A Distinguished Bird

Working my way back toward pink

L. Grabenstetter — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:25:35 +0000

I’m still overbooking myself. And, I’m still getting sick at inconvenient moments. Feeling a little bit better though, so I made this.

It’s a dragon based on cassowary and horse traits. Just a little watercolor doodle, like the last one.

I do have a few things planned for the blog, so look for more updates soon! Trying to get back into the swing of a regular working schedule.

Filed under: Art, Interlude Tagged: art, dip pens, dragon, sketch, watercolor

Here is a small art.

L. Grabenstetter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:02:43 +0000

I made it yesterday.

Now back to work.

Filed under: Art Tagged: art, dip pens, ink, watercolor

There…but back again

L. Grabenstetter — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:56:40 +0000

I’ve been a little quiet lately. My deadline for big secret project is coming up, and in the midst of scrambling to try and fall close to it I suddenly had a week long trip to Seattle.

The view from Phinney Ridge

It was sort of business-related, but that didn’t prevent me from enjoying the hell out of the scenery, the weather, the pastries and hot chocolate and library and bookstores…

Central column of the 11 story Seattle central public library

Hot chocolate (with cayenne) from Chocolati in Wallingford

Distressingly, I couldn’t bring my work with me. My drawing pad is too big and there are all those weird TSA rules about pointy things (like pens and metal rulers) and gooey things (like glass bottles full of opaque black ink). This made the trip slightly fraught… it’s tough not getting work done when a deadline’s close.

Now I’m back and somewhat recovered, I’ll be chugging ahead on that. And maybe getting some side work done, you never know. I’ll be sure to share any doodles. Once I whip out my oh-so-intimidating dip pen again…

Filed under: Interlude Tagged: journal, life, seattle, travel

The Renfest

L. Grabenstetter — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:31:02 +0000

Oh I know there are folks who have disparaging things to say about Renaissance Festivals, or the “kind of people” who attend them. Those folks have likely never lived in a real Renfest town.
Living in Annapolis, I’m about 20 minutes down the road from one of the largest Renaissance Festivals in the world. It’s not just and event that happens every fall around here, it’s pretty much the event happening every fall here. I have very few friends in the tri-state area that do not attend at least once a season, regardless of their nerdiness level, and some friends for whom the fair is basically home. I’ve never gotten quite that into it, I’m not a big costume person (and I’d want to wear hose and a tunic, not a huge unwieldy gown if I was). Though I do appreciate a good beesting (beer and mead) and a cheesecake-on-a-stick (90% of renfest food is on-a-stick) and a round or two of jousting (our state sport!) a few times a season.

This post is an excuse to share a few photos I took on Saturday, during my brief foray. I’m really going to miss this when I move to Seattle. Gotta remember to snap some photos of the jousts next time I go.

Filed under: Interlude, Ramble Tagged: journal, life

Cats + owls = win, apparently

L. Grabenstetter — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:20:22 +0000

For some reason I’ve come back to this again, a merger between owls and cats. I guess I like rethinking this particular combination. It’s an easy blend.

Watercolor and brown india ink on 4 x 6″ Strathmore watercolor paper.

Interested in earlier stages? After the cut!

Filed under: Art, WIP Tagged: art, cat, dip pens, monsters, watercolor, WIP

Cinnamonopteryx Press

L. Grabenstetter — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:12:12 +0000

So that Press Evan and I are starting together? The one I mentioned, a few posts ago, is going to be at Artomatic Frederick? It has an official blog now. Also, an official mascot.

What our cat would look like as a proto-avian, presumably.

Next step is to make a letterpress version of that! X) Pretty excited about all of this, folks.
Bookmark that blog I linked there, ‘cuz it’s going to get quite active soon!

Filed under: Announcement, Art Tagged: Cinnamonopteryx Press, dip pens, ink, self promotion

Of dinosaurs and videogames

L. Grabenstetter — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:22:44 +0000

Some months ago, the inimitable Jon Davies asked me to do some internal promo art for a game his company, Megadev, was working on for Adult Swim. The game came out today, so now I can finally share this!

There wasn’t much in the way of existing art representing the game at that time, outside of Jon’s original proposal sketch, so I actually got a fair bit of creative leeway. Here are some of my initial character sketches.

And here are the compositional thumbnails.

I can’t even describe what a great experience this was. I’ve known Jon for some years, and working with him as an art director was just terrific. And his own art, in the game? Standout gorgeous.

Give it a play. Just watch out for those exploding tomatoes at the carnival, they’re brutal.

Filed under: Announcement, Art, WIP Tagged: art, colored pencil, commission, dinosaur, watercolor, WIP

Happening things

L. Grabenstetter — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:43:22 +0000

This is a stream of consciousness ink test (à la this) from a few years back. I had a spare frame lying around, so when I finished it I just slapped it in, hung it up, and forgot about scanning it. Thought I’d do it today, just so this post can have some art.

So! I realized that, though I updated my ‘Upcoming’ section, I never made an official announcement. So here it is: Evan and I have teamed up as Cinnamonopteryx Press, and we’re going to be at Artomatic Frederick. If you happen to be in the area, take a look! It’s in an awesomely decrepit, abandoned 1920s school building. Our space is in the 2nd story lounge, in a massive old bookcase. We’ll have brand new art there, there are literally hundreds of other artist participants (including our friend Devon), and it should be tons of neat all over.

On another note entirely, I’ve been struck by a hankering to participate in 24 Hour Comics Day this year. Looking for other 2011 participants to watch (and possibly commiserate with), as well as past participants so I can look at comics and get all in the mood to do this.

So how ’bout it? Any 24HCD vets or noobs hanging around?

Filed under: Announcement Tagged: art, dip pens, ink, ink test, monsters, self promotion, sketch

Painting day

L. Grabenstetter — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 01:35:15 +0000

I know! I have so much to get done! D: But I also have a pretty bad infection in my jaw from the wisdom tooth extraction, and either it or my antibiotics are making me a bit woozy and lacking in focus. So today, I finished my dad’s birthday present:

Dad likes his ships

(His birthday was on August 17th…oops….)

And then there’s the 4th card that went with the ones I posted last time. It was for a wedding invitation company, and I thought “Hey! They’re based in DC. Maybe some paleontologists from the Smithsonian will want a proto-bird on their card!” but then I chickened out at the last minute and didn’t send it to the client. In fact, I didn’t even ink it until today.

A very Anchiornis wedding

Uncolored ink drawing after the cut!

And there you have it! Hopefully this infection clears up soon, so I can get some work done on important things that I really need to do…

Filed under: Art, Ramble, WIP Tagged: art, birds, dinosaur, dip pens, watercolor

Sometimes, you strike out

L. Grabenstetter — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 17:41:26 +0000

I made these little bird illustrations as samples for a client. Turned out not to be quite what they were looking for, so back to the drawing board to try again. I can share them with you folks, though!

Filed under: Art Tagged: birds, dip pens, ink, watercolor