#81 and #88 of 100 Elephants: Aliens

I had been thinking about doing an alien for some time. I was not happy with #81 so a few numbers latter I reproached it. I feel I pushed the idea farther with #88. He looks more alien with the multiple eyes and legs.

Two New Bow Ties Available

Two more of my bow ties are now available at Beau Ties LTD of Vermont.

For the fox lover you can have the tie “Fantastic.”  And if you love Dinosaurs you can have a tie replete with various dinos called “Dinomite.”

They are also available as neck ties. 

Spring Cover for Beau Ties LTD of Vermont

In addition to the new bow tie, the latest catalog from Beau Ties LTD just came. I tried to fit as many bow ties as I could in the image and stopped short of putting them on each of the tulips.

Update on the Bow Tie Front

I just received news that Moosalamoo, the Bow Tie, I designed has been the top selling Bow Tie at Beau Ties LTD for the past two weeks. They are ordering more fabric. This is exciting.

IF Sight (sketching at the Fairbanks Museum)

As part of the sketching class I am teaching we visited the Fairbanks Museum in St Johnsbury VT. They have a wonderful selection of taxidermic animals that are wonderful to draw. It is great practice and warms them up to sketching from life when everything is moving. Inevitably all the animals I draw their end up with bow ties, glasses and sweater vests. The owl seemed to screech “sight”

Puzzled

This is a reworking of one of the Bow Tie Guys that started it all. When approaching this weeks Illustration Friday word, puzzled, I couldn't help but think, “when in doubt have a robot with a bunch of birds around it.” It will work for almost anything.

Bow Tie Guy of the Week (Inkling test)

Anteater (ˈantˌētər)

Last week I received the Wacom Inkling to play around with to see if we were going to purchase some for students to check out. The Inkling is a pen and a storage device that records the pen-strokes as you put them on the paper. If you want to see more you can go to the Wacom Site here.

The second image is my first sketch with it. The one above it is my pencil drawing. I will be testing it out over the next few weeks and posting different drawings with it. I am not used to drawing with a pen so right now it is a little rough around the edges. It is pretty nifty.

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess

In honor of Dr. Suess' birthday, I put the Lorax in a bow tie. Dr. Suess is quiet possibly the most influential children's book writer and illustrator that has lived. I know for me he had a great impact on my art. His books are insightful, fun, witty, and intelligent. He never underestimated the knowledge of a child. I am forever grateful for his contribution to our society.

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”

Dr Suess

A Match Made in Heaven

I was going to try to announce this last week, but I took a day off and was away from the internet for a few days. (Sometimes you just need to take a break.)

On Thursday, I took a beautiful drive to Middlebury, VT to visit Beau Ties LTD. of Vermont to talk about the possibility of working with them and having my Bow Tie Guys on their ties. It was a wonderful visit. I was impressed with their kindness and the quality of their work. It was so exciting for me to meet everyone there.

I am thrilled at the opportunity to work with them. It is as if a dream has come true. If all goes well we will be seeing some of my illustrations on bow ties this fall. It is also possible that I will be doing some illustrations for their catalog. I will be making updates on the process without giving too much away. I like to build suspense.

I would also like to thank Leslie Cherrington for her involvement in helping make this happen. If it wasn't for her e-mailing Beau Ties and telling them about me, I would have probably never gotten around to contacting them myself. I feel blessed to have many great friends.

You can visit Beau Ties LTD. of Vermont here and see their current line of ties.

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Frog-Rex (fräg-reks)

One of the wonderful outcomes of my 100 Bow Ties in 100 days or less project was not only the time I set aside to draw, but also the ideas that came out of it. I found that in become more familiar with drawing many different animals the easier it is to mix them up and be creative. The Frog-Rex is a result of that understanding. He just showed up in my sketchbook one day.

