Thought Cloud Factory News

Happy to see you

2012-01-27T15:15:00.000-08:00

I just put up another new woodcut on my Etsy shop. I had an especially nice time making this little guy. He's just so happy! A huge thanks to everyone who's been supporting my shop: www.theoellsworth.etsy.com

Rowdy Monster for sale

2012-01-25T14:24:00.000-08:00

I've had a number of original woodcut pieces sitting around in my tiny work space for awhile now and I've been having trouble finding time to put them up on my Etsy shop. I just finally put up the first of them though, and I'm going to try to keep adding more over the next week or so. I also have several new prints in the works, so things should be getting extra awesome over at the shop soon: www.theoellsworth.etsy.com Now, back to my drawing table...

3 portraits in Paris

2012-01-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

I did 3 pieces for a show that opens February 3rd at the 12 Mail gallery in Paris, France. The show is called "Visages". As the title suggests, it's an entire show of faces. There's going to be a printed catalogue of the show, so hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on one. I'm excited to be in this show along side a number of cartoonists I admire including Philippe Dupuy, Charles Burns, Blutch, and Sammy Harkham. www.12mail.fr

More drawings before bed

2012-01-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

Mostly drawn while very sleepy and in semi-darkness. Not even a month in, doing a drawing before bed every night has already proven to be valuable to me. It's been making me feel more aware of my own forwards movement through time. It wraps up my day and gets me excited for the next one. They don't feel like my best drawings or anything. The paper's kind of thin and there's lots of bleed through from the previous days. I kind of like that though.

time-lapse location return

2012-01-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

It's an exciting thing to stand in a really intense location, then, years later, return to that same intense location and stand there for awhile again.

a drawing before bed every night for a year

2012-01-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

My sister (code name: Weirdling) gave me a "one sketch a day" journal for Christmas and I decided to take up the challenge and draw in it every night before bed. I've never really put dates on my work or kept a steady journal, so I think it'll be valuable to have this linear record of a year's worth drawings. Here's what's happened so far, between Christmas and New Years. It's fun having two days to a page because I get to merge the drawing with the one I made the night before. I'll keep posting my progress throughout the year, and when I'm done, if it seems worthwhile, I might print up a little book...

Art on the Moon

2012-01-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

I did a piece for a moon themed group show that opens January 7th at the Observatory on 543 Union Street, Brooklyn, New York. www.observatoryroom.org

Here's the woodcut I made for it titled, "A giant space man has landed on the moon, but why?!" It's the first wood piece where I actually cut negative space inside of it. I'd like to play around with that more soon.

woodcuts and glittery stars

2011-12-29T11:34:00.000-08:00

Left: the first "Timrick" woodcut I ever made. I sold it at the Festival of the last minute, then realised that I never actually got a clear photo of it. I was nearly finished with it when I spilled ink all over one of the hands, so I blackened the hands and feet as a way to fix it. I ended up really liking the effect and it's something I don't think I would've ever tried otherwise. It's good to roll with the punches.

Right: The only woodcut I've kept for myself so far. I made it right before Griffin was born and looking at it reminds me of the whole inner-process I had leading up to becoming a dad. I sit with Griffin propped up on my lap like that all the time now, and I've seen him make that same expression on his face.

Festival of the Last minute

2011-12-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

I'll be setting up my Thought Cloud Factory booth in Ankeny Plaza in downtown Portland for the Festival of the Last Minute from December 19th through the 24th, from 11-5 each day (closing early at 3:30 on Christmas eve). If you stop by and visit, you'll find me wrapped in a blanket, drinking massive amounts of tea, trying to keep my hands warm enough to draw as many pictures as possible, and hoping for some weird and interesting conversations with friendly strangers.

This is a new woodcut star ship I just finished for the festival. I just finished cutting a whole new batch of them and will probably be finishing new ones through out the week so that there's a little something different at my table each day. Happy Holidays everyone!

Sleeping Griffin.

2011-12-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

I hang out with this little guy a lot now. He is awesome.

2011-12-09T12:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the World, Griffin!

2011-11-30T17:46:00.000-08:00

Our Son, Griffin has arrived and Heather and I are so Happy! He was born on 11/20/2011 at 9:49 pm and was 22 inches tall at birth (so many palindromes!). Being a Dad has inspired and changed me in so many ways already and he's only 10 days old. Helping catch someone as they enter the world and watching them take their first breath was a truly intense experience, and Heather was so awe inspiring and strong. I feel really lucky to have such an incredible family.

One of my new favorite things to do is to fly Griffin around the house like a spaceship and show him the different things on the walls around our house. I think he already has a thing for sea monsters.

Post-it note art

2011-11-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

I made art on 6 post-it notes for the annual Post-it note show at Giant Robot in LA! My friend and fellow cartoonist Jesse Reklaw is also in the show, so we met up in a coffee shop in downtown Portland and worked on our pieces together. It was good to have a post-it note motivational support system in place when you need it.

Christmas Cards!!

2011-11-24T13:45:00.000-08:00

I've got some of my Christmas cards up for sale over at my Etsy Shop! www.theoellsworth.etsy.com . I make a new one every year for my mom to send out to friends and relatives, so I thought it would be fun to reprint the last four just in case you want to send them to your friends and family too! Yes!!

Secret Space Navigatior and baby Timrick

2011-11-15T17:35:00.000-08:00

Space Cadets! Don't Panic!

2011-11-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

I just got the Oak, Otaku album in the mail. It's the second cover I've done for the London Based record label, Space Cadets, and I'm just about to start working on the third. It's fun getting to be the house artist for such an exciting label. There's going to be stickers soon too!

