Moonlight makes everything beautiful
Spring needs a bit of encouragement
I really enjoy the colors in this doodle. I keep trying to use brighter colors, but it rarely works. This time it did. Of course, this isn't the most original of content, but we already knew I was a hack.
Seattle, WA | 2007.06.11 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Painting, Playhouse, Seasons, Spring
I can't expect anyone to understand
Another in a long line of tributes to Cy Twombly: the artist who taught me that if you draw enough, no matter what it looks like, it's considered art.
His art is much deeper than that, of course. It was just that before I saw him at the wonderful Menil collection in Houston, I never understood modern art. His works made me smile for two reasons: first, I couldn't believe that someone painted those scribbles and got away with calling them art and making money on them; and second, they truly were wonderful.
Seattle, WA | 2007.07.12 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Cy Twombly
That will never hang on my wall
I was bored when I drew this. It was a pre-Ziggy picture, which goes to show you, I knew I was getting a dog. Further proof: one of my recent short stories (do you remember when I used to write those?) was about a dog.
Anyway, I drew this dog, and Julie thought it was extremely ugly. I kind of liked it. It was wolfish with terrible coloring. I decided to throw in the horribles and call it a doodle.
Seattle, WA | 2007.09.02 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Dog
It's the thought that counts
With everything going on, I forgot to post this yesterday. We finished the Villa inspection yesterday morning. There were a few minor issues that will require repair (and probably a price break), but nothing major. We're close to locked on our financing. And the contractor for the dog room is onboard and preparing an estimate.
This weekend promises to be just as busy.
Seattle, WA | 2008.03.07 | Cast of Horribles | Art
You don't know what's possible until you try
Inspiration is a wonderful thing. I remember drawing this doodle. I was bored of drawing the Little Guy and adding the same background with a different hue. I decided to go crazy. I added a few swirls, and glowing stars, and then decided not to stop with just the sky. I was a rebel, a breaker of molds, a dreamer of bigger things, a. . . . Okay, so I can only go so crazy with an electronic pen in a small box with a sperm-like fellow. Looking at it now, months after I drew it, whatever inspiration struck, it still gives me tingles. I guess that’s what I hope for in these things.
The weather has been crazy in Seattle. It goes from hot to cold back to hot and then to rainy. It reeks havoc on my head, and I've fought a handful of migraines over the past week. The depression seems to have dissipated somewhat and I’m hoping the thermometer settles down soon.
Seattle, WA | 2008.05.01 | Cast of Horribles | Art, City, Night, Stars, Swirls
You'd think I could be all things to all people
Did you notice something missing from this doodle? That's right, no little guy. I was in one of my base-this-on-a-photo moods, and I found this turtle pic from NYC. I was about halfway done before I realized there was no place for the little guy. Even though it breaks my normal approach, I decided to post anyway. Be assured, the little guy is very sad.
The dogs received their final training on the invisible fence yesterday. We haven't let them out unsupervised yet, but it's only a matter of time. I was talking with Steven before, and I was explaining how the dog room has transformed our lives: We are no longer prisoners in our own home. While this wasn't exactly how we felt in the Castle, there was a sense that the dogs were everywhere, even when fenced into the kitchen, partially because of Ziggy's pee being everywhere, but also because we could hear them where ever we were in the Castle. We still hear Ziggy's occassional whines in the kitchen, but once you move beyond that, it's beautiful silence. Now I'm not saying we moved because of the dogs, but I will say it was on our top five list.
Seattle, WA | 2008.05.06 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Turtle
The beauty never really left
I had to go deep into my queue to find this today. I drew the background in 2005, but never posted it. I rediscovered it a few months back and added the Horribles.
The reason today is special is because one year ago in Taiwan, Julie and I were married in the first of our two wedding ceremonies. In some ways, I can't believe it's been an entire year, and in other ways, I don't want to remember what it was like before I married the Julies. I can't understand how I survived so long without the Julies. I never realized how terrible I was on my own until Julie was there for me.
This has been the first in what will be many years together. Going into the marriage, I had little doubt that Julie was right for me. She is smart, kind, and beautiful, and even agreed to marry me even after I told her that I had lots of issues--I never articulated what the issues were, figuring it would be more fun to figure them out once we were married.
We are off to our favorite restaurant, La Medusa, near the Castle. We haven't been back since we moved, and we're looking forward to celebrating our anniversary there tonight. We're going to alternate our anniversary celebrations every year: next year we'll celebrate on July 1st, the date of our New York ceremony (Julie prefers to celebrate both dates, but it's way too much pressure for me).
Mercer Island, WA | 2008.06.24 | Cast of Horribles | Anniversary, Art, Playhouse, View, Water
I used to know how to do this
Once again, timing is everything. I haven't been doodling much. I eke out about one doodle every week. Lately, the quality has been going down. I'm no We the Robots. It's hard for me to accept my limitations--viewing quality drawings with interesting dialogue moves me in the direction of accepting my limitations.
The summer weather has made a belated return. Here's to hoping it keeps up for the next few weeks. We're off to L.A. this weekend for a wedding and to visit friends we haven't seen in a while. When Julie lived in CA, we used to visit L.A. often.
Mercer Island, WA | 2008.08.05 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Paint
It's not all scribbles
There we go! A break in the torrential rain allowed me to post this doodle. I saw sun this morning, and there will be sun this afternoon! I'm in such a better mood. I can't understand why.
