Merry Christmas!

Here's hoping you have a great Christmas and take some time to be with the people you love. This is a new Christmas painting I just finished.

This has been quite the year for our household and I am just glad it's almost over. It will be nice to usher in the new year and hopefully a bit of a fresh start. I normally look forward to the Christmas season all year, waiting for that "magical" time of year when you get to be surrounded by those you love and everyone seems to have that frantic busy pace about them. The nights start to get cold and lights sparkle, there is eggnog and cookies, shopping, special events and then finally the time to just chill and take it all in. Hopefully you're taking the time to let it in and reflect. With the craziness of this year, I have looked forward to this time, but more than Christmas, I look forward this year to being able to start next year slowly but solidly.

It's funny how we move through cycles in life, we wake up to a new day with new problems, new challenges, a new start. We go to lunch, then start again. We start the week new, each week. Then each month, and finally each year. All the while several projects, events, chores, goals, and dreams are all started new. It's a good feeling to be able to start something fresh, to have finished something (whether you failed miserably, succeeded, or just peetered out) and have the chance to start over, start something new. God is so gracious in giving us chance after chance to keep starting over.

So next year look forward to some exciting things from the Woody Miller art factory! Hopefully I can get on the ball from the start, and stay on it!

Tribute to Sam...

Sam Miller

1979-2007

Artist, brother, friend, son, lover, musician,
movie maker, skateboarder, trouble maker, creative
spirit, naturalist, cousin, grandson, laugh creator,
peacemaker.

Best of ... Hats!

So when I found out this weeks Illustration Friday was hats, I freaked. I started thinking about what my new picture would look like and how many hats I could fit into one image. So in the mean time I thought I'd post another something of mine with a hat in it.

As it turns out, I LOVE to draw hats! Most specifically, animals with hats. And a lot of Fez's. Since I couldn't pick one picture with a good hat, I thought I would do a "best of - hats" collage. So here is my homage to the head cover, and doesn't even include all of the hats I've drawn!

Be sure to check back within the next week, I'm still working on a new piece with the theme "HATS"!

Double Grow

I've got 2 for grow this week. The first is a new piece, a winding river making it's way through an autumn forest. A forest for me is a continual reminder of birth, growth, death and rebirth. Every fall the leaves die and grow new again in spring. But in dying, they continue to grow, to change. In fact their growth is most extreme in their last stage of life, when the color is most radiant... Plus I'm really into drawing owls lately!

The second is an old picture I titled the tree of life. Many things grow on it and come from it. Also, for those interested, I've just started my own "Etsy" shop! Right now I have 8x10 prints and a set of Christmas cards up there, but I intend to list more items this week. Check it out here (www.WoodyMart.etsy.com).

Extremely Spooky!

Here's a house I did a few weeks back that is "extremely" spooky, also very Halloweenish. It was drawn from a house in Redwood Shores, one of the most mild suburban neighborhoods where nothing like this ever happens... or does it?http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif



Also here is a print I did for the Four Oceans Press print exchange. It's Linoleum cut, 2 blocks. I'm pretty happy with it, the theme is "Autumn", so I'm still on the fence as to whether the colors work for that. I suppose if it was spring the colors would be more pure. Anyway, I call it "Autumn Conference".

sneak peak

Last weekends show was, despite the light flood, all around a success. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to check out what I do! Now that shows over, on to the next project... I've been busy all week getting ready for SCBWI Northern Cali. chapter's "Illustrators Day". Trying to get that portfolio packed with the best I have, and really the challenge is to try and make it look like it was all done by one artist. So, a couple new pieces.

Also this month, postcards are on sale over at psprint! So here is the new little ditty to be sent out soon to publishers, art directors, and the like. Starmaker Aziz, who juggles stars into the sky at night, and on until the morning. Also fits for this weeks Illustration Friday, imagine that coincidence?!

Lately I've been very enamored with the work of a bay area artist, Liz Amini-Holmes. Her work is so mysterious, yet comforting at the same time. So pop on over to her site and check it out...

This weekend, ART SHOW!

The type is a little small, but here is my 'ad' for this weekend's Art On The Square in Redwood City. What is that you ask?... Click on the picture above to read more.

Come down to Redwood City this Friday night or Saturday for a big party. There will be live music, food, and tons of local artists including photography, jewelry, sculpture, painting, and more. The last two were lots of fun, so this one should be even better because it's two days!

Momentum, I.F....