Doing art for Space Cadets led to an interview with the awesome UK Magazine, Don't Panic. You can read it if you want:
http://www.dontpaniconline.com/magazine/arts/theo-ellsworth

meet the new kids

2011-11-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

Each of these new monster kids are hanging out on the wall of Pony Club Gallery all month. They like visitors.

New life

2011-11-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to the art opening last night. It definitely made me nostalgic to be showing work at Pony Club again. It's good to see the gallery being run by such a great group of artists. The fact that my son is going to be born any time now made it feel like an especially monumental occasion. The waiting is getting suspenseful. Our friend Aimee Swallow made a belly cast of Heather and we hung it in the window of the gallery. Aimee painted the outside and it looks amazing. I'll post a picture as soon as I can get a good photo, but until then, this is the inside, negative space that I painted myself.

The show will be up all month if anyone wants to see it. above is the Understanding Monster Mask I made.

This one is a parallel reality shock absorption mask. The idea is that if you witness a parallel reality, putting on this mask will help your brain cope with the shock, so you can enjoy yourself instead of freaking out. It's good to be prepared.

I'll post the rest of the art soon, including the large scale drawing I finished for it. Good times!

coming soon!

2011-10-31T10:15:00.000-07:00

pumpkin patch field trip

2011-10-27T17:16:00.000-07:00

today at the drawing table

2011-10-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

I'm working on 9 well dressed monster children woodcuts, a large doodle, and a couple of masks for an upcoming art show in November.

two collaborative drawings with Alex Chiu!

2011-10-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

Nursery Rhyme Comics

2011-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

I did a two page adaptation of "As I was Going to St. Ives" for a collection of nursery rhyme comics edited by Chris Duffy and published by First Second. It's going to be in stores October 11th. The book turned out great! 50 cartoonist, 50 nursery rhymes. It's nice to have work in the same book as so many artists I'm excited about.

Habibi Art Show

2011-10-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

My friend, Craig Thompson just released his huge, amazing graphic novel, Habibi, that he's been working on for the last 6 years. He's doing a signing at Floating World Comics at 400 NW Couch st. on the evening of Thursday the 6th. There will also be an art show of different cartoonists who have made work inspired by the book. I just finished my piece the other day.

It's going to be an excellent night for seeing art. My friend Alex Chiu has a solo show that same night at Grass Hut Gallery, which shares space with Floating world.

Yoyo art show!

2011-10-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

There is a yoyo art show at SoHiTek gallery on NW 6th between Flanders and Everett. 30 or so artists made art on handmade yoyos made by TMBR Toys. I was excited that I got to do one. The show is on the evening of Thursday the 6th.

cosmonaut longboard

2011-10-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

I did a drawing of a Cosmonaut for the new line of boards from DB longboards!

Space Cadets

2011-09-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

I've been doing album art for the new London based record label, Space Cadets. Their first record just came out and the second one is on the way, both by the awesome electronic musician, Oak. Space sounds and cosmic patterns. I need to get a record player! Their website isn't done yet, but there should be a lot to see soon: www.spacecadets.co

birthday art and insane gifts!

2011-09-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

For my friend, Sean Christensen's birthday, I decided to make him the most "Sean" inspired picture possible. Anyone who knows him understands the resulting picture. I want to do more art directly inspired by friends like this.
This is one of my very favorite art pieces by Sean. It was in his most recent show, and I found myself obsessively thinking about it after I saw it for the first time. Every time I'd see Sean afterwards, I'd end up mentioning the piece at least once or twice. I guess I mentioned it one too many times, because he ended up giving it to me! It now lives in my house where I look at it all the time. I don't even know how to respond when someone gives me something so amazing. The collection I have of art made by friends is one of my most valued possessions. I'll have to post more of the pieces in my collection sometime down the road.

invisible doors

2011-09-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone who commented on my post about Dylan, and everyone who talked to me in person about it. It helped me to know that the photo I took of him was able to reach so many people who cared about him. Dylan's funeral was a day of raw emotion. It's hard to believe it was already a week ago. I felt like a lightning rod as I stood there listening to everyone speaking from the heart and from the gut about the friend we all held in such regard. I was unable to speak out loud myself; I felt mute and paralysed, but as we were all gathered around Dylan, I felt as if something profound and difficult was being achieved by each of us, standing together as a group. I've been carrying that feeling with me ever since, and even though I find myself unable to even articulate what that feeling is, I've been doing my best to use it as fuel for my work. The best way to honor someone who loved and valued art is to try open those elusive, invisible doors even wider, and follow my own weird calling as completely as possible. This is the photo I took at the Chapel of the Chimes right before Dylan asked me to take the photo of him I shared in my last post. I referred to it as an "unidentifiable animal" but now I see that it's obviously a feline hippo. I'm not much of a photographer. I'm always snapping photos, then never doing anything with them, but I had to search back and find this one, since it suddenly felt like an important monster to me.
A couple of days after Dylan's passing, I got together with a few of my favorite artist friends: Sean Christensen, Amy Kuttab, Daria Tessler, and Jeniffer Parks; all of whom have been encouraged and inspired by Dylan is some way or another. We decided to collaborate on a large drawing to give to his wife, Emily.
I've never collaborated quite like this before; five hands simultaneously working on the same piece. It seems like the result would have been chaos, but the image somehow achieved a strange kind of harmony. It's pretty amazing to have so many friends who draw. It's always been such a private act for me. It's funny to think back on how uncomfortable I used to get when anyone wanted to see my drawings.
Spending time with these other artists has taught me a lot about the relationship between individuals and their work. Each of these artists has such a distinct world that they build. Talking to them, and watching them work, I can really see that the art they make is a living, changing thing that is with them wherever they go, and it is a relationship that is completely unique to them.This is the closest I've ever felt to being part of an actual art movement. I don't know what I would even define it as, but I appreciate having people around me who are constantly working to reach new hidden layers, and unlock some new thing they've been feeling.

