Elf Help Group

I've been playing a game called 'doodle' here with the kids. One person takes a piece of paper and draws random stuff all over it and then passes it on to the other person to 'make sense' of all the random doodles. I was given a bunch of circles and lines and this is what I did...
(hey, try it!)
Medium: ink and colored pencil

KrisKringle Kringle

My mom has a recipe that makes a lovely pastry-type treatsie called the Swedish Kringle. I made a couple for the fella's family. They loved it. I'm contemplating keeping the recipe a mystery so they invite me back for future holiday gatherings.
And then again, maybe in the spirit of giving, I can give this recipe to all. If you love yourself, or want others to love you, you will make this.
2 parts
the bottom:
1 cup flour with 1 stick butter/margarine. Mix till crumbley crumbley, add 1Tablespoon cold water and mix
-divide dough into two
- roll out into two strips 3"x 12"
- set aside
Top part:
Melt in pan 1 stick butter, 1 cup water until boiling
- remove from heat and add 1 cup flour and three eggs, one at a time
- add 1/2 tsp almond extract
- mix thoroughly and spread onto two strips set aside
Bake on cookie sheet at 350 for 50 minutes,
add frosting or glaze upon taking out of oven
Add sprinklies or other fun holiday - like decorations
Best when eaten fresh and warm. Oh my goodness, yes.
Medium: ink, colored pencil, flour, eggs, water, almond extract, butter, pan, oven, holiday sprinklies

One More...

This may be a pg-rated one, beware beware.
Have a merry Christmas eve day, whomever views this. If you feel lonely- know that you are never alone, as God is present always. That's not a band-aid statement; it's truth.

Ye Olde Christmas Cards

I'm coloring like a fiend here at the fella's fam's house- a scanner is yet to be procured. There is something wonderful about being around kids. They don't look at you funny when you want to color all the time; in fact, they join right in. Bless 'em, every one.
Medium: ink and colored pencils

Christmas Cards

Still from last years stockpile, a new to you Christmas card to enjoy- or groan over...

Re-Pete

I sent this one out last year and liked it. I even became a member of Pete Yorn's myspace page so that i could post it. The dude never wrote me back. For his benefit I can say that he has nice hair and a fun name...

medium: ink, colored pencil, staples, and a downloaded picture of PETE YORN

Mice Cream

I am making packets to send to publishers in an effort to color for a living. That's right, color for a living. I and my 6 year old niece have the same ambitions in life. I have been making art that will hopefully please the folks at various publishing companies- including this here endearing mouse. Aww...
medium: ink and prisma colors

light and dark and thems in-between

I decided that I need to brush up on my realism. As I painted the white backdrop (still in progress, btw) I thought about what makes a good painting. The juxtoposition of very light and very dark makes the painting pop. While shades of gray are necessary- it is the highlights and deepest of shadows that cause the painting to come alive. In meditating this- the same may go for my life as a Christian. They say that life is not black and white- it is true- life has many gray areas. Yet it is in the great darkness of the world that I can be a light. It may not make me a masterpiece, but it will put a lot of life in the canvas that is me.
medium: oil

BeachBall

I did this painting a bit ago now, back in Chicago.
They are looking at me, and now you.
Medium: oil

One Drop'll Do

I've been expecting God to provide big time for me here in my new location. I expected to have friends and a job and a bit of a social scene going on here by now. It hasn't happened in huge leaps and bounds- but little by little- almost like being served tea or coffee one drop at a time.

Sometimes God seems to answer prayers a little bit at a time- and maybe that's good, as it keeps me in the rightful place of a continual stare at Him for all my needs.
Medium: ink and prisma colors

Holly-daze

I made this picture a year or more ago when I was working at Caribou coffee. It was a sad point in the history of Steph- yet God uses lots of things to make us better people. I was holla-d at for making pictures. That was sad, whew, sad.

I break my reverie on this sad(but good) time to bring you these woodland creatures.

Medium: ink and colored pencil and angst driven holiday spirit

Nicky Whilte Beard

What if Santa was a pirate on the side?

He did that thing, that thing that guys do

You know, when a fellow likes a chick and hangs out with her quite a bit... he might ask her the ultimate 'do you like me, circle one' thing.

And so my fella did. And so I circled yes and he will forever more be my prom date.

I'm being very vague; here is a picture...

