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This is a sketch of the lobby of the Chateaux Laurier in Ottawa. I was there for the Governor General's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History. It was a good time, I drew this sketch while sitting in a room full of Yousuf Karsh photos. He apparently used to live in the hotel itself. If any of you ever get the Chance to visit Canada's capital city, do so, it is a lovely place.

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You may recognize this kid he has been on the web quite a bit lip synching to popular music. I get a real kick out of him and have done many drawings of him in varying states of intense emotion. I have to scan them in but I will show them to you all when I get the chance to do so. This is the very first doodle I did of him and it is taped into my sketchbook for the sketchbook project. It is the only sketch done with blue ink.

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I call this one TECHNOLOVE these two were sitting at a local cafe bumping Iphones '"if you know what I mean?" so I drawred them, drawred them real good. That's right! nobody is safe, I could be drawring you right now...

Not the most successful sketch of a bunny I have ever done but what are you going to do. Sometimes your hand and brain don't sync up. At least I got to draw some Giant Carrots.

What Kalamafraz is?

I just got a comment from a woman who follows my blog named Sophia.

OK, now I absoLUTELY love this one. Totally rock on, James! SwweeEETT! I again, love your detail, but your creative mind functions in a entirely different world....and I SO love it! :D

Now, nothing is more of an ego boost than someone you don't personally know, and I mean that in the "we have not come within physical contact distance of each other for 6 months to umpteen years" sense complements my work. Be it a sketch or a finished piece. This comment really caught my eye because it made specific reference towards an "entirely different world". This is relevant because... I invented the word Kalamafraz about 5 years ago, but I have not really had a decent definition of what Kalamafraz is.

Stated plainly it is an entirely different world. Kalamafraz is my world, it is where I go when people talk too long an I can't concentrate anymore, It's where I dream and daydream. I don't think it would be fair to call it an escape even though I could escape there if I wanted to. It would be more accurate to say I'm drawn into Kalamafraz and let me tell you it is quite the place to be. I'm afraid that I can't take any of you with me there. Only I can go to Kalamafraz, however I can take down what I see while I'm there. As an explorer it is my duty to document the strange landscapes, the unusual creatures and the usual creatures, the uncanny and the absolutely mundane. That is Kalamafraz in a nutshell (pause for inevitable Austin Powers quote).

My entirely different world is entirely mine and mine alone, my own... my prrrecious. I am quite happy to share what I see in Kalamafraz with everyone though, so thanks to everyone for coming by and checking out my wild and weird ways, and thank you Sophia for instigating this random burst of writing from yours truly.

The End... but not really.

OK, game time. weirdest combination of movies you have ever watched back to back. (Can't be at home must have done this in a movie Theatre/Drive-In.)

Ready....

Go!

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon followed by Oh Brother Where Art Thou?

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I realized I forgot to post my second steampunk sketch here. Well here it is enjoy. Pretty girl with a laser gun riding a zeppelin. That is just boat loads of awesome to me. I hope everybody is making the extra effort to keep it real this winter, or Summer if you are on the other side of the Planet. I spent a year in New Zealand a long time ago and I celebrated Christmas in +25 °C on a lake (unfrozen) with a keg of beer, seafood BBQ and a basket full of puppies. It was fun but there is nothing like thigh-deep snow, -50 °C, cross country skiing and some eggnog.

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This is the last of my Steampunk drawings from my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project. Took a while to add the environment. But alas here it is and more drawings to come.

I like to acknowledge people from towns, cities or countries I am relatively unfamiliar with who log on to check my stuff out. So here is a random thanks that goes out to the town of Outremont who is among the top towns/cities in Canada that consistently check out my shtuff. You're a gem. Thanks also to Google analytics which let's me know where people are viewing my stuff from.

SoapScum: The Western

This is the poster I did for SoapScum's newest Opus "The Western"

It opens January 24th and with continue every Monday night. Only $8 per ticket with multi-passes available. Come out and participate in Winnipeg's vibrant improv community.
If you see me at a show and tell me how much you love my poster I'll give you a free kiss.

Taking a Break? Hell No!

Well I'd like to say the lull in my blog was planned, but I got wrapped up in tons of work and life related events and as usual have neglected my blog. My unwavering portal to nowhere and everywhere. To no one and everyone. I can't believe how guilty I feel when I don't keep this up. By all levels of thought it really shouldn't matter whether I do or not but for some strange reason it does, to me at least. I have completed some projects but some I can not post as they are Christmas presents or there are just too many damn drawings to scan. But I will eventually scan everything and get it posted.

The World Must See What I Do!

We'll I have a sketch to finish in my Sketchbook Project sketchbook... Man I really lost momentum on that one. I have about 14 pages left and only just over a Month to finish and get the thing sent...

My wife is being really silly right now and I love it. She is the very best of people, I'm quite lucky.

Well as I said I'm off, keep an eye out for more stuff, I'll try and get it posted as soon as possible. Oh, I have started working as Art Director For Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids. My first issue as Art Director arrives in mailboxes and on newsstands in February so keep an eye out for it.

Hugs and Kisses and Merry Quanza.