Layer

Uncle Leroy lingered in the lasting aroma that arose from the onion. He was a sophisticated specimen by all accounts, a layered individual according to some.

Music

A feature on the 5-string bass guitar - an instrument oft' overlooked in the scheme of things. This work was done for Stefan Lessard, of DMB.

Imbalance

“Evermore in this world is this marvelous balance of beauty and disgust, magnificence and rats.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson

In a world of constant imbalance, sometimes a simple line is all that is necessary to separate truth from fiction.

Blurry Blush

Second state

blush wine.
blush. blush. blush. blurt out. blurt. blurry. blurring. blurriness. blushful. bluster. bliss, blush.

blissful blush.

The grape can be so crisp and tart, yet at its best is blurry and sweet.

Flying

Flying had been his forte for so long, but today, the raven relished his solitude and settled for a quiet space amidst the oxidizing wrought iron spires. Amazing just how much one can learn from dwelling below the radar, watching...just watching.

Magic Hat T-shirt contest: craving a nine

Hey everyone...I appreciate your feedback and criticisms on the following designs. Magic Hat Brewery has a t-shirt contest for their #9 brew, anticipating the 09/09/09 date.

I love their brews, so I decided to participate in the contest. But, before I enter my design, I was hoping to solicit the feedback of my fine friends. I can only submit one, so I appreciate any help you may have to offer.

Thanks in advance!

Andy

Celebrate

With a swift motion of the blade, the minotaur severed cupid's left wing...
...a wounded yet determined cupid escaped his fierce grip to work his magic on yet another Saint Valentine's Day.

The celebration ensues.

Voices

Everyone knows where that special place exists - the one where the myriad of obnoxious, overlapping, clashing voices in our minds just seem to disappear. There is about 100 or more acres of abandoned farmland nearby by house. Sometimes, a nice walk through the overgrowth tends to de-frag my soul and rid my psyche of unnecessary and meaningless stress. Again, the simplest things tend to point me in the right direction and set my compass in clear perspective.

Here...my first egg tempera painting. This is a demonstration piece that accompanied my lesson. I am thrilled at the idea of grinding my own paints and physically mixing them with egg yolk. The quality/feel of the paint produced was surprising and it is my hope to pursue this medium further.

Similar

Although similar in blood, my two boys have distinct differences in appearance, personality, and gift.

Opinion

“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” --Plato

Late

Unless we go green, life is in jeopardy of going brown. Let's take care of what we have before it is too late.

Packed

The pickles were packed precisely, as per Professor Plum's prescription.

Say it quick...5 times.

Memories

Sometimes the mere act of looking at my youngest son triggers the precious, almost forgotten memories of my own optimistic childhood.

Primitive

One cannot look very far these days without seeing an electric line, gas line marker or evidence of industry. We use the word 'primitive' to describe something naive, rustic, unintelligent, simplistic, or otherwise unsophisticated; yet, are we truly that much more advanced as a society?

I defer to the words of Leonardo, in that "to be simple is the greatest form of sophistication."

Fail

"Look at this big - eyed fish swimming in the sea oh
How it dreams to be a bird swoop and diving through the breeze
So one day caught a big old wave up on to the beach
Now he’s dead you see beneath the sea is where a fish should be."

-Dave Matthews

Save

Every time you hear a -(POP)-, a light bulb gets its wings.

If we could all be a bit more conservative in our everyday consumer efforts, we would not only save a great deal of money on our bills each month, but such efforts would certainly help save the earth.

Go green!

Homage

We should all pay homage to our service men and women, past, present and future. Although I personally object to war, I still try to find time to appreciate the efforts of those who have dedicated their lives to the cause. The real homage should be paid to the families of such men and women.

Pet Peeves

Lip service

Nothing annoyed the rats more than people who are full of empty, meaningless, talk. People who give lip service to each and every person they encounter and then talk negatively about them in the same breath. Empty calories, flakes, blow-hards, duplicitous delusionists - these people, who are unable to look beyond their own interests, were certainly the very thing that peeved these pets.

Today, the experiment was determining whether or not those annoying lips could stand up to the test they proclaimed to master. “Light her up”, he exclaimed as he packed the empty pie hole with 16 ounces of truth.

Heavy

The Mountain Colony had finally done it. They succeeded in cultivating a new breed of olive, which for many years, had only been mentioned in rare cryptic text and had been regarded by many as nothing more than myth.

Domecio had been entrusted with the coveted, yet risky task of transporting this new specimen to the horticultural authorities. The significance of this breakthrough had never weighted heavier on the heart and body of poor Dommy.

