Category — Pet Projects

I just got back from my week-plus retreat on Bainbridge Island and AH! It was awesome! I thumbnailed several chapters of my book (though I haven’t sent them to my editor yet – hi, Chris!) and came up with a much, much better outline. I also moved from feeling overwhelmed and intimidated to feeling excited and am actually enjoying myself – a huge leap. I’m aiming to have the proposal done by the end of February, which, to my great relief, looks like a very attainable goal.

Me toiling in my yurtlet at Sacred Groves, where I did a retreat last June.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Jamie Vann, the most awesomest research assistant I could possibly hope for.

I’m taking care of Kelly and Holly’s hermit crabs while they are off drinking hot cocoa with their families. The crabs and me, though? We know how to have fun.

CRABSITTER II is the sequel to CRABSITTER (and its spinoff cult favorite, Vincent Attacks). iMovie rocks. It makes me want to films things just so I can add a monkey screeching or an arc of fairy dust (CRABSITTER II has both of these).

It’s always fun to do a Stranger cover because for a week, I get to see my work everywhere: strewn in cafes, tucked under arms, crumpled in the gutter. I didn’t think the art director would let me do another cover so soon (my last one was in September) but I guess I made a good case for it. (As I recall, it was something along the lines of “Pleeeease??!”)

“Triangle Choke, or Ballard Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu Alliterates Artfully” (an admittedly tortured shout-out to my school, Ballard BJJ. “Alliterates Artfully” -??)

A few people have asked how many covers I’ve done. My first was in 1993 – it was also my first paid job as an illustrator – but after that I wasn’t sure. So I decided to go through my archives, and rounded up nine. [Read more →]

My newest commission was a portrait of the dearly departed cat of Robert Sondheim, co-owner of Rosebud. Erica kept him company for twenty years (!!) and he still keeps her two favorite toys where she left them on the floor. (Picks them up to vacuum. Puts them back.)

He asked me to draw her on a Persian rug, and to include a tiny bit of turquoise (to match his decor). Interestingly, he only had three photos of her, and I needed more for reference, so I asked him to find some other cats online that reminded him of her (the one on the far right is “Ingrid”):

He loved it and said the portrait looks just like her (whew!).

My “triangle choke” Stranger cover will appear in a few weeks – serious! In the meanwhile, more sketches…

Darren pointed out that there is a big BJJ gathering in a couple of weeks. (Hopefully my Stranger cover will coincide with that!) A few world champions will be there, including Fabiana Borges, and he suggested I look her up. (Actually, I’d asked if she has an awesome Brazilian accent and he directed me to an entrevista (interview) but I watched a couple of her bouts, too.)

She uses the same technique in both videos: leaps at her opponent and gets in full guard, and works her legs up to a choke. Expedient! Both times it took her about a minute.

These days, whenever someone asks me what’s new, I blurt, “I just started taking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!” and I usually wind up on the floor trying to demonstrate some move. BJJ is a lot like wrestling, like a constantly changing human puzzle. SO COOL. Interestingly, I’m finding that drawing has helped me figure out some of the positions.

Here’s a triangle choke:

I liked this one so I inked and colored it, and I’ve been using it as my wallpaper. Then I figured I’d make a few different sizes and post them just for you, and here you are! Free BJJ wallpaper, of various sizes, including for your iPhone. Who loves ya?!

Click on the thumbnail to download (and Ma, you’ll need to drag it onto your desktop!):

1680 x 1050:

1280 x 1024:

1280 x 960:

iPhone:

Respectful bows to Ballard BJJ, my teachers Micah and Darren, Slidey, and their teachers, and their teachers’ teachers.