Fun with Puns

12:05 pm - Got a little bored this morning and decided to take a stab at illustrating Kenny Rogers. I've figured that Rogers has grown into to some sort of Elvis-like figure, in that there is now "young Kenny" and "old Kenny". However, Rogers did it with plastic surgery, instead of the traditional US Postage stamp method.

I seriously doubt I'd ever make this into a card. It was more of an homage to being unproductive. If you weren't alive in the 70s or 80s, ask you parents to explain the pun.

"You can duet!" -Gambler

Sketches of Paisley

3:26 pm - I sketched about four or five intricate paisley patterns a little over a month ago, but they've sat untouched in my notebook since completion. I'm fairly ambivalent about paisley patterns. Interesting uses are usually few and far between.

However, I liked the sketch enough to warrant an attempt. We'll see if this is strong enough to make it into the next print run.

We had our second print run today, bringing our line to twenty-five cards. I know it's hard to believe considering that I've blown two deadlines so far, but we're honestly very close to our store launch. There will be no more controversial decisions to extend the line before the launch. I just need to commit to a grueling day of product photography.

Summer Solstice

8:57 am - Thanks to a shipping oversight, we're still waiting on our packing materials to arrive. They've traveled from New York to Oklahoma to Texas and are back in Oklahoma (hopefully for good). This is delaying the launch of our Etsy storefront. However, it's also giving me the opportunity to create a few more card sets and get them printed for the launch.

Remember all that reserved anticipation for the arrival of Spring and warmer weather back in January? Well, warm weather is here, and so are allergies. It's making it really hard to maintain focus during this extra week I've been given.

I'm fighting through it. I've got a new card set I'm wrapping up (two designs featured on the left). Nice, bright colors and plants in bloom? Sounds like Summer.

Chasing Ghosts

4:11 pm - I decided today to draw some hog heads for this card series, which is begging to be called Animal Farm. The card won't be a hog head. That would just be creepy.

I'd like to round this group out with a set of four so I can go back to working on some simpler pattern cards and more playful art. Sometimes I draw myself into a corner.

Well, this pig is clearly in trouble for something.

Corey Feldman

This is what I envision Corey Feldman would look like if he were a penguin. I'm not sure what characteristics they share (besides poor posture and cowboy boots), but I mistakenly watched "Dream a Little Dream" on Netflix instant view a few weeks ago, and I can't shake him from my subconscious. Maybe this art is the purging. In any event, he needs a Haim.

I started working on art for a new card series yesterday. This is a pen and ink watercolor from that series. I haven't had a lot of luck with my print reproductions of watercolors in the past, so here's to hoping these turn out.

There is probably a limit to the things I can do with penguins.

Melancholy Panda

Since I selfishly haven't posted much lately, I wanted to share some new sketches that I'm working on. They're tragically under-developed and lacking any real concept, but they are fun.

Samples Arrive!

We were lucky enough to get samples back from the printer before the weekend. We got 12 different designs back and mocked up, and they turned out fantastic. We could actually pass for a professional outfit!

After a mini-vacation this week and the arrival of our crucial packing/shipping materials, we'll officially open up shop with at least a dozen different designs for sale. My goal, however, is to squeeze in three or four more designs to fill out the shop. That will depend greatly on how quickly I'll be able to get product photography for all of these cards.

Wood Paneling, Interrupted

I'm still brainstorming ways to build a set of four cards around this wood pattern I've been keeping in a special place. I currently have a few straggling pieces of art that just might make a group based on color palette. I do like the art, but it's just, well... wood.

I've almost completed my second card set, titled "Daydream". I plan on getting the files sent to the printer this week, so they can be listed on Etsy.

"Just Desserts" Digital Card Kit Nearing Release

We're inching closer to the relaunch of the Antennas Toward the Sky Etsy store. Proof can be found in this singular, grainy image of some random thank you cards.

I swiped a cell phone image (from my desk) of a few pieces from the digi-pack. I'm hoping to cash in on the Apple leak hysteria that precedes a new product launch. Somehow, I doubt there is as much interest in an art pack targeting crafters.

While I'm not going into any details at this time, I will say that I have design notes on four more digital art kits, as well as plans to offer physical sets of cards in the near future.

Busy times.

Free Art Friday!

11:28 - Ready the traps. The art has been released. Click here for download. Do something great with it.

You'll need some sort of editing software to use this pattern. The file is a PDF.

This is the part where I tell you that a credit or link back to this blog would be nice, but I know you're not going to do it so I won't pretend to demand it. At the very least, tell a friend or show me how you used it. This art is free of any licensing restrictions. You can do anything you want with it except sell it.

As always, if you need a specific piece of art or would like this piece of art on, say, a wedding invitation, I'm available.

Marathon Man

The first time is always the hardest. I've learned this lesson through many home remodeling projects. It's full of complications and missed deadlines (not to mention blown budgets). However, experience always remedies the complications. I'm looking forward to a smoother process where I can focus on the art, instead of the technical details.

Without giving too much away, we've cut the pool of art down to the four final patterns. I'm one solid day of work away from finishing the design. One more day for formatting and testing and we'll be ready to unveil this delicious card kit on the crafters of America. Of course, as I stated above, deadlines are commonly blown when you're exploring new territory.

Work around here ebbs and flows. On one hand, we've yet to set a price point for these card kits. On the other, we've started development on two new card kits and have the art completed on a new card.