Medium: ink and prisma colors

Ever Green

And so I live in California- one of the very few spots on earth
I said I would never live. One thing very nice about California is that
it is ecologically friendly. They are doing all sorts of things to encourage
the population to reduce, reuse, recycle, and go buy a $30, 000
hybrid car. While I can't shell out for the car I like the first three afore-
mentioned actions.
I have drawn a picture of a bunny, conserving water
by showerin' down, soapin' up, and rinsin' off.
While I thought I
was being very clever about my water-friendly idea, my fella looked
at it and went 'oh yeah, the military way to shower'. I guess Uncle
Arnold can take a lesson from Uncle Sam...
Medium: ink and colored pencil (and a third of the water it
would normally take to draw such a picture)

Invader Zim on a whim

So I'm in San Diego and I know a couple of people here. One of those people is E.P., my fella's roommate. He likes Invader Zim and Guitar hero. I am sure he likes a lot of other things, but these two stand out to me, so early in our acquaintance. Here's a picture of E. I hope 'e likes it.
Medium: ink and colored pencils

Unicornival

I had the picture of this in my brain the other day. It strikes me as very neighborly- if unicorns had cotton candy on their horns, they would pretty much need to share with a friend wouldn't they? They can't reach it themselves and do not have opposable thumbs to get the cotton candy off. What affable, magical creatures... unicorns.
medium: ink, prisma colors

Growth and stuff

I was waiting for a couple of friends at a restaurant the other week when this picture came to mind to draw. Or rather, I picked up my pen and put it on the paper and this came about.
I find that the presence of good friends can help you grow. With really great friendships, I think all parties involved help each-other grow. Observation of life?Speculation? Weird cartoon drawn with no explanation? I am willing to entertain any of the above as a perfectly logical explanation for today's musings.
Medium: ink

It's a dirty job

But someone has to have their kitchen wrecked. Let me know if you are in San Diego and don't have friends and don't mind hanging out with a dead bird, some military types, a jello salad, and myself.
medium: Photoshop madness, internet resources

Put up your dukes.

Speaking of, I think the job market here in San Diego is just dookie. I've decided that, for a time, I will succumb to the art beast inside and work on getting published. Getting published looks like a small obstacle course filled with lots of tall brick walls just perfect for banging my head against. I will, however, press on. I did learn to play the bagpipes- my forehead is already toughened on those brick walls.

No Thanks

I am going to spend one of my first Thanksgivings apart from fam. The last one was in Japan and involved a lot of sushi and salad sprinkled with tiny fish with big eyes. I'm not sure what to expect from this one. I will make Thanksgiving dinner with my fella. I've become privy to his mad*-cooking skills. He's become privy to the fact that I am very mischevious with food that is easily flickable or smearable. I can't help it- it's like edible paint-and his face, my unwilling canvas.
medium: ink, prisma colors, bits of carrots and peas, mashed potatoes, a drumstick, and a piece of mushy pun-kin pie
*mad, in the parlance of our times, means 'very good'.

Don't break my art, my achey breaky art

I am away from a scanner, sadly enough. In the meantime, please enjoy this painting. I loved this painting but alas the demands on my pocketbook were greater than my love for yet another piece of steph art sticking around her apartment.

There are a few pieces that I still am unsure of their meaning- this is one of them. Enjoy the enigma with me and please make a 'comment' if you'd like a gander at what this painting could mean.

medium: oil

You catch more flies with honey ...

There has been a rebuttal to the request for 'Bible College Kid' in the form of "Post Bible College Cynical Kid." I gladly draw this. Keep in mind that I was not one of these but have had a number of these types in my acquaintance. An endearing group, still on the lookout for truth and not swayed by great cafeterias or years of lengthy sermons or ... kissing dating goodbye... and stuff like that.
Medium: ink and Prisma colors

Shadow Boxer

I finally got to see Spiderman 3 the other day. As cool as I think it would be to actually have superpowers and be the distributor of truth, justice, and free tacos for all... In the end I could wear a mask, but would probably end up getting side-tracked by .. I dunno, a sock and a spotlight or something.
Ice cream treats would distract me also. Poor kitty'd be stuck in the tree ALL DAY, with no tacos whatsoever. Goodbye kitty.
Medium: Ink and colored pencil (the dynamic duo)

Moody, not just an adjective

The gauntlet has been thrown down. Draw a typical Bible college kid. I answer you with this:







