New Product Alert!

With Valentine's Day being so close, it is time to buy that special someone a card! You know that certain someone; the one you saw yourself spending the rest of your life with until they carelessly broke your heart and stomped on it when they walked away?

OR

For that special Goth in your life with an exceptional appreciation for dark art -- either way
SHOW THEM THE LOVE :

Wistful skeletons need love too...

I DRAW WITH DEAD PEOPLE

Welcome to the breakdown of my week. Not to be confused with the mental breakdown I experience almost daily...

TRAUMA OF THE WEEK:

It was a most adventurous day. I had my bajillion color pencils in their black box inside of my book-bag. I wrestled with the book-bag full of art supplies, keys with 5 key rings (so I won’t lose them, yet I still do), my sleek black laptop and my cup of coffee. The doors of my chariot were frozen shut. I put the coffee… OH CRAP. The coffee WAS on the roof of the car. I went to pull the door open and my box of pencils fell into the snow. The said box opened and it looked like a rainbow in my parking lot.  I was traumatized.  Now, I want this - well, a new coffee mug and this:

DICK BLICK CLASSIC LEATHER PENCIL CASE

I can almost smell Ricardo Montalban (a dated reference to rich Corinthian leather).  Ricardo Montalban? "Welcome -- to Fantasy Island!" No? STAR TREK II: WRATH OF KAHN, "Full impulse power!" I couldn't stop staring at his chest. To this day I can't tell you what the plot of that film was. I rely heavily upon Robot Chicken for my knowledge of the classics.

But I digress... I love how Mr. Blick lets us all know that pencils are not included. Which tells me that someone actually ordered this thing expecting 172 sharpened pencils, organized by color to be included. Which REALLY makes me wonder about this:

*not actual size

Whom, exactly, is the target audience that one would have to put this disclaimer on an 8 foot banner showing a 6 foot long hot dog (with an impressive circumference) -- with an asterisk, no less!?  

What faith I had left in humanity has been crushed. 

Anyone have 50¢? I want a piece of this action...

 
STUDIO566 MEANDERINGS OF THE WEEK: 
Back of The Bunny Stop® Deck of Cards.
If you look at the center, there are two stylized rabbit heads. I have a tendency to think myself "genius" when I do such things. It's a wonderful world inside of my head!


I have to sit on this for a bit and revisit it. I am not sure if it fits the ambiance of deck or not. I have completed all of the face cards and will post them shortly.


Let us move on...

LINKS OF THE WEEK:

My parents both passed within 2 years of one another. Both were cremated. Both are sitting on a bureau in my living room. Really – I can’t make this up. Each year I threaten to put Santa hats on their polished oaken boxes for a Holiday card. People say that I am morbid. I say, "comedic genius." Then, I see this:

Click image for full article

Graphite pencils made out of the cremated remains of the deceased.  ::blink blink::  I glance over at the bureau in my living room and it hits me -- I would get a lifetime of pencils out of those two! 


I have looked at this 100 times and I still cannot, for the life of me, fathom people making pencils from the remains of their loved ones. I can almost hear my father's voice from the great abyss: "^&$% ^%#$@! I'm STILL supporting you!! I told you to get a TEACHING DEGREE!" 


I found a photo of the artist… Pensive looking gal, no? And so young to be so cynical (har!).

I know there is a joke about medication in all of this.  But I digress…

When I go to the great rabbit hutch in the sky (at least I am hoping for the escalator up)...

Come to think of it, I probably qualify for a one way ticket window seat to the flaming pits of the other place. I bet Satan would use these pencils. It seems like he would... if he writes correspondence or keeps a sketch book, I mean. He would be practicing 3 point perspective with Adolf Hitler #2.


Anyway, in the end, please gather all the high resolution files of my illustrations and send me out in one of these puppies:

Click image for full article

What the Hell, put me in it, launch it into the Maumee River and light a match. It will be a Viking Funeral – Toledo Style. You won’t have to douse me in any accelerant, the river in and of itself is full of enough Sun Oil chemical compounds to take care of that. You could see me flaming down the river from Studio 566’s building! Get one of those 50¢ HOT DOGS and RALLY BY THE RIVER! Ah~ Good times.


