The Andrews Brothers and Grandpa...

The drawing board has been a flurry of ink because of the piece there on the right. My friend Roger Bean commissioned it as an opening night gift for the team involved with bringing The Andrews Brothers to the stage at Musical Theatre West in Long Beach. I've just returned from the opening festivities and I've got to say that everyone has to see this show. The cast consists of just four fantastic folk – Darcie Roberts, Larry Raben, David Engel, and Stan Chandler – and was helmed by the amazing Nick DeGruccio, Roger Castellano, and John Glaudini who leads a crack band.

Roger (the Bean type) authored the show and after seeing it I had to thank him so much. So wonderful! The basic story follows a team of USO entertainers – a pinup girl and three 4F stage techs – who are preparing to put on a show headlined by the renowned Andrews Sisters. Said group is sidelined, and the reluctant boys don the dresses and attempt to go on with the show. The antics are hilarious and the music is wonderfully nostalgic and incredibly performed.

Have you ever found a rush of emotions in an unexpected place? I have to say that the show made me think very fondly of my Grandpa and miss him very much. He was a sailor in WWII and Korea, and any time I hear the fantastic tunes of the 1940s I think of him and Grandma. Beyond the nostalgia I felt from the great music, I also had to smile at the memory of Grandpa and his buddies crashing the ladies auxiliary meetings of the American Legion – providing entertainment by showing up in dresses and wigs and putting on a comedy skit for their wives. As a kid I remember being disappointed at putting a coin in a toy vending machine and randomly getting a pair of earrings (at the Tom Tom Restaurant in Albany, OR), but I decided to see the silver lining and donate them to Grandpa's costume stock. I miss Grandpa's smile and his laugh and how I always knew just how much he loved me and the rest of his grandkids. His beautiful energy lives on in Grandma and I can only hope some of it has passed on to me.

Anyway... That's all for now. Hug a loved one, y'all. And may your days be full of love. Peace, friends!

Idol, Ferguson, and Fraggle Rock...

Hello, all! I'm sitting here with my coffee, getting set to draw my stubby fingers to the bone, and I'm ruminating on my recent TV viewing. It's a motley group of thoughts, but here goes...

I'm happy that Kristy Lee Cook has been eliminated (although she's from my home state) from the big Idol show. I've jumped on the David Cook bandwagon.

My roommate and I attended a taping of the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Tuesday. I really enjoy Craig and I was also happy to see Julie Andrews on the show (along with David Krumholz and Carrot Top – random group). And it's funny... when you see a taping, the show suddenly becomes a big event. But then you realize that they just reset and tape another show the next day and on and on. But I had a great time watching Craig's shenanigans in person.

Fraggle Rock sort of passed me by as I was growing up. I'm not sure why. But I've recently discovered the music and clips from the show on YouTube, and I really enjoy the vibe. And I've got to say that I feel nostalgic hearing those Muppet voices. Henson, Oz, Nelson, Goelz, Hunt and the gang were part of the tapestry of my growing up years. Even though the Fraggles aren't new, they're sort of new to me and I'm liking it.

Anyway... those are my musings for today. Now I've got to get to drawing. Take care all. Peace & love!

Celebrating friends.

I just realized I've neglected the blog for over a week. Where have I been? I'll tell you. I've been working on a few illustration jobs, and I put in some work toward the new website redesign. The current design is a year and a half old and I've been getting restless. Besides wanting to update the aesthetic of the thing, I also need to streamline the site – define the purpose and focus the content. So that's most of what I've been up to.

I've also been fortunate to spend a couple evenings celebrating milestones of a few friends. Saturday found me in Eagle Rock joining in some birthday and housewarming festivities. My friend Erin learned a new skill for her milestone birthday – spinning fire. Wild and inspirational! And then last night was a big surprise birthday party for good friend Nils and the arrival of his 70th year. The room was packed with his family, blood and otherwise, having a great time. He thought he was showing up to play a jazz gig, and even though we switched it up on him, his jazz buddies were there and the evening was full of music and laughs. I can only aspire to be as cool as Nilsie when I'm his age – and to have touched so many folks. Happy birthday Nils!

Well, that's it for now. Back to the drawing board. Next up: a e-book cover illustration that is in the final stages. Take care, all! Peace and love.

My night as a street artist.

I was so thrilled to be a part of the entertainment this evening at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's Odyssey Ball. The evening followed a New York theme so the main room was Central Park where Roslyn Kind was to put on a concert. I was in the silent auction room & cocktail lounge which was Broadway. A talented cast of four sang showtunes and I created chalk art in the vein of street art. The event planner had requested that I create an impression of the Strawberry Fields mosaic in Central Park and I did so (as you can see above in progress). The piece ended up going for $350 in the silent auction which was really nice.

