Painted Bail Out

I forgot to post this finished, so here it is. Hope everybody had a nice Christmas. I know I did. Happy New Year!

Illustration Friday: Balloon

Everybody enjoys a balloon.

Biker dude- How I paint

I painted this for my friend and excellent illustrator, Stacy Curtis. While I was at it I thought I'd try doing a video of my process. Who knows if this will work. The quality isn't that great, but it gets better near the end. If it is stupid or too fast or whatever, let me know. Come on, it's my first try. Anyway, enjoy. Hope you like it Stacy.

Illustration Friday: Opinion

Here is a little sketch of how I think the government bail out thing works. But, that just my opinion.






While we are at it, here are a few recent paint doodles. Work has been keeping me very busy, so I've been slacking on the posts. Sorry.

In the news

My neighbor just called and said he saw me in the newspaper. Well, that was news to me. I looked it up online and found the article. It is about a children's book illustration show I'm participating in at the Springville Museum of Art. The show has about 25 children's book illustrators from Utah. It's pretty cool. This photo shows me doing a story time reading for a bunch of kids. The show will be up until Dec. 28 so go check it out. Click here if you want to read the article or here to visit their blog.

Illustration Friday: Repair

I came across this painting today and thought I'd post it for this topic. It is an older painting, but since I don't have time to do something new this week, I thought it might be okay. Besides, for being such a quick little painting, I sure have grown to like it a lot. Enjoy.

Background added

So, I added a background to this one. I think I'll paint it someday, but right now I'm really busy with work. Maybe the next full moon.

Vote!

Hi folks. I entered my wife Lorien in a Sarah Palin look-alike contest the other day and she was selected as one of five finalists. She didn't know I nominated her and I don't know if she was very happy about it, but she's a good sport. You can read more about it at her blog. Now she needs your votes. Click here to cast your ballots.






Below is her TV debut. (if I posted it right)

Old (Zombie) Goat

A couple students, Jed Henry and Jake Wyatt, stopped by yesterday for a little studio visit.  I was showing them how I prep paintings.  Jed told me to draw a goat, which didn't feel Halloweenie enough, so I made it a zombie goat.  It was mostly just a lousy sketch with some thin colors on it, but today I decided to finish it up.  I think it'll make a nice addition to the Gallery O' Terror.

Illustration Friday: Late

Don't you hate  it when you go for a late night snack, the moon is out, and this happens?  Bummer.  This is an idea for the Gallery O' Terror.  It's a busy week, if I have time I'll try to paint it up.

Family Photo

This one might need a better title.  Any ideas?

Sweet

In my original drawing the little girls shadow was holding a kitchen knife.  My wife thought it was a little much, so I changed it to a monster.  I'm not really happy with the way it turned out.  In my head it looks way better.

Fluffy

Here's a new one. Isn't October is the best month ever?

My wife has the Gallery O' Terror (all of my Halloween paintings from the past) hanging in the living room now. If you are around, you're welcome to stop by for a look...if you dare!

Disco Zombie

Yesterday my wife finished hanging all of my spooky paintings for the Gallery of Terror. It is starting to feel more and more like fall, and that means Halloween. The best holiday of the year. This is just a little sketch I did while getting in the mood. Enjoy.

I've been asked to participate in a children's book illustration show at the Springville Art Museum. There will be a lot of really great artists involved. You're all invited to come and check it out. Here are the details:


13 September - 28 December 2008

A collection of children’s books illustrations, this exhibition showcases the work of 27 illustrators that have their roots in Utah. Appealing to both adults and children alike, the show will also display works that explore the process of creating illustrations for books. Each artist has their own unique style, but all add tremendously to the joy of reading! In fact, some illustrators will be at the museum during the opening and throughout the duration of the exhibition to do live readings of their books. The artists shown in the exhibition include:



Ben Sowards
Bethanne Anderson
Brett Helquist
Cambria Evans (Christensen)
Carolyn Fisher
David A. Carter
E.J. Bird
Fumi Kosaka
Greg Newbold
Greg Swearingen
Guy Francis
Hala Wittwer
Howard Fullmer
James Christensen
Julie Olsen
Kevin Hawkes
Lily Toy Hong (Hatch)
Mark Buehner
Mark Graham
Matthew Armstrong
Nathan Hale
Pat Bagley
Richard Hull
Robert (Bob) Barrett
Robert Neubecker
Sherry Meidell
Will Terry

Illustration Friday: Clutter

Here are a few spreads from my book "Mrs. McBloom, Clean Up Your Classroom!". The whole book is about a teacher who never cleaned her classroom in fifty years. It is crammed packed with clutter. I couldn't resist posting them.

Illustration Friday: Memories

I've neglected Illustration Friday for a while so I quickly did this little painting. I try to do better in the future. Enjoy.

Reminder: There are still a few days left on my art auction. Go check it out.

