Working on the new website

I really wanted to have this done before the new year started but I've got a pretty good start on it I think. I might be able to get it done this coming week. I'm just happy have gotten the new Custom Drawn site up. If you haven't seen it it's here: www.customdrawnstudio.com If you can't see it or it looks like there is a problem with it, please let me know what it is and what browser you are using. (thanks in advance)


Here is an image from the new website. This is my self caricature holding a sign that will have the text on it.



Funny thing is, I never realized how much I look like my dad! I am getting reading glasses that I probably will need to wear while drawing. 
I thought it would be funny to put a mustache on me and suddenly my selfie had become my DAD CIRCA 1974! LOL!





Here is the first completed page of the website. C & C welcome. Not sure what I think of the background just yet but I have about 6 more of these 
I need to work through so I'm sure I'll figger it out soon. It's gonna be awesome!

newsies

This is a Christmas gift for my grandparents. 





This was the photo I drew from.





Updated the Custom Drawn Website finally. Check it out!


http://www.customdrawnstudio.com

Model T progress

The guy I made this Model T for and I were talking the other day and he told me that the reason he got interested in building cars is because he liked to see how things go together. I decided to take some screen shots of my progress while drawing his car. I sent him the progressions as I was building it and he thought it was pretty neat. I also kept very close watch on how long this took me to draw. 21.5 hours... *sigh* Hope you enjoy it!








And here's the finished piece (minus the builder- I still have to put him in it)



Stacie has started me a store on Etsy. Here is the banner:

Here's a couple of dogs I did last week. I plan on starting to do more of these too. People love their pets!!

Mustang, dog, trip from hell, illustration

I still have a lot of drawings to do before the end of the year. I REALLY need to work on some stuff for the new website. Have to get on that right away after this dog drawing is done. It's difficult to balance paid work and promo work 

sometimes... 

Been reading the Artists Market book I bought back in 06'. Great stuff in there! I'm kinda getting excited about being an artist again! I might get the new book 

in 2010. (No telling what businesses have stopped working with freelancers or gone under in the past 4 years...) I'm thinking about joining one of the local illustrator's 

groups if there are any. GAG is one I'm definitely into. I guess they have local chapters or something? Also, Society of Illustrators and there is a guild for 

cartoonists as well. 

Had the trip from hell this week on my trip to Manhattan, KS. For some reason I had to travel through Philly to get to KS. Any time I go through Philly there is a 

problem. US Air makes you check your bags to go to Philly. Not gate check them but actually CHECK them at the gate. There were a bunch of people bringing their 

suitcases as carry ons on the plane and so there was not enough room (even under the seat) for my small carry on. They took it, computer and all. All my 

goodies in one bag. Needless to say, when I got to KS my bag was NOT! I had to drive through a terrible snow storm, which was made worse because there was 

a freezing rain storm before the snow storm so it was VERY slow going and I saw a lot of wrecks. Luckily I made it to Manhattan OK. (After taking 4 hours to do a 

2.5 hour drive) I got there at 4am. (luckily I got some shut eye on the plane) I had to get up at the ass crack of dawn and go to Staples to get supplies to draw with 

at my gig. Everything went fine except for I had to get used to drawing with Sharpie Chisel Points all over again! When I got back to the airport they had my bag. 

-Ripped and wet- It was sitting in the snow overnight with all my goodies inside!!!

WTF US AIR?! YOU SUCK!!

Went and worked in the bars again this weekend. I'm realizing that there just aren't any CENTRAL places in CLE that I can think of where the clientele changes much. 

Too much of the scene is local and every time I go out I see the same ole hood rats. Almost makes me miss PIB! Definitely not as much fun or work as Ocean City or 

Key West! Doug's got some work for me in January. I'm looking forward to THAT! Hopefully there will be a blizzard next time, lol! Actually... the chances of that are 

pretty good. I'll be heading to Boston, MA, Saranac Lake, NY, and Vermont. I think I'll drive and this time, ima take the JEEP!!

Anyhoo, I got the mustang I was working on done finally. Customer loved it!





I'm also working on a couple of dogs. Wanted to show the progress on that since I think it's looking really good.

Latest doings...

Last weekend I did dog caricatures at a fundraiser to benefit Lakewood Dog Park. There are a few neighbors of the park that want it shut down because of alleged noise and smell problems. That would be too bad if that were the case but these neighbors are just being mean. The facts are that they live over 1/2 mile away from the park, the park closes around 9pm, the Lakewood Animal Shelter is right next door to the park and the park is built right next to the CITY WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.... Need I say more? 100's of dogs love to go to this park every day to run and play with other dogs. It is a shame that a couple of bad apples have to spoil the pie. I raised $126 for the park by doing dog-icatures! That money will go to defend the park. Santa was there taking photos with the dogs and I was there drawing them. Here are a few of them that I drew:


My dog Dewie and Santa!






So, that was the week before last. This past weekend, I did a group caricature for a Christmas card for a company party in Mansfield, Ohio.
I only had 1.5 hours to draw everybody in the group and the people at the party. Given that, I think it turned out OK!





Before that gig however, my friend Bobby Petit, Owner of Dor Lo's Pizza, in Ashland, OH had me come into his business and draw his customers. I did caricatures of a few people at a bar in Mansfield, called the Den for another friend that evening.


Saturday I drew at the annual Akron Children's Hospital's Akron Burn Unit Christmas Gala where they gave all the burn unit kids presents and had a big dinner for them. It was a nice thing to do too with my new friends Gumball and Marlowe who are clowns.


Here are a couple more drawings from a few weeks ago in Keene, NH: 







And another live group caricature for an elementary school class. This was fun cuz they were all looking over my shoulder when I did it and it was cute.