Three more...

Here are two more of the illustrations I have been working on to help someone out at work for The "Gigantic Armchair Reader" book..ugh. Usually they send the reference images off to an illustrator but this time I've been doing them! I kind of enjoy doing them, so I hope they keep coming.

PS. My sister's came up to Chicago for my super sweet 23rd birthday. We had a fun time, shopping, eating, etc. Shannon got a taste of the midwest and the fresh snow we had on my birthday. Below is a pic of us just before Meg and Shan drove back to Columbus, taking a walk by the semi-frozen Lake Michigan. 

back in the day..

Does anyone else remember playing with this in preschool? I do, and now am making my digital versions.

bee beard

i wish i had a gray marker

VASCO

I finally got to do something cool at work today! I illustrated this lovely vasco de gama because their clipart was not good. Yay! (its not done yet, but you get the point)

  ______________________________

(now it's done) 

Psychedelic airports

What is it with airports having crazy psychedelic walkways between terminals? The above pics are two from Detroit and the bottom is right here in good ol' O'hare. Sorry for the blurry-ness of the iphone but I think it adds to the crazy factor of these walkways. Both walkways have very enya-like music that goes with the changing lights, maybe it's supposed to calm you down while you get to your connecting flight...or just make you feel like you're on acid as you're running on a moving sidewalk under pulsating lights? Not sure, but I like them. 

Quick update on my thanksgiving: Went to columbus to stay with Meg and Doug, great time, cooked good food, was nice and relaxing, got stuck in detroit "the 'D'" airport forever, lost my luggage, got back to chicago late at night....and woke up to lots of snow. yikessss.

T-givin'

This is the thanksgiving card I sent home to my family. It was inspired by Shannon's lack of desire to eat meat. I can't wait for tomorrow! 

whoaa

pretty much the coolest thing i've seen in a while. If only i had two chickens and some dye.

Christmas giftsssa (for dad so dont read)

So I am working on an idea to paint for my dad's christmas present. My sister has bought a cornhole/baggo/bags whatever you call it game for him for tailgating and I want to paint it for her. Instead of paintings something stupid like the "USC" logo or a football field or any number of dumb things frat boys put on their boards (usually painted poorly by a sorority girl who is an "artist" yeaa...) I want to do something that is cool and that he can use other places than just williams brice stadium. 

I think our family's coat of arms would be neat. I have a thing for family crests and think I could execute it really nicely, almost vintage tattoo-looking like, and I think it's also something that is masculine and that Dad would appreciate. Meg isnt really fond of this idea, but i sketched it out and took a pic with my phone and colored it in to get the idea above. I like the version on the left, the black and white on wood.... Meg? I dont even really know why Im blogging about this because besides meg, only 2 other people read this, oh well. (Im pretty sure Dad doesnt, but if he does...FORGET EVERYTHING YOU JUST READ) ;) 

Creepy

I found these kids while looking for clipart of badminton... it was very strange these two were in a set. So i saved them and colored them in. I kinda like them. 

Vincent

This is awesome. How many suits does he  own and when can I run into Vincent downtown!?

crafty

I ventured out to Wicker park this weekend to a DIY trunk show to see some cool crafts and art from the locals. Usually I either really like these things and get ideas for projects from them, or I get mad that people are selling crap that I can make and are making money off of it. Luckily most of the booths were really neat, I bought a few post cards from RarRarpress. (above) They were really funny sayings and images. It reminded me of something Mom or Grandma would have liked to gone to....but Mom probably would not have liked the post cards, haha.

Mailbox, pencil, open mailbox!

So you don't have to be a type nerd to appreciate this, but you will even more if you are one.

Someone sent me this at work today.

So funny! 

JWilkesBooth rides the Metra?

Every day I take the metra train to work to the suburbs, and every day this little hip man rides too. I always thought he was interesting looking, rides a bike, tweed coat complete with elbow patches, usually a large scarf, a 50's style hat, retro glasses, and of course his mustache curled on each ends. It wasn't until  yesterday when I was searching for images of John Wilkes Booth (typical work task) that I realized this little hipster man must be JWB reincarnated, except complete with a sweet bike and glasses. I have drawn him above and compared him with JWB to the left. I am in no way exaggerating or creating a characature of this little man, he really looks that strange. 

Oh and I also thought I had found a new "hobby" to pass time at work (who else does this?) and started reading books on google reader...till i found out they take out pages so you can't read the whole thing. Blast! 

also...

Found this today, not sure if I am just really immature but it was hilarious to me that they kept talking about this lost "tool bag". 

Enjoy

Eli Cash's taste

Doesn't this look like something that would hang on the walls of Eli Cash's apartment? Found it while searching for "OK Corral fight" 

The start of something...

 I got a great idea for a new print/painting today at work, I've always liked the diagrams of meet cuts, and now I'm going to do something with it. You'll appreciate this one Shannon, seriously. This is just my idea for the project I did on the computer for right now to get the point across.

FAIL

So, not to talk bad about certain people on here...but I just had to share this photo with the 4 followers of this blog. I came across this photo of some people I know through friends, and had to post it. Please notice all the powder jugs on the cupboards....really? 

TOOLS.

Kim Jong-ILL

Right now at work I am searching for artwork to be used in a book of completely useless facts. ha...seriously though there's no reason why you ever need to know these facts.

So today, I was searching for artwork for an article about crazy leaders and came across these interesting facts about Kim Jong-il:

According to this book he claims:

-To have been born on a sacred Korean Mountaintop, with his arrival eliciting thunder, lightening, and a DOUBLE rainbow.

-He has written six operas in two years

-The first time he golfed he made 11 hole-in-ones

-He also kidnapped a legendary South Korean film director and his wife and kept them imprisoned for four years until they agreed to make movies for him....except that one really happened.

.....WHAT A CRAZIE!

(just some of the lovely stuff I find at work)

USELESS USEless

I am working on a series of prints that are playing with type and letters and fun stuff... so answer me this:

What is Useless? 

(animals, objects, people, etc.)

I am playing with the word "useless" and USE LESS....so leave me some feedback. 

Awesomeness of the day: