Squigs in the Times!

Just a quick post. This is fun. A little while back, I contributed to a worthy cause with a bit of artwork. I've posted this before, but now I'm posting it as filtered through the Los Angeles Times. Yes, I've had an illustration published in the Times with a nice little credit. Nifty, huh? The big Michael Jackson tribute concert happens this weekend in Vegas and benefits keeping music programs in schools. Tons of Vegas celebs are taking part. Guaranteed to be a blast. Check it out.

Best wishes, ya'll! Peace and love.

My card(s)...

I thought I'd show you a bit of the process of putting together a shipment of handmade greeting cards. These are, of course, part of my exhibit at MetroStage in Alexandria, Virginia, and I'll be shipping them off today.

When designing the cards, I tried to think of what I like when giving a card to a theatre-loving friend and tried to accomplish it in an economical way. While (hopefully) the images are what sell these things, I wanted to complement the black and white graphics with some bold, fun, and sunny colors.


I bought the Astrobright cardstock at a local paper shop, and found the matching envelopes online. I had a couple rubber stamps made, one for the back of the cards (with copyright and website info) and one for the bands keeping the cards together (saying "Cards by Squigs. Celebrating the Music Makers."). I set up my own little one-man assembly line printing, cutting, and gluing. I signed each card and wrote the titles on the backs. Each set of ten was then wrapped in the bands and sealed in plastic bags I found at a local box shop (that just barely fit).


We'll see how these things sell. I'd buy them, even at the planned cost of $15/set. While I hope they go like hotcakes, I'm half dreading a brisk business... they are a bit labor intensive. When I need to prep another shipment, I may try to organize a card-making party. Ha!

Well, I'm off to the post office. Take care, all! Peace and love.

Just breathe.

Do you notice a trend in blog entry titles lately? Breath. Breathing. Sometimes you just need a reminder.


I'm happy to say that the exhibit made the cross-country trip successfully and the frames have been hung on the wall at MetroStage. It's a modest little display, but it's my first and I'm really proud of it. At this very moment I'm taking a wee procrastination break from assembling my greeting card sets. I think they might sell well, but it's taking a bit of time to put all the pieces together. I'll post a photo or two when they're done.


I look forward to heading to D.C. on Saturday and attending the opening at MetroStage on Sunday. The following few days will be filled with taking in museums and monuments and meeting up with a few friends that are in the area. Can't wait! It's an adventure.


In the mean time, I'm plugging away on various illustration projects including my Monday sketches this week. Above is my tribute to star of stage and screen, Ruby Keeler. Additionally, here's the beginning of my "Unlikely Casting" online gallery. Al Hirschfeld created this concept in the 1960s as a feature in Playbill. Stars of the day were drawn in roles they were rather wrong for, to humorous effect. I'm taking up the project with stars of yesteryear and today. The irony in each piece might be a little "inside" unless you're a theatre geek like me, but I think it will be a fun project. The first is late great Broadway darling Helen Hayes as Diana Goodman, the wife/mother struggling with mental illness in Next to Normal, currently playing on Broadway starring Alice Ripley.

Well, I should get back to making some cards. If I get done in a reasonable time frame, I think I may go see a movie tonight. But then I still have to format my Stop the World... script. Maybe I'll take the computer to a coffee shop instead. We'll see. Anyway... take care, all! Peace and love.

A breath of Oregon.

I've jumped back into life at home after a wonderful trip to Oregon and a visit with the family. It's always lovely to see the folks and the sister and her family and Grandma. I spent a few days chilling at the Coast (and dropping in on my lighthouses and chowing on chowder) but headed back to celebrate the sister's birthday. More food than anyone could begin to eat. And although all the food was amazing, I was most happy to get some of Grandma's famous apple dumplings. The photo here was created when I jiggled the iPhone when taking it. Cool, huh? It was taken on the cobble beach below Yaquina Head Lighthouse near Newport, Oregon

I also saw a couple movies... my first in quite a while. When not in rehearsal lately, I'm most likely drawing, and movie time seems frivolous. But this was vacation. I thoroughly enjoyed both Julie & Julia and the latest from the animation master Miyazaki, Ponyo. They're totally different movies, but it's interesting to note the similarities. All the title characters yearn for something bigger and better than themselves and enjoy the journey it takes to get there. Lessons.


