CYCLOPS AND OWL

Forest City Lovers - Music Video Storyboards

2011-10-12T03:47:00.002-04:00

In August I had the pleasure of doing concept storyboards for a soon to be released Forest City Lovers music video (Here it is!). At the helm was the duo, istoica and the individual humans James Cooper and Mary Gerretsen. They are all powerhouses and Class A colleagues so it was nice to share in a little side project action.

Because these were intended as inspirations rather than shot-by-shot sequences I was able to be pretty loose about their creation and embrace the dream-like nature of the video.

The idea of the video, in short, was kids in the suburbs getting up to harmless rebellion with a bit of pool hopping. And then they end up escaping to places farther removed from reality than the deep end.

Long flowing gown growing out from under the girls real world clothes

Needless to say it was a blast and I look forward to doing more with this bunch of cam-wielding superstars

Stromprah's Practice

2011-07-07T22:20:00.006-04:00

Here's another rough taste of Stromprah's talents.
On paper?! Yes. For now at least.

The Deadliest Warrior: Rajput vs Roman Centurian

2011-07-05T12:24:00.000-04:00

This is about a guilty pleasure which is not actually a guilty pleasure. Which is to say I know some would like me to feel guilty for loving SPIKE's The Deadliest Warrior, but I do not.

For those who don't know what it is:
The show pits historical and contemporary warriors against each other in a virtual battle, man vs man.

They have never met each other in history before. How is this battle judged?

2 experts from each camp choose which weapons of their traditional arsenal they will employ against their foes. With these weapons they attack ballistic dumbies (fake bones and organs wrapped in human flesh-esque jelly), blood filled mannequins and pig carcasses filled with blood naturally and extra bags of blood. The "scientific" results of these faux massacres are recorded by an emergency room surgeon, a military/martial arts expert with a Phd and a computer programmer. The programmer inputs the results of the weapon rounds and other data into a program that will simulate 1000 battles between the warriors. This simulation is strictly math based but the show pretends that the program generates a dramatization style action scene.

Reasons why I love The Deadliest Warrior:
- As seen above, it is great fodder for sketching weapons, armour and other costume elements
- The carnage of the weapon challenges, though often stupid are also educational and a good reference for explosions, swordplay etc.

Reasons why I hate The Deadliest Warrior:
- It always, ALWAYS turns into a pissing contest.

Reasons why I love The Deadliest Warrior, Part2:
- It always, ALWAYS turns into a pissing contest.

I don't get into pissing contests, but there's nothing quite as funny as a pissing contest when you're the spectator. They do some serious trash talking, oblivious to evidence and the fact that they end up looking like total douche-bags.
Now I'm no fool, I know that they are being goaded by producers into lobbing half-formed and dimwitted insults back and forth but that's integral to the final result. It's that license given to them by the facade of the show that allows them to lose themselves in the moment of pride-piercing competition. The guys who aren't used to being assholes stumble over themselves in equal parts, adorable and disappointing ways, and the dicks who come to it naturally get this gorilla god complex and quickly revert to schoolyard mentality. This phenomenon is the sensationally clumsy heart of the show. But back to the stats...

Here's the rundown of the Rajput's weapons:

Khanda
Chakram
Katar - you may remember these as Voldo's weapons from Soul Edge
Aara

I don't care to list the Centurian's weapons. They are just a bit too boring for my tastes. They lack the flare of the Rajput arsenal.

The Rajput won in the end, which pleased me. The most interesting warrior doesn't always win. Apparently the Rajput won due to their proficiency and unpredictability one on one, supposing that the Centurian was only dominant when in their vast units.

Maybe everyone has bailed halfway through this post. I understand. It's can be unnerving to read something so elaborate written about something so inconsequential and tacky. But I love dissecting reality TV and peeling back the layers (which are there). What is the show trying to make you think? What methods are they using to lead you to this conclusion? How are they editing the footage to craft an exaggerated narrative? Where is the line between scripted and spontaneous behaviour? How are they arranging the footage to keep this line ambiguous? Should you care about any of this? No, not likely. But I do and I feel zero (0) guilt about it.

Kicking Moons and Stomping Time

2011-06-25T13:13:00.000-04:00

Shoes as Outfit

She was only meant to be legs, as the rough sketch for the first pose of a sass-filled foot stomp animation and then...well, then. Sometimes the right boots for the outfit are the outfit. Then, whatever you feel, just dance it.

Pattern Recognition

2011-06-23T21:12:00.002-04:00

Here's a page that started out as an exploration of woven patterns sparked by a section in Amarina's fashion illustration textbook. It was the link stitch that started the party then on to cheetah spots and crocodile skin naturally becomes reptile lady. The crystal is inexplicable as are most crystals.

Studies in Lewdness and other portents NSFW I guess

2011-06-22T01:03:00.000-04:00

Some sketches done from Dian Hanson's: The History of Men's Magazines, Vol. 1, I believe. These books are great for reference of variety in the female form and face. You really can't tell what you're going to find on the next page. Well I guess there are some safe bets. It's all part of my research and development. Things coming out of Cyclops & Owl can get a bit steamy but maybe that's not quite adequate. Maybe there needs to be some C&O goods in unmarked brown paper sleeves. Tucked underneath the counter.

Coincidence for Sale at Monastiraki in Montreal

2011-05-22T21:19:00.000-04:00

So we went on a glorious trip to Montreal. We killed it! We thrive on adventure and particularly roadtrips.
Thanks to design sponge's amazing Montreal city guide we spent a whole day on bixi bikes be-bopping around Mile End, a fantastic neighbourhood with an amazing independent art scene. A place that wasn't on the city guide but could not escape our curiosity radar was Monastiraki. When we arrived it was Billy Mavreas, a wicked artist in his own right, at the helm. Monastiraki is...well their description is perfect...

Founded in 1998 Monastiraki is a hybrid curiosity shop/art space. We host openings, book launches and micro-concerts, support a myriad of local and international artists, boast a huge selection of silk-screen prints, carry small press and zines, overflow with paper ephemera, have a fitful relationship with antiques and collectibles....and is a magical place sure to enchant the curious.

We bought plenty. A few comics, some vintage maps and a few old photos. One of which is shown here. This party scene was irresistible. So much going on and it's all so drunk. But the sheer drunkenness of the photo is not the ultimate feature. Not even the guy on the left who is, clearly, on boner guard duty because smiley-poppy-dress girl is within make out distance. The real point of interest appeared MONTHS after we had returned from Montreal.

