on the floor. I sport a size 10 shoe, so it gives some idea of the size of the drawing being worked on.
okay, now I'm just getting snap happy, but I was really liking the colours that my worktable was filled with. 
There was a point in the process where you've got to sit back and consider how to go about the next move. "think, think, think....think, think, think"

After a while of "thinking", time to stop and have a grape break. Big thanks to Roz! Been feeling super better since then. Although, I'm going to hold off on showing more of the process, just because I want to show these ones finished . It is just a bit distracting. SO, I'll post more photos soon once I've finished at least one of these drawings. Here's to Honey Nut Cheerios! 

another round of horrible photos

The following are photos from a recent batch of work-in-progress:

*update: The piece above was completed earlier this morning (June 3, 2008). Photo was taken with my mobile... I still don't know how the piece should be orientated but it is for the recipient to figure out.

currently, the above drawing is 2/3 completed... still have some more to do. 

This is the sister piece to another I recently completed. I was having a good time not worrying about how this would end up but I'm happy with the final result. Unfortunately, some of it is still not completely dry. 

These are some pretty bad photos...