Drawing in Issaquah

I went to a chocolate “factory” in Issaquah, WA with a couple buddies today to meet up with an architectural drawing group. The chocolate company was started by an Austrian immigrant in 1942 in Seattle and later moved to Issaquah in 1956, where dude basically built a small bavarian village in the Issaquah forest. I drew a picture of the chapel.

Drawing at the Beach

I spent last Saturday drawing with friends at Short Sands Beach (Oswald West, OR) last weekend.

Takilma

New Book!

This book is very different from everything else that I've worked on, I drew it in a realism style so I hope nobody minds a break from the cartoons for a few pages. It tells the story of a strange and spooky dream that a friend of mine had. I spent a lot of time working on these pages last Winter, hope you like it... Now back to the toonz!







This book is currently available online at the Gnartoons Online Store and also in real-life at the following shops where you can use paper sacks full of pennies to buy them:

Blue Stockings
172 Allen St.
New York City, NY

Comicopolis
829 Front St.
Santa Cruz, CA

Isotope Comics
326 Fell St.
San Francisco, CA

Logos Books
1117 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA

Mission: Comics and Art
3520 20th St.
San Francisco, CA

Needles and Pens
3253 16th St.
San Francisco, CA

If you would like to have it at your local shop, have them laser-breath me an email -> James(at)gnartoons(dot)comfortable

Vacation Mode

I'm just returning from some version of a vacation mode right now. I've been running around back and forth between Seattle/Olympia/Portland for the past week or so - delivering books to comic shops and book stores... More to come on that soon...

This drawreeng reflects the most relaxing version of any sort of vacation mode for me: looking out on Lake Michigan, presumably with an open bottle of a local micro-brew grasped loosely in my palm.



This drawing was for a Free Fridayz drawing contest on Fecalface.com.

You Don't Have to Go Home, But You Can't Stay Here

Berkeley is attempting to pass a "Sit Lie" Ordinance that will essentially make it illegal for one to be homeless. There was a protest downtown yesterday that moved to the City Council Meeting where protesters demanded an explanation from elected officials as to how such a law could ever even be proposed to the people of Berkeley. I of course did some quick sketches of these events as they unfolded.

Dolores Parked

I drew this quick lil' sketch of Dolores Park before the art walk in the Lower Haight on Friday.

Another Boring, Realistic Looking Drawing

I drew this while I was traveling around the Northwest this past Fall. This particular valley happens to be in the beautiful and unofficial State of Jefferson.

Black Pen Murder

I have been drawing so many crows lately.

People's Park Palm

I drew/painted this tree for my friend last Wednesday, but then I thought maybe you might like to look at it too? Have a lovely weekend out there in the world everybody! It's quite a world, don't ever forget it.

Re-Re-Re-Reee-Mix

I was raised by humans in Grand Rapids, MI. I've since found habitat that better suits my specified needs in the Pacific Northwest/Northern California but I do travel back to the mitten state every so often to breathe with my blood relatives. Now that I don't have "a real job", my most-recent visit was a lengthy one - a full 3+ weeks in the northern tundra. Now I like the snow, the cold weather, and even my immediate/extended relatives but three weeks is a long time to hold siege in your parents' basement (also a long time to convince your friend Brad that he should forgo driving back to his country home after work to let his dogs out, so that he may instead stay in the city and drink with you, sorry dogs)... So to break up the monotony of being sober and awake, I spent some time searching out coffee shops with window seats opposing perdy houses/buildings, just as I do in nearly every city I end up wandering through. Well look at what I found directly across the street from the Wealthy Street Bakery in good ol' Grapids! I normally wouldn't give a plug to a place that I only visited once, but while I was camped out there (3 and a half hours easy) they actually installed brighter lights in the ceiling above my table, over my left shoulder, which gave much better light. I don't expect that sort of thing to ever happen to me again...



Version #0
- This is the original drawing that I did while drinking waaaaaay too much coffee and following are a series of "rendering-remixes" (coining that). If there is anybody out there who is actually still reading this, I would appreciate some feedback as to which your favorite or least-favorite renditions are in the comments below.



Version #1
- Originally, this was to be the only one



Version #2
- This one ran away with itself?



Version #3
- I don't even really like mustard



Version #4
- Hrmphfsk



Version #5
- This is my favorite one right now



Version #6
- This is one of the most visually-intense things that I'll ask you to look at this calendar year, promise-ish



Version #7
- In the end, this one will be my favorite - whatever that means...

The bedroom that I grew up in overlooked Wealthy Street, so it was fun to walk down the icy sidewalk and draw a neighbor's house while enjoying a warm cup of coffee on a frigid day. Seriously though, which one is your favorite?