Old Codger

Portrait comission, acrylic on canvas, painted from a series of reference photos (November 2010)

Tissuebox Flourish

graphite on paper, 11" x 14".  The first in a series...

Sentient Clouds

"Sentient Clouds", mixed media on paper, 18" x 24" (created Nov. 2010).  This picture started as a series of random marks, squiggles, doodles, gestures, and icons, and I worked straight through at a fast rate until completion. As I worked this drawing, it evolved:  I grouped clusters of marks into shapes, and then continued adding more marks, patterns, and shading. Disparate marks and patterns came together to form a cluster...and those clusters I grouped into still larger clusters.  In this way, this work felt very organic--since it grew naturally! It reminded me of one of those "Sim Life" games. I was under a time limit with this drawing, so I had to resolve it quickly. Thus, I cut out a cartoon painting from one of my sketchbooks and collaged it into the picture (for a focal point), and also added some additional color. Working through a drawing like this really feels like a marathon. When I was done with it, I felt spent!

Fear of Mountain Lions

"Fear of Mountain Lions" (2010) Ink & graphite on paper.  This is an illustration for a chapter in a story.  The story is about a man who is alone in a remote mountainous area known to be inhabited by mountain lions.  Suddenly...a thrashing about in the brush nearby! What could that be?! A mountain lion??  My task for this piece was to create a series of patterns, strokes, an textures that representted whatever I was associating this scene, and then rolling it all together into a sort of pastiche. So in this drawing you'll see fear, rocky cliffs, mountain lions, big fangs, shredded clothing, scrubby scruffy desert foliage..and so on. Oh, I didn't draw those things literally; it'all implied here.

Facebook Quick Sketch

This is a new picture of a Facebook friend, who's portrait I drew from one of the pix in his Facebook photo albums. He's wearing a construction hat.  Size is roughly 9" x 12".  I used a felt-tipped pen & wax crayon.

Irises

A recent drawing of irises, drawn from life. (ink on paper)

Spooky

Here's a recent piece I did with a "Halloween" theme. Ink, graphite, watercolor, and watercolor crayon on paper; 9" x 12" in size.  I like the fact that it's kinda hard to see what's happening, as if you were looking out onto a dark night, and saying "what's going on out there??!"