Wednesday flying by


Man, am I moving on stuff today. Click, click, click. Wrote a bit on my thesis. Arranged the party for the cast and crew at a local restaurant. Just need to layout the flier. Figured out the finals on my flight to San Francisco next Saturday. Did a quick thing for a friend. Organized and created 2 fed ex. Called in a bunch of prescriptions. Rescheduled a few things. Talked to a client or two. Roasted last night's chicken carcass with a mess of veggies and now have it on to simmer with water.

The job that the client found me by googling birds now has a signed contract and direction. Sounds like I may need to really crank it up and do it fast. A fun nice way to spend a day...albeit I am feeling a bit pressed with other work. Am trying to finish up the food project...and have spent a ton of time on it. I hope they like it..though it could be sad if they ditch it. They didn't ask for this, but my thinking is to present better and see where they go. Should be sweet.

Have a cute new valentine I am dying to do...fits the rest of the group. It was great seeing the work yesterday (yes, entered BOTH CA and 3x3...some big bucks out the door)--and may send a few things to CA design. I have decided against Print Magazine. Too old fashioned. Really love the online entry thing. Sure, it takes time--but at least it isnt tracking samples down, xeroxing, cutting and pasting, taping and cross checking to finally write a check and fed ex out things that will go in a landfill. With electronic entries, its sweet and quite smooth...CA's platform is very sweet and very visual.

Gotta go.

Tuesday: leaning into it


Just back from the dentist in Corning. It was a bit slick until Watkins...and then beautiful sailing til Corning and back. It was colorfully winter--with purple, blue, deep brown and golden. I came home the long way by Seneca Lake until the little turn off to take me through the Finger Lakes National Forest--with deer, and fields and trees. The deep blue lake had whitecaps with a layer of ice by the shore. There were limbs off some of the peach trees in Peach Orchard. Also, a distillery is opening on the uphill side of the west side of Seneca...new news. It is still definitively Winter..no buds, no yellow haze around the willow trees, yet... Yet.

Am trying to get my submissions to CA Illustration 50 and to 3x3 before the trip on the 16th. It is a real mental review to do this...and is revealing about what the last year was about (and CA makes it a bit more interesting as it is March to March vs January to January. So, some of the stuff I am leaning into right now can qualify. It always is surprising all the time that gets eaten up with these shows--but hey, I have to believe there may be some pay off...beyond the satisfaction of getting into some of them. Lisa Cyr is doing an article on Hartford for the CA Illustration Annual and needs some information/stories/ testimonials which I owe her too. I did a bit of thinking about this text and feel that there is an overlay on what HAS has done for you that is part of the thesis...so if I write it a little bit more carefully than the regular slop...I may be able to repurpose this.

Murray weighed in with some good insight on a valentine. So, this weekend, this will change out. Working on a hand drawn picture (need better reference ...hope to get today) of Alex Cassetti for a valentine , one of my valentines. it is wild to do an inking job with white out versus the vector job...I feel a bit like a pig on ice with this....too wild, too fast, too fluid and there is a wild thrill that goes with this. The sketch yesterday (below) is first blush. Big thing, need new reference. Feels good that it's only Tuesday!

Grey Sunday

I had to go yesterday as Kitty was going to have surgery on one of her toes...(unplanned) so I was called in for support. She was a trooper and with this new doctor, a real podiatrist, there may be a solution (permanently) without total nail removal for her. She just has nails that do the wrong thing, and for her to live a life without some sort of ouch or infection would be great. We had a nice dinner at Dijon with the boys making funny stories and eating good food to get her back in the game. We then went and saw the remarkable movie, Milk featuring Sean Penn which was so interesting as it is history during my life. Seeing it in a dramatic context --as a slice--was quite interesting as it created links and made both R and me to project out a bit down to today and how far we have come in one generation for so many people in previous generations who had to live a double life.

Study hall this p.m. Will finish the catfish. Will finish the black printer of the Rose valentine. Will continue to work on trace for the octopus valentine. Will print the Alex reference for the Alex valentine. This week , need to submit work to the 3x3 show, get rolling on the veternary labs work and get the contract written for a job that came in to me (an illustration job no less) when someone was googling. We will wait and see on this one. The vibe def feels right. I am very optimistic.

