"Baked Alaska" #1-4

So a while back I was pitched a proposal to start up a new feature for a magazine that hinges on the recent legalization of the cannabis industry in Alaska. Hence the release of The Alaska Cannabist that debuted back in July, which is actually published by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

#1

So by way of catch-up, posted here is a sampler set of the first batch - you'll be able to see the evolution of complexity & style, especially with the title font between this and the next, upcoming batch. Not to mention the obvious repeating pattern of big-ass grins, which will morph into turns into a repeating couch motif instead. Also you'll see scans of some of the watercolored originals along with the print versions and extras like doodles etc.

Keep an eye out as I'll be posting updates on the line of products that'll be coming out sooner than later: some spin-off items like tshirts and calendars are in the works!

#2

In October 3rd of 2017 Interior voters resisted attempts to recriminalize local sales via dispensaries, and the next day I posted a doodle that went viral, and ever since then I wanted a chance to finish it.

#3

It's also been kinda weird spending so much time on watercoloring this latest batch of originals – it’s definitely been omnipresent while working them up that “this is it – after this they’re outta here” – like letting go knowing you’ll never see them again... gone forever. It's subtly different than the constant generation of digital files that get printed and/or uploaded… these are the actual, physical objects of art. Like little pieces of you – yeah I know, this is what other Fine Artists, like painters and potters, deal with all the time.

Teaser shot for the next post...

But it’s strange to be so consciously self-aware of making something from the perspective of someone that endlessly streams out images. Guess I’m gonna miss them I suppose, having only known them for such a relatively short time, but I’m also broke and in debt, so there’s that. It’s like giving blood. I really don't need to hang onto everything I make - I've seen so many examples of artistic hoarders that letting go of creative baggage isn't all that big a deal. In fact, as I've pointed out before, I am reminded of of just how high in esteem works of art are held by their own makers when it comes time to clean out the department studio at the end of every semester.

(Teaser #2/ process shot for the next, upcoming post)

I'm using typically at least two-dozen different colors on the watercolors for these originals (and ones for the "Nuggets" feature now as well), so pretty laborious process that adds time + money When the assembly line is in high gear, there’s one or more that are being preliminary blocked in, another that’s drying so as to lay down a second set to push it even more (depth/volume) and cut in the cast shadows and add the highlights (ex: white-out the flakes etc.) then a couple that’re hung out to dry after getting spray-coated with a fixative, dry some more, then scan for posterity. Bonus irony in saving the web-versions in Photoshop at the "Very High" resolution setting.

#4