This is what I was working on when the news reached me of Dylan's passing. It's not done yet, but this piece will always feel connected to him now. It's part of an exploration of the idea of parallel realities, which I'll write more about when the piece is done. The first piece in the series was the one from two posts ago, titled "Outside Inside" which was in a show that just happened to be curated by Emily.

Dylan Williams Forever

2011-09-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

I don't want to accept that Dylan Williams was taken from us this weekend by cancer. He feels too important and complex a person to somehow not still be with us. Ever since I heard the news, I've been trying to reverse the fact in my mind, and wishing I actually had that kind of power. For those who didn't know him, Dylan was the visionary publisher behind Sparkplug Comic Books, an accomplished cartoonist, and force for good in the world of comics, art, and culture. It's painful to imagine not having his necessary influence and enthusiasm here in Portland and in the world of comics.

Before I moved to Portland, I didn't know any serious cartoonists. Making comics was something weird that I did off on my own. I had been inspired and encouraged by the kinds of books that Sparkplug had been putting out and remember being excited that I was moving to the city Sparkplug was based from. Dylan was always putting out unusual books that made the reader have to rethink and rediscover what comics could really be. Sparkplug was proof that unique and unclassifiable work could make its way onto the shelves of bookstores and be appreciated. The existence of those books inspired me during a time when the publishing world seemed like an inapproachable beast. I met Dylan not long after my arrival in Portland. He was one of those people I immediately liked and respected, but it took me awhile to get to know him. Over time I really came to realize just how much he did for those around him. So many vital voices in comics are now heard because of his belief they should be heard. I had a lot of conversations with him about running a small business, and the importance of individual, idiosyncratic, honest personal expression. He was always adamant about maintaining the integrity of his company, staying small, and holding close to the reasons why art and creative culture are important. I watched him maneuver the often tricky and perplexing dynamics of the publishing world like a gentleman. I always walked away from our conversations with a lot of thoughts in my head about the bigger picture, about making things work without bending your ideals. He was someone who really thought things over and struggled to improve himself. He was someone who really got it.

I've been thinking a lot about the road trip I went on with Dylan last summer, down to a comics show in California we were both guests at. It was the most solid amount of time I'd ever gotten to spend with him, staying with his mom in Berkley, going on morning walks together, and exploring all of his old favorite books stores with him. One of the mornings we had breakfast with cartoonist Ben Catmull. After we'd eaten he told us that we really had to see a place near his house called the Chapel of the Chimes. It turned out to be a huge labyrinth of a mausoleum, filled with pillars, weirds statues, and walls of urns. We wondered around in awe of the place's strangeness. I was taking a picture of a statue of an unidentifiable animal when Dylan walked up to me and asked if I'd take a picture of him. He lead me over to a cement wall with metal letters affixed to it that read "Life Eternal". I took the picture and we both started laughing. For some reason, taking that picture right then had felt to me like getting away with something important, and I found my thoughts going back to that moment a lot during the rest of that trip without knowing why. I told him I'd email a copy, but it remained buried behind dozens of photos on my digital camera. I'm terrible about that kind of stuff. I should be more on top of things. As far as I can recall, it's the only picture I ever took of him. Now, with Dylan taken from us, far before his time, and long before the many, many people who's lives he's touched ever thought they'd have to let him go, I've found myself thinking about that photo, about that moment, about how Dylan never got a copy of it, about what he might have been thinking when he brought me over to that wall, wanting me to take his picture. The other side of death is the deep scary mystery that we humans, even after all this time, don't really know how to truly approach or comprehend, but I need to believe that such a vivid and thoughtful person as Dylan can't just stop existing. I need to believe that this photo is some kind of message from Dylan from the other side of his life and not an irony. This photo needs to be a victory. Whatever the truth is about what is in store for us all beyond death, Dylan knows the secret now. I know that nothing can fill the void of his absence, and I feel stung by the fact that he's not down the street at the Bad Apple right now, filling out Sparkplug orders, watching a 70s Kong Foo movie, and drinking green tea. I want to stop in and say hi to him really bad right now. His wife, Emily is one of the sweetest people I know, and I feel helpless knowing that she's in so much grief right now. Every moment you spend with the people you care about is important. We all miss you, Dylan.

Inside Outside

2011-09-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

I made this piece for an art show of diptychs and triptychs, entitled "This World and The Next", curated by Emily Nilsson, at the Pony Club Gallery at 625 NW Everett #108, in downtown Portland. The opening is tonight from 6-10 pm. It's nice to be showing work at the gallery I helped start years a few years back with my friend David Youngblood. The gallery is now run by a great group of artists and they've been putting together consistently excellent shows.

Letting it Happen!

2011-08-30T21:58:00.000-07:00

Goodbye, Guapo Comics!

2011-08-26T17:05:00.000-07:00

I'm going to miss this place. I was thrilled to discover a great comics shop 6 blocks from my house when I first moved to Portland 5 years ago. Since then, the owners, Allie and Jeremy have become friends of mine. Guapo comics has been an amazing community hub. They've supported my books, I've contributed to their art shows, read my work at events, and met friends there to draw for as long as I've lived here. It's hard to picture the neighborhood without them. I've heard that the coffee shop half of Guapo will be sticking around, so at least there will still be a place to draw near my house. Allie and Jeremy just welcomed their daughter, Clementine into the world, and I'm excited for them and their next big chapter. Tonight's their big blowout sale and party. I'm heading over there soon!

This Way That Way

2011-08-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

I'm back from an excellent trip home to Montana with my wife, camping and visiting family and friends. Spent a few days doing nothing but wading in creeks, staring at campfires, and balancing on logs.

