What is a "Forest Bigot" anyway?

Well I don't really know either.

A friend and fellow teacher sent me a challenge on Facebook with the challenge to draw a "forest bigot", whatever that is. The writing looks nice, lots of serifs, though I do prefer cursive, but anyone who reads mince can tell you, you have to work at it a bit. This is what I got for a clue to create my "forest bigot" drawing.

this enterprising student must have really wanted to utilize their new word. It reminds me of some of my ridiculous and naive homework assignments. It's a wonder any of us got through these tough yet formative years.

I grew up in a small logging town so this subject hits close to home. This new lumberjack style seems to coming back. The hipsters are getting a touch of grunge. forest bigots reminds me of the rednecks chopping down the forest for beer money where I grew up. On week-ends their kids, the high school students would gather together bringing their illegally acquired six packs of Lucky to the remote logging roads for some good 'ol wholesome small town fun and pointless debauchery. Spinning wheelies in their trucks and triumphing one another in a show of masculinity. The girls were there because that where the boys went on fridays.  I was never invited, but the bullies included my by throwing their cans of beer at me when driving by. I accepted the beers which narrowly missed me but never did hit the mark, who throws full cans of beer away anyway? I think it was a peace offering or some weird sort of charity. The constant dis was them yelling "freak" and "purple" out the windows as they aggressively sped by on the only road in town.  They were clearly colour blind, my mow hawk was fuscia pink. Not very creative either. Ahhhhh the glories of awkward adolescence. Kinda makes me warm inside.

I sketched this up with a brief pencil outline and then bravely went straight into ink with no fear. I quickly filled in the colour with copic markers. Lickety split does the trick. The figure is based off of an histogram my friend Chris Millar posted of a sloth fetus he saw the same day.

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In addition I received a proof of my page for the Motion Gallery catalogue that will be released at their 3 year anniversary party on December 13th.

They will be selling them which includes all the artists that have been part o the gallery since it opened. Awesome! Go Calgary arts scene and the people who make it go! Party info below, come by and say hello!

Wet the appetite....

Here are a few additional sketches I did for C.B.'s upcoming publication.

Some concepts for the Key of Amajara. It could be a small black and white image on every new chapter page. I was thinking of a nice calligraphy 'A' on the back of a skeleton key.
 

 The evil Count Palavar.  He is part bird skeleton with a human skull. His eyes have a deep red glow but since the work is only black and white I can't show that here. I  wanted to show him in flight ready to strike with his talons. Without wings how would he fly? Magic of course!

Here is a portrait of Frowlus, Owls friend, a clumsy white stork with over trusty sized flight goggles.

Something that still needs considering is the additional back cover. It needs something, I agreed to paint an original work for the front, but we need something on the back, maybe one of these in muted tones. More to come =;)

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New FROSST sketchbook

I got another new sketchbook. Yay!!! This one is extra special! Got it at FROSST Books, John Frosst ordered a few custom sketchbooks with his image on the front from the UK. If you don't have one and want one better rush down the Inglewood and grab one before they're gone. The paper is super nice, heavy, slightly cream in tone and has a great tooth for drawing. The book folds completely flat so you can work like you would with a spiral bound, only much better and there is a pocket in the back like Moleskine have.  Here is a scan of the metallic gold front cover, it doesn't do it justice, but it gives you an idea.

FROSST BOOKS - "We sell Books"


 It is a good idea to write your name and contact info or a way to get a hold of you in case you leave your sketchbook somewhere.  Its also a good time to test your markers to see how much they bleed. Unfortunately my Copic Markers bleed thru even this thick of sketchbook paper, I have yet to find a sketchbook that doesn't bleed when I use my Copics =;(  Here is the first drawing of my new sketchbook, over time I will continue to add to it and test my various colors like a palette here.

 
Whoa Mario!!! 

NEW SKETCHBOOK!!!!

I started my new sketchbook. Out with the old on and onto the new. First things first, I need to put my info in the front cover. In case it gets lost.  This cover was done in copic and prismacolor inspired by one of my new favorite adult swim animation series 'Superjail".

This sketchbook has been hiding in my studio for about a year. I filled one like it a while back.  One thing I  discovered is that the paper of this sketchbook does not take alcohol based markers well, they bled more than usual. It is also not spiral bound so the scanning is more difficult. Oh well, I'm committed and will have to deal with it.