With this portrait of Diesel, like every portrait, the first creative decision is how to present her. Often this decision is easy, there is usually at least one photo reference that stands out. If I’m really lucky, that one photo will not only have a great pose with personality, but the lighting will be right (best lit from the side, hardly ever good from the front), and the focus nice and crisp. When that happens, …
“I’m gonna come at you,” he said. The blank stare I gave him in response suggested the need for more information. “About gun ownership,” he added. “Okay,” I replied. Here we go, I thought. In the next few minutes, he regaled me with his deep and abiding hatred of gun violence. Golly! I hate gun violence too! Perhaps we are kindred spirits. He went on to briefly describe how his colleagues – fellow teachers and …
Hipster boys with heavy beards, appear like 19th Century pioneers. You’ll never see them cut a tree. You’ll never see them sail the sea. You’ll never see them hitch a plow. They’re hipster boys: They don’t know how. They aren’t sea captains, or lumberjacks, Amish farmers, or Yiddish hacks. Not terrorists or biker dudes. Just hipster boys with attitudes. For what real men can do without, Hipster boys will scream and shout. Video games and …
This story is completely true. It was the first softball game of the County Summer Co-ed Rec League. I was a bit late to the ball park, and most everyone was already there. Some were sitting on the bench putting on cleats. Others were in the outfield stretching and warming up. The late afternoon sun cast everything in a yellow golden hue, and warmed my back and legs as I approached the field. When I …
My Father’s Day recollection of a conversation with Dad.
World events gave me mental paralysis
Last fall we participated in the North Idaho Pet Expo to promote our side business, PetArtWorks pet portraits. It was our first trade show. The day before the show, while we were setting up, we were approached by the event coordinator who liked my work so much she asked if we’d be willing to offer a free portrait to the winner of the Cutest Pet Photo Contest in the Spokane Pet Expo scheduled for Spring …
This whole “kneel before Zod” thing really took me by surprise, but I was able to toss together a couple memes to mark the occasion. About the AuthortopdogTopdog is Steve Merryman, a graphic designer (retired), and illustrator. Living in the woods, Steve can often be found working on portrait commissions. In his spare time he paints, writes, shoots guns, cuts trees, hikes with his dogs, savors a beer or two, and searches for the perfect …
A brief encounter in a design studio somewhere in America.
I created Open Mike as an alternative to me boring audiences at local comedy clubs.
