Penguins With Pencils

Kylie Koyote at Dr. Sketchy's

2012-02-13T16:44:00.001-06:00

What would make an artist brave snow, ice, frigid temperatures, steep hills and almost certain death?! Why Kylie Koyote at Dr. Sketchy's of course!

Apparently others got the word too as it was a packed house, and well worth the effort on everyone's part. Ms. Koyote had a tough night of work job due to the freezing temperature onstage, but handled it with amazing poise, class and a smile. Her Cowgirls & Indians theme was a lot of fun, culminating with a spectacular rainbow-colored native ensamble that was just too much fun to draw.

Check out her Facebook fan page for updates on where you can see her perform in the Seattle area and around the world!

Figure Drawing

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

I try to get to a figure drawing session at least once a week, but I always forget to post my stuff. So I'm going to play a little catch up by posting some work from the last couple of months.

This model had pile of tendril-like hair which was a lot of fun to draw.

Photo/Copy

2012-01-09T19:22:00.000-06:00

Here is another bit of practice to get the hang of painting in Photoshop. Since I have struggled with this in the past I decided to start removing variables to make the process easier to get a handle on.

I started with a blank screen rather than an analog pencil sketch, and chose to do a side-by-side copy from photo reference so I would have fewer variables to worry about. To simplify further, I also chose a vintage black and white still so color issues would also not be a factor. Reducing choices and variables was a great way to get to know the tool, and make it much less daunting of an experience.

Using this brush set courtesy of Min Hyuk Yum was very helpful. The first brush in the set worked tremendously well as a pencil, and for the first time I felt comfortable sketching in Photoshop.

All in all I think it was a very positive step in the right direction.

The reference I used was this beautiful photo by Gordon H. Coster from the 1930's.

The Shanghai Pearl

2011-11-30T17:05:00.001-06:00

At my monthly sojourn to Dr. Sketchy's Seattle a little while back, I was lucky enough to draw The Shanghai Pearl, one of the top performers in the burlesque scene. Her costumes and poses were wonderful but my favorite thing was her amazing facial expressions. She always knows how to add fun to a pose.

A fantastic addition to the stage was Seattle rope maker and bondage guru Twisted Monk (possibly NSFW). He tied Pearl into some great poses and added a lot of personality to the stage as well.

Thanks also to Lydia McLane for making it all happen, and Ernie Von Schmaltz for providing the fun atmosphere and pelvic thrusts. It was certainly one of my favorite sessions in quite some time.

Off-Season Maintenance

2011-10-31T14:50:00.000-05:00

Here is a short promo that I created for the Tacoma Rainiers Baseball team. They came to me with a rough concept and I rewrote the gags, directed the shoot, cut the video, worked the audio and built all the graphics.

I tried to keep it simple and focus on a single gag or situation in each short. They were a lot of fun to shoot and yes, there will be more, so stay tuned.

HD version is available: It's just like Avatar ... but with a reindeer and a ladder.

OU1 App Launches

2011-10-19T13:34:00.001-05:00

After about six months of keeping this under my hat through development and beta testing, I'm happy to let you all know about a recent project I was lucky enough to be involved with.

The new app OU1 is a simple way to keep track of social currency (drinks, lunch, dinner) between friends and is also a fun way to invite a friend out. It's now available free in the iTunes App store and was also featured on Lifehacker yesterday.

I created initial concepts and interface designs along with the logo and icons. Benjamin Borowski and the skilled developers over at Typeoneerror Studios took my designs, polished them up and made them functional in the real world.

The project was brought to me by another group of talented folks known as Big Machine In The Sky. It was nice working with a group of guys who were very open to trying a variety of angles in the concept stage, but dialed in quickly to a clear vision of what the final solution should be.

Below is the final concept design before production followed by some initial concepts. You can see we went some interesting directions with the interface and you can also see some of the initial logo concept in there as well.

If you have an iPhone pick up OU1 now, it's free!

FMC Group Inc. Logo Design

2011-09-05T08:00:00.003-05:00

Above is a logo I created for an agriculture and energy firm out of Colorado. The aforementioned items are represented by the corn and the oil derrick, but I also wanted to imply industry as a whole, thus the gear. It helps bring all the elements together and subtly doubles as a sun.

SCREAMIN' SKULL

2011-08-31T18:58:00.000-05:00

Having some fun and trying out some new brushes in Photoshop. Sketching with a tablet is a little strange but it's getting easier.

Gas Station Collector Cards Proposal

2011-08-25T12:19:00.001-05:00

This ad was created for a sponsorship proposal for a local chain of service stations. The depicted cards would be broken into a collector card on the left and a small key chain fob on the right. Each would have a bar code on the reverse for use at the filling stations for discounts.

Promotion concept, design and execution were all carried out by me.

Baseball in Black and Gray

2011-08-03T20:54:00.000-05:00

Recently I did a photo shoot with a few of the Tacoma Rainiers players showcasing their tattoos. I thought it would be a cool side of the guys that the fans don't usually get to see. I lit and shot the guys myself and did the final layout and design. Included in the shoot were Mike Mangini, Dan Cortes, Chaz Roe and Royce Ring. They were totally game for everything and lot of fun to shoot. The article appeared in the Rainiers nightly game program/magazine "The Dirt".

