A century...

It seems as though it has been a century since I've posted here. 

It has been a busy whirlwind in the last few months.

After taking a week sabbatical from drawing while on vacation, I made it back into the sketchbook. It feels like home and I'm glad to be back at it.

See it here.

Spending time on the 'ol Instagram. You can find me @vonsplithoof.

" Otherworld " at the Roq la Rue!

I was lucky enough to be included in the show " Otherworld " at the Roq La Rue Gallery in Seattle. 

There are some really lovely pieces in the show and if you are in the Seattle area now through July, I suggest popping in and taking a peek. 

Here's my piece:

" The Cave Dweller."

watercolor on paper - 12 x 16"

And a photo of me with the piece at the opening.

( Please forgive the slightly tired weird face. That seems to be my lot in photos these days.

I look so god-damn serious. ) 

Illustrations...

In the past month and a half I've been taking on illustration jobs for Deloitte University Press.

It's a little outside the realm of what I normally do ( as far as subject matter, ) but I find it gives me a challenge I enjoy. 

Translating business economics into visual elements is a first for me. Sometimes it's good to throw one's self completely out of the normal routine. 

I discovered I could indeed paint a ship in a bottle. 

There's no stopping me now.

( Insert evil laugh here. )

 " Pragmatic Pathways"

" Economic Outlook - Uncertainty"

Sketching...

A few sketches from the book...

Ideas for future paintings...

Nightime with the Spirit Bear...



Photos from Seance

I finally made my way back into The Belfry just before my show came down to snap some shots of the work on the walls. There are a couple of blurry images, so please forgive me. It seems the camera I was using is a trickster, lulling me into a false sense of sharpness and clarity.

 After an amazing trip for a behind the scenes tour at the Burke Museum, I picked up the remaining pieces from the show.  

And as an added bonus, this little guy.

We're the best of friends.

 Below, the gauntlet of images.

 

A Midnight Calling

 

 Fox Confessor

 

When the Horseman Comes

Gift of the Owl

 The Ancient Ones - Wolf

The Ancient Ones - Viero

 The Ancient Ones - Ram

Witch of the Wood

Conjuring the Wood Spirit

  Crow Skull

 Deer Skull

 Simian Skull

The Night Procession

 

Autographs

While searching among booths and booths of antiques this past week, I came across this beautiful old school autograph book. I have a collection of old photo albums that I love, but have never come across a blank autograph book before. I decided it would make a perfect little sketch book.



Print Arrival!

A special thanks to Gabe over at Gryphon Graphics

for doing such a beautiful job!

Séance

gold silkscreen on black board

2013 

6" x 8"

edition of 50

  

A Midnight Calling

" A Midnight Calling."

8 3/4" x 8 3/4"

watercolor on paper

2013

One more ready for the show. Now, back to work!

 

In the New Year.

For the last two days I was listening to  "The Lost City of Z" by David Grann. It chronicles one journalists research and journey into the Amazon, like so many before him, in search of what happen to Percy Fawcett. 

A grand explorer of his day, Fawcett had an idea that, in the Amazon, there was an ancient lost city which he gave the title, "Z." This city was proof that civilized tribes had and could exists in the jungle, a notion that was harshly rejected at the time. 

It was a captivating tale of struggle and obsession. 

It got me thinking about what I would like to accomplish in this new year.  I admire the tenacity of Fawcett, who refused to give up on his dream in the face of  the harshness of the jungle.

It seems silly to complain or feel defeated by the every day things in life after reading about the absolute hell he and so many others went through. 

It's a good read and if you like adventure and discovery, this book might be a good fit.

   

I've started the new year smack dab in the middle of preparing for my show in February. Paint, paint, paint seems to be my life for the next month.  And I'm just a pleased as I can be about it.

I'm also  going to be releasing a limited edition silkscreen print for the show - a first for me. I'm excited to explore this avenue of my work. An adventure for sure.

See it in progress here.

 

Here's to more adventures in 2013!

 

It begins.

Drawings transferred to watercolor paper... 

color tests figured... 

one of the tiniest pieces for the show done.

 2" x 2".

 I most certainly have my work cut out for me for the next two months. 

Conjuring ideas...

Working on ideas for my upcoming show in February. Animals and spirits, ghosts and nature.  Building my own occult symbols... a magick of my very own. 

Skulls and bones, smoke and ectoplasm.

Bats in the Belfry.

I'm happy to announce that I will be doing a small solo show at The Belfry in February 2013!

To all Seattle people and to those who may find themselves in the area, I recommend stopping by and taking a peek. It is an absolutely gorgeous display of the strange and beautiful.

309A Third Ave S
Seattle, Wa 98104206-682-2951

info@thebelfryoddities.com



Ghost Eyes and Horse Skeletons.

 "Offering."

watercolor on paper

6" x 8"

2012

 

Ever-sketch

Not much painting has been done since July. Summers are usually filled with trips, house projects, friends and long days out and about.  That said, sketching always happens. Without it, I'm afraid my brain would explode.

There has also been a big clean-out and re-organization of my little dungeon of a studio. 

It's difficult for me to work in a messy space for some reason.

I'm still obsessed with masks from Bali and strange asian monsters. 

Little  experiments with the mountains of kraft paper scrap I have access to.

I'll have a small piece in a group show up on Capitol Hill in Seattle at Joe Bar. Opens October 11th.