More later>>(incomplete image...type needed, more color to come)

Doctors office Saturday p.m.

Got Kitty to her play practice. The boys had their hair cut in Ithaca. So I have an hour or so to rework this fish which is part of a freebie I am doing for a local, talented entrepeneur who is coming out with some products. I cleaned up their original mark-- and just didn't think it worked. I redrew it again in illustrator-- and then, out of curiousity, did a bit of searching for this particular fish to find out the original image did not pick up the primordial flat tail, where the gills and fins were--the insignificance of the mouth etc. So guess what? I redrew. Wait... The nurse is beckoning me into the examining room with Kitty.

mini catch up


In the thrall of illustration. Just when I think I've got something, I go to sleep and have to redesign the entire thing...taking stuff out, adding stuff in, reworking curves, reworking scale...and it continues. However, the work is moving someplace, someplace resolved and refined. It's truly the tribute of a prod from Murray, my growing empowerment and frankly, hearing what random facebookers think of an image that has helped me. My initial explosion into illustration doing 10-12 solutions per topic...was really me doing a sketch process bigger than most. Setting em up, knocking em down, not seeing the need to revisit the design, rethink the curves, rethink the message. It reflected my need as a designer to get stuff done...done. No time to massage, or to have the patience to rework (and now, to some degree, that patience has to develop and design almost beccome as welcome as the lovliness of just making that inked drawing and seeing where the detail develops and grows--pushing negative and positive )

Now, I worry all of it...and in the case of the Octopus (which I like how stylish he is) he will be redrawn with another Octopus entwined. That's moving toward message of love versus a plunk inside of a plunk... (octopus inside of a heart, Dog inside of a sun shape etc.) Not only now, we have design, I also have a desire to have a bit more meaning than "look Ma! I can make pictures and people don't laugh at me". The needle is moving all the time...but the last two months have moved quite a bit. I do have until May for the paper to be written, so I figure I can write the paper and continue to develop the drawings until they need to be put into frames and hung on the wall.

Just took a load of trash to the corner along with recycling. Need to put a pork shoulder in the oven. (slow cook all day). Bought it from the Munson Road Amish folks who run a remarkable little store (they were pulling leeks out of the ground even frozen, last week). They sell their own freerange pork, beef, eggs, chicken. All beautiful and unlike going to the big guys around here, way competitive with the run of the milk meat and dairy.

I love our new President. Watching his "its not a State of the Union" State of the Union address was wonderful with all the pomp and circumstance combined with his lovely manner, his remarkable wife and all the hugging and love. If only we could get moving on this poor State--then we could start thinking bigger picture. But these details that this layer of money may help to rescue or renew, might be a paradigm shifter for some areas (like health care?)

The day awaits.

Image above is the starting point of a valentine that will have copy "My love is like a red red rose"--there will be a rosebud in the middle of the twined stems, some new leaves, and a few more details that need to be redrawn and stripped in. Behind the roses, there will be a lattice pattern dropped in. I think I will need to color this one...after all, the roses are red. Right?

monday late



Rolling on a bunch of illustrations--work in progress. First blush of the octopus. Need to develop it further. Sweetheart is new (redrawn, new type, new frogs, more design).

working...round one

Work in progress on NYC illo. A bit of a bow to Gris. Lots of work to go here. Seeing some things I like, seeing some things I don't. Just dont want you guys to think I am slacking off... as I am writing briefly, and posting nothing either. Have 3 more valentines in states of improvement/development. All parts for the prelim octopus is done. The Sweetheart valentine is done with a better frog and a bit of hand lettering. Have 1/2 of a rose valentine (playing with the reverse of the snake...different twists...--also want to do one that twists in the middle like a pretzel). Punch and Judy this week with maybe the indian one. So there will be a collection to view in San Francisco in around 2 weeks. Yikes!

back


Out and back yesterday to see Oneonta State and Hartwick. Very interesting and informative. We finally have some energy around all of this for Kitty (and surprisingly Alex). If any of you have high school freshmen, go do a college tour with an information session and you kid will say all the words you would have to say throughout their HS career (your grades mean something, GPA means something, have an interest, have a passion, read). It all went in both ears and registered. I think we may see some changed behaviors. It was nice being in the car yesterday all together. I knit a cap out of some chunky noro--and as it was so refreshing just to do this, I need to keep knitting because I cannot draw in the car.