The Circus is in Town

2011-07-11T12:42:00.000-05:00

I designed this ad for the circus that will be appearing at our ballpark this week. I wanted to create something with a classic feel, but didn't really want to glamorize the whole thing.

This morning, when pulling into work, I saw an elephant eating some hay under a canopy next to its trailer. It was a cool thing to surprise you on a Monday morning. These are really awesome creatures and so impressive to see in real life. It does make me sad though that I saw it that way and not in the wild.

I based this piece on the vintage poster below. I digitally painted my elephant in Photoshop and the layout was completed in InDesign.

Wiggy Stardust

2011-06-22T19:19:00.002-05:00

With work and other projects lately it has been tough to find time to do any life drawing. Well, the stunning Wiggy Stardust was just the right model to get my brain back in the drawing mood, courtesy of good ol' Dr. Sketchy's.

I have to give tremendous props to Wiggy for her costume choices and poses. Her classical Greek ensemble was a very pleasant surprise and was a cool change of pace from the usual burlesque fare.

If you would like to see Wiggy for yourself (and I highly suggest you do), she and the always stellar Stripped Screw Burlesque crew, will be playing at the Rendezvous in Seattle this weekend. You can find all the details and buy tickets here.

Complete Part 2 - 100th Post!

2011-05-31T10:47:00.000-05:00

Above is my very first Cast Drawing for my Classical Art Online course. It was a major challenge working in charcoal, a completely foreign medium to me, but in the end the skills I learned during the process were worth it. Thanks as always to my instructor Aaron for pushing me and forcing me not to take the easy road to complete this thing. It was certainly a tough one, but I am looking forward the next.

On a side note this is my 100th blog post! Not as many as I might like, but a milestone nonetheless and I think this cast drawing a a nice way to mark it. A big step forward in my skill level and work process. Here's to a lot more art in the future!

Complete

2011-05-26T13:02:00.003-05:00

Above is a Charles Bargue copy I completed in pencil a few months ago as part of my Classical Art Online course. Thanks as always to my instructor Aaron for pushing me to improve every day.

Kat Von D

2011-04-27T16:15:00.000-05:00

Sketch, from a photo, of Kat Von D I did last night while watching a movie. It's nice to get back in that relaxing groove after almost two months of non-stop work.

Like Bunnies!

2011-04-26T00:18:00.003-05:00

After designing this shirt for a mad, Easter weekend pub crawl in Seattle, I received so many positive comments I decided to put it up for sale. Bring a smile to your Sunday school teacher's face with this shirt. Customize color, cut and shirt quality to make it your very own!

Click Here to get yours!

Dr. Sketchy's For The Win!

2011-02-22T01:47:00.001-06:00

Sunday I attended a packed session of Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School featuring the amazing Polly Wood as our model for the day. Polly was lovely and fun and gave us some incredible poses to draw (one almost resulting in her passing out)!

I worked with some compressed charcoal sticks that I am finally getting the hang of, yielding some positive results in the second half of the session. I was happy that a few sketches were able to capture some of the beauty and energy of our model, and was shocked when one was selected for a prize at the end of the night. Being picked by Polly and our host Ernie Von Schmaltz (who stated on the mic my drawings were "fucking awesome") was very cool, especially with all the other talent in the room.

Big thanks to Polly Wood, Ernie, the rest of the Seattle Dr. Sketchy's crew and all the inspiring artists for making it such a great evening.

My Favorite Sketch of the night (15 min)

The big winner! (20 min)

Icons

2010-09-20T15:38:00.002-05:00

Recently created a set of icons for the Tacoma Rainiers' new stadium. I wanted something that felt clean and new but still had a classic a vibe. I was inspired by the classic WPA National Parks posters from the 1930's and by artist and designer Michael Schwab. Each piece was hand sketched, then rendered in Adobe Illustrator.

Explosive sale!

2010-08-23T14:22:00.001-05:00

Between the move, work, freelance and my artistic studies it has been a packed couple of months. Here is a little ad graphic I did for the Rainiers (click for a larger image).

Work Harder

2010-05-18T12:51:00.003-05:00

At the beginning of this year I signed up with the Classical Art Online atelier program. It's been tough juggling assignments with work and other projects but I have been making good, albeit slow, progress. The nice part is that you can work at your own pace, and this has given me time to (hopefully) better absorb the concepts. Check out work by founder Jon Hardesty and my instructor Aaron Reid.

Below are my first two assignments, copies of the famous Charles Bargue plates (read more about Bargue drawings here and pick up the book here).

Bargue 2:

Bargue 1:

Frank Frazetta

2010-05-10T16:58:00.001-05:00

I have learned today that my favorite artist, Frank Frazetta, has passed away. I have always been a fan of his work but only been in recent years, as I have tried to improve my own artistic prowess, that I have realized the depth of skill inherent in this great's work. He is quite arguable the single greatest illustrator to have ever lived, and by that line one of the single greatest artists of all time. The more I study his work, the more I am impressed. And the more I learn about the man himself, the more I admire him.

Frank you will be sorely missed, but your work will stand the test of time.

Tacoma Rainiers 2010 Intro

2010-04-16T16:02:00.000-05:00

Above is the team intro I created for the Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club. The Rainiers are the Triple-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

This was created from scratch in Adobe After Effects. You can view the video in HD here.

