I never posted my final Illustration class assignment from last semester because I left the original at school over winter break and didn’t get it scanned until yesterday. Our assignment was to illustrate a “tradition.” The tradition I chose was that of the language of Russian prison tattoos, specifically of the Soviet era. I had some other tattoo-related things in mind at first, but Russian prison tattoos have such a compelling history that, in the end, I couldn’t bring myself to do anything but this specific tradition. Gouache, ink and charcoal.

Sorry for the bad pic, it’s not actually so shiny.

For the last assignment in my Intermediate Illustration class, we were set with the task of creating an illustration that may, in the end, be published with an essay entitled The Green Zone by Barry Sanders. The essay deals with the environmental havoc wreaked by the current war in Iraq. Professor Sanders came into our class to speak and answer questions, and then all of us were given preliminary copies of his essay. My illustration is in reference to a section of his essay dealing with the issue of increased land erosion in areas of heavy tank traffic.

This is a little something different than what I usually do obviously, and was certainly a challenge, but I am proud of the end result. It’s actually put together in three layers: The bottom is corrugated cardboard, slathered with black ink, charcoal, and Root Beer Concentrate (really!), and then set afire in various stages. The middle layer is watercolor paper (ripped and burned), with ink, watercolor, gouache, charcoal, and the ash from burning the cardboard, and finally the tank is the top layer of ink, watercolor and charcoal on heavy chipboard, which I ripped to shape and then burned around the edges.

Also, big thanks go to Art Sherwyn for inspiring me to use a little (ok, a lot) of fire on this piece.

Here’s the final for my current Intermediate Illustration class project on slang. Gouache, charcoal, and collage on panel.

This is the final of the first assignment for my Intermediate Illustration class. It’s Woody Guthrie finding his inspiration for “This Land Is Your Land.” Ink linework, watercolor, and some digital manipulation.

Only four more pages until the thrilling conclusion of “Business Casual,” but until then, I’ve got a bunch of other crazy crap to show you today.

I started a new school semester a few weeks ago, so the first few starter projects are filtering back to me now. On the first day of my Intermediate Illustration class, we were given an hour to whip up some sort of self portrait. This is the first self portrait I’ve done since my new look has taken shape. As you can see, after nearly two years of growing, I chopped off my beautiful mane of hair. It was getting too hot and heavy and felt like it was dragging me down a bit, so off it went!

In my Painting for Illustrators (watercolor/gouache) class, the assignment was to illustrate a random haiku we were given. Mine turned into a butterfly eating a sandwich; probably the greatest thing I have ever created in watercolor (so far).

Last night, while procrastinating about finishing up some homework, I drew this robot on the peel off paper from another robot sticker.

Lastly, because it’s just too awesome, I decided to liven up a normally dreary Monday by creating the elusive “Double Handlebar”! No, thank YOU, mustache wax!

Here’s the final Rembrandt plush doll that I posted the WIP from on Friday. He didn’t end up quite as chubby as I would have liked, but I’m really happy with the result and of course now I want to make more plush things, so many more! Plus look at his sweet pants! One thing I’m quite happy with is that besides the flesh colored felt and thermal fleece hair, every other bit of this doll was made from fabric and things I already had. Hooray for not having to buy new supplies!

One of the paintings from my “Spoke Up!” show in January just got featured on a cool blog called Mixed Plate. It’s included with a lot of other bike related arts and crafts. Go check it out now!

The Robopocalypse Comics Collective had a meeting on Friday and we did another jam comic. Read it here!

New Baby Otto things should start posting tomorrow or Wednesday.

For the final project in my Art History class, the assignment is to take pretty much any work of art throughout history, of our choosing, and “re-envision” it as we see fit. I chose to work from a self-portrait of Rembrandt van Rijn, and obviously, plush is my medium. He still needs clothes (which will bulk him up a bit more) and some painting accessories to finish him off, but I think he’s coming along nicely so I thought I’d share a progress shot. I have decided to hand sew him despite the fact, as can be seen behind him, my sewing machine is readily available. I’m not sure why I made that choice, but I’ve stuck it out so far. Never again though, machines from now on, I say! He’s about 10-11 inches tall.

I need to make a few robots while I’m still in the plush zone.

I just finished this piece for my Beginning Illustration class. Our assignment was to illustrate a musical artist or group of our choice, and I went with a young Hasil Adkins. I wanted something somewhat recognizable within my illustration style, but experiment with materials and push myself a bit. It’s oil pastel, vine charcoal, acrylic paint, ink, and graphite on found wooden slats and a 45 RPM vinyl record, and some staples thrown in for good measure. It looks a lot better in person, the flash really brought out the edges of the record. They’re a lot less obvious in real life. Roughly 15″ by 21″.