|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
The
Animal Care for Artists Initiative
- In August 2009, , I was contacted by Laura Menck,
one of the board of directors of The
Animal Care for Artists Initiative, a new non-profit
dedicated to providing health insurance for pets of
those in the arts.
Laura
couldn't have known it, but she couldn't have found
a cause I'm more passionate about if she tried. Being
self-employed for over half a decade now, I'm all too
familiar with the delicate balance that it sometimes
takes to make sure you have adequate health insurance
for not just yourself, but for your pets.
Laura
and the ACAI was a dream client to work for--all they
asked was for it to include their mascot Dolly (the
dog on the left--so cute!) and it to have a sort of
old-timey, WPA-ish feel to it. Of course, that's music
to my ears, and I was so excited to work on this I ended
up putting some other work aside to get to this.
It
all came together quite quickly, and even the one element
usually the most hard to pin down--the right font--fell
into place. I sent it off to Laura and the ACAI, and
they loved it, and its now on their website. I hope
that the ACAI is a huge success, and helps creative
people like me the chance to provide for their pets--they
deserve it.
Woof!
Woof!
|
| |
Attack
Cat - I had
bought
our boy Berry a little bed that I placed right by
the window (behind me as I type this), so he could
sit and look out and be comfortable at the same time.
For the first few weeks, he completely ignored the
thing, stepping on it to get to the windowsill. Y'see,
he couldn't let us think for a moment that he was
going to do what we wanted him to, and even if he
did, it would be on his timetable, not mine.
That's just how he is, and we love him for it.
Eventually
he started laying in it, and soon after became inseparable
from it. He lays and looks out on the world (oh, how
it bores him) as I sit and work. Berry's my
buddy, and every so often he lets me know it's time
to stop working and pet him. Then he lets me know
when I'm done. It's a good system.
But
he does have his ferocious side, and it goes paw-in-paw
with his cuteness. He looks so angelic, sleeping all
curled up in his bed; but try and wake him up before
he's ready and all of a sudden you're wondering if
you could make a torniquet out of art supplies. I
took so pictures of him while he was camped out, and
I think managed to capture that Jekyll-and-Hyde feeling.
I
worked on the piece a little bit at a time, since
staring at all that fur would've driven me crazy if
I tried to do it all at once. Once I had The Essence
of Berry down, it was quick work coming up with the
proper warning that would fend off any unsuspecting
visitors to the house. I got the pic framed, and gave
it to Tracy for her birthday, and now it hangs on
the wall to my right, the first thing anyone sees
when they enter--a warning that they might leave with
less digits than they walked in with.
April
2009: Berry passed away, unexpectedly and
much too young, on April 3, 2009. He was my little
pal and I was his Daddy. We miss him very, very much.
|
| |
|
| |
Peeps
- This started out as a goofy request from my art gallery
guy Jim; apparently where he is in Michigan is the site
of some poultry/chicken festival and he wanted all of
his artists who have work up in his gallery submit a
"chicken piece" to commemorate this event,
which is in July 2003.
After
doing a little work on it, I decided on the idea of
putting the features of a chick (or "peep"
as I like to call them) in a sea of yellow. While not
a chicken per se, I liked the idea enough to move forward.
After
showing the piece to my darlin' Tracy, she reported
to me that she thought it was amazing. Now she
is normally very appreciative of my work, but the vehemence
of the her response told me this was different. I soon
decided, gee, if she loves it that much, she should
have it (she let me know that if the piece didn't sell
in the gallery, she would be glad to take it off my
hands) to go on her wall.
I've
since done more of these, and she loves each one I do.
Simple colors, simple concept, and how can you not love
a peep?
|
| |
|
| |
Moo
- I had done this cow piece as part of a birthday present
for Tracy in 2005, and as much as she loved the whole
thing, it was this cow she really fell in love with.
So much so, she wanted me to make a t-shirt out of it,
as well.
I
decided to add the "Future Farmers" tag, an
addition Tracy loved. She even really liked the font,
and she's real picky about her fonts.
|
| |
|
| |
Giraffe
- I always try and capture the singular, most defining
characteristic of any animal. When doing a giraffe,
it was obvious...
Despite
that, I think this works pretty well, seeing only the
top part of the giraffe, not really knowing how much
more is down there!
|
| |
|
| |
Golden
- I love all kinds of dogs; and I've found Golden Retrievers
to be especially lovable.
I
got this idea from many of the dogs I've known---who
hasn't felt a dogs eyes peering at you, from elbow-level,
wondering when/if there might be some crumbs left over
from dinner?
|
| |
|
| |
Gorilla
- I had worried this idea would prove more frightening
than comforting--the stern gorilla staring straight
into your eyes.
But
I wanted to try and get as close as you could possibly
get, and maybe get a chance to behold the wonder of
these remarkable creatures.
|
| |
|
| |
Manatee
- I've always found underwater creatures to be especially
fascinating--living in a world that is so vast, yet
we know so little about it.
I
liked this approach--as if you're a swimmer and happen
to come across one of the beautiful manatees. Nothing
bad is happening here; you're looking at him, he's looking
at you.
|
| |
|
| |
Mulder
- My sister Susan was to curious as to why, with all
the animal art I've been doing, that the fine breed
Bassetus Houndus (Latin for "one whose ears drip
into the water bowl one is drinking from") was
not represented. Fair enough question, so I took some
pics of Susan's fine example of the breed, Mulder, and
sat down to work.
I
worked up a perfectly good, standard portrait of Mulder,
setting him on a nice pastel green background. Just
to goof around, I thought why not try the exact opposite
type-background, one totally incongruous to the dour
face that belongs to all Bassets? To that end, I just
went as gaudy and noisy as I could--crazy, strobe-light-esque
rays of color, pimped-out font, and even a "lens
flare" effect to give it that "Mulder--SUPERSTAR!"
feel. I hear music when I see this piece, Beyonce's
"Crazy in Love" or perhaps Outkast's "Hey
Ya."
|
| |
|
| |
Penguin
- I regarded this as a design piece as much an illustration,
with the ice floe cutting across the picture in a very
abstract way.
I
also wanted, with this picture at least, to play with
the shape we traditionally think of when thinking of
penguins--making this one rounder and squatter, coming
partly out at the viewer.
|
| |
|
| |
Polar
Bear - This is probably my all-time
favorite animal piece, it has the movement and excitement
that I was going for. I was hoping to also convey the
sheer power and majesty these beautiful animals have.
Added
bonus--the paint streaks seen on the background I think
make it look the the polar bear is bravely bearing (sorry)
a harsh winter tundra!
|
| |
|
| |
Scotty
- One of my parents dogs, Scotty is a great little guy.
He's quiet, understated, and is most content sitting
on his recliner. But when he's on the hunt, whether
for dinner, a bowl of milk, or a squrirel who dared
enter the yard, he comes the Great Hunter. Other than
the recliner, his favorite pasttime is to sit outside
on a sunny day and catch some rays.
Because
he's so stoic at times, it's harder to get to know him
as well as some other dogs. This piece I thought got
across how regal his is, and also, at times, how unknowable.
Scotty
left us in April 2004 after a long illness. Mindful
of not having him spend endless months in veterinary
hospitals, our family always tried to get him well but
with an eye towards what was, ultimately, best for him.
After a major operation, Scotty got to spend one last
night at home before slipping away.
The
last time I saw him alive, he was blissfully asleep
on his beloved recliner. I rubbed his belly, and told
him what a good boy he was. He was a wonderul, sweet
little dog, and our family will always miss him.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
