All-Ireland Team 1925

While archieving an assortment of family photographs as a surprise for my mother, I re-stumbled upon some of my favorite images. They depict a great uncle who was a member of the 1925 All-Ireland Hurling team, playing for Galway (Connacht). His name was "Kruger" Broderick, a nickname given to him after Paul Kruger, a prominent Boer resistance leader against British rule and the president of the Transvaal Republic in South Africa. A very healthy, broad fellow, he only lived into his 30s due to an unknown enlarged heart.

Kruger is the second from the left in the above picture. Hurling is considered to be one of the most skillful games and is the fastest team field game in the world. About twelve teams participate in the Championship. The object of the game is for players to use a wooden axe-shaped stick called a hurl (in Irish a "camán", or a hurley, to hit a small ball called a sliotar between the opponents' goalposts either over the crossbar for one point, or under the crossbar into a net guarded by a goalkeeper for three points. The ball can be caught in the hand and carried for not more than four steps, struck in the air, or struck on the ground with the stick. It can be kicked or slapped with an open hand (the hand pass) for short-range passing. A player who wants to carry the ball for more than three steps has to bounce or balance the ball on the end of the stick, and the ball can only be handled twice while in his possession. Got all that?

Side to side shouldering is allowed although body-checking or shoulder-charging is illegal. No protective padding is worn by players, so take that you pansy American Footballers. Yeah, that's right I called you out!

Illustration Friday: Visitors

My illustration for this week I have used in the past as a promotional mailer. I know at first glance, this seems inappropriate for this week's theme, but the concept of this piece was subtlety. I wanted to do a night time scene of Venice just before the Bubonic Plague landed on it's shores in 1630. Beware, because this is an area of interest, I will nerd it up in the following paragraph.

The Black Death reached the shores of Europe in 1348, carried there on merchant ships on the backs of rats stowed away as cargo amongst the spices destined for the European market. By 1334, the plague had destroyed two thirds of China’s population and successive waves of the plague after 1348 took the lives of roughly one third of Southern Europeans. Including at least four variants; the plague was caused by the bacillus Yersinia pestis which lived in the stomach of fleas who, as scientists believe, became sick, their digestive tract blocked, regurgitating numerous bacilli into the bloodstream of their rodent host, thereby causing the flea to move onto a new host upon the death of their rodent host. Unfortunately for the Middle Ages, this host became man. Venice was more impacted than cities that were inland and protected from the transportation of these disease-bearing animals. It was actually Venice’s great success with ships carrying precious spices materials that actually brought about its ravage. In Venice, eighty thousand lives were lost in just seventeen months. On the 9 the of November, for example, five hundred and ninety-five died.

In the background, you can just see that a Pied Piper type figure has just landed on the dock with rats in tow, alarming only a barking dog in the foreground, and rustling just one person awake. Silent visitors that killed thousands and altered the course of history forever.

Because I had to, foo'!

I saw this today, and literally sat there for a few minutes, soaking it all in. W.O.W. Holy B.A.

The Big Picture

Here's a finished cover for a girl's magazine. I just can't seem to get away from the green and red palette.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Kellyillustrationmas, everywhere you go!"

Interlude

Here's a quick scan of a painting for a friend's sister who's just got married on a beach. Crabs! Now back to our regular schedule of illustrating madness.

Drawing Viterbo

Good friend and mentor Fred Lynch just got back from Italy! "Each July Montserrat College of Art hosts a four-week residential program affording art students and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to live and study in a country famous for its rich cultural legacy. Classes are held in the Accademia di Belli Arte in Viterbo, about 90 minutes north of Rome."

I cannot wait to see more work, and rumor has it, students will be welcomed to post their work as well. Exciting! Look out Italy, I am coming over next summer, whether you like it or not. Check it all out here!

AYFKM? I got a BWSNOTW Award!

Wow!

How pumped am I, and I never knew I got this! Apparently, Enchiridion over at (parenthetical aside) gave me the honor of being the first ever Best WebSite Name of the Week Award. More and more reassurance that I am doing ok with my blog name. I'm G Rated! I'm fun for all! I got proof!

Now for serious, I need to get back to what's really important and write more beer reviews.

