I’m experimenting with inking with a crowquill pen; this is my first official drawing with the thing, a sketch for the cover of Outfoxed. I like the heck out of it, and I think we’ll keep each other - I have a story this kind of line would be perfect for.  …the only downside is that I’m going to be ink-splattered for the foreseeable future. (Don’t ask how much soap and Photoshop were required after I finished inking this drawing.)

I’m experimenting with inking with a crowquill pen; this is my first official drawing with the thing, a sketch for the cover of Outfoxed. I like the heck out of it, and I think we’ll keep each other - I have a story this kind of line would be perfect for. 

…the only downside is that I’m going to be ink-splattered for the foreseeable future. (Don’t ask how much soap and Photoshop were required after I finished inking this drawing.)

Fun with grandpa’s crowquill. on Flickr.Today I needed to ink something in a scratchier style than usual. I looked over into my pen cup and there was my grandfather’s crowquill. My grandfather was an amateur cartoonist - he was a PR man in the “Mad Men” era and so a lot of his work went into client newsletters. Before he died he passed on some of his old tools. I’ve never really liked crowquill much before, although I love the way the lines look when other artists use it. But I gave it a whirl today, and I really enjoyed it. I made every possible mistake (flicking the nib, dragging my hand over wet ink lines) and look a complete mess, but also got some neat effects. I have a story script I think would look good with crowquill lines, so it was a very pleasant discovery. And it was a sweet, melancholy thing to use one of his old tools.

Fun with grandpa’s crowquill. on Flickr.

Today I needed to ink something in a scratchier style than usual. I looked over into my pen cup and there was my grandfather’s crowquill.

My grandfather was an amateur cartoonist - he was a PR man in the “Mad Men” era and so a lot of his work went into client newsletters. Before he died he passed on some of his old tools. I’ve never really liked crowquill much before, although I love the way the lines look when other artists use it.

But I gave it a whirl today, and I really enjoyed it. I made every possible mistake (flicking the nib, dragging my hand over wet ink lines) and look a complete mess, but also got some neat effects. I have a story script I think would look good with crowquill lines, so it was a very pleasant discovery.

And it was a sweet, melancholy thing to use one of his old tools.

I went to the Opera! And I did a million sketches. I’ve wanted to see a production of Candide (which is almost more of a musical than a straight opera) for ages. Luckily for me, the Portland Opera held another Drink & Draw evening, where a bunch of us cartoonists were invited to come sketch the dress rehearsal.

Loads more over on my blog (or on Flickr).

Loooooook at all the tiny paintings I will have at my table (B-15) at Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend! I look forward to making these little watercolors so much. They’re all trading card-sized, just 2.5 by 3.5 inches. The one joke in here that requires explanation for those who don’t live in Portland - we have a mayoral election coming up. One of the candidates has yard signs that read “Love Portland. Voting for Charlie.” The chicken version is my remix.

Loooooook at all the tiny paintings I will have at my table (B-15) at Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend! I look forward to making these little watercolors so much. They’re all trading card-sized, just 2.5 by 3.5 inches.

The one joke in here that requires explanation for those who don’t live in Portland - we have a mayoral election coming up. One of the candidates has yard signs that read “Love Portland. Voting for Charlie.” The chicken version is my remix.

Skullhouettes screenprint on Flickr. Oh man oh man oh man! I drew up this design and then Erika screen printed a little run of them for me this past weekend, on some excellent antique-colored, toothy Arches stock. They turned out so fantastically that I want to keep them all to myself, forever. But! I’ll have them for sale at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend, and then I’ll let the internet have a go with whatever remains!

Skullhouettes screenprint on Flickr.

Oh man oh man oh man! I drew up this design and then Erika screen printed a little run of them for me this past weekend, on some excellent antique-colored, toothy Arches stock.

They turned out so fantastically that I want to keep them all to myself, forever.

But! I’ll have them for sale at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend, and then I’ll let the internet have a go with whatever remains!

Monsters & Dames: Slow Day in the Labyrinth on Flickr. My piece for the “Monsters and Dames” book, a themed collected of art by exhibitors at the 2012 Emerald City Comicon. Many contributions involve super-sexy ladies being menaced, so I tried for a slightly sweeter and more oblique take. EDIT:  Some folks have asked me if there’s a print available of this image. Yup! It’s right here in the ole’ store.

Monsters & Dames: Slow Day in the Labyrinth on Flickr.

My piece for the “Monsters and Dames” book, a themed collected of art by exhibitors at the 2012 Emerald City Comicon.

Many contributions involve super-sexy ladies being menaced, so I tried for a slightly sweeter and more oblique take.

EDIT:  Some folks have asked me if there’s a print available of this image. Yup! It’s right here in the ole’ store.