Maps, Coasters and Cats

Lately I've been mass-producing stuff mostly for its own sake, including a new coaster series. (I'm not sure what to do with these, exactly, other than leave them in bars and hand them out to friends, but I tend to have a 'shoot first, ask questions later' approach to a lot of art-making.)

I've also created a map of DC that I've doodled on obsessively and printed on chip board. You can buy 'em for $8 on my shop.

The Quetzal, a.k.a. Mrs. The Cat. 1994-2013

I was also very sad to learn that Mrs. The Cat, who is documented in The Bachelor Cat, has recently passed away. She was a good one, to say the least. Our thoughts are with her surviving Cat Bachelor.

The Art of the Kitty Cat

Put a cat on it > put a bird on it.

Last November I created a mini-comic about the phenomena of the Cat Bachelor (after overhearing two of my male friends discussing their respective cats at a party and realizing that this was a Thing). Over time cats have become one of my default images—the stockpile of stuff I can doodle repeatedly and never seem to tire of. They are much easier to draw than humans and (sadly) much more crowd-pleasing.

Below, some of my favorite illustrators takes on cats:

The Saul Steinberg Cat.

An Edward Lear cat.

The Edward Searle Cat, though I think I like that fish more.

Some praise for the Handbook

A friend of mine who read a late draft of The Unsuccessful Artist's Handbook had this to say about it:

Also first off, it just bowls me over with its honesty. It hits me in the heart. I don't know how you feel it, or what your awareness is, or whether it costs you or comes naturally. I'm really envious. I am not, in life or art, forthcoming or straightforward or candid. Not because I don't want to be those things, but -- but this isn't about me [he said, dodging further reflection and revelation]. There's a quality to the honesty that hits me in the heart, that I'm envious of, that I think we're all a bit thirsty for.

Again, you can buy a copy here. Makes a great Hannukah gift! Or not.

When in doubt, draw a fish wearing a scarf - Dana Jeri Maier

In other news—well, there isn't much at the moment, except that my new coaster business cards came in [see right], and I am fairly pleased with them. Also, I have been having fun with my Studio page, which contains semi-regularly documentation of my studio. (I'm a shameless snoop when it comes to other artists' studios, so I figured it would be kind to return the favor.)