Halloween Radness 2020!

This year's portrait of me and my birthday twin Adam is somewhat bittersweet, as that monster guy just recently moved away to be with his family for a bit. Miss you, buddy. Also, he NAILED what we're supposed to be this year. Like, guessed immediately! That guy... 

This is my ninth year of portraits. Check out last year's portrait by clicking HERE, and you can follow them back from there. Happy Best Month, all!!

Vampire Queen Update (I)

 I originally made this portrait for a friend a few years ago. The pets featured in the original have since passed, and she asked for her current dog to be added. Done and done! 

 The original:

 

Mack Family Enterprises (I/GD)

Some pieces for one of my favorite families in the world, who've been busy at home under Quarantine.

I got paid in jam! WORTH IT!!

 

Kidchen is now open for business - it's like "kitchen," except run by kids! (GENIUS!)

  

 

And they said goodbye to an old friend...

Dragons! (I)

A friend of mine has a GENIUS daughter who drew the original piece you see here (scroll on down), and I was moved to create an homage. The color scheme is intriguing, amIright? Just trying to stay sane during Quarantimes. :)

One For Sorrow (GD)

One for sorrow,
Two for mirth,
Three’s a wedding,
Four’s a birth...

Our family recently said goodbye to a true warrior in the fight against breast cancer, and I miss her every day. She was one of my favorite people on the planet, truly. I couldn't find a sympathy card I liked, so I made my own.

MerMay 2020 (I)

I actually got this MerMay piece done on time this year! This is a friend whose favorite sea creature is the manatee, with an initial sketch of a manatee below her. I did this all on my tablet! What? Truth.

Morty: Life in Quarantine (V)

Morty's back! After a five year break, Sir Mortimer returns - just in time to Shelter in Place!

For those of you just meeting Sir Huddlesworth, some background: twenty years ago, I got to play Hamlet in a small production in New York state. One of the actors knew a producer of the Laurence Olivier film, and when I met said producer after the show, he said to me, "You remind me of a young Laurence Olivier...you have a WAYS to go..." It was such a perfect thing to say, in so many ways, and as I told the story to various geniuses, we began to riff on that quote until it spun out into this old, grumpy character, a veteran of the theater with a variety of grudges, and fantastic experiences that may or may not be real, but who cares?

My first Morty video was made twelve years ago, as part of an application for the SF Sketchfest that year. I heard nothing back from the 'fest, but that experience of filming over the course of a long afternoon with two of my oldest friends became one of my most treasured memories, and it made me want to make more. This is Morty's 20th video! Woot.

This video is not meant, in any way, to diminish the experience of those struggling under the weight of Covid-19. As a frontline healthcare worker (an Emergency Department RN), I know firsthand the damage this disease has caused, the suffering both physical and mental. It is, however, important to find relief in joy, in shared experience. If this video brings a smile, my work here is done, and done with great pride.

Kyrzztle (I)

Well, here's a little beacon of hope in these covid-y times: a portrait I made and slapped on a thank you card for one of my favorite coworkers and most recent preceptors. She's a hero of mine, no doubt!

Medusa's Tale Poster (GD)

According to my phenomenal high school director friend, this will be the last production she'll do for a while...possibly ever? I'm hoping she changes her mind, as she's coaxed some great stuff out of me over the years; click the "Show Posters" link to see what I'm talking about!

Blue (V)

A few months ago, my family and I took a surf trip for my brother's birthday. I experimented with filming some stuff, and then I made this video for my dad, whose birthday is today. This is a very special film for me, in that I get to celebrate an incredible tradition in our family, one that's being handed down to the next generation, and one that I've been exceptionally blessed to be a part of. Please click on the picture below to get a taste of all the blue you can handle. Happy Birthday, Dad!

Wrapping Paper Illustration (I)

A few drawings I made into a wrapping paper design for my mom, featuring her, her two cats, and her little dog, too. Printed by Zazzle, a company I highly recommend for their quality and efficient service.