A friend noticed the picture for it's drunken bliss and then noticed the similarity between the ringleader of the drunk pic and the unsuspecting fellow from my piece "Breach" which I had painted 2 years prior to getting this photo and yet it seemed as though it was post-inspired by it.

What was the real kicker was that we had the photo sitting directly next to "Breach" for MONTHS completely unaware.
So in conclusion, go to Monastiraki if you're ever in the area, especially if you like getting goosebumps, from amazing art and ephemera and some inspiration for your present or past self.

Stratos-fierce! #2

2011-04-19T14:36:00.000-04:00

Call it a consternation constellation.

The rest/future pieces can be found HERE

Stratos-fierce! #1

2011-04-19T12:54:00.000-04:00

Here's the first piece of a new collection. Goddesses floating around in a nebulous void with varying degrees of serenity and tension. Certainly not devoid of risqué curves or a sense of humour as per usual.

(Sharpie shown for scale. Many initially assume my pieces are much larger. I like that.)

Things are in motion

2011-04-05T08:03:00.000-04:00

...as will she be.

Stromprah's coming...

The Sketchbook 2011 Project

2011-02-06T19:50:00.021-05:00

Well It's been a while since my last post, to say the least, but thankfully not for lack of postables. There was the Movies and Makers Show and the night before that there was a group show I was in at 1254 Art called A Hidden Place, a gallery beneath where Amarina and I first lived together. Both were a joy and I learned quite a lot. And now it's a whole new year and momentum is in our favour most certainly.

A lot of momentum came from The Sketchbook Project, one of Art House Co-op's many amazing projects. Arthouse Co-op is like if Amazon.com sold participation in international art projects. Anyway, you get a sketchbook that you fill with artwork based loosely on a theme chosen from a list. You send it back. Simple. But there are sketchbooks from 94 countries and over 28,000 artists so you get an overwhelming number of interpretations on the themes and what a sketchbook actually is. They then go on tour through:

Brooklyn, NY Austin, TX San Francisco, CA Portland, ME Atlanta, GA Chicago, IL Washington, DC Winter Park, FL

After the tour, all sketchbooks will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view. When anyone checks out your book you receive a notification of your choosing. Text message, email, etc. Neat!

It was a fantastic project and I managed to finish it between Dec 20th, 2010 and Jan 12th, 2011 which really got the creativity churning. I'd been so accustomed to drawing meticulous illustrations over the past year that it was nice to unleash and do some drawings that were a bit less strict.

I chose the theme of Dirigibles and Submersibles, which ended up being more like Things Seen From Dirigibles and Submersibles and the majority of the drawings were from the latter. They will be scanned and put on the Art House Co-op site (assuming that the book didn't get lost in the mail which I'll be fearful of until further notice) but I did my own scanning for the time being.

ENJOY!

LADIES OF MYSTERY - the main collection

2010-09-11T17:29:00.031-04:00

"Planetaria"

13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

Maybe this isn't my first collection per se but it certainly feels like a milestone. It's the first time I've had the opportunity to reveal so much of my work at once. With these pieces as well as the Slims [1] [2], Bitch in the Sky, and the Avianettes [1] [2] [3] [4] I was able to give a wide view of my world. A world where women are crazed and cunning. They make no apologies for their passions and never turn a deaf ear to the voice of their curiosity. Role models, basically.

"Pearl Poachers"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"The Brazen Peek-A-Boo Ladies"
9" x 20"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"Tea Maiden"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

A side note to this one: Rarely but sometimes it's hard to find the right reference material. In this stellar age of knowledge at your fingertips sometimes you still need to know what something is called before you can look it up properly. I couldn't for the life of me find a picture of whatever these tea vessels are called BUT, I DID remember that you briefly see one near the beginning of The Exorcist when Max Von Sydow is digging around in Iraq. I pull out my copy, which I hadn't watched in ages, and lo and behold, about 4 minutes in, Max at some sand-blown cafe and we see, for barely a second, a fellow pouring tea from a contraption like this girl is using. It felt invigorating to be searching for something and actually track it down without the net. Not this time, Google, I got this. Pause Button!

"Rapt"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"It Was Never Yours"
13.5" x 16.5"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

"Admiral Nautiluscia"
9" x 20"
Spray-paint, Sharpie on plexi-glas

Now that the show is complete I'm taking time to get reacquainted with my old love, animation. More Cyclops and Owl moving pictures! One primary goal, THIS hushed project which is overdue twice over.

LADIES OF MYSTERY @ TABULA RASA

2010-08-09T21:30:00.010-04:00

My first solo art show. It is less than 2 weeks away, which seems like about 15 minutes from now. It is for ONE NIGHT ONLY so get your looking balls ready for a feast. On side A of the postcard you can see Admiral Nautiluscia. She is one of the ladies that will be on display.
It is being held at TABULA RASA, the best new store in the neighbourhood for vintage and designer women's fashion. There will beverages, music provided by My Liner Notes and, of course, heroines, harlots and harpies. And bring your camera for a surprise care of Amarina. And we're liable to cut a rug, so that's always worth cli-click or two, too.

The facebook event page is HERE. Tell your friends!

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Cyclops and Owl brand

2010-08-08T14:34:00.003-04:00

Started as a way to clear up that the cyclops in our logo is not rotund but rather he's just hunched over.

The Avianettes: Owl

2010-08-07T19:26:00.007-04:00

Some people like to bemoan the prevalence of owls in current culture. I like to bemoan the prevalence of these people. There is perhaps more questionable uses of owls recently but they were very popular in the 60s and 70s too, which is actually the cause of a lot of their current popularity seen in the trends of retro and vintage decor and fashion.

But owls are not awesome because they are in fashion now, then or otherwise. Owls are awesome because OWLS-are-AWESOME.

Have you ever looked an owl in the eyes? Chilling. That shit is pure magic.

9"x 6.5"
Stained glass lampshade piece, spray paint and sharpie

The 4th
The 3rd
The first 2

Frisket Film: Amazing tool, but a harsh mistress

2010-08-03T23:30:00.010-04:00

I love Frisket Film. I've just started working with it. I did a piece last week where I used it to mask out some great text. The above would have been great as well. I first masked out the razor sharp hexagon leaving behind the smokey plexi-glas. No problems, worked like a charm.
Then there was the second masking, for creating the swooping cloud background for the character. The knife cutting was hard but came out great. There was one problem. I left the frisket on overnight, what I now know is a cardinal frisket no-no, especially in this blasted heat. It was alright over the clean plexi, but where the matte jade paint was the residue was atrocious. I did a hasty paper remask to try to paint over it and save it, but to no avail. The residue is practically sneering at me in that picture. So learn from my mistakes. Frisket Film is great, just don't rest on your laurels.It just happened so I thought I'd post in the moment! The venting has helped.

