A Small Shade of Purple

As promised, here's that completed portrait of Mr. Smalley. It doesn't quite have the realism I was going for, but not too shabby for my first water color in a while. My main focus for this one was pushing the contrast with darker darks, and adding as much detail as I could get in there. I think I'm going to need to get a finer brush, though, so I can flesh out those details even further.



And of course I can't resist seeing what any of my drawings look like in sepia tone. It really works for this one.

Watercolor Smalley

I like watercolor a lot, but I hardly ever can bring myself to pull them out and use 'em. Well, I'm going to make a real effort folks. I'm planning on mixing them with pen and ink drawings, but I decided to start out with a pure watercolor portrait and just see how that went. This is the first stage of a portrait of my buddy Fred.

Banjo Player

While on our trip to Arcata we stopped into a cafe/hot tub establishment that had been recommended to us and we happened upon a live band playing traditional Irish and Scottish folk songs. Here's what the head guy looked like.

A Gentleman of a Dino

I've been doing Animal Portraits for a little over a year right now, and I've grown a bit tired of them. BUT, do you know what I love possibly more than regular ole' animals?

DINOSAURS



Yeah, that's right. It's a sketch of a dinosaur with muttonchops. He's got a comb-over too. What are you going to do about it?? NOTHING, BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME!!!

I have something much more grand in the works for this image. Just wait and see.

Plant

Here's a quick sketch that I did last week of a potted plant. Green things are going to be popping up more and more as the garden season gets on its way. I can't wait.

Blind Alibi

While in Arcata Stephanie and I passed the time by doing some blind contours of each other at a local establishment. I cheated a bit on the top and bottom ones though. I swear her eyes were actually levitating in front of her face.

Yesterday (chops chops)

So, this is kinda what I looked like yesterday. I always like to shave my beard off in stages before taking the whole thing off and starting from scratch. I'm growing tired of this though and will probably be entering mustache town soon. I forgot how much I like working just in pen.

I've also been feeling a little negligent with the blog. Only 38 posts this year and it's already April? Pretty pathetic for something called "Sketch a Day." I'll try harder folks. Bear with me. Until I have a bare face that is. Then do whatever you want.

Capybara Birthday

I love when birthdays roll around because it gives me a chance to make a nonsensical card, usually involving an animal. Tomorrow is my brother's birthday and last night we went out to celebrate with some raucous and rambunctious karaoke, where I presented him with this:



One of my favorite animals, the capybara (world's largest rodent), wearing a fez. Nothing says 31 like a capybara donning a fez, am I right people?

Mental Health

I recently got to do another illustration for the Portland Mercury for an article about the mental health system here in Portland. I'm also very excited that they've switched me over from design intern to illustration intern, which means I'll be doing these somewhat regularly. I'm still working way too long on them, but I'm working on ways to cut down the time. Can you blame me for wanting them to be perfect? Here's the black and white version that appeared in the printed issue yesterday:



I'm more partial to the color one that appeared in the online version which can be seen below or by clicking the link above:



I felt way more confident about this one than the last, and had a great time doing it. I wonder what the next one will be?

Arty Party

Here's a little doodle I did at the Wednesday night "Arty Party" at Project Grow, on N. Williams. People getting together and working on creative projects, sharing resources, and listening to music. Not too shabby.

As you can see I'm not too great at drawing from my mind.