I just spent the last two days moving out of my studio. I'll miss that place, but I feel like I accomplished some good work while I was there. The entire first volume of The Understanding Monster now fits in my backpack, whereas up until recently, there were pages and cut out panels and missing pieces in piles everywhere. I've done a lot of work on scenes that won't be seen until the third volume or so, but this will hopefully allow me to have a steady momentum between volumes. I'll give more sneak peaks as I finish pages.

Tomorrow (Sunday the 21st) I'll be down at the Portland Saturday market with a table of books and art, if anyone wants to stop by and say hi.

Turtle City

2011-07-26T12:29:00.000-07:00

I just finished this commissioned piece a few days ago and sent it off in the mail. I don't usually do a lot of commission work, but a request for a turtle with a city on it's back seemed like a good thing to take on.

Return of the Gnome

2011-07-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in an art show for awhile. I'll have two pieces in the group show at Grass Hut Thursday evening the seventh. Extreme Gnome navigation stunts, mind powered technology, puppet co-pilots, 3rd eye helmets. I made this one this morning...

Mental music playback recorder, brain enhancement super hero wear, lava proof boots, hyper intelligent bike with banana seat, animal companion with psychic link. I made this one awhile ago, but I added new details this morning just for fun...

There's so many great artists in the show. Definitely worth coming out for. www.grasshutcorp.com I'll probably be there, staring at all the art and wishing I could buy everything at Floating World Comics, which shares the space with Grass Hut.

House Gnome on the Go!

2011-07-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

The Black Forest

2011-07-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

I was excited to get a copy of The Black Forest in the mail a few days back (cover by Andy Kehoe). It's filled with some great art and comics and put out by the wonderful folks at Unicorn Mountain ( www.unicornmountain.com ) I've got 6 pages of work in the book, and they did a great job making it look nice. It's fun getting to be part of awesome projects like this.

2011-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

Getting by as an artist has been becoming increasingly tricky. Today I have to give my month notice on my studio space, because I just can't afford it right now. At least I got a taste of how nice it can be to have a space to work and think. Riding my bike to my studio and getting to close the door and submerse myself in my work has been a true pleasure. It's interesting working with the ever present pressure to have art amount to income. The personal nature of the process usually takes me a long ways off from the world of marketing and selling. I feel like I've been working an imaginary job and I'm constantly having to prove that it somehow has relevance in reality in order to keep afloat. I've learned a lot doing this, but I've never felt like I quite have the head for it. Lately, when I'm lost in my work, I've been getting this charged feeling, like I'm reaching new ground and I just want to keep going. For the last 5 years I've been making as much art as possible and getting by. My new book keeps inching closer to completion and working on it is truly a thrill. I'm going to make this last month at my studio count. That being said, I'm going to ride my bike there right now and get to work! Thanks for all the kind support and encouragement from everyone who reads this blog and checks out my work!

things happening in the studio

2011-06-22T10:02:00.000-07:00

A thorn bush spirit has appeared on the wall.

A tiny flying machine is plucked from the air
A friend from an alternate dimension stops by to check in on my progress.

celebration attire

2011-06-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Since yesterday was Father's day, it feels especially significant timing to announce that I'm going to be one later this year! Today also happens to be my own Birthday. Lots to celebrate!

invisible friends made visible.

2011-06-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

There's more guardian monsters and imaginary portraits available over at my Etsy Shop: www.theoellsworth.etsy.com and more to come!

currently in the same room as me

2011-06-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

Spook Train
From the Future
Secret Space Navigator

something from the wall of my studio

2011-06-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

A secret data collection and transmission dispatch mission took place on a remote beach not long ago. That is all I am at liberty to say.

Portland Saturday Market

2011-06-10T10:21:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be setting up shop at the Portland Saturday Market (this weekend if all goes well) for the first time in a year and a half. It'll be good to be back, and it will hopefully help fund the completion of my book! Above is the new sign I've been working on. When I was at the market before, I went by Capacity Studios, now it's Thought Cloud Factory. The Market is in and around the Waterfront park, downtown Portland by the Burnside bridge, all weekend.

This is one of the new woodcut characters that I'll hopefully have finished in time!

Turning the Corner

2011-05-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

This has been a preview of The Understanding Monster, book one; Available someday from certain locations.

2011-05-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

I'll be at this tomorrow!

2011-05-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a weekend trip up to the Olympia Comics Festival. I'll be sharing a table with Sean Christensen and Amy Kuttab, and we'll have the hot off the presses second printing of our collaborative comic, "Play Overlord". We'll also have a nice selection of Secret Acres books as well as all my own books, zines and prints. I was at this show last year and it was a fun time, so I'm excited to be making it back.

Thought Cloud Shrines

2011-05-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

I just put up some copies of a limited edition reprint of my long out of print art zine, Thought Cloud Shrines, over at my Etsy Shop: www.theoellsworth.etsy.com

2011-05-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

I've just put up more original art for sale over at my Etsy shop www.theoellsworth.etsy.com . Above is the newest version of the gentle monster that I love to draw and below is a pen and ink drawing that I orginally made as an endpage design for the Best American Comics 2010 anthology that Neil Gaiman edited.

The Understanding Monster

2011-05-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

I've been off working my way through the tricky world of my new book as much as possible lately. I tend to be secretive about works in progress until they feel like they can properly step out into reality without evaporating on me. This new work has been the most challenging process by far, and also the most fun. I feel like I'm getting closer, inch by inch, to really being able tell the stories that have been hiding inside of my art. It's an exciting feeling. If I can just keep the momentum going! Above is a another small glimpse of what I've been up to.

new woodcut characters

2011-05-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've been slowly working on new woodcut characters, a little at a time, whenever I'm in my studio. Here's 3 most recent ones. They'll be up on my Etsy shop soon, looking for good homes!

