Yoga Yowch

So endeth week one of "Get In Shape Girl" Murphy. I have to admit, I feel better than I thought I would. You see, typically... I'd try to start exercising, but would become too exhausted and frustrated I was so out of shape. This time it is different. This time is going to be it. Joining a gym isn't as scary or expensive as I thought. When you think about all the classes and all the time you could potentially spend there, it's totally worth it. I can see how it might almost be addictive! I kind of like not having much of a social life and working from my studio (which is less than a quarter mile of the gym), because it always gives me a very conveinent option on a quiet afternoon. Well, Sue is also my slave driver, but if she only knew I really actually loved going.

But in this post, I really wanted to discuss Yoga. Ok, the word even sounded lame to me before this week. Yo-gaaahh, something an old car might sputter. Or something lumpy, found underneath rotten logs. I admit, I thought yoga was a lame fitness routine only for pregnant ladies, old people, or hippies. But! I am now ashamed of that thought. It's a wonderful way to increase flexibility and also gain muscle mass with the weight of one's own body. Lord knows... I need flexibility. I can't even touch my toes without letting out a guffaw, or reach across the table and falling over. My ligaments (what I have left) are particularily angry in my left side, I think because of trying to support the injured right.

Some of the fun poses include the Seated Child. So comfy, but I can totally feel it stretching all the muscles in my glutes and back. And no, the mats never smell good, and yes, occaisionally I do head butt the ground from exhuastion.

The Warrior Pose just makes me feel all bad ass. Like a samurai soldier about to bust out some flying crane kicks (not yoga, but Mr. Miyagi).

The Shoulder Stand reminds me of being a kid and acting like a complete crazy person, wheeling my legs like Indurain in the Tour de France. But now, I have the innertube of pudge around the midsection that makes it a bit tougher than back then.

Last but certainly not least, the all time favorite... the Corpse Pose. Never before have the instructors seen the "Corpsey" (my clever nickname) performed like I can do. I particularily love this at the end, when you can hear every vertebrae in your back cuss you out. It's around this time my feet and hands feel all numb.

I'll give a bit of history to this twisting torture, since afterall, true enlightenment comes from health of body AND mind. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Yuj' which essentially means to join or unite. The union referred to is that of the individual self uniting with Cosmic Consciousness or the Universal Spirit. Yoga is a means to achieving this goal. Born in India, almost 26,000 years ago, Yoga is believed to have evolved during the period of the ‘Sat Yuga’, also called the Golden age. This period became known as a time of everlasting peace and abundant blessings, filled with seekers of the Eternal Truth. That is why, probably, even today we associate yoga with sages and hermits, not to mention sado-masochists. Kidding. It was not until the discovery of the Indus- valley civilization, the largest civilization (which if my memory serves me, also had the first working plumbing and sewer systems. Take THAT Rome), that knowledge about the origin of Yoga surfaced. Excavations give evidence of yoga’s existence during this period; yogi -like figures engraved on soapstone seals have been unearthed. In fact, it was the Aryans, migrating from the north- west, who were instrumental in discovering yoga.

Further research brought me to this redicuous notion: DOGA. I was joking when I said to Sue I should bring Lily in, saying that she needed to be more in control of her inner circle. Now I am laughing at the prospects of the both of us bringing in our animals. Sue and Duncan or Tucker (Great Danes) and me with a very shakey Chihuahua. I think I would rather enjoy seeing all 5 feet of Sue trying to make her 160lb Duncan into the Shoulder Pose. Here's an image I found of a Doga session:

Come on! That's totally the WWF old school Pile Drive! How mean! But funny!

Totally Testosterone

Watching a documentary today, the light bulb shone down on my, recently discovered, male thinking brain. Academics find that finger of destiny points their way. Male scientists are good at research because they have the hormone levels of women and long index fingers, a new study says. The study at the University of Bath, which as been submitted to the British Journal of Psychology, also found that:
1.) these hormonal levels may make male scientists less likely to have children.
2.)those men with a higher level of estrogen were more likely than average to have relatives with dyslexia, which may in part be caused by hormonal levels.
3.)women social scientists tended to have higher levels of testosterone, making their brains closer to those of males in general.

The study drew on work in the last few years which established that the levels of estrogen and testosterone a person has can be seen in the relative length of their index (second) and ring (fourth) fingers. The ratio of the lengths is set before birth and remains the same throughout life. The length of fingers is genetically linked to the sex hormones, and a person with an index finger shorter than the ring finger will have had more testosterone while in the womb, and a person with an index finger longer than the ring finger will have had more estrogen. The difference in the lengths can be small – as little as two or three per cent – but important.

