Nevermind the sketches. Behold! The (finished) tentacurl.

This is an edition of five, and I use the term "edition" loosely. This was created using a polyester lithograph plate and the plate was determined to make my thousands of shade lines into a much more sinister, over-inked mess. The first image is one of my initial prints onto newsprint, and although it is essentially perfect, it being on newsprint makes it worthless. the remained look nearly identical to the lithograph plate I have pictured. I'm kind of in love with it. I wasn't impressed when it initially started to fill in my line work, but I just let the process happen and I am more than happy with it now. These are not for sale (sorry!).

Spring Cleaning

I have redesigned Base Aesthetic, instead of finishing the "tentacurl" pronto plate this morning. This is more than likely just going to be temporary until I get my portfolio site up, but it is definitely in sync with my sketchbooks and mind-maps that I make during my creative process. So for now, it's appropriate. Let me know what you think!

BEHOLD! The Tentacurl.

Seattle Museum of Art

Things seem to come full circle now-a-days. There was a class recently in my Concept course that we discussed what it takes to be a great designer. Knowing your art history and being a sponge while observing the world. Bob showed us a reel that had launched someone's career and it was a gorgeous take on traditional Japanese imagery and incorporating it in a new way.


One thing that really stuck out to me was in the reel, the clouds were very thin and elongated. To admit my ignorance, I had never seen this rendition of clouds before. While I was in Seattle in February, nearly a week after watching that movie, I visited the SAM and hanging on the wall was a tradtional Japanese theatre komono... With the clouds!

Mixtape Pillow for RA

I have my laptop back, yesssssssssssssssssss.

I was conducting a wee experiment on sleep deprivation, dehydration, starvation, and hypercconsciousness (http://liu.english.ucsb.edu/wiki1/index.php/Hyperconsciousness:_Creative_Mode:_Research_Report). And had, up until 3:00 am today, not slept, ate, or drank for 45 hours. So close to a full two days, but I gave in. I wasn't exactly sure as to what I was trying to output over the duration of this week, but I had everything out. I had two guitar set ups, transcription papers, prepped boards to paint on, charcoal paper, watercolor paper, color-aid, newsprint, newspaper, fabric swatches, and most of the "fixin's" to accompany those mediums.
What I made yesterday was cute, but no where near what I was hoping for. It very well could just be a study. This is a wallet that I told my boyfriend I would make for him about two weeks ago.

Wondercon 2008

I went to this beautiful event yesterday, at the Moscone Center South, in San Francisco. I had little expectations, considering I have attended a comic book convention in several years. I have a control issue when it comes to certain series (Batman the Detective, Conan the Barbarian, Uncanny Xmen, and most current: Marvel Zombies), and anything related to Sailor Moon.
It's a little embarrassing to think about a five year old me falling in love with this leggy blonde while I'm at my babysitter's waiting for the bus. I remember that it came on at 6:00am for a while, and I wouldn't go back to sleep after my parents dropped me off at 5:30am because I didn't want to miss that rerun. My obsession is more on the healthy side now, I only pick up a few new pieces a year.
Back to WonderCon! The Moscone was PACKED. The amount of people in costumes that clearly took at least several weeks was impressive. Amongst the most impressive included two babes fully representing the elves of Lodos War, Doctor Who, FatBoy (the burgers...), a very little girl as Sailor Jupiter (kawaii!), and... SAILOR MOON! Yikes. I need to turn down my inner nerd.

Although there were tons of great finds that I definitely could have thrown down some green for, I exercised every ounce of restraint that I had and only picked up a copy of "Hand Job: A Catalog of Type" by Michael Perry. As much as I covet an original paste-up panel from Albert Moy based in Bayside, New York, I need all of my interest to be focused on becoming the best designer I can muster.
"Hand Job" looks absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure that I will write about more in depth once I finish the two books I'm currently working on.
And finally, I discovered Last Gasp which is a graphic book store. They are hosting a release party for "Best Erotic Comics" at the Cartoon Art Museum this coming Thursday.