September 29th, 2008

I started posting this yesterday but got sidetracked doing birthday fun...thanks for the birthday tidings everyone!

I was saying the other day how I keep adding new rooms/ new scenes to the little dollhouse that is my world. "Reality surfing" as my friend Juliet calls it. Here's how it looked in my head...the main dollhouse is pretty standard, but all the additions I keep sticking on get more and more whimsical. (The dunce room, the muffin room, etc.)

I played with spray paint for the first time with my friend Bishop at this spot in Long Island City called Five Pointz. It's a huge building that's legal for graffiti, so it's simply covered and it's always changing as new people like me consistently paint on it. I painted a version of my drawing Big Dipper, which was quite a learning experience!

Currently watching: Pushing Daisies...Season 1

September 22nd, 2008

Here's what I brainstormed on the back of an envelope today at lunch:

And here's how they turned out tonight:

According to the world in my head, we all have a pie chart of what we devote our time to...and I always have trouble reorganizing it when my circumstances change. Right now for example, work is getting the lion's share. Art has reluctantly loosened its needy grasp. Romance...another casualty. You get the idea.

This is about my dear friend Heather, because she carries far too many worries than what she's actually responsible for. In my mind, her anxieties look like purses and bags. Each one by itself looks so harmless and unassuming, "Sure, I can carry that for you..." (Perhaps I can help you let go of one of those big suitcases, Heather?)

Currently Listening: World Leader Pretend...Punches

September 14th, 2008

Here's what I drew today...

Last night while hanging out on a rooftop I was reminded of a scene from last year...and then it struck me how I never spoke about that experience to anyone. Then I thought about the surprising number of meaningful moments and experiences I just don't articulate to anyone. (They only live in my head, almost as if they didn't really exist...) I suddenly saw it as a game of Battleship. People can guess what is on our board through trial and error, but they really have no idea what we're looking at. (Board game references? I know it's a bit silly....but at 1am with a belly full of beer I sure thought it was insightful!)

At work we were using rolls of this embossed paper to cover giant sculpted books (Long story!) and I snagged some of the pretty scraps. So this is a collage of cut out sections of the paper that I then painted with watercolor, rubbed with ink and gold paint, and then used colored pencil to accentuate the contours. Sometimes it's nice to just play with new materials and shapes.

Currently Listening: Okkervil River...The Stage Names

September 11th, 2008

There's something about drawing lots and lots of straight vertical lines that's very therapeutic...


The heavy rain seemed to carry my apologies, and wash away the us that had just started to take root. I seem to be perpetually letting down each new us...


There. Right in that sad quiet moment. That's when it hits you...when you toss out his toothbrush.

Currently Listening: Engine Down...Demure

September 4th, 2008

You know me and my rule about flowers...when I got 'em, I draw them! This was based on a colorful gerber daisy, which I traced over and over and then developed from there.


I've talked about my life before as a connect-the-dot picture, where the decisions I'm making are subtly guiding the shape my life takes. I have no idea anymore what picture it'll end up as, I just connect two dots at a time because it feels right rather than being paranoid about where it will lead me. Sooo...I just SAW how two of the big giant dots in my life are connected! Bam! I have an idea that fits together the puzzle pieces of my personal creativity and my love of education. (I'm still fleshing out my big idea so I'll spare you the details...who knows!)

Random Plug #1: My friend Amanda Hagy (who you might know from being in some of my drawings) is doing a 100 mile bike tour next month for Multiple Sclerosis! If you'd like to help her reach her goal of raising $1000 for MS, please click here!

Random Plug #2: Top Shelf (a rad publisher) is having a SALE where scads of their comics and graphic novels are only $3! It's too crazy to not pass along.

Currently Reading: La Perdida(speaking of graphic novels)...by Jessica Abel