Jan 6 2011

#298 – The contest continues…

Tug-of-war

The corporate sellers of this house have countered again.  I’m running out of visual metaphors here.

[Comments and critique always welcome]

P.S. Yes, that’s a hint of pregnancy belly showing on my wife.


Jan 2 2011

#294 – Back in Black

Darth Vader

Returning to the black paper stock for today’s sinister sketch.

Today was my last day of a nice 11-day break from work.  So did I go out and do something adventurous?  Of course not.  I got together with a couple of friends and watched a back-to-back-to-back triple feature of Star Wars Episodes 4, 5 & 6.  A good time.  So here’s little tribute to the role so big it required three actors.  And a stunt double.  And later, apparently a little kid.  And a petulant-sounding twentysomething.  But let’s try not to think about those last two.

[Comments and critique always welcome]

P.S. This sketch is based on a common photo found online — one for which I can’t find any copyright info.


Dec 31 2010

#292 – No spoilers

Inception totemInception is just one of those movies that gets stuck in your brain — as previously demonstrated.  I watched it again today for the second time, so of course it came out in today’s sketch.

[Comments and critique always welcome]


Dec 28 2010

#289 – Accidental inspiration?

Long hair

I did this little charcoal drawing of a long-haired girl inspired by another Flickr photo.  I made a few modifications in the course of drawing it, and then realized it kind of looks like a friend of mine.  Anyway, it’s pretty simple, but I like how it turned out.

[Comments and critique always welcome]


Dec 24 2010

#285 – Achievement Unlocked!

Falling an oakCut down a tree for the first time today.  Gotta admit, that was pretty cool.  We’re up in the mountains for a woodcutting fundraiser held by the parents of a good friend.  The big woodcut is on Sunday, but today we needed to harvest another couple of their trees in order to have enough to work with.  It does make me think though: probably “plant a tree” should be the next achievement unlocked.

[Comments and critique always welcome]


Dec 22 2010

#283 – And the Darwin Award goes to…

Darwin AwardsI had to clear out a blocked downspout to keep up with all the rain we’ve been getting.  Today’s sketch celebrates my in-hindsight-super-idiotic decision to go up on the roof  in a thunderstorm carrying a 10-foot metal pole.  Thankfully, the worst case scenario depicted here didn’t actually play out.  I live to sketch another day!

[Comments and critique always welcome]


Dec 20 2010

#281 – Life changing

UltrasoundSince my wife has officially made the announcement now, I can sketch freely about what’s been on my mind.  And mostly, it’s been this.  (In fact, the last five sketches have been about this new development in one way or another.)

This is drawn from another image (of course), but still I think the process of sketching this has made the whole thing more real than anything else.  More than seeing the ultrasound.  More than hearing the heartbeat.  More than telling family and friends.  As I pulled a simple charcoal curve to outline the head, it truly clicked.

[Comments and critique always welcome]


Dec 18 2010

#279 – A job well done

HandshakeShook hands with a long-time family friend today.  For one reason or another, that moment stuck in my brain and became this inspiration for today’s sketch.

[Comments and critique always welcome]

(Sketch is based on this reference photo).


Dec 17 2010

#278 – Comfort, food

StovetopTonight, my wife felt like making a great meal that she hasn’t made for a while.  Mmmmm….meatloaf.  But since I’ve already sketched meatloaf itself, I figured I’d go with some of the tools of the trade for today’s drawing.

[Comments and critique always welcome]


Dec 15 2010

#276 – Heartbeat!

HeartbeatWanted to do a simple graphic element today.  Seemed a good fit for the white charcoal as well.  Plus, who doesn’t love Don Johnson?  Oh, right — most people.

[Comments and critique always welcome]