Crayons

At my art show last week (pictures coming soon) I had a special kid's table.  On the table I had a bunch of coloring pages set out for the kids to draw on and a box of Crayola Crayons (48 colors.)  I made the pages to match my artwork that was hanging on the walls.  It was a pretty big hit with the kids.  At the end of the night there were some pages left behind so I figure I should show everybody.

I think those kids did a great job.  Maybe I should make more coloring pages and post them on my website.  Would anybody download those and use them?

Drawing and Storytelling

I just posted a great video of Pascal Campion talking about drawing and storytelling on another blog I contribute to and I'm too lazy to post it again here.  But I do think the video is good enough to point out to you folks.  See?  I do care.

See the video here, at the Brotique Blog.  (Brotique = my writing critique group.)

Study of a Friend's Work

It turn's out that I know a lot of really talented artists.  I figure that I've got a lot to learn from a lot of talented people.  And so, I do (or at least I try.)  I did a study of this painting by Guy Francis.

I think it turned out okay.  Here's to learning.

Banjo Pig 3

Pig study in warm color scheme.  Just messing around.  I think he looks startled for some reason.

A Bit Bipolar

On Tuesday, July 20 from 6:00-8:00 pm I will be having my BFA Final Show.  Have I mentioned that previously?  A friend of mine, Annie Henrie, will also be having her reception for her BFA Final Show at the same time.  It's going to be a big ol' art party.  Fun times for all.

Annie's work is a bit different from mine.  To give you an idea of what the two will look like together here are our two postcards:

Monsters Make Me Happy

They do.

I don't know why but drawing monsters makes me happy.  Come and share my joy.  My BFA Final Show goes up on Monday and runs through the end of July.  The reception (big art party) is on Teusday, July 20 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

What's the point of all of this?  Basically it proves that I know what I'm doing as an illustrator and as a provider and as a human being.  After this I'm a grown up.

Here's the theme image of the show:

Will Strong Recommends - Super Mario Bros. Crossover

I'm a big fan of the internet. It brings me things that I would never find through normal (see legitimate) means. My favorite piece of the internet is currently to be found at http://supermariobroscrossover.com/

Some mad genius took the very first Super Mario Bros and inserted other classic NES era characters into the game. Samus, Mega Man, Link, Simon Belmont and more are all playable. Each of the characters behaves just like they do in their own games. Link has his sword. Samus has her blaster. It seems like it shouldn't work but it does. Brilliantly. Watch the video and you'll get the idea.

If you're a fan of old school NES games (or video games in general [or mad genius creativity]) then do yourself a favor and check it out. Do it quick before somebody gets sued and this game disappears forever.

New Miyazaki Movie!

The New Miyazaki film is an EarthSea story.  If you don't know the books and you are a fan of fantasy then you should check them out.  Really fun and sophisticated fantasy, not just a bunch of character class D&D stuff.

See the trailer here: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/talesfromearthsea/

Banjo Pig 2

Just messing around in Photoshop.

Check out the Banjo Pigs Blog.

Documentary on Kid Lit

As a documentary junky I'm fairly excited for this one coming up.  As an author/illustrator, I'm REALLY excited for this upcoming documentary.  Check out the trailer at the website:  www.libraryoftheearlymind.com

Banjo Pig

My Friend Guy Francis runs this great blog with his friend Stacy Curtis.  It's called Dueling Banjo Pigs.  It's pretty much as it sounds.  I made a banjo pig and it made it on the blog.  Fun times.  Check it out.  Join in the duel if you want.

Arnold Friberg Dies at Age 96

An amazing artist passed away yesterday.  His paintings of scenes from the Book of Mormon were a part of my life since before I can even remember.  According to my History of Illustration course at BYU, not only was he an amazing painter, he was also a really good person.  A lot of really fantastic painters seem to have totally unbalanced home lives, but Friberg was a saint (ha ha, get it?)  Anyhow, here's a few of his works.  Great stuff.

My friend Greg Newbold has a great post on his blog about Friberg.  Check it out.

Tiny Monsters 2

I promise more monsters the next day and I give more monsters the next day.  That's probably the first blog  promise I've ever kept.  Truth in advertising.  Wow.

I'm curious.  Which ones are your favorites?

Two Posts in One Day *Bonus*

Last Sunday in church we sat behind the bishop's family.  I started making faces at the kids.  The little girl started making faces back.  I made sillier faces.  She showed me how she can touch her tongue to her nose.  Then I started to sketch her (quick and messy like.)  The results:

That kid is dang cute.  (She wanted me to make sure that I drew the flower on her dress.)

TIny Monsters

Just because.

More to come tomorrow.