Sketchbook Work

I didnt "blog" for about a month, as corny as that sounds to say, usually when I get really busy, I forget to document my activities; photographing, uploading onto the various sites I belong to, etc. But I document my every move in my sketchbooks, and I've been doing this since I was about 12. I have boxes of sketchbooks at my parents house, and I tend to keep a few at a time and fill them up about a couple times a year. At some point this year, I want to do a day to day type post for a month, documenting sketchbook pages as they progress.

Sometimes pages look this this. Just "to do" lists, or grocery lists or floating ideas.

Heres some images from my current sketchbook...

I HEART YOU FRESNO SUMMER

part 1 in an ongoing camera phone series documenting the approaching fresno heat wave

This Week Only

The show we put together for The Laundry Room is staying up a little longer...maybe only until the end of the week. So if you you're stupid couldnt make it out last Thursday, you've still got a few days.

Really though, what better plans did you have that you missed out on a FREE show with FREE live music and FREE beer?

The Laundry Room
7835 North Palm Avenue #103
Fresno, CA 93711

Happy Leighton Meester

A little late. But here it is anyway. Think of it like when you see that Uncle of yours who always misses birthdays and Christmases, but he shows up in the middle of June, and hands you a sweaty 20 dollar bill in all its card-less glory... like that. But visually.

Artism

For the past month and a half, I had the pleasure of working with some very naturally talented Artists. Artists that aren't influenced by what's "in" right now, artists that listen completely to their heart, as cheesy as that is to say, and only worry about keeping themselves, not the viewer or the "client" entertained.

I was asked to help with this show, which was being put on by my more lovely, and educated girlfriend, in order to raise money for BIA/the village, a local school/company that works primarily with children with autism. I stressed out for two months, worrying about how to make this show happen, but when it actually came down to it, the kids did all the work and I just stood by in awe.

"Up", by Mark Florez. Awesome kid from Visalia who draws any Disney character from memory. I met up with him for a drawing session, and pretty much just ended up watching.

Me; "Hey Mark, wanna draw together? Both of us on one paper?"

Mark; "Ummmm, Don't think so."


Collab between Me and Sydney Lopez. Amazing girl who creates worlds with her hands. Genius. Just Genius....

Gary, Steve, Sydney, Tracy and I, holding up our custom works of art that Syd made for us.

Terrance Reimer, Me and Syd. Terrance bought our collaboration, entitled, "Your Highness, Stop This Now!"

"Coyote Tree", which Gary, owner of Iron Bird Cafe, bought. Really wanted this one. Fun Fact; Kyle, the artist of this piece, flicked my nephew on the fore head on his first day of school.

Sako Panossian, standing in front of our collab, entitled, "car QX".
Fun Fact; Whilst painting with Sako, I put on the soundtrack from the movie "Amelie". Sako stopped painting and listened, then asked if it was French music, which it was, he then told me that he loved French music. Sako's 10.
I love working with other artists, but never really do it even though most of my best friends are painters or illustrators and when I pretty much, lived, at Broadway Studios, collaborations were all we talked about but never did it.
My next body of work will consist of all the techniques Im stealing from these kids.

Show is being extended for another month and will be up through the entire month of May at

Iron Bird Cafe
1915 Fulton Street
in Beautiful Downtown Fresno

Go See It With Yer' Own Eyes!

See more on this show here. here. here. and here.

See more of the Amazing Sydney Lopez's work at Nersha.net

Neighbors

Neighbors: Mike Giant (Full Length) from Agency Charlie on Vimeo.

Not a huge Mike Giant fan, but I love seeing how other illustrators work. Its pretty interesting to check out all his little techniques and figure out how his "magic" works. He's well known for never "sketching" his drawings out, he just skips all those steps and does the ink work...doesn't seem all that impressive with that projector being used so liberally hmmmmmm. And I wonder how he keeps the sharpie ink from turning purple on his drawings? Everytime I've used sharpie markers on any of my drawings, the color went from black, to purple after a while...plus, "sharpie black" is never truly black at all. I dont know, I guess I can save these questions for whenever I actually meet Mr. Giant in person...