Auction

This is Guy's wife taking over!

A friend of ours, Stephanie Clark Nielson, and her husband were badly burned in a plane crash. Their 4 children are being cared for by loving aunts and uncles while they remain hospitalized in critical condition, probably for months. You may learn more about Stephanie and her family here and here. We are participating in Designmom's fundraising efforts and are auctioning a few of Guy's sketch paintings to donate to Stephanie's recovery fund.

The pieces we're auctioning are posted below. You can link to eBay to bid on them.

So c'mon all you art lovers--dig into your pockets, donate to a worthy cause, and get some of my hubby's sweet art to hang on your wall!


click here to bid


click here to bid


click here to bid


click here to bid

Sketch Paintings

Here are a few recent doodles.

Billboard

I was driving down the freeway a couple weeks ago and looked up and saw one of my paintings up on a billboard. Sweet! I've never done anything for a billboard before. It's kinda cool. I did this painting for a friend who just recently opened Timanogos Harley, probably the coolest harley shop ever. It is huge and it is built from mostly salvaged materials from the old Geneva steel plant. Inside he also started a tasty restaurant called Marley's. This guy is Marley. If you are ever driving through Utah you oughta stop and check it out. Maybe have some lunch. It's easy to find. Just look for the billboard.

Illustration Friday: Canned

The stock boy gets canned by beans.

Sketch Painting

Sketch Paintings

Here are a few doodles from the past week. I'm working on a big ole deadline right now, and I squeeze in these little five minute paintings to keep my sanity. I'm not very sane, so I don't think it's working. Just ask my wife.

Holy Toast and Tentacle

I have some cool neighbors with a bunch of artwork hanging on their carport wall. Among the artwork was a really sweet empty triangular frame. It screamed for something to be put in it. One day I snuck up and took the measurements of the frame and, over the next couple of weeks, the triangle frame stewed in my brain. I had a ton of random triangle shaped doodles but I ended up painting this. I replaced it on their wall and waited. It took a few days to realize it was there. It was fun to paint something just for fun in such a great shape for some great friends. I'm sure the symbolism is obvious, so I won't try to explain it. It needs a really artsy title. Any ideas?

Sketch Painting

A little summer sketch to keep you happy.

Illustration Friday: Fierce

I'm not saying all giant robots are fierce, but this particular one is. Don't any of you giant robots come stomping my house, okay. I mean, I like robots. The bigger the better. I just saying that some, not all, giant robots are fierce. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Dickens

I was recently gathering some reference and found some great photos of Charles Dickens, so I had to do a quick painting. The guy had some crazy hair.

Go Bulldogs!

So, today is my 20 year reunion. I know, I'm an old fart. I did the yearbook cover back in '88. The mighty Bulldogs. You're shakin' in your boots. He's like a friggin' super dog. Intimidating. Anyway, yesterday I did a quick painting of the 2008 dawg. Still pretty tough and trim, unlike me. I don't think 20 years has been kind. Enjoy.

Illustration Friday: Hoard

My son loves to build stuff. He hoards cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, cardstock, rope... you name it. He can build whatever he wants from duct tape and paper. A little McGyver.

nuther pig

I guess pigs are the thing to draw lately. Don't ask me why.

Best question ever

I went to my daughters 1st grade class the other day to show them my artwork and how I make a children's book. First graders always come up with some of the funniest questions, mostly unrelated to artwork, and this time was no exception. One little girl was wiggling a loose tooth with a bloody paper towel in one hand, and franticly raising the other to ask me a question. I called on her and she said "I thought you hair would be blacker and that it would cover more of your head." What??? It was hilarious. I didn't know how to respond. Hey kid, I'm sorry that I'm a balding gray haired man. I'm sorry to disappoint you. I promise to try harder...frickin' kids today.

Driving Pig

Sketch Paintings

Been really busy lately with work so I haven't had a lot of time to post. Here are a few doodles that were painted on some scraps of paper. Not much, I know, but I'll try to do better.

Provo Children’s Book Festival

I'm participating in the Provo Children's Book Festival this weekend. Should be lots of fun. Here are the details:

PROVO- Provo City Library is sponsoring the first Provo Children’s Book Festival on Friday, May 16 at 7pm and Saturday, May 17 from 10am to 4pm. It will be held at the Provo City Library, 550 North University Avenue. Friday night is a keynote kick-off with Gerald McDermott, children’s author and illustrator of multiple Caldecott Award winning books. Saturday, May 17 is an all day event with over thirty local and regional authors and illustrators doing presentations, signings, illustrations and more through out the day.

This is a free event for all ages. The Provo City Library wants to promote the importance of literacy and honor local, regional, state, and national talent. Saturday festivities will include puppet shows, arts and crafts, printing press demonstrations, book making, story character visits, a book sale, refreshments and more!

For more information please contact the Provo City Library at (801) 852-6682. or visit the Provo library's website.