Narwhal to Unicorn - Happiest evolution ever

I have been outrageously busy lately, but I did manage to find time to finish a very informative (read: completely silly) illustration - the evolutionary steps between a narwhal and a unicorn.


I'll list both the original and an 8x10 print on Etsy this weekend. Fun!


Did you know the horn on a male narwhal is just their left incisor tooth that grows to be 2-3 meters long? Awesome! Sometimes their right incisor will grow out, too, and then they'll have two horns.

Ink Spoon

Sometimes I like to pretend that I'm a musician. It's a fun little game that involves making high-pitched yelps into Garage Band and hitting pots and pans together, hoping a song comes out.

Today I decided that the next step in my musical career is to have a music video. I do hope you'll enjoy!



My band is called Titmouse. I do everything in one take without figuring it out beforehand. This is why the lyrics are of poor quality. It's pretty fantastic.

Abstract Wine

Finally, buying wine just for the attractive label has paid off!


I have had some truly horrible encounters with attractively-bottled wine. I am drawn to clever names and exciting illustrations. The worst wine I've ever tasted had a flippin' hologram on the label. But this magnificent wine by Christian Audigier (who is apperently a fashion designer, but I'm far too poor to get to care about clothes) is actually quite delicious. You can't miss it at the liquor store. Go buy! I'm currently tipsy off that lovely rose out front.

I've been working on some experiments in abstract art. It's rather foreign territory to me, only really being fond of about 0.00001% of the abstract art that's ever been made, but I figure it's worth a little enjoyable exploration.


I couldn't keep just a tiny touch of representation out of them. These distorted female torsos just sort of started happening. I guess they wanted to exist.


Honestly, I can't decide whether I think they're brilliant or a complete mess. This is the first time I've ever let the surface show through the paint. Also the first time that I've ventured down the trendy ol' path of drippiness. I think perhaps that one in the middle is working out decently.

Why I love Shel Silverstein

First off, I just want to quicky say that I have never painted something because it's controversial. I have, however, created things despite knowing they could be. VERY different things.


Anyway, it seems that something I am going to have to deal with in my life is people finding it very odd, and perhaps even unthinkable, that I could love creating stories and pictures for children at the same time as exploring themes of a rather mature nature.


Luckily, I am not the first to tread this ground. You likely know of one of my personal heroes - Shel Silverstein. I adored his wonderful stories and darlingly simple illustrations when I was a wee tot. Then, last year, I was digging around a local record store and I stumbled upon his name. I pulled the record out, not really knowing much about his musical endeavors, and opened it. I was rather taken aback by what I saw - tits. I flipped it over and the very first song title I read on the tracklisting was "Polly in a Porny." Of course I had to buy it, and rush home to put it on. It's FANTASTIC. Funky and dirty and poetic. He was a brilliant man, and has become even more of a hero for me than when I read a Light in the Attic as a youngster. One day he'd be on the muppet show, the next he'd be singing this (excuse the somewhat unfortunate video, but it's a damn catchy song):



I'm just so glad someone has done it before me, especially someone so endlessly brilliant and well loved for both his sweet stories for children and his illustrations in playboy.

No Regrets(y)

Oh goodness, what a curious few days!

After posting my art to Regretsy, I've had an absolute onslaught of abuse. It's truly interesting and entertaining. It may seem like it's a lot of petty mockery, but these people are intelligent, if somewhat scathing, and I'm going to, as planned, learn all I can from this strange experience.

After all, I'm 23. I'm not some stuck-up pretentious artist who thinks they know everything. I know pretty much nothing. I've got to put myself in strange situations to make growth possible. As much as I love making pretty illustrations for the sake of making prettiness, I can't ignore that part of me that needs a little something more. I like the Epictetus quote:

"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid."

And that's just what I've done, perhaps a little too successfully. Let us hope that I never become the sort of terrible, self-important, bullshit-spewing artist that the Regretsy commenters assume I am. I'll just keep making an ass of myself so that I'm constantly humbled and can never take myself that seriously.