Medium: ink and colored pencil
(artist's side note: I never did go to a Bible college myself.
I visited Wheaton quite a lot in my college days, and even more importantly, Wheaton's #1 in the country cafeteria, where I had the chance to.. ah.. view the typical Bible college kid)

Challenge me

One more thing... It occurred to me that I love interactive art. So- interact with me. I will check the comments on this posting- tell me what you want me to draw and I will gladly do so. (rated pg-13 or below, yo)

The micest time of year

The over cast skies, the chilly air, the barometric pressure decreasing- all indicative of Fall. Innit nice? I used to love the bonfires my friends would have, and autumnal weather always brings back good memories of them.
(And just between you and me, I will admit that I've been to fall-time hoe-downs and hayrides. No, I am not over the age of 65.)
Choc-o-block with fall affection, I have a picture of three mice off to a bonfire themselves. They are equipped with the usual bonfire ecoutrement.
Medium: ink, crayola colored pencil, and warm feelings

Food costs money, but silliness is free

Ah yes, faithful viewers, the hunt for a job here in new, mostly forest fire-less, location is still on. In the meantime, the toons continue. Why should they not?
Medium: Ink and Colored Pencils

Bun-Kin

In honor of the holiday I am posting a Jack-Rabbit-O-Lantern. Yes, the bunnies take other forms! Enjoy the day, eat a little too much candy, and have a good rest/bloodsugarlevel crash.
Medium: Pumpkin, little wooden skewers

Burst my bubble

I think sometimes other people, intentionally or not so intentionally, shoot us down in our endeavors. No matter what, toot your horn and blow your Bubblicious. Who you are and what you bring- the world needs it, if they know it or now.

Hunters do a lot of waiting

and job hunters are no different. I wish I could be more uplifting, but job hunting sucks butt.
medium: ink and crayola pencils

And he cooks

I am amidst the forest fires of the year and having a cake baked for me. It's odd and there may be some irony in there somewhere, but it must be said that "he(fella) bakes." It is good. For me.
Medium: ink, crayola colored pencils, flour, sugar, eggs, milk, chocolate, whipped cream I think, a whole crunk-load of butter, vanilla, and a whole lotta TLC

Navy of One

I've become privy to a lot of odd pieces of information about the armed forces. Not so much in the way of top secret knowledge (who looms over the big red button, etc), but more in the way of the odd, every day quirks of navy life. This sets my cartoon addled brain a stirring.
Medium: ink and crayola colored pencils

Door Of Opportunity

As I look for employment in a new environment, I can't help but be a little sad that full time employment as an artist is not an option at this point. As I went for an interview the the other day I had to wait in the car - and I drew this as I waited. I could tell it was me painting something- but the fact that it was a door was a complete surprise to me. Funny, this whole 'art unraveling even as it is in process'. I like it.
Medium: pen

Put the Petal to the Metal

I did this picture about a year ago. I was endeavoring to create a profile for children's book companies and this was my 'succession' pic. I still like it, even if the children's book companies did not. There's something starry eyed and magical when you find that someone loves you. I have only one test subject on the matter and it affirms that such data is true.
Medium: ink and prisma color

comics...

Hey! On the road, but here's a fun comic of a bear and some cereal. Happy stuff.

holding crazy and sane in both hands

Doesn't it feel, sometimes, that you hold a bit of insanity in one hand and a bit of normalcy in the other? I'm feeling like that quite a bit these days. Sometimes you just can't be cerebral about the actions you take, no matter what the world says. The term 'gut feeling' is a part of the English language fr very good reasons, no?
Medium: ink and colored pencils

And so it goes... or it's going to go... garn..

So today is the end of something and the beginning of something else. This was on my mind as I made this picture yesterday.