The Avianettes: Falcon

2010-08-02T15:15:00.003-04:00

The tables of turned on this falconer and she likes it.

9"x 6.5"
Stained glass lampshade piece, spraypaint and sharpie

The 3rd
The first 2

The Avianettes: Hornbill

2010-08-02T14:46:00.007-04:00

The continuing adventures of a lamp thrown in the garbage and the Avianettes.

9"x 6.5"
Stained glass lampshade piece, spraypaint and sharpie

The first 2

Bazaar of the Bizarre photos

2010-05-02T21:49:00.012-04:00

Taking part in this show was a real treat! The vendors were awesome and so were the mobs of all ages wandering amongst the tables. Amarina and I met some great people. Above, you can see the full spread including an amazing banner that my cohort surprised me with!

There were great responses, the best ones often wordless. A favourite was from a girl who was walking by aimlessly. She looked over at my table absentmindedly, gave a blink that was nearly a flinch and stopped. Then took a couple steps towards the table, leaned over for a closer look, shaking her head while smiling.

Below in the middle you can see Feral Meryl. I had a contest going (a brilliant idea thanks to Amarina) where contestants suggest what Meryl will fight and the winner would get a print of their idea for free. Only 4 were daring enough to cast a ballot. Since all of their suggestions were amazing I've decided they all win and I can't wait to do them all!

Though she looks quite sharp in her ceremonial attire, Feral Meryl is, as her name suggests, a bit savage. She guards the Empress and anything that comes through that door will wish it hadn't.

The winners were:

Mr. Brett of ChiZine Publications
Mr. Thomas of Imaginary Thomas
Ms. Ele of Minouette
and
Ms. Julia of the House of Reynardin

I'll reveal their suggestions as they are completed.

The Avianettes: Cassowary and Booted Racket-tail Hummingbird

2010-04-26T22:31:00.009-04:00

The Avianettes. 7 ladies who share an unbreakable bond with their avian companions. Here are the first two completed.

I took these pictures before I put on the gloss varnish because I just couldn't wait to see them on the wall.

These were the newest pieces on sale at Bazaar of the Bizarre. I'll be posting the pics from the table next.

Crockenspiel And Her Keeper print

2010-04-23T12:35:00.003-04:00

Off to war, off to the market square, off to get some milk from the corner store. It's all the same to Crockenspiel and her Keeper.

Hand-vectored from the original on vinyl record.

Come see this and other items for sale at Bazaar of the Bizarre!

5 x7 Prints: Hibou À Trois Têtes and Bliss Listenings

2010-04-23T10:30:00.006-04:00

The swift-legged, 3-headed Ground Owl uses all 6 eyes to keep tabs on predator and prey. Though flightless, it will climb trees with great speed utilizing 3 beaks and nimble toes to gain a better view before scurrying down to the ground to pursue it's target. A rare treat for birdwatchers but beware, they are extremely unpredictable despite their charm.

Second is a detail shot from a family portrait I did for me and my girls.

Come see these and other items for sale at Bazaar of the Bizarre!

5 x 7 Prints: Busy Morning

2010-04-19T23:24:00.007-04:00

Busy Morning

I will be selling 5x7 prints like the one above at Bazaar of the Bizarre this Sunday (@ Pia Bowman Ballet School which looks like a great venue).

"Busy Morning" is actually from an eventual comic starring Crushida, who has appeared in a previous switch plate wearing a much more complicated outfit. Here, she is enjoying her morning stroll to work as best she can. She normally doesn't carry a shoulder full of brand new samurai swords to work, she's more a hand-to-hand kind of lady, but her first case today is a couple of blood-thirsty squid-men picking off cyclists in the Don Valley. You might ask, "why would you need 4 samurai swords? I mean, you can only use 2 at the most, unless you're a squid-man." Well the answer is very simple. Squid-men are, as you would expect, extremely grabby and sometimes it's just easier to grab a new one straight away than to try and take the one you lost back.

I'll post the rest of the 5x7's over the next 5 days.

Bazaar of the Bizarre

2010-04-11T22:25:00.007-04:00

I am pleased as Punch to announce that I will be one of the lucky artists involved with "Bazaar of the Bizarre"! Check the facebook page for all the nitty gritty details. Below you will find a list of the staggering talent that will be peddling their wares at this eccentric event. I'm very excited and I'll be posting some new items that will be available at the show including 5 x 7 prints that I hand-vectored from some of the switch plates I've done. The posts will be coming more quick and dirty as the show grows closer so stay tuned.

Here's the Vendors List:
(I found links for as many as I could)

Plastik Wrap
Kaotic Ekko's
Clockwork Zero
Random Pretty things
ChiZine Publication
Beat Black
Dirty Little Secrets
Eden Bachelder Fine Art
Imaginary Thomas
Sci Feye Candy
The Original Face.ca
BinarySoul Design
To Die For Designs
Roxy Swing Creations
Skye Castle Publishing Co.
Plastik Haar/ Neko designs
Vintagelove
Munkybuns
Sew Scary
The Circus Store
Sadistic Vanity
The Generation
The Gnarled Branch
Sick on Sin
Garden Dub
Dreaming Tree Paper Company
Zom-b
Zirco Circus
MISSLEXIA
Creepy Christine
Jenuinekraft by Jenny Kuri
Papersnake Jewelry
Pamela Williams
Marionette
Epidemic Clothing Collective
BitchCraft
Cyclops and Owl ------------------<(Me!)
Positive Spin
Storming the base

Got their hair did #8

2010-02-21T18:08:00.005-05:00

Here's the 8th and final piece. All of these were in the Movies and Makers show at Fox Theatre.
This one in particular went to the event's chief organizer, Lisa Pijuan-Nomura of Girl can Create.

She is giving this lady a very happy home.

#7
#6
#5
#4 SOLD!
#3
#2
#1

Got their hair did #7

2010-02-17T23:02:00.004-05:00

Isn't she darling?