I have started doing a bunch of hand and foot studies, since there were a few comments questioning my appendage-rendering aptitude. They're coming along decently, though certainly not without flaws.


I might make a post where I directly respond to some of the mud that has been slung at me. I'm not sure. Or I could just go back to talking about lovely things and desperately trying to get people to take part in Project Lemon.

Regretsy

So I submitted myself to Regretsy this afternoon. And the blogger posted my art right away. Tee hee!

That's not the exciting news. The exciting news is that I opened a new shop for my non-illustrative art. Non-whimsy. Realism. Nudes. Silly naughtiness. It's in super early rough stages right now and only has a couple paintings in it so far. Take a peek HERE!

But I thought it would be funny to get some free promotion while finidng out how my art would be percieved in a "Hey, look at this crap" context. I really love the painting, and I don't think it's crap. It's extremely well received in shows. I have had strangers come up to me and say "um, you painted that bear painting, right? Wow. It's fucking fantastic."


I actually submitted the Vagina Mary, but I'm glad the blogger chose Mittens. It's really fascinating to read the comments. Some of them think they're being snarky, but they're actually hitting the nail right on the head. Yes, of course it's supposed to be unsettling. Yes, that is exactly what her other hand is doing. Yes, it's creepy and all kinds of wrong. Yeah, the bear has a mysterious vacant stare.


I'm enjoying this. The fact that it's already gotten so many comments makes me wonderfully happy. Some of them mention finding the painting strangely enthralling, or being unable to stop looking at it, or having some aspect of it bother them. Some even think it's awful in an awesome way. This experiment couldn't possibly be going better.

I like Regretsy. I think it's fun to point out the absurd, terrible, and ridiculous things Etsy has to offer. Everyone knows there are a lot of beautiful things on Etsy, and I disagree with anyone who thinks Regretsy is bringing Etsy down. It's just fun. If you love your work, then don't take it too seriously. If you've done something strange and people don't get it, that's awesome.

There are also some super funny comments on their Facebook Page. It is SO HARD to not jump in!

Prettiness!

Hello friends! I have been working on so much prettiness lately. Check out these little studies for a children's book I'm working on:

I am endlessly excited about making this book happen. I hope it all comes together. I'm working my butt off on it, and it's melting my brain, but I love it. I will probably list most of those studies on Etsy.

Here are a couple more paintings, soon to be perfected and listed in my shop:

I love this picture, because you can see the real little yellow bird, my darling roommate Sunshine, who inspired the little yellow birds hanging out on the tree branches, and you can see the real suitcase that young woman is carrying. Such a marvelous example of how we're inspired by the beautiful things we surround ourselves with.

Ukulele Funtimes

I've been having some fun recently making cutesy versions of rather un-cutesy songs with my pretty blue ukulele. Tee hee! Enjoy.

Lovin' Mittens

O my beautiful blogfriends, I have missed posting tidbits of loveliness for you so! I have for you another large painting I've done recently that hasn't made it into the ol' Etsy Shoppe. It's much too big and perhaps a little naughty:


Oh me oh my!

Anyway, I am off to build pinhole cameras in peculiar shapes, and perhaps out of peculiar objects. I shall perhaps tell you of my adventures with such devices soon!

Oh, and remember Project Lemon? Well I've been thinking for a while of turning it into its own blog where creative good deeds from all over the world could be documented. I think that would be such fun! Who knows if it would actually catch on, but at least it would be a place for me to document my own adventures in whimsical merrymaking.

The Vagina Mary

There's a little painting I've been working on recently that I thought I'd give you a little gander at. I suppose it could use a little more work, but I'm sure you'll get the picture.

Behold: The Vagina Mary.


Also known as the Holey Mother. Hymen intact.

The Virgin Mary has always looked like a vagina to me. Whenever someone sees her in a piece of toast, I'm pretty sure they're just seeing some ladybits. So how could I resist rendering her as such? And look at the joy she's bringing to her little cherub as she ascends into the heavens!