Author: mightylark

I was asked to do a flyer for the upcoming “Irrigation Initiation” in St. Paul. I am really excited about the project for two reasons. One, I have wanted to do a show poster since I graduated from school with an illustration degree, and two, it involves pipes, and you know how I love pipes.

I am also working on a small set of paintings for a show at the C.A.V.E. gallery in California this week too. I have to send the pieces out by this friday so I really need to get a move on it. I only have the one completed so far.

I think it is a pretty cool piece though, so at least it is not a bad start. I have been so busy since I’ve hit the streets of Minneapolis. Who’d have thought the unemployed could be so busy. Sorry if I pushed it to 10.9%. I’ll see what I can do with the rest of my week.

Until later.
peace
Mike

Today I put together a new sticker design. I figured that there are all sorts of stickers put up all over the place here in Minneapolis. I should have one too. So pretty soon, once my quote comes through and what not I can make myself my own street team and pepper the city.

It’s been pretty cool since I’ve been here. I haven’t had any paints with me just yet, so it’s been a lot of work in sketchbooks and accepting that my black and white work isn’t half bad. I’m thinking at this point that if I ever really want to pursue illustration, black and white is probably going to be my specialty.

So without further ado, here is the sticker that I came up with today:

Let me know what you think. I am still learning when it comes to design. But at this juncture I’m pretty happy with this little dude.

Be back soon.
peace
Mike

I have just moved to Minneapolis and am currently looking for some illustration work, so I uploaded a Black and White Illustration section to Lewis Acrylics. It looks pretty good, and oddly enough as I was putting it together I realized that I had been published this year. Weird but I don’t think about online magazines as being published, but I was twice.

Pretty cool eh?

Check out the page for more info.

I’ll be posting some stuff for the upcoming C.A.V.E. show and my new sticker project that I am working on very soon. So keep posted.

peace
-Mike

A couple weeks ago I drew out the shanty town on board. This is my project for this week. Most of my packing is nearing a close so now I can spend some serious time on my show. There is always something more that you can do, but I think it is time just move on with my projects and work through this the best that I can.

I’m really digging the tortured looking birdhouses. This was inspired by a photo that I found of the ghetto in Beijing. It looked amazing. And now, after watching “Slumdog Millionare”, I’m feeling even more into these shacky looking homes.

I’ll try to post some more soon.
Keep it real.
-Mike

The Mighty Lark Etsy page is now home to a drawing section. I posted three drawings for sale today as well as two more paintings. Everything is as the record industry labels it, “the nice price”. A couple robot drawings and a couple bird drawings.

Little guy in a gold frame. This is the original bird with birdhouse drawing.

Stereos, robots, and birds. Another framed drawing with three of my favorite things.
Moving Sale in full effect.

Hope Everyone is doing great.
peace
Mike

I finished another Mighty Lark piece today. It was quite the adventure as I grow more and more anxious about my imminent move to Minneapolis. I am excited, but a) I am going to need more funds b) it will be weird to be living without Beth, and c) Somehow while there I will have to finish the “Dwellings” show.

I’ve added a Flickr set for sketches and finishes for “Dwellings“.

Here is the newest of the Mighty Lark pieces. I had really forgotten how much fun these were to do, but I’m not putting any stress on them right now. I’m just trying to relax because everything else is so stressful right now. So the Mighty Lark gets the best of me.

Let me know what you think. And if any of you are Minneapolis residents, thoughts on housing and the job front are much appreciated. Use the email to the side.

Til then, peace.
Mike

Today was a productive day all around. I finished one Mighty Lark piece, drew up another, and started four small bird portraits that Susan of Artstream Studios requested. I am very pleased with all five drawings that I worked up today.

I have frames for all of these. They are small, about 3″ by 4.5″.

And this is the next Mighty Lark piece that I started. I hope to finish it tomorrow before I go to the restaurant. Let me know what you think.

peace
Mike

Apparently people really like the Mighty Lark. I was told that the “Return of the Mighty Lark” was my most popular piece at my last show, and the other pieces that I have produced incorporating the Mighty Lark have been very successful as well. So what am I going to do about it?

I decided if it was the Mighty Lark that people want the Mighty Lark they will get. So here is the first piece that I’ve produced and I will have more to post later today.

Titled “Dancing with Myself”. Thanks Billy Idol. Have a good day folks.
peace
Mike

I’ve been working at figuring out what to do with my October show for months. In the beginning it seemed like such an easy idea, birdhouses made to look like buildings from across the world, but after two shows that didn’t say much thematically, I was getting burnt on painting more eye candy. That is not to say that I don’t like my paintings from earlier this year, but they didn’t have as much meat as I’d like.

I was toying with creating maps, Sims style, and pointing out where the birds would live in the town, but realized that that was more about human dwellings than the bird dwellings. I wasn’t making any metaphors there. So finally last night, I figured out that I was going to make very large paintings of trees, serve as imagery representing caste and social status. Then I will hang paintings of birds with their birdhouses over top.

The homeless birds, those living in mechanical and abandoned industrial sites, will be at the bottom, followed by shanty towns of birdhouses, middle class home birdhouses, luxury condo houses, and mansion type houses.

Here are a couples sketches I came up with last night, one for the homeless level and the other for a luxury condo:

I want to make these homeless paintings a little dark, kind of in a Camille Rose Garcia vein.

The top levels I want to be really bright, and idealistic.

The idea may have some holes, but it’s a step in the right direction, so I’m feeling pretty good about it. I’ll have some more sketches soon, now that I know what I’m doing.

peace
Mike

This month has been a little stressful, emotionally and also artistically. It looks like I will be leaving NH for about two months to either Minneapolis or Seattle, or perhaps I will stay and relocate to North Conway for the summer, but either way, I need a couple months alone to finish some work for the two upcoming shows. Too many distractions.

I attempted to rock out the Doodle Off this month, but the creative juices were on severe pause after the last two shows. Still managed about seventy five drawings, though I do need to post those.

All in all, things are shaping up a bit better. I’m starting to make some better drawings and that makes me feel a bit better about the situation. So here goes.

Just for fun:
I have been really into my refurbishing project that I started this month. An old school Peugeot that I am making into a single speed. So I thought the Mighty Lark should get his own single speed. That way he won’t beg me to ride mine.

Susan at Artstream Studios, where my October show is, asked me to put together some more of the small portrait pieces that I was working on last fall, so I worked up a couple sketches for that.

Gotta find some frames, but it may be a good way to get going a little more. Soon I’ll have some more sketches and whatnot up from the upcoming shows.

til then
peace
Mike