#6
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1

Shell Shock Couture

2010-01-16T12:49:00.006-05:00

I'm obsessed with fashion far more deeply than most people know. And though I'm interested in all levels from ready-to-wear to couture I'm drawn towards the more drastic and dramatic designers like Viktor and Rolf, Christopher Kane, Jeremy Laing and Alexander Mcqueen. I love details. Any time I can get lost in drawing patterns or textures I'm overjoyed. You can see some of that here. Accessories are important. Cuffs, helmets, hats, goggles, boots. All are welcomed with open arms.

SOLD

2010, your front porch is delightful. May I come in?

2010-01-11T21:00:00.008-05:00

What better way to start 2010 (a new decade!) than to be a month behind on the blog? Well, thankfully it's not due to lack of things to share. So much in fact that I don't no where to begin.

Switch Plate - "Surprise, lizard-lips"

He thought he had seen the last of her when he stepped out to grab some Pall Malls from the chemist's on the corner and never went back. But Clara was clever and determined to change his mind. He shed his skin so many times. And without fail there would be Clara lurking in his shadow with husk in hand.

Available at the CYCLOPS AND OWL STORE

Sneak Peeks

2009-12-11T01:36:00.004-05:00

These are images from a project I started back in August and have returned to in the past week. The time away from it has been good for it I think and it will be better than if I'd finished it back then. I'll leave details for completion.

Pop and Strut

2009-12-01T23:08:00.012-05:00

This switch plate is SOLD!

But I will be vectoring it in the future so you will see this stomping vixen popping up elsewhere for certain.

Next is the song she's stomping to. It stomps. Then it waves a finger at you in a "Tsk Tsk" kind of way. Then it skips and bounds right out the back door and leaves before you even realize your car keys are missing.

I've started writing lyrics and melodies to a lot of these songs. They always felt like they were little stories but now it's time that I make them more concrete and potentially ruin them forever.

But I can't wait and I'll always have a fondness for their original unsung state.

Enjoy!

POP AND STRUT by ROMANTIS

It has also been placed in the SOUND ADVICE DEVICE beneath the header for your convenience

The Bookmarks

2009-11-30T23:13:00.006-05:00

They've finally arrived. Six Bookmarks printed from the original 8 x 3 inch plexi-glas pieces on heavy archival matte paper. The colours turned out great. The sass of these beauties remains.

Let them guard your page!

For sale at the CYCLOPS AND OWL STORE

Departure, Fulfillment, Return

2009-11-22T23:31:00.006-05:00

I had so much fun at this show. I met a lot of talented and friendly individuals who I hope I'll be seeing more of in the future.

Here's the blog for the event: http://www.movies-and-makers.blogspot.com/

Above is my display at the event. Some of the stuff in that shot is hot, hot, HOT! As in new and as in saucy. They will all make a proper appearance on the blog and be for sale at the Cyclops and Owl Store very shortly.

This was my first sale and it was a real delight. Nothing sold like hotcakes but I never expected that. What I did expect, and what I got, was an up close and interactive experience with the public. It was exhilarating. With gallery shows I've found the interaction with the public is rather passive. You are not standing right next to your artwork (and it would feel so awkward for you and the viewer if you were). In the setting of the sale you are literally standing behind what you do. I was absolutely chuffed.

I'll save sharing the myriad reactions to my things for later but they were pretty satisfying. And I don't just mean the most receptive ones. Some of the best responses were rooted in confusion.

I had not really taken stock of the pieces I had amassed over the past while. It felt great to address the family as a whole, I guess. And I was proud to stand by them. I was also proud to have my cohort forever stand by me. She is my marvelous muse and it was totally icing on top to have her there with me.

I'm definitely going to chase this wonderful feeling of getting my world more exposed in the real world. So simple, right?

Thanks to all involved for putting on this show. Especially Lisa Pijuan-Nomura of Girl can Create and Andy Willick and Daniel Demois of The Fox Theatre.

"...If you're a PRO" Coloured Print

2009-11-12T00:15:00.003-05:00

Prints, prints, prints!

Prints of the above illuminated manuscript will be available at the Movies and Makers arts and crafts show.

This phrase seems kind of silly out of context. It's fairly silly in context, actually. But it's a pretty satisfying ideal. Look, if you're going to be serious about something fucking buckle down and sharpen your steel. Have some finesse, though. Don't be a clutz. Stay graceful. No one likes a butterfingers. Firm grip. Be decisive.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

MOVIES & MAKERS!

2009-11-09T19:29:00.006-05:00

I am very proud to announce that I will peddling my wares at the Fox Theatre in Toronto on Nov. 21st in the first ever Movies & Makers arts and crafts show.

Here's the blog with all the details: http://www.movies-and-makers.blogspot.com/

The big finale of the day is a screening of "Handmade Nation", a documentary chronicling the rise of the DIY, arts and crafts movement across America. I saw it when it made its Canadian debut and it is not to be missed. It features among many other DIY luminaries, The Little Friends of Printmaking.

I'll have originals, prints, switch plates, bookmarks and one of a kind buttons.

So please, come by and pick up something with a sexy lady on it and stay for a fantastic film that will leave you with fingers itching to create!

The Visitor and The Ranter

2009-10-25T19:59:00.020-04:00

So first up is a commission for my friend, PJ. It's a depiction of his dream which he described to me so long ago he had forgotten it. I embellished it a bit. In the dream he said that he had a tinfoil hat and people started bringing him things. All PJ requested was that a wolf be involved. So I made his tinfoil hat extra extravagant and had him intercepted by a gift-giving messenger from some wolf-riding amazon race.

For the people out there who have dreams they would like interpreted please contact me about doing a commission. Much of my work is inspired by dream-like worlds. Worlds where pants aren't always necessary and there's nothing but trouble to get into.

Next is a clip from the field recordings I make while en route to work or home or wherever. Candid crazies, arguments, or any sound I happen upon that gives me pause.

This particular clip is from a very lucid ranter I heard on the street car. He seemed to be addressing not only those on the street car but the city of Toronto as a whole.

TORTURED---

I've provided a transcript of the rantings below so you can follow along? Just in case his genius was not immediately evident.

"...somehow are awarded some of my qualities unto yourselves? I don't think so. I think you're vile. All my qualities tell me you're vile. I tell you I'm being tortured and your like, 'that's what I said. You know?' There's a frickin' difference actually. I have a ludicrous pain tolerance, you might not, eh?"

"No, no, you're not allowed to make fun of me, eh? You're only allowed to send me those fake concerned looks that are more insulting and scarier than anything imaginable. 'Look at me! I can fabricate a fake concerned look. I'm like a George Bush.' Eh?"

