New Purses

Here are two new handmade bags that I just added to ArtGhost - a pretty black and white pattern:

And another variation on the ever-popular DJ purse, this one in green and blue polka dots:

These pictures are a bit deceptive: the green purse is actually larger than the black and white.

Indie Artist Fixx Interview

Jen of Indie Fixx has posted an interview with me on her site. I have worked with Jen on her illustrations for Tickle Fancy and have just recently completed some new illustrations for her. She is so much fun to work with, and she makes wonderful jewelry.

Purse mania!

I just finished sewing a whole boatload of handbags to send to ArtStar in Philadelphia. These are all fabric purses, some with blockprinted images.

Tree Studies

I'm working on an illustration right now that involves trees - here are some studies for it.

Mermaid sketches

So, related to the previous post, sometimes something in that page of heads will spark an idea. This looked like a mermaid's head to me.

Then I went on a major mermaid kick:






I think I'm done drawing mermaids for a while.

Shortly thereafter, I went into my smoky-eyed waifs phase:





But, I'm tired of drawing these women now. Right now, shaggy-haired dudes seems to be emerging as a strong contender for the next wave of sketches.

Random sketches - getting out of creative slumps

It's been so long since I posted, I figured I should put something up. I have been busy with a few different illustration projects and making more purses. Since everything is in progress right now, instead I thought I would post some random sketches.

Sometimes I get in a creative slump, and will look at a blank piece of paper and have absolutely no idea what to draw. I feel like I can't possibly do another drawing; I can't come up with one single thing to put on paper. I usually just start drawing the same thing over and over again in order to snap myself out of it. Usually I just draw pages and pages filled with heads.

These particular heads came out of a realization that I almost always draw girls. I felt like I should probably know how to draw guys, too:

Oftentimes they will all be looking a certain direction:






Sometimes I even branch out a tiny bit:


After about three pages of heads, I am usually ready to draw something else.

I don't even know what to say...

There is the weirdest comment spam on the Pretty Girls Make Graves illustration post. It's a giant, rambling manifesto. I'm not really entirely sure what the core points of the manifesto are, but here are a few excerpts:
"When you hear people speak in your head you are not listening to the actual people. It is the computer role playing."

"Another example Italians are grossly disfavored are their foodstuffs::::
Tomatos are highly acidic and provides an "open door" for the gods to inflict upon those whom they so chose. Pasta is very starchy and fattening.
Italian food creates fat people with stomach problems."

"When white people capitalize or exploit Asians they incurr and one day will be punished. This includes Chinese buffet restaurants, so prevalient in disfavored cities and the Southern United States, for the gods hate these people and want them to incurr."

Lots of subjects are covered, pretty much any race, religion, women, sexuality, homosexuality, Princess Diana, Apple and Intel.
Comment on Pretty Girls Make Graves

Sinking Ship

A recently completed painting - a commissioned piece on the theme of "My Beautiful Sinking Ship." It was fun to do this piece. I work so much digitally these days that I don't have many pieces anymore that involve the accidents of ink and paint. After I inked this piece (with waterproof ink) and painted over it, the ink bled all over the place (apparently you have to let it dry longer). At first I hated it, but by the time the piece was done, I really liked the effect. Usually I spend so much time obsessively cleaning up individual pixels, so it was nice to work a little looser and to have to accept the mistakes. And then to pretend that those mistakes were intentional.

Pride and Prejudice, the Comic, Page 19

Pride and Prejudice, the Comic, Page 19, originally uploaded by ArtGhost.

Finally, another page of the P&P comic has been posted. The rest of this chapter will be posted soon.
I'm starting to understand why there are different people who do pencilling, inking, coloring, and lettering. It's so time consuming.

Anyhow, in this chapter, Lizzy and Jane are still at Netherfield, and here Miss Bingley attempts to flirt with Mr. Darcy.

Pretty Girls Make Graves Illustration for Seattle Sound Magazine

Another editorial illustration, this time for an article for Seattle Sound Magazine about the breakup of the band Pretty Girls Make Graves. It's out in the June issue.

Street scene

I had this sitting around for a while, and finally decided to finish it instead of working on anything that I was supposed to be doing.

What Might Have Been...

Here's part one of a little comic about a girl and a boy.

Woman on the street

Here's another random drawing that I was playing around with. The perspective looks a little funny, I think.

Tickle Fancy

Here's another recent project.. the logo illustration for Tickle Fancy, a blog of "Whimsical goodies to tickle your fancy." Go check it out. But be forewarned: it may make you want to go shopping.

Miranda July as Botticelli's "Birth of Venus"

Here's the finished Miranda July piece for the Stranger, coming out in this week's issue. I actually broke out the paints for this one, although there is some digital tweaking.
Please note that you are about to witness a Renaissance-style exposed breast, so if you feel that the Renaissance was a morally corrupt age full of far too much nudity, please avert your gaze at this point.
Otherwise, please feel free to look at the illustration and take note of my kick-ass sunset.

Every Day in May

So, another blogger had posted that she was going to do a painting every day in May. I thought this sounded like a good idea, since I haven't had much time to do paintings lately. However, it is now the 4th, and I have zero paintings to my name. Why I thought I could participate in this is beyond me. Anyhow, here's a study for an illustration I'm currently working on, which will be changing completely before it's done.
Maybe I'll have to do every week in May. Doesn't sound quite as snappy, does it?

Jesse Sykes Illustration

Here's an illustration of Jesse Sykes that I just did for The Stranger. It's out in this week's issue.

Rosie Thomas Illustration for Seattle Sound

This illustration of Rosie Thomas, with Sufjan Stevens and Denison Witmer, is in the current issue of Seattle Sound Magazine.


This one is another illustration that appeared in the magazine in November, of Neko Case:

Illustration Friday - Communication

My entry for Illustration Friday this week - the theme is communication.

Hester, oh Hester.

I just bought some new brown ink, so I did a little drawing of Hester Prynne, then colored it digitally.