Note Cards

Have you heard of Etsy? Quite a few people mention that I should open up an Etsy store. I think I will. A friend suggested that I put my artwork onto a note card. I like how they turn out. She also order my first box of cards. How cool is that?!

On Exhibit @ 2nd Look Books

I love to read and get inspiration for my artworks. 2nd Look Books  have a great selection of used books at a great price. While you relax and lounging around at 2nd Look Books, be sure to look up and check out my artworks. They are available for purchase. Just ask!

IF: Shadows

Lurking in the shadow.....guess who is eating who for dinner?
Poe's poem and Hitchcock's movie was going through my brain when I was drawing this....

The Raven
By Edgar Allan Poe

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door-
Only this, and nothing more."Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;- vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow- sorrow for the lost Lenore-
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore-
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door-
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;-
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door;-
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore!"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!"-
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore-
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore;-
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door-
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door-
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore-
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door-
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered-
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before-
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore-
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never- nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and
door; Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore-
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee- by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite- respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore!
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil!- prophet still, if bird or devil!-
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore-
Is there- is there balm in Gilead?- tell me- tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil- prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us- by that God we both adore-
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"By that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted- nevermore!

"The Son of Man"

This doggy portrait was inspired by Rene Magritte's painting. A dog is man's best friend, maybe Mr.Right for some people and some people even treats their dogs like their children.  So I thought maybe they make the perfect "Son of Man". :p
 

 I've also posted Magritt's painting along with my illustration. See any resemblance? :)

Bold Colors

I did a dog portrait for a client and she likes lime, orange, and electric blue. I thought wow those are bold colors how can I make that work on a dog? It's going to be a cool challenge I thought.

Here are the results and I even up a notch by having very bold circular background, too! I'm not sure which one I prefer but I would have to leave that up to the client. :)

Illustration Friday: Breakfast

Sometimes I rather sleep than eat.

Chill Out

This year there had been some serious major heatwaves across the country. I couldn't sleep last night. So what did I do the whole night until dawn? I whip out my Wacom tablet and drew a dog portrait. While the little Pug takes in some cold comfort, I'm taking in a little inspiration from the hot weather.

The Lucky Cat from Japan

I found the cutest cat photo on a Japanese website. What an expression he had. I knew I had to draw him. I named him Neko-unchi and everything about the illustration is inspired by the Japanese pop culture.
FYI: The name for the lucky cat in Japanese is Maneki Neko.

I wonder what kitty is up to?

I'm happy to see my coordination is getting better with the Wacom tablet. As I illustrate this piece, I was thinking about Alfred Hitchcock. Therefore, it's a little bit more sinister than what I normally do. Maybe next time, I'll think about the Three Stooges. :p

A Battle of Cats and Dogs

My first attempt at a comic strip. It's harder than I thought. You actually have to write something. :p

The Terrier from Boston

Poodle Doddle

I tried out my Wacom on Photoshop again.

Pet Portrait

I love my new gift. I got a Wacom tablet for Christmas. It's like learning to draw all over again. The hand eye monitor coordination is a little tough for me but I'm slowly adjusting to it. It's like drawing without looking down at your paper. However, I managed to draw a dog portrait in Photoshop with the Wacom tablet. The image was inspired from a photo called "Eliana" by Rosemarie Trockel. I thought the photo was intriguing and I want to capture the essense and expression of the dog with minimal line and color.