"I've been studying reasoning my entire life, Toronto. My entire life. And your arguments as a population are moronic at best. And it would require torture for you to nod 'yes' to those moronic arguments. Are you being tortured, Toronto? Are you just sick and pathetic? Uh? You're just greedy little bastards. I kind of fantasize about being tortured instead of being greedy little nothings."

And then he got off. Wow.

The Queen's Accusation REVISED!

2009-10-24T18:29:00.003-04:00

So this is an older piece posted before that has been revamped. When a friend came over and thought the queen was a fly I knew she needed to be updated. It's one of those weird mindset's you get in where something seems like it should be obvious but is clearly just a projection. So here she is, with an addition that, I hope, makes her more bee-like.

She's also on sale HERE at the Cyclops and Owl etsy store.

What a rental.

2009-10-21T21:24:00.004-04:00

Alright. I'm not one to be loyal to brands but I love Budget when it comes to renting a car. I love Budget because I hate Discount.

When I arrive to claim my reservation at Discount they say they do not have the car I have reserved but they can offer me a Mini Cooper or a BMW, both of which can not be insured through Discount's insurance policies. They say I will have to call my credit card provider and arrange my own insurance which will, no doubt, be more expensive than the Intermediate car.....which I RESERVED. They say they MIGHT have some cars coming in later, maybe --- they never know. Yes, that's what they said. So I took the subway to the place I had initially planned on driving to. Then 4 hours later they call saying they finally have a car for me. The above was drawn on the subway on my way back across town to pick up my quaint little Chevy Cobalt with nostalgic manual locks (they still make those?) The drawing made me feel much better.

I apologize for the rant but if one person steers clear of Discount then it was worth it!

As a comparison, every time I have reserved an Intermediate car from Budget in the past year they also didn't have that particular car ready for me when I arrived. But THEY gave me something like a Dodge Charger for the price of the Intermediate car every time. The End.

Got their hair did #6

2009-10-07T23:50:00.006-04:00

#6 in the series of 8. The ol' Swoopty-Floop.

#5
#4
#3
#2
#1

Got their hair did #5

2009-10-05T23:48:00.003-04:00

#5 in the series of 8. B-b-b-b-bangs!

#4
#3
#2
#1

Got their hair did #4

2009-10-05T02:06:00.006-04:00

SOLD!
#4 in the series of 8. No Bump-Its here. Bouff-Its, maybe.

#3
#2
#1

Also, this is apparently my 100th post! To celebrate I will try to get to sleep before 3 tonight. I'm not promising anything.

Got their hair did #3

2009-10-03T18:35:00.005-04:00

#3 in the series of 8. Pop them collars, you clever minx!

#3
#2
#1

Got their hair did #2

2009-10-02T13:13:00.005-04:00

#2 in the series of 8. There must have been some serious hairspray tycoons in the 60s. Good-bye Ozone!

Full story here

Got their hair did #1

2009-10-01T01:18:00.006-04:00

Over the years I've accumulated a lot of unique surfaces that I have left unfinished or unbegun. It ends now. From an old Operation game board to a raw matryoshka nesting doll, (both now in progress, thank heavens) they start to haunt you. Once they were fiercely inspiring but left to grow dusty on the shelf they become ugly goblins, mocking you as you stroll by.

What the piece above (about 2.5'' square) was painted on is definitely from the crypt. This series is painted on half the stained glass pieces from a salvaged hanging lampshade. It was grabbed one night on a walk--- from what was technically garbage (garbage picker!). I brought it home and quickly dismantled it with some tin-snips. The pieces have been in a drawer long enough to be moved to a new apartment and I moved almost 2 years ago, so, SHIT!

60's Hairdos!

There are 8 in all. They will be sold separately in the Cyclops and Owl etsy store once the hangers are applied.

The Cyclops and Owl Gentlemen's Club: Vonnegut

2009-09-27T22:41:00.004-04:00

Did I say daily posts? Such is life. Quit living in the past.

Now. Here is the first of a series. The Cyclops and Owl Gentlemen's Club. Inductees drawn in sultry red with my parallel pen.

The first is a posthumously inducted juggernaut of the written word, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. I fell in love with Vonnegut rather late in life. In highschool my only exposure to his genius was the short story "Harrison Bergeron" which I loved but was merely a inkling of the love affair that was to come over a decade later. I wish I had his novels to escape into back then. Instead I've gorged myself on his novels over the past 3 years and I'm still insatiable. There's just no one quite like him. So it goes.

All of the inductees will be made available through my etsy store eventually so stay tuned!

Twila's Practice

2009-09-04T01:04:00.004-04:00

Well this is what it's all about, right? Honing your skills, and loving every second of it. I don't want to count my chickens before they've hatched but I expect to see some more sword toting so-and-sos in the coming month because, why the hell not?

Sheepish Submarine

2009-09-01T23:23:00.005-04:00

Alright so I love alliteration. Sorry. Get used to it.

This is another revival. It was originally sketched as a thumbnail for a piece I never completed back in the Procrastitaceous Period. Years later when I had been laid off I was trying to diversify the ol' portfol' so I came up with some faux companies to do draw things for. I repurposed the fluffy fellow above to be the logo for Sheepish Submarine Hydrotherapy. I imagine this company provided sense deprivation chambers and other forms of aqua themed treatments to help you deal with any anxiety or phobias. The rehabilitation process, of course, began by being lured in by the sheep's serene expression.

Boggle Sketch Dinosaur

2009-08-31T15:58:00.006-04:00

This ugly brute was sketched between rounds of boggle one evening. I think I was going for a "dinosaur with jowls". I'm unimpressed. Incidentally, the first real job I remember REALLY wanting was to be a paleontologist.

Periscope Tug Champion

2009-08-30T19:51:00.006-04:00

This is a forgotten sketch I did about 3 years ago. At the time I was good at drawing the chassis of a lady but unsatisfied with the faces I was drawing so I would often save myself the risk of butchering a face by throwing on a fancy helmet. I've thankfully overcome this obstacle, to some extent at least, but I still love drawing girls with crazy masks and such.
There was also the fact that I was often running into issues at work where the people I was drawing were perceived as unattractive and not fresh-faced enough for the client. I had just heard we were going to be working for a corporate lingerie giant. Out of my initial brainstorm sketches came the drawing above and Kendo Chat Noire.