...He took off from the ground and quickly gained momentum, heading straight for the stars. Zooming past the moon, the whole world seemed to come into view, and his heart almost skipped a beat.

G is for Gator!

In honor of these last few hot northern California summer days, here is a hot rockin' gator blowin' his trumpet. Yeah, daddy-oh! Just a fun piece done on scrap matboard, experimenting with technique.

New picture

I've had this idea floating around my head for awhile now, and finally drew it out. This week I finally sat down to paint it. Moses floating down the nile among the reeds, an image I got from a walk around Stow Lake in SF. Anyway, here it is, finally!

Also, a captain for Illustration Friday, which I have not participated in for quite some time! Actually, this is the image for a small stickerbook I made awhile back. Captain Theodore Trickle and his Ocean Exploration Crew. Enjoy!

long time no see!

I know it has been quite awhile since I've posted. I just got on that "vacation slow down" mode. Anyway, took a trip down to Comic-con and had a blast! It is getting very big and crowded. So here is a pic of me and Darth. Also, you've gotta love Picachu!

Thanks to all who made it out to the second Art on the Square last Friday night and came by the Woody Miller table. Lots of fun again and I'm looking forward to the next one in September.

Summer Friday nights!

Here are links to the event website and my website for more info.

Twist!

Twist it and shake it, hula girl!

This Friday (the 6th), from 5:00-8:30 in downtown Redwood City I have a booth selling art, prints, books, and shirts at "Art in the Square"! All created by your truly. So if you're in the bay area come check it out and say hey, I'd love to have company! Here is a map, I'm on Broadway, cross street is Middlefield (now "Theater way"), right in front of the the little Fox theater. There will be tons of artists and a band, should be lots of fun! Plus I'll have brand spankin new t-shirts silk-screened by myself for sale.

New art and shirts!

Friday July 6 in Downtown Redwood City, for those in the bay area, there will be a little "to do". I have a table and will be selling art, prints, handmade books and t-shirts at Redwood City's new "Art on the Square". Come check it out, say hello to me and see the other artists in the new downtown, at the courthouse.

July 6 and August 3, 5-8:30pm downtown Redwood City (out front of the courthouse, near the new theater). Here is a map (it's across from the little Fox theater).

camouflage

This bird is not camouflaged very well, maybe he should be hiding in the snow...

Monday Art Day winner!!

How exciting! I've won the "Monday Art Day" weekly award, WOOO-HOOOO. Above is my trophy! If you haven't heard of it yet, Monday Art Day is a new blog which has a new topic each Monday, and a winner is picked at the end of the week. I won last week for "warrior" and I actually posted 2 pictures, check them out here: #1, #2

So thanks to Bearuh and all involved, and everyone who participates!

SUIT!

suit, for illustration friday.

new show and new mini comic!

I just hung several paintings at Berenice Salon in San Francisco, and it looks wonderful! If you are in or near Union Street, check it out. They will hang for all of June and July.

Also, I just finished my first mini-comic/book. It's a small accordion book about swimming the wrong way... You can check it out and buy it (only $6 bucks!) at my store here. There are also a few new prints up there and my sketchbooks.

My paradise...

A nice morning in some small European village, wasting the hours drawing with a cappuchino (or 2 or 3). One of my first attempts at comic drawing. Not sure if I like it, of course it will get better with time. Anyhow, paradise, a hot mug and a sketchbook!

And here is a colored version. I thought I'd try my hand at coloring, just to see if I could do it, and what it might look like. All coloring done in photoshop.

cars...

Here is my picture for Illustration Friday's theme this week, "cars". I had the idea to do a sort of car pattern, then it just ended up about the smog. It wasn't originally meant to be a comment on global warming or anything "green", but sometimes pictures take on a life of their own. Plus I have been very influenced by comics lately, especially artists like Max, Alexis Frederick-Frost, and Tom Gauld, which is why this picture is a little "comic-y".

On another note, I know it's been some time since I last posted on here. I've been working on a new mini comic. It's a 3 color silk screen accordion folded book titled "Upstream". I'll be putting it up on the webstore here, and it sells for $6. It was pretty fun and I think I've got my silk screen skills honed a little, so I'll be working on another one soon.

Thanks to all who came out and supported APE this year, tons of fun! We shared a spot next to the super cool cartoonist Jesse Baggs and his Hardpressed Ink. Very funny guy with a few great comics, if only all shows could be as much fun as we had that weekend! Look out APE 2008! Maybe even Wondercon...?

