August 2009 Archives

When I draw in pencil I usually just use whatever is lying around. For these sketches I used the following pencils: Reeves 5B and HB; Staedtler Mars Lumograph 3H and B. I sharpen my pencils often when I draw. I use a kneaded eraser to lighten and erase pencil marks. I also use a piece of scrap paper to rest my drawing hand on. This is so I don't accidently smudge the existing part of my illstration. I also like to listen to music when I draw, it gets me in the zone...

Lightly drawn monster sketch.

More details have been added.

Backside of monster.

My friend/co-worker Ellen was in charge of getting a wishing well for her friend Melissa's bridal shower.

I suggested that she should make one and I would help.

So here is how we did it.

What you need:
Basket
Assortment of decorative ribbons (we chose mostly white)
2 dowel rods
1 poster sized piece of foam board
Glue
Small bucket (or something that can represent a bucket)
White acrylic paint

Optional:
Needle and thread
Cat (see picture)

I should tell you that we bought all of our items late at night, so we were limited too the craft aisle at Wal-Mart.

Step 1:
Paint dowel rods and let dry.

Step 2:
Attach dowel rods to side of basket. Tie in place using ribbons. Each rod had three ribbons to hold them in place.

Step 3:
Next using ribbon, run a line of ribbon from the the top of each dowel rod and tie. (It should resemble a clothesline.)

Step 4:
Measure the center of foam board and score down the middle short wise. (This is the roof.)

Step 5:
Paint bucket white, and tie string to bucket and middle of clothesline. Make sure string is long enough so you can see bucket after the roof is placed on.

Step 6:
Place roof on top of clothesline.

Step 7:
Add decorative bows with ribbon.

Optional step:
We bought ribbon that had a wire in it so you could wrap it into a tight spiral. I then sewed the spiral ribbon to each of the top bows and let hang. The spirals then are gently pulled to make a nice ringlet. (This is done at the bridal shower)

I love designing pages for movies, especially kids movies. I go to Apple's movie trailer Web site all the time to see what movies are being released.

As soon as I saw the trailer for "Where the Wild Things Are," I was instantly interested in creating a movie page.

I started sketching out my idea in pencil.

The lines that you see around the illustration are fold lines. See, my idea is to make a 3D desk accessory.

Here, I have added some color in Adobe Photoshop.

Lastly, this is what the 3D monster will look like.

HAHA! My screen saver happened to be a forest when I took this last picture.

I haven't been following the Michael Vick saga too much. I knew about the dog fighting and how he spent some time in jail. What got me more interested was the recent sign-on deal he has now with the Philadelphia Eagles.

I keep hearing in his defense that he made a mistake and deserves a second chance. Hmm, first of all, it wasn't just one mistake, it was a repeated mistake, costing many dogs their lives. He also profited off their violent deaths.

Is this the type of sports hero we're suppose to just stand up for and cheer?

He is a sports figure, and he has an obligation to his team and fans (whether he wants to admit to that or not). He disregarded both when he involved himself in this barbaric, childish, form of entertainment.

It makes me sick that the Eagles would even consider letting him play.

In the end, I'm sure the controversy will die down and it will be a thing of the past. I hope not, I hope sports fans, dog lovers and society in general will not let Mr. Vick forget.

My editorial sketch of Mr. Vick that will be publish in tomorrow's York Daily Record.