I was asked to do a commission for a home by a couple and the first thing they said is that they want to fill a specific space above their couch and create a large statement piece for the room. Words I like to hear. 

From there we talked about styles they like, things they were interested in and even kept a mood board on Pinterest of reference material to get inspired and on the same page. 

We decided on the largest size we could go by finding the larges piece of glass it could go behind. Add a frame to that and it was a nice size for the wall they had.

I really didn't know the road I had ahead of me what the result was the largest most detailed drawing I have ever done. I never spent as much time on details on anything else before this. 

Below are some close up look at those details.

...After the Storm

50" x 30" Pigment Ink Liner on Paper

I will get into how I chose the creatures for this piece below, but bees were and usually are a perfect symbol when talking about sustainability or what we would need to rebuild our beautiful planet.

I mean they are the ones that are constantly trying to protect it and keep it going.
We are the assholes in this situation.

Undoing the EPA Clean Power Plan doesn't seem like a step in the right direction. 

In the early concept stages of this project I was asked if I could make the eel just a little bit meaner. I personally wanted to polish it up a bit to go against a rugged feeling that an eel usually gives off. It was interesting searching for a dark elegance in this part of the drawing. 

In the early concept stages of this project I was asked if I could make the eel just a little bit meaner. I personally wanted to polish it up a bit to go against a rugged feeling that an eel usually gives off. It was interesting searching for a dark elegance in this part of the drawing. 

Another obvious decision to include a rabbit. In some folklore the rabbit would be the companion of a moon goddess pounding the elixir of life for her.

"The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality and sometimes equated with the philosopher's stone, is a mythical potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the means of formulating the elixir"

Butterflies have always been something I look at and sometimes can't believe are actually real. So beautiful, delicate and important. 

The positioning of the portholes in the drawing asked for two flying creatures. While a dragon was one of the choices I decided to go with the owl. Similar to the hawk but a little more sophisticated and a symbol for wisdom.

The figure in this piece was the first thing created in the very first concept drawing and ended up being the only thing that was not edited or altered through out the process.

Both I and the couple that commissioned it didn't want to touch it. I don't think we fully understand why we felt that either.