I currently am getting work together to hang at Berenice Salon on Union St. in San Francisco starting June 1st. So get down to Union St., check out some cool shops, get a hairstyle and view several of my paintings at Berenice through June and July.

Illustration Friday, Polar

Just a little sketch I did of polar opposites, a polar bear riding around on his skateboard. Well, I don't know about opposite, but very strange indeed...

Also, don't forget if you live in the San Fran bay area to go and check out APE this weekend! There will be TONS of cool art and artists there, comic books, small presses, jewelry, shirts, prints, books, etc. I'll be at table #219, way in the back on the left when you enter. Saturday 11-7 and Sunday 11-6, see you there!

Green

I've been using green lots lately. See my previous posts and all the greenery in them. I think green is the new black, not green the color, but green the "action". I can't turn on the tv, radio, computer, without hearing or seeing something about being green. I love green, so green is good! Here is a green Hula Dancer!

Easter and new mini-book

As Easter turns the corner into spring and the cherry blossoms are blooming in full, I am currently finishing the last picture for my new limited edition, hand-made mini-book titled "Thank You Bird". If all goes well, I should be debuting the book at APE in SF in two weeks.

A small book (around 5x7) with a different cover on each one, it is a limited edition (not sure to how many yet, probably around 20 or 30) and is about an old man and his journey through the forest with his friend the raven. A very short book, at around 14 pages, it is mostly black and white with a touch of color towards the end. The image above is page 2.

So check it out at APE, or on my webstore at www.captaintoucan.com in the next couple weeks. Have a good Easter and make sure you find all your eggs so you don't have any tasty surprises in next years hunt!

2 posts, 1 day

Now that I'm in the techno-robotic-future-sci-fi-web2.0-shpere with myspace, I was inspired to list on Technorati. It's all a little new to me, but I'm all for new. So maybe you're reading my blog for the first time, cool. Honestly, there isn't a lot of techno-talk or high intelectualism here, but I try to post something new each week, usually a new painting or an event that I'll be showing work at (like APE). So check back once in awhile if you like the art!
Technorati Profile

APE 2007 & guest blog

I've got a space at APE (alternative press expo) in SF this year, so come on down if you're in the neighborhood and say hey. I'll have lots of prints, original little framed paintings, sketchbooks, and hopefully a few copies of my limited edition mini-book (if I can finish in time!). Should be lots of fun. Check out the APE site here.

Also, I should be featured soon as a guest bloggist on my friends blog at webomatica. He has a really cool bottle cap collection, as well as a collection of very cool websites! Check them out if you get the chance.

Lastly, I've finally joinded the human american experience, and made a myspace site! Don't know why I never did before, lazy, too busy with other stuff, freaky stories from dateline, whatever... So check it out here and be my friend!

guest blog coming soon

Later this week I'll be guest blogging on my friends site, Webomatica. Cool site and he has tons of other interesting sites he's created (I like bottle-cap-o-rama where you can see his collection of over 1200 bottle caps!). Anyway, check back later and I'll post a link to it, and browse his site some too, lots of curiosities!

Since I haven't posted a picture in awhile, here's one of my newest. I haven't thought of a good title yet, but it looks awesome in it's purple-ish brown bamboo frame!! And anyone around the San Jose CA area, please check out the KALEID gallery at 88 South Fourth St. for some of my original paintings as well as many other artists from the area (including jewelry, paintings, drawings, bags, all sorts of gifty things!).

communication, Illo. Friday...

My newest, titled "Secret Love". I thought it worked well for Illustration Friday's theme of communication. A lot to be said; a man, a woman, a garden...

Sprout! Illustration Friday

A piece I did awhile back.

Red, Illo. Friday part 2

I just finished this picture last weekend and thought it turned out pretty well. I also thought, "red"! Siren of the sea, long, flowing, red hair!

"Red" illo. friday...

A bicycle riding bear riding around in Russia's Red Square. A piece I did awhile back and thought it fit this weeks illustration friday.

first 2007 post!

Like the tittle, this is the first post of the new year. Been busy this year so far, but good busy. I'm getting ready to hang in a temporary gallery in downtown San Jose called KALEID. It is a project of Populus Presents and Two Fish Design. I will have stuff on view for at least 3 months, maybe more. Anyway, if you're local check it out, it's at 88 South Fourth St. There will be a "first friday" reception on February 2nd from 7-9pm.

Also I wanted to post one of my newest paintings, which will be in the show. It's titled "Paradaisia", ancient persian for paradise. So enjoy and welcome to the new year (which is already quickly moving along!).