Why haberdash? Well, the simple answer is...I'm not sure.



And on the note of tiny, crummy comics:


One day I will magically gain the ability to draw straight lines. That day is not today.

#10 of 10!

#9 of 10: Big Plans

#8 of 10: Late!



More or less how I feel in life these days!

#7 of 10: Aragorn's got POWERS, man

#6 of 10: Costume 2



100% digital, start to finish. In reality, it would save me trouble and look better if I were to draw these by hand and then colour digitally, but bad habits will be bad habits. (And gimpy hands will be gimpy hands....d'oh.)

#5 of 10: Three Figures.






Thanks to Kagan Mcleod for hosting lifedrawing sessions! since I've been lifedrawing in a sketchbook rather than on a large pad, I've been looking at them more as illustrations and less as lifedrawing exercises. Which means I don't feel guilty about going back in photoshop and making edits as I please!

#4 of 10: You can dress her up but you can't take her out.

#3 of 10: Red Face.

#2 of 10: What are you....some kinda were-pervert?!

#1 of 10 days in a row of blogposts:

Sketchbook lifedrawings:


...and somtimes things do go my way.

4 pages of cityscape thumbnails. All based off of concept art and photo reference from my inspiration folder. Just trying to get a hang of city density and perspective for the time being. I think it's actually pretty startling, the progression from left to right. (Click to enlarge for details)



I've been on a domestic tear as of late, and have taken to copying recipes I really want to try into my sketchbook. This means I never lose the recipe, and has the added benefit of making sure I try the damn thing out since I went through the trouble of copying it out by hand. (I can attest to the deliciousness of each of these.)



And sometimes things just don't go my way.

I've started painting again, after a brief veering stint in baking. Starting small...watching documentaries and mindlessly sketch-painting.



Half traditionally painted, half photoshop.

Sketches from Calgary

I just got back from 5 weeks away from home - I spent 4 on the road with PS I Love You, and a week in the middle at home in Calgary.

My time at home consisted mostly of thinking about baking instead of actually baking, and watching ridiculous combinations of movies (Batman Under The Red Hood followed by He's Just Not That Into You followed by For A Few Dollars More).





I found this amazing sketching pen, the Zebra Z-1 in Nelson BC, and haven't been able to find it anywhere since. It is driving me nearly to madness.

Roadtrip Scenes

A couple days ago we saw the sunset in Utah - one of the most unreal things I've ever seen.

Also note the bullet holes in the local signage. Haha!

J + J

I made this card for my cousin's upcoming wedding, which I will be missing due to an upcoming month-long trip across America! Look forward to photos from the road.

Fluff, fluff.

I am a shameless lover of mindless, fluffy pictures of girls. That is all.

Paper Bag Records Vinyl Sticker

My employer for a year now, Paper Bag Records, has been all kinds of wonderful to me. I've racked up all sorts of experience, been able to travel, and worked with some really incredible people to date - it's a little hard to believe sometimes how fortunate I've been.

One of the perks of being the only graphics-trained one in the office is that I get to contribute to Paper Bag's visual identity in small projects here and there. In this case, it was 3-inch stickers for the limited edition collector's vinyl. Right now, I'm obsessed with jam and cheese packaging - I think it shows.



The variations were presented, and the unanimous vote was for the bottom middle.

Everything comes together!

I've been bouncing around this Ghost Wizard idea for about 2 years now and am slowly fleshing out ideas and worlds. Ideally, one day I'd love to see this turned into an adventure-style game but literally do not have a single clue as to how that sort of thing happens.

So for now, I paint.

Presenting: Lantern Lagoon!



The original painting is about...18"x24"? Acrylic on Stonehenge.

Past Ghost Wizard posts can be found HERE.

These little guys need names!

I've got a fishbowl on my desk with some aquatic plants in it and an Amano shrimp (Which I've named Yoshitaka, Yoshi for short. Get it...? Ha. Haaa...)

Last night I made the discovery of not one...not two, but THREE baby snails, which look like wee ramshorn snails. They must have come in on the plants and have been growing ever since. I'm so excited to be witnessing the miracle of life before my very eyes!

Though, unchecked, this could easily become a veritable snail infestation. So exciting!





On the note of aquariums, I've certainly spammed this link out enough, but one last go...just the best planted aquariums on the planet.

I'd definitely rather have a dog than an elaborate aquarium, but MAN. Lookit those things.

Late Wallpapers

Oh man, I totally forgot to post these up when they were made, but here goes!

I made a couple wallpapers for my friend Erika Brouwer's wallpaper blog, Canvas Collective. The blog has really taken off since its beginnings and is boasting an outta control lineup in the coming days. She's open to submissions, so check it out either to download or contribute!

DOWNLOAD WALLPAPERS FROM CANVAS COLLECTIVE

Lifedrawing Pt. 3

Can't stop won't stop! A series of gestures followed by a...10 minute pose, I guess?

Brought the acrylics and watercolours with me instead of pastels today!

Unapologetic Nerdery Pt. 2

Star Wars: The Awkward Early Years Pt. 2 (Apologies in advance for the generally crummy drawings)

Ep. 3 - Nien Nunb learns a valuable lesson (Kids are assholes.)


Ep. 4 - The Rebel Alliance.


Ep. 5 - Goddammit, Lando.


No thanks to Bennett Slater (legitimately one of the biggest nerds I know), I can't help but notice the high concentration of ridiculous looking guys and creatures in these movies just wearing normal-guy slacks. I find this funnier perhaps than anybody should.

Lest the comics above leave you with the impression that I'm some sort of cool person, a visual representation of my Saturday evening. An accidental nap turns into eating candy in the dark. We should probably never speak of this again.



Lastly, a little guy for a new icon. I have affectionately titled it "And now, for my next trick". I like to think of it as a complex metaphor for life.

Sketchbook Paintings

Yeesh, amazing what a good sketchbook can do for productivity...!

I recently picked up Life on Blu-ray and have been sketch-painting in acrylics with it as reference. It is nearly impossible to screw up a painting with the BBC on your side, fyi.

Follice Folly

Holy Moses.

I got super, ridiculous jazzed for Phil McAndrew's Beard and Mustache Illustration Championship Competition and pumped this out in one night.

Please click on the image below and view full size

It Hungers....For More!!!

Still on this drawing-buildings kick. I'm kind of flirting with the idea of taking an continuing education course in architectural drawing or Film/Stage set drafting.


*colours tweaked in Photoshop

Playing games and watching animation growing up, I was always more interested in the backgrounds and world design than I was the action or characters. The subject of the Myst series came up recently and I'd forgotten how all over that I was. Running around cool places without having to battle pointless monsters every 4 steps? Yeah, I can get behind that.

Sketchbook - London Edition

Based on a photo I took when I went to London in January:



Just...try to ignore the glaring errors. I'm new to this, haha.

Sketchbook Excerpts

Blogging on a Saturday night: Officially the coolest cat you know.

I recently got a couple sketchbooks coil-bound at Staples - I've been assembling unruly masses of laser paper, stonehenge, cardstock and other bits. More fun than a one paper sketchbook and less effort than custom stitch-binding.

Some selected results are below: