Where have I been?

Aside from some other projects I'm not posting yet, I challenged myself to exploring photoshop painting.  For 90 days in a row, I illustrated a song from a showtune, giving myself two hours tops. I didn't include the time for an underdrawing, which added another hour and a half.  Here are a couple of examples.  Bare in mind (please!) that these are totally learning experiences and exploration.  Fun, tho.
 http://twohourstops.blogspot.com/

A sneak peek

This is one of the projects I've been working on lately.  Not finished yet, but I wanted to post.

Out of season is a delicacy, right?

Christmas has come and gone, but it's the memories we still carry with us.  This past Dec, I created a new set of spot illustrations for Vroman's in Pasadena.  Every year they publish a number of YA short stories in a limited run collection and this year they asked me to draw a few images.  In tandem, some original illustrations from The Nutty Nutcracker were also on display in the store.  In fact, if you're in the area, I believe you may still be able to catch a glimpse.

Many Moons

This is an image I created based on James Thurber's 'Many Moons' for the Picture Book Report. As an exploration in composition, and with so much of the industry taking a closer look at the ipad as storyteller, I wanted an illustration that helps illuminate the story by utilizing the need to scroll down, revealing more information. The Haunted Mansion's stretching room might be considered an influence here.

Houses for Ghana

This piece is upcoming to be sold to benefit Art Blocks for Ghana:

http://artblocksghana.blogspot.com/2010/11/wilson-swain.html

The show is themed around the idea of 'Home'. Having finished the piece, I realized the painting mirrors my own living situation: 4 sections in a single building, but individual space.

Whomped

Stay tuned for more on this piece for Gallery Nucleus' Harry Potter tribute.

Veruca Salt

Years ago I started this series with the intention of completing all five Wonka Golden Ticket Winners, along with Willie, himself. I finally finished Veruca, the spoiled darling who got thrown down a garbage pit by nut-cracking squirrels.

Below is a recap from the rest of the series.

Knig Knag

The Two Roots.
Christian Morgenstern
(In English):


Two large fir tree roots and old
talking in the forest.
What up there in the tops noisy,
that is exchanged here.

An old squirrel sits in
and well-knit stockings for the two.

One says: knig. The other says: knag.
That is enough for one day.







Die zwei Wurzeln
(in German)

Zwei Tannenwurzeln groß und alt
unterhalten sich im Wald.
Was droben in den Wipfeln rauscht,
das wird hier unten ausgetauscht.
Ein altes Eichhorn sitzt dabei
und strickt wohl Strümpfe für die zwei.
Die eine sagt: knig. Die andre sagt: knag.
Das ist genug für einen Tag.

Unattended Baggage

Police Report: Most of our passengers were distracted by the giant robot ravaging the city when I noticed the small piece of luggage left unattended and brimming with bottled water, nail clippers and sewing scissors. I radio'ed the tower immediately.

This is my piece for an art auction benefitting 826LA and promoting Dan Santat and Mac Barnett's new book, 'Oh No'. The gallery show will feature work by illustrators posting our eye witness accounts of the science experiment gone wrong. Different perspectives almost always bring a fuller understanding of an event, so I preferred to show an authority administrator losing all perspective. Hands above your head, fingers in a diamond shape.

Shake Your Fist at the Sky

This two-sided piece will be going up for bid on the ripples project August 10th.
Mark your calendars. It benefits animals hurt by the oil spill in the gulf.

The Spider Women

Sometimes an image gets stuck in my head, and the only way to get it out is to paint it. Years ago, very sick, I had a fever dream where the spider woman came to stop time. She brought death with her. In this version, I've added some sisters, akin to the Fates--a creator and a web spinner. I'm not sure if they still bring death, or even destruction. After all, spiders keep other poisonous insects in check.

Character Design