A survey of the finger lengths of over 100 male and female academics at the University by senior Psychology lecturer Dr Mark Brosnan has found that those men teaching hard science like mathematics and physics tend to have index fingers as long as their ring fingers, a marker for unusually high estrogen levels for males. It also found the reverse: those male academics with longer ring fingers than index fingers – the usual male pattern – tended not to be in science but in social science subjects such as psychology and education.

"The results are a fascinating insight into how testosterone and estrogen levels in the womb can affect people's choice of career and how these levels can show up in the length of fingers on our hands," said Dr Brosnan. He said that men having levels of testosterone very much higher than normal for males would also create the right hemisphere dominated brain, which could help in science. The extremes of low testosterone and high testosterone for men would create the scientific brain, and the normal range in the middle would create the 'social science' brain.

The question also arises as to why more women, who have this lower level of testosterone, are not in science, which is male-dominated, with only one in 40 science professors being a woman. The short answer is that we don't know: the high levels of estrogen in women may act differently on the brain and not give them the spatial skills that men with similar levels of the hormone have.

So, I am not too sure what all these means, but look athe that ring and index finger difference! My levels of testosterone must be comparable to the meatheads in a high school weight room! I think this means I am much better at spacial problem solving, than the social graces of the common cocktail party. Just what I need, and excuse backed by science.

Robert's Snow: For Cancer's Cure 2007

Just finished up my snowflake for this years charity event for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. They are celebrating their third year, and hoping to surpass last years fundraising numbers. Help make this year the best yet! Visit their website to find out more about this amazing event. Collecting over 200 picturebook artist's own personal vision, these flakes will be lifelong keepsakes.

This year, I dedicate my snowflake to Connor Ciesielski, a very gentle, adventurous little boy who was truly, a great crab hunter. Connor’s true love was being on a Cape Cod beach. He enjoyed the hot days in the sun and the early evenings on the beach. It was on the beach that "Conman" was his happiest. He would fish and hunt for crabs all day. He always made sure that any sea life that he and his brother caught was always returned back to the sea so that they wouldn’t be missed by their daddy and mommy and could grow bigger in hopes of catching them again on another day. Connor passed away due to Leukemia this July 15th. He was a very brave warrior.

Bidding starts in November, but keep checking the website. They will start to show all the snowflakes in late August.

The Dragons Are Done, Dude!

A huge weight has been lifted off the workdesk here. I am so thrilled. I just sent off Hush, Little Dragon to Harry N. Abrams, and now I am off to haul buns on other projects. I know the older you get, life gets more complicated... but the summer of 2007 has been plain nutty. The only thing I DO NOT need to add to it is FedEx losing my package. I would quite honestly... die. Flatline, people.

Typically, I hand deliver my books, but because of the overshot deadline and other work stockpiling, I am not able to do so. Just letting you know, my heart will be in my throat till tomorrow morning when I hear they have it in the office. So I was wondering what measures I should take when shippig it. Almost all artwork I will seal in a plastic bag, in case the packaging gets wet. I'll also reinforce all cardboard with at least two layers. For my books, I hand make a box, typically lined with bubble wrap. But these I usually deliver in person. I was wondering, how many book artist break up the shipment into two or three packages in case they lose it, only half the book needs to be repainted. I almost did this, but thought that might be tempting fate, tooo much.

I did give a bit of attitude to the girl behind the counter when she asked me the declared value. I answered, "More than FedEx can ever pay me", but it's true. Factor together all the work hours, the stress level, and material costs there is NO way they'd be able to repay it. At that point I'd call it an omen, and restart from scracth.

So, how to celebrate finishing this book? Sue and I joined the gym! Yes, sitting for three months straight, barely moving with an injured knee means the flab has invaded. High school weight here we come. No, I am serious. Stop making fun!

What?

Are they NUTS? It says death is mentioned one time in my blog so it's safe for all to enjoy. But... hello? Did they see the post about chesty women, greasy food, and... people STEALING my beer? I am so confused.

Fiona in 3D!

How flattered am I? Jessica Kennady created this doll version of Fiona for the Hillsboro Oregon Library. It was displayed to further encourage children of the community to keep reading. I think it may inspire some to pick up sewing! Thanks so much Jessica.

