Staying Dry

A very nice couple recently commissioned this painting.

Staying Dry - 8.5" x 14" gouache on illustration board

Have a Happy New Year, everyone!

A Big Move... and Kung Fu Panda

Hi guys!

Quick update. I landed a job as BG designer at Bento Box on an upcoming production, so I'm enjoying living in LA now, and very happy to be an official part of the animation business. A big thank you to everyone for being really helpful and welcoming during the (very fast) transition.

I didn't want to post just words, so here, finally, is the painting I did for DreamWorks Fine Art awhile back. It was fun to work on this sucker. I'll post an update when the print and painting go up for sale on their site.

Peach of Wisdom - 24" x 15" cel vinyl acrylic on illustration board

Hope you all have a very happy holiday!

Prints and more prints

Hope you guys had a nice Thanksgiving!

Now that Christmas is heading our way, I wanted to announce the release of 2 new limited edition prints in my Etsy shop, and another very limited edition that my friends at G1988 launched a few days ago.

The two new Etsy shop prints are these:

Rainforest

Little Cosmonaut

And this is the new print at G1988. It's not faded like their picture, btw.

Fortress of Solitude (Office Space)

To sweeten the deal for Cyber Monday (today), I'm offering free domestic shipping in my shop.

Cheers!

Monster Manners

New thing for a thing that's happening next year. I'll talk about it some more then.

Monster Manners - 9" x 12" cel vinyl acrylic on illustration board

Monstroville - CandyLab BG Paint

Hope you folks had a nice Halloween and are still in that spooky mood...

For those that remember it, the Welcome to Monstroville cartoon pitch has recently kicked up again, and I've been called upon once again to do a few BG paintings. Starting with this one I wanted to flex a little more painting muscle to give them more polish and mood.

Designed by Josh Gay and painted by me. I also incorporated some visual cues from an early color rough by the awesome Ryan Wood.

Photoshop

Pop! The Art of Pop Culture

Seattle-ites rejoice! A great new gallery called Ltd Gallery is having its grand opening this Friday evening. Here are the particulars.

Here are some less than great photos of my painting for it

"Ape Sh!t" - 12" x 24" cel vinyl acrylic on panel

Mickey

We recently got back from a vacation trip to Disneyland and "Mee Mouf" as he calls him is one of my son's favorite characters, so I thought this little painting would be an appropriate gift for Tyrus on his second birthday last weekend.

5" x 7" - gouache on bristol paper

Old School Video Game Show - The Bros

Here's my contribution to the Old School Video Game tribute show, opening tonight at G1988 Venice. So excited to be part of this one! I know the Mario Bros are always well represented in these shows, but I couldn't help but pay homage to some of my favorite and two of the most beloved game characters ever.

Work To Do - 24" x 24" cel vinyl acrylic on gessobord panel

It's A Small World - Rainforest

I'm truly honored to be part of the upcoming It's A Small World tribute show which opens this Saturday at Nucleus. The artist line-up is stellar to say the least and the amazing Joey Chou is celebrating the launch of his beautiful new book, which everyone should own.

This show is particularly exciting for me because of my love for Mary Blair's work, which I've been lucky enough to see in person recently at the Walt Disney Family Museum in SF, and a big show devoted to her prints at the Disneyland gallery in Anaheim. Her ability with color, design and visual rhythm, combined with a wonderful naive quality has endeared her work to generations.

"Rainforest" - 8.5" x 14" - gouache on illustration board

I chose to pay homage to one of the great vignettes in the ride that caught my attention during my latest visit.

Also to note. I did a couple experiments before starting this piece and opted to do it in gouache. Appropriate, considering Blair's work. Unlike my previous experience with gouache, I thoroughly enjoyed working with it and plan to do more in the future.

Croc Card

3.5" x 2" - cel vinyl acrylic on watercolor paper

Something Old, Something New

This is a painting I started long ago and was put on the back burner, only to revisit and finish very recently. It's my own take on the great children's book story, Tikki Tikki Tembo, which was written by Arlene Mosel and superbly illustrated by Blair Lent.

I apologize that the colors look overexposed a bit due to my scanner... the real piece does look much better.

6" x 8" cel vinyl acrylic on aquabord panel

Cosmonaut Boy

Here's a new painting. Super fun working on this. One of the few pieces I've done just for myself over the past couple years and I am happy to have had an excuse to get it done.

12" x 8" cel vinyl acrylic on illustration board

Up next, I'm heading to LA next week to check out the annual SCBWI summer conference. Drop a line if you'll be attending and maybe we can exchange pleasantries in person.