If no one has the heart to grant this last request, then stick me in the ground and give me a phallic tombstone wrapped in red yarn.  It sort of reminds me of my high school sweetie’s class ring. I wrapped it in red yarn to fit on my finger. Alas, the relationship was doomed. The ring was returned (13 years later, but that’s a whole different post).

Put some squiggly eyes on it too.

SKETCHBOOK PIC OF THE WEEK:

The Guardian -- I can't explain it. She is guarding a heart. Or tormenting a heart. Maybe she needs a new pencil. My sketchbook is a frightening place even to me at times. You don't EVER want to end up a subject of THE SKETCHBOOK.

DAUGHTER’S TROLL OF THE WEEK:

Honorable Daughter #1 has a tendency to send me some of the most disturbing things found on the internets. The following link is not one of them. In fact, the following link made me chuckle. It also made me glad that I actually studied in my Art History courses. I could look at this French website and guffaw with my set square jaw:

http://www.laboiteverte.fr/lavant-et-lapres-de-peintures-connues-expliques/

I feel cultured now.

FAIL WHALE OF THE WEEK:
Get a cup of coffee for this one. Maybe two cups. Add a Vicodin. 

http://www.wdcs.co.uk/media/flash/whalebanner/content_pub_en.html

I will never get those 30 minutes of my life back again. Why? Why do any of us need to see a life-sized blue whale on our computer screen? And who would sit and watch this in its entirety? Ok, I did. But I think that had more to do with the coffee and Vicodin. Oh man, I bet this would be AWESOME on my large HD screen plasma TV!

I will never get those 30 minutes of my life back again.

SOMEONE THOUGHT OF ME THIS WEEK:

The link was sent to me by one of my most passionate minions. She could be the Minion Queen. These are actually the brand of color pencils I want. Although, I want the carrier case before the new pencils. I wonder if the leather carrying case comes with a bite guard and helmet.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/derwent-studio-colored-pencils/
DICK BLICK, for me, is like pr0n! Although, you have to admit, with a name like that...

BUNNY FONT OF THE WEEK:

Caution: The download window immediately pops up. It’s like a jack-in-the-box. I had one of those. It had one of the scariest freakin clowns I have ever seen laying in wait. When I cranked the handle of the brightly painted circus box, “POP GOES THE WEASEL” in a music box sort of tone filled my ears. I would be cranking away and then next thing I know WHAM! Ten years of therapy.

This actually explains... a LOT.

Here is that bunny font.

Click this text for font

O MAI GAWD-D-D-D-D OF THE WEEK:

I seriously cannot stop looking at this! Those tiny little feet... that FACE! I LOVE THAT FACE!

LOOK AT IT! LOOOOOK AT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ♥ HIM.

VIVA LA RESOLUTION!

Overwhelming Existance

Classes are well in session for the quarter and I find myself becoming overwhelmed. The class deals with "group projects." I was blessed with a good group. I still may stick a fork in my eye, however. I am managing keeping up on assignments, illustration, PAID (maybe if I type it in caps, the money will appear) design work and trolling on Facebook. Thank-God for medication.

I am not sure if I have mentioned it, but I am re-vamping everything. It's going to be utterly horrifying if I can't use my current domain "ohioart2.com." That would be a LOT of product change. I hate change. But I digress... This is my new blog site. I have to admit, I absolutely love it.

My next step is to get a new gallery up and running. The old one met with a tragic demise. Do NOT EVER let a relative talk you into believing they know what they are doing - even if they are a certified IT. After much weeping and gnashing of teeth I am now using: Gallery 3.0 . It is simple and to the point. Like me.

My address is still http://gallery.ohioart2.com/ but the joint is nowhere NEAR ready for the minions. I manage to upload and title in spurts. And since it is not ready, I highly suggest you go peruse it anyhow.Check out some of the moronic file names I come up with for my personal work. No wonder I can never find anything. HEED MY ADVICE: Short but descriptive file names.

The next project is going to be my online portfolio. This will be what I present to employers. I discovered, through Blogger, http://portfolio.deviantart.com/ . 

I strongly suggest to anyone who is looking to showcase their work to check it out. It is absolutely gorgeous. One can upload 100 images for free, or, for $30/mo. your portfolio will be ad-free. That isn't bad, kids. There are also free domain names but I am not sure if that would allow for a splash page. And the splash page is the next big quest.


