Phone Doodles

Today was full of distractions. Important distractions, but distractions nonetheless. To give you an idea, earlier I recorded a two-hour special of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” on Bravo. At 8am this morning I started playing it in the background as I worked. Each time I got interrupted or had to step out, I put it on pause. It was after 9pm when I finally finished watching it.

One “distraction” was a long-distance phone call from an old friend I haven’t heard from in a while. We had a nice chat. I doodled while we talked just to keep my sketching hand warmed up. Here’s a few of those doodles.

Magazine Rack

I’ve been super busy lately, but I’m determined to keep this blog regularly updated. For about a year now I’ve been subscribing to two great art magazines, Draw! and Sketch. I highly recommend both of these magazines for any artist interested in comics or animation. Both contain a lot of interviews and tutorials, and the subscription price is very reasonable. Click on the image above to go to each magazine’s website.

My “gallery” at the Mall of America

The Mall of America has a neat place called Underwater World, where you can actually walk through an underground glass tunnel and watch sharks and other exotic fish swim right over your head. Recently they hired me to illustrate their mascot “Sharky” as an explorer, ala Indiana Jones. Since I live in the area, I was able to go to the mall and see my artwork blown up eight feet tall for their in-store display. It’s always a rewarding experience for any artist to see his work out before the public. I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos.

Day Off!

After over two weeks of non-stop craziness, I finally had a day off. Most of it was spent sorting through all our junk to get ready for a garage sale. It’s amazing how much “stuff” we Americans accumulate. As I stood there staring at my garage full of clutter, I was reminded of the words of Jesus, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21). Pretty strong words! I don’t think I’m doing a very good job of following them.

Did Jesus mean His followers must live in poverty? I don’t know. At the very least I think he was warning us not to sin by selfishly setting our hearts on “things” instead of on God. Human nature is funny. I’ve noticed that the more I have, the more I want and the less content I am. Maybe those who have the least are those whose hearts can be the most free.

Anyway, last night my fiance and I finally had our engagement photos taken. We’ve been engaged for 3 months already, but better late than never. Above is one of the photos. My bride-to-be is the pretty one.