Play Overlord!

2011-04-25T12:37:00.001-07:00

My cat, Mortimer is a huge fan of Play Overlord #1 and has taken to napping with his copy. This is the collaborative comic I've been working on, Jam Style, with Sean Christensen and Amy Kuttab. We debuted it at the Stumptown Comics Fest last week and sold out! Once we get the next print run finished, I'll putting some up for sale in my etsy shop.

This is the back cover that Sean did. All those characters are in the comic!
This is the title page that we all worked on. There's also an extra special bonus feature comic that I made with the always awesome Jesse Reklaw while traveling by train to a book reading in Seattle.
There is a new character introduced on the corner of every single page of the comic. It's completely crazy! We're getting together to officially start issue number 2 tonight!

werewolf kid and current events

2011-04-25T12:09:00.001-07:00

I've got one more woodcut character up at my etsy store, looking for a good home. He would prefer to be hung somewhere where he can watch people eat, but he'll be happy to hang anywhere! I also have several more wood cuts at my studio waiting for finishing touches, so stay tuned!

Also in the works: I'm working on my first zine in over a year! Tabling at the Stumptown Comics Fest and putting out a collaborative mini comic with Sean Christensen and Amy Kuttab, really got me inspired to get back on the book making wagon. I'm hoping to get back to having at least a couple of self published works available at all times.

I'm working away on my new comic. It feels like it's taking forever, but I also feel like I'm doing some of my best work. Hopefully everyone will find it worth the wait.

Stumptown Comics Fest!

2011-04-15T22:39:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the Stumptown Comics Fest ( www.stumptowncomics.com ) at the Oregon Convention Center all weekend. I'll be at the Secret Acres table (D-18) with the whole Secret Acres catalogue, including their two newest awesome books, "Gaylord Phoenix" by Edie Fake and "I Will Bite You" by Joseph Lambert. Sean Christensen will be at the table with his amazing new mini comic "Dream Grant" and the collaborative comic we just finished with Amy Kuttab, "Play Overlord" There will also be prints galore, including some new silk screened prints I just finished making. If you're anywhere near Portland, come say hi and hang out with us!!

Reading at Guapo Comics

2011-04-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

This Friday, the 15th at 8pm there's going to be a comics reading and art show opening at Guapo comics on 6350 SE Foster to help kick off The Stumptown Comics Festival happening this weekend. I'll be Reading with Sean Christensen and Amy Kuttab from the brand new collaborative comic called "Play Overlord" that's hot off the presses! The poster above features some panels from our comic. I also have one small piece in the show. Fun shall be had!

Monsters for Sale!

2011-04-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

I've got some new woodcut characters up for sale on my Esty Shop that are looking for good homes. www.theoellsworth.etsy.com

Interviewed by Copic

2011-04-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

My friends Teesha and Tracy Moore introduced me to Copic Markers awhile back and I got kind of crazy about them. I could easily spend all my money stockpiling the many vibrant colors and using them up like candy. Tracy was interviewed as a featured artist on their website a few months back and he pointed them in my direction, so now I have an interview too!: http://www.copicmarker.com/featured-artist-theo-ellsworth

Slow Wave guest strip

2011-04-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend, Jesse Reklaw has been making "Slow Wave", a weekly comic strip that documents the dreams of readers, for well over a decade. I was a fan of this strip way before I ever moved to Portland and met him. For his birthday this year, he decided he wanted to take his first ever vacation from making the strip, so a different cartoonist has been stepping in each week to add a new piece to a crazy, spontaneous dream narrative that's been forming. The comic above is the little piece I've added to it. It was fun figuring out how to follow what everyone else had done. It was also fun seeing my work computer colored. I think it's one of the few times I've seen someone else put color to my inks. You can see a larger version of it and check out the whole narrative over at www.slowwave.com

working away

2011-03-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

I'm still hard at work on my comic, "The Understanding Monster". I started renting a small studio across town so I can be extra focused. I've been having fun riding my bike there every week and getting lost in my piles of pages. I'm just about to head out the door right now for another day of working on it! It's still hard to tell exactly when book one will be ready, but it's been feeling a lot closer lately.

Bro Time!

2011-02-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

I had an great time yesterday working on the collaborative project my brother Matt and I are doing. I wish we had time to work on this more often! He did some test shots of the astronaut from the post below, making him do a zero gravity leap across the screen. Stop-motion animation is like magic to me. I worked on creating interchangeable heads for this goofy old photo of us. I'm the little guy!

astronaut in motion

2011-02-26T10:04:00.001-08:00

I just finished making my very first paper-cut puppet for the collaborative animation project my brother Matt and I are doing together. It took a little while to figure out how to make workable paper joints, but I think it worked out. Now I'm super excited to see what else can be built! I'm riding my bike to his house later today so I can give him the astronaut for some test shots.

Found: Tiny Sweater!

2011-02-14T14:51:00.000-08:00

Found on sidewalk near park. I wish I could contact the person who lost this because I'd really like to meet someone this small

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

2011-02-14T09:39:00.000-08:00

Etsy Shop!

