Illustration Friday- Homage

Here we have a Chickenpants drawn in the Kochalka style. Why?
Because the third artist that popped into my head was James Kochalka. (Warhol? No screenprinting stuff. Picasso? Nah...Kochalka? Yes!)I admire his drawing style and tiny paintings, sure. But there's something about his daily American Elf comics that really strikes a chord in me. It no doubt has something to do with the voyeuristic pleasure one gets from going through another person's sketchbooks, or getting to see such a personal glimpse of how they live their lives. He lives in a wonderfully unconventional way. It's great to see snippets of other artist's lives- the good, the bad, the odd... Makes me feel less strange.
So although I don't think his drawing style really influences me, his drawings absolutely do. They make me want to draw every day. They nudge me closer to making my own little comics.
So, thank you, Mr. Kochalka!

Illustration Friday- Tales and Legends

Finally got a change to do Illustration Friday again! When I think "tales and legends", naturally the Legend of Zelda comes up. I had to give it a chickeny twist, of course.

Illustration Friday- Juggling

Here's an illustration of me, as a chicken.
I should have added more balls. Nine just isn't enough.
Best viewed large.

Illustration Friday- Visitors

Opening the Gate, originally uploaded by chicken widget.

An example of the kind of visitor you don't want.The fox in a lamb suit strikes again! Another painting with my new favorite fox.

Illustration Friday- Moon

Brought to you by the giant fox in the moon.
Acrylic, canvas, and so on.

Illustration Friday- Poem

Away in a wooden shoe
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I painted this to commemorate our birds, when they were brand new to us.
The first part of the old children's poem:
"Winken and Blinken and Nod
one night
sailed off in a wooden shoe"
had been running around in my mind for days. And for the life of me I couldn't remember how it ended! (Still can't.) I just got the most wonderful mental image from those lines...and here it is.

And for the very first time ever, I actually have it together enough that it is in the shop.
***UPDATE***
This painting is being featured in an Etsy treasury right now, put together by TheBeadedSockLady. Check it out and give her some clicky love, won't you?

Illustration Friday- Geeky

What a great IF theme! I chose the character Raz, from the video game Psychonauts, becuase I just finished the game and I love the character design. I find this paining geeky on a few levels: 1. Fan art is geeky. 2. You could also say that the character Raz is geeky.
In any case, I adore the geeks. Probably becuase at heart I still am one.

Illustration Friday 6/15/07- Rejection

The first thing that came to mind (and kept on repeatedly coming to mind) was part of a Jonathan Richman song-
"And they could laugh,
and that's like, rejection-
you probably won't like that very well.

Suit- Illustration Friday for 6/8/07

Suit- Illustration Friday for 6/8/07
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

Hooray! Finally had some time to paint.

Illustration Friday- Citrus

A lime headed fellow sits out the heat on the porch.

I remember a time before the plants grew- today's fox painting, this weeks' Illustration Friday

I remember a time before the plants grew
Originally uploaded by chicken widget.

I’ve been very active dreaming lately. Usually when I wake up, I remember only a tantalizingly little bit, or just a feeling. This painting sprung out of one of the more well remembered dreams of late. Then I translated it into ‘fox’. The fox paintings are making me so happy these days, people. Possibility! It’s like finding a new series of books that you never knew existed, with no visible end in sight, and instead of making you weary, it’s just exciting.
The 2 fox shrug that I bought hangs in my closet, little legs dangling. It’s too hot to wear it. Everyday, after I change my clothes, I take one little leg and pet it. I examine the little paw. I push my face into the soft fur of the belly, the silk ribbon that holds human arms in place, and breathe deep. I love this thing.
Hence the foxes have sauntered into my paintings, taking their rightful place front and center. Almost like the shrug has stuck a deal with me: “Sure, we’ll hang in your closet, but you’re going to have to tell our stories.”
Seems fair.

Parting shot and smartest quote I've head lately:
"we all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking." - mark twain

Illustration Friday for 4/13/07- "Fortune"

Dan: "Why does he look so surprised and horrified?"
Me: "Because he just found a FORTUNE. In that piggy bank."
Dan: "Ok..."
Me: "And the bank isn't necessarily his. He just, you know, realized the fortune within it."
Dan: "Right."

Illustration done with colored pencils, just for a change.

First offering for Illustration Friday- "Green"

Appropriate theme this week as I am completely new at this.