Tuesday, September 28, 2010

White Rabbit : charity auction painting

Here's a little break in the Alice show updates (sort of) with this new piece.

I was recently asked to donate a print or painting to a charity auction (I'll post more details about that soon so if you like this you can bid!)


I'm 100% in Alice mode so I did this 8 x 10-ish watercolor of the White Rabbit.

This show (OCTOBER 1) is coming right up on me -- I'm going to duck back down now and I'll see you guys then.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Alice, opening this Friday!


My new "Alice" show opens this Friday, 6PM! We hope to see you there!

Check out the Facebook invite and invite yourself! http://tinyurl.com/alice-show-facebook-invite


Everyday this week I have planned pretty exactly. There are certain things that need to happen by the end of every day to make sure we make it to the show. In addition to the drawings from the supplemental drawings posts I've been doing, I'm adding another 10+ original watercolors just for the show, I'm finishing the drawings for those now.

All in all, it's going to be a huge party, Erin is making rainbow cake (MADE OF RAINBOWS) and so again, I hope to see you there!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Alice, supplemental drawing 4/12

Note : Much like I did (at Erin's suggestion) for my Grimm show last year (and again at Erin's suggestion) I've put together several small drawings, supplemental drawings, for my upcoming Alice shows. I'll be posting one a day until the first Alice exhibition opening, October 1.


"Drink Me."

And of course you can see all 12 of the supplemental drawings, as well as the 14 main finished drawings along side appropriate excerpts from the original story in my 30 page book;


Next post, Monday, "Smoking Caterpillar."

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Alice, supplemental drawing 3/12

Note : Much like I did (at Erin's suggestion) for my Grimm show last year (and again at Erin's suggestion) I've put together several small drawings, supplemental drawings, for my upcoming Alice shows. I'll be posting one a day until the first Alice exhibition opening, October 1.



And please, do not mind the Cheshire James. He forced his way into this picture.



And of course you can see all 12 of the supplemental drawings, as well as the 14 main finished drawings along side appropriate excerpts from the original story in my 30 page book;


Next post, Thursday, "Drink Me."

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Alice, supplemental drawing 2/12

Note : Much like I did (at Erin's suggestion) for my Grimm show last year (and again at Erin's suggestion) I've put together several small drawings, supplemental drawings, for my upcoming Alice shows. I'll be posting one a day until the first Alice exhibition opening, October 1.

What a creepy poem. Since I can't really say it any better, here's a little history for you lifted from Wikipedia.
" 'How Doth the Little Crocodile' is a parody of the moralistic poem 'Against Idleness And Mischief' by Isaac Watts (Alice was originally trying to recite that.) Watts' poem begins 'How doth the little busy bee,' and uses a bee as a model of hard work. In Carroll's parody, the crocodile's corresponding 'virtues' are deception and predation, themes which recur throughout Alice's adventures in both books, and especially in the poems."



And of course you can see all 12 of the supplemental drawings, as well as the 14 main finished drawings along side appropriate excerpts from the original story in my 30 page book;

Alice, drawings, sketches, and excerpts.

Next post, Wednesday, "A long and sad tail."

Monday, September 20, 2010

Alice, supplemental drawing 1/12

Note : Much like I did (at Erin's suggestion) for my Grimm show last year (and again at Erin's suggestion) I've put together several small drawings, supplemental drawings, for my upcoming Alice shows. I'll be posting one a day until the first Alice exhibition opening, October 1.

The first Alice show opening is October 1 and you can be sure that I will make more mention of it the week of but I can't believe it's this close already. The preparation for this show is nearly doubled from my Grimm show last year. A total of 14 main pieces (compared with only 10 for Grimm) several small drawings and watercolors, plus the show will be exhibited in three places around Greenville this fall. One gallery and two universities. As if that's not enough, I'm doing talks at the two schools.

Well, enough of that, here is the first of the supplemental drawings for "Alice."



And of course you can see all 12 of the supplemental drawings, as well as the 14 main finished drawings along side appropriate excerpts from the original story in my 30 page book;

Alice, drawings, sketches, and excerpts.

Next post, Tuesday, "How doth the little crocodile..."