So, we have today. I will do some grocery shopping and get back into my octopus valentine. I penciled the whole thing in quickly (I think it was an idea ready to be hatched) and was pleased with the original shape--but then looking at the reference and the very stylistic drawing, I couldnt immediatlely think of how to approach the suckers which are very decorative and equally as stylish. So, I just started to ink something in (I am soooo fearless with my new white out addition to the mis en place)--and badabing...I was on to something. Just need to make the pieces and by Monday I think I will have the black printer for this design. Plan on making a swishy water pattern to strip in. Have the piece above (not finished, more astudy for Will Bradley trees) in the works. Need to do Punch and Judy, the India/ Indian Valentine, finish the frog valentine called "sweetheart" and continue. However, if there is ski club tomorrow, I plan on starting the Juan Gris inspired tabletop of takeout food from NYC. Have an approach worked out (came to me in the shower...a "why not?") moment.

Discovered this great site for my bibliography (easybib.com). One types in the ISBN # and it grabs the book information, alphabetizes it and puts it in the appropriate MLA standard format. Easy Bib also does footnotes. A blessing.

R off on business tomorrow. Back Tuesday p.m. There is talk we may go try to see this japanese puppet troupe at Cornell Tuesday night. From the PR story, things could be breathtaking. Also, a very interesting may open up with a fairly famous theatrical/musical group in Central NY for me...need to play my cards right as this is a Paul Davis moment...a bit twitchy as it could be the right next step.

The store awaits.

Waiting

Am in the doctors office with my iPhone writing a blog entry-- not the most fluid, but it does the work. Kitty has something that we need to get in front of the doctor prior to any further development. As it's a break, it is great that the doctor can see her.

We go off tomorrow on a two day looksee of 3 colleges to get the ball rolling with K and back Saturday late as R is off on business first thing Sunday am. I get Sunday to provision and finish up some illustrations that need a bit more polish prior to saying " done"! Then I can start a few more valentines to round out the dozen-- then done. The clowns and comedia dell'arte characters next. A dozen there-- figures galore!

Gotta go-- this tapping so disturbing people.

As pleased as Punch!


There he is, Punch. Mr. Meany--always portrayed with his stick that he uses quite vehemently on the other person (generally Judy or their baby(!)or the crocodile(!!)) with his big nose, big chin, motley clothes and his little scary voice (which I find out is part of his signature...it is called the Swazzle--as wiki sez:

In the British "Punch and Judy" show Punch wears a jester's motley and is a hunchback whose hooked nose almost meets his curved jutting chin. He carries a stick, as large as himself, which he freely uses upon all the other characters in the show. He speaks in a distinctive squawking voice, produced by a contrivance known as a swazzle or swatchel which the Professor holds in his mouth, transmitting his gleeful cackle— "That's the way to do it". So important is Mr. Punch's signature sound that it is a matter of some controversy within Punch and Judy circles as to whether a 'non-swazzled' show can be considered a true Punch and Judy Show.

I love this Swazzle thing. Really could be a great name for a lot of things. A whole twist to the character, a sound, a signature beyond the beating of the other characters. The Professor is the name of the single puppeteer who performs these little plays...always of two characters. I was musing on the history (there's quite a bit) of Punch and Judy  to Rob. Surprisingly, we both had the same opinion of them (albeit, I always go for the look as primary) as they are anachonistic and the shows which both of us saw in our childhoods...the children of today do not even see. It was horrifying to go to a show, not understand what this little puppet who hit people and spoke in this bizarre manner and try to figure out what your parents had in mind in taking you to this performance. Was there some message I was too stupid to understand? Was this something to expect as my parents wanted to hit me with a stick? Why were people laughing? It was puzzling and scary the way the clowns are..only somehow Punch and Judy were more academic (translated, more tasteful and somehow, good for you).


I like it that Punch is a derivative character from the Commedia del'Arte, Punchinella...who also has a wonderful nose (and mask)...not quite a clown...but maybe close enough?

