Mic check one two

Here are a few logo concepts for Humber College's new recording studio. The client wanted to basically keep the college logo, but still say "recording industry". The consensus seems to be that the middle one is the way to go.

Last week's new arrival, this week's work in progress

ANOTHER UPDATE: Ok, so maybe a *little* more work couldn't hurt. Here's where I'm at as of this morning!


UPDATE: The work continues, I think maybe another day of work should finish it off nicely. Oh, and don't tell Judy! James wants her to be surprised.


I guess it's been a full week since I posted! Don't worry, I've been toiling away on new work, but these ones will take a bit longer to finish. In the meantime, here's a painting I'm working on of my brand spanking new niece, Lillian. If your reading this, James, make room on your wall! Hopefully it'll be done and dry by this weekend.

I switched to oils this week, and I'm pretty happy with the way it's turning out so far. Looks like the next few pieces I do will be a mix of acrylics and oils. Stay tuned!

(sorry about the crappy cellphone pic, I promise I'll get a respectable scan of it once it's done!)

One for the ladies

Here's a painting I did this week as a gift for my friends Victoria and Laura. Kind of a warm-up before I move on to some bigger, more involved paintings. Acrylics on board, 12x24.

It's a poor substitute for a Luck Dragon

I was totally going for a "Neverending Story" meets "Shadow of the Colossus" thing here, but now that I look at it, I realize that I'm really just channeling Rey Ortega. I guess after sitting next to a guy for a year, he's bound to rub off on ya! Go check his stuff out, he's a beast!

Acorn Attack!

Another couple paintings from the ol' sketchbook. First, a horse! Girls like horses, right?
Next: They shouldn't have placed the nuclear power plant so close to those oak trees...
(the colours kind of got mutilated in the scanner)
General Takahashi gasped in horror as the missiles had no effect... fists clenched, he stepped forward to the radio. "God forgive me", he thought to himself, as he solemnly whispered the words he had hoped never to speak again:

"Summon Squirrelzilla"...

Acrylics: The Return

Back to using acrylic, and not a moment too soon! Today: Gay C3PO, and a Tasmanian devil. I suspect that if they were drawn this way in the cartoons, Bugs Bunny would have been a lot more intimidated.
I swear, one of these days I'll start drawing backgrounds...

Chet Baker squared

Scientists in Montreux, Switzerland have proven, through the use of modern computing techniques and advanced particle simulations, that it is a statistical impossibility to be as awesome as Chet Baker.

Added bonus: Some guys I saw at the Rex last night. Sly Juhas on drums, John Meyer (?) on bass. Still plugging away at using gouache, with mixed results.

Book Cover

Did I really never post this?


It's the cover art for a forthcoming saxophone method book. The client (local saxophone legend Charlie Finlay) wanted it very clean and diagram-ish, and intimidating! Accuracy, thankfully, was not a prerequisite.

Sketchbook Saturday

Here's some stuff I did today. It's always fun to switch up styles a bit...

First up, my brother Christian, auditioning for a role in Sin City 2. I'm trying out some gouache today, it's never been my forté. But practice makes perfect!

He's sick this week, so think convalescent thoughts...

Next, a detail of Michelangelo's Pieta. I'm not really happy with it, maybe I'll work on it some more.

Here's my cousin Julia, looking glamorous as always. Pretty girls = hard to draw. I don't know how Tessar does it.

....Aaand I got nothin'. Rusty robots are fun?

And this!

A Bold New Post!

Hi everyone!
I was getting bored of seeing the same thing every time I opened a browser window, and so I have been shamed into making a new post. Since I haven't been painting a lot lately (mostly busy applying for jobs, etc), we'll have to make do with some pages I did in my sketchbook yesterday. Pretty random, I cannot deny.



None of these are actually *of* anything, except for page 2, which is of a bass player Katie and I saw at Notre Dame de Paris way back when.

In reality, however, he did not have Spider-Man hands.

W. Garfield Weston

This kindly-looking fellow is W. Garfield Weston, Canadian businessman and philanthropist, and founder of the (aptly named) W. Garfield Weston Foundation. Through a scholarship, the foundation did a lot to help pay my way through college, so this painting is a thank-you to the Weston Family for their generous support. Hooray burnt umber! In related news, my scanner seems to be on its last legs.

More information on Weston and the foundation can be found here.