...If you're a PRO

2009-08-28T16:32:00.003-04:00

I drew this character while on the flight down to California. The text is a direct quote from a conversation Amy and I had with her Dad. He was showing us a knife that Amy's little brother found in the bushes around their house (scary!). He was also showing us his flicking and unflicking skills with said knife. Anyway, I thought it was one of the coolest sentences I'd ever heard.

Ahoy, Past Self!

2009-08-26T13:05:00.006-04:00

So I'm overdue (again) for a post. Well, I just got back from a vacation in California spending time with Amarina's family, so that counts for a bit of my tardiness. It also gave me a chance to see a rather important drawing I did over 3 years ago. The swashbumbling fellow above was drawn for Amy's little brother, James. He was having a pirate birthday party. I couldn't attend but I sent this along. It's an important drawing for me because it ushered in a return to drawing. At the time I wasn't in the habit of drawing at all which was really troubling. And the less I did the more I built up apprehension over starting again. This was probably the first thing I had drawn in months which, thankfully, has become something that is completely unacceptable.

I can't quite remember what I had named this character but the story was that he was the sole survivor of the crew and was going completely bonkers floating around in the crow's nest.

UPDATE: * Lonely Fish-Faced Gerrard *

The captain who went down with the ship and came up with the crow's nest. (Thanks, Shona!)

Next week I'm starting daily posts because even though I'm drawing more now than 3 years ago I'm still not drawing enough. There. I've told the universe. I HAVE to do it now.

Portrait of a Pair of Parrots

2009-07-21T13:12:00.006-04:00

A quick apology for the unacceptable distance between this and the previous post. Obscene. I feel awful about it. I'm currently gathering the gumption to start doing daily drawing posts for my sake as well as yours. Stay tuned.

This work is a bit of a departure for me. No sexy ladies or sci-fi wonders, just two lovely birds. Meet Dexter and Penny, two green-cheeked conures. Dexter, the flatheaded male, passed away recently and I thought my friends deserved a portrait of the two together. Penny is definitely the softy of the pair, Dexter, a spirited curmudgeon beyond his years. I hope this portrait captures an inkling of the strange bond between these mates.

Dingo Ground-Sloth

2009-06-17T11:44:00.006-04:00

An older drawing that has no provenance other than I bought some new micron brush pens and just dove in. I didn't have a plan. Something furry was the prime directive, I guess. I really like these. They are the same ones that I later used to put the finishing touches on the "Tomorrow Never Knows" poster. I learned that the tip is virtually the same as Amarina's liquid eye-liner. Fun fact!

Greatest Misses: Soft Underbelly

2009-06-15T11:35:00.004-04:00

Here's another installment in the ongoing switchplate series. This robot is getting a little bit grabby and unfortunately his priority processor has made a tiny error and caused him to grab the knife-less hand. It won't end well.

Available here at Cyclops and Owl

Tomorrow Never Knows

2009-06-08T13:05:00.007-04:00

This is a poster I did for my friend Eva, a sweetheart with a ridiculously savvy eye for vintage clothing. She's sifting through dusty bins of bygone treasures, just for you! They are all here at her Etsy store:

neverknows.etsy.com

She also keeps a blog chronicling her inspirations here:

http://www.afinetoothcomb.blogspot.com

Pay attention! This lady has enough vintage wears to choke a rutting rhino. Get a silk scarf for your sinfully naked neck or a sassy Lucite clutch to stash your ivory handled derringer. You won't be disappointed.

Crow Calliope

2009-05-27T16:43:00.006-04:00

So here is a drawing I love. A drawing that I submitted to a T-shirt design contest that shall remain nameless, though some of you know about it. I submitted it about 5 minutes past the deadline. Now that I've seen the 30 finalists AND the fact that none of them get ANY exposure whatsoever, not even their name or a single link ie: Thomas H's design (!), I'm totally pleased that I'm not a finalist. Now it's MINE and mine alone to use. Here it stands, debranded and looking better for it.

Greatest Misses: Room For Kaboom

2009-05-06T12:41:00.004-04:00

Truth is, Crushida (CRUSH-ida) is all about finesse, despite her name. She could have knocked the bullet back at this towering douche-bag but she prefers to juke and move in for a jab to the his mechanical jugular.

Available here at Cyclops and Owl

ROMANTIS

2009-04-15T00:25:00.010-04:00

Well, well, well. I am, to say the least, happy with this. It slides on like a nice pair of racing gloves. Balanced, like a jade handled riding crop.
It was uttered by my cohort in a random act of brilliance. At first, she laughed, but the laughter dissolved into a crystal clear confidence. ROMANTIS. Yes.

Cauldron who?

Portrait of Brad Pitt's Insecurity with Wonk Eye

2009-04-05T21:29:00.007-04:00

Here is my botched portrait of Brad Pitt. At the most it has essence of Pitt or a mild form of Pittness. Amarina thinks it looks like Charleton Heston which I think is more true than I fully realize. Whoever this fellow is he has "Marty Feldman eyes" and I love him for it. It's funny, doing this portrait reminded me of a period in my wee youth when I would try to draw popular cartoons of the time, for example, Garfield, but there would always be something a little off that I could never quite resolve. I would then be done with it and say it was "Garfield's cousin." So perhaps this is Rodney Pitt.

ACK!

2009-04-01T12:06:00.002-04:00

So, yeah, there's a heavy metal band from Toronto named Cauldron. Great! I'm sooooo happy for them. Two of them were from a band called Goat Horn. So one of the three guys leaves and they have to rename the band....of course!

KeeeeawoOOO (sound of angry puma)!

Fine.

New name to be announced at a later date.

CAULDRON

2009-03-29T22:05:00.007-04:00

Alright, I'm going to try not to make a big deal out of this. I make music. And right now I'm going to unleash my moniker: Cauldron.

There.

Did it.

Now the hard work is over.

Check out the new track "Unwieldy." Its a joyously rumbling crackle-gram to all the rump shakers out there. Find it after "Baroness" in the Sound Advice Device.

PS- Cauldron is so much better then the name I came up with at age 20, Rondayvoo, which actually stimulates my gag reflex. Of recent years I'd taken to calling myself Prime Eva. Loved that one but it never stuck.

CAULDRON! CAULDRON! CAULDRON! CAULDRON! CAULDRON!

Falconer of New Tonkhil

2009-03-26T16:34:00.007-04:00

You may be asking, "why the detachable head?" which was a question I asked myself when I was drawing it. Now it's completely obvious. She isn't satisfied with a second-hand report from her avian friend. She prefers to send the bird with her noggin in tow up into clouds for a first-hand view of all that can be surveyed. And then back to her throne for some grapes!