Another Shybird Finish

Can't form words...
So tired.
No more all nighters, please.
Another finish with Antoine Revoy below.

Tekkon Kinkreet

Holy smokes. Crazy awesome rock your socks off blend of traditional and digital animation. The reeeeeal awesome stuff is in the concept art book. Here' a link to a pretty good article about the people involved in it's production.


I'm still drooling.

Ah, Ah, *Leinenkugel*

The name almost sounds like the noises made when sneezing, but this beer is nothing TO sneeze at. The acclaimed pride of Chippewa Falls (second to Jack from Titanic) I literally squealed like a schoolgirl when I first put Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat to my lips. I believe my exact words were, "It's like Fruity Pebbles in liquid form!"

They are the seventh oldest brewers in the United States, and are celebrating their 140th year of production. When Jacob Leinenkugel first came to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, in 1866, he found wide rivers, lush forests, clean water, all surrounded by a land of thirsty lumberjacks and trappers. As the son of a German brew master and brother to two others, Jacob knew an opportunity when he saw one. So he and business partner John Miller set to work building the Spring Brewery. The name held the secret of their rich, tasty product—the pure water that flowed from the Big Eddy Spring. Neither acidic nor alkaline, the water was perfect for brewing full-bodied beer. And, in 1867, the first batch of Leinenkugel’s beer was born. Bless you.

Within thirteen years, Jacob and his crew were handcrafting 1800 barrels of Leinie’s per year to meet the growing thirst for quality beer in the Chippewa Valley. By 1890 he had expanded the renamed Jacob Leinenkugel’s Spring Brewery to include a new brew house, three-story malt house and a barn to house the teams of horses that drew the Leinie’s delivery wagons. After Jacob’s death in 1899, son Matt stepped in as the second-generation Leinenkugel to oversee the precious family heritage that is Leinenkugel’s beer.

"Leinie’s" (I still pronounce this all wrong) has grown from one variety to seven and has won loyal fans throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and even Arizona and Massychusetts! But, since the company's founding in 1867, Leinenkugel's beer had been sold only in the northwoods area of Wisconsin known as the Chippewa Valley. Sales had been steady enough to allow the company to expand its facilities, but it was not until 1970 that Leinenkugel began to reach out to bigger markets. The company began selling its beer in Minnesota that year, and in 1972 also reached into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan market. One barrier to greater distribution of Leinenkugel's was that the beer was made with no chemicals, unlike most national brand beers. This gave it a short shelf life, and so it was difficult for the company to imagine it could penetrate into wider markets. But the beer was becoming known outside its limited Midwestern market. Northern Wisconsin attracted a lot of tourists in the summer, and the hospitality center was devised to bring them to Chippewa Falls and introduce them to the taste of Leinenkugel's. Besides tourists, the company also thought it could reach out more to college students. A number of small colleges dotted the upper Midwest, and by 1982, Leinenkugel was planning ways to appeal to these young drinkers. Way to go, fellas!

By 1987, Leinenkugel was a profitable company, comfortable in its geographic niche. Still a small, family-controlled company, Leinenkugel seemed to be making the most of its regional market without straining for greater growth. But in some ways the company was trapped. While it was doing well in its region, the company did not have the resources in terms of marketing and distribution to get its beer beyond the Midwest. The company wanted to branch out in a different way, too. Specialty brewing--small-scale production of "hand-crafted" special recipe beers--was a market category that was just starting to boom in the late 1980s, and Leinenkugel wanted to get in on it. But the company did not have the cash to finance a switch to a new product. In the meantime, Miller Brewing Company, one of the American beer giants, was experiencing stagnant sales. It was also locked into its core product, and was having difficulty breaking into new areas. Miller first approached Leinenkugel about a sale in 1987. According to Leinenkugel family legend, the father of current company president Jake Leinenkugel thought Miller wanted Leinenkugel to buy it. But it came to pass the other way around. Leinenkugel became a wholly owned subsidiary of Miller Brewing Company on April 1, 1988.

