Trying something different...

I've been playing around with coloring in photoshop. I don't really know what I'm doing and I've been staring at this image too long to tell what to do next, so any input would be appreciated.
As for the text, I have a habit of making up stupid songs to sing to myself and here is one of them! I imagine this chipper little number 20's style with wah-wah trumpets and ukulele.

The end of the island

"Could've Been Anything"

The very last painting for the Horn Island show! Dropped my work off today, the opening reception is going to be Sept. 12, 6-9 pm.
For anyone out there who may not know what I am talking about when I say "Horn Island", well every year there is a group from the Memphis College of Art that goes to this place, and camps for eight days, wallowing in the majesty of nature and mosquitoes. Then we come back and make art about it for a show at the school. This year was the 25th.
Review in the Commercial Appeal

I was trying something a little different in this one, threw in some hatching and whatnot. So how do we feel about this as opposed to the usual flat outlines?

Odessa show and workshop

The show at Odessa last week was fun, the show looked great and the response to my work was very positive, which is always nice. So here's a bunch of pictures. (click to make bigger!)

*EDIT* Check out this Commercial Appeal article about the show!

My stuff along the wall, Shane's in the corner









The circular ones are some embroideries I did a while back









Medallions, also from a while back. I like the way they look in this arrangement.











Paintings by Jon Hart on the left, installation by Emma Self in the middle, my medallions to the right









Me n' ma stuffs











Jon and Emma setting up their workshop stations on Saturday









Michael gettin' his sew on at my demo









Here is the bag I was teaching folks how to make, complete with an in-process embroidery and cat hair












And here is a little instruction sheet I made to pass out. Any one who wants to make an easy tote bag, just print out this image and follow the directions! Hopefully they are easy to understand, leave a comment if you have any questions!

Art show this Friday

I have some paintings in a show at Odessa (2613 Broad Ave, Memphis).
"Because We Can will open with a reception on Friday, August 7 from 6 – 9pm, and will continue with events throughout the month, including an afternoon of DIY workshops with the artists on Saturday, August 8 from 1 – 3pm." read all about it

I'll also be participating in the FREE workshops on Saturday and showing people how to sew a simple tote bag. Don't know the first thing about sewing? Come on down! I will attempt to demonstrate not only the first thing, but also the second, and (dare I say it?) perhaps even the third thing about sewing. Did I mention it's FREE?
So don't be bored this weekend! Come see some pretty things Friday night and come back Saturday afternoon to learn you some stuff!

Horn Island #7

"Driftwood Settlers"

This one is about 24" x 12", the others have all been 12" x 12".

Now showing

A few of my older paintings are currently hanging at Cafe Beignet, which is downtown at 124 E GE Patterson Ave. near South Main. Swing by and take a look!

Sketchbook

Playing with watercolor and ballpoint pen

Horn Island paintings #5 and #6

"Dragon of the Southern Isle"



















"Seafood Buffet"

Horn Island

"Mishap of a Careless Bird"
"Daybreak on the Dunes"
"Island Plague"
"Tangle"

These are what I've done for the Horn Island show so far. I'm putting frames around them now, you can see that more clearly in the picture below.











Also, off the topic, I cut these guys out of some scrap paper and put them on my kitchen wall.

sketchbook

(Click to make bigger!)

























My original plan was to watercolor over these, but I discovered that the ink I used bleeds horribly in that scenario. So they will remain as is until I rethink how I want to add color.

Indie Book Awards

The Most Beautiful Color of All which I did with Kelly Fischer was a finalist in the Indie Book Awards for 2009. (Look under "Children's Picture Book")

Sketchbook

Some more various sketchbook doings.







































And here is a carrying case I made for my brushes. I needed it because I am going to Horn Island again in a couple of days! Yay! Sand!!!! I am excited.

Book stuffs

The most recent book I illustrated Memphis: A Children's History will be serialized in the Commercial Appeal, with a chapter every tuesday and thursday in April. I'm also participating in a book signing event at the Central Library April 14 at 7:00 pm.

Sketchbook

What free time I've had lately has been monopolized by sleeping and/or staring blankly at walls, so here is some recent sketchbook stuff rather than a finished piece.

"Solemn princess Isadora carried aloft by the amorous dragon". Acrylic on masonite, 11"x10"

I haven't done any personal work in color in so long, I kinda missed it. So there you go. Perhaps I'll set the wood aside for a bit. You can't tell in the scan, but the gold border is done in a metallic paint. We all like shiny things don't we?