Art for Japan at Gallery Nucleus

Guardian, 5x7, gouache & ink on paper, 2011

Gallery Nucleus is currently featuring Art for Japan, an online silent auction exhibit. 100% of the proceeds go towards Give2Asia & Artists Help Japan in delivering aid to Japan's Earthquake & Tsunami survivors.

This piece above was featured as a print on Tiny Showcase a couple weeks ago, but now the original is available as part of the silent auction at Gallery Nucleus. You can bid on my piece "Guardian" here!

Bidding runs from April 20th - April 24th 7:00pm (PST)
Check out Gallery Nucleus for all pieces in the Art for Japan show!

Check out my past blog post about my experience in Japan here!

Blue Tree Books

Blue Tree Books, 5 x 6.75, Gouache & Ink, 2010 Available

So I love reading and I have really embraced it after graduating college. (No longer reading for exams or squinting at footnotes!) My favorite spot to frequent at the library is the young adult section. Beautiful cover illustrations, fantastical storyline, and a lot of times amazingly written. Adults should not be afraid to frequent here!!!

Here's a few recommended readings for those in need little whimsy and adventure in their life. I couldn't even begin to remember all my favorites from when I was a kid so these are just a few that I read recently.

Diana Wynne Jones - Dark Lord of Derkholm, Year of the Griffin, Howls Moving Castle

 Michael Scott - The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (series)

Justin Somper - Vampirates (Series)  

So the Vampirate series is kind-of my guilty secret. I saw it in the library and I just couldn't resist. It was too intriguing and actually an entertaining series. You really need to let go of any preconceived notions for this one!

 Any reading recommendations to add to the list?

Sparklers

Sparklers, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on Paper, 2010

Here is a commission piece I did recently. The clients request was to include peach/turquoise/red + bright lanterns and rabbits. I had a lot of fun doing this piece and incorporating the specific colors. I like it when people ask for certain elements to include because it get's me thinking outside my painting habits. Below are a few progress pictures.

Twisty Tree Tavern

 Twisty Tree Tavern, 24x24, Gouache & Ink on Wood, Available

Here is a new piece for an upcoming show at Graham Gallery. The show theme is "A Career in Art Will Not Pay the Bills  (it will this month)" 

"Artists will submit entries and the entry will be accompanied by a bill, payment, desire or financial obligation.  The sale of the art will finance the artists wish."

 If my pieces sell I will put the money towards my letterpress venture. Even though I lucked out and traded artwork for the letterpress, the cost of ink, rollers, paper, and other equipment is still expensive. And if I happen to sell both my pieces in the show the rest of the money will be put towards financing a book that myself and another are working on and will be ready this X-mas season.

Everyone has all sorts of bills to pay and YES a career in art DOES pay the bills (sometimes) and it is my living. A goal of mine is to eventually focus on my art, design, illustration, and bookmaking full time and every art piece I do is a step closer to achieving that and essentially running my own business.

So thank you for supporting artists and helping to debunk the "Starving Artist" stereotype!

Desktop Patterns

I gave my first hand-drawn pattern a go last week. Desktop sizes are available for you to download for your personal enjoyment.

1920 x 1200

1680 x 1050

1440 x 900

1280 x 800

Treehouse Painting

Secret Meeting at the Treehouse, 11 x 11, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2010

Here is another piece in the Treehouse series. This was requested for a friend who is expecting a baby girl soon. They are featuring graphic designers and local artists work in the nursery. What a sweet environment to grow up in!!!

Happy New Year!

Between the snow, the holiday traveling and more snow, I took a mini break from my blog. But have no fear...there's lots more art in the New Year!

Library, 20 x 28, Gouache & Ink on paper, 2009

To kick it off here's a commission I finished up just in time for Christmas. Requested was a library painting to go in their new home library. I love library's so it was quite a pleasure.

Doing this piece I was thinking about my connections to books. So far I've worked at the Hastings College Perkins Library, worked in-house design for Nebraska Book Company, and seem to pick up a new book whenever I go out. Perhaps sometime soon I can add my own illustrated book to the mix.

PIN Online Silent Auction!

Gallery Nucleus's online silent auction is now live! "Terrarium Tree" was chosen to be part of the select few for the silent auction. Get your bids in....auction ends this Sunday!

The entire show will be online after the reception today. Check back to Gallery Nucleus to view more pieces!

Hackberry Haven

Hackberry Haven, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on paper, Available

We've received quite a lot of snow in the past couple days and it reminded me to post this new piece. I kind of feel like I'm stuck in a bottle right now with all the snow! Work was canceled, I couldn't reach a Red Box, but I did make it out to the grocery store for more noms!

Auction is Live!

