IF - Wrinkles

It's been quite a while since I participated in Illustration Friday. I kind of miss it. So, here you go, IF! Wrinkles (on a baby California Condor):

body art and a sad goodbye

A few weeks ago (or maybe more) a good friend of mine back home called me up and told me she was going to get a piece of my art as a tattoo. I couldn't be more honored and excited. She just shared a pictured of the (healed) tattoo and I wanted to share it with you (if you still read this).



And here's the original screenprint that it came from:



Also, on a side note, I just wanted to share my sadness for a family friend who was recently taken from us under unexpected and unfortunate circumstances. I spent almost every day of my childhood running in, around, outside and through the home of Michael Lewis Schrock. His son was one of my closest friends as a child and Mike became the closest thing I had to a father in those years. He taught me how to ride a bike. He scolded me for playing inside when the weather was too kind. He built snowmen and enormous snow forts with us, packing garbage cans with more snow than I believed could fit. I am deeply saddened that he is gone, but I will never be able to express how fortunate I feel to have had him in my life. And my only regret is that he never knew how much he influenced the person I am turning out to be.

Here's to you, Mike. You will be missed by so many. I will never forget you.

certainly uncertain

I was just checking out the image that I created below for a moment and became very aware of the movement that has been occurring all around me lately. Physical moves have been and will be taking place, but there also seems to be growing momentum in the emotional, social and mental lives of people around me. Things have been happening. In some cases, these things have been emotionally scarring and unbearably devastating. There have also been overwhelmingly joyful and exciting new developments. Even some unexpected indifference at events that we all would assume would be heart-wrenching.

That's the thing though. Assumptions are deceiving. Not only are they usually wrong, but they can affect how we act towards one another. Assumptions can prevent us from truly seeing people. In all their beautifully honest selves.

The point being...

it's becoming clearer every day that certainty is an almost meaningless word.

Certainty.

There it is. Just sitting there. Staring at me. This word and I, well, we have some beef. That's beef as in

"I really want it, but can't have it and sometimes I'm ok with that, but other times I'd like to punch Certainty in the face for not being available."

That makes complete sense, right?

Let me elaborate, just a bit. The assumptions I made about people around me, allowed me to hold on to my certainties about their lives. Of course there lives are far more certain than mine... precisely because they are not mine.

Well, you know what? My assumptions were wrong. And my certainties were swept away. Just like that. Gone. Now, maybe all of you have already come to this (what now seems obvious) conclusion. But it took me a while. I'm kind of relieved actually. And slightly sad too. It's hard to watch your certainties walk out on you like that...even if you know it's for the best.

NOTE:

It's just been brought to my attention that this post sounds incredibly depressing. That is not my intention at all. Yes, it is hard to recognize that you don't have all the answers you once thought you did. But it's also freeing, in a sense, to allow yourself to open up to the possibilities that uncertainty breeds. Cheers to Uncertainty.

moving

I've moved to Manhattan. We've found ourselves a quiet little corner on this noisy little island. I know. Hard to believe, isn't it? Only in the early morning does the sound of a waking city creep under the sill of our bedroom window. The rest of the time, the noise is minimal.

The details:
Only four flights up (no more elevator for me) and half the size of my last place (maybe smaller?), it's a cozy place to call home.

Less than 2 blocks from the Hudson River where barges pass through regularly and a bike path runs up the island tip to tip. Beautiful. I have always wanted to live near a larger body of water. (And New Jersey doesn't smell so bad from this side of the river!)

The best part: there's a neighborhood. I can walk out of my building, turn the corner, and there are things to do! Places to go! sights to see! Shocking.

Wait, even better: no roaches (fingers crossed).

oh my where have you been?

Dear reader,

I know I've been missing for some time. Occasionally I wander off and forget to check in now and then. I just want you to know that I'm doing ok. Yes, that's right. I'm doing ok. My creative juices have been stretched thin lately for reasons too convoluted and simple to share here. You might like to know, though, that they are installing new subway art at the 42nd street station. I watched them carve a man in a top-hat (walking his dog) and a snowboarder into the tiled walls. It was inspiring (and very loud too). I was a wee bit late for work that day.

You might also like to know that today was the last day I will buy my morning coffee from Hansom at the deli on 4th and 9th. And the last day I will buy my lunch from Rachel's Taqueria. I will miss them. Thanks for remembering how I like my coffee and what kind of beans I like in my burritos! I hope the new deli guys and lunch places I find are just the same, only different. You might have guessed by now that I've left my job. You would be right. I will be starting over after the holidays in a new position with (I'm hoping) exciting new opportunities.

So, the moral of the story? Well, there isn't really any moral, mostly I just wanted to say don't worry about me. I'm still here. I promise. Oh, and don't forget to eat lots of turkey (or maybe tofu turkey?) this coming holiday! (if you celebrate it, that is).

Sincerely,

me


PS
I'm illustrating a children's book set to come out next year. I will keep you posted. You should all buy it. It's a cute story.



PPS
My Beau is in the process of developing this website for people with diabetes where they can track and record their insulin, diet, sugars and such things. You should go there and give him feedback. He wants to know how to improve it. Really, be honest. If there is anything at all you can think of to make it better, more user friendly, more relevant, more accessible, etc. etc. etc. do let him know.
www.myinsulinlog.com

PPPS
I just finished this website for a friend who teaches music to little ones. If you're in the Hoboken area and have small children, you should definitely check it out! www.hobokenaardvarks.com

jumprope

One of my favorite things to do is to re-work old pieces. This is one I just completed.

kids...and such

So, I got a new toy. A lightbox. I've been playing. I've also been working a lot, so my apologies for the not-so-frequent updates....I've got several projects in the works right now. Not to mention my day job. And, oh yeah, sometimes even an occassional night out. Anywho. Here are a couple of gems from my lightbox-play. enjoy.