Demo Reel

2010-03-24T10:25:00.008-05:00

All segments created using After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator and Lightwave 3D.
Watch in HD here.

Vertical Entertainment Group Logo

2009-11-20T10:36:00.006-06:00

Logo I created for Vertical Entertainment Group, an entertainment and event production company.

Friday Night Sessions

2009-07-31T02:06:00.003-05:00

Tonight at the Cavern I will be spinning with my partner DJ eXb under my new moniker Camber Sands. Come out and join us on Lower Greenville for some top-notch dance music and stiff cocktails.

For those who care, all the elements of the flyer were created from scratch in Photoshop, Illustrator and Indesign. Click on the image for a closer look.

RocknRolla

2009-07-23T11:37:00.003-05:00

A little rock 'n roll courtesy of the Drink 'n Draw session last night.

Don't forget kids, DJ eXb and I will be spinning Friday night upstairs at the Cavern (click for map). The last two weeks have been tons of fun and it's only getting better!

'53 Caddy

2009-07-22T11:40:00.004-05:00

Sketch of a '53 Cadillac I did the other night. Heading to the DFW Drink and Draw tonight at the Dancing Marlin (click for map) in Deep Ellum. Hope to see you all there!

New Tunes

2009-07-14T13:01:00.006-05:00

My band, A Hasty Descision, finally has some quality recordings for your listening pleasure. You can find them on our Myspace page. Special thanks to our pal Justin for doing all the heavy lifting on the recording and mixing.

Next Sunday, we will be appearing on the Oracle Lounge net radio show. They will be showcasing one of our tracks and chatting with the band.

Friday Nights @ The Cavern

2009-07-06T22:21:00.005-05:00

If you are in the Dallas area, come join us July 10th for the first of many Friday nights upstairs at the Cavern on Lower Greenville. Fun dance music, no cover and stiff drinks.

100% Kanye free. Guaranteed.

Flyer by yours truly.

Oliver Peck

2009-06-29T14:08:00.004-05:00

A sketch of well-known tattoo artist and Dallas legend Oliver Peck of Elm Street Tattoo. You have to love that 'stache of his.

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle...

2009-06-09T16:32:00.013-05:00

Here is a drawing I did of Alicia Reid, bartender at Home Sweet Home in NYC, who kindly recommended her favorite types of tequila in this month's issue of Inked magazine. Normally, placing Patron in your top five would be grounds for all other ratings to be rendered null and void. But since magazine lists often tend to be rigged toward sponsors and, more importantly, because she is so darn photogenic, we will let it slide.

Dr. Sketchy's Dallas

2009-06-09T16:00:00.008-05:00

Saturday I hustled home from a business trip just in time for creative R&R at Dr. Sketchy's! For those of you who don't know, Dr. Sketchy's is a life drawing class with cocktails and lovely ladies of burlesque as your models. It is a great time and I highly suggest it for anyone who likes to draw. Thanks to Johnny and Lisa for being our gracious hosts as always.

This week's model was the vibrant Black Mariah (seen in the sketches below) whose infectious energy made for a great drawing day.
Also worthy of note was last session's model, La Divina, who was just stunning and a joy to draw. Divina could hold her poses amazingly well and brought a lot of great costumes for the session. But for all her fine work, I don't feel like my sketches do her justice so we'll just leave them off the blog.

Finally, tomorrow night is another session of the DFW Drink & Draw at Lee Harvey's, so stop by starting at 7:30pm for a rowdy drawing session.

Drink and Draw Dallas

2009-05-28T12:28:00.003-05:00

Last night was my second visit to the Dallas-Ft. Worth chapter of the Drink and Draw Social Club. It was a ton of fun and I suggest that anyone who likes to sketch and/or imbibe a beer or three, stop by Lee Harvey's every other Wednesday. Special thanks to Jose for organizing this fine event. DFW Drink and Draw has a Facebook group so join up there or you can visit the blog for updates.

Below are a few sketches from the evening (click on each image for a larger view)...

Hot rod fun ala Big Daddy Roth and such.

I feel that "Jason Goes Hawaiian" should have been the obvious precursor to "Jason in Space" in the Friday the 13th series.

I'm really not sure what this is actually. Perhaps it is a angry black ooze with the ability to change in to shapes and animals in order to penetrate your defenses and gnaw on your toes as you sleep.

Hasty Videos

2009-03-24T10:37:00.005-05:00

Here are a couple of videos of the band I play in, A Hasty Decision. I designed the logos on each video, but really put them on there because we needed something. They definitely need some more work. Friend us up at myspace if you like the tunes!

A Little Goes the Wrong Way

Land of Adventure

Tara Dakides

2009-03-16T08:49:00.006-05:00

A work-in-progress drawing of snowboard superstar, and all-around badass, Tara Dakides. It was nice to sit and just work straight ahead on a drawing. It has been a while...

(Click on the image for a larger view)

A Hasty Decision Dec. 18 @ Club Dada

2008-12-07T22:52:00.007-06:00

Thursday, December 18 will be the first show for my band A Hasty Decision at Club Dada. Doors open at 8PM and we will be on first around 8:15PM or so. There are three other bands playing that evening, so make a night of it! Club Dada is located 2720 Elm St, Dallas, TX‎ (map here). You can visit AHD on myspace here. Flyer by guitarist Murphy.