I've got to admit that while my contribution to the evening ended up going very well, I was worried beforehand. I'd only recently gotten back into chalk work and never in a situation like this. So I was happy (and a bit taken aback) that folks were very complementary and interested in my technique. I even passed out a few cards because of interest in commissioned pieces and mural painting.

And probably the most touching part of the evening was the one fellow who chatted with me for a while and got choked up when he told me about his daughter who is fighting breast cancer. He wanted to share with her John Lennon's message in my Strawberry Fields mosaic art. Imagine. The foundation's motto is "Imagine a Cure". I didn't tell the gentleman about those close to me who are in their own battles – a close relative and a close friend and colleague. Imagine. So many people are fighting, and it was really wonderful to be a part of something that is working to imagine a better world. Take care, all. Hug a loved one. Peace.

Still kicking...

Howdy. I've been juggling five illustration jobs, so things have been busy. It's funny how the work comes in waves. There on the right is a logo I created for a family show written by Scott Martin. It takes place at a camp in 1938 where folks get freaked out over Orson Welles' War of the Worlds broadcast.

In addition to the Little Green Men, I've also been fielding adjustments to the Clean Riverside comic/coloring book. And I'm working on nailing down contract details and rough sketch ideas for an online book cover. I also did a little doodle for Musical Theatre Guild's upcoming reading of Out of This World – a caricature of a lead actor as a Greek god that will be blown up and used as a set piece.

And then there's a job that's sort of out of the norm for me. I'll be appearing at the John Wayne Cancer Foundation's Odyssey Ball at the Beverly Hilton Hotel tomorrow. Following a New York theme, the entertainment will include dancers, singers, and, as requested by the client, a chalk artist. I know... I don't usually work in chalk. But I've created a piece (also requested by the client) representing the Strawberry Fields mosaic in Central Park. I'll be putting the final touches on the piece and drawing something else at the cocktail party, so I look forward to a new adventure. After the gig I'll post my musings as well as a photo of the art.

Well, that's it for now. It's a lot, but I don't think I'd have it any other way. Take care, all! Peace & love.

An artist's vacation.

I've taken some days recently to chill with friends and family. I count these as "days off" of a sort. Today I took an artist's vacation... at least as defined by li'l ol' me. I love to draw. I love that I'm making a living doing so. But sometimes I forget the sheer joy of my art while fighting to meet deadlines, worrying I'm not meeting a client's expectations, shuffling paperwork. Today I'm at a place where I'm waiting on a couple clients to approve rough sketches and a few others to get me info and photo reference so I can get started on their projects. It was the perfect opportunity to A. totally veg out or B. do some sketching for pure enjoyment. I chose B and I'm so glad.

I've just been sitting at the desk listening to jazz while March Madness rolls along on mute on the TV... and doodling. I completed one of my "drive-by caricatures" (a sketch of someone inspiring that I'll now send to them as a gift), a doodle that I promised a friend I would do in a free moment, and a sketch that I was inspired to do while sitting at the bro's place watching The Office. I've enjoyed the show, but it was especially fun to sit and watch it on DVD. I really love this show and I've done a little doodling as you can see. I'll continue to add to this piece to fit in more folk, but here it is at this stage.

I feel rejuvenated and relaxed in my calling. Now, bring on the next jobs – screaming campers, disco dancers, and two seasons worth of show logos. I'm ready. Peace & love, y'all. Go get 'em!

A "DUH", an "ARGH" and an "AH"...

Have you ever worked yourself into a frenzy kicking your printer, looking for updated printer software, kicking some more, and otherwise beating your head against the wall because you couldn't print a simple document – and THEN realize that you spent a frustrating hour-and-a-half for no reason since you were just out of paper. I just did. DUH.

I have now successfully printed a necessary DMV form to take to my appointment next week where I will seek to replace my stolen license plates. Yep... stolen. It's not a huge deal – just a big ol' inconvenience. I wonder how many times I'll get pulled over by the po-po. ARGH!

But this was the only wrinkle in a lovely Easter jaunt down San Diego way. After working my brain to the bone on the bus coloring book, I got it to such a stage that I could take my show (and my laptop) on the road. So I partook in an amazing Sunday dinner and had the chance to visit with dear friends over the past couple days, eat lots, and even take in a show. AH!

So that's me in a nutshell. I'm onto new projects and new adventures. Peace & love, y'all! Go get 'em.