"Hey You Guy's" online silent auction is going on now! Check out the site and bid on your favorites. Just click the artists name on the right!

Proceeds go to Donors Choose to help classrooms and students in need of art supplies.

Twentysix Tiny Tombstones

E is for Ernest, 5 x 7, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Twentysix Tiny tombstones is a tribute to the marvelous book created by the genius mind of Edward Gorey (1925-2000) The Gashlycrumb Tinies (1963). The blog is created by Patricio Oliver.

Check out the site for more Gorey tribues!

Gallery Nucleus PIN Show

Power In Numbers (PIN) combines a love of art with philanthropy for their biggest event of the year!

Gallery Nucleus's 4th Annual Power in Numbers (PIN4) event aims to be more epic than ever as we invite artists and illustrators from all backgrounds, industries and aesthetics to take part in creating art for a cause. Having been consistently well received in the past, the PIN exhibit features over 100 international and local artists creating 5" X 7", 2-dimentional, original artwork in the desired medium and theme of their choosing.

Each artwork piece will be priced at $100.00 and a selection of artworks will be auctioned. A portion of the night’s sales will benefit the American Red Cross (San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter) on emergency response efforts.

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Here are my pieces that I did for Gallery Nucleus's Power in Numbers show.

Bottle Hovel, 5 x 7, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Flower Noms, 5 x 7, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Terrarium Tree, 7 x 5, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Stowaway, 7 x 5, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Check out Gallery Nucleus for a list of all the participating artists and more info! Show runs December 12th -28th

"Hey You Guys!" Charity Event

"Hey You Guys! 2009 Poster by Israel Sanchez

"Hey You Guys Charity" is a small group of artists, friends and family who want to make a change by keeping art education in schools.

Last year the event raised over $2, 000 with only internet and word-of-mouth advertising, and helped over 300 students and teachers. We are once again raising money for Donors Choose, a program that helps teachers keep the arts alive in schools. Donors Choose purchases the art supplies that kids need to keep their imaginations alive.

The classic comedy GHOSTBUSTERS will be shown at the Rialto Theater,in South Pasadena, CA. There will also be a silent art auction featuring original artwork from known gallery artists, concessions, and a raffle!

Event takes place December 5th, ONLINE silent auction begins November 30th.

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Below is my donation piece for the event. I love Ghostbusters and choose to depict a haunted library with my favorite ghosts and ghouls!

"Who You Gonna Call?" Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Detail

Detail

Detail

Check out "Hey You Guys" website for more information!!!

Winter Rabbits!

Winter Hovel, 5x7, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Afternoon Tea, 7x5, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

Here's two pieces that are currently at Graham Gallery in Hastings, NE. There's no snow on the ground right now, but I know it's coming sooner or later! Check out Graham Gallery for more great artwork in our Holiday Showcase.

Porridge Papers!

Yesterday Porridge Papers in Lincoln, NE celebrated their Sweet 16! Porridge papers specializes in handmade paper and letterpress (invites, prints, and more!). They asked local designers to make designs to be printed on their paper and given away in a Schwag Bag at the party! Above is my printed design that I came up with.

Check out their store in Lincoln, and see more at their blog.
Congrats Porridge! I can't wait to celebrate more birthday's to come.

TEAspoons

Salt & Pep, 11x11, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

My moseying about in the kitchen has inspired this new painting.

What began as a simple task to make some beer bread, became a quest after completely bombing the recipe. Turns out that mixing up TEAspoons and TABLEspoons is a pretty big deal! I ended up made a salt lick instead of bread! For the record I made it again and it was much more edible...

Attic Adventure

Attic Adventure, 11x11, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

I think Fall is the perfect time for a good mystery. I've been enjoying painting to my favorite mystery movies. (Clue is my all time favorite and finally watched Murder by Death) Any movie suggestions to add to my list?

My family's attic growing up was pretty great. When we went up to get the Christmas decorations we were always leery of finding a bat hiding out in the box!

The Naturalist's Study

"The Naturalist's Study", 24x24, Gouache & Ink on Wood, 2009

I'm starting to gear up for my winter/holiday shows. Here's a new one that I just finished. I decided that I MUST include a kiwi bird in my next painting after seeing Aaron Horkey's Flight of the Conchords poster design. Soooo... here's it is.

Ahhh Fall...

Now that it's been officially October for a few days now I've given into my Fall lust. I ate a caramel apple, picked out some pumpkins, and got a wonderful owl sculpture by Sally (she made the metal flower too). I love Fall and the change of weather. Ahhhh back to breathing the crisp fall air now...

Lilly

One of my good friends just had a baby girl! Here's a piece I painted for their lovely Lilly.