Missy Suicide Sketch

2008-11-03T16:41:00.003-06:00

Sketch of the striking SuicideGirls co-founder Missy Suicide. (Click on the image for a larger view)

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T14:53:00.002-05:00

Palin Gets a Chops Jersey

2008-10-28T12:00:00.002-05:00

I am a tad emotionally conflicted on this one, but it's too big not to post. Sarah Palin, Vice Presidential Candidate and Queen of Hockey Moms, was presented with an Iowa Chops Jersey on Saturday at a campaign rally in Des Moines.

It's not every day that you get to see one of the country's most loved and hated individuals showing off one your creations; which, you could say, similarly polarized hockey fans.

With too many easy Lipstick on a Pig jokes to be had, I really hope this makes it on the Daily Show.

This item did make the LA Times who said "The jerseys actually are cool, thanks to the logo of a rather angry pig on the front." Thank you to the LA Times for your fine taste in hockey gear.

Watch the video Below:

Chops Uniforms in Action

2008-10-27T15:58:00.004-05:00

The Iowa Chops have now had a few games and are playing solid, smash-mouth hockey. These guys are really bringing it, and I can't help but think that it's because they have the confidence of looking so damn cool. (click on each image for a closer look)

Chops in EA Sports NHL 09

2008-09-25T18:11:00.010-05:00

My Iowa Chops logo and uniforms are now featured in EA Sports' NHL 09 game for Xbox 360. Screen grabs courtesy of ign.com. (click on each image for a closer look)

Hockey News #15

2008-08-06T10:33:00.005-05:00

Well The Hockey News ranked all 29 logos in the AHL. My Iowa Chops logo came in right in the middle at number 15. Not too shabby, but frankly I wasn't too impressed with the top 10. Honestly I would have ranked their number 1 choice somewhere around the middle. But that's really the point of these lists isn't it? So everyone can discuss how wrong or right the choices were.

Anyhoo, they did make a nice comment that the Chops logo "...works because it is simple and forceful", and since that's very much what I wanted the logo to convey, I would say that makes it a success.

(Link to the List)

Iowa Chops Uniforms

2008-07-14T10:55:00.003-05:00

Here are the new uniforms I created for the Iowa Chops AHL Hockey team. Obviously they are patterned after their NHL affiliate Anaheim Ducks' uniforms, so I can't take all of the credit here.

The Chops name and logo is generating a lot of response throughout the intertubes, and it is exciting to see so many people take an interest in my work. Whether they love it or hate it, everyone seems to have an opinion.

To quote Oscar Wilde, "The only thing worse than being talked about, is not being talked about."

Go Chops!

(Click on the images for a larger view)

Iowa Chops

2008-07-09T16:19:00.003-05:00

Here is the new logo I designed for the Iowa Chops Professional Hockey team. This was unveiled today at the Wells Fargo arena in Des Moines. Jerseys and more to come!

Killer Goriller

2008-06-19T16:38:00.003-05:00

Quick sketch from a few nights ago. I think this looks like it should be on an 80's skateboard.

Ink'd

2008-06-09T15:34:00.003-05:00

Weekend squid sketch. (click for a closer look)

Hog Heaven

2008-06-03T10:52:00.003-05:00

Logo created for the Tacoma, WA "Blues, Brews, & BBQs" festival. It was tough to figure out a fun way to work in the barbecue element, until I remembered something my dad told once. He said, "Always eat at the barbecue place with a pig on the sign." And in my experience that has been sound advice, the best food is always at the place with the pig.

Aside from that, I think it also has a fun "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" quality, in that this pig is happy to be here, filling your belly.

Minc TONIGHT!

2008-05-21T10:54:00.006-05:00

(Click on flyer for more detail)

Once again , DJ eXb and I are spinning at Minc Lounge tonight! It's another of our weekly Big Beat & Breaks Wednesdays.

Last week was great, and this week we have a special guest, DJ Michael J. who will be dropping some sick tunes for your listening pleasure.

Come enjoy the amazing weather on Minc's killer Patio!

Location: Minc Lounge (Map)
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 9:00PM - 2:00AM
NO COVER
$3 Wells & $3 Domestics

Tattooed Lady

2008-05-19T11:31:00.004-05:00

Sketched this from an image of designer Allison Burns. She certainly is quite a striking figure with her lovely dark hair and almost full sleeve tattoos.

Minc: Wednesdays

2008-05-13T11:50:00.006-05:00

(Click on flyer for more detail)

Starting this Wednesday, May 14th, DJ eXb and I will be spinning a weekly night of Breaks and Big Beat (think Fatboy Slim meets Adam Freeland) at Minc Lounge!

Minc is by far the best club and lounge in Dallas. If you enjoy stiff drinks, friendly staff, tight sound systems, great atmosphere, and killer patios, Minc is the club for you!

Come on out on Wednesday and I'll buy you a Sake Bomb!

