this year's costumes

This year Nancy outdid herself yet again. This first costume is a brown hoodie with painted golf T's hot glued all over the back and hood. Sam made a fantastic porcupine, and got a LOT of positive comments as he wore his original costume around tonight This is Mitch in a very fine traditional Korean han bok doing his version of kung fu master.
Blake was pretty as always...Nancy made most of this costume too!
This last costume was really easy for Nancy...but it was exactly what Julia wanted. We bought it at Disneyland using my employee discount....nice;-)

More trick or treaters....get the candy bowl!

I've been having fun lately drawing "kid mosters". Here are a few more.

stuck on a theme?

been having a good time doodling little trick or treaters the last few days. Didn't have a ton of things to do on this Saturday morning, (rainy outside today) so I thought I'd paint this one up too. I tried to leave this one and not overpaint it to death like the last on. Wish I didn't have that natural tendency to overwork things...oh well, let me know what you think....have a good one!

FINIALLY....some color!

halloween theme...fun fun fun!

other little doodle from yesterday.

gotta love the halloween season!!

last year around halloween I got in a creative mood and had a great time drawing and painting halloween themed stuff. The creativity lasted past halloween and carried over for several months...all the way 'till Feb! I'd love to catch another wave of energy that size. I got to work this morning and looked over at my clipboard and all of the sudden...there it was agian...the urge to draw halloween stuff. This one may even get some color!! been a long time, but I think the color is comming...check back soon.

Disneyland

My family and I just got back from Disneyland. It was a quick trip but we all had fun. I had a lot of fun watching my kids have fun. This little sketch isn't my kid, but it does capture the look of a lot of the kids I saw experiencing disneyland for the first time. wide eyes and big smiles!

PS, On a side note, as an adult I had a great time this trip...being a new disney employee made the whole trip better....gotta love that discount!

been a while!

it's sure been a while! Truthfully I've tried several times over the past few weeks to log into blogger, but never could figure out my password...got way too many user names and passwords floating around in my brain these days. Must mean my life is over complicated. Anyway, today I stuck with it until I figured out the right combo...felt like I was hacking into my own blog...

here are a few recent doodles...not sure why that second one looks a little like me...wierd!

Friday Dump

thought I'd dump some of the doodles from the last couple of weeks...hopefully quanity will make up for the quality...

Illustration Friday: discovery

here is a very simple one this week...sometimes you don't have to look too far to see something new. ..and here is another little doodle from earlier this week.

Illustration Friday: Geeky

I thought this would be a fun topic...so here is what I came up with.

I struggled a little with this one, but thought I'd post it anyway.

Friday Already?

Here are a couple of doodles from the past week...I threw some color on one just for fun.

Illustration Friday: Camouflage

it's been quite a while without a post. Been busy and feeling a little uninspired. So I turned to illustration friday for a topic to paint up. This was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this weeks topic. My eight year old son got a new pair of shorts at the begining of the summer....and has rarely had them off since!

ah, longboards

I've been thinkin of getting myself a longboard lately. don't really need one...whenever I get the urge to ride, I just grab my son's... I've almost got myself convinced that it would be fun to ride to and from the bus stop on a nice longboard. Anyway, this little doodle was the result of that line of daydreaming. Happy monday eveyone

"Dreaming of Disneyland"

it's been a while since I've posted anything...this morning on the bus my budy Joe suggested I do something about that. I flipped through his sketchbook and was amazed at the quanity and quality of his work...if you've been to his blog, just know he doesn't even post the best stuff! You can look at his blog here

Happy Friday.

Here is a happy little drawing for this friday post...have a great weekend everyone!

something new...

wow, it's been a while without a post....sorry. I've been busy with a new job and trying to figure out how the buses work ect...gotta say though, it's been worth it. My new job is really great! Here are a couple doodles from the other day.

grumpy kid

Here is a little sketch. I know everyone must be tired of good ol abe by now. Not sure why this little doodle came out today, it's mood is kinda opposite of how I've been feeling lately. The big news is I've accepted a new job in Salt Lake at Fall Line. I'm really excited to be moving on and getting a chance to work again with a team of great people. (many of whom I've known and worked with in the past). Good times ahead!!