Summertime ≠ workyworks time.
Sumertime = cooldownwithanicemaltedbeverage time.
Summertime ≥ passingoutwithhotdogsstillinyourmouth time.

Bedtime for Bongos!
Insanity has set in.

Waiting Room Renderings

So sad these days. The only sketching I get to do is in waiting rooms. One day I will be finished with deadlines. One day, damn you all, one day!

The Wisdom of Youth

Thought I'd share some images from a school visit this past spring. I always get a bit nervous when presenting to rooms full of 100+ students. Heck, I get nervous in front of five students. Typically, I try to remain as honest as I can. I try to keep their attention as much as possible. Note the *shock and awe* approach in the pictures. Wild hand gestures keep them awake. Afterwards, I was asked if I drink a lot of caffeine.

"Yes. I drink more than you can fathom."

Pretty perceptive. This following visit was particularily entertaining. Apparently we had quite the comedy troop, and I walked right into their trap.
"My friend has a question! It's a really good one!"
"Ok, it better be. What's on your mind?"
A few sucker punches between them...
"So, do you have a boyfriend?"
"Um... well... I'm not too sure what that has to do with books, but yes, I do."
"Oh."
After this he puts his hand down. "Phew", I was thinking. "Escaped the hot seat there." Man, these kids were mounting up to be worse than the gossip ring at a family function. Because I have the memory of a goldfish, I came back to his outstreched and flailing hand at the end of the Q&As.
"Yup, you got a question?"
"So, you're not married, right?"
"Oh no, you again."
"Will you marry me?"
PAUSE.
"Well, give it 20 yrs little dude and gimme a ring. You never know, right?"

Hey, this kids's smart. He knows to act fast. Go get em, fella!
And yes, he's the chap with raised eyebrows next to me.

Illustration Friday: Missing

All the following images are from my current project, a chapter novel about a beetle family, a New York boy, and an art theft. Kind of fun!

Battle Scars

I have a hard time throwing out things. Old birthday cards, hoodies with good memories, dedicated toothbrushes... I have a bit of a problem. One thing I try to never throw out are dead brushes. They mean too much to me and at one time were critical members of my creation staff. Sure, there are favorites, but you try not to admit it. After all, you're supposed to love each one equally. So I decided that one day, when I actually have a decent sized studio, I would create a Wall of Fame where I could frame them eternally in their own shadow box. It would kind of operate as a memory lane. Below, is a picture of some of the key members in the brush tube right now. Some are on the brink of retirement, but they're still hanging out before I start the next ginormous project.

1-3.) are my dedicated oil brushes. Since I've been working more and more with oils, they've been getting more usage other than just gessoing paper. 2. and 3. were pre-college days, and I believe are the oldest of the lot, dating back to 1988. I think my mum bought them at Christmas Tree Shops!

4-5.) Their distinctive shape is reminiscent of the Good Babies book. Because of the sand texture I used on every painting, as I wiped off the watercolor layer, it took off teeny bristles from my brushes. These guys are donezo.

6.) This group makes me laugh. I call them the "Poofed Crew". For some reason, it's always this brand and alway this size that inevitably poofs. The little filberts. I love them though. I go through these every couple paintings.

7.) Oh dear lord. This guy. He's hurting, dragging his leg behind him, blinded by Turpenoid fumes. This is my little oil filbert. He's soooo warped from becoming loose on his handle, so I've had to bite down on the metal part to make him stay on. Pieces of metal have broken off near the bristle base. *He's the favorite right now*.

8.) My bigger oil filbert, in much better condition than his cousin.

9.) Another "Poof Crew", but with water damage. Oops! Sometimes chunks of paint from the handle end up in paintings. Don't leave your brushes in water like me!

10.) The pristine, one-hair-er! This guy is almost untouchable. He's stays inside the dark tube until the very end. When the eyes need highlights, or there needs to be a title on a book the duck is reading. He's the DH of brushes, but is a little too princess-y to really mess around with the rest of the crew.

So there you have it.
I know. I am completely mental. I also can't say goodbye to the brush tube (also dating back to 1988) and my water bucket. It was a memento of a trip to the circus, where I enjoyed a whole bucket's worth of cotton candy. It was delish. One day, these fellas will get their place on the wall.