woodenwater and sometimes monsters

Sandman

2012-01-18T21:50:00.000-06:00

Last year I had a great idea for a book of ink drawings of bass players and their basses. I didn't get too far. In fact, I got as far as this portrait of Mark Sandman. Luckily, I figured out a way to work it in to my Thump project, which is moving along pretty well.

FEW Spirits

2012-01-17T16:39:00.002-06:00

I continually forget to make mention of the illustration work I've been doing with the Evanston design firm Wilburn Thomas. Evanston's first and only distillery began last Spring and goes by the name FEW Spirits. I could ramble on in my tangential and nonsensical way, but here is a great showcase of the work.

Venus: new poster for DePaul.

2012-01-14T09:29:00.001-06:00

Last week I wrapped up this poster/postcard combo for the Theatre School at DePaul. Reshmi Hazra is a great director to work with and I look forward to this show. It's right around the corner and its free, so check it out.

I really enjoy seeing the process of things (assuming the final product is interesting). So, assuming you think this looks interesting, here is the behind the scenes:

Pie for pie chart

2012-01-04T14:36:00.002-06:00

I did a painting of a pie:

Which became this pie on the computer:

Which became a pie chart on page 164 of January's CS Magazine.

Curio's Album Release Show (poster)

2012-01-02T10:32:00.003-06:00

Bridezilla

2011-12-15T17:54:00.001-06:00

The Chicago Brides Book is out, which means I get to show you these drawings I did a couple months ago. They're for an article called Brides Gone Wild. Page one, we see bridezilla terrorizing her bridesmaids, page two we see the gracious bride. Choose your path wisely young brides (although I will say it's much more fun to draw pink eye-lazers with explosions than people getting along).

Thump on his way to the Bottom Lounge to see Deerhoof

2011-12-11T10:21:00.001-06:00

2011-12-08T20:24:00.001-06:00

I recently finished up some album packaging for the evil dudes of Curio. The album will be out in January and the it will be good stuff. Go check 'em out!

Rahm

2011-12-06T13:07:00.001-06:00

The Arts and Power issue of CS is on newsstands now. I did a portrait of Rahm Emanuel for the issue based on his official portrait. Below are a couple of the layers that make up the final image:

A new poster for Misters Landess and Mayes.

2011-11-29T19:58:00.001-06:00

Important Bass Terms: No. 7 Mwah.

2011-11-27T19:28:00.001-06:00

You can watch a video on "mwah" here.

Some other important terms...

2011-11-21T21:45:00.001-06:00

Important terms for bass guitar: no. 1, Thump.

2011-11-17T07:47:00.001-06:00

Curio Logo

2011-11-16T19:07:00.001-06:00

Over the last couple of months I've been working on a logo for Curio. That's not an entirely true statement. I worked on the logo in October, before then I was just trying different type ideas on posters. From the first poster:

From the second and third posters:

Logo version 1:

And then:

And here's the final version:

Check out their music.

Torch Singer

2011-11-14T16:59:00.001-06:00

I play bass in Torch Singer and we just released our second recording on Sunday. These Remote Places is a friendly, as well as a family affair. The band itself is a 6-piece with a brother and sister, a husband and wife and two other weirdos. The album packaging features some artwork by Teresa (my wife), a band portrait by Sheila, and some illustrations by me.

You can listen, look, and order here.

Thump's Conversation of Groove

2011-11-06T09:40:00.000-06:00

I'm in the early stages of character development and story writing for a new comic. Something I'd like to have as an on-going thing. The basic idea is Thump (seen above) is on a musical search for Groove--randomness happens and the Groove remains ever elusive and always evolving. Just trying to marry my interest in music with my love of drawing. Thump's Conversation of Groove was a song about a week before it became a story and you can hear that nonsense here. I think it's better if you imagine Thump playing it instead of me.

I had a buck in the drawer and a twenty in my wallet.

2011-11-05T11:23:00.001-05:00

Quadruple Portrait!

2011-11-04T13:05:00.000-05:00

This is a new illustration for The Atlantan magazine for a play coming to the Alliance Theatre called The Ghost Brother of Darkland County, written by Stephen King, music produced by T Bone Burnett and written by John Mellencamp, Directed by Alliance Theatre Artistic Director Susan V. Booth. You can view online or pick it up if you're in Atlanta. Below are the sketches leading up to the final illustration.

Illustration for CS

2011-11-03T13:52:00.002-05:00

Although I have done a few illustrations for other Modern Luxury zines, this is the first one for Chicago. Nice to make it into the hometown book! This is for a piece on MVP Sports Logistics which helps move professional athletes. As of today, find it in print or online.

