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.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Spidermonkey
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
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
Friday, February 24, 2006
Sheep
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 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.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
The Owl & The Pussycat
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to seaIn 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!'
Friday, January 27, 2006
Animal House
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.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
frogs
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.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Bunny Final
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.
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.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Bunny sketch
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Merry Christmas
Dears friends and family,
It's a little strange to get a Christmas card in the post with a url link, but if you followed it, let me just say that, to me, it makes far more sense to send you someplace that gets updated regularly throughout the year. So bookmark this page, and check back in a month or two and then send me an email. The address is on my website--linked to the right.
It's been an eventful year. The highlights have had me completing two books--an early reader in comic book style for Innovative Kids, and interior illustrations for 'Why I Hate Other People's Kids' due out by Simon and Schuester. I can't post images from either till they're published, but stay tuned.
I'm starting to show up in galleries. You'll notice a few paintings on the site painted for specific shows. Last October I visited the University of Indianapolis for a week as a guest artist which coincided with a gallery showing. Soon I'll have three prints of my work hung permanently in the U of Indy Admissions office.
About the painting. I remember riding in the back of our station wagon on the road to see family on Christmas when I was about 7. I was thinking, 'with enough time and drive, a person could probably do just about anything'. And by that, my idea of 'anything' was to draw or paint something really well. An image of a flimsy little nativity puzzle I still own came to mind as my ideal 'good'.
Now that I do draw and paint well, I felt as tho a good image was due. It may not be my best or last nativity, but it is my first, which is always a nice place to start.
No matter your beliefs this season, or any, thanks for being a friend. And I hope to see you in the new year.
David W Swain
It's a little strange to get a Christmas card in the post with a url link, but if you followed it, let me just say that, to me, it makes far more sense to send you someplace that gets updated regularly throughout the year. So bookmark this page, and check back in a month or two and then send me an email. The address is on my website--linked to the right.
It's been an eventful year. The highlights have had me completing two books--an early reader in comic book style for Innovative Kids, and interior illustrations for 'Why I Hate Other People's Kids' due out by Simon and Schuester. I can't post images from either till they're published, but stay tuned.
I'm starting to show up in galleries. You'll notice a few paintings on the site painted for specific shows. Last October I visited the University of Indianapolis for a week as a guest artist which coincided with a gallery showing. Soon I'll have three prints of my work hung permanently in the U of Indy Admissions office.
About the painting. I remember riding in the back of our station wagon on the road to see family on Christmas when I was about 7. I was thinking, 'with enough time and drive, a person could probably do just about anything'. And by that, my idea of 'anything' was to draw or paint something really well. An image of a flimsy little nativity puzzle I still own came to mind as my ideal 'good'.
Now that I do draw and paint well, I felt as tho a good image was due. It may not be my best or last nativity, but it is my first, which is always a nice place to start.
No matter your beliefs this season, or any, thanks for being a friend. And I hope to see you in the new year.
David W Swain
Friday, December 02, 2005
Pink Elephant
I'm in a group show later this month up in Oregon.
I wanted to do something in the same vein as my Four and Twenty piece, and I like the imagery in Opera, even though I've never developed a taste for the music. I look at it and think of the few bars I know of a score 'Hannibal Comes'. I believe that the prince is returning to the woman in blue, but will end up with the lady in the green window. I'm not sure who is commenting from above.
Check out www.Lunarboygallery.com
I wanted to do something in the same vein as my Four and Twenty piece, and I like the imagery in Opera, even though I've never developed a taste for the music. I look at it and think of the few bars I know of a score 'Hannibal Comes'. I believe that the prince is returning to the woman in blue, but will end up with the lady in the green window. I'm not sure who is commenting from above.
Check out www.Lunarboygallery.com
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Murder
I've had this around for a while. Actually, I painted on top of it, but I never cared too much for the full color. I was watching Gosford Park when I drew it. The women look a little like drag queens to me.
Poor butterfly.
Poor butterfly.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Dinner & Dancing
This probably looks really small on your screen. It's 20 inches long in life. There's a monster show at Nucleus this month and this is my entry. I drive around parts of LA and the stacks of houses on hills thrill me. I'll probably play some more with hills of houses
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