Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Illustration Friday - Gravity

"Flight" - Mixed Media: Pen and Ink, White Acrylic, Collage Border, Digital

This is my first time participating in Illustration Friday, a website that challenges illustrators of all genres and disciplines to interpret a weekly topic, which is assigned each Friday. This week's topic is "Gravity." Although my peice is titled "Flight", the main character is a young pig who has come up with a way to defy the gravitational limitations directly responsible for the birth of the humiliating phrase,"Yeah, and pigs may fly." You may be thinking,"Ah, but the Law of Gravity clearly states that what goes up must come down, thus his defiance shall be short-lived." But you see, the piglet has already thought this part through, and used clock parts for his invention. "Time flies when you're having fun," and as long as the piglet enjoys himself, he may never have to land again.

On a note similar to flying objects, I've finished another Venetian Masked Bird. This was my virgin attempt at lino-cutting, and I have to say that I'm hooked. Not too many things can claim to be intensely challenging and thoroughly relaxing at the same time!

Venetian Masked Bird No.3 - Linocut 2"x3"

My eyes are still sore from staying up last night 'til about 3, researching printmaking and the various letter and etching presses out there (I sure made the most of my long weekend!), but I'm very excited about the potential in where I can go with all of this. So far, I've barely scratched the surface, as it were. The sky's the limit.... though the young pig may ask, smiling,"Or is it?"

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool illustration.

Diane Duda said...

i love your pig...and his "fantastical" flying machine!

Anonymous said...

molto molto bello

Ginger*:) said...

This one is priceless! Great work.

Anonymous said...

I love your flying machine. He looks so at ease!

Michelle Lana said...

awesome work, great details!

Susan Mitchell said...

Yay for flying pigs! - this is beautifully done :)

Heartful said...

Hooray for defiant pigs! If only we could all float for as long as we enjoy ourselves...sigh.

Ben Foster said...

Gorgeous! Carrie has a bit of a pig fetish, so if you decide to do prints, let me know. (I assume this is digital, yes?) Interestingly in the flying pigs vein, I painted a "spork" for her the valentine's day that she was pregnant with Kieran. I think the pic might be lying around my CA sketchbook or something...

Unknown said...

OOOo o mommaa! That is great Mike! I love this experimental side of you - inspires me to say the least. Love what you are doing with the Venetian Masks and birds. Those little linocuts are sweet. Might be nice to make a small one and print them on your inkjet prints somewhere near your signature. And then mail me one :)

Fossfor said...

beautiful work, I love the clouds

steve said...

Wow!! Huge props!!

Erika Astronauta Ariente said...

wow!!! fantástic illo, i love it, congratulations!

singinghawk said...

Mike,

This is superb! I haven't seen enough of your work, but from what I have seen it seems as though this might be a new direction for you in terms of style? I really love the design elements in Flight. The pig is absolutley adorable, as is the flying, clock machine! And your concept is charming as well...time flies when you're having fun! Love the idea! I really think you have the right combination for writing a children's book and illustrating it. You might take this idea and go further. I think it would make for a great children's story.

The Venetian Bird linocut is beautiful. The linocut gives the bird quite a character, a more interesting character than achieved in the other bird drawings. You should definitely explore this media more as well as do more of those cute birds!

Cheers,

Ana

IamOSI said...

diggin the detailed line work. nicely done.

JO said...

Wow, both pieces are fabulous. Nice job.

nicole falk said...

amazing - i cant wait to see more - i love everything!!! just bought a print!!!

SILVER KNIGHT said...

nice illo!

Michelle said...

I LOVE this peice! Great detail and style. The little pig is priceless.

Bruce said...

Mike, the flying pig is just too cool. Everything about this image is great right down to the aerodynamically unsound flying machine (and they do make the best flying machines!) itself to the expression on the little guy's face. He's so serious with his huge eyes. Lot of fun.

Healthy living said...

Wow, insanely cool!! Love everything about it!

Rich Pellegrino said...

I love that Gravity piece Mike! very different from what i am used to seeing from you. Now you have another cool style!!! jeez, how many are there now?

Tom Kidd said...

This is clearly an extra-whimsical dimensional time flight sled. I've got one in my shed . . . but it's broken.

Also, what's on the other side of this currency? I'm going to take a look at Illustration Friday.

Jacqueline Hudon-Verrelli said...

I love love love this. What a great drawing. I'm so glad that I stumbled on to your site.