This particular beast is a Striped Hyena.

One of the aspects I’m taking advantage of with this series is the opportunity to discover unfamiliar species.

Like most folks I was familiar with the hyena, but I’d never seen a striped hyena. One of their most striking features is their mane, which sticks up like a crazy mohawk when excited.

With less than 10,000, this animal is considered “near threatened” to extinction.

]]> http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/17/animal-battle-striped-hyena/feed/ 0 littlewolfblog Border_Line Striped_Hyena_Sketch Striped_Hyena_InProgress Striped_Hyena_InProgress2 Striped_Hyena_Final_WEB Border_Line LW_Sig http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/13/animal-battle-opening-night/ http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/13/animal-battle-opening-night/#comments Mon, 13 May 2013 17:31:56 +0000 littlewolfblog http://littlewolfblog.com/?p=5800 Continue reading →]]>

Opening night for Animal Battle started with steady flow of familiar faces as friends came in to visit; it was a great start to a really great night.  As night slowly descended the crowd thickened with kids and adults alike, PNCA students, fellow artists, and the usual First Thursday folks.

I’m grateful for all the people that came in to the gallery, and especially for the overwhelming amount of kind words I heard throughout the night.  I think my favorite moment was when a little boy made his mother buy him two animal prints (not just one!).  He was going to hang them in his room so they could “watch over him”.

And a big thanks to all my fellow members of Pony Club who helped me pull this together, and to New Belgium Brewing for providing the delicious libations.

The show is hanging through the end of May; if you’re in Portland come check out the work Tues – Sun, 1:30 – 6:00 pm, to see them up close and personal!  Prints are still in my shop, too.

As for Animal Battle, this is not the end.  Hold on to those wooden swords – there is still plenty more to come.

Hey everyone!

Last week’s opening for Animal Battle was fantastic, and I took a much needed break from the studio.  I have lots of photos to share from the event, but for now I wanted to share a special announcement.

Beautiful Animal Battle prints are now available in my shop! And for TODAY only, the first five print orders receive a FREE signed promotional Animal Battle poster!  Woo hooooo!  Shop those prints here and check out the show in its entirety on my portfolio site.

Good luck!

]]> http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/06/animal-battle-prints/feed/ 1 littlewolfblog Border_Line image image Battle_Raccoon_Etsy1 Wolf_Medic_Esty2 Eyes_Hands_Etsy3 Raccoon_Medic_HS_Print_Promo Border_Line LW_Sig http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/01/stumptown-comics-fest-2013/ http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/01/stumptown-comics-fest-2013/#comments Wed, 01 May 2013 18:31:48 +0000 littlewolfblog http://littlewolfblog.com/?p=5763 Continue reading →]]>

With Pony members Keith Carter, Jennifer Parks, and Amy Kuttab (not pictured are Emi Lenox, Erin McCarty, and our awesome intern Daniel).

It’s been a few days since Stumptown wrapped on Sunday evening, and I feel like I’m just now finally recovering from the madness.  I had so much fun working at Pony Club’s booth, meeting fans and other exhibitors all weekend – this fest definitely trumped last year’s experience.

As part of Pony Club, I was there to promote the new second volume of Adult Babysitting, and I was completely bowled over by all the people that approached me to tell me how much they loved the comic.  It was exactly the kind of experience I needed to know that I should keep going.  Making comics (any art really, but especially comics) can be a lonely road at times, and sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it.

I’ve been so focused on my solo show that I wasn’t aware about this review of Adult Babysitting until a fellow exhibitor mentioned it to me.  Thanks to Rob Clough from the Comics Journal for the wonderful review!  Kind words indeed.

And ya know, all that excitement was really enough to tide me over for awhile, but then THIS happened:

I was selling this print at the fest – it’s an illustration I did in art school a number of years ago – when this sweet old lady came over and said she wanted to buy it.  Then she introduced herself.

She said her name was Muriel Fahrion, and she was THE CREATOR OF STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE!!!

OMFG

Not only that, she also created the Care Bears.  THE CARE BEARS.

I nearly died, and when she signed one of my prints to a “Berry” Special Friend, I definitely teared up.  It turns out that she was just visiting from Oklahoma, and happened to be at the fest and saw my print.

