Over duedle update.

So I've been trying to doodle as much as possible, keep the skills fresh, standard issue really. Silly artist moment: frustrated that my dark elf sketch came out really cool in someone elses' sketchbook and is un-rip-out-able. 

I had a long conversation recently with someone with a beautiful portfolio. He wanted to show me his art but didn't want to appear "masturbatory", meaning he didn't want me to think he was arrogant or self interested, or flaunting his work. I empathized with the feeling, but I told him how important feedback is with artists. Even in my day to day life, I thrive on conversation and feedback about everything. It's never a bad thing to share what you've created with other people. If they think you're a jerk, it's probably more of their bad attitude than your desire to grow and learn from other people. 

Anything creative to me is like a cathartic bookmark. I have a pretty poor memory, so without my journal entries or doodles, I would forget some of the moments I've experienced. Or rather, instead of just documenting the event, creating something based on an intense emotional situation kindof locks up those feelings in a visual pandora's box that you can revisit again later once you've felt better. 

Illustration itself is a shortcut- the viewer understands a concept upon viewing a 2 dimensional image, cutting out any lengthy explanation in whatever language. Fucking fantastic, in my opinion- no matter what race, religion or language, anyone can communicate through visual language. This is why I love art so much.

To sum up, if you the viewer has 1.) read this far without skipping to see the pictures and 2.) have something to say, I welcome your commentary. 

And yes, I know I need a real scanner, this iPhone camera ain't doin' nobody justice. 

Dark Elf - the sword got cropped out :(

dance of the hair monster

smokin' showbunny

a boy named jupiter

a little autobio comic

acrylic paintings of various schema

Adventures in acrylic, or something.
Here's a painting from this past fall. "Untitled" 2011, 6' x 5', acrylic.

Here it began.

And then it mutated once I built the canvases onto the frame.

The final (ish) product.

So far it is my greatest achievement in public relations, due to the owner's girlfriend being legitimately creeped out by it. She's a sweet girl. /Evil chuckle nonetheless

And: a mural I did for a woman in Rochester-- she wanted me to copy an old cranberry advertisement and elaborate on the pose and setting. She preferred the character to not have a spine. This one's 2.5' by 4', acrylic.

Her chihuahua bit me.

It was a good lesson in never using pencil in the under painting. Can't cover it up very well.

work from the past two weeks

I like to do my friends recital posters for practice--

My good friend Michelle is a singer in The Tree (www.the-tree.biz) and will soon be performing in her Senior Jazz Vocal recital...

A quick sketch for the finished poster.

A version..

The final thingamajig.

I started and restarted Michelle's poster three times, even though simplicity should have been key from day one. Sometimes you learn much more in failing than succeeding. Generally, I don't fuck up the same way twice. I call it a general success.

The guitarist of The Tree, Riley Stockwell, recently performed in his Junior Recital. I didn't get a chance to scan the original before I gave it to him. So this is what I've got:

Me and Riley's poster in the confines of a pre-owned Jetta.

I like making art for people that truly appreciate it. You shoulda seen the grin on Riley's mum. Hah!

Entry Numero Uno, and how.

 Hello--

My name is Mia. I am an illustrator. 
Here's a sampling of pen and ink & watercolor images-

Enjoy.

Yeti in the Freezer? From an A. Lee Martinez book.

a Grimm tale.

a boy with a grouchy flower.

a boy and his mermaid friend.

snowy homestead.