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

new! canvas bags

This is one of the items I had for sale at my booth at Indie Craft Parade and it's one of the ones I was most proud of/excited to show. I haven't ever put anything like this together before. Erin suggested it and I worked with a pal of mine named Matt to put it together. He's a local printer and does all sort of printing work. We were in school together and I'm seriously so proud of Matt I could punch him in the elbow. I could render him a hurricane kick of glee at the business he's made for and supported himself with. All that to say he's great. Visit his site, Dapper Ink.

Here is the canvas tote bag, beautifully printed in dark green. $15. You can pick one up from my shop.





13 in. tall
10 in. wide
5 in. (though it opens pretty wide beyond just the 5 in.)

Enjoy!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Indie Craft Parade

ICP went off like a rocket, like ten thousand roman candles lit with a flamethrower.

Erin and Libby's pet project to create a craft fair for Greenville was a howling success. As I understand it the numbers run something like this --
4000 attendees over the two days, almost 80 artists/vendors (those 80 being selected from the over 200 applicants) -- most people had to wait in line at least 30 minutes just to get in (we hit fire code almost immediately and they had to stagger people coming in and going out.)

As the title of this local online magazine (with 70-some photos, check them out!) reads






In the bottom two pictures you can see me and my booth.

I'm sure I'll have more to say about the event over the next few days, I'm just so proud of Erin for making it happen. I saw her pour countless hours upon hours and emails and phone calls and meetings into this and to see it light up like this was so great.

Over the next few days I'll be updating my store to include some of the new items I had at the show. I'll of course mention them again here when they are available.

Friday, September 10, 2010

bit and run Volume Two, 6


Maybe you're something like me, maybe you played (and loved) Pokémon Red back in 1998 but maybe you fell out of the series for a while, and like me, have recently found your way back in the form of the recent HeartGold or SoulSilver. Probably not, you've played and caught them all, haven't you? See, I spent a long time being intimidated by the overwhelming amount of new Pokémon that came out every generation. Even so, for some reason back a couple months, out the blue, I picked up HG.

I've truly enjoyed my time with it, getting back in, and one of the things I've found that I still get a ton of enjoyment out of is the "_________ has learned a new move!" moment. Every time I feel really excited to try out the absurd and inevitably brutal new move. It's a violent world, Pokémon, but you know that neither we nor our beloved pocket monsters would have it any other way.



Previous,

bit and run Volume Two, 1
bit and run Volume Two, 2
bit and run Volume Two, 3
bit and run Volume Two, 4
bit and run Volume Two, 5+

bit and run Volume One

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

preparing for the craft

Hey, since all my days run together I forgot today was Wednesday for most of the day. Thankfully for consistency's sake I have remembered my M/W/F schedule at the last moment and will update you on my preparations for Indie Craft Parade, the Greenville, SC craft show that my wife Erin and friend Libby have directed, organized, produced, you name it -- it's been a massive, massive undertaking and it's almost finally here -- this Friday and Saturday, September 10 and 11.

Here follows an incomplete account of the stuff I'll be bringing to the show --

In addition to all my prints (and a couple new ones) I have resurrected a long gone icon from my blog's past. Let's just say it'll be a Christmas Miracle. Eight in a set.


Also, at Erin's suggestion I have created a design for some tote bags. I'll have those at the show.

I've been making some Alice inspired tea cups. I've got some porcelain tea cups and saucers and I've been drawing on them with what I'm told can bake at a certain temperature and set. The drawing is difficult though, the pen tip is fat and the cups are small.

I'll also be having my work sort of all over as well, I designed the little elephant logo, Hugo,

Above, Hugo.

You're sure to see him. In fact, you should come! It'll be great. You'll get to see me and my buddy Ben Kammer (we're going to be booth neighbors) plus almost 80 other folks! And you'll get to hear live music, great food, free admission -- it's going to be incredible.

Speaking of live music, I'm thrilled, Esther Ellis will be there preforming. Long time readers might recall that I had the privilege of creating the cover artwork for Esther's first album.


And also my new bro, Jay Albright. I lent him the use the of one of my Grimm and Other Folk Tales paintings for his first album. Behold,


So, in short -- come. It's going to be flabbergasting. I'll see you there.