These Remote Places: The Tall House in the Hills

2011-10-31T21:00:00.002-05:00

A very sad mac lookin' Big Joe

2011-10-20T10:28:00.003-05:00

Recording in Fields and Streets.

2011-10-18T19:29:00.000-05:00

For a while now I've been wanting to incorporate normal-day-in-day-out sounds into my Howl & Hornswoggle sound sketches. With my trusty Sony TCM-200DV, it looks like I will be torturing your ears with more odd sounds, assuming you click over to the tumblr blog from time to time. It's pretty fun to go around with a camera, sketchbook, and tape recorder. Now, to get a flashlight that doesn't break after a year of use and I'll be a for real detective.

Sure, I remember you.

2011-10-17T20:50:00.002-05:00

New Curio Poster

2011-10-09T12:39:00.000-05:00

Back in the Spring I went to the Chicago Cultural Center to check out their show, Movie Mojo: Hand-Painted Posters from Ghana. I've been incorporating some of the elements I saw into my work since, but this new poster for Curio is the most blatant...

Faustus

2011-10-08T14:31:00.001-05:00

This is my latest poster for The Theatre School at DePaul. Faustus is a take on the play Dr. Faustus, which is a take on Faust. For the low low price of free, it seems silly not to go see it.

About a year later, I hit the scene.

2011-09-25T16:54:00.003-05:00

You're in the desert in a trenchcoat and that's bad news.

2011-09-17T08:55:00.000-05:00

This abstract landscape

2011-09-15T07:34:00.003-05:00

New book

2011-09-12T19:55:00.001-05:00

I've started a new sketchbook in which I will only draw water, here is page one.

Space Aliens from Outer Space.

2011-09-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

The Doughnut

2011-09-03T18:11:00.000-05:00

Determining the Bolo Tie: Part One, Neck Tie.

2011-08-18T10:22:00.002-05:00

Functional Fitness

2011-08-17T09:49:00.002-05:00

A new illustration for Modern Luxury's Men's Book Chicago. This was for a fitness piece on functional fitness and how it applies to everyday life. It may also ask the question: Do wealthy folks ride the L? Discuss...

Another Double Feature!

2011-08-16T09:46:00.001-05:00

T & B watching TV

2011-08-08T21:53:00.000-05:00

Buckley and Shape

2011-08-07T08:04:00.001-05:00

Underwater Space Shuttle

2011-08-03T14:34:00.000-05:00

When We Wander into Walt Whitman's Wide Open West.

2011-08-01T07:33:00.000-05:00

Secluded Cabin Studio for Paul Klee

2011-07-28T23:08:00.000-05:00

Gary: Music Maker

2011-07-28T09:08:00.004-05:00

As I've said, Gary plays in every band, here is a poster for his next show. Gary on guitbox and Kevin on bass fiddle.

Teresa thought it really needed a ghost, so she added this little guy:

spooky.

Torch Singer lettering

2011-07-27T22:21:00.000-05:00

Heart of Man

2011-07-26T07:41:00.000-05:00

sometimes monsters

2011-07-24T12:57:00.000-05:00

Escape from the Carbonated Planet!

2011-07-23T09:58:00.000-05:00

hands, lettering

2011-07-20T19:21:00.001-05:00

Gary Landess plays the music

2011-07-18T10:24:00.002-05:00

Gary Landess plays drums or guitar in every band in Chicago, this August you can see him play in two of those bands in one night--here's the poster:

The Monster von Frankenstein appearing rather annoyed with the steady decline in the quality of Dean Koontz's Frankenstein Novels.

2011-07-17T10:12:00.002-05:00

New project, begun.

2011-07-10T10:53:00.000-05:00

Dear Diary: February 11, 2010

2011-07-06T20:41:00.001-05:00

Dear Diary: February 10, 2010

2011-07-04T15:05:00.000-05:00

Super Macho Butterflies!

2011-07-02T19:28:00.003-05:00

First and foremost, woodenwater is a macho blog for macho dudes and you'll notice this last month or so has been extra macho with macho drawings like butterflies, birds, and flowers. Here's some more machismo:

Extreme Beauty!

2011-06-28T15:35:00.003-05:00

Here is the latest illustration for ModLux (topmost) along with the sketches leading up to it. This was for an article talking about extreme beauty procedures such as "vampire facials," "stem cell facials," and derma rolling, but more in terms of if they will catch on with the DC crowd. You can view this digitally here, or if you're in Washington D.C. you can pick one up!

Frame of roses.

2011-06-26T10:28:00.000-05:00

HOT DOG TIME!

