The Understanding Monster (preview #1!)

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!

Happy New Year!!

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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

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

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

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...

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

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!

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

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!