Yesterday I found out that these crazy creatures will soon be invading the Communication Arts 2016 Illustration Annual! To say this came as a happy surprise is putting it mildly– I think I alarmed my normally imperturbable husband by emitting something combining a shriek, a whoop, & hysterical laughter.
The news came at the perfect time, too, because I had just that moment been pondering my next painting & wondering if I ought to tame my ideas down a little. But I had so much fun working on Invasive, mostly because I had given myself complete permission to paint whatever came into my head. It seems odd really, how rarely I let this happen, when there is nothing stopping me but my own inhibitions. Now I feel emboldened to take another walk on the wild side!
The annual will be published in the May/June issue of CA, & as for the painting in my head, I’m hoping it will make its appearance before then!
Addendum: Here it is in CA, woohoo!
There’s no doubt that you will take that walk on the wild side. The creative stars are aligned. And I am so curious about what will be born of that effort. I rarely engage in commentary online, but in this case, I felt compelled to do so. My younger sister and I are “word people” and each of us subscribes to Anu Garg’s “A.Word.A.Day”. I was startled to see one of your Alphabet paintings looking back at me from the monitor and quickly found a link connecting to your blog. My sister had somehow missed it, so I was able to alert her (we live 1300 miles apart, so
we email a lot). She took the next step and acquired for me a Christmas gift of a 6×6 print of your “Phantasmagoria” (which hangs beside my monitor as I type). It was Perfect. My favorite movie of all time (I just celebrated my 80th, so that was a long time) was Disney’s “Fantasia”….and of that film, the initial sequence of Mickey Mouse as “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. There’s more. As a youth and well into my adult years, I spent untold hours drawing, painting and sculpting…intending to continue it for my livelihood in fact. Reality stepped in and life as an artist converted to a career as an ophthalmologist. No serious regrets; I did “illustrate” virtually all of the pages of the notes I took during high school, college and medical school. So you can see why I appreciate what you do and how you do it. And, yes, admittedly I am a bit envious. But I have my Wizard to comfort me. And beside the art, there’s another small connection running through this:
we share Austin, TX as part of our childhood (no matter how briefly.) Once a Texan, always a Texan. And…coincidentally…we occasionally pass fairly close even now. We have a “vacation cottage” at Lake Gaston, not so far from where you create your incredible artistic offspring. Perhaps our paths will cross. If not, please know that you have been an uplifting influence on my later years and have my deep admiration and hope for continuing success…whether on the wild side or the other.
Thank you so much, Michael! I’m very touched by your story & so happy that my work means something to you. We do seem to have many things in common– what I’m sure you don’t know is that I once illustrated a book on eye surgery! This was very long ago, & I decided I wasn’t really cut out for medical illustration. (Some of the research gave me nightmares, & I had trouble eating enough.) But yet another little link, nonetheless! I was also a notebook-illustrator & I still have trouble concentrating on a lecture without doodling something in the margins of my notes– but there are studies now that show it actually helps one learn! I hope you still draw, paint, &/or sculpt when you can find the time, & I hope we do sometime cross paths! Thank you again for your very kind & encouraging words.
wonderful invasion. Although all these species tend to spread prolifically and undesirably in certain biotope , in Artichokistan or in similar artistic environments they are – however- very welcome and desirable.
Enjoyable as usual. And great invasive font! ;)
I’m so glad to hear that these invaders are welcome in your part of the world– especially since there may be more on the way! Thanks so much!
Congratulations! Very good news and seems like support to be yourself with your art and create whatever comes to you! That will make you unique in an art world where unique can be hard to find.
your details are amazing, i always enjoy seeing what you are creating!
Thanks, Tammie, it did feel like a message to go with my instincts! I always appreciate your support & inspiration, too!