Early Bird Illustration

My studio mate

2012-01-11T20:32:00.000-08:00

For those of you unaware of why I use moniker Early Bird.

This is pretty much what its all about.
Heres a shot of Early painting a birdhouse while telling me whats going wrong with what I'm working on at the moment.
Apparently my problem is that I use more than one color at a time, hence the all orange birdhouse.

2012-01-11T10:32:00.000-08:00

As an exercise I've decided to make one thing a day for myself, and for no other reason that its quick and fun.

2011-12-15T16:12:00.001-08:00

2011-12-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

I have a few paintings at the benefit for Porter tonight.

Poor little guy is going through chemo treatments at 2 years old. His parents could really use some financial relief.

Head down to VAC if you want to catch some art for a good cause. You walk out with the art you purchase tonight, perfect timing if you would like some original art to gift for the holidays.

Seriously, of all the benefits I've been asked to contribute to lately, this is one we really need to support.

2011-12-03T16:28:00.001-08:00

2011-11-29T10:32:00.001-08:00

another quick study from my sketch book.
Its always fun learning to execute styles I've never tried before.

2011-11-27T01:27:00.001-08:00

some practice sketches for a project coming up.

2011-11-25T11:02:00.000-08:00

Something quick for Early's first sketch book.

2011-11-24T14:36:00.000-08:00

polar bear study

2011-11-24T08:38:00.000-08:00

Heres a study I pushed out late last night. Its for the downtown window competition, which I will be painting today. I'm keeping it simple this year.

2011-11-20T20:08:00.001-08:00

2011-11-17T23:47:00.001-08:00

2011-11-16T18:14:00.001-08:00

2011-11-15T08:47:00.001-08:00

2011-11-14T18:03:00.001-08:00

hour 3

2011-11-09T15:50:00.001-08:00

hour 2

2011-10-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

hour 1

2011-10-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

2011-10-20T23:38:00.000-07:00

2011-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry the updates have been sparse lately. I've gotten pretty busy with custom commissions, and took on a graphic novel thats moving slower than I'd like to admit.
heres a little something I'm working on the side.

Custom action figures

2011-09-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've officially started taking commissions for custom action figures.
My obsession with toys has taken over my illustration blog, and it doesn't look like I will be slowing down any time soon, so I've decided to start posting my three dimensional work here.

and here is a tease for a set of unarticulated resin figures I'm working on.

NECA TMNT

2011-08-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

showed up in the mail today.

WUTK!

2011-08-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

another custom tomorrow king.

more thumbs

2011-08-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

2011-08-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

no idea where this might be going. I like the colors though.

thumbnails

2011-08-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

When I can't think of anything to paint, which is about %98 of my time in the studio, I paint thumbnails. rather than going for a finished piece, or something I think will sell later, I go for learning something new. Just because I don't have a masterpiece in mind doesn't mean I shouldn't be improving my skills. I spend a very short amount of time on each one. some take 10 minutes, some take a couple hours. I'll do ten or so of these and decide on one to expand upon and do a little larger.
these are some of the ones I really liked from last week.

Asajj Ventress

2011-07-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

A 10 min oil. It was satisfying to do something basic and quick after spending two days on a botched painting.

2011-07-18T23:21:00.000-07:00

2011-07-16T00:20:00.001-07:00

2011-07-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

2011-07-11T13:50:00.001-07:00

work space

2011-07-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

this is where I clock in.
the half of the studio behind me is a manual press and Early's work station.

2011-07-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

coming along. needs a tripod or shoulder strap so the figure can actually hold the big bastard.

2011-07-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

Custom Reimi Kawaii

2011-07-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

all hand made, by me.

