Love is a loaded pistol- Thomas Dolby.

I had this drawing done and half colored/inked, and it sat that way in my sketchbook for a couple months. I recently picked up some new crayola markers, some copic outlining markers, and whatnot, so I decided to finish it up and get it posted.

It was inspired by the song "Love is a Loaded Pistol" from Thomas Dolby's newest release, 'A Map of the Floating City'.

The song is about Billie Holiday, and I have a great mental image for that that I'm not entirely sure I have the ability to draw, but in addition to that, I get a wonderful art deco, 1920s sort of vibe from the song. That's what I decided to illustrate here.

If you're only here for that art, you can run off and do other things now, but if you're interested in my personal life at all, you're welcome to keep reading.

Getting new art supplies is great, and it may seem a bit irresponsible of me, to go off buying things like that when I don't have much money and when my job could potentially be at risk, but after the new year, I'm cracking down.

I've said things of that nature before, but New Years will be a nice excuse to start off fresh.

First off, I won't buy soda anymore. I tried and failed to stop that around Thanksgiving, but I think this time around it will be more successful. This time a year ago, I started keeping a food journal and tried to make better food choices. I don't food journal anymore, but I'm 40 pounds lighter than I was at this point last year.

Secondly, I'm going to get very tight where finances are concerned. The company I work for is going to be shutting down 100-120 stores nationwide. It could take as long as a couple months for the list of closing locations to be released, and then of course more time as everything in the store is put on clearance and sold. 

This would be... just shitty, to put it bluntly. I started working there in August of this year. Before that, I had considerable trouble finding a job. It would be just perfect to the store to close down and put me right back where I was before, putting out application after application with no luck. To cover my butt, I'm keeping an eye on job listings, but they're about as dismal and bleak as they were when I lucked out and landed my current cashier job.

No matter how that financial situation goes, I am going to make absolutely sure that I get to a concert on Thomas Dolby's spring tour. He can still sing really well, and I love his newest album. I'm also not sure how many more chances I'll get to see him play live.

2011 was a year of change for me, in regards to the weight loss and getting a job, but I'm going to work to make 2012 a better year than 2011.

Celebrate me home-Kenny Loggins.

This Christmas, with a couple pictures, I got back to my acid trippy, rainbow colored roots. For my last holiday piece of the year, I wanted to go a more subtle direction.
If you haven't heard this beautiful, subtle song, I suggest you listen to it right now.

I hesitate to call it a Christmas song, because it really isn't overly Christmasy. I actually listen to this song year round because I think it's so beautiful.

Anyway, it's time I quit rambling and get to the art.

I know you've seen the piano keys in wings idea, but I wanted to include a reference to music, and including staff lines and notes in this drawing wasn't working out.

Now, I'm not usually going to post art that isn't music inspired here, but since it's Christmas eve, I thought I would include the other Christmas drawings I did this year.

I wanted to draw a poinsettia, but as I said, I also wanted to get back to the time consuming, rainbow, acid trippy art I used to do a lot more of. Lately I've been moving in a direction of making something surreal, but keeping it fairly simple. I like that concept, but I also miss making things like this.

This was my other holiday piece. I was inspired by some funky wrapping paper we used this year, as far as the tree's shape, so don't give me too much credit for that aspect of it.

Well, that's probably about it for the holiday themed art. We usually open our presents the morning of Christmas eve, but dad worked at the radio station. So. This year, we're going to go out to eat for supper, and then come back and open presents. 

I hope everyone has a happy whatever you celebrate. If you're going out shopping, I beg you to please be patient with your cashier. Speaking as a cashier and having such experience, I can tell you they will appreciate it.

Speaking of shopping, if you're so inclined, you can have a gander at a list I put together of things you shouldn't do during holiday shopping season.

How to not be a complete dick during holiday shopping season.

Again, have a great whatever holiday you celebrate, and have a happy new year while you're at it. :)

Flying North-Thomas Dolby.

Since I seem to be sailing on Thomas Dolby seas in terms of what I've been listening to as of late, I present to you my latest entry. My interpretation of the Thomas Dolby song "Flying North", on his 'The Golden Age of Wireless' album.

The lyric it was inspired by is the first line of the song:

"metal bird dip wing of fire". 

I know he was talking about an airplane in the song, but I have an interesting way of interpreting things.

Plus, I've had this robotic bird idea knocking around in my head for a while. I like the juxtaposition of drawing something natural but putting a mechanical spin on it.