Archive for envelope sketches

You know what I haven’t done in a while?

13 September 2010 envelope sketches No comments

In general, posted anything. More specifically, posted envelope sketches.

Oh, I’ve still been doing them. Or at least, I’ve still been saving the envelopes to do them on. But I’m a little behind schedule. So here are the three most recent that I’ve scanned.

Sketch of quasimodo done on a bank statement envelope. Sketch of Nicolas Parsons done on a bank statement envelope. Sketch of Simon Cowell done on a bank statement envelope, colored with a pink hi-lighter, and color corrected using GIMP

Incidentally, I don’t really know much about Simon Cowell. When one of my co-workers failed to identify Nicolas Parsons and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I figured I’d try someone more current. However, never having seen an episode of whatever modern Gong Show he’s on, I had to guess about what he’d say.

Y’know, now that I think of it, the Gong Show might have set a precedent for allowing people with questionable talent on the air, but it looked like the “celebrities” involved were generally having a good time, and seemed to be laughing with the contestants more often than at them. Maybe I’m inclined to think fondly of the Gong Show because it seems to have a combination of joyous anarchy, the odd good-ol’-fashioned-performance, and a willingness to go with it and have a laugh when things went a little blue.

Chuck Barris, I salute you.
Judges on the X-Factor, [Nation]‘s got Talent, and whatever other self-aggrandizing, mean-spirited audition shows are on these days? You get the gong and the gas face.

Thoughts about literacy + Sketchdump 03

13 May 2010 business of writing, envelope sketches No comments

For a very long time I had believed (I have believed?) that there was some intrinsic value to language used well. An idea expressed clearly and well seemed more believable or persuasive or true or than one half-formed or  blurted out incoherently. But this assumption of mine is only an assumption. It hasn’t been subject to cross-examination or logical analysis. I realize now that I’ve not tested it. Read more

Sketchdump 02

30 March 2010 design, envelope sketches No comments

Didn’t think I’d manage to get another set of envelope sketches done. The last six weeks have been busier than I’d expected. Between trying to offer an itty-bitty bit of assistance to a noble publishing effort, starting a new gig in an office on the south side of the river, and all that business of trying to live like a modern human, I haven’t been so good about posting. So here, have some more envelope sketches.

Such as they are.

Supercillious Abe Lincoln

I think the third one is my favorite, but I do seem to draw that 3/4 view kind of a lot. I wonder if it’s because most of the photos I pick have that pose, or just that most photos taken have that pose.

Lost arts

9 February 2010 design, envelope sketches 2 comments

Last week someone found a drawing I’d made back in school, some 15+ years ago, and posted it on Facebook. If you’ll excuse a little retrospective modesty, it wasn’t a great drawing, more of a cartoon, really. Not much in the way of depth or shading, limited use of colors, and showing only a rudimentary grasp of anatomy. It was meant to be a small comment on the impending end of our time in high school, and a small nod to a couple of good friends. But in the few comments that followed, it seems that other people thought I used to draw and doodle and make little cartoons all the time.

So what happened? Why don’t I draw anymore? Read more