one of the things I miss about Chicago:

treasure hunting in the alleys. The alleyway behind my house was a goldmine for art supplies-- meaning, pieces of wood, various electronic gadgets, and my favorite: old dresser drawers.

I went on a kick with drawers for a few months, leaving quite a few incomplete dressers in my path. I currently have a couple left unused. We'll see if I get a second wind.

Some of the more successful ones:

 

 

Returning Home

Well, after a year and half in Chicago followed by a brief stint in Portland, Maine, I've returned to my hometown: McHenry, Illinois. A primarily blue-collar town of roughly 25,000, McHenry seems to be a bit more charming since I last called it "home". It's likely due to the proximity to my friends and family (in comparison to Maine), or maybe the fact that I can go roam in the woods and soybean fields behind my house. Whatever made my disdain for it fade, I plan on enjoying my time here, working on my portfolio, spending time with my loved ones, and seeing the town through wiser and more appreciative eyes.

 

Pictured: McHenry's water tower (which my dad, a civil engineer, helped design, if I'm not mistaken).

Pelican

During our last week in Portland, Maine, Cooper asked me to draw him a pelican, an animal of which he is a big fan ("They're DINOSAURS!"). So here we are. Who knows, it might lead to more drawings of various waterfowl. But let's not hold our breath.

Crossword Sketch II

 

Pictured: 12 Track Event; 49 Leave Out

Crossword sketch

To keep myself sketching, I decided to take some inspiration from one of my daily activities: the morning crossword puzzle. It will, no doubt, range between slightly dull and thoroughly bizarre, but at least I'm drawing and I'm keeping the ol' brain juices flowing (gross).

Pictured: 13 Deep Mud; 39 Easy Gait

the alphabet project

I stumbled across this old project of mine from my junior year of college. During an illustration independent study, I was directed to illustrate each letter of the alphabet (à la Chris Van Allsburg).

The task turned into a stream-of-consciousness sketchbook of sorts, where I started with the letter, and then jotted down some word association. When I felt like I had a clear image in my head, I would begin to draw.

Here are some that I liked best: