Twisted Oak Press

Where the Mists Always Swirl

2012-02-02T22:02:00.004-05:00

Hi! Enough of this colorful nonsense. ;) I need a break from cheery gnomes and butterflies for a bit. I'm going back to my roots on this next piece...ink! Yea you heard me. It's gonna be dark and gloomy and full of cross-hatching madness. I might even throw in a wandering ghost or two. O_O

I changed the title :P

pencil gone...time for ink

sketch

Winterfrost

2012-01-04T23:43:00.018-05:00

Hello gang! The following is the work in progress for the final illustration (#9) in the Phillip Woodgate series. I still have #7 and #8 to do, but I'm really excited about this one so I've decided to break all the rules and draw this one before I've completed the others. Oh no!

This one's called Winterfrost and will be, ironically enough, a winter scene. Please be sure to check back often as I'm hoping to have this finished for my next show at of the end of this month.

done

Finally I have the basics down, now I can start on the details! HAHA ^_^

foreground stuff

castle almost done :/

it's getting trippy...

sky...

workin on that castle!

workin' on the town

a wee bit more color

a little bit 'o sky

sketch

Next Up For Phillip!

2011-12-15T12:05:00.002-05:00

Hi! Here are sketches for the next two drawings for the Phillip series I'm currently working on. The first is a massive library inside the Mushroom Castle. Phillip and his homeboy are discussing the plans for his big adventure. Woo hoo!

The second sketch is of the final illustration in the series (for now at least). Phillip has reached an enormous castle and city set within the mountains of a snowy landscape. Big Phil will be visible in the lower right corner, riding atop his trusty, dino mount. Stay tuned, I'll be posting updates for each illustration as I progress! ^_^

Carve Your Symbols Into the Sky

2011-12-04T19:51:00.004-05:00

Every minute, every hour, every month spent drawing a single idea...

Every broken pencil lead, every trip to Staples for more ink cartridges, every paper cut making prints, every hour spent standing at art shows. It's worth every damn minute.

In the few months I've been participating at these art shows and craft fairs, a question so commonly asked at the end of the day is, "How'd you do?." Of course, the inference is, did I make enough money. Right, I get it. Like most aspects of life, money seems to be the wooden ruler with which you measure your success. I'm truly sorry to be the one to snap that ruler across my leg into a million shards, but I only made a few hundred bucks today, yet I feel like it was the most successful day I've ever had. So when asked, I told people I did great, awesome in fact.

I measure my success with the responses of the people that look at my artwork for the first time. If I see someone smile, look for a moment and walk on, then I was successful. If I see someone say "Wow" or "OMG," then I was successful. If they decide to buy a print, then I'm grateful and I shake their hand. Someone just spent their money on something I spent months creating. It's a concept I hope to never get used to. It's a powerful experience.

I measure my success with the impact it has on others. I spoke to multiple people this weekend who told me they were inspired. Inspired? I know who inspires me (Tolkien, Escher, Grey, Lovecraft, Whelan, Verne) and to have others say I inspire them is beyond my ability of articulation. I can say, however, that I value it more than the amount of money I collected from them.

I'm aware of the fact that money is an important aspect to making a living. It can be a measurement for success. It can pay your cable bill. I had a few experiences this weekend that made me feel more alive than any paycheck ever has and I will never ever forget them. :)

I've got pencil skillz

2011-11-14T23:37:00.004-05:00

So I originally drew this for my son on his birthday four years ago. I absolutely love the idea and atmosphere of this drawing, but I felt it needed some improvements. Plus, I want to make giant prints of this mug and sell it at shows, dig?. Tonight I worked on tweaking it... and I have to say, I'm even more in love with it. Epic, bro.

new version

original version

NoVA Xmas Market

2011-11-14T23:28:00.000-05:00

Sup. I participated in the Northern VA Xmas Market over the past weekend at the Dulles Expo Center and had another awesome experience. I met a zillion more cool people (hi Michelle!) and had a swell time. I also sold a bunch of my prints! Thanks to some really helpful advice from a vendor down the row from me, I tweaked the layout of my display and it really helped out.

I want to especially thank the girl who spent her allowance on two of my prints. Thank you, you're awesome! Seriously, don't stop writing! Keep at it and you'll get published, I promise. And please share some of your writing with me, I'd love to read it. :)

Next up...VA Beach Xmas Market! Out.

More Festivals!

2011-10-25T21:48:00.000-04:00

Hello again friends! I've attended two more festivals so far this month...the Fredericksburg Arts & Crafts Festival and the Centreville Day.