It seems difficult, moving shifting, changing and growing - is difficult- but in some weird way, your struggles can bring life and encouragement in the lives of people around you. (that's the fish, swimming in what appears to be tears)

medium: bic pen, colored pencils

Quick, slow down

I'm feeling a sudden quickening of life's pace right now. Not terribly creative today, but rather to the point.

medium: Bic pen, crayola colored pencils

an oily mess

I've posted a picture of this as a pencil sketch before, but here 'tis in oil painting.
This one has been parted from my collection as a friend now has it. It's always sad to see pieces of art leave- It's not just a collection of random pigment strewn about a panel- it was an idea at one point, which i spent hours upon hours staring at and rendering. *sigh* ah well.
The thoughts for this one are the same- who doesn't feel that life is going well enough sometimes, that the bubble will burst?
medium: oil

No Yarn

I got a message from my fella this morning saying he was cold. Being that 1.I have the day off and 2. I like to color and 3.I have turned into a complete sap since having this fella in my life, I decided to draw him a picture.
Here you are, fella, a sweater.
Medium: prisma colors and swank pen

Much bigger than first anticipated

Do you ever start out on a project/activity/involvement in something and think it's just going to be this little thing that you do on the side? Not much energy- just this wee little thing that you sometimes happen to be taking part in.

I drew this one last week and was not sure what to make of it. As I look at it now, it is how I feel about a lot of things. The commitment seems small in a lot of things(relationships, committees, school endeavors, Oprah book clubs) - but often it ends up being a huge ordeal. I think it's the grace of God that we only see a little bit at first- as the whole darn thing would make us back off; believing it to be too daunting or too involving or too complicated, etc.

Medium: Crayola colored pencils and ink

Iron(ing) chef

My roommate and I made sushi. And we did a-okay, in my mind. I made this cartoon last week, to get all our bad selves pumped up for the occasion.

Mask-r-aid

I finally got caught up on Lost and am now ready for the next season. While watching it in front of my computer, i started doodling. I don't know what was running through my brain when I made this one- please, if you know, inform me. I have a few ideas, but I don't know if I'm ready to publish those.

Medium: colored pencils and ink

Curve Balls for people who don't like baseball

Life is full of surprises both good and bad. It's like that song from Facts of Life "you take the good you take the bad you take 'em both and there you have..."

Good surprise: I am moving to San Diego to be geographically closer to a very handsome and talented sailor

Bad surprise: My car was stolen, a little over a month before the departure date

In the midst of good and bad surprises I've decided that, if need be, I can pack everything I own in a small, red polka-dotted handkerchief and thumb it out to Cali. I don't know if sailors in general are worth such an endeavor, but this one sure is.

I heart balloon

Sometimes loving people makes you exceptionally vulnerable. Actually, any time you are truly loving someone you make yourself vulnerable to them and that is a scary thing for me to even think about. I tried to draw exactly how it makes me feel.

medium: prisma colors and ink

Super

I like to ask people what super power they would have should they have a super power. Mine has always been "to fly." It's not original, as the question is not quite original either, but I cannot deny that I would LOVE to fly. I had a picture of the SuperSteph that would come to be, should I have this wonderful ability. I would use my super powers to maniacally graffiti bunnies on clouds, I would be the bane of the existence of all who cherish the fluffy white-ness of clouds. ...and it would be fun.

Medium: prisma colors and ink

EyeSpy

I love blank sheets of paper. They beg for something to be done to them.

I think, in life, I need to be a bit more like a blank sheet of paper sometimes. Beautiful things come when one is a veritable canvas for life, friends, circumstances, and God to paint on. Scary, though, innit, in the unknown of what could be splashed on the blankness.

I found a blank sheet of paper one morning and let my brain roll out on this one. It's odd; I hope you enjoy it.

Medium: crayola erasable pencils (great idea, but not as nice as non-erasable) and ink

Turnips turn up

For whatever reason, turnips and onions are seriously fun to draw. I drew this picture when getting ready to meet a friend at the airport.
Medium: colored pencils and ink

X does not always mark the spot

I seem to have a semi-recurring theme of having the bubble burst. This one goes back to that. It's not a bad thing, to make pictures about how we really feel- not to be mistaken with 'how it really is'. Sometimes it feels like the good things in life are going to vanish quickly the moment we start to enjoy them. This doesn't speak of living in a world where I live under a God that loves me and considers me a child. That sounds more like one of those ridiculous Greek gods, no? Perhaps my psyche and my faith need to shake hands and get to know each other.

medium: crayola colored pencils and ink

Good Clean Fun

This is a picture in a series I did last winter with the fox, bear, and rabbit in it. For whatever reason, these three came to mind quite often.
Please bear (yes, pun intended) with me as i throw up old stuff. (well, new to you, but old to me and proving i need to get my creativity in gear) It is the beginning of school this week and next and as the students come pouring into the office I have little time to do anything else but aid, assist, help, ...d. all of the above.