More news on the way soonish!

Yuki 7

Here's my entry for the Yuki 7 book release party and gallery show at Q Pop Gallery in Little Tokyo this Saturday, July 16th. I thought it'd be fun to team Yuki up with a spy known only as "The Dart". Kevin has created what will surely be another amazing book and show! If you're in the LA area, I'd bet you're already planning to attend!

Cheers!

Surrounded - 16" x 12" cel vinyl acrylic on gessobord panel

Crazy 4 Cult 5: Office Space

Hi guys and gals!

Here's my latest painting for the Crazy 4 Cult 5 show which opens tomorrow. It goes without saying, but Office Space is a movie that speaks to anyone who's ever worked at a miserable job... yes my hand is raised, too. To this day I still find myself quoting it every so often.

Fortress of Solitude - 10" x 20" cel vinyl acrylic on gessobord

detail

sketch

Also to note, the big Crazy 4 Cult book signing will take place at G1988 in the next few days. I'm bummed that I won't be there to sign, but if you run into me on the street someplace (or at a convention) and happen to be lugging around the 300+ page tome, I'll be happy to scribble in it for you. :)

Cheers!

Sneak Peek

Little preview of a new piece. More info soon!

Happy Mommy's Day!

4" x 6" cel vinyl acrylic on watercolor paper

A little painting for my amazing wife on Mother's Day... and for all the incredible moms out there. Wishing you a special Mother's Day!

Couponing Game

Want to see something I worked on recently? Yes?

My awesome pals over at Baker and Hill asked me to do some illustration for their coupon game for Discovery.com. I did most of the in-game artwork (bg, cashier, grocery items, etc) and it was up to me to come up with the ideas for the grocery items too, so there are a few wacky ones... you'll see.

If you think you're ready for the challenge, play away! Beware: The game is both fun and addictive.

Bit of the Bubbly

Back from a terrific trip to LA for the Edward Scissorhands show at Nucleus. Thanks again to my buddy Seb for putting together such a great show! Got to see many art pals and meet a bunch of new ones... couldn't ask for more.

Here's a tiny new painting was partially inspired by my son's love of bubbles. I'd like this to be a bigger painting later.

2.5" x 3.5" cel vinyl acrylic on illustration board

Edward Scissorhands 20th

"Obstacles" - 12" x 12" cel vinyl acrylic on Claybord panel

Sebastien Mesnard is not only a talented artist, but is a swell person too. I was thrilled when he invited me to participate in the Edward Scissorhands 20th Anniversary group show at Nucleus gallery. The movie came out during my teens and like the character of Edward, it was an awkward time where I felt I didn't fit in. I'm sure everyone has gone through that at some point, but the story really spoke to me and for that reason, still has a special place in my heart.

The icing on the cake is that Sebastien has lined up an incredible group of artists for this thing, which you can see for yourself on the official blog HERE.

Since this is my first showing with Nucleus, I thought it'd be good to appear at the opening this coming Saturday (April 16th). The Adventure Time show will be opening at Nucleus then too, so it's gonna be a great night! See you there!

Bird Experiments

I think I'll turn at least one of these digital experiments into real paintings soonish.

New Print - Rainy Day

Now that the ECCC is over (it was awesome, btw) and in honor of the weather we are enjoying(?) in the NW, I've decided to release my "Rainy Day" image as a new limited edition print on Etsy.

Right over here: Rainy Day Print

ECCC #9

I'll be at the Emerald City Comic Con this weekend (4th-6th) at table #108 with my pals Andrew and Wade. Always a good time. Swing by and get an ECCC exclusive hi-five! I may or may not be debuting a new, limited edition print. Haven't decided yet... oh how I love a cliffhanger.

See you there!

Outhouse (Out-Home?) BG

Just for fun, I took another shot at the Hanna Barbera painting style. This time from my own layout.

Photoshop

Princess Bride Print @ G1988

Hi all,

G1988 is now selling a very limited edition print of my Princess Bride inspired painting from Crazy 4 Cult 4 last year. There are only 25 available. Signed and numbered giclee on archival velvet fine art paper.

Purchase details here.

In case you forgot, it looks like this.

Cheers!

HB BG Style Applied

With the studies mentioned in my previous post, I've also taken one of Gene Hazelton's terrific layouts from John K's blog and applied my version of the HB painting style to it.

Gene's original

Mine - Photoshop

Minus Yogi

 P.S. The puddle of ice cream in the original story was supposed to be strawberry, but I changed it to mint. I'm allowed to do that, right?