2011-06-21T20:40:00.002-05:00

I put a new comic up on the Lo-Down, but what's really cool is Teresa's T-Shirt design that she entered in Threadless' Adventure Time Contest! So check out her site, but more importantly, go give her a High 5!

Brides: Name Change

2011-06-20T13:36:00.003-05:00

These two illustrations can be found in Modern Luxury's Brides books for an article on changing your name, digital copy here.

Take this ink drawing

2011-06-15T19:34:00.002-05:00

Having just finished Steven Rinella's American Buffalo and moving on to The Dawn of European Art by André Leroi-Gourhan I give you this transitional object:

components

2011-06-05T20:56:00.002-05:00

Ball of Sound: Who was John Hardy?

2011-06-05T09:59:00.004-05:00

Ball of Sound: Angry Finch and Banjo Music

2011-05-22T18:08:00.002-05:00

May flowers and coffee stains.

2011-04-30T16:27:00.001-05:00

Flying into Windows

2011-04-19T20:13:00.001-05:00

Part of the Flags For Future Americans "series." Thank you for looking at my picture.

Wobbly Knees, Flounder

2011-04-11T18:44:00.000-05:00

Mayday Mayday Tuesday

2011-04-03T12:57:00.003-05:00

I just finished this poster for The Theatre School at DePaul's upcoming play Mayday Mayday Tuesday. The image is an interpretation of the album which is described in the play. I went for a kind of 70s sort of R. Crumb vibe... Pretty happy with this one.

The Ernie Play

2011-03-28T19:59:00.003-05:00

I just finished this poster for an upcoming play at the Theatre School at DePaul, The Ernie Play. Go check it out.

Non-Joiner

2011-03-26T11:07:00.000-05:00

working and work

2011-03-24T19:02:00.000-05:00

Men's Book Illustration

2011-03-18T18:28:00.003-05:00

The newly redesigned Men's Book came out this week:

and it includes a new illustration by this guy (you can't see me pointing, but it's me). The illustration is for an article about new web browsers trying to address issues with behavioral tracking.

pick up your copy today you swanky son-of-a-b!

What're you lookin' at butthead?

2011-03-12T20:33:00.007-06:00

This past week I've spent a lot of my time looking at the work of Nick Cave...

...no, not that Nick Cave, this Nick Cave:

Specifically his soundsuits, which feel a lot like the drawings I've been doing lately. It brings up an interesting point about seeing things, at least something I've noticed about myself. I caught a brief glimpse of Cave's work several years ago, but didn't pay much attention to it, in fact I don't remember anything other than briefly thinking of Red Right Hand.

So, did I see his work, store it in my subconscious and begin to mimic it? Maybe. It makes me wonder about invention: is everything a form of mimicry? or is the act of compiling all these things we see and experience invention? Obviously seeing something and then trying to replicate it is mimicry, but seeing something, then trying to fuse it with several other things--seems like invention.

Well, several years after first hearing the name of artist Nick Cave I'm rediscovering his work and finding a lot of delight in it.

drawings of things to draw with

2011-03-10T20:17:00.001-06:00

What're you lookin' at butthead?

2011-03-03T19:57:00.007-06:00

One of the lovely parts--that's right lovely, I'm taking it back--of working downtown is free Tuesdays at the MCA. Sure, walking across the loop on my lunch break makes for a real slam bang of a visit, but its still very nice, lovely even.

In February's CS we had an article on sound artist, Susan Philipsz. I went over to the MCA to check it out. Sound art is pretty interesting stuff. I think I might love sound art, because in many ways I really hate it, if that makes sense. I'm on the fence: is it overly obtuse and pretentious or is it a beautiful way to get people completely emerged in art--the sound surrounds you and in that sense you are part of the art...I like that. Also, I've noticed that sound translates into color, texture, and shapes for me, so interesting sounds make for more interesting images in my mind...I like that.

Also looking at Jacob Riis' photography of the New York tenements circa 1890. That's thanks to The Selvege Yard, one of my favorite blogs.

I think I may make this a regular feature of Woodenwater, perhaps adding some drawings as reactions to the artists...

Armadillo

2011-02-22T22:37:00.001-06:00

Drawing in a style here more closely related to how I drew 12 years ago (for a potential project).

House Coyote

2011-02-17T19:49:00.001-06:00

Last Words

2011-02-13T12:03:00.001-06:00

Double Don

2011-02-06T14:19:00.003-06:00

I worked as a security at the Krannert Art Museum for a couple years while I was going to school. While I was there I worked with an artist named Donald Fodness--basically we have the same name, at least just about the same initials--so there's that...

We have embarked on a collaboration, which I hope will be the first of many, and it's time for me to send my part one off. I used this project as a catalyst to try some new things: new paper, new transfer process. I've ended up with two well-worn backgrounds. Now, I've got to decide which to send off, hmmm...

