Solitude

There's an incredible power in solitude. That empty silence. No distractions. Where you can feel the creator breathing slowly in your face, his breath sustaining your fragile existence. These moments are too few or perhaps it's too bad that I'm so easily distracted. Oh but the breath, like sunlight on cool skin where you feel your body suck it up like a dry sponge touched by water.

These little sketches I did got me thinking along those lines tonight as I sit here in stillness after the family has all gone to bed. I'm tired though and I think it's time to join them. See you in slumberland.

The Duke

The Duke will see you now.

Chosen

This concept is from one of my stories. It's a story I haven't worked on for a while now. I've been busy with another one, one that is much further along. It's late and I don't know what else to write. I wanted to get up another sketch tonight so I stayed up a little to post this. Midnight is really late for me anymore. That's what happens when you get old I hear. That reminds me, I saw Lady in the Water recently and I have to say I loved it despite expecting to absolutely hate it. That sort of happened with his last movie The Village. While I didn't love it I did like it and was convinced before seeing it that it would be a drudgery of a film. Lady in the Water is my favorite film by Shyamalan. He'd abandoned his Sixth Sense formula finally and told the type of story that I really appreciate, a fantasy with a practical message (that I personally found inspiring). I would agree with many critics that playing the writer in his film wasn't the best choice. All the other characters in the apartment were incredibly unique and quirky but the writer was a bit of a let down when you think of what the character could've been like. Now I don't know him or his intentions but him playing the part felt a bit presumptuous, but that could just be me. In the end though it wasn't a big distraction.

Squiddle

Since it's so fun to dig up old stuff that I never really shared I think I'll continue, particularly since anything that I'm working on now for Rockstar won't see the light of day for a very very long time. I do keep a sketchbook and occasionally find the time for a painting here and there and I'll be sure to share those as well. This was a dressed up sketch of a property I worked on at Brain Tangent. Even though I rarely do it I always like to put art in motion or to music. I love creating things that feel alive.

Cacti

This is another old concept, going on 2 years old. The idea was a monster made of cacti parts. I was saving the little thorns for the painting which ended up not being needed. I remember struggling through different head designs. He kept looking too much like various animals and I really wanted him to be more alien, as in foreign. I'm happy with the final head. It feels right to me, but hey, you might hate it.

Nazi Witch

This is a real rough concept from about a year and a half ago, maybe a little longer. It was for one of the many original properties we were working on at Brain Tangent. I thought that I was going to finish it sometime for myself but a lots happened since then and it's just so old now that I'd rather just keep moving forward. That job was an interesting experience. I really got to try my pencil on a variety of projects and styles. Lots of fun and it really helps you grow. Very different than where I am now, working on the same thing for over a year with longer to go. Both situations taught me such different things. There's something so rewarding about really fleshing out a project, spending lots and lots of time on it. I find it very enjoyable right now.

Christmas 06

I did this up for Rockstar's Christmas party invites this year. The theme was 'winter wonderland'.

Frog Prince

A saturday afternoon spent exploring a photoshop canvas and this is what I ended up with.

Oil

Last december I was inspired to paint with oils so my wife and I went to the art store, spent a small fortune and rushed home so I could get to painting. This was my second attempt. The first canvas ended up in the dumpster.