Location: Minc Lounge (Map)
Date: Wednesday, May 14
Time: 9:30PM - 2:00AM
NO COVER

When Pigs Fly: Coachella 2008

2008-04-29T19:13:00.005-05:00

I have just returned from the the 2008 Coachella Music Festival and I could not be happier. It was one of the single most amazing weekends of my life, and I am thankful that I was there to experience it. I was able to see some truly amazing acts including Prince, Fatboy Slim, Kraftwerk, Gogol Bordello, and dozens of others. But the show that is burned into my consciousness is Rogers Waters. Mr. Waters and his crew created an experience unlike anything I have ever witnessed, and it affected me immensely. If you have the opportunity to see the Dark Side of the Moon Live Tour, do so by whatever means necessary. You will not be disappointed.

The image above is a quick digital painting of the song "Sheep", in the middle of the show. A truly awe inspiring moment.

Lunch Angel

2008-04-22T16:32:00.003-05:00

Sketched this little angel at lunch yesterday. The girl was in a magazine and I liked the charisma she seemed to exude. I added the halo and wings since you don't often see such spunk in heavenly creatures. And you should, don't you think?

Crouching Tiger

2008-04-08T17:33:00.008-05:00

Watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (buy it here) over the last couple of days, and I had forgotten how beautifully shot this film is. Though this film inspired America's lust for wire-fu, those that sought to duplicate the action failed to notice Ang Lee's subtle yet powerful direction. The camera work and shot selections are superb, and are a lesson in composition and form.

This was a quick and loose piece to get some practice with the ol' digital paint.

(click on the image for a larger version)

LIVE GIG: Sunday, March 23 - Minc Lounge

2008-03-14T11:37:00.014-05:00

Okay kids, it's time to dust off your dancing shoes. It's been far too long since you had a great night out and had a chance to shake your ass to some great tunes at the best club in Dallas.

Come out to see yours truly and my DJ partner DJ eXb, on Sunday, March 23 at Minc Lounge, at 813 Exposition Avenue. There is no cover and your soon to be favorite bartender Swanson, will be pouring the stiffest cocktails in town, with $3 Wells and $3 Domestics all night long. Doors open at 9:00 PM and we roll until 2:00AM. Park in the dirt lot behind the club so you don't have to pay for parking.

If you have never been to Minc, it truly is one of the best clubs around. It has a great vibe, pristine sound system, and an amazing patio. And I know I mentioned the bartenders before, but let me put it this way for all you Uptowners... The Loon ain't got nothin' on my boy Swanson, and that's a fact.

Bring yourself, and and bring your friends. We will thank you, and hopefully you will thank us for a great night out!

Location: Minc Lounge (Map)
Date: Sunday, March 23
Time: 9:00PM - 2:00AM
NO COVER
$3 Wells and $3 Domestics

New New York

2008-02-14T17:09:00.012-06:00

New logos and uniforms for the Staten Island Yankees were one of the last projects I worked on at my former job, and it's quite exciting to see them finally announced. The SI Yankees are the Single-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees.

This project I created from start to finish, with the exception of the "SI" and hat with bat I combined for Alternate Cap 1. Those elements were were from the main team logo, which was retained with the uniform update. The badge shaped "SINY" logo will appear on the sleeve of each uniform along with Alternate Cap 2, and contains five stars, one for each of New York's five boroughs, with the gold star for Staten Island.

I can't wait to see this stuff on the field and around NYC. More to come as they are released!

Lord Moai Says, "Bring More Mai Tais!"

2008-01-29T12:46:00.000-06:00

I've always liked Tikis but the prospect of buying a home in which I can create my very own Tiki bar is quite exciting. If only the process of finding the home to go around my Tiki bar were easier. Until then I will drown my frustrations with Sarah, my favorite waitress at the local Trader Vic's. Another round of Mai Tais, if you please!

Tiki Drink Review: Trader Vic's Mai Tai
If you have never been to a Trader Vic's, this should be the first thing you order. It is truly the benchmark against which all the other drinks are measured. It is also a good assessment of the barman making it.

To test an artist's skill you can have a painter draw a nude figure, a singer sing the national anthem, or hear a guitarist on an acoustic guitar. A bartender should be tested with a Mai Tai. This can be the most amazing drink you have ever tasted, or the absolute worst glass of sugary slop.

A great Mai Tai is deceptively mild, and subtly sweet, it easily will win over even those who don't like "fruity drinks". When "Trader" Vic Bergeron created it in 1944, his Tahitian friend exclaimed, "Mai Tai Roa Ae!" which means "Out of this world!" Giving one of the world's greatest libations it's name. It was either that, or call it "There's a Party in My Mouth, and Everyone's Invited". Personally, I think it could have gone either way. Here's how to make your own:

The Trader Vic's Mai Tai

1 oz Fine Jamaican rum (try 15 or 8 year old Appleton)
1 oz Martinique rum (try St. James)
1/2 ounce Orange Curacao
1/2 ounce Orgeat syrup
Juice from one fresh lime (about 3/4 ounce)
Shake vigorously with crushed ice
Add a sprig of fresh mint with the lime rind

It All Comes Out in the Washateria

2008-01-07T15:21:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year to all! Maybe I should have started the year with an image that is a tad less bleak, but it's one of the few things I've been able to catch in the last few weeks. Here's to a New Year full of hope, promise, and perhaps a bit more free time!

