Oh yeah...the puppets

As much as I hate it, this season I have to create more foreground "walls" to conceal the puppeteers on the kids' show. Last season we used very few of these, and it was nice to work free of constraints. But it seems these "walls" and "shelves" come in handy when you're doing anything with characters that have no legs! Last season, their lower bodies were cut off by the bottom edge of the screen, and it really limited us to keeping all the action along the bottom edge. With tiered walls and shelves, we can utilize more of the screen with our puppet acting! Above is one of the first redesigned rooms for this season. I just can't help going overboard with all the little details! I'm really diggin' how the robot and "Super Squirrel" on the shelf turned out. I wish I had a playroom like this...

(Click on the image if you'd like to enlarge it.)

Mary Had a Little Plan

Here's more of my designs from the kid's show! I think Mary, here, looks a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit mischievious. This was a quickie cover for a prop of a children's book. We're discouraged from using written words on the props, so I had to illustrate that it was the story of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" without writing out the title.


And speaking of Marys, I've been looking at a lot of background art by the unsung, ingenious Mary Blair. She was a BRILLIANT color stylist and background designer who worked with Disney.


Stylistically related to Mary Blair, Kirsten Ulve had an exhibit here in the city that I saw the other day. It's amazing stuff, and I'm contemplating dropping some dough and buying a piece. We'll see. Check out her art because she's a true modern day Mary Blair!

Seeing that I'm surrounded by so much talent here in New York, I gotta' step up my work. I'm determined to make this season of the show much better than the last. Here's some background sketches from the episodes to come...where the characters visit an orchard, the dentist, and even the prehistoric era!

Happy Birthday Mimi!

I want to wish a very special birthday to my grandmother, Mimi, who turns 80 today!


I hope you have a wonderful day, because you are the most wonderful grandmother in the whole world.


You have always been so sweet, kind, generous, thoughtful, warm, and loving.


I've always loved your stories, sense of humor, and playfulness when we would play boardgames.


I think everyone aspires to turn 80 and be as beautiful, elegant, gracious, worldly and wise as you are.


You've given me your love, your time, your drawing experience, and you've even given me asthma medication when I was in need. That's the kind of grandmother you are, you know just what to say and do at all the right times and I appreciate it all. I always think about you and how you would bake cookies and cakes for me, Philip, and Patrick. I think about you and miss you when I see certain things...and this last photo reminds me of you. It will always be a reminder of how you would wait for us at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park as we rode the rides. Afterwards, when we'd meet up with you by this calliope, we were greeted by the sounds of these little cherubs and angels playing music in the background. It's something I associate with you, because whimsy and happiness surrounds all that you do. I love you and hope you have a great day!

Dragons on Parade

This past Sunday I stepped out my front door only to be greeting by the sound of distant drums getting louder and louder. The beat got faster and faster...and louder and louder. Baracades lined the sidewalks and kept the growing mass of people crowded along the edge of the streets.


Before I knew it, colorful, swirling creatures rounded the corner and slowly made their way up the street, getting larger and larger, all the while zig-zagging in ceremonial patterns. Their undulating tails twitched and danced, and their large heads bobbed up and down, bowing and then freezing into various expressions as they gazed out at their audience.


Their eyes were lined with scales, fur, and ornamentation, all in various shocks of vibrant colors. Their nostrils jutted out above large, gaping mouths that snapped open and closed as they moved.


Children and adults danced around them, wearing masks and waving fans that corresponded to the rhythm of the dragons.


Every step was filled with excitement and delight, and all the creatures and participants crept past me as I stared from the sidewalk.


Just when I thought the last dragon had passed, another would emerge from the swarm of dancers and surprise me as it whisked past my face.


As I gazed at the oncoming waves of people, I caught sight of a great golden dragon snaking its way towards me.


Its jaw was fixed in an eternal grin as it weaved back and forth, in between amazed onlookers.


At one point, I could literally reach out and touch its golden scales as they flashed and flickered by.


I watched it elegantly slither past, gliding over the spectators and dancers' heads.


Next, a smaller–yet longer, serpentine dragon raced past, as if it was the child of the giant golden dragon. Its "trainer" was leading it through the ceremony with a brighly colored ball of bait.


Once the dragons had swept by, a formation of beautiful Chinese maidens twirled paper lanterns and sang in their wake.


Following all that elegance and pomp and pageantry was a large, cartoonish, red pig. Its unblinking eyes and bloated, Verizon-sponsored belly announced the new year: year of the pig! (Corporate pig?)


Suddenly, multicolored confetti exploded into the air everywhere around me, falling from above and fluttering to the ground.