The Marathon continues. Sorry I haven't been adding comments to the end of my writings (even though some people found them tortuous). It's been enough to get Goal at the end of each day. I've been rather exhausted with work and driving and writing. I slept in a bit last night and this morning, and I'm feeling better for it.
My doodle output has been terrible lately. I can blame the Marathon somewhat; the real cause is playing Warhammer again. It was a nice three days without that wonderful addiction. I'll get back to doodling after I finish. Until then, you'll have to enjoy my backlog.
Mercer Island, WA | 2008.11.13 | Cast of Horribles | Art, View
I want to copy something but I can't figure what
Many nights start like this: I sit in front of the computer and stare at a blank canvas and wonder what I'll draw. Sometimes I store an idea during the day on a scrap of paper--more regularly I have an idea but forget to write it down, which is the same as having no ideas. Most days I start drawing the Little Guy and hope for inspiration.
Once I have an idea, I either draw from memory if it's simple, or check sewcrates's photo page, or search various image searches for a model. I then start doodling away.
On the good days, I'll end up with something I'm proud of. On the normal days, I'll have something passable. And on the terrible days I'll question why I bother. As I was telling Jennifer yesterday, in my view, art is all about repetition until your fingers bleed in the hopes of creating something worthwhile.
Mercer Island, WA | 2009.02.25 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Earth, Night, Paint, Stars
Stop sneering
That is a meta-title. It's meant for you, the audience. I was being clever, artsy, a bit out there. And then I drew lots of circles.
It's raining again. I fell asleep to rain, woke up to rain, and drove to work through the rain. It's difficult to wake up when the rain is pounding the roof. I did manage today.
Today is a busy day. I have a full day of work, followed by Naginata practice tonight, and a long drive to the airport to pick up my mother at midnight. I haven't stayed up that late in quite a while. I'm old now, very old.
Mercer Island, WA | 2009.03.05 | Cast of Horribles | Art
There's more to this
Dipping into my well of old Horribles. After a brief stint of snow yesterday--which sent most of the office scurrying home, leaving evening traffic non-existent--today is blue skies and cold. It's expected to be this way for a few more days until warming up for the weekend. Maybe Spring will arrive.
Mercer Island, WA | 2009.03.10 | Cast of Horribles | Art
I need something more blended
Last year, we bought prints from a small Seattle art gallery. They were good, much better than I will ever produce. It was a style I yearn for: blended coloring.
Also, notice the bottom of Julie's head. It's concave insead of convex (go, go third grade math!). I'm trying a new style for her Horrible.
It's cloudy outside, as thick as pea soup (I've never found the soup that thick). I'm hoping behind all this fog is a dog-park-worthy day.
Mercer Island, WA | 2009.03.21 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Suffering
Each blank page is a new opportunity
...or a (poorly drawn) flaming pile of poo. Either way works.
Mercer Island, WA | 2009.03.24 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Blank page, Paint
We all have our style
It's Thursday, which is like Friday on a non-Fourth of July week. Another beautiful day. Another pile of work to complete before the three-day weekend. I should get to it.
Mercer Island, WA | 2009.07.02 | Cast of Horribles | Art
I would be rich
Ah, the dream of doodling for a living! We'd have to move from the Villa to a cardboard box and I'd have to pirate electricity to power my drawing tablet. But think of the fun....
Today's kitchen tidbit: don't place salt in an air-tight metal container. The trapped water and salt eat away at the metal and the rust turns the salt brown.
Mercer Island, WA | 2010.02.18 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Sale
The world is still watching
I intended to post my Olympics Horrible, but I can't find the energy to write about the experience. This one needs fewer words.
This was inspired from this cartoon background found in this collection of Pocahontas (1985) backgrounds.
Mercer Island, WA | 2010.03.01 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Moon, Stars, Trees, Water
It silences me
Things are going swimmingly on this beautiful Friday. There must be some convergence zone above us. The weather changes every ten minutes between sunshine, clouds, and rain. Luckily it hasn't graupled today (it did grauple yesterday).
This Horrible is based on this photograph.
Dallas, TX | 2010.04.09 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Beach, Clouds, Scenery, Water
Construction of the head
Here's another doodle in my continuing attempts to learn to draw. Notice how I throw a Horrible in the front? Yeah, that means I can take my practice and add it to the queue. I'm sneaky that way.
Mercer Island, WA | 2010.06.07 | Cast of Horribles | Animation 1, Art, Cartooning, Practice, Preston Blair
"So don't feel bad if nobody bothers to steal your creations"
Mercer Island, WA | 2011.01.10 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Blue Guy, Worthless
"Step one of baby girl's room is complete"
These pieces (the pictures within the doodles, that is) are now hanging in Dalia's room. I'm sure she'll appreciate them someday.
Mercer Island, WA | 2011.02.09 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Baby, Nursery, Pregnancy
It's worse than you think
Mercer Island, WA | 2011.03.07 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Blue Guy, Paint, Paintbrush
"You have to lay off the drugs"
Mercer Island, WA | 2011.04.15 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Clouds, Hills, Splatter
How can I ever make something real?
Mercer Island, WA | 2011.08.18 | Cast of Horribles | Art, Real, Suffering
They suffered for theirs. What did you do?
