Buy My Ugly Tie ...
and sponsor a skater from the Triangle Special Hockey Association



Once upon a time I was contractually obligated to attend a dinner function. The primary invitee, who was very uptight due to the prestige of the event, requested/required that my attire be formal.

I don't mind dressing up but I do mind being forced into the prefab solution that society has (for some reason that escapes me) deemed formal wear for men. There are primarily two choices, dark blue suit with tie, black suit with tie. I picked the later.

A new tie was even purchased for me, a nice green one, and since my old tie wasn't going to be worn, I decided to do what I do best, draw turtles on it.

Then the misunderstanding occurred. The person whom I was contractually obligated to attend said function with thought I was going to wear the turtle tie. Due to the stress and pressure brought on by the fact that society wouldn't approve such a tie, instructions were clearly given that I would not being wearing the turtle tie.

I was slightly offended that my turtle tie was deemed contractually-obligated-function inappropriate. An argument ensued, my premise being that there is something wrong with a society that decides the appropriateness of a tie... especially if it is solely based on a predetermined value. For if my tie had been hand drawn by Picasso, Warhol or Haring, it would surely be deemed appropriate.

Now, I understand that I'm not any of the for-mentioned artist. But I still believe my turtle tie holds value. That is why I plan to sell my tie on Ebay to the highest bidder. All proceeds from the sale of the tie will go to sponsor a skater from the Triangle Special Hockey Association.

I hope you will consider buying my ugly tie. And also get the word out to other people that might want to buy my ugly tie. The tie will go on sale next week. I'll keep you posted!

Jeepalishus!

Today, I took a break from my usually artsy stuff to do real man's work (insert grunt sounds here).

Not long ago I purchased a new jeep... well, new to me. A 2006 with 8,400 miles. A good deal but it was lacking the style and manliness my other jeep had.

For example, my other jeep had a lift and 17 inch tires. My new jeep only has 16 inch tires. I inquired at the dealership as to the cost of adding the extra inches... $2,300... I'm trying to live with my less manly tires.

So in order to raise my jeeps manliness, without deflating my wallet, I ordered parts online and they arrived today. So this afternoon, using my new tools I installed my new parts.

Here are the results:



This is my new jeep before installing the new manly bumper.



and this is after with the new manly bumper installed. I think it looks pretty cool. Ooohhh, Aaahhh...



this is my jeep before adding the side steps.



and this is after with the side steps installed. I would like to point out that although the front bumper was pure vanity, the side steps are not. Though I do think they look cool, they are actually quite functional for the shorter riders.

Computer Graphics



I had a chance to play around a little with PhotoShop and created this tutorial I want to run through with my Computer Art & Animation class. I'll post some of their results when completed.

Hungry Polar Bear


click to see it all

Just wanted to prove to myself that I could get away from the mammoth if I wanted to.

It took three sheets of paper before I did. Shhhh, we'll just keep that between you and me.

KiteFly


click to see it all

As seen on the Picture-Bookies Showcase Blog!

I tried a slightly different arrangement this morning and I'm much happier with it. Of course I keep using the same images. I should get sick of the mammoth/saber-tooth soon. I did add a kite because I'm jockeying for a Pen & Palette cover ;)



this time I started with the pen. and not that silly dunk the ink in the barrow pen. A regular garden variety black ball point.



Then I scribbled with the colored pencils. but a much tighter scribble. Little circles and hatching type of scribbles. After that I went over it with watercolors. See below.

Wow, this must be one of my most exciting posts ever! So what did you do next?! Is there another step?? Please, please. We beg! Tell us.



The last step was to eat pizza. Then I went back over some of the pen lines with the dunk the ink pen. Just because it is darker and made it more full of contrasty goodness.

Theory



In theory, the teacher thought it would be an OK idea to let the kids bring their pets to school.



In theory, i thought this illustration would turn out better than it did. I'm still messing around with different media and the order of the media. I started this one with a lame composition so it was doomed from the get go. I also started with the colored pencils.



Next, I added a layer of paint. In theory this should have worked out OK.

Finally, I tried a new pen. In the past i have worked with regular old ball points. i like them but they don't get rich enough. This time I tried using pen and ink. The real thing were you have to dip the pen in the ink every 2 seconds.



In theory this should have worked out pretty well but I was too uptight about the pen. Plus I got bored dipping it all the time. so finally I grabbed my trusty ball point. I might need to give the pen thing another chance though.

this is the final illustration.

Choose



I chose to illustrate a mammoth getting attacked, and what will become eaten, by a pack of wild, hungry saber tooth tigers.



What they all don't know is that they choose the worst possible spot to attack. Yes, that is correct, the tar pit. Darn. Just when you think you got a tummy full of Woolly, the next thing you know your sinking in La Brea.

Sucks to be you.

In other news...

Art Toy

Art Toy was a homework assignment for my Art History class. I only gave them the words Art Toy. It was up to them to use their creativity to find a solution. This one is probably marketable ;)



Mona Lisa Doodle

See more example on the Apex Art Blog!

and while you are there, leave a comment... thanks!!

Blanket



click to see it larger

The Woolly Triceratops trudges through the fresh laid blanket of snow...

Don't worry, he'll be OK. He's wooly. At least this way he'll stay warm. but I don't think he really likes the way the cold snow feels on his paws. I don't like when my socks get wet so I can relate.

this illustration does look much cooler when it's larger... so click here.

Newimals



I know I haven't posted much of my stuff lately. That's because January was filled with other people's stuff. And let's be honest, it's not all about me (mostly, but not all :)

Most of my January free time was eaten away by a rather large project I'm working on for TeleHealth. I've been revamping the demo for their TigrNet product. This is the product I was originally hired by TeleHeath to design so I'm always happy to help.

The rest of my January free time, which was very little, was spent working on a middle grade manuscript that I'm trying desperately to get out the door. More on that later...

In the meantime, I have new classes and they have been busy... so...

The first PhotoShop Phriday assignment for the Computer Art & Animation class, create a newimal by combining two animals.

Check out the rest at The apex Art Blog.