The Wendy's Results are In!

This past May, I was truly blessed to participate in the "My Wendy's, My Way" art contest. The commission was to portray the spirit of my city, Kansas City, involving the little cutie in red braids. Wendy's went on a "Taste Tour" in 23 cities all over the country in which an artist from the city was commissioned to art. Then the first prize winner of all the entries would receive a $25,000 grand prize! This was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up even though I was busy at the time with finishing my senior thesis film and trying to graduate.

My entry portrays Kansas City as a city that is growing and is being beautified by the individuals that are spreading their hope for our city. More specifically, the tulips in the composition are a symbol of dreams, work, and growth inspired by the Tulips on Troost project started by Durwin Rice. This project has set a goal of planting one-million tulips along the historic street of Troost in order to rebrand the street as one that is cared for and beautiful--The Tulip Street. The children that are growing up on Troost now will hopefully remember their neighborhood for the Tulips and not for its rougher moments. To learn more about this project, visit http://troostavenue.com.

This past week, I was invited to fly to Dublin, Ohio, the hometown of Wendy's, as one of the 3 finalists! This was such an honor and the finally of a long waiting period. When the results were heard, I came in third. I'm very pleased and feel privileged to have been selected in such a high standing. I've had a lot of support and interest from my friends here who always root for me, so thank you all.

My painting will remain on exhibit in the Wendy's headquarters in Dublin.

Threadless Submission: Love is Blind

Kansas International Film Festival Posters

This is my design for the Kansas International Film Festival that happened mid-September. It was commissioned by the Mueller Design agency.

Threadless Submission: Mud Pi

In Need of a Band for this Poster

A couple of months ago, Kevin was inspired and drew this fabulous poster design. This week, I wiped the dust off of it and worked on its digit coloring. I'm excited about the psychedelic look. It makes me happy, and its another collaboration piece that Kevin and I can add to our pile.

I took the approach of layering texture after texture over flat areas of color like his hair. I also wanted to keep the beautiful sketch quality of line work that Kevin left me. The result still is a finished drawing, but the lines still have some livelihood, where Kevin sometimes battles strenuously and meticulously shaping and retracing each line. Then after all the attention that he'd put into the drawing, the lines would be suffocated, much like a helicopter mom and her child. When I started the coloring process, some guide lines where still there in the guitar and tie. The bird had three beaks. The pegs where just sketches. They were so beautiful, the coloring had to compliment that looseness.

So if your band is in need of a poster, and you have a front man who has a long brown beard, this poster might have been destined to have your name on it.

Summer Work

I've been trying to keep myself busy with projects. These are two of the pieces that I've completed since graduation: my graduation thank you cards and a wedding present for my friend Amanda Saunders. My status has now changed from student to pro. Yes!

American Royal Barbecue contest Poster

So, for the past three years, the American Royal Barbecue Contest Poster Contest (can that get more convoluted?) has given me a fantastic excuse to illustrate a poster in the hopes that I'd win a $500 scholarship. This is my final entry, considering that I am a senior, and I think that it was my most successful. Yet, with each entry, I fall short of the glorious cash, and all I’m left with is a sweet portfolio piece. So, I’m adding this poster to my pile of contest losers, joining my Harrah’s illustration and the BBQ poster from last year.

Oh, my favorite detail is the chef in paril being grasped by the giant cow. He's so cute!

Good news though, about a month ago, I found out that my jr. film, “Alejandro”, was accepted in the Philadelphia Film Festival. I can’t seem to upload animations to this page, but if you’re interested, search my name on youtube.com to view the full animation.

New Poster

Well, it's not really new, as you can tell by the dates. This was a poster for the animation end of semester show. I just wanted to make a poster that people would want to steal. I printed this using the Vandercook press in printmaking. Not enough people use that thing. If it weren't 700lbs, I'd walk away with it. Although, I'd also have to steal all the type drawers weighing propably another 1000lbs. aww, shoot.

Jonah

I made this book in my printmaking elective last semester. All the pages were printed from woodblocks. The text was added by xerox transfer--a real pain in the butt process. It's real pretty though.

Living Room Set for "A Very Hairy Christmas" and a son for Ireland and Phyllis.

Love it! We finally finished our build with the living room and another puppet, Milton, the adorable son. It paid off to work over winter break, and our class presentation of our progress went very well, and I was so proud that Kevin and I had finished. We are finishing up the lighting for the first shot now. Lighting is something that we do not have any experience with and it is kicking our butts, but we should be animating in a day.

Introducing Phyllis

The grocery sack was made by Kevin and Regina made the box of lights. Amazing!

My Red Sketchbook: Blind contours

I started this book right before I went on Christmas break. Coffee shop trips and winter intersession classes helped fill this up so far. These blind contours are really loosening up my drawings and helping me see better when I draw. That's kindof important.