Tattoo Week

The Fur Child

Always HP to me..

Add caption

Things that "sparkle"...

First Rule of Fight Club

Art Show Doodles

I'm attempting to sell some of my pieces at a small art show in November. Here's a mermaid (whose apparently kind of a wino) that I'm working on. I'm thinking she's bummed out from working too many festivals.

Bill Clinton and French Fries

Spoiler Art

Bam Bam and Moo Moo

Dmi

"Don't call it a comeback..

I been here for YEARS.."

No seriously I have.

If you'll look north you'll see my new blog header.  I'm working on a fine art masterpiece to post up there, but until it's done please enjoy the latest in my epicCAT series. Nothing better reflects the essence of Lavaponyland than my extreme rock climbing cat.  Everything Bey(once') does is extreme.

2011 Peace Out.

Beyonce Chillin.

Writing these blogs around NYE always feels so cliche, especially when you're out trying to have a good time and get into mischeif..who has the time to update a blog??

As it turns out creativity isn't as overrated as I thought. Powersuits, agencies, and downtown living are however. (Much to my suprise. ) College Leslie smiles..feels a little shocked but then concedes she'd rather wear jeans or go running anyways.  10 Year Old Leslie returns to drawing her X-Men and smiles because it turns out happiness is more important than money. 

I'm back doing a job that I really love..with time for the types of after work endeavors that I enjoyed doing in the first place.

I have plenty to show for 2011, but I'll post certain pieces and tell the story some other time when I am feeling nostalgic.

For now - look for some old projects made new again..

Clambake

Unicorns..in their natural habitat. 

And enjoy some pictures of my favorite things from 2011.

March 2011_Project Ovation!

Busch Gardens

Possibly the first wolf I've ever seen not on a movie or tv show

LJ never takes off his glasses.

Teri - Riding the planes, being awesome.

A Nice Photo-op if not directly facing - THE SUN

No Mermaids Here.

Just because I've been asked several times - I would like to go on record as saying none of the various beer, harbor, or winefest mermaids are mine. Sadface. I will concede that they are awesome (and that I framed last years Beer poster! Sweet!)

This being said -- Lavaponyland needs some mermaids - and I need to start drawing them.
So coming in June. Mermaids drinking beverages with Graphic Designs on them.

You asked - so brace yourself.

Festival T-Shirts

OMG..raphic Design...

2011

I had a hard time remembering just how semi-crappy certain parts of 2010 were because the final season of the year was just so epic and fantastic..it seemingly erased the months that weren’t that way.  And I won’t go back to the crappy part here because well I look like Mothra in flames over Tokyo when I am sad and who wants to reflect on the bad when there is so much to look forward too. So maybe Lavaponyland isn’t as high on caffeine or as low on hope. Maybe it’s running on some different fuel these days?  

Some I’m going to dedicate this post to goals acheived!

There were four I was thinking about for years. 

1.  I wanted to eventually design something iconic for Norfolk. (done!)

2.  I wanted an elegant printed piece. (done!)

3.  I wanted the winefest mermaid. (not the mermaid, but I got to participate!)

4.  I wanted to invest in myself with a fantastic home computer. (mine!)

I credit these successes in part to a few fantastic individuals who believed in me when I had put myself on the recycling heap and PUSHED until I got it together again. I hope you know who you are, I don’t know quite how to thank you for being so awesome, but until I do - I will try my best not to let you down and to pay it forward in however many ways is necessary.  You guys set the gold standard in friendships. I won’t forget it. 

This year I want from the universe:

My website redesigned posted, slick, formal looking.

More illustration commissions. 

A comfy mattress (which will hopefully result from the two previously mentioned items).

Faster downloading speeds.

I resolve to:

Stretch before I run.

Facebook diet. 

Share more things with my voice instead of my keypad. 

Trade coffee for Chai Tea. 

Dance.

Work on fingernail maintenance and upkeep.

Remember that while it’s awesome to stay busy and partay....it’s also nice to chill and just watch TV.

Watch Battlestar Galactica from Season 1 all the way until the end.

This’ll be the last writing entry on here for awhile. Time to get back to posting design in all it’s many glorious shapes and forms. Happy New Years. 

On to a better tomorrow..

I have to write this story backwards. If this were a movie - it’d begin with the celebration, the leap, and you’d all be whooshed back to the second where I felt like a total piece of poo and had an attitude to reflect it. So let’s begin with the end - shall we?

I just recently (lunchtime TODAY) put in my two weeks notice with a company I have been with for 7 years. I broke out into hand tremors twice this morning and had to consult some former colleagues, now friends that know what it is like to do this at this place. I KNOW I am making the right decision, but it doesn’t make it any less hard. The job market is a barren wilderness and we are all like animals trying to drink from the same waterhole, and have the scratch marks to prove it; which makes leaving a comfortable place all the more daunting, but necessary-none the less. To quote her royal Madgeness “I’m not afraid of what I’ll face, but I’m afraid to stay.” Jump by Madonna for you music nerds.

And now the entire contents of my stomach and a few vocal tremors later (no tears!): I am a fresh short timer whose setting sail on stranger tides the 27th officially. For the record, there was not a mushroom cloud explosion, or an escort out the front door - Only; a well wish, a pre-goodbye, a thank you, and some attempts to brace for life sans “me”. I’m hoping for a pot-luck or a celebratory happy hour, if it happens it happens if not..oh well. Thanks for the memories lux lunch.

I would like to say to my colleagues mainly (friends, family, anyone) who give a poo: I truly believe I’m moving onto a better opportunity, a better chance to shine in my own field and a better chance for me to do the things I need to do to become more self sufficient and adult. TRUST that I wouldn’t make any rash, rush, or hasty decisions - but I HAD to jump in the pool to make a splash.

Not to sound cliche’, I will always value the experience, the things I’ve learned, but mainly the people I was fortunate enough to encounter on this long strange journey. Happily ready to think of you all as FRIENDS..........

Many regards and hugs to you all. :)

Guest Artist....My brother :)

This week's entry comes to us from Arizona. It's of ...our MOM! :)
I've also commissioned from him a "me".