a new kind of cover art

Maybe you should judge a book by its cover. Or at least take creative photos with it. I came across Corpus Libris, a blog dedicated to such photos, while reading the Magers and Quinn blog. There are other sites like Toxel.com that have similar photo essays. I might have to see if any of my books have inspirational covers.

tonight, we dance.

Two words: Equalizer t-shirt.
It actually works, lights jumping along with your thumping tunes. But I'm torn. Naturally I want one, as it is both nerdy and a t-shirt, but I can't decide if it's simply amazing or amazingly annoying?

It would have to be a special occasion item, but I'm not sure what occasions since my days of going to raves are, well, nonexistent. Or could it be utilized on a regular day? Perhaps at a stoplight when someone else pulls up next to me with their bass blaring; or at the mall, while walking by Abercrombie.

Big decisions, indeed.

current projects part deux

I really liked the idea of crossword poetry, so I'm working on a way to make individual crossword pieces with just one word that can be part of a larger group. I painted one set and did the other in Illustrator, still trying to decide which I like better. Each panel is zoomed in differently, so the entire puzzle is typically not showing.

One reads: Monkey. Knife. Fight. (A Minus the Bear song title that I really enjoy.) And the other is:
I saw a
kite in a tree
it made me
think of you.

Have something you'd like as a crossword poem?

I have also been working on a commissioned "Defeated Lion" series, the idea focusing on the loser of a battle instead of the glorified king of the jungle. An interesting concept, though I can't take credit for it. So I found pictures of lions and edited them in both Photoshop and Illustrator. Then I printed the image, attached it to a canvas, painted over it with oils, and finished them with a thick epoxy varnish.

current projects

Lately I've been feeling like a genuine artist, getting paid to make art, go figure. I made this painting for a friend whose only requirements were: abstract, soft, pink and gray. This friend is rather "girly," so I went for abstract flower things with a stenciled background, using acrylics and resin for a slightly glossy finish. 36" x 48" on canvas.




Then I wanted to paint something for myself, so I decided to make a series of vinyl record paintings, each on a different colored background with embroidered stitching to give it a crafty feel, inspired by a Threadless tee. I'm mildly obsessed with the four-color combo I've chosen, but agree with Christian about CMYK, and plan to do a series in that as well. 12" x 12" on canvas. Acrylic, thread, ink, paper. Naturally available on my etsy store, but currently hanging on my wall since I'm so fond of them.

an experiment

My book club book this month is No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July. It is dark, funny and lovely. She has a website for the book where she writes on kitchen appliances.

A quote from Mr. Kurt Vonnegut

"Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."

-Vonnegut, A Man Without A Country


A lousy poem:

Remember that time
I thought narwhals were fiction?
Thanks for not laughing.