Live from Dallas, TX

2007-12-11T12:44:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I took a few photos of The Enemies List at their show in Dallas. It was a solid performance as always, and I was able to walk away with some great shots.
(Click on the images for a closer look)

Despair

2007-11-30T10:51:00.000-06:00

Heading to the DMA for a Thursday night sketch session is fast becoming a pleasant weekly tradition. What isn't so pleasant is the way my scanner is currently acting. It seems the old college work horse is finally ready to be put out to pasture. I had a couple pages of sketches I was excited to share, but they will have to wait until I can figure out another scanning solution. As always, click the image for a larger view.

We're an American Band

2007-11-16T10:35:00.000-06:00

Last Sunday I had the fun opportunity to shoot some photos of a friend's band, The Enemies List. One member was missing, but it was a good practice shooting human subjects nonetheless. TEL is certainly one of the best bands in Dallas, and you can see them for yourself December 1st at the Curtain Club.

Mental Massage

2007-11-15T10:05:00.000-06:00

Deep breaths...Hear the ocean and feel the warm breeze wash over you. Thank you for allowing me to take away a little stress from your day.

A Catch

2007-11-13T10:56:00.000-06:00

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta eat.

Heart of Palm

2007-11-12T09:10:00.000-06:00

Pencils and Pubs

2007-11-09T11:58:00.001-06:00

Last night after work I swung by the Dallas Museum of Art and did some sketching. On Thursday, the museum is open until 9PM and admission is free! My only issue is that the crowd tends to be more than a little obnoxious, with people speaking loudly on cell phones and to one another. Apparently manners and etiquette are confined to paid nights only.

This giant Polynesian chap elicited quite a few precious comments from the aforementioned classy patrons.

Following the museum I adjourned to a local pub to meet a friend for cocktails and a bite to eat. I brought in my trusty moleskine and cranked out a few more sketches of people at other tables before my friend arrived.

In one of the more interesting moments in the evening, a young lady on the patio, who had with her a fairly large dog, pulled this beast onto her lap and proceeded to give it a massive bear hug. I rushed to sketch them as the dog (a boxer/pit bull looking fellow), hung docilely from her arms during the entire display of affection.

Thug Life

2007-11-08T00:16:00.001-06:00

Spotted this gang-star at a fairly posh local eatery with a wife-beater shirt, over-sized cubic zirconia earing, bad kanji tattoos, designer jeans...and his mom picking up the dinner tab. You stay classy Dallas, Texas.

Wingspan

2007-11-06T22:56:00.000-06:00

Pelican spotted over the beach in Mexico.

Stop to smell los flores

2007-11-05T16:55:00.000-06:00

Taken poolside in Mexico. Not feeling so hot today, I think I need to take a nap and dream of soothing images like this one.

Playa del Lapiz

2007-10-31T11:32:00.000-05:00

Here are a few of sketches I did on my trip to Mexico. I also took a ton of pictures and will post some of the best as the week goes on.

I have a strange fascination with thatched roofs. I think it's because they remind me of tropical relaxation and tiki bars (my favorite).

My vacation sketches tend to be from relaxed and stationary positions. So, I tend to draw what happens to be around, like this pool fountain or a rock. But I guess you have to practice drawing boring stuff too, right?

Boca Raton

2007-10-25T22:51:00.000-05:00

I thought I would post this sketch of Remy (from a sculpt by Greg Dykstra, featured in the Art of Ratatouille book) before I headed off to Mexico for the weekend.

Have fun at work kids!

Monster Mash

2007-10-19T14:07:00.000-05:00

This was too cool not to post. Over at i-mockery.com you can use their Monster Sticker Name Generator (about halfway down the page) to make any message you like out of monster letter stickers circa 1974. Perfect to stick on your locker or Trapper Keeper!

I would love to see some of the talented artists around the web do their own versions of these. Mr. Vanhoozer is already well on his way with his Robot Alphabet!

Naz-Cool

2007-10-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

Watched "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" last night and sketched one of the Nazgul's "fell beasts" (I actually had to look that up) as I watched. They were, in my opinion, the coolest design from the films.

The LOTR films aren't my favorite but they still pretty good. They have brilliant design, direction, and pretty amazing (albeit CG) action sequences, but I just struggle with any film over three hours (upwards of four in the director's cut). The only film that can pull of three hours half hours plus is Laurence of Arabia, which does it flawlessly by keeping the action going.

Here's a tip to filmmakers: Long film does not equal great art. Keep the story moving, keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

Nothing But Taillights

2007-10-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

Speeding ever closer to the weekend, and some much needed rest.

Take a Brake

2007-10-08T10:38:00.000-05:00

No rest for the wicked, as they say. Spent the majority of the weekend working, and have a long day and night ahead. I have been drawing a bit lately, and want to post some sketches, but my trusty old scanner is not liking my new laptop. Hopefully I can take a few moments in the next couple of days to get it figured out.

Gear Up

2007-10-02T17:50:00.001-05:00

Working non-stop again this week. I already am feeing it and we're not even halfway done. Whew!

Time is Tight

2007-10-01T20:31:00.000-05:00

Got out on Sunday and took a few pics around Dallas. Now that I have my sweet new camera, I seem to paying more attention to details in the things around me, and hopefully this will rub off on my drawing skills.

