Goat Problems

I taught myself how to type with hooves.

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Gannet watercolor/colored pencil/gouache, using the photos taken at Muriwai for reference, along with a few quick studies.

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I made it out to the Muriwai gannet colony on New Zealand’s north island and just wanted to share some photos I took there. I got lucky in that there were a ton of juveniles there. Plus, these are references I used for my upcoming watercolor post.

They’re a funny mix of arrow-like sharp grace and utter awkwardness. I just had to include the last photo because it makes me laugh- one second earlier that bird had looked so damn dignified. NOT ANYMORE.

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Commission from earlier this year. Watercolor, colored pencil, and some gouache. Javelina, usually you’ll smell ‘em before you see ‘em.

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Live model study, followed by playing with proportions and color.

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Been doing more and more live model sessions with gouache instead of charcoal.

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Had another pet portrait commission, this time a trio of shelties with a lot of personality. The digital comps I sent to the client are up top, and a closeup from the gouache painting itself below.

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Rocking Paper Toy - Paper automata - “Maelstrom” I designed this paper toy a little while back and found it again when I was moving. When you turn the crank clockwise or counter clockwise the water wheels turn and the boat rocks wildly back and forth as though caught in a storm. Maybe I should release the model?

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The Zorn palette is an extremely limited palette using only four colors: cadmium red, yellow ochre, ivory black and white. The range of colors you can get out of only four tubes of paint is pretty incredible. I tried it for the first time recently, these are a couple three hour live model sketches from last month. James Gurney has a great article on the artist the palette was named after, along with the history and controversy around it: http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2011/07/zorn-palette.html

I really enjoyed using it for flesh tones, I’d love to try a landscape and see the results, it would be so easy to travel with only four paints. Maybe when I go back to visit friends and family in Arizona, I bet I could get some moody paintings out of a desert landscape. The only problem is I’m sure the colors work better with overcast skies, but the result might be interesting (or I could cheat and sneak a blue in there)

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Couple's portrait commissions- I recently updated this post as I used to offer them for purchase but have since then shut the Etsy site down. People can still contact me directly for a commission if they are interested! They don't need to be getting married to buy a couple's portrait, of course, that just seems to be the most popular reason for them.

One couple used the illustrations for their invitations and the other as charming postcard style portraits edged in silver.

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Zelda! Queen of my heart! My friend's dog, not mine, unfortunately for me. I'm not sure gouache captures her majesty properly, probably should've done it in oil.

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I've been working on a project that is still under wraps for now, but in the meantime I'm picking up some commissions for pet portraits and weddings. Aww, little rat face!

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Happy Holidays!

I miss the snow.

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Such a romantic at heart.

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A couple sketches of the moon dog from a while back when I was doing designs for Tolkien's Roverandom.

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The antagonist from Sheep's Clothing

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Vinnie and Stan. Vinnie is a wolf adopted by a family of sheep, he's enthusiastic and has big dreams for his future. Stan is his often put-upon older brother.

They're from a story called Sheep's Clothing that Arielle Yett, Summer Kim and I developed together. We did the pitch and beat boards, now I'm working on exploring one potential look for it.