Infiltrate and Observe

Infiltrate and Observe
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

It's the holiday season again. The time to take a minute to try and better understand your friends and neighbors by spying on them. Help Aunt Martha dry some dishes and you may discover how she really feels about Grandma Noreen. Pretend to nod off in the corner and Cousin Luigi may accidently tip you off on where, exactly, he buried the body. Alright, maybe family functions aren't as shady as all that, but we all have Christmas wishes, no? I think this jackelope dwelling rabbit could easily stand in for a Nancy in the house of Drew. And maybe sometimes we all feel like the blue bunny in a pink jackelope world. I know I do, but I also know that's not my reality.

ring dem bells

ring dem bells
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Politics can even make giving a controversy, no matter what your choice in charity. This little girl wants the best for her dollar and that's where she believes it will go. For her, as far as I can tell, that's all that matters.

Moose and Squirrel

moose and squirrel
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Over all five seasons, I'm not sure Natasha ever bothered to learn her nemesies' names on the 'Rocky and Bullwinkle Show'. At least she recognized Boris when she saw him. I didn't realize until recently that Boris & Natasha were the names of Tolstoy's lovers in War & Peace. If that book had featured moonmice, maybe it too could have been promoted to immortality on saturday mornings and cereal box covers. Then again, moonmice are not the answer to everything. Just most things. Hokey smokes!

Fire!

Fire!
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Falling in love can happen at the most inopportune moment. But if you're having a bad day...or a major catastrophe...it's nice to know that something can still put a smile on your face.

I have no idea what's putting the smile on everyone else's face here, though. The man still trapped inside the burning building should be pissed. I suppose Love fixes everything.

The Sandwich Trade

trade
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

All around the world, even in lunchrooms better than yours or mine, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are getting swapped for ham on rye. Maybe. Just maybe...these swaps are a matter of life or death. Especially when lunch is still alive.

The wolf's lunch/pig has two slices of bread tied around him a la Shel Silverstein's hippopotamus sandwich. Always steal from the best.

Treehouse

treehouse
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I love a good treehouse and if kids are gonna play pirate, it's as good a place as any. Okay, maybe not quite so good as the beach, but maybe animal pirates are different. In fact, I'm sure they must be.

Our neighbors, growing up, had a treehouse of sorts. They built multi-leveled rooms between 4 telephone poles over their backyard sandbox. From this I learned that outside gets very cold at night, even in summer. And don't play in the sandbox if cats live nearby.

Till Death

Till Death
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This is that 'Apparitions' piece I've been working on for a Halloween group show at Lunar Boy Gallery up in Astoria. I'm not certain if the lady in the chair is dead or dreaming, but she and the bride share a past. The more I talk about a piece, the less I like it, so I should refrain from doing that here. I'll just say that I need to paint a few half eaten babies to cleanse the pallette now. I think this is pretty sweet.

Some Enchanted Evening

doorstep
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm influenced by the movies I watch. Recently I've been most intrigued by old movies from the 30s and 40s. There's something about the dramas that are both compelling, if a little hokey. The musicals are pure escapism. The shorts are madcap. This man, to me, looks like he's up to no good. Perhaps he's about to meet the mistress of his dreams. Or maybe he's a door to door salesman about to make that lucky break he's been pushing for. All I know is that these strangers will meet and define the movie. Comedy or Tragedy? Farce or gangster drama? It's all possible from this point.

The Doll's House

The Doll House
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This image was loosely inspired by Katherine Mansfield's 'The Doll's House', a short story about a large elaborate gift given to a rich family with little girls. The pre-pubescent aristocrats show off their new toy house to all of the neighborhood children, two by two. All the neighborhood children except for the Kelveys, who are the socially unacceptable daughters of a local washer woman. I don't want to ruin Mansfield's plot, which is as much in the telling as the tale, but she does reinforce the idea that bias is taught early.

Tractor

tractor2
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm starting sketches for an upcoming show with an 'apparitions' theme. Mostly I just wanted an excuse to move into farm machinery. Where are the ghosts, you may ask. Good question. I'm a fan of the movie Ironweeds, where the main character is haunted by visions of his past. That may be what's going on here. Or perhaps the wife is hounding her husband to babysit. Either way.