2011-02-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

I've finally got a little shop up and running over on Etsy! Right now there's a few limited edition prints and a nearly out of print art zine for sale. I'll be putting some of my woodcut characters and original art up for sale soon too. Hopefully this will be another step towards supporting myself while working on my crazy new book! www.theoellsworth.etsy.com

four drawings from the notebook I keep in my coat pocket

2011-01-25T19:52:00.000-08:00

Floating

2011-01-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

There's a new place in Portland called "Float On" that has sensory deprivation tanks. There's been some studies showing that floating in sensory deprivation tanks can improve creativity and mental clarity, so they're doing a project where they let artists float twice for free. After the second float, the artist creates an art piece inspired by their experience. After a hundred artists have done it, they're going to publish a book. I just finished my piece. It's something I vividly saw during my second float. I highly recommend trying this some time, if you've never done it. It's a fascinating experience. It's an amazing way to step outside of your life and spend ninety minutes in a surreal and relaxing state. If you're an artist in Portland, I'd recommend getting in on this project. I'm trying to get all my artist friends to do it so we can take over the book! www.floathq.com

Russian Dolls for Secret Acres

2011-01-12T20:49:00.000-08:00

Chris Beckett, Color artist at DC comics, commissioned all the Secret Acres artists to create pieces to a Russian Doll set as a Christmas present for Barry and Leon, the awesome gentlemen that publish my comics.

Leon just sent me this group portrait of all of them together. It was awesome to see what everyone did. It makes me want to do more collaborations with everyone. From left to right: Edie Fake, me, Joseph Lambert, Ken Dahl, Sean Ford, Minty Lewis, Mike Dawson, Sam Gaskin, John Brodowski, and Eamon Espey.

Cosmic Action Dog

2011-01-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

My friend Jesse Reklaw gave me one of his altered action figures. Now I can choreograph epic action sequences when I'm taking a break from drawing! Read Jesse's weekly comic at www.slowwave.com

The Understanding Monster (preview #1!)

2011-01-07T15:13:00.001-08:00

I've been working on a story that I've been hoping to turn into an ongoing comics series.

Figuring out how to get the story to the point where I can actually start from issue number one and begin releasing it regularly, has been a new and strange process for me.

Lately, whenever anyone asks me what I've been working on, I end up giving abstract and evasive answers. It's been hard to tell if its actually turning into a real comic or if I've been on a madman's quest.

The story's been working it's way through a long phase where I've been pretty sure it might be an unreadable mess. Also, the ongoing need for rent and food money has been causing some suspenseful and distracting thoughts. Illustration work and gallery shows have been squeaking me by, but it can be scary.

I suppose the goal of any artist is to be able to connect their imagination to reality in just the right way. I'm trying to make this imaginary job I've made up for myself into a real job without losing touch with the fact that I'm really doing this because I love the craft.

Trying to bring this story together has been mirroring everything else in my life. I've been trying to live and function in the world in a way that feels responsible, while at the same time attempting to let my imagination run completely wild. It can feel like racing in opposite directions simultaneously.

I've been going to work everyday. My New Years resolution has been to keep regular hours (something I have trouble with) and stay as focused as possible. It's already been paying off.

Just yesterday, I felt like I arrived somewhere new with it. The contents of the first issue are finally starting to gel. I don't want to say too much about it yet. The story has lots of weird Science Fiction, personal Myth, and Fantasy elements to it. I've been trying to access the feeling I used to get reading comics as a kid and remember the kinds of stories I used to make up in my head during that time.

It's also a Ghost Story. For awhile I was calling the comic, "The Quiet Family", but I've gone back to the original title I had for it. The Quiet Family still plays an important roll in the narrative though. There are stories within stories.

There's lots of goofy Horror elements to the story as well. I want this comic to be a vehicle that will allow me to explore anything that fascinates or scares me, while at the same time allowing for in-depth character development and world building.

I feel like I'm in way over my head, but creating something that feels impossible, an inch at a time, is the most satisfying thing that I can think of to do with my art. I'll post more about my progress soon!

Wish me luck!

It Hatched!

2011-01-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

This is a New Years card I made for the Toonseum in Pittsburgh. www.toonseum.com . It seems like an amazing place. Hopefully I'll get to visit sometime.

I'm feeling really excited about this coming year. I'm going to work hard to make 2011 my most prolific year yet!

shapes

2011-01-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

I made a few wooden cut out ornaments for family this Christmas, thought I didn't get to make as many as I was hoping to. Next time I want to make tons of them. Shapes for everyone!

Art Visionary Box Set

2010-12-27T10:13:00.001-08:00

I received my copy of the Art Visionary Box Set in the mail a little while ago. It's a gorgeous collection of limited edition prints, art booklets and original art put together by Damian Michaels, who also contributes some amazing work to the set. Other contributors include Alex Grey, Ben Tolman, Wolfgang Grasse, and Tom Mckee.

My own contribution is a signed, limited edition version of my long out of print art zine, Thought Cloud Shrines. I'll be doing more work for Art Visionary magazine soon! www.artvisionary.com

holiday cookies

2010-12-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas! These are some cookies I decorated at my friends Andrice and Jesse's holiday party. They have probably all been eaten by now.

Krampus on the tree!

2010-12-13T11:12:00.000-08:00

I got really fascinated by the Christmas myth of Krampus, so I had to make a decoration for our tree! Supposedly he originated in Austria. He accompanies Saint Nick on his rounds and scares the kids who have been bad. Apparently there are huge gatherings of people who dress up as Krampus every year. There's even a gathering in Portland, but I missed it. Something about Santa Claus hanging out with a scary monster is really amazing to me. If you google image him, you'll find all kinds of crazy renditions. Save a place for Krampus on your tree!

One more week!

2010-12-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

My solo show at Giant Robot is coming down in a week. There's still some pieces left, including some of my personal favorites: http://www.gr2.net/artshow.php This will probably be the last big gallery show I do for awhile since I'm planning to put more and more of my focus towards comics. Huge thanks to everyone at Giant Robot and everyone who came out to the show and supported my work!

snapshots

2010-11-30T12:14:00.000-08:00

I've been working on my new comic. It's been hard to tell how it's going sometimes, but I'm really excited to be working on it. I don't want to say too much about it yet, but here are some snapshots of a few places that one of my characters has been. More sneak peeks soon!

