Apartment maintenance fist-a-cuffs.

All this fighting (a la Sam Hiti's Fist-a-Cuffs blog) has inspired me to demonstrate this past weekend's painting excursion battle-style:


Note my preparedness; overalls, bandana, determined look...But alas, after over 15 hours of painting within a span of a day and a half, I looked like this:


Thankfully, the apartment looks a heck of a lot better than I do. Mad props to Ann and Liz for helping me tackle the hallway and bathroom.

Theme number 72.

Theme number 71.

X-ray-ray's sister spotted in Portland, OR

O.K. So I might have a small obsession with the human disgestive system...who doesn't?

And a "from the vault" it is...

Back in 2005 (which really wasn't that long ago), I did a series of illustrations for the MIT Viewbook (their catalog of sorts that goes out to prospective students). I had a blast drawing and coloring these (there's 3 others; I'll post them later); it was one of my first digital coloring endeavors. I've been meaning to post a Photoshop coloring tutorial for some time, because my good friend Bill (who I would link, but his site's down) learned me all there is to know about coloring lines. Soon I will post this tutorial...soon.

p.s. The themes will be back shortly; I'm heading down to the Boston area to paint my new abode...pictures will follow (I'll be back Saturday night).

MOVING.

That's right. And soon, too. I am moving out of the woods and into the city (Somerville, MA, right outside of Boston). There, I hope to make even more art (fingers crossed), not to mention socialize with members of my own species. Given this recent information, expect the posts to be rather sporadic over the next few weeks. I hope to be settled by the middle of May. Packing is currently DESTROYING me (I hate the act of putting things in boxes only to take them out a couple of days later...ARGH. I know that's how it works, but it doesn't make it any more fun). Alrighty, that's it for now.

New species of dinosaur found in Massachusetts:

Ladies and Gents, I present to you the Diplizdocus. Diplizdocus is a large sauropod that lives on a hardy diet of coffee, Swedish fish, and comics. See also Liz Prince. Not to be confused with the mighty Brontosaurus, who has had head-body mixed-ups of its own.



Drawn in Somerville (soon to be my new home). Head by Liz, body by Maris...OH YEAH!! (Read that last part like the Koolaid Man, then bust through a wall)

Earl Grey or English Breakfast?

Ok. So I might have mentioned that the drawings of Joe and I have been fighting other drawings (Fist-a-Cuffs). I never thought it would happen, but we made it to the final round. Here's a little bit 'o the action:




One lump or two?

Super-thanks to Joel Priddy (who got me into this wonderful mess) and Dean Trippe for a battle that will go down in history.

Theme number 70.

Theme number 69.

Theme number 68.

Theme number 67.

I was thinking about the band Quasi the whole time I was drawing this. Yup.

I'm back!

Howdy. Sorry about the uh, lack of posts. I just got back from Boston (on Thursday). I was supposed to be back last Monday, but Mother Nature just wouldn't have it. I ended up marooned in the Boston area due to a Nor' Easter (good old New England poop storm) that ripped Maine apart. Needless to say, I slept on A LOT of couches (thanks everyone), and returned to the woods to find many a downed tree. The power's back on, and there's lots of clean up going on, and I should be back on task after the next few days. Here's a picture of Thor and his mighty hammer:

Theme number 66.

So I guess I'm feeling a wee morbid toady. Hopefully I'll shake it by next theme (or not; maybe I've got some real blood-and-gore fiends checking the blog who like this kind of thing). Tomorrow, I'm heading down to Boston to visit peeps and draw lots of comics. I won't be back until Sunday, so the themes (and other posts) are on hiatus. But when I come back, watch out, because the posts will be abundant.

-maris

Theme number 65.

Ummm...

Theme number 64.

Sketchy McDoodleton from Drawsville.

O.K. Here's a sketch I did before I went to sleep last night:


I'm going to try and get down a system where I have a specific entry for each day of the week (Fridays will be "From the Vault"; that's all I know right now). The "100 themes" will be everyday (until I finish with them), but the rest I'm unsure of. I'll keep you posted.

-maris

Theme number 63.

Theme number 62.

Theme number 61.

Theme number 60.

Back in full effect.

So, yeah, there was a little lack of power yesterday. We got about 10 inches of wet, heavy snow that didn't agree with a few of the weaker tree branches(or powerlines, for that matter). But now it's on! Huzzah!

Theme number 59.

Theme number 58.

I don't really know why this was a theme, but...

Fist-a-Cuffs!

And the battle begins at Sam Hiti's Fist-a-Cuffs site. Flamin' Granny and X-Ray-Ray are duking it out with Team Fandango Fray.


These battles are fer serious! Go on over to Fist-a-Cuffs and check out all the teams. Joel Priddy (responsible for my involvement in this thing, and who allegedly set fire to Granny) is teamed up with Dean Trippe. Mr. Chris Haley has befriended an evil trampoline (those springs pinch!). And there's a ton of other awesome drawings all ready to bust some heads. Voting for this round ends 04.07. So go. Go now!

Who let that cat out of the vault?

An old sketch of my kitty Skeeter (who's no longer with us) done sometime in 2002. He was such a good kitty. Always frollicking and purring, though he had a penchant for leg-humping. But it was innocent leg-humping.

Theme number 57.

Theme number 56.

Theme number 55.

Theme number 54.

Theme number 53.

Oh, Internet. How I love thee.

Through a series of events (but mostly through Joel Priddy's blog), I happened upon Fist-a-Cuffs. Drawings battle each other (via viewer votes). I made a last minute submission with Joe. This Round is tag-team style, so you have to pair your character with another (drawn by another artist). Does that make any sense? I sure hope so. If it doesn't, here's our team (to pacify your confusion):


Let me introduce to you Team Skin & Bonez: Flamin' Granny and x-Ray-Ray. For your viewing pleasure. Really.

Time to nerd-out some more.

O.K. I've been checking out Project:Rooftop, and all their nifty superhero-costume re-designs, and I thought I'd give it a whirl myself. I wanted to give the DC character Black Canary a wardrobe makeover. I went the punk-rock route, and, well, there she is. She sings in a band. Make sure you bring earplugs.