Man in the Moon

The man in the moon
came down too soon
and asked his way to Norwich.

He went by the south
and burnt his mouth.
by eating cold pease porridge.

This is an old nursery rhyme my Grandmother remembered about the man in the moon when I mentioned him to her. I was driving about LA the other day and I accidently made a wrong turn onto Norwich Ave. There was no moon man there, but I did see a gentleman waving his hat.

Meating

bearsfinal
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This is the final in my bears series. For those of you keeping score--the butterflies and goat from the last two images have been invited over for dinner. Three of my five band members have come along as well and somewhere along the line they picked up a grey squirrel. A bear's gotta eat, afterall. At this point, the kid's still alive and a butterfly is escaping--so there's hope if you want it. But I have to admit, I love it when my characters end up eating each other.

Butterfly Bear

Butterfly Bear
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm continuing on with my Bavarian Bear Series, which will go on display at Gallery Nucleus this Saturday in Alhambra. There are four panels and I'll probably post the fourth next week. I missed debuting a new image here last week because of an electrical overload-- but things are back up and running here, better than ever. At least that's what the electricians told me....well...it's what they seemed to be telling me. Nobody spoke any English. Perhaps they were telling me to wet my hands and shove a metal fork in an outlet, letting me stand there nodding my head, offering agua. In any event, the power is on again. What's the spanish translation for 'sucker'?

I forgot to mention that this piece was definitely inspired by my friend Jaime Zollars. With this image, I'm implying that the leaves in the first bears image were actually butterflys. Jaime did an image where the leaves on a tree, upon close inspection, were birds. I'm retroactively calling this an homage.

The Misfits

The Misfits
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This is a panel from 'The Misfits' an early reader comic paperback available this fall from Innovative Kids. I'm putting up the panel without any of the text or 'meanwhile' boxes. To be honest, I'd have to go back and look to see if there's any speech bubbles in this panel at all. I know the dog has some 'bark bark' action going on in red because I put that in later. The finals on this image called for messier kids, so the printed version will have dirtier clothes, faces and hands. Angry dogs chasing kids--a few of my favorite things. But the Misfits usually wind up with the upper hand so have no fear, they will arrive unscathed!

Danger on the Good Ship Lollipop

Danger on the Good Ship Lollipop
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm doing a series with the bavarian bears, who can be seen off in the distance in the upper right. The fox and goat from the last piece are followed through for this image. You'll note the ravenous claw inside the boat next to the balloons, waiting for our young mistress to climb aboard. Little miss goat might not be long for this world, but in the mean time, and I mean mean, she can enjoy a moment or two of happy toyfulness. I'm posting early 'cause I'm visiting home this week. See ya soon!

Flight of the Bumblebee

Flight of Bumblebee
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I love me some polka. Frankie Yankovic might not be everyone's cup of tea, but throw in some Doris Day and I think everybody can agree it's a good time. I'm working on the back of a mailing for the bears piece. I think this creature started life as another bear then morphed from a squirrel to a cat. In any event, that's definitely a bee up there buzzing around my accordian: instrument of the gods.

Oompa Bears

Oompa Bears
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Bavarian Bear Boy Bands attract cows, goats and dancing dogs-- you learn something new everyday. I think this one is finally done, but I may yet add a bumblebee or a butterfly bugging the bear with the drum. So I guess they attract bugs too. The fox in the lower right leads into the next image, which I've started. I've been most excited about not putting in the sky. I wanted a rolling wall of atmosphere and I think I got it. Maybe from here the Bears will tour Europe. Or maybe they'll take a nap. Hmmm... that does sound nice.

I have a print going up on Tiny Showcase this evening. Please check it out! www.tinyshowcase.com I've put a link to the right.

Underwater Basketweaving 101

Underwater Basketweaving 101
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Ever feel like the rest of the world can turn grape jelly into wine when you'd be satisfied mixing a peanut butter sandwich without lumps? This drawing surprised me. I'd started with the idea of one classmember being jealous of another's ability. Then the proficient weaver ended up looking very matronly and maternal-- especially with the basket placed over her belly like that.

