Dudes. It is miserable outside. I wish I really had all those scarves. I mean, I had all these plans to lay out by the pool, and I had my hula-hoop group meeting scheduled at Laurelhurst Park today, but whatddaya know, the sun dipped out at like 1:30.
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Jake and I are planning something really special, just for YOU. Yep, the holidays are here, and we are putting together a special surprise. GET EXCITED!!!!
Posted in Sketchbook
Tagged Bundled, Ink, It's Really Cold, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Scarf, Sketchbook, Winter
It has been a very long time since I’ve been in the holiday spirit. This year, though, there is so much I feel thankful for, that I actually have reason to celebrate.
I’ve never had a real tree, and I haven’t dragged an artificial tree out of its box in years. Over the weekend, Jake and I drove an hour out into the beautiful Oregon countryside. We passed many christmas tree farms along the way, but eventually we ended up crawling along a gravelly road until we reached my friend’s house. He grew up here, and every year they sell christmas trees: $10, any size, any kind.
We picked our Noble tree, Jake cut it down, and my friend sent us home with beer he brewed himself.
That evening we made our own paper chain, (something else that was new for me), and I tied on stripey ribbons and attached paper flowers (because I am an old woman). We have no ornaments, and this year, there will only be a few presents tucked underneath, but I couldn’t be more pleased.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas, Handmade, Holiday, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Tree
I’m fond of making gifts for people, even if that just means sprucing up a bottle of wine. I indulged my inner Craft Nerd yesterday by attaching the tag (hand-made) and feathers (from my vast supply of craft materials) to a bottle that we later brought to Jakes’ family gathering.
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Later, self-indulgent pictures of an unworn tulle skirt. Sigh. It’s like a big black gothic cupcake. One day, I shall adorn it. For now, it languishes.
SNEAK PEEK SNEAK PEEK SNEAK PEEK!!!!
This little dude is now soaking in a murky bath as part of the aging process, which is all part of the work I’m doing for my upcoming solo show, Lost Pages. With little more than a month to go, I have about half the drawings to finish.
Til next time.
Posted in Gallery Show, Project
Tagged Crafts, Handmade, Little Wolf, Lost Pages, Maryanna Hoggatt, Thanksgiving, Tulle, Wine Tag
Oh right. The sun didn’t die. Here’s proof. From a tinted November sunset late last week.
I find Portland’s fascination with morbidly huge burgers curious. In a town where one can purchase organically-grown, hormone-free, free-range, deep-massaged, coddled and pampered food, we take all those lovely ingredients and pile it onto massive, greasy sandwiches. The kind where you have to dislocate your jaw to eat it.
Then said burger is delicately photographed and featured in one of a hundred “Best Burger in Town” each month, in all its tantalizing glory.
I’m not complaining. Burgers are like my favorite food group (oohhh the Biwa Burger)(oh and Slow Burger)(aaand Foster Burger), so I (burger at the Victory Bar) (and holy crap I’ve had the C Burger like 1,000 times) don’t mind the (I heard there’s a peanut butter burger in town) Burger Porn everywhere.
It’s just curious. But it sure beats the hell out of KFC Double Down Gross. Or the McCrap McRib.
On that note, enjoy stuffing your faces tomorrow. I know I will!
Posted in Illustration, Sketchbook
Tagged Burgers, Ink, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Massive massive burgers, Sketchbook, Sketches, Skyline, Stuffing Face, Sunset, watercolor
I am going to do something I usually strictly avoid in type:
WoWOowowWOoOW
These images were used for visual development and set production for the stop-motion film, Coraline. The film was created right here in Portland, at Laika Inc.
I stumbled upon these images at Jon Klassens’ site, after reading that he just won the Canadian Governor General Literary Award for this book:
Dudes, so good. Here’s his website:
Here in Portland the town is braced for snow/slush/nothing at all? Either way, it’s freaking cold outside. Stay bundled.
Posted in Illustration, Inspiration
Tagged Coraline, Jon Klassen, Laika Inc, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt
Original.
Digital.
Original.
Digitized.
I consider myself more of a hand-to-paper purist (dude computers suck)(just kidding), but every once in a while, I’ll dabble in the digital world. After discovering that the Society of Illustrators Gold Medalist Renata Liwska actually colors her work digitally, I was impressed. Her illustrations for the children’s book, The Quiet Book, are so soft and inviting, I was sure she hand-painted them. Nope. Check out this interview, where she reveals her process.
ANYWAY
There are lots and lots of artists who paint digitally, including Paul Pope, who I just drooled about. So while I don’t think it’s entirely my jam, I’m certainly not against it.
A few things I experienced while coloring my line drawings on the computer:
1. I kinda don’t know what the hell I’m doing.
2. That’s ok.
3. I actually knew a command shortcut that Jake didn’t know.
4. That second drawing sooorrrrta makes me feel like I’m not sober.
So! More of these will happen.
Posted in Digital, Illustration
Tagged digital, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Stripes, Trippy, Weird
Self Portrait, Paul Pope
(source – and recent interview with Sir Pope here.)
Cover of the book, PulpHope
Eye candy from said book:
Ah, Paul Pope.
His work comforts me, like a big fuzzy sweater, or a highly potent and delicious Manhattan. Looking at his images remind me to loosen up my frigid drawing hand. I have a love affair with all those bold, fluid lines.
And, is it just me, or does Paul Pope kinda seem like the Nick Cave of the comics world?
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pope and acquiring his autograph at this years Stumptown Comics Fest. Pick up a copy of 100% or Heavy Liquid to see what I’m talkin’ about.
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Work continues on my upcoming solo show, Lost Pages, and Part IV of The Evolution of an Idea will be featured in……well, a couple of weeks. I mean, I still have all this drawing to do. But when that’s done, I promise you will be rewarded.
Posted in Inspiration
Tagged Comics, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Paul Pope, PulpHope
“Woods”
“Le Twig”
I’m no typography expert, and the thought of scrolling through Jakes’ massive library of fonts gives me a headache. But, I do know that when I use brush and ink for wording, my hand naturally gravitates to these two styles. So I made these charts. And they’re totally jenky, and I spent 10 minutes on the whole thing, and I’ll never be able to precisely replicate it. But that’s okay, because now I have my own alphabets, and I got to assign them really slick names like “Le Twig”. Enjoy.
Update: Jake has admitted to owning a ludicrous 60 – 80,000 fonts, claiming to have “1,000″ favorites.
Posted in Illustration
Tagged Alphabet, Hand-lettered, Ink, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Typography (or the lack thereof)
From beginning to end, the process of creating an editorial illustration for the Willamette Week. Based on this news story, I need to be drawing, blogging, working a night job, and robbing banks. Shit. I’ve got work to do.
Posted in Editorial, Illustration, Process
Tagged Charcoal, Ink, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Willamette Week
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The blanket of fog at the coast this weekend was so thick that at times we couldn’t see fifty feet from the house. The above drawings were inspired by cable television, our surroundings, and the anniversary of Eagle & Wolf.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Coast, Hand-lettered, Ink, Little Wolf, Maryanna Hoggatt, Sketchbook, Sketches, Snake Bite