The F'burg one was my first indoor festival and was a really cool experience. I would guess that 5-7 thousand people showed up and I think a few of them glanced at my artwork as they passed by. ;) Actually, I met a lot of really cool people and sold a bunch of prints and notecards. The Centreville Day was an outdoor event and, although cold as heck while setting up at 7:30 in the morning, turned out to be a really fun day. Not quite as big a crowd as F'burg, but cool nonetheless. I've got two huge shows coming up next month...the Northern VA Christmas Market at the Dulles Expo Center and the VA Beach Christmas Market.

Occoquan Craft Fair - Fall 2011

2011-09-27T21:03:00.004-04:00

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by my little art tent last weekend at the 2011 Occoquan Craft Fair! What an amazing experience! I met and talked with a ton of cool people and even sold a good deal of my artwork (24 prints and 43 notecards!). The feedback I received was more than I could ever have imagined. Just seeing the facial expressions and smiles when people saw my stuff was payment enough! One guy about my age bought all five of the Phillip series notecards and told me that they reminded him of being a kid. That was worth so much more to me than the $12 I took from him.

I want to give a big shout to the girl (I can't remember your name!) who bought five of my prints. Did you end up buying all four of the Stage drawings? Also, the couple that bought a print on Saturday and then came back on Sunday to buy two more. Thank you so much!

I can't wait for the next one in the Spring! Thanks again to everyone who stopped by!

WIP - Mushroom Castle

2011-05-08T14:29:00.004-04:00

Hello friends! The next illustration in my Phillip series is yet another redo of the Mushroom Castle. Stay tuned for weekly updates to the WIP. Thanks for looking!

I'm done!

a pumpkin patch!

purple mushrooms!

line drawing

Updated Note Cards!

2011-04-16T20:55:00.013-04:00

Hello again, friends! The Twisted Oak Press robotic zombie gnomes have applied an upgrade to the already spectacular note cards. Check it out. Now each note card is safely packaged in it's own luxurious, clear plastic sleeve. In addition, my friends, each note card is individually numbered and signed. Furthermore, each card contains its own colored envelope. Envelope colors include yellow, light bluish, brown, and green. But wait, there's more! Every single individually packaged note card contains a gold foil sticker for that extra bit of class that can be applied to the back of the evelope instead of licking that nasty gluey stuff. Each card is $5. Take a look at the pictures!

Order notecards from my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/deankuhta or you can email me directly at deankuhta@gmail.com.

My First Name Artwork Commission!

2011-04-11T23:39:00.002-04:00

Here's an update for you, friends! Check out my second name artwork commission. I'm really happy with how this turned out!

Hello gang! This is the first commission for my name artwork concept. I created the following illustration for a ten year old girl named Erin. She'll be receiving it next weekend for her birthday. I think it turned out pretty cool. I'm working on my second commission now and will post it in about a week. Come on you parents, you know you want one of these made for your kids. Now holler at me!

Signed Prints and Note Cards For You!

2011-03-26T13:16:00.000-04:00

What up? The zombie robots and pop lockin' garden gnomes here at Twisted Oak Press have been working around the clock to produce for you these fine artistic products. All beautifully rendered prints and note cards are personally titled and signed by the artist (me). These things are flying off the shelf, so holler at me if you want one!

Custom Name Art

2011-03-15T20:16:00.002-04:00

Hello friends. Would you like your own custom name artwork? Oh OK great, then listen to what I'm typing. Please direct your eyeballs upward and behold that illustration with birds and pumpkins and stuff in it. Can you read it?

It says my name, and guess what? I can draw one like that for you...except it could say your name, or your Aunt Henrietta's name, or your bratty kid's name, or your pet rat's name, or whatever. The cool thing is (I think it's cool at least) is that each illustration could be customized to fit your fancy, yet use the same alphabetic characters I've conjured up. You see how part of my name is at night and the other part in day? For your name...different! See how the smoke from the chimney on the "A" is curling around all crazy and stuff? For your Aunt Henrietta...no smoke! Guess what else? Some of the letters in my alphabet are designed to look like little boats (ie: water scene) and some look like wacky little creature dudes (ie: wacky little creature dude scene). Oh yea and one's like a dragon. Are you getting the picture now? Yea, I know it's a cool idea. Oh and I guess I could color it too if you want.

WIP (Update 8) – Through the Vast Enchanted Forest

2011-02-11T21:05:00.019-05:00

This is the WIP for my latest illustration Through the Vast Enchanted Forest for my Mystic Realms children’s storybook series. This will be the fourth in the series of eight colored pencil illustrations. Clearly it’s based on my older pencil drawing for the Nine Stages series, but this illustration is going to be drawn in vibrant colors and much more kid-friendly. Once he finished eating taters and onions for breakfast with Ivy (his wife), Phillip headed through the forest and over to the Farmers Market. I’ll be updating this WIP regularly as I progress with the illustration. Thanks for viewing!