In a broader context, maybe this means that I'm jealous of children and childbirth... or maybe I feel that the whole human construct and conception is entirely foreign and bizarre-- akin to the furby phenomenon. Maybe it means I equate art and creation with life. All I know is that if I'd been able to take this course in college I'd have kept the deep sea diving outfit for social gatherings, private parties and bar mitzvahs.

Bear Band

Bear Band
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm jumping the gun a little with this one. The piece is not done, so I'm uploading a portion of it a little early. It's the 4th of July, and I've got oompa band music coursing through my veins! Actually, the day I started this piece, an article appeared in the newspaper about the first Bavarian Bear to appear in that country since the days of...um...Beethoven? Anyway, it's been a long time and I took that as a good sign. I think I'll stick with the German boy bear band for a little while. Eventually the animals may grow lederhosen, but that'll keep for the next image. I'll try and post the finished illustration next week.

O Muh Darlin

O Muh Darlin
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This image was up on my old website for the longest time, but I've since reworked it so that it looks more finished and the colors flow nicer. It's been a rough week here already, so new stuff will be forthcoming in the weeks that follow. I've mostly been reading, writing and putting my dramas to bed. These two seem a little tooth-goofy for my taste today, but they're not a bad sort. Happy Trails.

Visitor From Down Under

Visitor From Down Under
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I've been busy with my show opening this past weekend-- thanks to those of you who attended. This image is another short ghost story called 'A Visitor from Down Under' by L.P. Hartley. My take on it is more goofy and odd than scary, but I do love the spooky vernacular of a suspenseful tale. I may continue with stories like these, playing around with shadows and compositions or I may move on towards sweet goofiness. We'll see where I am next week.

Wax Poetic Gallery Opening

Wax Poetic Gallery Opening
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This Saturday, June 17 from 8 pm to 11 pm I will be having a gallery opening titled 'Wilson Swain & Friends present Animals in Clothing'. Come one. Come all. Bring your friends and I'll bring mine---well, the ones I could get ahold of, anyway. The location is 3208 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA. Prints are available. Also originals. Visit the gallery at www.waxpoeticgallery.com

The "friends'" websites are clickable under the 'links' column on the far right.

Bat Girl

Bat Girl
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

A portrait for my upcoming show at Wax Poetic Gallery this weekend--Saturday the 17th from 8 to 11 pm. I was playing around with melding the wing into the dress. I'm not sure if she's lonely or waiting for someone. I've never been much for goth or horror so this painting looks pretty quiet to me. I just wanted to paint someone a little contemplative--so I don't have to be. I like the deep yellow sky. I'm not sure if it's night or day. I'd kind of assumed that that was the moon, but maybe the colors imply something else. Something's not quite right here.

The Judge's House

judgeshouse
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I've been reading a lot of ghost stories lately and this title kept getting chosen as one of the best. An academic student holes himself inside an old dilapidated mansion once owned by a malicious judge, who was bent on sending as many men to the gallows as he could. He even kept next to his chair, as a momento, the rope of his victims' noose converted as a bell pull.

During his stay, the student is plagued by rats and rodents deep into the wee hours of the morning. The old portrait of the judge can be seen reflected in the face of the chief rat and eventually the two become one. Rest assured....there are dastard deeds at hand. Two images this week. Check out my 'Animals in Clothing' below.

Wagon Wheels

wagonwheels
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I don't normally post two images a week, but with my show coming up in just two weeks (June 17th--Wax Poetic Gallery, Burbank), I figure a little extra promotion can't hurt. I recently viewed the old classic 'Stagecoach' for the first time--John Wayne's breakthrough performance. I've never been a huge fan of the wild west but these big red chariots have always held a little mystery for me. If I ever get the chance to ride in one drawn by a giant guinea pig--I'm there.

The Shadow of a Shade

visitorfromdownunder
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This short ghost story by Tom Hood tells of a young spinster whose lover dies on an expedition to Antarctica. His murderer returns to propose marriage to the greiving lady. But he is instead greeted by a haunted portrait of his victim and a moth that secretes bloody red drops. And then there's that extra shadow he casts, which bares no resemblance to his own.

