This is a recent promotional piece I did.  So much of what I've been doing recently has been black and white interiors.  I created this kid and robbed a composition from a really cool batman illustration to more dynamically feature those pieces.

Stuff for the local brewhaus.  I did these a couple months ago.

Halloween Special

This is another super deep one, you guys, so get ready.  I've been putting skeletons on bikes for a little while now.  I don't know what folks really think of it, to be honest.  I just do it for my own reasons each time, and the different symbols take on new meanings to me as time goes on.  

This piece is a recent manifestation of that kind of pictorial evolution.  I'll got out on a limb and try to explain it a little bit:

"Caro recedit, animi ... in rotis manemus" is Latin (according to Google) for--

"The Flesh falls away, the soul remains... In the wheels we abide."

The bicycle is symbol for balance.  It's very difficult to operate, though, if you're not moving forward.  I think we get caught up with stuff in life and end up trapped in the idea that we need to "stop" doing stuff-- stop eating so much, stop smoking, stop drinking, stop sitting on our asses all day, stop thinking about stuff we don't want to think about.  Inevitably we can't fill our lives with prohibition.  We can't fill our thoughts with prohibition, either.  In and of itself, it really doesn't exist-- only the thing we are trying to avoid actually does, so the more we think about it, the more likely we are to continue doing what we are trying so hard to prohibit ourselves from doing.

So instead we move forward steadily or wildly, but still moving.  Loving, laughing, living, resting and just being.  Every undertaking being a piece applied to an end that we are actually wanting in life instead of just being focused on mere avoidance.  

Why?  Because Life is effing short, even trees die at some point.

That's what this sort of means today.  There's actually more to it that I could tell you about, but this little article is long enough already.

And do I actually practice this in real life on a consistent basis?  

Nope.  I wish I did.

June Cleaver's Bones

I honestly don't recall why I started on this skeleton thing.  Every time I think it was because of one thing, it turns out it really wasn't.  Oh well.  Skeletons are a big deal.  We've all got them.  June Cleaver had one, and this is my ode to the 50's-60's mom archetype that she embodied.

Originally I did this design for a tank top, but I think it would really work as a regular ol' print, too.  You can get the tank top here.

Cycling and the soul of man

I don't know what it is about Latin.  Nobody speaks it.  About the only folks who know what it means without looking it up are Catholics and scientists.  It's probably the mystery aspect of it.  You have to kind of dig a little bit to figure it out.  I like making art like that, and as a result, that preference has likely relegated me to the back of the line in many instances.  People don't usually like to be challenged, and after 35 years, I don't blame them for being that way.  Life is dang hard, guys.

Especially when you take it seriously.  

So don't.  

When I dig down past the soul and into the Spirit, there's a smile and a laugh.  When I feel like I have to much to deal with, when I'm overwhelmed, I more often than not hear from those deepest parts, "It's just a ride.  Relax, smile, enjoy yourself."

So this is my reminder.  Sit Spiritus agit anima.  Let the Spirit drive the soul.

And as all things of Cosmic significance should be made available, you can get this on a shirt HERE.

Beer...labels

My bros over at Crazy Eye Brewing here in Hiawatha have undertaken the rather arduous task of building a distribution brewery from scratch and brought me along for the ride (woo-boo!!! Beer!!!).  I get to do the best part-- create beer labels.  I think I could do this forever and not really get tired of it.  They have, of course, given me pretty free reign with the design, and as long as I come up with something awesome, it's ok.  After a few hurried attempts, I've arrived at a style that I think will adequately capture the attention of even the most libationally impaired drinker.

I've got a couple more tweaks to tweak on this sucker, but it's pretty much figured out.

Owls in the neighborhood

I've been seeing lots of little birds that don't quite have the hang of flying this Spring. Tonight we saw a couple of little OWLS! There was one really trying super hard to fly, and another one hanging out in the tree above looking smart.






-posted from some gadget you can fit in your friggin' pocket.

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