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...

Bob Poster Design (GD)

Another day, another poster, my friends...

Halloween Radness 2018! (I)

It's that time once again, friends: the best part of the Best Month, my birthday! And also this monster dude's birthday! Here's me and Adam dressed up for the Ween in costumes from one of my favorite movies of all time. Check out last year's if you wanna. Also, a quick apology: I really tried to draw Adam as the alien from Aliens, and I'm really sorry that the world won't get to partake in that brilliance...ah well. Happy Me Day, everybody!!

Happy Birthday, Burkely! (I)

It's hard to believe it's been FIVE YEARS since my last zombie picture! Shocking. Here's one for my best nursing school buddy and fellow Shitbird Brigade recruit. Happy birthday, my dude. (And for more zombie stuff, click on "zombies" to the right over there.)

October Is Back! (I)

I knew the Best Month would be back, but now it's here and I'm so excited!! Here's a little doodle to celebrate October!

39 Steps Poster Design (GD)

The annual poster design for Mira Loma Theater! This one's for The 39 Steps, a comedic adaptation of the classic Hitchcock spy thriller. Click on "Show Posters" over there on the right side of your screen for past designs.

Procreate Sketch (I)

Just messing around with Procreate, my latest toy. More to come!

May the Fourth be with you! (I)

I did it last year, so here's a follow-up on the whole May the Fourth phenomena, featuring my good friend Dennis! Almost forgot this one...

Mr. Wonderful (GD)

Honored to design the postcard for my stepdad's upcoming Celebration of Life. One of the most important people in my life, he taught me so much about so many things, not least of which the absolute magic of shared laughter, that pure bullshit jag that makes life that much easier to deal with. I'm glad his suffering is past, but I miss him every day. Hum you, Beau Beau.

Pet Portrait Commission (I)

A commissioned piece for a veterinarian friend. The last of her client's trio of pets passed away recently, so this is some art to commemorate them, whom she affectionately referred to as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and...well, you get the idea. Happy to help!

Showcase Poster 2018 (GD)

Weird Deer (I)

Wrapping paper for a friend. (Ink, colored pencil on Whole Foods bag.)

Four Seasons of Meditation, with Paul "Sparkling Leopard" Henshall

Several years ago, when a friend was making her way through her dissertation, I made a series of extremely relaxing tracks for her to unwind to. Now on SoundCloud! Click here to enjoy.