I have a number of these black and white images from ghost stories I'll be posting. I love the macabre--especially simple quiet moments when 'something just isn't quite right'. The image doesn't make as much sense until you know the story--the beauty of illustration.

Reflections on a Hippo

hippo
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Early next month I will be having a show at Wax Poetic Gallery in Burbank titled 'Animals in Clothing'. I think this image cuts to the heart of the matter. It's composed so that the viewer is actually looking at their own reflection in a mirror. So I guess I'm telling you how to feel. Or I'm telling you how I feel? Probably not exactly. I recently made a trip to the LA zoo with a friend and we happened to arrive just in time to watch the hippos getting fed. I'm sure that's why I chose the animal. The titles 'hippopotamumu' and 'square of the hippopotomus' were both considered.

Rain Rabbit

Rain Rabbit
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Tut tut. I'm not sure if the rain is clearing up or gearing up. In any case, there are only a few drops at present. I think that the farmer seems to be looking upward, extending a paw as if to say 'take this' ...or maybe it's 'gimme'. I composed it like a stained glass window. Some friends saw a little mouse in the wheelbarrow, which I did not intend at first, but then decided to work him up. The crop, to me, looks rotten and reminded another friend of Courbet's 'The Stone Breakers'. We'll just call it an homage in fluff, fur and funny.

Polarbear Pirates

polorbears
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Sometimes I think I know what I'm painting about before I start. Sometimes I finish and get surprised. Last week's piece held no cynicism for me, so I must have added a double dosage to this image. Looks innocent enough at first glance, but then I noticed that the discs I've built this world out of are a reflection of the gold bits in the treasure chest at the bottom right.

Everyone in this image is motivated by money. Even the sun itself, which I thought to be a compass or a steering wheel as I was painting it, may be a dabloon--pieces of eight. Seven pirates and a wench. The dolphins are free.

Eagle

Eagle
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I don't have much to say about this one. It's a tiny painting, only about 4x6, for an upcoming show at Nucleus Gallery in Alhambra. It's less cynical than much of my work, but still absurd. They are bird people, afterall.

Cappuccino's Daughter

cappaccinosdaughter
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This may be a little small to view as a thumbnail (click to enlarge). Earlier I did a painting from Rappaccini's Daughter--the story about a man who's fallen in love with the poisonous feminine creation of an evil botonist. For silliness' sake, this time I drew the daughter of an evil coffee shop owner whose daughter is caffeinated to the touch. That's a distillery on the table and a mad Daddy Starbucks in the corner.

The house at top the Slippery Slope

House at the Top of the Slippery Slope
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I posted this image as the splash page on my website, but I like to post explanations, so I'll tack it up here too. I originally had little squirrels sitting on the porch, but thought better of it and changed them to cats...well, a cat. The second cat came by request from a friend of mine who thought there was more intrigue with two. I thought about putting silhouettes in the windows, but for me it left too many questions. Somehow, like a puzzle, I prefer having all the elements visible, and then it's just a matter of locking them into place. That said, there probably is someone inside.

Pea & Princess

Princess Pea
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I went to visit an unfamiliar branch of the public library earlier this week and they were having a sale. I bought the craziest little book of popular princess stories for a dime and it started off with Hans Christian Anderson's well known tale of the pea, the test and the mattresses. I had a spare remnant of illustration board left at this size, so I drew an image. I may explore more princesses from the book, but for now I'm still focusing mostly on animals in clothing...as one will.

Rappaccini's Daughter

Rappaccini's Daughter
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

It's a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne. A young man falls in love with the daughter of an evil botonist. It's a form of romantic, victorian horror, but read today I think it has the slight edge of humor. The woman is poisonous and is kept from the world. The man is lured in and turned poisonous too. It all ends badly. I added an extra scientist and a glass house.

Heave! ho.

Dangle Sheep
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm designing postcards for a mailing and I needed an image for the backside of the earlier 'Sheep in the Jungle'. I'd wondered how the Mrs. was going to climb that mountain to her husband. Her casual attitude in the first image made me think she'd be difficult to faze. I gave her a sandwich 'cause I figured--being hoisted is as good a time as any to eat.