Illustration Friday: Green

Nothin says "green" like money!? would have rather painted grant...but...a five was all I had. I messed around with texture again just for fun.

Illustration Friday: Snap

Thought I'd post another one for Illustration Friday. Don't worry, he's just pinned in there...he'll be ok if one of his friends can help him out...

Illustration Friday: I Spy

Here is a little doodle for illustration friday. It's been months since I've posted anything for I.F, so I took a look at this weeks topic and thought I'd give it a try. Hope ya like the results of my quick effort.

"why do I always have to kill dinner?"

ken's comment on my last post got me thinking what caveman grug's wife might look like...

when it came to picking a wife, grug went with the best hunter in the village. now that's practical!

didn't spend much time on this one.....but thought it was fun enough to post.

caveman grug

When grug was a boy, all the village people use to tease him...he was always playing with fire and daydreaming. They stopped the teasing when he grew so big...but they never really liked him until one day when he invented the "strike anywhere match"...life became easier for everyone after that!

Allergy season already??

We have had some very nice weather lately...but with warmer weather comes the watery eyes and runny nose. the pollen is outta control already this year. I was thinking about all this when I started sketching this morning...here is what came out.

Happy St Patrick's day!

don't forget to wear green everyone. Only a couple of days early on this one.

little early, but oh well.

I was thinkin about the easter bunny the other day...does anyone know where he lives and does all his magic? It's been so long since I've done anything much past a sketch...not sure why I got into this...but here is what I did today. I may come back and do a little more, but I'm done for now. You can double click on the image to see it a little larger...

mr cool.

nothin worse than trying to look cool when someone has drawn your sun glasses all whacked out!

more snow....sheeez I'm ready to go fishing

Just a little doodle cuz it's friday!

it's been a while!

here is a little painting doodle from today...didn't spend much time with it and it shows, but it's been so long since I've posted anything, I thought I should put up something...don't ask where this came from.

baby steps...

I actually did an illustration last week. It was for a very nice art director who was willing to give the "new look" a try. I've been trying to find a different look to my illustration and this is my first published effort down this new road. This was for an article to warn doctors buying into a practice...I guess when selling, there are a few doctors out there that "cook the books" to make the practice look more profitable.....the article talked a lot about what to look for when looking at the records. Thank you Kim, I hope you like it.

Happy Friday Everyone.

Had to take one more "shot" at this little deer. I thought I could improve it...must be my asian influence, but this simple line stuff is fun!

keepin it simple...

I have been playing around with line a little lately...trying to make it simple and yet appealing and interesting...fairly good challange! Here is my latest effort.

only a few like it this COLD!

I was messing around with ink yesterday...this was the results.

not mine, just thought I'd share this

I found this in one of my VW books...the artist wasn't credited. Wow, this guy knew his stuff, all these pieces look like real vw stuff...CRAZY!

"happy"cell phone guy.

here is another doodle from this morning. I might paint a little on this one some day...but for now, he's just a slick car salesman-type in pencil.

Girls!

I was looking at my blog and realized I haven't been drawing nearly enough girls. I like drawing girls, so here is one from this morning...happy new year everyone! Hope all your artistic dreams come true this year!

love the season, hate the weather!

I was thinking today how much I love this time of year...but hate the cold. I thought I'd try and draw that idea...warm and happy on the inside miserable on the outside. Not sure if I nailed it...but I liked the thing just enought to play with it in painter for a minute or two. Now I look at his expression, and wonder what's in the mug...maybe he's not feelin the cold!?

just a quickie...

I've been neglecting my blog as of late...I'm sorry. Here is a little doodle, just to get something new to look at. I'll try to post something better soon.

my life is complete!

Guess what I got asked to do this year?? Being the last...well one of two last artists at Saffire, I was asked to do a Christmas card!! My life is complete! During my 8 years at Saffire I've seen a few Christmas cards be created...most everyone at Avalanche has had a turn, and now, by default, Lael joins the ranks of the Christmas card creators!! Anyway, I've got a rough version to show...may work on it a little more, I'd love some feedback if anyone wants to help me out a little.


Alex asked me to make this slightly altered version...he got a real kick out of it!?

Mad Science

The poor Doctor has been mad for years, but he still must do his "work"! Had to add one more before Halloween...here is the mad docor. Happy Halloween everyone, be safe.