Holiday Card Design 2019

Happy Holidays, everyone!!

Happy Halloween 2019! (I)

My Number One Fan requested a t-shirt design featuring Baba Yaga for Halloween, and who am I to deny her? I was surprised by how many people don't know this ragged queen of witches, a figure I'd grown up with, flying around in her pestle, gathering up souls and taking them back to her chicken-footed house in the deep, dark woods. She's worth looking into, for sure. Below is the final project, and some process shots for a deeper look at how I make these things.

I typically start with reference pictures. I find things on the web for details, and I'll model the particular pose myself:

Then I go work with some blue pencils. I'm not quite ready to do this part on the tablet, but I'm getting there. I don't know what it is about blue pencils, they just allow me to be bolder and messier:

Usually inking the initial drawing is the hardest part, it's actually kinda terrifying. But this time I scanned the blue pencil drawing onto my tablet and used that, and now I'm hooked! So good! Usually I have to do a bunch of work to separate the blue lines from the inks in Photoshop, but the tablet allows me to use different layers, and to create nice clean lines that are perfect for the next phases:

Then I block in colors and start thinking about where the light should be coming from:

Then I spend a bunch of time adding details n stuff, usually whilst watching some terrible horror movie or other:

Maybe a total of 12 hours, start to finish? A true meditation for me, and a delightful Halloween surprise for her. Happy Best Month, everyone!!

Halloween Radness 2019! (I)

I was a little late with this one this year, doesn't mean I don't love this big monster any less. Happy birthday to us both! Click here to see last year's, and you can follow the links back to 2012 when I started these Halloween portraits. Happy Best Month, everyone!

Peter and the Starcatcher (GD)

Another poster for Mira Loma Theater! And look at that main title lettering, riiiiiight? Made it myself on the 'pad, y'all! See last year's poster by clicking here, or click "Show Posters" over there on the right to see more...well, posters I made for shows.

Crazy Eight (GD)

I transferred to the ER one year ago! I couldn't have gotten through this past year without the seven incredible people I trained with, who inspire me and give me the courage I need every damn shift. To show my appreciation for my gang - my Crazy Eight - I made this design and had it printed on stickers from moo.com. If you're curious, that's a flying Uncrustable, which is a very popular snack at the hospital. And he's smoking a cigar, because everything is kinda just nuts at our job, including us.

Humpback (I)

Found an old sketch, threw some color into it, nbd. Just warming up for some upcoming projects - stay tuned!

Harry My One True Love (V)

My first video! Starring Autumn Fuentes, Mason Stone, David Tenenbaum, Virginia Bell, Hilary Mackenzie, and Maret Orliss, all household names these days, of course. This was shot on a loooooong day just after my senior year of high school! What? True story. Click the image below to enjoy a tale of love, loss, and betrayal. DRAMA!

MerMay! (I)

My friend Tiz said her favorite marine animal was a jellyfish, so I created this version of her for #mermay this year. It took me a year to get it done, but isn't she fantastic?

My Stand Up Routine, 2005 (V)

You've all been like, "How do we get more facial movement out of this dude?" And I'm like, "Stand up comedy, bruh." Possibly the most terrifying thing I've done. Click the photo below to watch me skate the edge of a tonic-clonic while I babble about the weather, taxi cabs, French bulldogs, and my (possible) boner. This was my final performance for a class I took in New York City, hosted at New York Comedy Club for an audience of friends and family. I was so nervous I'm surprised I was even intelligible. Enjoy?

2019 Showcase Poster (GD)

30 Day Music Challenge (GD)

A couple of friends and I took the 30 Day Music Challenge on Insty, posting a song a day based on the daily prompts. It was...less fun than it seemed like it was going to be, but I got to do a smidge of graphic design. Follow me! @owlhenry

Matador (I)

Christmas Card Design 2018 (I)

The annual Christmas card design. Happy 2019, everyone!

Clam Down (GD)

Sticker design for a friend...