Now, I'm hitting the ground running once again. The biggest news in my world is that I've been cast as the lead (Littlechap) in the staged reading of Stop the World, I Want To Get Off at Musical Theatre Guild. MTG is a membership group I've been on the periphery of for years and have just recently been voted into as a full-fledged member. I feel so honored to be taking on this role in this wonderful company. I join an amazing cast and great show team... but I'd be lying if I didn't admit my apprehension. Littlechap is a huge role and I'm so incredibly comfortable as a sidekick or secondary lead. But I'm thrilled to be faced with the challenge and I look forward to the work and discovery and risk. Keep an eye out here, because you may just catch a glimpse into the psyche of a neurotic actor. Hee hee.

Other than that, I have a couple auditions coming up and lots and lots of artwork to dig into. I love being busy with fun projects, and, boy, do I have a lot to do right now! Wish me luck (and/or "break a leg")! Take care, all! Peace and love.

Up for another breath...

The whirlwind doesn't stop. I planned it this way, but sometimes it gets a little daunting. Last week, I worked long hours on the first gallery-type exhibit of my work. I finished up the final pieces, matted and framed them, and created items to sell along with the display. Here's a glimpse at the show (as laid out in my room)...



After the nose-to-the-grindstone week, I left on a jet plane (after hitting an audition in Thousand Oaks) to Wichita where I saw the amazing Music Theatre of Wichita production of The Drowsy Chaperone (and visited my good friends there). Starring in that production was the wonderful Wayne Bryan who helms Music Theatre, and he was the subject of my weekly sketch over at Squigs Knows His Lines (see here). I also had a chance to have some great conversation with Peter Filichia (who gave me that astounding mention in his Theatremania.com column in June and was in Wichita to write about the production). After the lovely quick trip, I flew back and (after going to another audition, this time just around the corner from my place) hung my hat at home once again.

But now I'm bubble wrapping these frames and things within a millimeter of their lives so I can ship them out to Alexandria, VA tomorrow. Then I head for another airport. Yes, I'm jetsetting a lot lately, this time to Oregon. On this trip I'll be visiting the family and getting a few moments of just plain do-nothin' on the coast. When I head home, I'll have a bit more wiggle room in the schedule, but there's always something to do. I'm putting it out there a lot lately and taking some risks, but I have faith that this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Here we go! Take care! Peace and love, y'all.

Up for a breath.

Hi all! Just popping in briefly. This week is packed with art and related activities, mainly because I'm in the heat of prep for my first gallery exhibit. The pieces are in their final phases, and then there's matting and framing and preparation of related sale items and packing and shipping. It's fun and educational... and a LOT to do. So I'm headed back to work.

Oh, yeah... and I turn 37 tomorrow. So I'm reflecting on all the blessings that have made this life such a joy and an adventure. Best wishes to you all! Peace and love.

All done.

42nd Street has closed. We met a great crowd of over 1600 folks last night who sent us off enthusiastically. I am very proud to have been a part of this fantastic show, and I'll miss the cast and crew a lot. Here's the full version of my closing sketch (which will also be my Monday sketch tomorrow on Squigs Knows His Lines).

I've almost finished packing and will soon hit the road in a northerly direction. I have some errands to run and some people I hope to see, but the main priority is to get home and unpack and settle before I have to dive into the workload. In regard to the art, I feel energized and enthusiastic to get some stuff done. I have to complete the pieces for my first D.C. exhibition which will be my biggest project of the week. Also simmering on the drawing board: three caricature commissions, a logo, and a few of my own projects. I'm happy to have work, and I look forward to the challenges.

Well, that's all for now, y'all. Take care! Peace and love.