Monday, September 06, 2010

Goonies, Gremlins, Ghostbusters


I was very excited when I was invited to contribute to the 3G show at Gallery 1988

The 3G show is a tribute to The Goonies, Gremlins, and Ghostbusters. Here are my three paintings, one for each. Two have already sold but one is still available.

Here are some development shots of them,













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To see the entire show and see my pieces in it click here (mine are half way down the page)

I loved Ghostbusters as a kid (and now) but truthfully I preferred anything animated over "real" stuff so I never saw The Goonies or Gremlins when I was younger. I since have, and man, I love The Goonies more and more each I watch it. Gremlins is just too dark, I think. I love the little Mogwai, Gizmo but I just couldn't get into it overall. Even so it was a blast making these three little paintings and I hope to be able to contribute to more G1988 shows in the future!

Friday, September 03, 2010

bit and run Volume Two, 5


Hey everyone, I wanted to give you guys a little bonus comic for today (see below) I don't think it quite makes a stand-alone comic but as a bonus it seems in my mind to work. It must be so difficult to eat or drink anything with those masks. How would you get around that? With a straw I guess, I don't know. Enjoy! - Cory


Oh, and as if that's not enough, I did a Flipnote version of the bonus comic as well. I just got a DSi XL for my birthday (I've worn my old DS into the ground) and Flipnote was the thing I was most looking forward to playing with. I hope to give you guys more of these in the future.



Previous,

bit and run Volume Two, 1
bit and run Volume Two, 2
bit and run Volume Two, 3
bit and run Volume Two, 4

bit and run Volume One

Thursday, September 02, 2010

gifts

It was my birthday last week but in light of loosing our cat Kitty to a pack of dogs I didn't feel much like doing anything. If you like you can read Erin's post about Kitty and see a little better why we loved her so much in life. She was the best.

All the same Erin wanted to make my birthday great, and she did.

Here follows an account of the things I wanted to show you guys.


Behold! A new DS, my original one I've nearly played to death. The hinge is cracked and the top is loose, won't stay up, the speakers are going out and it no longer holds a charge. Not unplayable by any stretch, even so the DSi XL has a few pluses that make me very glad for the upgrade. DSiWare (downloadable games and content) almost 100% larger screens (and slightly system larger overall, better to hold) 2 cameras, and this little genius idea -- Flipnote. It's basically the thing I always wanted --


It's small animation program, think of it like an endless collection of digital post it notes that you can animate. I have a couple that I'm working on. Erin and my mom went in on it on the DSi together for me, thank you both.
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My father-in-law was in town and he gave me this Buzz Lightyear. The best part is the fact that in most cases you can shop for me and my 3 year old nephew at the same time.


He also gave me this little gem,





It's full of everything I wanted to read at age 10. I would have killed to have this book then. It's full of Ralph McQuarrie paintings I've never seen, models, drawings, everything. It's a terrific book. It is unspeakably refreshing to see a book devoid of the prequel trilogy, where Luke on the edge of platform nodding to R2 is truly as exciting as can be.
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And two sort of tapestries from my little sister, Courtney. Pictured is the Storm Trooper one, the other is Darth Vader in Japanese water lilies.
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And this isn't birthday related but it is something just as cool -- this morning I got all my frames for my upcoming Alice shows. This whole thing is going to be so fun and so great. Of course as we get closer I'm going to post much about the shows.

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Thanks very much for all your kind words about Kitty. It's one thing to loose a pet when they're old, it makes sense, it's just what happens. It's still very sad but they had a good run and you can think of that. But to loose a pet in such a violent way still makes me so sad and so angry. Kitty is the second cat I've lost to dogs. The first was my cat I had growing up, Friskey.

One bright spot is after spending a couple days going around my street and the surrounding streets and neighborhoods I've come to believe that it wasn't anyone's pet dogs that did this. There's a large subdivision near us called Montebello and they've had trouble with a pack of reportedly 8 wild dogs that live in their woods. They've hired a trapper and as I understand it he's already caught one. That's small consolation for me because if they had been more serious about catching these animals (after people had been chased and cornered in the last few months there) Kitty might still be here like she ought to be, stomping around the yard and sleeping on the porch.