the end. again.

Like so many millions of people on this big blue marble in July of 2007, I was busy preparing myself to embark on the final chapter of a seven book journey.  Though I was quite excited to find out the fate of the Wizarding World (and to finally learn the answers to some rather burning questions *fingers crossed*), it was a bittersweet sort of exhilaration to know that this was it.  The end.  Almost.

Four years later, I find myself preparing to say goodbye once again as the film series for Harry Potter premieres its grand finale and I thought it might be fun to take a look back at how I bid adieu to the books.  This little sketch of Harry, Ron, and Hermione in "battle/Charlie's Angels mode" was done right before the release of the final book.  Enhanced with some digital painting, it was my little well-wish for the trio, whatever the outcome.

Good luck, yes, but I hear they're doing just fine.

Media: "Doc Pomus"- Ben Folds

birthdays, revisited.

As you may or (more likely) may not have noticed, it's just about time for my yearly check-in post. Make no mistake, I'm well aware of how disgustingly flabby this blog has gotten. Yes, I could promise to finally get my act together and maintain a robust and healthy art lifestyle, but this is merely my semi-annual smoke signal, not a New Year's resolution. So while we'll keep our fingers crossed that one day that artistic spark will once again ignite, let's not expect an inferno. Yes? Yes.

And so, to birthdays. Birthdays have been my primary inspiration as of late. First up was my nephew's first birthday and I wanted to give him a gift much like the one I had made for his sister a year and a half earlier. I could not find a similar three-panel frame, so I got three separate clear 8x10 frames with the intention of doing a like set. I finished the first watercolor panel, which is a baseball theme, but still have two sports left. I was pondering football and soccer. Basketball, maybe? My dad suggested lacrosse. Why not water polo or fencing while we're at it?

After the picture came the card, which I also decided to do in watercolor. Of course, I only have the sketch process for it. I decided to not traumatize the child too much and went with the rather benign-looking bear holding the cupcake as opposed to the weird dog, the mutant wombat-bear, or the blob in the top right-hand corner that may have been a bear at one point as well. I'm thinking I made the right decision.

Birthday #2 belonged to my friend/roommate. She likes owls. I like cute things. And really, who can argue with that?

Happy Birthday!