Odorifous: Lisa Congdon
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Odorifous
Reindeer by Lisa Congdon
Lisa Congdon is inspiring to me because (like me) she’s a self-taught artist—no fancy art school, no grad school connections with whom to jump-start careers—and didn’t start working as an artist until she was in her thirties.
She’s one of those people that give the self-taught, mid-thirties, bible-college-grad like me a bit of hope for this “career” I’m working on.
Because I have a tendency to want to do everything NOW.
Tags: art, illustration, interview, Lisa Congdon
Odorifous: Ward Jenkins
Posted by Troy | Filed under Odorifous
Every so often I’ll come across an artist whose work is at once incredibly familiar yet totally unique.
Such is the case with Ward Jenkins.
I’ve been following Ward’s work for so long I can barely remember how I first discovered him. But I’m pretty sure it was when Grain Edit mentioned him back in the spring of 09… since that was right around the time I was discovering my great love for mid-century style.
And nobody does mid-century style like Ward. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: illustration, Ward Jenkins
Kweller to Kweller
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Found
Check out this rad Ben Kweller 2006-07 Tour Poster by Delicious Design League.
Looks like they still have some in their store.
Tags: Ben Kweller, illustration, poster
Odorifous: Kate Quinby
Posted by Troy | Filed under Odorifous
I first spotted Kate Quinby’s work on the album cover for She & Him: Volume 2.
It’s my kind of style and probably would have made me pick up the cd in a record store (if I still did such things).
At the time that album released, Kate told me about the thesis project she was swimming in and it sounded pretty dang cool.
It is pretty dang cool.
Tags: art, illustration, interview
Odorifous: Eric Smith
Posted by Troy | Filed under Odorifous
Eric Smith is one of those guys that is almost obnoxiously cheerful.
It seems like every time I’ve talked with him I’m whining about not having enough work or client troubles or cancer stuff and he’ll be like. “Man, what are you enjoying today? I’m so happy to be alive! Life is amazing”
Yeesh…
It’s a good thing though… I try to be pretty positive most of the time too.
In fact, over the last few months that I’ve gotten to know this guy it’s pretty interesting to discover the things we have in common.
Tags: eric smith, idrawallday, illustration, interview, live now
I Choose Cheese
Posted by Troy | Filed under Books, Humor
Some men want fame and their name on marquees.
Some men love money.
I choose cheese.
From The Old Man Who Loved Cheese by Garrison Keillor, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf
Tags: cheese, illustration, quotes
Always Inspired by Colored Pencils
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Kids
Feeling uninspired lately.
I’m not sure if it is because I’ve been focusing on work-related stuff… or because I’m waiting for cat scan results to see what’s the next step.
But for whatever reason, I haven’t had much to say lately…
and because I’m committed to Strong Odors being quality, not quantity…
I’ve decided to share this illustration rather than ramble on about something no one really needs to read.
Not exactly sure what’s happening here… but one of my favorites from my daughter (who did this one back in the first grade).
I can’t come close to expressing the creativity that she can unleash with a single stroke of a pencil. Take a few minutes to discover all the detail and emotion and story in this one.
She challenges and inspires me as an artist.
Also threw some Passion Pit into the playlist… lots of Passion Pit echoing around our house lately.
Tags: illustration, kids
Feed the Kids Cigarettes for Breakfast
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Faith, Good, Strong Odors, Thoughts
I have a great church and I like my pastor a lot. He is compassionate and loves to study and meets the needs of his congregation well. His words of wisdom on a Sunday 4 years ago altered my view of God for the better and are tattooed on my soul…
A few weeks ago though, I almost walked out of the service.
Tags: climate change, environment, illustration, original illustration, strong odors
Why I Hate Weddings
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Humor, Marriage, Strong Odors, Thoughts
I did some work for an old friend recently…
He is a cool wedding photographer based out of Cincinatti. The best part about his work is that you can tell everyone in every photo is having a blast.
Perusing his recent work got me thinking about weddings…
I don’t really enjoy attending weddings as a whole… but the absolute worst, most obnoxious tradition of all (besides the bachelor party of course) has got to be the garter-removal.
Who is the moron that made up this tradition and why does everyone insist on including this as part of their celebration…
Ugh.
Tags: illustration, original illustration, strong odors
Home School vs Public School
Posted by Troy | Filed under Parenting
I read an entertaining article today about choosing the best schooling option for your family and respecting the choices of others.
I’m not sure why this issue is so hotly debated among parents…
Quite honestly, I don’t really care how you school your kids and I’m not exactly sure why anyone else would care what option I choose for mine.
I do think he comes across a little hard on homeschooling in the article, but I don’t think that is his intention…
What he’s really getting at is how often parents of a certain persuasion will look down on anyone who makes a different choice. For him, it was homeschooling parents practically treating him like a child-abuser because he sends them to public school, never considering that he did so for some very intentional reasons…
I love my homeschooling friends. They are wonderful and fabulous and great and all those other positive adjectives, and I’ve never experienced this kind of pressure from any of them.
But I do know what this guy is talking about… and I have seen it.
I grew up in Christian school and I remember even as a kid looking ever-so-slightly down my nose at the kids who wallowed in the paganism of Siebert Elementary… I didn’t realize I was doing so, but I was…
and I don’t want my kids to ever think they are better than anyone else… luckier than some, maybe… but not better.
and every day I encourage them to be hope and light and love to the kids who have none…
Tags: illustration