Imagine

2007-09-26T17:11:00.000-05:00

Spent my birthday weekend in New York and had a fantastic time. The city is bursting with ideas and creativity. Every brick, piece of sidewalk, or window is simply full of character. I picked up a new Canon Rebel XTi for the trip and couldn't have been happier with it. I took WAY too many photos but ended up with a few real gems.

No One Behind the Wheel

2007-09-14T17:45:00.000-05:00

Whew! It was a busy first two weeks at the new job, and I am ready to sleep this weekend. Of course, my weary disposition might also have something to do with a late night trip to Austin to see my friend, and DJ partner, DJ eXb rip it up at his first big gig. Well worth losing a little sleep to support your friends.

Movin' on Up

2007-08-30T19:12:00.000-05:00

Today is my last day with Mandalay Baseball Properties, a company I have been involved with for the past seven years. I have learned almost everything I currently know through my work at this firm and I am very appreciative of all they have done for me.

Shortly, I will be starting with Schlegel Sports as their Creative Director. I am excited for this new opportunity and hope to start turning out some top-shelf stuff for all their teams very soon.

Daft Punk is Playing at my House

2007-08-27T12:13:00.000-05:00

Sketched this while hanging out in the Inwood Theater lounge and waiting for the Daft Punk film Electroma to begin. Midnight movies at the Inwood rock, and are definitely one of the cooler features of living in Dallas. Local DJ Kieth P dropped a fantastic Daft-centric set and got everyone good and fired up for...a French art film.

Guess what? Daft Punk are French, and there's nothing the French like better than boring you to tears with vague "symbolism"and long stretches of silence. Although, the film had some cool moments and visual elements, moments doth not a movie make. I recommend the 13 minute remix which basically plays the whole movie on fast forward, and adds...wait for it...Daft Punk music!

He's No Use To Me Dead

2007-08-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

Sketched this while watching The Empire Strikes Back last night. I think it's been over two years since I last saw this movie, and I finally have to agree with Dante from Kevin Smith's Clerks, Empire is the best film of the series. I can't think of another film that combines true comedy (not dark comedy, mind you) in a completely dramatic script. Brilliant.

The Pile of Goodness

2007-07-31T16:39:00.000-05:00

After unpacking at home I realized the full extent of the damage to my both my wallet, and to the forested regions that gave their all to become great art books. There are a few other items that didn't make the photo, but this is the bulk of it. Plenty of top stuff that should keep me inspired for quite some time.

Best Comic-Con Ever!

2007-07-29T13:32:00.000-05:00

I am sitting in my hotel room packing up all my fantastic purchases from the con, and thinking about the amazing individuals I met. Many I had known for a while courtesy of the internet, but few I had met in the flesh. I also had the good luck to be exposed to tons of new people and their incredible work. Everyday at the con was another day that made me feel creatively rejuvenated, while reminding me that I need to be drawing a helluva lot more. The saturday night drawing jam confirmed that notion, but I also realized that every other artist in the room felt the same way no matter how jaw-dropping his/her work was. There was so much talent in that room it genuinely made me dizzy, and I was ecstatic to walk away with a handful of brilliant sketches, all suitable for framing!

Thank you to everyone that made this year so special. Your work, heart, and love for your craft inspires me.

Sarah Mensinga
Jeremy Vanhoozer
Kim Herbst
Stephen McCranie
Jeff Smith
Pascal Campion
Mike Daley
Joanna Mulder
GB Tran
Daniel Landerman
Joey Weiser
Kazu Kibuishi and the Flight Crew
Rodolphe Guenoden
Alberto Ruiz
Mitch O'Connell
Chris Sanders
Greg Hardin
Andrew Stanton
and many, many more!

See you at Comic-Con!

2007-07-24T23:44:00.000-05:00

It's late, and I am finishing a ton of work, but I am very excited to depart tomorrow for the sunny climes of San Diego. I can't wait meet a batch of new, talented individuals who will help me empty my pocketbook with the artistic goodness they bring to the show. See you soon!

The Jack Bauers of Printing

2007-07-19T14:44:00.000-05:00

Big ups to the boys and girls over at OvernightPrints.com for getting me by brand new cards in 24 hours, from upload to delivery. Unbelievable!

Pick a card...

2007-07-17T18:43:00.000-05:00

Here is my brand new business card that I am having printed for the San Diego Comic-Con and all points beyond. If you run into me at the Con I will be happy to give you one for your very own. Right now, TonyCanepa.com will redirect you back here, but I will be working hard to get a full-fledged portfolio up very soon.

Making the Best Look Better

2007-05-29T11:27:00.000-05:00

Roger Clemens wearing the hat and uniform I designed for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, in his Triple-A start yesterday. (Photo by David Kidwell)

Let it Ride!

2007-05-23T20:55:00.000-05:00

This is a sign created about two years ago for a casino night party at the day job. It was based on the sign at the classic Sands casino in Las Vegas. This was one of the first times I used the 3D extrusion feature in Illustrator which, I must say, leaves a little to be desired.

Deuce's Family Album

2007-05-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

Deuce's Family Album was created for the Frisco RoughRiders as a renewal piece for season ticket holders. It was designed as a unique way to remind people of all they fun they had at the ballpark with their friends, family, and most importantly, the mascot Deuce (who is, by the way a prairie dog). It was sent with a letter encouraging the individual to renew their ticket package for the following season.

