This is a painting I did for a recent show. If you look at the larger image you can see he has lots of scales.

When I saw this week's topic, I immediately thought of the mystery of the missing bees. Read more about it from the New York Times.

This was a quick ink drawing that I colored in Photoshop.

Priority number two is to prepare for our upcoming Paintpushers show. It'll be at Fitch Gallery and we're each working on one of nine pieces that will hang together as one. Besides that, I need enough art to fill a 10 feet of wall which may be a challenge due to the fact that I have not been painting much at all lately.

I'm also supposed to be having a joint show at Arte Gallery in October, but the gallery has yet to get back to me with the dates. So I honestly don't know where that goes on my priority list.

On top of that, I want to redesign this site so that the blog and the rest of the site look the same. Then I need to work on the Cakewalk web site to include my design portfolio.

Wish me luck!

Here's my latest painting. I took pictures throughout the time I was working on it and put together a Flickr photo set for anyone who's interested in learning more about how I work out my ideas and put them on canvas.

Here's the new logo. The client was happy with the fun raccoon and suggested adding red. I took the opportunity to change the font as well.

The client also wanted a t-shirt design. He asked for a guy paddling with the raccoon acting as the kayak, with the phrase "I paddled the 'coon" (Raccon River). This was my first design attempt. It was a little too cartooney for his taste, but I like it.

Here's the my second attempt at the Raccoon River Valley Adventures t-shirt design. The client loved it, except for the half-tone dot pattern which I removed, but left in here to show you. I'm not sure I like my hand-drawn text.

and a sticker...

and the web site...

Since I was working for free, I just modified the images and the CSS for their existing web site, but I think it looks good.

I know I should exercise everyday because I have a desk job. I should also clean up the house so I don't end up on a show like "How Clean is Your House?". I should spend time having fun with my family and helping them with their needs. Add to that: laundry, grocery shopping, cooking... the list goes on and on. So when am I supposed to find time to make art, photograph it, convert the images to web files, upload them and come up with something meaningful to type about them?

I've already given up video games. I guess it's time to give up the TV (as if!).

I have been working on a couple of design projects. I've taken over maintenance of the Paintpushers website, and am working on a new look and added features. I'm also working on designs for a RAGBRAI team. Maybe I'll post some pics of that later. Oh, and I've also been working on a logo for an existing company, but at this point I don't think its going to ever see the light of day.

Well, this month for Paintpushers we were challenged to create a painting in response to or inspired by famous artists. We drew names out of a hat, and I got Edward Hopper. Besides the obvious theme of isolation in his work, I thought that they were voyeristic in a way.

I painted the whole canvas navy and then masked off areas with painters tape before spraypainting the backgrounds of each room. I'm a little unhappy with the lack of detail I could get with my paintbrushes. Maybe I'm using the wrong type of brush or the canvas is too textured. I think I may try a digital version and see if it's more successful. I'll keep you posted.

Tonight was our meeting and we got a new assignment. We drew each other's names and have to try a painting inspired by a fellow participant. I have no idea what I'm going to do yet.

Here's my entry for Illustration Friday. This week's word was "sprout". I was inspired by a book cover (The Book of Lost Things) and decided to paint Sleeping Beauty's castle. I'm not so sure I like the Z's now that it's finished. I was tempted to paint them out, but my husband said to leave them. I will. For now.

Update: As you can see, I removed the Z's. Here's the original...

Just in time for the holidays... Now you can get in the spirit of the season with Yeti masks! Available for boys and girls. Just print, cut out the mask and eye holes, and attach a bit of string.

This is my reward for asking Gary Baseman a good question at the ADAI (Art Directors Association of Iowa) meeting Monday night. His talk really motivated me to get in gear and start working on my ideas. More art to come!

Hopefully, this one will fare better than my last endeavor. To be honest, after looking at the toaster design I really started to not like it. Oh well. Please vote while it's still in the running!

Here's a mighty bird flying in a mighty wind. OK, so I'm stretching this one a bit!