Packed!

These guys are PACKED!! An oldie, but a goodie. This one dates all the way back to art school!

Super-Fantastical Excit-e-static!

Next week I'll be on the east coast, visiting the autumn leaves and I've just discovered the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is close, so look out Amherst, Mass.! SO excited! These types of museums are far and few between, so I'm all over this! Woo Hoo!

Clique

For Illustration Friday, 'clique'. I didn't get around to painting it yet, but I still might one day.

Apparently, squirrels are solitary animals, so they were never assigned a group name (lounge of lizards, herd of buffalo, murder of crows, etc.). Which in a way is a good thing, because I only have to get angry at the one squirrel that keeps digging holes in all my plants every fall and spring!! Darn tootin'!

Done!

... but still not installed. Next week I should have pictures of the mural installed. But here it is all finished, resting in my carport.

He's a Howler!

As you may know (and if you don't, here you go!) I'm working on a picture book about monkeys for Charlesbridge publishing. The book is called "He's a Howler" and is authored by the prolific April Pulley Sayre. It is due out spring of 2010, but here is a super special sneak peak (I haven't even starting painting yet, just sketches!). Keep on the lookout for updates!

Mural... in progress

So I'm still wondering what in the world I did when I signed up to do an 8x8 foot mural. It has been such a different experience for me, a challenge but a in a good way. Downtown Redwood City will have 8x8 foot murals displayed for the month of September and maybe October, starting on September 19th. Several artists are doing murals to go into empty storefronts. Here are some progress photos.

This project has been a huge undertaking, but very rewarding (although, I'll wait to claim success until it's installed and I see it from more than two feet away!). It has really been a good exercise not only for my body (very strenuous painting work!) but also for my mind. It requires a large idea and has given me room to really loose myself in the creation aspect. I will say, I feel a deeper understanding and closeness to God's creation of the universe. As corny as that sounds, it really has given me a different kind of respect for "creative/creation-ness".

While I have painted large before, nothing on this scale. It is something completely new for me, yet very familiar. It requires discipline in adhering to the forms and colors I've laid out, yet I feel very free and liberated to let the creation process unfold organically. New ideas are coming forth as I create and the act of creating itself is leading me in new directions: bringing new ideas to light.

I know many of you would not call yourselves "artists" in the traditional sense, but I strongly urge you to create something in your life. The act of creation brings me a new respect for and deeper understanding of the spirit of our Creator.

Anyway, thanks for humoring me and hopefully you'll get a chance to see the mural finished! I'll keep updating as it comes along and gets installed.