PS - I don't know why this colour always digitally boils like this. Shame. I wish I knew how to compensate for it. Until then!

8" x 3.5"
Spray paint and sharpie marker on acrylic sheet

The Beyondress

2009-03-23T18:47:00.007-04:00

All you do is say, "scope that out over there," and consider it done. She enjoys the work. She enjoys nothing more than the snoop. Her peepers are picture perfect prying machines. Beware though, for what she has seen she can never unsee.

8" x 3.5"
Spray paint and sharpie marker on acrylic sheet

Court Advisor

2009-03-20T22:04:00.006-04:00

I don't know what to tell you. She sees it all. Everything. But do not question her methods. Unbelievers will be smitten with her beauty and smote by the imps beneath her gown.

8" x 3.5"
Spray paint and sharpie marker on acrylic sheet

Commence the Dance, Hence

2009-03-19T00:53:00.007-04:00

Count your lucky stars. The dance has begun.

Check out the Sound Advice Device. There is now an announcement track and a new song called Baroness which I think is particularily sexy. Shake your limbs!

8" x 3.5"
Spray paint and sharpie marker on acrylic sheet

The Bubblecraft Brigade

2009-03-19T00:46:00.006-04:00

Who is on her tail? If they're an enemy she doesn't look too concerned about being bested. She should really watch where she's going though. Despite the bubbly appearance that is a vehicle to be taken seriously. Bubble-power is deceivingly more volatile than horse-power.

8" x 3.5"
Spray paint and sharpie marker on acrylic sheet

She's a Keeper

2009-03-19T00:31:00.005-04:00

WOah! 3 weeks since the last post. SHAME! Well's it's not so bad. Unlike past post droughts this one wasn't for lack of postables. And let this stand as an example of what I'm doing when I don't return phone calls on time, or at all, or send ghostly emails 3 weeks later. I'm usually drawing. Or thinking about what I'm going to draw. But mostly drawing. The last few days have brought about the next three posts.

"She's a Keeper." It's what I think about this girl. It's what this girl is thinking about each of her little sproutish finds. Careful concentration is required to pull the blossom out of the stalks with bulb intact. A blossom without a bulb is, well, just not the same.

8" x 3.5"
Spray paint and sharpie marker on acrylic sheet

Mickey Rourke

2009-02-28T13:45:00.007-05:00

So here's the first of what I'm hoping will be many celebrity portraits with the Parallel Pen. Mickey Rourke, the actor turned boxer turned actor playing brutes, savages and other ne'er-do-wells, is kind of enigmatic. In the past he has been described as a nightmare to work with but in recent years he has forged a street cred that is almost impenetrable. Going through his wikipedia page makes for some interesting "what ifs?" when you look at some of the massive roles he apparently turned down. Tom Cruise's role in Rain Man, Eliot Ness in the Untouchables, Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop (WTF?!?!) and Christopher Lambert's role in The Highlander.

The portrait is drawn on Bienfang Graphics 360 Translucent Marker Paper. Love it! No Bleeding! Not even bleeding through to the next page.

New Toy!

2009-02-28T13:07:00.005-05:00

Well I'd been eying this thing for a while at Job #2. It's Pilot's Parallel Pen, in particular the broadest one, 6.0 mm. The parallel bit refers to the nib which unlike most fountain pen/calligraphy nibs has no top or bottom and is instead made up of 2 identical plates which sandwich the ink. The drawing above was my first crack at using it. I am head over heels in love with this pen. The colours are vivid and it allows me to work a lot looser which is a welcomed change from the meticulous line work I usually employ. The ink is begging to get out but it never really gushes or pools. It is very versatile. You can use the full width for broad traditional calligraphy strokes or you can use the just the corners of the blunt square tip to get the thinnest of strokes.

My aim at present is to do celebrity portraits in this style...the first of which is already completed...stay tuned.

This is drawn on 100 lb. bristol paper with vellum finish (Strathmore).

"Too high, Bug-eater." PART 2!!!

2009-02-26T17:09:00.005-05:00

Another installment of the Greatest Misses switch plate series.....kind of. This is the sequel to the previous installment seen HERE. It started as a suggestion from my friend Yves and was further promoted by my eternal cohort, Amarina. I'm so glad I did it.

This amazon made short work of her avian foe. Yikes on bikes! That is one sharp elbow. POW!

Available here at Cyclops and Owl

"Too high, Bug-eater."

2009-02-18T13:06:00.005-05:00

Here's another of the Greatest Misses series of switch plates. Entitled "Too high, Bug-eater."

He really should have caught her in the face if he was going to get away without a broken arm, which is surely what that girl is planning on doing once she snatches that sword and breaks it over her knee.

Available here at Cyclops and Owl

Tinbeard

2009-02-15T19:06:00.003-05:00

An old ghost robot, Tinbeard rides his plume of smoke in search closure. The factory where he used to be employed burned down during the 5th annual Flamethrower Festival.

This piece is done on the same 5"x7" matte board that Abe was, gel pen and.....GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MOD PODGE. That's where it gets that green tint. I layered it on thick to build up the silhouette in the beginning. Though I couldn't take a picture that would capture it, Tinbeard glows quite hauntingly, especially on the hands and head, where I made the Podge the thickest.

A+B= 5 cents

2009-01-07T14:58:00.006-05:00

This is my submission for the Lincoln Exhibition @ the Art In The Age Of Mechanical Reproduction Store. White and shadow orange (metallic) gel pen on matte board. I am falling deeper and deeper in love with these pens. They are so sexy smooth, I highly recommend them. Especially if you are trying to come up with a new signature.
I tried to keep it simple so I could concentrate on Abe's incredible hair. I couldn't resist a harmless looking bullet placed very much like a diagram. The arrangement dictated the title. Other title options included "Famous Headshot" (too "cool") and Emancipation Sensation (too silly). A+B= 5 cents...perhaps just silly enough. I hope they like it. I hope Canadians are clear to submit. I haven't seen anything to suggest otherwise. Fingers crossed!

Harvest On The Sly

2008-12-29T20:38:00.006-05:00

Pssst. Is the coast clear? This was a commissioned gift for someone that I assume it has been given. So now YOU get to see it.

Three more slims

2008-12-29T19:59:00.005-05:00

I very badly want to get prints made of the 2 sets of 3 slims. I've only to get the scratch together for the hi-res scanning. Save, save, SAVE!