I almost closed up shop right then and there, the experience was so amazing I knew it couldn’t be topped.  STCF 2013 was AWESOME, and I’m already looking forward to next year.  Thanks to all my friends and fans that came out and said hi and to my fellow members at Pony Club.  That was a great weekend.

PS: This opens TOMORROW:

I am so excited.

]]> http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/05/01/stumptown-comics-fest-2013/feed/ 1 littlewolfblog Border_Line IMG_3985 IMG_1514 IMG_1516 229604_10201082900138263_36398745_n Keith_Live_Painting Pony_Club_Booth1 Pony_Club_Booth2 Pony_Club_Booth4 Pony_Club_Booth5 Pony_Club_Members Border_Line ABV2_Front_Cover_Etsy Border_Line AB_Review Border_Line The_Color_War_WEB Border_Line IMG_1519 Border_Line LW_Sig Hearts&Stars_11x17_WEB http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/04/25/animal-battle-battle-flags/ http://littlewolfblog.com/2013/04/25/animal-battle-battle-flags/#comments Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:46:23 +0000 littlewolfblog http://littlewolfblog.com/?p=5747 Continue reading →]]>

As part of my Animal Battle show I’ve been making a whole bunch of Battle Flags.  Each flag is handmade from linen I bought from the fabric store, cut into triangles, dip-dyed, and painted on with inks.  I wanted them to be very simple and raw, so I didn’t make any efforts to snip all the loose threads or sew or use any finishing techniques.

To me, there is so much more life to these drawings that can exist off the page, and the flags are the first element to do so.  I’ll be hanging strings of flags across the gallery and on the walls as part of the exhibit.  They’ve been almost as much fun to make as the drawings themselves.

Hola.  Here are pictures of my sketchbook, showing some quick drawings I did of another Animal Battle piece, Koala.  This sketchbook is a big’n (I use 11 x 14″ books), and it has become such an integral part of my process that I can’t imagine not using it.

As you can see, I didn’t stray too much from the original sketch:

I’m in the final stretch before the show opens next week, and not as if you needed a reminder, BUT:

Also, THIS weekend is the Stumptown Comics Fest!  I’m super excited because this year I’ll be exhibiting with my pals from the Pony Club Gallery.  I’ll be signing and selling copies of my comic, Adult Babysitting, all weekend!  Here’s where to find me:

In addition to my comics, as part of the Pony Club I’ll be releasing a special PRE-SALE of signed Animal Battle prints!  Yip yip!

I’ll only have a few prints of each, so come visit me this weekend at Booth Q5 to get your paws on one, indulge in some animal goodness, and lavish yourself with boozy comics.

CHEERS / TALLY HO 

I heard that soft moss, blades of grass, and tiny mushrooms make for very durable battle gear.  And I can think of nothing more intimidating than a bolo tie bearing a little black scorpion.  This raccoon is tough.  I’d watch out for him.

More – ever more! – work for Animal Battle.  At the risk of sounding like a broken record: May 2nd.  Pony Club Gallery.  Portland.  Allllll this stuff will be hanging on a wall.

And ya know what else?

Affordable, beautiful prints.  Soon to be in my shop.

Here is the official event on Facebook.  Hope to see you there, friends!

Cheers!

In this second large drawing for Animal Battle, these soldiers suit up in the colors pink and green for their army, Eyes + Hands.

And for the first time ever, I’ve captured my process in a time-lapse video!  It’s pretty nuts watching hours and hours of work reduced to just a few minutes.

Watch this drawing come to life:

And here is the official flyer for my show!

I’m super excited for this opening!  I’m also super excited to finish this work.  So…..back to the drawing board.

Sargeant Owl carries the flag for the Eyes + Hands Army.  He’s quite dapper, ain’t he?

This show, Animal Battle, opens in a month!  I’ve been working relentlessly, usually seven days a week, but I’ve been enjoying myself immensely.  I’m looking forward to hanging all these works together on a wall.

TALLY HO

What sound does a Wolf Medic make?

“AH-WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

Work for Animal Battle is comin’ along.  Next up: the opposing army!