My Brother at Laika!

2010-11-30T12:09:00.000-08:00

I helped my brother Matt move up to Portland about a month ago. Today he starts his job at Laika (the stop-motion animation studio that made Coroline). It's really exciting to see him working in the field he loves!

Let's Relax Together

2010-11-23T11:00:00.000-08:00

I screen printed this drawing onto a shirt a couple of weeks ago because it made me laugh. It was made during a somewhat stressful time, so I guess it was actually a bit of art therapy. It worked!

The Museum of Jurassic Technology

2010-11-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

While I was staying at The Den in LA, a bunch of us went on a field trip to the Museum of Jurassic Technology. The main reason I wanted to go was the fact that no one who has been there seems to know how to describe it. Now I have been there myself and I don't know how to describe it either. I think every city should have a museum of perplexing things to explore. It would be fun to create one in Portland. Here's their website: www.mjt.org

THE DEN

2010-11-17T16:04:00.001-08:00

While I was in LA for the Giant Robot show, I got to stay with an awesome group of artists and musicians. They were basically the best hosts ever and I felt lucky that I got to spend so much time with them. They've turned their house into a community art hub called The Den and do all kinds of inspiring projects. Above is Alex Chiu and his pillow helmet.

Here's Alex again with one of his paintings. Check out more at www.alexdoodles.com
Alex and Ann Chiu, doing their thing. They also put out a Zine called Eyeball Burp that's worth checking out. I'll probably be contributing to it soon: http://eyeballburp.blogspot.com/

Alex and I did two collaborative doodles while I was there. This is the one that Alex started,
and this is the one I started...
I also did collaborations with bigger groups of people while I was there. It's an ongoing household activity for them. There is art everywhere!

I got my face painted by Jenny Yoo. She paints on live people and objects, then photographs them. The end result looks like a 3D painting. I'll post the end result when she sends it to me. For now you can see some of her work at www.jenny-yoo.com.
Justin Nakasone is in the band Wells with the rest of the house. I got to hear them practice a few times. Really fun music to draw to. http://www.myspace.com/wellsofpeople Thanks for the crazy aweseome week everyone!

Giant Robot show, up and running...

2010-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my trip to LA. It was such an incredible, action packed trip! It's going to take a number of posts to properly report all the exciting things that happened. For now, here's some images from the art show. Opening night went great. Everyone at Giant Robot was wonderful and a nice crowd showed up. The show is up for sale online now: http://www.gr2.net/artshow.php# and you can check out a slide show and synopses of the event at: http://www.giantrobot.com/index.php/blogs/transmissions-post/theo_ellsworth_at_gr2

Best American Comics 2010

2010-11-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

I was very excited to have one of my stories picked by Neil Gaiman for the newest instalment of the Best American Comics series. I got my copy in the mail right before I took off for my LA trip.

I was also commissioned to do the end page design, so I tried to go all out and design something different for both the front and back.
My 15 page story, Norman Eight's Left Arm, was included in the book, alongside so many great cartoonists that I admire. It was nice to have my little comic picked by such an inspiring story teller. Felt like the kind of encouragement I needed!

Giant Robot, Saturday night!

2010-11-04T22:56:00.000-07:00

I'm flying to LA early in the morning, and immediately hanging all my pieces at the gallery. The opening is Saturday night! I've been working non-stop to put this show together. There's always a hundred things I wish I had time to add, but I'm really happy with how it all came together. If you're in the area, come say hi!

Ghost Goggles

2010-10-30T17:21:00.000-07:00

I made another pair of Ghost Goggles for Halloween this year. It seems to be becoming somewhat of a tradition.

They're made out of layers of glued paper attached to a wooden picture frame insert that just happened to be the exact size as my head.

They are used for ghost detection and communication.
They Work! They really work!

Study Group 12!

2010-10-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

Zack Soto Just released the 4th instalment of his awesome art and comics anthology, Study Group 12. It's got hand printed silk screened covers, and a nice line up of artists inside. I was super excited when he handed me my contributor copy at the Alternative Press Expo. It's A hand numbered, limited edition of 500. I've got number 49. I love this kind of stuff. Copies should be available online any day now: www.studygroup12.com

Back from adventures and leaving again

2010-10-28T10:39:00.000-07:00

--- I got back from an amazing trip about a week ago, but things have been too crazy to sit down and write about it. I flew down to San Fransisco, was picked up by Sam, in his truck filled with everything he owns, including his house plants.

--- We drove down to stay with our dear friend, Luke Lamar, who lives at Looking Glass Studios in Carmel. Him and his roommates Dan and Marlin live in a crazy clubhouse environment filled with paintings in progress, recording equipment, and rope swings. Much time was spent on various roof tops. I've got to get back down there for a longer visit soon.

---We then headed back up to San Fransisco for a great time at the Alternative Press Expo. Thanks to everyone who came by and supported my work!

---I helped my brother load up a U-Haul the next day and drove his car up to Portland for him. It's amazing having him in the same town as me again. We've been wanting to do some stop motion animation collaborations for years now, and it's looking like we can finally get started! His Stop Motion Film "El Diablo" just got accepted for the ASIFA Hollywood Student Film Festival, which is happening on the same day as my Solo Show!

---Next stop: LA! for my Solo Show at Giant Robot!

FFFFFFFFFFFFFF!

2010-10-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

So much going on!

--Tomorrow I'm flying down to San Fransisco, then immeadiately driving down to Monterey to visit my old friend, Luke!

