Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis' Wildwood.

I just finished reading Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis' Wildwood. It is a fantastic story about a girl who travels into a forbidden forest with her friend to save her kidnapped baby brother. The heroine likes to ride bikes and draw birds. All images by Carson Ellis and found on Design Sponge (check out their review of the book), unless otherwise noted.

The book is filled with beautiful illustrations by Carson Ellis, from small drawings to full page color spreads. I highly recommend you check it out.

Badger with a Rickshaw.

A scene from Wildwood.

I just found out that there is a sequel, too. Next on the reading list. Image via Harper Collins Childrens.

Song: 

January Hymn - The Decemberists (The whole book reads like a Decemberists song.)

Presidential Portrait Practice.

It's been a while since I have drawn faces. How about two of the most recognized faces in the US today?

November 6th is fast approaching. Don't forget to vote on Tuesday!

Song:

Sister Suffragette - Mary Poppins


And, this one's been stuck in my head for a month, but it's NSFW (due to language). Watch it on YouTube.
Won't F Us Over - The Hood Internet ft. Annie Hart & BBU

Beaver Eating Mac & Cheese.

Fun sketch inspired by a video game. Look how happy he is!

Song: 

Tables & Chairs - Andrew Bird

Meet Charlemagne. He enjoys writing.

This is a sketch I did of an Octopus who likes to send letters. He never runs out of ink.

Song:

Paul McCartney - I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

Dirty Birdy.

Just a drawing of an ostrich in need of a bath.

Song:

Surfin' Bird - The Trashmen

New Font Work!

New font work!

Based on Outkast's parody of Fiddler on the Roof.

Song:

Good Day, Good Sir - Outkast (NSFW Language)

Hourly Comic, 2012.

Wednesday I participated in the Hourly Comic drawing. Inspired by John Campbell of Pictures For Sad Children, the hourly comic consists of one comic (panel) for every hour you're awake; a visual diary. Here's last year's comic. It's funny to see how they are similar, and I wonder how they'll change next year. (Right click to view larger image in a new tab.)

Songs:


Pressed In a Book - The Shins

Super Suffrage Friends.

Here's my tribute to Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony, two civil rights heroes who both lived in Rochester, NY. They worked towards equal voting rights for African Americans and women in the 1800s.

Song:

Heroes - David Bowie

A Parliament of Owls, Part 3: The Owl Song.

A little while ago, I drew an owl everyday for a month. Then I made a song about them.



Song (Tune of):

Hungarian Dance No. 5 - Brahms

Anxious Aardvark.

Song:

Sticky Bees - Wax Fingers (Listen on Bandcamp)

Pencil Sketches in Wicker Park.

On one of the last unseasonably warm days of the season, I headed down to Wicker Park in Chicago, and here is what I drew.

Wicker Park is adjacent to Bucktown, named for the goats that were raised there years ago. Hence, the fountain.

Songs:

Walk in the Park - Beach House

Natalie and Effie In the Park - of Montreal

Microns, Where have You Been All My Life?

Here are some sketches drawn while in various forms of transit around the Chicago area. All drawn with Micron pens, which are pretty fantastic fade-less fine point pens.

Songs: 

I've Been Everywhere - Johnny Cash

Airmail Special - Ella Fitzgerald

Another Travelin' Song - Bright Eyes (NSFW Language)

Lamp Font.

Songs:

Window Shopping - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings

Shopping Spree - Orgone (Listen on Last.fm.)

Round.

Here's my sketch for this week's Illustration Friday topic, "Round."

Song:

'Round About Midnight - Thelonious Monk

You Probably Think This Drawing's About You.

Here's my sketch for this week's Illustration Friday topic: "Vanity."

Song: 

You're So Vain - Carly Simon

Meet My Alter Ego, DIY Girl.

Song:

Waitin' For Superman - Iron & Wine

The Altercation.

I drew a comic in which I become involved in a disagreement with an anthropomorphic printer. (Click image to zoom.)

Song:

Fight Test - The Flaming Lips

Blick Fall Back to School Sale Flyer.

This fall I am featured in the Blick Art Materials Fall Back to School Sale flyer and in posters in the stores. I am drawing sea fan coral with Prismacolor markers. I have been drawing with their colored pencils since high school, and really like how bright and easy-to-blend they are.

Photo by Lenny Gilmore.

Photo by Lenny Gilmore.

Poster Photo by Lenny Gilmore.

Thanks to Blick for the above photos.

Songs:

Rolling Sea - Vetiver

Sea of Love - Phil Phillips

Zombies!

Recently I was commissioned to make an illustrated sign. My friend has made, and is selling, zombie face magnets and pins,  which come blank, and you can paint or decorate them any way you like. They are about an inch and a half tall, and are pretty gruesome, as zombies go. If you would like one, you can contact Chris. 

I had a lot of fun drawing the sign. Lately, I've become very interested in fonts, both drawing and designing them. I've been studying how different typefaces can create completely different moods, and despite the intrigue of graphic design, I still enjoy creating hand-drawn lettering. And drawing hands, as well.

Songs:

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen


Time Of The Season - The Zombies



I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew
(Watch on YouTube)

A Parliament of Owls, Part 2.

I'm still drawing an owl a day. This project will last for a month, and then I will focus on illustrating another subject. Here's me drawing Owl #21, an eagle owl.



These are some of my recent favorites, but you can see all of the drawings on my Tumblr.

 #11 

 #13

 #14

 #15

 #22

 #24: Barred of Avon.

Song:

Everyday - Buddy Holly