illustration: stone crab

The Stone Crab is commonly found in the marshes of South Carolina to Florida to Lousiana. Their claws are so large that they are considered a popular delicacy. After one or both of their claws are removed for harvesting, the crab is then returned to the sea where they can miraculously grow back their claws. Fully grown back, in 3 years time, that is.

The stone crab was a fun drawing to do because I got to the chance to experiment with texture on a fascinating creature. I wanted to apply spontaneous brushwork as if the crab was blending in with the rocks or sand. This watercolor painting of mine is remastered for 11 x 17 size print. My illustration is available at my store. Check it out :)

illustration: the hungry bass

Largemouth Bass literally have big mouths that can open as wide as their heads. So is it any surprise that they have voracious appetites? Not only do Largemouth Bass eat other fish, but they are also known to eat frogs, crayfish and even mice that happen to wander near the shoreline of a riverbank. In my illustration (above), I depict a Bass being very aggressive and is pursuing a rather big Bluegill Sunfish. Under the water, just like on land, it is survival of the fittest in the animal kingdom.

This Hungry Bass print is now available at my shop. Check it out :)

If you are interested in Fishing, here is a video where I was lucky enough to catch (and release) some nice-sized Bass while canoeing on a pristine remote lake.

cartoon: halloween jedi

I hope you get lots of nice candy and chocolate! Happy Halloween Everybody!

sketch: halloween

My cat drawing is quite devilish. Halloween is almost here. Do you have your costume yet? What are going to be this year?

sketch: tennis postcards

I have been building a collection of tennis sketches over time. I look back at my early drawings and think, oh my god, what was I thinking? Needless to say, my earlier work left a lot to desire.

I’ve always observed tennis players as good exercises in figure drawing. As they say, draw what you enjoy. Right?

More recently, I am happier with the results of my studies in proportion and action, and I decided that they are finally worthy enough to make into prints. I also left my sketches as line drawings, without painting them, keeping it raw and simple. Kind of a departure from my other subject matter. In fact, they are now available at my store as a set of 4 postcards. Check it out :)

What do you you think?

sketch: tennis two-handed backhand

Even though the last grand slam of the year, the US Open, is over, that doesn’t mean the season is over. Tournaments continue onto Asian countries like China, Japan and Korea. Actually, did you know that tennis competition is a 11-month long season? Players only get a true rest in December. There is always a tournament going on somewhere, internationally.

It seems like it is exhausting for athletes, to travel for so long and so far. Tennis as a career is a life choice and good money can be made if they go up the rankings. Plus, they get to see different beautiful cities. Still, it is great for avid tennis fans, like myself :) Plenty of entertaining games to watch on television!

My drawing is of a player who is very focused, doing a two-handed backhand. As you probably noticed, capturing tennis players in action is my favorite way to practice figure drawing.

Have a great Sunday!

 

sketch: great white shark

Recently, I went to Cape Cod and I did all the awesome activities that the amazing locale has to offer, except one. And that is, swimming in the ocean. Absolutely, no swimming in the sea for me because there have been more sightings of sharks in the area. Sharks are attracted to the population boom of sea lions close to the shoreline. Delicious, fatty sea lions.

In Cape Cod, there are warning signs everywhere to beware and to swim at your own risk. There are even stop-the-bleeding kits stationed at the beaches! Sharks can easily mistake a surfer, body boarder or swimmer for a sea lion meal. If a shark bites you, they won’t go, “I’m sorry, my bad.” The ocean is their domain and who would be the one to blame if a shark and a human cross paths?

Now I am shaking just thinking about it. Anyway, I do a sketch of a Great White Shark. I guess if I want to face my fears, I have to draw it. Right?

Did you swim at the beach this summer? Without the fear of sharks swimming nearby? What animal do you fear?