Buzz Aldrin is a DICK!

2008-12-10T12:52:00.004-05:00

So my friend Peter had this awesome idea. He wanted something meaningful and clever to put on the wall of his new (and yet to be constructed) condo. He decided he was going to get a copy of "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd and get Buzz Aldrin to autograph it. Mr. Aldrin was going to be at a convention in town. Turns out that Buzz is charging $300 for autographs and only on specific Buzz Aldrin stationary. Needless to say, Peter was pissed. So he decided he would get me to draw dead astronauts on the album instead.

Here it is, drawn during Peter's birthday party among riotous drinking and gaming. I added the Polish coat of arms on the flag because Peter is totally Polish and it was on his t-shirt. Also, here is a link to a pic of both sides. The back of the sleeve was left open for the rest of the party attendees to illustrate all manner of debauchery and surrealism in honour of Peter's birth.

Greatest Misses: Uno

2008-12-09T02:22:00.007-05:00

This is the first of an ongoing series of switch plates called "Greatest Misses." The concept is big-time moves that never made their mark. Narrow misses, lucky dodges and perhaps a few scarce "BLOCK!"s.

Available at the Cyclops and Owl shop HERE

Stay Tuned.

Scavenger Hunt

2008-12-08T12:46:00.004-05:00

One Last Nightcap

2008-11-03T23:31:00.006-05:00

Scissored Sisters

2008-11-03T13:51:00.004-05:00

Fish-ball Treadstrong

2008-11-03T13:34:00.003-05:00

How to Lose Them

2008-11-03T13:32:00.002-05:00

Minutia And Her Little Things

2008-10-10T12:28:00.006-04:00

She's had a long day. Doing what? I haven't the slightest idea. That's for your subconscious to decide. But her trusty companions are more than capable of brightening her evening. For the zoologically unaware, those are marmosets.

From left to right they are Saffron, Chi-Chee and Saul. Saul would really appreciate it if Minutia would quit smoking. Minutia wants to but resists to spite Saul who, even for a marmoset, is kind of a jerk.

All's Well

2008-10-01T02:10:00.004-04:00

Careful Aim

2008-09-22T00:05:00.005-04:00

The Queen's Accusation

2008-09-19T13:05:00.003-04:00

I love drawing on these records! Let me state that I'm not drawing just on any old records. These are only records that are virtually unlistenable, either due to condition or content. My apologies to the Bette Midler fans out there. I'm an artist not an archivalist.

CYCLOPS AND OWL SWITCH PLATES!

2008-09-18T17:05:00.005-04:00

I'm starting to make custom switch plates. Available at Cyclops and Owl. I'd say that I'll be making them non-stop to keep up with demand but I haven't sold them yet so I'll be making them non-stop because I enjoy it. Stabitha the Valkyrie and Them Gnarly Talons. You KNOW you're light switches are boring. What the hell are you waiting for?

3 Slims Together

2008-09-10T16:04:00.002-04:00

I never thought about them as a union but it does make me awfully happy to see them elbow to elbow.

The Frilled She-Genie and Breach

2008-09-10T15:46:00.005-04:00

Intermission

2008-08-02T13:44:00.004-04:00

Long hours in smokey bars and the blaring throb of the organ is relentless. Yes, it's amazing but one of them is missing the salmon run.

Bliss Listenings

2008-08-02T13:40:00.004-04:00

Yeah. It's a family portrait.

The Imposter

2008-08-02T13:36:00.003-04:00

The Tug-of-War Hydra

2008-08-02T13:24:00.005-04:00

Yma strikes it rich

2008-07-26T11:04:00.003-04:00

These are boxes Amy and I did for our friends' nintendo-themed wedding. Sooo much fun!

Crockenspiel And Her Keeper

2008-07-22T14:29:00.005-04:00

She's like a reptilian inspired military version of Lionel Hampton...with great gams and a nice rack! This is the first of several pieces that will be done on records. Musically themed animal/human pairings. None likely to be as PUN-ishing as this one. Aiming to have them done for the Whippersnapper end-of-summer show.

Cyclops and Owl

2008-05-21T13:44:00.003-04:00

I've opened an Etsy store here. I'm slowly listing past artworks and making new ones. Buttons will follow in short order and T-shirts as well. And so begins my quest to carve out a niche for myself on this extremely exciting marketplace.

You have some money burning a whole in your pocket? Run, don't walk, to Cyclops and Owl!

Awakening the Valkyrie Cowbell

2008-05-21T13:29:00.002-04:00

So I made my first submission to threadless

It was for a promotion they do for different bands and other things called "threadless loves." This particular one was for the band Hot Chip. The sub-theme was "interesting use of glow ink" (hot chip's latest album is called "Made In The Dark") and all the submissions were doing mostly retarded things like designs that didn't become anything until it glowed. I've seen shirts with glow ink and I know that it has a limited strength and isn't invisible when not glowing so I didn't want to do a design that wasn't cool until it glowed. My intention was to have all white space glow. I went simple and thus secured my fate. My average ranking was 1.05 out of 5. Thanks, threadless "community." It needed to get to 1.5 to even be considered for the next part of the judging process. Oh well. I love this chick and I plan on making a shirt of it at some point.

Bitch In The Sky

2008-05-15T18:21:00.004-04:00

Thanks to the lovely Pamela, hairstylist extraordinaire, this delightful depiction is hung prominently at GOTSTYLE, 489 King Street West Toronto. It's a menswear store of the highest order complete with spa. It is even cooler now that it has this beauty towering over it.

Anniversary!

2008-04-26T14:47:00.002-04:00

So it was Amy's and my 2 year anniversary this past March. Seems like yesterday, seems like forever. Blah blah blah. I'm so freaking lucky. This is the card I gave her. The inside read, "My sweet Amarina, have a faceful of my love this year and ever after. Needless to say, she loved it.

Demon and Waitress

2008-02-21T13:29:00.005-05:00

These 2, the demon and the waitress, were made specifically to give my portfolio a little more darkness and intrigue. Just continuing to rebuild my creative muscles. In the past 4 years I did a lot of great work but it wasn't always the most creatively satisfying material. With these 2 darlings under my belt I already feel like I'm swinging for the fences again!

Wash Up & Brush Co!

2008-02-12T16:37:00.000-05:00

This is the logo I did for Wash Up & Brush Co!, a boutique full of delightful baubles at Broadview and Danforth. It also happens to be where Amy works. Slap her a five if you happen to swing by.