Late today

It's been a hundred miles per hour day-- with all sorts of editing and changing, finishing projects, saving file types, emailing etc. Am excited by the layers of tissues and tracing paper I plan on scanning and constructing in photoshop for the next three valentines (floral heart, pigeon, and the new Punch and Judy valentine. With the layers of printing, scanning and redrawing-- these images are becoming better designed and tighter illustrations with rework and redrawing.

Tomorrow more rework, new images and new thumbnails.

Monday morning


Work in progress above. Will be slugging in some Will Bradley inspired trees and a little Central Park copse with a bridge and maybe an apartment building. Or depending on the sketching, maybe just the trees and a dovecote with no city reference. Still on the fence about this, but want to move it forward. Definitely need to get rid of the border. Have been looking at successionist stuff...and was thrilled to get a kick in the booty from that. Plans afoot to do a calligraphic valentine or two, an octopus valentine, a punch and judy valentine (what a cute couple) and a mystical valentine (inspired by heart lines in palmistry). Posada has some love letter covers that have prompted me to go to him for other inspirations like cupid, love letters, winged women (with butterfly wings et. ) There is lots of room to move here...and i should do a figure or two to push it... (fear there, but hey). Also want to do a smallbody (8?) of work on Clowns. Rob said NO...that with my luck they would hit...and i would become known for clowns and he would have to tolerate it despite the fact he hates clowns. Will do some research. I love the idea...I could push the primative thing along with Yellow Blue and Red (black and grey) as a limited palette....could hit the simple/woodcut inspired thing...

Kids are out of school this week. R is shopping for a car. Our used red stationwagon died suddenly last week (200,000+ miles) so there is a bit of a rush to get something new to drive. So, he is shopping. It hurts how much cars cost...but this is part of my old fogery. So, will be part of the week for that. Wednesday we will look at a college as well as Friday and Saturday. Sunday R has to travel, so I have ilustration and maybe a bit of fun with the kiddies. American Illustration due friday...and 3x3 is short ly behind. Need to enter those shows this week too. Need to get to work...

Happy Valentines Day


I love holidays like Thanksgiving and Valentines Day as they are food holidays..but holidays with open ended messages. Thanks and Love. Wow. How can you miss with that? Plus, for me, they force me out of my corner, out of the retail headset and to think about those big messages and how they relate to my own life and living. I give thanks that I have so much to love from the people in my life, to the things I do (down to the granular day to days) to the experiences (mundane to extrordinary) and feel that this is truly a gift--these loves are what define me as a person and as the little spirit that inhabits this earth for the short time we do. The loves and how they link, how they network begin to define my warp and weft, define all that is positive and meaningful in the hours, days and years we are given to live.

I guess living in a small town has made me understand this. I cannot think of anyone in my small paradise of Trumansburg, that I do not like, let alone love. This network of people care about me back...and it grows. With this, comes strength as friends, cohorts and neighbors that when we have to lean into the difficult, we do it together with each other in our corner. I love the kids that my kids go to school with. And the attention and fun chats we have are often reflected back in the most wonderful and gratifying way. It is easy to set up walls of how on e should live, who one should be friends with, the "right way" of everything from setting the table to speaking to someone more influential or wealthy. Once those walls are up and the rules are prescribed, the risk of failing within this in environment is palpable and measured. There is no room for this giving of love and looking at the world through the lens of friendship, community and family--only against the environment of right and wrong. I vote for being open and socially goal free. I vote for caring and letting relationships evolve--of giving to each other in ideas and work, of caring and spirit, of time and effort. And if you do, even just a little bit--the gifts that come back can be tenfold. So the only risk is not giving yourself the permission to love.

I am lucky in my loves.

Royal Snake: Ethelind


Wind knocked a huge tree down...snapped it in half. And if that wasn't drama enough, we lost our electricity for about 6 hrs to boot. Worked until one-ish last night on Hartford Art School Work...and am slugging away on the valentines to get some reaction in SF. Talked to Murray about type and why I was striking out. One, from my vantage point, the type needs to be designed and integrated into the work. Not PLOPPED ON. Two, the type cannot be the generic "good taste basic classics" that I live in...but need a bit more whimsy, wacky, a bit more illustration than say, Univers. And so, I am looking at all my Egyptian and other more illustrative fonts prior to springing for Latin...which MT recommended and I am ready to buy. Valentines day tomorrow. and I have a dozen more to do prior to making the selection.