I stared at it on the sidewalk, temporarily stunned by all the various shades of color my eyes were just exposed to.


Looking around at the decorations hanging along the streets in the aftermath of the parade, I couldn't help but think to myself, "what a beautiful, lucky day."


I think a magical shisa is surely looking out for me. I hope one is looking out for you, too.

Happy Chinese New year!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Make sure your heart is in good hands today...

Truth & Lies

"Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes."
-Mark Twain

“I love you, and because I love you, I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.”
-Pietro Aretino

With that said, do you like my drawing?

Creative JUICE!

I'm back in the studio, working on season 2 of the kid's show. Today, the prop department needed a graphic label for a generic juicebox for the puppets to hold. I threw this design together, and was pleasantly surprised with the result. It's meant to be folded to wrap around the prop. I'm really diggin' the colors! I love it when spontaneous designs turn out the way I want. Why is it the best stuff comes when we're not trying too hard? I am continually mystified by this phenomenon. The moment I STRESS about a drawing is the moment it usually goes downhill...

...now I'm thirsty!

Fey

This is probably the gayest thing i've ever drawn...maybe.

But I like how this little drawing came out. It's sweet, but a little creepy, too...I think.

It's a character that's been floating around in my head for a while and I've been meaning to give birth to him through pen and paper. Of course, no little fey boy should be without a trusty unicorn friend. Maybe I'll write a little story about him and send him on an adventure.

Mechanical Music

I just finished this drawing/painting for a pair of architect friends who asked for an original piece. It's a belated Christmas gift, and I spent many contemplative moments making all the little visual decisions that went into it. I really hope they like it. It was a tricky commision, because you never know exactly what will tickle someone's fancy when it comes to art they'll hang in their home. I think I'm happy with it at this point, even if it is a little busy! Many of the elements are actual architectural diagrams that I cut out, doodled on, and then glued to a large sheet of watercolor paper. I think it has a silly, musical sort of feel to it. It was fun to do. (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

When I work, I usually listen to music, and sometimes that music inspires the art. Here's several recent albums that really got my creative juices flowing. I tend to gravitate towards unusual, otherworldly, and upbeat music when I create. It allows my mind to unhinge from life's daily minutiae.

These albums are all unabashed, electronic pop, and really interesting pop at that. I'm fascinated by how some modern musicians can squeeze warmth and emotions out of synthesizers. Check them out if you get a chance, they've been getting me through these long, cold, gray months here in New York.


"The Future Crayon" by Broadcast










"So This is Goodbye" by Junior Boys










"Freezepop Forever" by Freezepop (who incidentally, are playing in Williamsburg on January 26 at Galapagos!)

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to my Baby!

"Happy Birthday, babe! I hope your special day was wonderful and undiminished by recent, neighboring holidays. We've been dating since last Summer, and you continue to surprise me with unending sweetness and kindness. I'm a lucky, lucky guy. I feel blessed to have met you."

I never would've guessed I'd snag such a cute, Brazilian gatinho! Here's to a great ending to 2006, and to a hopeful, prosperous 2007!


Here's more Christmas party images.


Also, I'd like to wish a special Happy New Year shout to my good friends, Stephen and Frances, who have begun their own PittsBlog.


Thank you for spending the holidays with me, since I was unable to fly South to see my family this year. If you're reading this, Mom, I missed you and hope to see you all soon! I'm so glad I got to see you at Thanksgiving. below is a shot from the farm. I owe a special, special thank you to my grandparents, Mimi and J.B., for helping me preservere throught the Fall despite my allergy problems, by lending me asthma medication. I love you.

When fantasy and politcs collide

I did this illustration recently for an article that included several jokes to inspire holiday cheer. One of the jokes was about George Bush choosing between different rooms in Hell, and the other joke involved a gay genie. I hope my illustration sums up the content while adding a new twist in the form of a political cartoon. What do you think? Does it make sense? Does it stand on it's own?

I Hope you're spending time with friends during this week between Christmas and New Year's. This is the time for merriment and good cheer!

That's the spirit!

This truck was driving through Chinatown blaring Christmas music, forcefully spreading holiday cheer to all.


These Asian carolers were spotted near the truck singing all the Christmas standards: "Jingle Bells", etc.

I particularly enjoyed their accents on the "fa la la la la's".


I don't know about you, but the sight of a plush Frosty and Santa crucified on the back of a black SUV really makes my Christmas.

Okay, that's all for now...I've been too busy visiting with friends, opening presents, and stuffing my face with gingerbread men to post more. Plus, this season's shopping has really wiped me out! Whew, thank goodness it's over!

I hope you're all having a great holiday...