As he was sure to encounter ground threats of other jealous colonies, Domecio was prepared. Approaching his destination, he began to release the decoys, while clutching tightly upon the real deal.

History was about to change.

Garden

He was filled with much more than folic acid that day.

Within the garden, the Asparagus spear stalked the band of brussel sprouts through clumps and clumps of weeds...until suddenly, he made his move with a swift thrust of his shaft. As everyone scattered in fright, the lifeless King sprout was lifted into the air in effigy. He was just making sure that those rotten balls wouldn't be growing roots in his prime soil.

After all...he never did like those brussel sprouts. Even as a kid, he remembers kicking them under the table in disgust.

Leap

Yet another: State 3 illustration


Okay...here she is...


Slaying the dragon was the only first of the numerous formidable tasks that lay before them. In order to create a diversion for their siege, they decided to canon-leap hundreds of rats from the moat onto the castle top. After all, one must never underestimate the damage that just one measly rat can do to an entire empire.

------

Here is a detail of my IFRI for "leap"; I may be adding color to the overall composition and submitting it later this week.

Multiple

Multiple times had the ancient mariner sought to catch the great beast of the sea. This, too, would be yet another unsuccessful attempt - as this shark was just too smart to be brought down by such a feeble-minded fool.

Theory

Everyone has theories. I have a theory that students in my class will create noticeably more dimensionally robust drawings of objects if they understand the anatomical structure which lies beneath. Cross-sectional lines...therein lies truth!

Although I am not a graphic designer, I rendered this handout for my class for them to better understand these ideas. I have included a cropping of it, because I feel it has a certain aesthetic quality to it. Handouts can be beautiful, can't they?

Choose

Imagine the pitfalls we would avoid if we would choose to use our brain for something other than a last resort...

Blanket

Suddenly, a menacing deep "meow" echoed through the wallboards, like thunder through a valley, causing Chester to cradle himself deeper under his blanket?

Legends and Tales

There were many legends and tales about the deep South...hidden facts and elusive theories as to our nation's dependence of foreign fuels. Well, it didn't take a genius to understand one true FACT - that the American people are literally being hosed. On this day, one modern-day Indian, sick of being bullied, took it upon himself to put the squeeze on the tangible manifestation of crooked bureaucracy - the gas pump.

Plain

Now in plain view, Nero was susceptible to the onslaught of poisoned arrows.

Stitches

But always remember - that which a man stitches is always vulnerable to the picks of jealous hatred.
-anon.

100%

While even the greatest scientists who came before him utilized, at greatest, 23% of their brain's maximum potential, Dr. Esposito discovered a way to use it all. Dark, dark days ensued - as the smarter and more innovative civilization became, the greedier, more unhappy and self-consumed they had become.

Soar

It was New Year's Day, the very first day of a brand spanking new set of 365 sunrises. Hector had no problem with Aether snagging him from the 5th cocktail party of the season for the annual soar. The winds were perfect and the company of Golden Eagles, simply glorious.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Horizon

Extracting the speed from Hermes and implanting it within the heel of Achilles would change Greek mortality forever. Dr. Smith and his assistant, Fra Angelica were not just the most innovative scientists of their time, but today they were on the horizon of something big, very, very big.

Backwards

This giant beast will surely force you into a backwards tread on your journey.

Little Things

It's the little things...there IS nothing bigger, is there?
"What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking, decides the whole future of an existence. One single black speck may be the beginning of gangrene, of a storm, of a revolution."
-Henri Frederic Amiel

Excess

"In everything the middle course is best: all things in excess bring trouble to men.”

-Titus Maccius Plautus

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'Tho the humans viewed moderation in a trusted, bright light, Jacquez felt differently. He was now the top cat - the world, his oyster.

Zoo

Okay...something very different for me. Felt like making some quick , transparent vector drawing and made this icon.

Superstition

Always on the anxious side, Felix was not very fond of new and unusual experiences. Never accused of being lucky, he relied on his innate abilities to stalk through the cornfields of life.

Scale

It was a rude surprise -- the warhead barreling towards him -- as he secretly scaled the cheese castle. The last thing Gunther expected to see at such a lifeless hour was the presence of the dairy authorities. Just what were they doing in the cheese factory at this time?

Hats

At birth, this hard-shelled creature had everything he needed to traverse through what was left of the dense and extremely dangerous Philippine archipelago rainforest...everything but a "hard head". With his new hat-adaptation, this specimen would now be able to travel without vulnerability.

Trick or Treat

Don't you love those little people this time of year!?...me, me, me...I want candy...give me MORE...

Too much of a 'treat' towards them results in a 'trick' for us.