The sale was a shock for many Leinenkugel fans and employees, who feared the giant beer company would adulterate the Leinenkugel recipe and perhaps close down the historic brewery. The brand lost an estimated ten percent of its core customers in the year following the sale. After that, however, sales took off as Miller's marketing expertise and deep pockets allowed the smaller company to branch out. Although sales were still primarily in the four states Leinenkugel had traditionally sold in, Miller managed to get the brand distributed in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, and Colorado by 1994. Sales in the upper Midwest market grew by double digits, and soon after the sale to Miller, Leinenkugel began producing new beers. Since the sale to Miller, Leinenkugel's production capacity nearly tripled, and the brand began appearing in markets as far from the Wisconsin northwoods as California and Florida. The company managed to do this without sacrificing its historic brewery or modifying the recipe for its Leinenkugel's Original brand. By the late 1990s, Leinenkugel's was in places it would hardly have imagined ten years earlier, like the hands of an illustrating Noew Englander. Thank goodness.

And since this review is already long, I'll leave it up to you to check out their individual brews. They have an arsenal of year round brews in addition to the seasonal. I haven't had a chance to try all of them since the stores only stock the Sunset Wheat, but I can already say that nothing beats it's fruity yet still beerlike taste that the other fruit beers lack. Check out their website (http://www.leinie.com) for more information. It's one of the better designed and easy to read ones I've seen. I am almost booking a trip to visit a friend in Minniesota, but don't tell him that it's mainly to try the other Leinies! Oh, please. You try the Sunset Wheat and you'd do the same thing.

Hats Off to Bud Averts

If I worked in an office, I would also put out a swear jar. And you @#$%*& know it.

Another Hobby

Typically a relaxed person decides that he or shee needs a break away from the daily grind of their job. You know, something to unwind and have fun with. For some reason all of my hobbies (since the three torn ligaments) all revolve around the visual world... and eating. I should pick up and instrument, but I know it would be thrown so far across the room with pure frustration. So... I'll stick to cake making. Cooking is foreign to me, but I LOVE to bake! This cake Lily's eyeing is for my friend Tracey! Here's to many more Trace!

Keepin' On Keepin' On

I feel like my books are like a marathon of labor. Me giving birth to 20 angry babies at one time, but spread over months. Ok, what? Here's the latest dragon spread.

Illustration Friday: Camouflage

Here's another oldie. Camouflage is a method to conceal, correct? It can let everything seep into the blackness of your closed eyes.

Root, Root, Root for the Home Team!

I got the chance to see my first minor league game the other night! I'd been to a few major ones, but I have to admit... I like the small stadium atmosphere. No mean lines at the concession, minimal wait at the ladies room, and yet they still have killer scoreboard graphics! Oh, and no 2 hr wait to get out of the parking lot. Minor leagues RULE!

Puzzles from Mudpuppy

Well, my posting habits are, to put it bluntly, awful. I promise, one day, I will be bored out of my mind and have about 20 posts a day. I wanted to just show the final product of the puzzles I was working on awhile back. I think the ladies at Galison and Mudpuppy did a great job on the packaging. Click here to the company website!

Illustration Friday: Cars

This was an early reader I did as one of my first jobs. I remember being all stressed out because I had to create a car. Maybe it was all the boys in elementary and high school that intimidated me. But by the end I learned that girls can draw cars, too!

On My Wishlist!

Stop the presses. Look at this thing. How rediculously awesome is this. If only I had the counter space. The day I do... it's game over man, game over!

Beer Caddy
"If the idea of lugging yourself to the ice box over and over again for a beer turns you off, consider this Beer Caddy currently on sale over at Neiman Marcus to help alleviate your frustrations. This beer lover's gadget holds a five liter beer (or soda) keg, keeping it cool and providing a nice way to enjoy a frosty one."

You can purchase one of these things at Uncrate, a web magazine for guys who love stuff. Their team finds the best gadgets, clothes, cars, DVDs and more. Ehemm, girls too, chicos!

Juxtapoz Reader Artist

Just wanted to mention that I am featured on the Juxtapoz website, as a Reader Artist. If you have some time, check out the others who were selected! And if you are not familiar with the magazine, what's wrong with you!? That was harsh, but go check it out!

I'm Dragon

Ok, that was a really bad pun. Here are some of latest spreads, hot off the desk.

Caught in the Act!

People caught on film, actually stealing my beer!


Ok, they weren't stealing my beer, but they were bringing it to E.L.'s birthday. And Anne Smith actually owned the keg. But, I felt a real emotion towards that rotund metal can!

And since I have metioned them, here is an amazing video shot by the aforementioned beerstealers. Involved with the shooting of this was EL, Anne, Maris, Joe, and Bill. I think they got some shoes for wearing those masks, but I die laughing everytime I see this.