I was going to do washes on this but I decided to leave it in pencil and do another for my experiment.

“The Hand That Feeds”
4 x 6″
Graphite on Hardboard

http://www.hifilmfest.com/art-gallery/

I’ve started a new job recently but I’m also trying hard to keep up with my own work. It’s tough and with working in animation it’s even tougher because it has a tendency to drain the hell out of you creatively.

This is a piece I’m working on for a Horrible Imaginings Film and Art Fest. Has no title yet and I’m still deciding if I’ll add a wash of colour. I’m really digging graphite again.

I’m not very good at keeping this blogging thing up apparently and with Facebook allowing me to have immediate response with what I post, I find I’m on here less and less.

It’s not that I don’t think having your own REAL web location for people to visit without having to converse is a bad thing (although it can get a bit lonely) but I get so fed-up with updating software, dealing with spam, screwing around with these stupid galleries that never seem to work, or even worse, loosing the whole damned thing! It takes the pleasure away from wanting to write or post anything. I really want something that’s professional, personalized, looks nice and is straightforward so I think I’ll try streamlining this a bit more and maybe somehow incorporate it into my FB Page.

Meanwhile though, here’s my Facebook Page if anyone is interested. Thanks!

It’s been a week since I’ve had to say goodbye to her. Just when I think it might be a bit easier something always pulls me back. I’m going to miss her with all my heart.

But I’ve sent to off to my dad.

I know that my dad didn’t like cats, I think now it was because he was a little scared of them, but I’ve decided that Weatherwax is going to stay with him anyway.

When Dad was still alive he told me that he had a cabin near a lake and would mentally go there when he was down or things got crappy and it always made him feel better. He told me that he had been imagining this place for years and over time other people began to build their own cabins in the area too so that he was never completely isolated. They would greet each other with a nod or brief “hello” but everyone pretty much kept to themselves. Dad also had a bell, a dinner bell I guess, on the porch’s post and this existed incase of emergencies – if ever he needed someone, he could just ring the bell and his neighbours would come. Now that he’s died, I imagine him there, happy, fishing everyday and he’s never had to ring that bell. This is where I want Weatherwax to go.

I think he’ll accept her, I mean, they were both pretty grouchy and people never really “got” either of them. Both are pretty infamous amongst certain people and have even put the fear of death in a few. My dad had a bit of an appreciation for misfits though, being one himself, so I really think this could work…

I picture Weatherwax showing up on his doorstep, probably even ringing the bell on the porch. I DID keep a bell on my back door here that she would ring to get let out so wouldn’t it make sense that she would do the same there? I imagine him opening his door, not seeing anyone at eye level, and then he’ll hear a “meep” (Weatherwax didn’t really meow when she was healthy but made a high-pitched “ee, ee” sound). He’ll look down and see this beautiful black cat with large gorgeous green/yellow eyes looking up at him, and he’ll say under his breath, “Aw Christ, Beans this is your god-damned cat, isn’t it?” and she’ll just sit there staring at him but her ears will flatten ever so slightly.

“Well, you’re sure as hell NOT staying here”, Dad will say as he leaves the door open and walks over to the cupboard to pull down a couple bowls and Weatherwax will follow behind.

He’ll let Weatherwax stay I’m betting, but it will be an interesting relationship. He’ll grumble, call her a god-damned cat and she’ll attack his ankles as he’s trying to leave with his fishing rod in the morning, making him trip a bit but they’ll still love each other. They will see through each other’s exteriors. At night My Girl will jump up on the bed to sleep under the blankets on my dad’s chest. The place that had been so wounded when he was alive. And during the day he’ll give her treats from his day’s catch, which she may or may not eat, but he’ll find something else that she likes to fill the now plump tummy that became so skinny when she was alive. (Chicken’s a good idea Dad.)

This upcoming Friday is the big day for my show at La Luz de Jesus Gallery! It’s been a crazy last few months and I’ve barely seen the light of day (there hasn’t been much sunlight in Vancouver anyway) but now I have a chance to catch my breath and have a little fun.

(Click image to see more)

“Cartes de Visite”
9 x 12″
Oil on Hardboard

Feb 3 – 26, 2012
Opening Reception: Friday, February 3; 8 – 11 PM

For sales and more info -La Luz de Jesus Gallery

Also, on other news, my new website is coming along. If all goes to plan it’ll be much more straight forward and easier to update (I really hope so).

I just received samples of the Theatre Royal’s events calendar featuring my work on the cover and inside! The print run is 130,000 so that’s a lot of people seeing my Victorian lady doing her “exercises”.

The performance is called “In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)”. Perfect! I only wish I could see it!

A lovely woman over at Bubblegum and Duct Tape wrote a very nice article on me and thought I’d share it with you!

Thanks Maria!

CHECK IT! My little Puss ‘n Boots got all famousie. Noel Fielding (Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The Mighty Boosh) is wearing it on BBC! You can see the clip here.

Even though I’ve worked on cartoons for years, it’s funny how excited I am seeing my illustration on TV even though it’s tiny and not even shown in the same country!

If you want to see what’s on the inside of the locket take a looksie here at Classic Hardware. They’ve recently re-done their site so now you can find things easier and order directly. They’ve got some really cool stuff and feature lot’s of artist work too!

After finishing the previous piece “Dark Matter -Ramona” I decided that it would be fun to do more ‘scary kid’ stuff. I’m keeping them small too, this one for instance is 5 x 7″. I’m also incorporating friends as well which I’ll post once they’re done.

This little girl doesn’t have a name yet and I’m not sure if she’s met her demise on those tracks or if she’s the cause of an accident. Maybe both? She’s mischievous for sure! I’m just at the pencil stage with her but now I’m trying to decide if I should just finish her off in graphite or paint her.

After a fairly long break, I’ve been asked to do a little piece for a show at Modern Eden Gallery in San Francisco called “The New Surrealism : A Collection of Strange”. Even though I felt a bit rusty, I gotta say it was nice to have a real brush in my hand rather than a Wacom stylus!

“Dark Matter: Ramona”
7.75 x 9.75″
Casein & oil on hardboard