WOLFPACK

Holiday Parties bring them together.

JUST LIKE BULLIT

All this freezing, grey weather is getting me down. I keep thinking about that Stones song "Winter" from Goats Head Soup,  "I wish I was out in California, when all the lights on the Christmas trees are out."

And I've been staring at this, little bit of the Bay Area on a balmy afternoon.

THE BLUE TOBOGGAN

Growing up in New Hampshire, sledding was serious business. One year my sister got a blue toboggan for Christmas and it was the fastest sled this side of the White Mountains. When my youngest sister was little, all three of us could ride it. It was unbeatable! Except when conditions were right, we might get overtaken by a surprise saucer attack.

POST TURKEY WARM UP

A little placard for the infamous Conversation Mobile now up at Arcadia Boutique in picturesque NoLibs.

Some New Friends Just Showed up in the Studio

PROCESS

Bringing the Heat

New piece for Oxford American's music ish. A portrait of The Black Haze Express. This was a perfect assignment for me. Illustrating a super rare almost non-existent funk group. They released only two 45's in low pressing numbers. They are most famous for Won't Nobody Listen which was included on the "What it is?! Comp from a couple years ago.

Black Haze Express is really one man Sam Dees. Who has written and recorded tons of hits, mostly for other people. Like One in a Million by Larry Graham.  Needless to say there are like, two lo-res photos in existence of these guys and that's where we illustrators come in.

Illustration Week

Apparently it's been deemed illustration week in New Yawk by Mayor Bloomberg.  As it happens, I will be up there this Thursday to attend the American Illustration Party and to rock this party on the ones and twos with none other than Ted McGrath. Hope to see you there.
More info here. Amazing flyer by Jennifer Daniel. Can't wait!

Hats can Muffle your Thoughts

It's Not you, it's Me.

Above our kitchen table we have framed pictures, mostly family. But there is one that is a drawing I did when I was like four or so. And its one of my clearest early drawing memories. I drew this cook, cooking hotdogs, with blue pen. I was so proud of drawing it without pencil first, its seemed so bold, then to my horror I realized I had given him three legs.

Flying high off a double espresso and my second bowl of rice krispies, I decided to do an adult take on the drawing.

It seemed everyone had a friend but him, he didn't even have an umbrella

Treats

Just in time for Halloween. Grrrrilla Hands Tees in Pink Eraser and Mello Yellow Stereo version or Mono Black. Be the envy of parents handing out candy everywhere.

Get it in Stereo here.

Get it in Mono here.

STOOL SAMPLE

We have had this little step stool kickin around. Maybe its a little milking stool? I don't know, but Lydia has hated it since the day I trash picked it in Brooklyn. Finally got around to painting it. Hopefully this will change her opinion.

Stop Snoring, Bernard! Blog

Getting a separate Stop Snoring Bernard! blog off the ground in anticipation of the book release in the Spring. Its going to be all things Bernard, behind the scenes, sneak peeks of upcoming Bernard projects and any other relevant news. Check it out here. Updates to come soon.

DESIGN PHILLY WINDOW PROJECT

My mobile is up in Old City. Its titled "The Conversation" and its in a competition as part of a Design Philly event that is happening for the month of October. If you are in Philly, stop by and see the window, its at 126 N Third Street in Olde City Investments.

Vote for me by Text or online here. And come down to the opening reception this Friday.

October 8
Dane Decor
315 Arch Street
6-9pm

Here are some bad photos that I took the day of installation, its alot more fun in person, have to get back at night and take a proper one.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Cover of this weeks Stranger. This almost never happens, but I had posted the B+W sketch of this piece for fun some time ago. And somebody calls and wants to use it. Hooray! Getting paid for something you already did for fun is, well, pretty fun. Thanks Stranger!

I KNOW, I KNOW ITS WAYYYY EARLY

To even think about anything holiday related. But I had to post this poster that I illustrated, and Lydia Ricci did an amazing design job on. Oh! and Happy 100th posting to me.

FOUR TWENTY

Just finished a few illustrations for the lovely UK magazine Amelia's.  A sampling of people and things that one might find at the Seattle Hempfest. These were partly based on photos of the Festival that they provided. Probably half of the people at Hempfest slept on my stoop or left garbage behind when I lived on Haight Street. I miss SF and the Haight some days, doing this job reminded me that I don't miss wanker trust fund babies from Connecticut, slumming it for a while, on my front steps. They always had the cutest puppies though.

TALKING HEADS

A couple of shots of the beginning of a mobile thats going to be on display next week as part of DESIGN PHILLY. Its really fun to work with Balsa wood, its like butta. I know this looks nothing like a mobile a this point, more pics to come when its assembled...(the hard part!)

I Didn't Know it was Going to be THAT kind of Party

Autumn Returns

Its feeling like fall. My favorite time of year. Its still warm in the daytime, dry, and cools off at night for good sleeping. The smell of fireplaces and the return of clothing. In a word, Crispness. Love it.

Thought it was time for a new banner to reflect that a bit.
Some new things I'm finishing up to post soon.

LABOR DAY

Summer is fading fast. Get out there and grill before its too late.

The Twins Always get nervous crossing Checkpoint Charlie.

This reminds me of Berlin, which reminded me that its going on almost ten years since I lived there. Time flies no matter what. For at least five years after, I had intense dreams of being lost, even in my old neighborhood of Kreuzberg. I knew the streets like the proverbial back of my hand but they were always changing in the dream. Intense anxiety trying to get home or get to the airport.
I still have the same dream every once in a while.

Clipboard People

A spot for Philadelphia Magazine for an article about those annoying hordes of clipboard people who shame you into donating to charity on your way to work. Turns out they are paid, and work for a for-profit company that collects money for non-profits.

Quick Studies

Summertime Part Two

NARBERTH SURROUNDED

Democracy at its finest. The people spoke and now The Narberth poster is available in two print sizes and as a Tee shirt at Society 6.
Get yours here.

Narberth

Found this in the attic. Think I'll get it framed.

Future Shock!

A piece for the Oxford American. They asked a few illustrators to illustrate what they thought buildings would be like in 2050.
I was thinking about this and went forward with a theory about structures being made of living tissue from animals. Very traditional in a way, but the fact that the skin is kept alive and not dead is where it gets interesting.

Stop Snoring, Bernard!

Well, the F& G's are finally here. Pub date is officially 4/12/11. Here are a few sneak peeks. I'm extremely happy with the printing job and the paper.

Super Dad

Another couple pieces for the Improper Bostonian. A dad to be, decides to learn as much as possible before his child arrives. His quest brings him to a whale spotting class,  instructions on driving a city bus and more practical ones like infant cpr. The article wasn't completed at the time of the assignment but there were plenty of visuals with the little info I got.

AN ISLAND DIVIDED

Just finished up a couple pieces for the Improper Bostonian. An essay on the two sides of Martha's Vineyard and the types of folks who identify with either group. The AD went with this concept of well known lighthouses from either island getting ready to tussle. I learned a couple things too, that Islanders refer to UP and DOWN island even though it runs East to West. And everywhere that is not Martha's Island is just called OFF ISLAND. Hilarious.
Plus a couple little details that I added for my own amusement.