In it's half finished state this is entitled: Pocket trumpet for gun.

In it's half finished state this is entitled: Guns make children _______.

the lo-down ho-down

2011-02-06T12:33:00.003-06:00

I decided that I would start a blog focused on my comics, picturebooks, and zines. That blog is called The Lo-Down Ho-Down – a place where all my comics can get together and let loose. I'm starting with cataloging my past work, eventually to focus on current comic-based projects.

Clean and Try

2011-02-02T13:58:00.001-06:00

Straightened up the drawing table and

started trying some new things:

Velclops

2011-02-01T17:51:00.000-06:00

Vel with mask and guitar

2011-01-31T21:04:00.000-06:00

photo for collage by Teresa Foote.

Buckley: I have to pee.

2011-01-30T11:42:00.000-06:00

pseudographics

2011-01-28T12:04:00.001-06:00

fingerprints

2011-01-27T20:14:00.000-06:00

Beginning a logo

2011-01-26T07:47:00.003-06:00

This is how I've been beginning the logo process of late...

Beagle, Bugle

2011-01-25T20:28:00.001-06:00

picturebook #5

2011-01-23T09:57:00.003-06:00

The idea for the fifth picturebook began back in late July and came together last October. My paranoia won't let me divulge too much information, but it involves a cyclist in ridiculous garb, a psychedelic turtle, a surly brown bear, and a rather friendly sasquatch. On one hand its done, all roughed sketched out--the story is told. On the other hand I'm only on page 5 which will conclude the intro. I love comics/I hate comics. Here's the first two pages.

Beast Off

2011-01-22T09:18:00.004-06:00

I get images in my head which I then draw. I imagine musicians hear sounds and poets hear beautiful and odd word phrases. I see random pictures of ridiculousness. Sometimes these drawings turn out beautifully and sometimes they are pretty lack luster. Beast Off appears to be of the lack luster category.

New Illustration Gallery!

2011-01-20T21:07:00.004-06:00

I was looking through my site this week and was surprised to find the illustration gallery so out-of-date. So, a brand new illustration gallery is up! hoooray...

The Virginian

2011-01-15T00:03:00.002-06:00

Portrait of a portrait of Aristide Bruant.

2011-01-10T19:59:00.002-06:00

I was a security guard at the Krannert Art Museum in Champaign, IL for a few years. During my time there, the museum had a Toulouse Lautrec Show, at roughly the same time as the Moulin Rouge movie...

His posters made a big impression on me and being a guard I spent a whole lot of time looking at them. So this drawing is based on one of his posters (drawn from memory), you recognize this, yes? (see below)

Mulligan, Baritone, Birch

2011-01-08T10:33:00.002-06:00

This drawing asks a question: if Gerry Mulligan were to play his saxophone in the middle of Illinois next to a birch tree, would it be heard? Subquestion: Do trees hear?

Oprah in print.

2011-01-06T18:39:00.000-06:00

This is the version that went to print. Pick up your January CS today!

BEEES!

2011-01-05T19:15:00.001-06:00

No, just Oprah. This one didn't really get finished.

O strikes again!

2011-01-04T20:48:00.000-06:00

Oprah week!

2011-01-03T18:45:00.002-06:00

My first issue of CS is on newsstands! You can view it digitally on the site. It's an exciting issue because on top of starting as a new art director I also got to do an illustration! I got to draw Oprah--a difficult, but enjoyable task. So, it's Oprah week here on woodenwater. Here's my first version:

The Torch Singer Coat

2010-12-30T09:48:00.000-06:00

drawing table, last week of december...

2010-12-27T18:25:00.000-06:00

Self-portrait with Crow Mask and Scarf

2010-12-26T12:09:00.000-06:00

Button Ideas

2010-12-25T10:48:00.003-06:00

I've been working with some button ideas for the Torch Singer band. The trick being, at one inch you want simple drawings that can be easily recognized. I felt like drums and cello needed a couple tries--cello maybe another attempt.

I like the backgrounds, which tie in to the new EP, but maybe it's just too much for a little button. The drawings are pretty easy to see without the background:

This is the headstock of the sweet bass I have on back order, not the PJ bass I'm playing--let's call that wishful thinking... yea, cello is tricky, because who's to say that's not an upright bass?

Blue House, Grey Wolf

2010-12-19T10:29:00.000-06:00

Sound the ALARM!

2010-12-17T07:46:00.003-06:00

Sarah Louden of ALARM Press, wrote this great article about some guy who likes to draw pictures...

He looked like this: ridiculous

2010-12-15T20:48:00.000-06:00