Space Monkeys

Space Monkey
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This is vaguely Flash Gordon meets Planet of the Apes. The little martians started out as simple green bugs, but I decided they worked better as the more complex green *monkey* bugs. This piece was produced to go on auction. I often get attached to my work and have a difficult time letting go. The monkey at the far left is either booster rocketing to save the tiny little monkey in the upper right or saying goodbye after the cord snapped.
I may yet explore more with the phases of the moon. Somebody's moon. And the colors of the space scene were inspired by Fozzie's newly painted Studebaker in the Muppet Movie. Yeesh.

Old Pease Porridge.

lions
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Nine days old Pease Porridge, in fact. I don't think I'm getting the rhyme quite right. They're lions in the kitchen.

My dad used to make us toast and rolled oats growing up ('porridge' in laymen's terms). I think I used to believe that was about all he knew how to make. But these days, since retiring, he shares cooking duties with my mom and likes to get experimental. I, on the other hand, am a master at putting things in the toaster. Toaster pastries = dinner in my world. Feel free to join me but bring a bag lunch.

Unicorn

unicorn
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I'm not a huge fan of the unicorn, but I'm in a themed show at Nucleus Gallery this month. I started out with an impulse to paint a 'Mom, can we keep him' moment, but somehow the story changed to a variation on 'What the Butler Saw'. I think of all of those movies where the mythical beast comes and rescues the beautiful children from the clutches of evil. I also think about all the little girls that idolize horses and what it is they could possibly want to escape from. I guess I'm imagining the world where the beast could save the child, but maybe won't.

I Hate Other People's Kids

I Hate Other People's Kids
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

This new book by Adrianne Frost featuring my illustrations was released today. It's available nationwide at your finer booksellers, published by Simon and Schuster, filed under humor. Pick up a copy and tell your friends! Then have them tell their friends. And be sure to shift unsold books to most prominent position at Barnes and Noble.

Spidermonkey

Spidermonkey
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Starlight, Starbright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight

I'm not sure what a real spidermonkey looks like, but the branches are meant to be weblike. He's a little sad but I suppose you don't wish for things when you're contented

Sheep

sheepjunglefull
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Picture a manly sheep starting off on a new life of adventure in the jungle. He settles a spot in the wilderness and sends word back home for his wife to join him. This image shows her journey. Think 'Out of Africa' meets 'Uncle Wiggley' on the banks of the nile.

The husband is up in the upper rightmost corner mowing the lawn. Native sherpa-like frog guides are the most logical beasts of burden in a world of anthropormized animals. Anything else smacked of slavery. I argued that sherpas get well paid.

The Owl & The Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

Animal House

Animal House
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

There used to be this great little stop motion piece of animation on Pinwheel, a Nickelodeon show back in the 80s. A strange little boy and girl with big hats would scoot around as blocks built themselves into buildings, amorphous shapes, tunnels, bridges and all sorts of things--all the while singing this weird little pixieish froo froo music. I loved the simple structure of the blocks contrasted with the more complicated forms of the characters. That's what I was going for here, tho I think my structure is a little complicated. I like the monkey at the very top best.

frogs

frogs
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

Love is a strange emotion. People, or frogs as the case may be, are both drawn towards one another and repelled. Where does the interest get sparked? This could be a childhood crush yet to bloom fully. Or perhaps she's stalking an ex. Regardless, she's not happy here, but he seems pretty content with that fish.

Bunny Final

bunnyfinal
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I posted sketches a little earlier, but the characters changed some. The husband got fatter and softer, and now he's wearing shark pajamas. The wife is far less angry. I'm not sure who's out in the shadows, but it can't be good.

I'm strongly influenced by stage design and I like the idea of compressed space as well as flattened perspective. I keep exploring these areas.

Bunny sketch

bunnysketch
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.

I always talk about being a fan of animals in clothing, but I almost never draw any. A friend was talking about desperately wanting a rabbit for a pet, and I think later this week we're going to a rabbit rescue shelter to visit the bunnies.

These were the preliminary sketches for a piece I'm almost through with. I like the idea of cute and cuddly animals with a 'don't touch me' look in their eyes. Rigid bunnies--it doesn't take much to make me laugh. The lady and the lion were just for fun--this is really just a page of loose sketching.