Signs of Things to Come

I don't even want to think about how many years ago I actually started this project or how many times I've started over. But there's good news: this project is fun again. That's exciting.

Another Spot

Rarrrrrrrrghfhghfhgfhtharrrrrrrrr. That's what monsters say when they dance. I think.

I'm trying a new way of planning out color. Instead of doing a straight up color study I just decided to put some little color swatches together to see how I like it. Some people plan out their light source and try and decide whether they want cool light and warm shadows and such ... but none of that really makes sense to me. I just put down what looks right to me.

Crayons at the Restaurant

So, the penguin on skis was my wife, Tiffany's idea. It came about one night when the two of us were on a date. We went to Macaroni Grill, which happens to be one of my favorite places to eat. It's not my favorite because of the food (though it is pretty good.) It's my favorite because of the crayons. Most restaurants will give you crayons if you ask and they might throw a kid's menu at you to draw on. But at Macaroni Grill they cover the entire table with white butcher paper. Woot!

So, a couple weeks back, whilst waiting for our food to be delivered to our table I asked Tiff what I should draw. She suggested a penguin. I asked what he should be doing. She suggested skiing. So I drew this:

And then, yes, when we left I tore a big chunk out of the table cloth and took it home with me to use as a rough draft. What? I bet it happens all the time.

Penguin Ski

I think his name is Gerald. And apparently he's a Gryffindor.

This one was my wife's idea. More on that later.

Prototype

I love building things with my hands. I've had the idea to build a small working trebuchet for some time now but I don't have anywhere to put it once it's finished. I can't wait until I have a garage.

In the mean time I'm satisfying my need to build with things like this:

He's a prototype for a bigger creature I want to do later on. I made him out of felt (red because it's the only color I had) and old teddy bear guts. I sewed him by hand. Yes I know it's a bit sloppy but I've never done this before. I was just making it up as I go along. I think for the finished product I'll do some research on how this kind of thing is actually done.

The final creature will have a variety of interchangeable facial expressions, like so:

Happy Birthday to Me

It was my birthday the other day and Michelle Weaver, an art friend of mine asked me what she should draw on my birthday card this year. I responded something like, "Can you draw me a monster? But not a gross or scary monster. I don't want it to be hyper cute either. Can you draw me a monster that is only slightly threatening but still kind of benign. Like a monster that would only beat you up if you got on it's nerves. Can you do that?"

As it turns out, she can do that.

New Semester = New Sketchbook

Actually it's my very last semester before I graduate from good ol' Brigham Young University. But fear not, it's not my last sketchbook.

I use my sketchbook for sketches (of course) and and also for taking notes. So, notes for a religion class often end up looking like this:

At least until I grow tired of taking notes altogether. Then it's just pictures of my professors. Like this:

And then my mind wanders and I end up with stuff like this:

I don't think I have a problem focussing. Do you?