Art Deck-O Show

2011-07-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

I'll fight all of you for the Erin Ruiz deck.
Seriously, bring a club, as well as your check book.

making plastics look like metal

2011-07-05T09:49:00.000-07:00

using a heat gun and random bits laying around the studio.

my sentiments exactly

2011-06-29T14:48:00.000-07:00

Not sure who made this image, but I agree wholeheartedly.
If you're looking for some free shit, take note...

edit:
it was Mr. Bingo

DIY Ear Hat

2011-06-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

2011-06-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

A digital commission for my friend Butch. He likes to write, I like to paint. He sends me cool stuff all the time, books, movies and reference material, plus with a title like Fistful of Pesos, how could I say no?

hand made ushanka

2011-06-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

I didn't make the figure, just the hat.

1/6 scale Chinaski

2011-06-16T15:57:00.000-07:00

2011-06-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hank sculpt

2011-06-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hank

2011-06-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Art-Deck-O!

2011-06-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of requests to make art for free, often under the guise that its for a benefit, only to research the person making the request and find out they, or their business, are the sole beneficiary...
(you know who you are, and you can kindly remove me from your mailing list ya cheap bastards)
However, there are some people that don't even have to ask, and can rest assured that I'll rearrange my schedule to make it happen. Kelly Knopp is one of those people.
Last year he asked me to do a customized cowboy hat for the Boys and Girls Club, which I was happy to do, and I think it came out well if I do say so myself.

This year is the Art Deck-o show. I finished my deck the same day I picked it up, thats how excited I was about doing it.

Go to it. Spend some money, its for a good cause.
It could be the best line up I've ever seen in Boise.

Thanks

2011-06-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

to everyone that made it to the opening last night. It was a great turn out.

The day after opening I always feel like I have a list of people I need to apologize to for half finished or interrupted conversations. I'll be talking to someone, get distracted, turn around and they're gone.
I feel like that was every other conversation I had last night.
not that anyone is cataloging, but I feel bad regardless.
If we got cut short, please, shoot me an email, I'd like to start where we left off.

Check out my new mustache

2011-06-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

oh, and some art.
By myself and Julia Green.
some creepy, some cute.

Visual Arts Collective
3638 Osage Street, Garden City
opening reception @ 7
show is up through July.

come tonight if you wanna score some shirt designs that only got two prints per size.

Heavy Night Watch Bramble

2011-06-01T10:35:00.000-07:00

2011-05-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

always working up to the last minute.

and a stack of shit for the show. some are still being framed...

2011-05-22T21:04:00.001-07:00

another custom

2011-05-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the original Baka figure by ThreeA toys/Ashley Wood.

some progress shots

Baka medic customized by myself. (click photo to go to flickr and view all sizes)

Masonic Dropcloth

2011-05-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

My custom Dropcloth. Designed and made by threeA. Stripped and repainted by me.

PLUSOMINOS

2011-05-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

The new man in my life

2011-05-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

I fucking love this thing!

so much that I'm printing that shirt for myself tomorrow.

2011-04-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

A companion piece for the sarlacc face.

Turntable liberator

2011-04-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm a grown man that still likes to play with toys.

how cool is this fucking thing

2011-04-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

I bought this dropcloth cheap, well, cheap in comparison to what the other variants go for.
I had plans to use it for a custom project. after opening it and checking out the accessories, I can't bring myself to do it.
I have a couple other dropcloths, but this particular one is becoming my favorite.

the killer touch is the grease gun. the bolt spring works and the magazine is removable with a little tiny shell visible from the top.

2011-04-24T22:13:00.001-07:00

sarlacc face

2011-04-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

crappy phone shot

Here they are

2011-04-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

Blowout sale.

Pre Show Blowout Sale

2011-04-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'll be adding some of last years paintings to the store at some point this week, also marking down the Tees that I have left in the store. I have to free up some money to fund the merchandise for this summers show. I'm hoping to get a new shirt printed, as well as some stickers if possible.

Bat dunny

2011-04-11T01:52:00.000-07:00

Body and base coat finished. Colors tomorrow...

Bat face sculpt

2011-04-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Will work for Voltron

2011-04-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

Seriously.
If you have or find any original Japanese Dairugger XV Voltron (with Japanese & 1982 on the underside) sets, pieces, boxed, un-boxed, broken or not, hit me up. Will trade for commissions, paintings, illustrations, other toys, customs, etc.