The cover illustrations were sketched with pencil, then scanned and painted in Photoshop.

For the inside front and back covers, I created a pattern in Illustrator, and aged it in Photoshop.

A close-up of the pattern.

The inside of the book was composed of photo-illustrations with brief explanations (written mostly by Justin McCord, with a few additions by me). Also accompanying each image was an icon that represented the era of "family photo", and an image of Deuce with his own visual commentary. The layout was created in Adobe InDesign.

A close-up of Deuce's break dancing cousin.

You can download Deuce's Family Album in its entirety here as a pdf. Please note that images linked from the RoughRiders site as MORE Deuce's Family Album were not created by me.

My Neighbor...

2007-02-13T22:42:00.000-06:00

Another attempt at the digital paint with good ol' Totoro. I think when I plan on painting these in the future, I will try to keep my sketch as clean as possible. My quick pencil shading on this sketch made it a lot more difficult during the painting process. Baby steps...

First Crack at Painter (with Totoro)

2007-02-12T23:02:00.000-06:00

I have finally gotten around to giving Painter a shot. After some brief tips from an experienced friend, I did a quick sketch and starting slapping some pixel-paint on the digital canvas. I definitely will be spending some more time on this guy, and I think it's going to be a while before I am really comfortable with this new tool. But hey, it's a start.

Cute Enough To Eat

2007-01-23T22:55:00.000-06:00

This is part of a birth announcement for my niece Jo, who was born recently in Japan.

Hellboy

2007-01-18T12:49:00.000-06:00

I sketched this last night while watching the Hellboy movie. This morning, I added the red with white highlights. It turned out being somewhat of a stylistic homage of Dan Panosian's very cool white-out pen sketches.

A New Me (In Living Color)!

2007-01-16T00:10:00.000-06:00

I first attempted to paint this in Photoshop, but it didn't give me the look I desired. I wanted something a little more clean than my digital painting skills could present, so I attacked it again in Illustrator, and am much more happy with this version. This piece has a lot more gradients than I usually use, but was a good exercise in trying a new look. I think the penguin ended up a bit like a shiny Mac icon.

I appreciate every single person that has dropped by and left a comment! Much to my dismay, when I switched to the new Blogger, some comments were changed to anonymous. I know that all of them from the brilliant Sarah Mensinga were replaced so here is a link to make up for that. Thank you again, it's truly awesome to hear from all you very talented individuals!

A New Me (a work in progress)

2007-01-09T15:25:00.000-06:00

As part of my new plan of self-improvement, I sketched this guy today with the thought of creating a new, more friendly, avatar.

I said to myself, "Self, now who wouldn't want to click on a cute little penguin?" To which I replied, "Hitler, probably. But I don't want his business anyway." And thus, it was decided.

I wanted the little guy to be pondering what to draw next. Do you think this came across, or does he simply appear to be picking his nose with the pencil?

Figure Drawing 1

2007-01-08T11:10:00.000-06:00

Last year, about this time, I took my first ever figure drawing class. And I must say it was long overdue. I don't feel that my skills had ever improved so much in the same period of time. I definitely need to do it more often.

For this piece, the model was laying on his back facing away from me, and I didn't feel a full-body sketch was really that interesting. So, rather than move, I punched in on his face and drew that instead. I think this was a 10-15 minute pose.

Good Enough To Eat

2007-01-05T12:10:00.000-06:00

This is a poster I created for the dessert area of a party. There were lots of chocolates and sexy food, so I wanted to make the poster a little sexy to match. I was going for a Shag-like style on the girl, and wanted to make her look like some sort of tasty confection. The overall look I think leans toward a 1970's adult-film poster, which works in a fun way.

Give Me: Music on Vinyl, Movies on Film, and a Giant Stop-Motion Monkey...

2007-01-04T18:08:00.000-06:00

As Sarah mentioned on her blog yesterday, breaking out of your comfort zone is tough. Everyone has that one thing they draw well, or that one medium that feels the best. So, I decided I would follow her lead and try something new today. I have had some charcoal pencils lying around for about a year now, and never really given them a chance. And since I picked up Peter Jackson's King Kong last night, I thought I would do a quick sketch of the original, my favorite, and 100% analog, Lord of the Jungle.

Maddy the Squirrel Chaser

2007-01-03T11:55:00.000-06:00

This is a quick sketch I did of Maddy, my friend's Italian Greyhound. Maddy happened to be burrowed under some blankets when I sketched this, but I think I captured her "Hey, is that food?!" look pretty well. Maddy also loves squirrels, since they are the only animal she can't catch.

Happy New Year to everyone!

See you in the new year!

2006-12-22T11:20:00.000-06:00

I have been working 20 hour days all week with very little sleep, hence the lack of posts. But I promise to do some sketching over the holiday break and bring back some fun. Colorado is getting whacked with snow, and I can't wait to hit the slopes with my brand new snowboard!

Art makes me thirsty...

2006-12-14T19:59:00.000-06:00

This is a companion piece to the previous post. This was for another area at the same party, and I was given no boundaries other than the finished size and the fact that it must include the text "Martini Lounge". I am a big fan of classy art deco, so I decided to go that direction.

Looking at it now, some two years later, I think it needs an accent color to jump out from the grays. Perhaps a bit more red, like in the olive.