--Then I'm heading back up to SF for the Alternative press Expo www.comic-con.org/ape on the 16th and 17th. I'll be at table 434 all weekend, right next to my publisher, Secret Acres. I'm tabling with my friend Sam Kulla, who will have his book, High Contrast Review for sale. I'll also be carrying some awesome comics and prints by my friend Sean Christensen.

--Then I'll be helping my brother, Matt load up a U-Haul full of his stuff so he can move up to Portland. I'll be driving his car up to Portland for him. I'm looking forwards to the solo road trip. Highway driving = thinking time. My brother and I will hopefully be getting a studio together sometime soon. I haven't lived in the same town as my brother for years and years, so I'm really excited.

--Once I'm home I'll be finishing up the last few pieces for my solo show at Giant Robot and flying down for the opening on November 6th.

--Then maybe I will relax.

High Contrast Review (print edition)

2010-10-11T21:08:00.000-07:00

My good friend Sam Kulla (who also officiated Heather and Is wedding) just completed the anthology he's been working on. It has entries from people he's met from all over the world.

I actually hand silk screened all the covers myself with silver and black ink. Here's a shot of them all piled in Sam's room. The image is a photo Sam took of someone he met in China. We gave the covers to the printer and had them professionally bound. I think they turned out pretty nice!

I did some illustrations for an article on food in fairy tales and nursery rhymes, complete with recipes.

There's also some shots from our crazy house head photo shoot in down town Portland.

The book is a limited edition of 250 and is up for sale at his site: http://highcontrastreview.com/shop/highcon

I'll also have copies for sale at the Alternative Press Expo in San Fran!

Giant Robot, Los Angeles

2010-10-06T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here's the show card for my upcoming solo show at Giant Robot. I've been having a lot of fun finishing all the new pieces for this!

This is my largest wood cut out character I've made so far. It stands 2 feet tall. I've gotta go find more larger pieces of wood now.

It was a weird experience working on this one. Because of its size, I had to cradle it like a child as I worked.This is one of the many small framed pieces I've been finishing up. I'll give more sneak peeks soon! I was actually born in LA and I haven't spent a lot of time there since I was a kid, so it feels symbolic to be going back down there with a pile of things I've made. In the press release I describe the show as "portraits of beings from far away, living in locations too small to see".

Capacity!

2010-10-05T22:07:00.001-07:00

Some boxes of the new print run of Capacity just showed up at my door. I'm really happy with how the new cover came out. I was nervous about how they were going to look for some reason.

I'll be down at the Alternative press expo (APE) on the 16th and 17th of this month. If you're in the area, come say hi! I'll have a table of books, art, and things. www.comic-con.org/ape

Creator Wave

2010-10-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Creator Wave just did a really nice write up and feature on me. I had fun checking out all the other artists they've featured so far. I definitely recommend checking it all out There;s some great work. http://sacvs.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/creator-wave-vol-12-theo-ellsworth/

Upcoming show

2010-09-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm working like crazy on a bunch of new woodcut characters and new drawings for my upcoming solo show at The Giant Robot Gallery in LA. The show opens on November 6th and I'll be flying down for it. It should be a fun time. Above is one of my Inner Space Explorers, waiting on my studio wall until it's time for the show..

This one was actually a birthday present for my friend, Craig Thompson. I've left it up to him to name him. I should probably have my cut out characters come with adoption papers and a list of responsibilities and directions.

Enchanted Forest

2010-09-26T14:43:00.000-07:00

For my Friend, Sean Christensen's birthday last weekend, I went with an awesome group of friends to the Enchanted Forest, south of Portland on I-5. It's basically a weird, Folk Art version of Disney Land. All the rides and attractions were hand sculpted and painted by the same family. I love the idea of the Family Amusement Park. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who's up for a strange time. I would love to have the land and funding to build an alternate world, and get my family and friends involved. Maybe someday!

This guy was inside of the truly spooky haunted house. We actually saw real cobwebs and spiders on the ceiling in there. Not for the faint of heart!

There were lots of low crawl spaces, tunnels, and slides. Just like my dream home will have.

This painting was inside of a house you could walk through where all the walls and floors were crooked.

I have been inside of the witch's head, and I shall never be the same.
Best sculpture of the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood ever!

Friend's Art!!

2010-09-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

Some of of our awesome, talented friends gave Heather and I some incredible original art at our wedding, so I thought I'd post them here so more people could see. At some point I'll have to post more of the original art I own from friends. It's become a huge part of what makes our house a home.From Tiphoni Moore.From David Youngblood
From Craig Thompson

From Daria Tessler (this ones a hand pulled Silk Screen!)

FLying Lotus EP, out now!

2010-09-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

My copies of the new Flying Lotus EP arrived in the mail, and I'm really happy with how they turned out. The folks at Warp got the colors just right, and added some really nice spot gloss to the front and back covers.

I just heard that this is the number one electronic album in the US right now. Flying Lotus definitely deserves all the attention he's been getting. Listening to his music always gets me in a productive, positive mood, so it's been helping me get focused in the studio lately.
This is the vinyl version of the EP. It comes with a pull out poster, plus extra art on the record sleeve.

I'm glad that vinyl's still around. It gives album art room to breathe. I'm going to have to go out and get a record player soon.

more wedding art!

2010-09-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

The rings.

Woodcut cake toppers.

Archway

2010-09-17T11:15:00.001-07:00

This is the archway I built for our wedding. It was a fun challenge to try and create something that was both sturdy and mobile. It's made from scrap wood I had been collecting on my walks around town. It all connects together with wooden dowels and can come apart. I was pretty relieved that it turned out, because I really had no idea what I was doing.

This is a close up detail of the very center top of the archway.

Best Day Ever!

2010-09-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Heather and I are married now! Our wedding day was wonderful beyond belief! I'll post more pictures soon.