fresh design for 09

Like so many of us on this planet, I suppose you can say I'm big into the retro and urban illustration style. The challenge is trying to create something new that isn't a recycled idea; inspired from something I've seen and loved...but perhaps more imagination based with some outside influence of course. I illustrated this by referring to a mannequin's head and upper torso. The mohawk was added after; I think it just added to the punk rock edge I was looking for.

Okay, so here's a little fun I had with typography.  My friend Kevin Welch who I did the collab. piece with, came up with this quote...based off of the 1970 novel and movie "Love Story". The original quote was "Love means..."  I like this statement better. In my experience, love sometimes does mean saying you're sorry...but not if you're an artist of course. Then there are no apologies necessary. =P 

Who doesn't love a robot parade? Just a collage made with photoshop. I would like to build this piece onto a canvas with a mix of medias. Probably 18 x 24. It would definitely look better if it was physically constructed, especially with the newspaper texture.

Don't get me wrong...I don't really know if I have any real potential tagging but I've got a deep respect for those who are skilled with the can. I filmed myself in a 1 minute and 30 second video on my website showing the process of me making a mural with spray paint. However, I cut about 30 stencils out of acetate from my original illustration, in order to achieve a street art look. Anyway, I suppose since this amuses and interests me, I will find a way to explore it. I'll be toying around with the letters that make up the name "spark" I gave myself. The sp...goes along with my initials and spark just seems a good word to sum myself up. I love graffiti and street art oh so much. 

Collaborative with Kevin Welch

18 x 38 acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Kevin Welch is a good friend of mine who is really an amazing artist by himself. His style inspires me because he's really got a handle on intricate detail and great use of color.  This is my first collaborative piece, and overall it was a fun experience and I hope to do it again. Combining artistic visions...sounds like my idea of a good time.  I will be posting his link soon.

Carebear tribute

12 x 18 acrylic and marker on canvas

I don't know why it's so much fun to make art pieces for friends. Maybe it's seeing their reaction and knowing (hoping) that they'll hold onto it for quite sometime. Here is another birthday donation for a close friend who recently got engaged this past week in the Bahamas... congratulations Donna. I hope you had a margarita for me. 

8 x 10 colored pencil on illustration board

I really love my grandma.  She's my only living grandparent left, so I'm grateful for the time we get to spend together.  I had fun making this playful portrait for her 86th birthday...I tried to represent all the things she's passionate about. What's up with the rooster? I don't really know but she must have a thing for them, cause they're all over her house. I'll have to ask her about that sometime. She may not know how to use a computer or cell phone, but she cooks one mean dish of macaroni and for that shes cherished in my book. 

18 x 24 watercolor on photo paper

I was just trying to release some frustrated creative energy one day. 

midnight lotus
24 x 30 acrylic on canvas

This is actually the second time I've painted this. It resonates a feeling of Asia for me, but not as much as the first one; which had a pallet of red, green and gold. One of my closest friends went out of her way to get me tons of cool stuff this Christmas. With all the craziness of completing my senior portfolio, there was no way I could spend any free time in a mall with the hundreds of other last minute shoppers. So instead I painted this for her because I knew she'd value it more than a Boarders gift card. The funny thing is that she liked the original better, and I ended up feeling pretty attached to new one. So she took the old, and now I have the new.