Rusty Old Lard Lad

2011-04-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Another custom out of the way.
A friend of mine gave Lard Lad to me as a gift. I kept him in the box as long as I could stand. I couldn't help the urge to make him look old and rusty, with some metallic undercoat for a weathered look. I wanted to add some pigeons and bird shit, but I really should be working on my show instead of fucking around with my toys...

In case you haven't seen one,
a photo of the original

I'm posting figures for sale here.
some are custom, some aren't.

2011-03-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

So I quit smoking, again, a little over two months ago. I desperately needed something to fixate on. Customizing action figures seemed like a healthy choice, aside from the effect acetone has on my brain when stripping the original paint jobs.

This particular figure is Canti, from Gainax's FLCL, otherwise known as Fool Cool, or Fooly Cooly. If you aren't familiar with Gainax, check out Neon Genesis, Gurren Lagann, or Gunbuster 2. Though my personal favorite is FLCL, its only six episodes of mind blowing animation, so its not that big an investment for those of you that think you're too old for cartoons.
Anyway, I couldn't justify paying the $100 or so dollars for the red or dormant modes. I saw some pretty lame limited artist's editions floating around the internet and managed to snag one for $20 from someone that didn't think they were holding a bar of plastic gold.

I had plans for making him look old and rusty, but the dirty DIY ghost mode seems too cool to paint over. I'm on the fence about giving him a coat of GID paint.

When Canti isn't smashing the shit out of Medical Mechanica bots climbing out of the black hole that is 12 year old Naota's brain, he helps out with various chores and errands. Heres a shot of Canti assisting Early with his breakfast.

2011-03-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

Some more quick photoshop. I've been trading photoshop files with my buddy Julia Green (this image isn't one of them. yet...), who I am doing a show with this summer. Its a new method of collaboration for me, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of it. We'll keep everyone posted I'm sure.

Also, I still have a large stack of postcards to send out, don't worry, I haven't forgot about you. It takes time coming up with something to write on the back of each one that I send out. I don't want to send them with a blank reverse side, seems too impersonal.

um, yeah. I guess thats it for now.

2011-03-06T19:41:00.000-08:00

more photoshop fun.

quick digital painting

2010-12-30T01:04:00.000-08:00

Tees!

2010-12-18T23:51:00.000-08:00

The GID cats are back!

Shirts are now available here.

new merch!

2010-12-10T09:17:00.000-08:00

After a very long wait, and a dire need for a site update, they are finally here!
Hand screened postcards. Everyone on my mailing list will be receiving one of these shortly. Thanks to everyone in the fan club for patiently waiting on these. It has been entirely too long.

If you would like to purchase the set, they, as well as a new 6x10 print are available through big cartel.
the packs are $12 shipped. or $10 if you head down to the Flying M gift shop and pick one up personally.
The posters are $12, shipped flat.

Speaking of Flying M, despite our design getting censored for inappropriate "subliminal" imagery, my friend Julia Green and I won the downtown Boise holiday window competition for our "Bad Habits & Good Times" display. We made hand screened postcards based on the design,

they will are also available at the Flying M.

Big thanks to Julia for collaborating with me on this project.

And speaking of Julia Green, we've booked a split show with our friends at the Visual Arts Collective this coming June/July. I'm pretty excited about this one. Hope to see you all there!

2010-08-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

A quick digi painting of Big Joe.

2010-08-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

I hung some paintings at the Flying M for the month of August. Some new, some old.
I have some T-shirts there as well. I had a few of the glow in the dark cats left over from last month's show, as well as a super limited run of these pink on black paste eater tees. Go snatch one up before they run out.

2010-06-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

some quick oils. learning how to paint clouds.
I've been trying a lot of small things that might turn into larger things.

2010-06-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

I glow.

2010-06-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

2010-06-04T22:45:00.000-07:00

Visual Arts Collective has the best space. It was a beautiful night. Thanks to everyone for coming out. I had some great conversations with some awesome people.

