The Radness Is Overflowing!!! Jimmy's Inking Is So Excellent.

A 2012 year-end review! Here are some of my favorite pieces I created in 2012. All of these were either tons of fun to make, helped me grow in some way, or gave me a chance to play with something new. Looking back, I think what I've learned from this past year, and what I need to do better this new year is simple: Make more. More more more. More. 

2013! Gonna make so much more!!

Tag! You're it! The rules are to state 5 random facts about yourself. Then, go to ten blogs and tell them that they are it!

get out of here with that noise.

The Magician

Meanings: influence, awareness, ability, creative power, confidence, determination, a beginning, ego, desire to dominate, inspiration, focus, taking action, charm.

This is my piece for Light Grey Art Lab's upcoming show, Tarot, Mystics, and the Occult. I pulled The Magician, the card which starts The Fool's journey, which was awesome and intimidating! There are a ton of great artists taking part in the show, and everyone's piece will be compiled into an actual Tarot deck, which you can pre-order here! 

Here's a question: can you guess which fantastically low-budget 1960s horror (?) film The Magician's cloak is an homage to?

Ultramen

This is my contribution to Vend, Send, Mend, another fundraiser for Japan.  Many really talented artists are taking part, and donating excellent, original work to a great cause. You can see more of the work that will be available to buy on the Vend, Send, Mend blog.  Check it out!

Oh, and I love Ultraman. 

video game fan art day

Yesterday Jimmy Giegerich and I decided to make "video game fan art day" happen, and these are some of the quick little drawings that resulted on my part.  Here are Frog from Chrono Trigger (always in my team) including a little one of him croaking, Alucard from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and of course: Solid Snake. Check out Jimmy's great Ganondorf and also Sam Bosma's rad Chrono!

dffect asked:

"So what is the news besides the blues?"

It's cold in my house. But I'm enjoying a new scarf. But I ate a dissatisfying brownie. Trade-offs.

brush ink brush

Do you have any tutorials for painting with gouache? I really want to learn some techniques!

I did this process post on my gouache techniques a little while ago. It's a really fun medium but it can be tricky when you're first learning it. The biggest issue folks seem to have is that, since it's water soluble, you really can't work back into it too much, at least not at all like you would with acryllic. I tend to work very graphically with gouache so laying down flat areas of color next to flat areas of color suits me as much as does the medium. You can layer over it, it just takes a bit of practice until you nail your preference for applying your paint down.

Other tips! I find inking brushes work very nicely (I like Winsor & Newton 222 Cotman). Stonehenge brand paper has a great tooth for painting with gouache. Look for a yogurt-like consistency when you're loading your brush with paint. And, I always tell the students I do demos for this, but - for serious inspiration, if you want to see an artist who really kills at gouache and in a little more painterly style, check out Israel Sanchez (his work is fantastic).

Good luck! Have fun!

Wicked Lady for Jenn Woodall's Moon Power zine. Always liked this bitter angsty babe.

A new little piece for the New York Times Op Ed about disparity in taxes, which just went up yesterday evening. I enjoy suit-guy's ape-like arms. Thanks to AD Alexandra Zsigmond. You can read the article online here.