Art Boom Boom

[artboomboom]

Retro Monday, Memorial Day Edition: This drawing from one of my old sketchbooks fits this day. The very tiny white dog in the lower right was suggested by my then girlfriend.  Many years after creating this idea for Memorial Day, it was seen by the terrific AD of Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. She saw her character in my art, for an exhibit about explaining the concept of time to children. She hired me to do several other murals for the museum as well as a very young version of this character. It was so much fun to work on and the exhibit also hired several other amazing illustrators to do murals. Great fun.  Happy Memorial Day to everyone. Stay safe in your travels.

[artboomboom]

Retro Monday, Memorial Day Edition: This drawing from one of my old sketchbooks fits this day. The very tiny white dog in the lower right was suggested by my then girlfriend.

Many years after creating this idea for Memorial Day, it was seen by the terrific AD of Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. She saw her character in my art, for an exhibit about explaining the concept of time to children. She hired me to do several other murals for the museum as well as a very young version of this character. It was so much fun to work on and the exhibit also hired several other amazing illustrators to do murals. Great fun.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone. Stay safe in your travels.

[artboomboom]

Retro Friday! This drawing from one of my old sketchbooks has a corporate Svengali showing us all how to enjoy a springtime holiday. Do want YOU want to do and not what they tell you to do. It's your time and money. Act accordingly and be safe, whatever you do this holiday weekend.

[artboomboom]

NEW Abidextrous drawing from this week. Due to my internet being down several times and then impossibly trying to get my illogical Canon printer/scanner to work with the new password, which it wasn't, I got a bit cranky this week. Hence this drawing. But I was able to use both hands on this one easily.

And was finally able to scan it so I could post it here.

[artboomboom]

Just in time for your Summer reading list... My photo book "Botanica"

A vivid celebration of nature’s quiet brilliance, Botanica invites readers into a world of color, texture, and fleeting beauty—captured through the lens of a high-resolution cell phone camera, chosen for its immediacy and spontaneity over traditional gear.

Photographed across the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and the sun-drenched terrain of the American Southwest, this full-color photo book showcases an intimate collection of flowers encountered on the road, in gardens, and along trails. Each image reveals the intricate personality of its subject—from fiery petals and dew-kissed leaves to the quiet geometry of desert blooms.

More than a botanical catalog, Botanica is a visual journal of discovery and presence. It reflects Mike Cressy’s eye for narrative detail and his commitment to capturing authenticity in the moment. Whether you're drawn to the artistry of nature or the craft of human-made creativity, this book offers a fresh, emotionally resonant perspective on the floral wonders that surround us.

[artboomboom]

Saturday Morning Doodle: Ambidextrous Edition. This drawing was done with equal parts, left and right hands.

Getting to use my right hand more and more every week but still painful and limited.

For all of you who live with Geese in your hood or see them often, know that they are not only beautiful but are very powerful creatures that will not tolerate humans very well and are prolific shit machines. One has to be ware of every part of the park, grass, lawn, sidewalk so that you don't get their little gifts on your shoes and bring that into your car... house...etc.

Washing my shoes happens every day.

[artboomboom]

Abstract Wednesday. "Double Impact" was created when I was in the middle of a work transition. I had just left a stressful work situation in 2013 and was starting to really concentrate on my graphic novel about my late girlfriend. Also I was contacted by a wonderful AD from the Washington History Museum in Tacoma to work on an exhibit where I had to come up with paintings. Then there was all the abstracts I had been working on.

Even though I was really busy, I had time to work on some drawings in my sketchbook every week.

This abstract depicts how that time felt.

[artboomboom]

Just say NO!

[artboomboom]

About a week ago I did a "left handed" portrait of my friend Bill Robles, who had his 92nd birthday last Friday. I packed it up and sent it to him and I was surprised that it arrived at this door last Friday, on his birthday.

Great timing with the post office.

Cheers Bill. Hope you are still celebrating.

Some context:

The reference I had for this was a photo in my camera from back in the day. Bill had invited me and my then girlfriend Valerie to a Press Club event in Beverly Hills. All three of us posed for the photo. At the time Bill was going through a divorce and we would hang out with him so that he didn't feel alone. Then he found his late partner Sandy.

[artboomboom]

Retro Monday. From one of my old sketchbooks. There was a game project that I was working on when I did this sketch, that for a moment, my bosses thought it would be a good idea to try putting a pirate character in the game. It was not approved by the manager level above my boss.  So I drew this in my sketchbook as a possibility. Dark Red Polychromos Pencil #225.

[artboomboom]

For today I have another Left Hand drawing because of right should rotator cuff surgery. This is part of that last batch with just my left hand. I've got a few more that I did that I will be posting later this week. By then I'll have started the ambidextrous drawings. I will post those after finishing up with posting the last batch of left handed drawings.

This one is of a young cat woman's face.

[artboomboom]

This last Thursday was 13 weeks, aka, 3 months since the rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder. A milestone in the recovery but it is still a long road of painful movements and pushing that right arm.

During those 3 months I taught my left hand to draw. Posting here a cross section of all the drawings I did during that time.

Going forward, I will still be drawing with my left hand but occasionally will get an assist from my right hand to get it used to drawing again.

[artboomboom]

Still working on some left handed drawings, like this one of Betty.

My surgeon said that this coming week I can start using my right hand again for creating art. It will be a slow start but it will be good to have a healthy rotator cuff again.

[artboomboom]

This one of the show posters featuring my Abstract Art for the exhibit. 125 artists and their work on display via the QR code. From now till June 16th.

Come take a look.

[artboomboom]

Today marks 10 weeks since my right shoulder (dominant) surgery. So I thought I'd try a landscape drawing with my left hand.

[artboomboom]

Time to buy for your spring and summer reading lists!

[artboomboom]

THE INK IS BACK IN TOWN!

My NEW book is now available for purchase! "INK TOWN TOO!"

Welcome to the Town! The second volume in the series. Way more art than Volume One. Get your copy today!