2010-06-03T14:30:00.000-07:00

Couple of things from the upcoming show.
Glow in the dark t's. Not an easy thing to get a shot of.

and something creeping out of the bathroom area.

1st Thursday

2010-06-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

I'll be downtown tonight, poster bombing for our show opening tomorrow at Visual Arts Collective. While I'm down there I'll be attending a group show at Bricolage that I was invited to participate in. Judging by the roster of artists involved, I'll probably have the weakest piece in the show.
Friends, stop by and say hi, it'll be good to see all of you after being confined to my studio for so long.
Haters, come down and mumble to your girlfriend about how I'm doing it wrong, and storm out in a jealous rage when she leaves wearing my t-shirt.
Either way, both of these shows are going to be a blast.

2010-05-31T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm painting the walls @ VAC with Kelly today, for the show opening this Friday. Stop by if you got smokes.

2010-05-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Just finished a run of t-shirts for the upcoming "who invited those guys?" show.
Glow in the dark on ultra soft alternative apparel. Adult varieties are black or gray, kids 2t on brown, and 3t on navy blue.

I have one more glow in the dark t-shirt design before I get started on the postcard project. I'll keep you posted as things progress.

2010-05-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Its official. I have removed myself from the ever growing garbage heaps that are Facebook, Twitter, Myspace etc. I believe my marketing efforts would be better spent in the real world. So, in the spirit of friendship and productivity, I've decided to make a series of hand screened postcards for everyone on my mailing list. Feel free to drop your address on me if you would like to be in the Rick Walter fan club. I promise I will never send you junk mail, only art.

2010-05-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

After a short vacation in the incredibly hot, disturbingly right-wing state of Arizona, its really good to be back to work in the studio. I have some projects in the works for an upcoming June/July show with the talented Mr. Kelly Knopp, appropriately titled "Who invited those guys?" Sorry there are no photos of said projects, but I don't want to get too ahead of myself, or give too much away, but I can give you a hint. Glow in the dark...

2010-05-04T19:49:00.000-07:00

limited edition of 55 screen prints for a split show this summer. 30 of these are available for free locally.

pick one up at any of these three Boise stores.
Prestige Skateboards
Picture This frame shop
Bricolage
there are only ten per shop, and my mailing list had a 24 hour head start.
shoot me an email if you would like to be a part of that mailing list for future promos and exclusives.
For those of you outside of Boise, you can get one here.

2010-04-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

I'm pulling screen prints today for a joint show this summer. The first run will be hitting the streets next week. Leave your email and a hello here or at earlybirdillustration@gmail.com if you would like to find out where to pick up your complimentary poster. Yes, that is right, free. While supplies last.

2010-04-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

stayed at my friend Mo's place in PDX. her brother has a nice collection of booze. Found this little gem among them.

The view from our room, Seaside Oregon.

And the view from my friends Brenda and Steve's back porch overlooking Oxbow park, just outside of Portland.

2010-03-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

finished the next pieces in the gears series.
here is a shot of the masking job.

and peeling off the mask

detail 1

and 2

now I'm going on vacation.

hungry house cowboy hat

2010-03-27T14:04:00.001-07:00

My friend Kelly Knopp put together a group art show to benefit the boys and girls club, this is my little contribution.

2010-03-17T20:15:00.000-07:00

Finally finished.

large version

2010-01-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

a couple colorways from a test run.

2009-12-15T12:00:00.001-08:00

2009-12-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

2009-12-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

preliminary sketch.

2009-11-27T12:29:00.001-08:00

2009-11-27T10:13:00.000-08:00

New work hung at Picture this frame shop 215 N 5th St, Boise.

2009-11-27T10:11:00.000-08:00

flying m xmas window.

2009-11-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

work in progress. for a show next year.

2009-10-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

A poster for owlright.
You can hear some remixes here.
http://www.indabamusic.com/people/owlright/collaboration

2009-10-08T22:41:00.001-07:00