I'm done!

All kinds of stuff worked on. It's really coming together now!

Finally got around to finishing that butterfly. Also started with the detail of the leaves and shadows on the tree.

Update 5: Smoothed out more of the colors and worked alot on the tree. Mr. butterfly will avoid my pencils no more!

Update 4: Puttin' down more color and worked alot more on the 'shrooms. Once I refill my wine glass I'll tackle that darn butterfly *shakes fist*

Update 3: More color, more color!

Update 2: Put down the first layers of color to get a sense of the composition and how the colors will work together. Dreamy!

Update 1: Changed Phillip from riding on some God-aweful-wagon-thing to simply strolling along the trail, all peaceful like. Time for coloring!

Original sketch

The Nine Stages

2011-02-11T21:04:00.004-05:00

Good Lord, where to start on this one… I began this series in 2006 and have only completed four of the nine illustrations. I think I will be working on this project for the rest of my life. This series of illustrations is in complete contrast to the style and mood of the series I’m currently working on (the colorful Mystic Realms featuring Phillip the Gnome!). The Nine Stages is truly a dark set of fairytale-like scenes, illustrated in pencil on oyster colored Mi-Teintes drawing paper. A cloaked figure wanders through each stage, seemingly oblivious to the fantastical environments around him. Eventhough I have only completed four of the nine illustrations, I have the remaining five sketched out and the full concept complete (in my head at least). Stay tuned!

My Art’s In Asheville, NC

2011-02-11T21:03:00.003-05:00

For almost a year now I’ve had a display of my prints on sale at the Kress Emporium in Asheville, NC. Asheville is an awesome art town and I’m honored to have had my stuff on display there. My prints have been selling pretty well, especially Stage I: Departure and Stage II: Through the Vast Enchanted Forest. Thanks to the PODgallery for supplying me the fantastic printing service. So if you’re ever in the vacinity of Asheville, NC, please have a stroll through the Kress Emporium on Patton Ave. and check out some of my prints!

Mystic Realms – Book I: Phillip’s Adventure

2011-02-11T20:46:00.004-05:00

While goofing off with my kids outside in the garden and making up silly stories in the car, I came up with the idea of a Gnome named Phillip and his mystical adventures through a land full of castles and wizards and dinosaurs and talking animals. No, it’s not a Lord of the Rings hack. Anyway, I brilliantly surmised eight wonderful, colorful, pleasant illustrations for this fantastic children’s storybook. In addition, I have written words to compliment the artwork. Here is a bit of the beginning and the introduction to our protagonist, Phillip the Gnome…behold!

   A blue, summer sky smiled upon Phillip’s garden. Colorful butterflies danced from flower to flower as crickets chirped and bees buzzed along herb-filled windowsills. Rows of neatly tended plants lined the soft soil and stretched their hungry leaves towards the warm, mid-morning sun. Lush plants cradled shiny, red tomatoes and yellow squash grinned from beneath curly vines. Phillip puffed from his carved pipe as he stood between rows of onions.

   “A wonderful morning,” he said aloud.

   Phillip was a happy little gnome who lived in an old oak tree on the side of a grassy hill. He stood about two feet tall and wore purple pants with an orange patch on the right knee. His favorite red suspenders fell neatly on top of a bright blue shirt. A pointed, green-rimmed hat sat atop his bald head and a long flowing brown beard hung down to his belt and ended in a curly point. Streams of purple smoke rose from his pipe as he surveyed the progress of his garden.

WIP - Taters and Onions

2011-02-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

This is the WIP for my latest illustration Taters and Onions. It’s the third of eight colored pencil illustrations that I am working on for what will one day turn out to be a children’s storybook. I have four completed right now, so I’m half way there. This particular drawing was a pain in the butt. Although the pencil drawing was put down on paper within an hour, the colored pencil stage took roughly two months to complete. I had a heck of a time with the color of the walls and the floor. In the end, however, I’m pretty happy with how they eventually turned out, as well as the rest of the illustration and details. The fireplace is definitely my favorite feature. Take a look at the different stages of progress and let me know what you think.

I've Got Press!

2011-02-11T20:43:00.001-05:00

Here are a couple reviews of my “dark” artwork that Google recently brought to my attention. I love it when I’m type-cast as a dark and gloomy artist. Oh well, at least it’s recognition. Too bad one’s in Italian and I can’t read the aweful things they said about me.

http://in-tenebris-scriptus.blogspot.com/2008/01/dean-kuhta.html
http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2008/01/dean-kuhtas-fantastic-sketches.html