Now for THE NEWS
I am up to be published again. I will keep my minions posted. I also actually managed to order checks for myself (Studio 566). I chose the "personalized photo route" because in not having enough ego, I put one of my illustrations on my checks. I can see it now, I will be writing checks for $1.50 packs of gum. And that's THE NEWS.

JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!

Here is a little Cupid! I am anticipating Valentine's Day. I don't know why. My idea of romance is a bag of potato chips and a Law & Order marathon. But I digress... Click on the illustration and see the many products featuring this little bunny love!

Love is...

Indeed, it is. I have to say, this is one of my favorite illustrations thus far. Love is...

This illustration is featured on several products also. Click the image you will be automatically directed to The Bunny Stop®.







I am considering doing commissions of people's pets. I am also considering taking over the world.

The King of Hearts

The Bunny Stop® is moving products already! I must send out a very special "Thank-you" to the people at Squidoo  and Zazzle for all of their help and recognition. It truly is humbling.






The newest "faces" from Studio566 are the Face Cards for the suit of Hearts! The deck is nearly complete and will hopefully be available before I retire. For whatever reason, this suit took me a bit longer. I am not quite happy with the queen but then again, I feel she has a wonderfully "queenly" look on her face. It may be a re-construction in the future, but as of now, she stays.

 

The Jacks in all four suits are inspired by the Rabbit Testa, held in Japan. About 8,000 rabbit lovers visit the annual two-day event in Yokohama city in Kanagawa prefecture, suburban Tokyo. People (crazy women) dress up their bunnies for a photo opportunity in hopes to get into the event's calendar.

Notice the expression on the bunnies' faces. I get that look quite often around my house. I'm not sure if it means, "KILL ME," or "I'm going to KILL YOU." I am suspecting the latter as I discovered one of my bunny inspirations creeping on me earlier today...



SAMUEL L. JACKSON

Imagine walking past the stairs and seeing Basement Bunny (Samuel L. Jackson -- Rex) staring down at you from his lofty place. I believe he may be plotting my demise for that Christmas Stocking incident (artwork forthcoming).
 
 

SAMMY APPROVED

Good Morning Star Shine, the Earth says, Hello!

I would like to introduce my beautiful new niece².  As of yet, she has no name but her appearance has touched so many lives. Barbara is choosing carefully.

Lindsay Collins Shonio took a photo that was just exquisite. I ended up doing an illustration inspired by the Collins Shonio photo for my private sketch book. This is a quick graphite pencil taken into Photoshop.

1*11*11
Harlow Quinn

My favorite - standard .5mm mechanical pencil
Zebra 301
I'm a cheap date.

2011 - Year of the Rabbit

YEAR OF THE RABBIT

The year started well with not one, but two, recognitions for THE BUNNY STOP!

The design here, Year of the Rabbit, as well as my little bunny in a tea cup pendent, were given Squidoo honors for exceptional rabbit artwork.

I am also quite busy trying to finish up the face cards for my deck of cards. It seems the 365 project took another odd turn.

I look forward to the new year! NEW BEGINNINGS!



Meanwhile, back at the ranch...
I managed to secure new color pencils for the new year. I initially wanted soft ones. I *still* have my original SPECTRACOLOR soft pencils. They are some of the best I have ever used but the company went out of business. I am planning on experimenting with DERWENT'S COULORSOFT pencils. After reading blogs like this:

Robs Art Supply Reviews

I am thinking the COLOURSOFT may be the way to go. In the mean-time, the investment went towards PRISMACOLOR VERITHINS. What can I say? I don't look back! VERITHINS are probably the hardest substance on earth next to diamonds. I will say this, however, they are excellent for detailing.

After I do the initial sketch with my faithful mechanical .05 pencil, I actually ink the drawings with a MICRON .05 illustration pen. After the initial shadows are put in, I like to start marking details with the Verithins. I must admit, it takes some getting used to; they have a whole different feel.  I notice when combined with my softer pencils, I am pleased.



STUDIO566
I have not been neglecting my studio or work other than the bunnies. Well, I haven't cleaned the studio in a while and I believe it is time. I have books all over the floor, from HR Geiger to Beatrix Potter. The latest piece out of the studio is an illustration embracing GOSSIP.

THE MISTRESS

The original punchline with this is: You never liked my hair, but your husband seems to love it.

I never said I wasn't walking out issues of the bizarre.