Wisconsin

I'm excited as I'm off to my homeland of Wisconsin tomorrow. Sarah and I are flying to Milwaukee to stay with my sister and her family for the week. I LOVE Milwaukee, though I was born and raised in Northern Wisconsin (Superior). They have a great zoo there (I know shocking I'd say that), a brand new ball park, beautiful lakefront areas, lively nightlife, and some of the craziest sports FANatics you've ever seen. Oh yeah, and they like their beer there too. Milwaukee is of course the home of such beers as Miller, Pabst, Blatz, Milwaukee's Best (duh), and a regional favorite Leinenkugel's. It'll be a nice, relaxing week which I've been looking forward to for a long time.

The One

I don't think too much needs to be said about this one, but I'm sure everyone has felt this way at a some point or another, especially if you're an artist trying to make your mark. I know I've sure felt it. The idea came to me after a previous post of all the flamingos I drew from the zoo. I figured there must been at least one feeling this way (He might have been the one giving the others the stink eye).
Although this didn't take me long to do, it may just be my favorite work of mine yet, and that's rare for me to say... :)

Detached

A little something different for this week's Illustrationfriday.com. I worry sometimes this has happened to me...

Forty Flamingos

Back at the zoo with pen and ink. Today I went to SF zoo, and spent time with the flamingos. Being with and drawing animals is so peaceful and relaxing to me. I almost prefer them to humans (no offense).

A Little Sketchy...

Here's a few sketches from a recent visit to the Oakland Zoo. Always a good time up there, beautiful zoo, beautiful day, all was good.

The Seagulls of Seacliff

You know when you do those things in life that you basically know the negative outcome, but do it anyway? Well welcome to my life...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was drawing recently and had a little run-in with some seagulls. I was in the beautiful, yet foggy and cold San Francisco neighborhood Seacliff. I climbed up onto a huge boulder along the shoreline, and started sketching. The whole time I was there, nearby were about 3 seagulls. They were just these mangy looking birds. They looked like they were soaked in sewage water and in the tenth round of a fight they were badly losing. So after a while of looking at them, I felt bad and found what I think was food in my bag and I threw a few pieces to one. Well before I knew it a whole flock of seagulls (not the 80's band), pigeons, crows, and sparrows surrounded me. It made Hitchcock's The Birds look like a Disney movie. I should have known...I did know...I just wasn't thinking...D'OH!

Beijing

Dannnnnnnnnnnnnng! Y'all been watchin' the Olympics?! It's been so incredibly impressive and inspirational. My favorite events have always been swimming and gymnastics. The control these athletes have of their bodies is so amazing to me. I did watch diving and basketball yesterday too which was equally as impressive. Whew, lookin' forward to more!

If you missed them up to this point, check 'em here. At least watch the opening ceremony, it'll blow you away!

Setting Sail for the Canary Islands

Here's for this week's Illustrationfriday.com's theme of 'Sail'. I drew inspiration from an original concept painting done for Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean ride, listening to Joan Jett music, my friend Pascal Campion's panoramic image shots, and living with my scheming cat..........................who knew.

Whoa! I have the feeling I may smell like a pirate right now...probably time to shower!

Freezing My Cajones Off For Art Sake

Yeah, I'm such a martyr. I took a trip to San Francisco's beautiful Seacliff neighborhood today, and did a few sketches. I came prepared dressed in so many layers. The drive over was hot, but once I was out there drawing, all those clothes really helped. I had my trusty Sharpie marker with me and did some ink wash studies as well, which I haven't done in a while but it sure was fun! Another sketch will be up here soon of my experience with the seagulls (errrrrr).

Peace!

Poof!

I apologize in advance for my immature interpretation of this week's subject of 'Poof' for IllustrationFriday.com, but this really happened to me and it wasn't pleasant.

Recently my friend from Wisconsin came out visit me here in California, and as a day trip we decided to take a drive up to Yosemite National Park. Beautiful up there by the way, but the scenery took a backseat as to what happened when I was with him there. He farted so much that entire trip, I just don't understand how it's biologically possible for one human being to let go of so many fumes. We walked through the Yosemite valley, up dried river beds, through serene meadows, with literally every 20 seconds there was farting. Now, being a guy I'm definitely one to enjoy a little tearing of ass here and there, but this...oh man, this got to be a little too much for me I'm ashamed to say. I guess you could say I was literally and figuratively blown away. How could one be responsible for so much gas? He must have destroyed a good 80% of the fauna and vegetation. I don't know if he had to meditate though to attain the state he was in, some kind of gaseous enlightenment, because there was definitely an aura around him, and it did not smell good at all!

Paradise City

I thought I'd just post a drawing this time since I felt it could portray more energy than I could get working on the computer. When I was down in San Diego recently, I was driving down the highway and Paradise City by Guns 'n' Roses came on the radio. Man I got so AMPED hearing it! What a great song! Just got the juices goin'! Of course a lot of songs off Appetite For Destruction were classics, and especially for a debut album. I've really liked a lot of their work since too, but man this album really was awesome!