Monday, August 30, 2010

Brotique Week Demo Night


Thanks to everybody who came to our Brotique Week kick off at the Provo Library. We all read a bunch of our stories to the kiddies. Tons of fun.

Wednesday night is our next Bro. event. If you're interested in watching us paint, come to the Bridge Academy in Provo for a free demo.

www.brotique.org
brotique.blogspot.com

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Brotique Week

Brotique (my writing/illustration critique group for dudes) is gearing up for an exciting week full of fun events. Book readings, demos, studio tours and a big gallery show. If your in the Provo area, check out one or all of the cool stuff.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Illustration Friday: Star gazing




I couldn't pass up this weeks topic. I did a whole book about a very famous star gazer. Here are a few images that I illustrated from "The Planet Hunter" by Elizabeth Rusch. It is about the astronomer Mike Brown, the guy who made Pluto not a planet anymore. The publisher mixed my illustrations with real photos of space. It was a fun book to work on.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Banjo Pig 32

Choose your weapon!


Keep those banjo pigs coming. Visit the Banjopigs blog to see more.

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Banjo Pig General Store!


Ya'll can now get your own stuff with Banjo Pigs on it by visiting the Dueling Banjo Pigs General Store.

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Banjo Pig Automaton



Here is my newest Banjo Pig. It's a little bit different from the others. I've been building it for several weeks. Mostly on the weekends and here and there when I found a minute between jobs. I love doing stuff like this. It gets the ole creative juices flowing. I really enjoy problem solving when I do my artwork and this little piggie had plenty of it. It is fun to get an idea of what you want it to do, then figure out a way to make it work.

Most of the movements, the strumming, head turning, and banjo movement are controlled by a bunch of cams on the crankshaft. I had some extra room on the crank so I added the little bird. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but I think it's popping up and down makes me smile the most. Inside I built a little music box called a Kalimba, or thumb piano. It's not terribly loud or "banjo" sounding, but I did tune it to real notes and everything and it plays. I hope you like it.









Here is a bit of the process:

A few sketchbook doodles from when the idea hit me.


Bits and pieces


Pre-paint