Iron, wood, and light.

Last weekend, Meryl and I marked our wedding anniversary with a trip to Wisconsin. 

We did a tour of book arts stuff and lighthouses,

and spent some time on Lake Michigan.

The Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum was dope. 

They even gave me a piece of type-high maple to make my own wood block. 

If you're even a little interested in letterpress, history, art, etc,
this place is more than worth a visit.

As Meryl says, Milwaukee has style.
Anyway, here's a few cute photos.
Awww.

Salt and Peppa

Chef Ryan got a sexy pepper grinder addition to his chef sleeve.  

The whole arm is pretty much done, 

and now it's just background time. 

We got distracted a few times, 

did a couple leg pieces, and a chest piece. 

But I think we're back on track now, 

and before the summer is over, 

it'll be a completed sleeve.

This was just a three day work week, 

but that was plenty of time to fit in some of my best clients. 

Super crazy from weekend to weekend, 

three days squeezed between Long Island and Wisconsin. 

It'll be back to normalish on Tuesday, maybe.

I guess we'll see. 

Mother Nature's sexy sister

We got a little over three hours done on this lady nature head on Friday.

We still have more to do,
but I'm happy with how it looks so far.
I'm expecting to finish it up soon.

I'm working on a few bigger projects now,
mapping out large areas,
and filling up body parts with work designed specifically for those spots.
And I love it.
I think I matured a little as an artist while out in Oregon, and I'm attacking projects a little differently now.
Less piece-work, more composition and flow.
I hope to have a big, new portfolio by the end of this year.
Thanks to all of my clients for the dedication,
and all the trust they are giving me.

The latest in women's fashion....

New shirts!

Kids, I love making shirts,

but I hate screen printing.

And I hate selling them once they are made.

But, I've pretty much figured it out, now.

I do a couple drawings, 

and then someone else does the rest. 

That someone else these days is Juniper, 

a super cute boutique in Maple Grove.

If you want one (or all three), 

you can stop by. 

Or, if you're not local, 

you can even call them. 

763.315.9300

Three shirts, three styles,

but only for the ladies. 

(or anyone wanting to wear girl's shirts)

Cicada. Cream on plum v-neck

Dead Bird, black and tangerine on asphalt grey girlie tee

Frog, black and magenta on leaf green tank

Baby Spice.

Kyle Mack, kids. 

He's definitely weird, and a little disturbed, 

but still kinda lovable. 

And he dominates everyone when it comes to overly creative,
and slightly narcissistic tattoo ideas.
This pygmy seahorse calf piece was done in one session this week.
It's holding some spice bottles,
and shaking out the space magic.
It's a metaphor, of course,
and it kinda makes sense;
but only when he tells it.
Plus, you're all better off not seeing too much inside his head.

Chubby; winged.

It's been a while. 

Bex hasn't been in to get tattooed in almost a year, 

but who can blame her?

Getting your feet tattooed is a terrible idea. 

The only thing worse than getting the actual tattoo

is the two weeks afterwards trying to heal them.

It's cankles for days, kids. 

It's a limping, aching, throbbing mess.

But after getting the chubby owl on her right foot last June, 

it was only a matter of time before it got a pedi-partner. 

(i think our favorite part was the weird mirrored foot positions)

Bex is the best.

That's just the way it is. 

Getting Busy Art Making

We made some sexy art prints this weekend, kids.
I can say that (and it's not bragging),
since it was a collaboration with consulting detective Albie Rock and guided with the indispensable help of hall monitor Meryl DePasquale.
Which means I am only 1/3 responsible for this hotness,
but considering exactly how hot these things are,
that's still pretty good.

These are two-color letterpressed prints,
printed on different colors of Moriki paper.
A run of 22, kinda.
Numbered, signed and dated.
Obviously, we scooped up numbers XI and 22 for ourselves,
but if you have $55 you want to give to us,
one of the other 20 can be yours.

And check out how they get all wrapped up:

Of course, if you can't handle all that extra business,
and you just want a single, not-quite-as-expert print,
let me know,
because I got some artist proofs I will happily give you for fewer dollars.

The Moriki paper colors are Red Brown, White, Hot Orange, Tan, Mustard, Avocado, Goldenrod, Pale Yellow,
and the ink colors are plum and tan, or plum and grey lavender, accordingly.
(go here to see what those paper color names actually look like)