Second Bow Tie Guy of the Week

Pangolin 2.0 (pa ng ˈgōlin)

Being one that is rarely satisfied with his work, I have redrawn the Pangolin Bow Tie Guy. This one has more personality. You can see the original here. He still looks like a poké mon

Weekly Bow Tie Guy

Moose (moōs)

I am always amazed at how big and awkward these guys are. Years ago I was driving on Rt. 114 in Vermont and a bull moose came out on the road from the left. I was in my Geo Metro at the time and I swear I could have driven underneath it and not get a scratch.

I wasn't happy with my previous moose. so I spent a great deal of time researching and drawing moose over and over. I keep coming back to what I learned in my MFA with Bunny Carter and Denis Nolan. Draw it a hundred times and then you can draw it.

IF Prepare

Here we have a kiwi bird preparing for the difficult task of tying a bow tie. What makes it more difficult is that he has no wings and yet through the act of preparing through mediation or prayer we realize that he just might be able to accomplish the seemingly impossible.

I have found this to be true in my life as well. I find that when I make time in the morning to pray, to contemplate the day ahead of me, and to meditate in silence, I am able to accomplish a great deal more. I also accomplish it with more peace than when I go into the day without the proper preparation.

101 Bow Ties in 100 days More or Less

Dalmatian (dalˈmā sh ən)

To this point I have refrained from drawing dogs. They, like cats, are too common. I prefer the odd and the unique, but when Julia suggested I do this I couldn't resist.

I have recently begun reading and studying Richard Williams book, The Animators Survival Kit, and it has reminded me again the need to be an expert drawer. It is a wonderful book for any artist. In just the first chapter, I realize I have more to improve upon. Here is to a year of drawing.

-99 to go.

Happy Holidays

This is the image my children chose for the Christmas card this year. I fear what I have done to them. I will be taking a break for the next week or so to enjoy some time with the family. Here is wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas.

100 Bow ties on Parade (IF Highlight)

In looking back over the year, finishing this personal project was definitely a highlight. I learned much about myself and my art in the process. It really helps to set goals and then to stick with them. I have always felt that an artist should work on drawing everyday, but with teaching and other responsibilities it seemed impossible. This last year, I made it a goal and set aside time to do it. It has been rewarding in so many ways. I am less stressed, my drawing improved and I feel I became more creative.

After all that work this is what I did. It is currently being shown in the Quimby Gallery at Lyndon State College as part of the 100 year celebration of the school. It was a fun project.

100 of 100 Bow Ties in 100 Days or Less

Hummingbird (ˈhəmi ng ˌbərd)

This is the last of the 100 bow ties in 100 days I actually managed to finish 2 days shy of the actual due date. Tomorrow I will be posting the final illustration I completed for this project. I wanted to end on a simple note. I have fond memories of watching the hummingbirds swarm the feeders my mother set up. They are beautifully fascinating fowl.

My mind is already twirling for the next bow tie project.

99 of 100 Bow Ties in 100 Days or Less

Tractor (ˈtraktər)

Over the years I have lived in Vermont I have developed a great love for the beauty of old tractors. This is based on a friend of mine's tractor. I saw it and I had to draw it. He wanted to put the other light on, but I loved it the way it was. They have so much character. Now, when I drive through Vermont, I slow down whenever I see an old tractor. I'm not so sure about his thoughts on my adding the bow tie.

Tomorrow is the last day of the 100 bow ties.

98 of 100 Bow Ties in 100 Days or Less (Separated)

Brain in a Jar (brān in ā jär)

I came into work on Saturday to get some grading done and thought I would also post for the Illustration Friday word “separated.” A bit of a different take on the word the Brain is separated from the rest of the body.

2 left until the 100 are completed. At some point next week I will post the Illustration I completed for the 100 year celebration for Lyndon State College.

88-92 of 100 Bow Ties in 100 Days or Less (Brigade)

Tribbles (ˈtribəls)

I thought it would be funny to draw a tribble with a bow tie. When I had completed one I realized you can't have just one tribble, so I drew two thinking that would be enough, but it was not. I don't even think five is adiquate, but it will do for now. Here we have a brigade of deadly tribbles in there conquest of the Klingon Empire for Illustration Friday's word of the week, “Brigade.”

6 left to complete by December 15 (I think this might continue past 100)