Week of Lincoln: Day Four

| Erika Schnatz

I’ve realized that posting every weekday is not something that is ever going to happen. I just can’t manage my time that well. But here’s the fourth post for this week, which is pretty rad.

This Friday Afternoon Comic is half Abe Lincoln, half Valentine’s Day-lovin’. The idea for this popped into my head a few days ago, so I’m glad I had the time to draw it today.

Enjoy it lovebirds/Lincoln enthusiasts!

Week of Lincoln: Day Three

| Erika Schnatz

Here’s another Lincoln drawing from a few years ago:

If you can’t read my tiny handwriting, it says:

Abe Lincoln actually looked a lot like this. Who else would be able to free the slaves single handed-ly and wrestle a 7 foot bear at the same time? Damn straight.

America has never been a place for sissies.

Fabulous. If you think this is weird, just wait until tomorrow!

Week of Lincoln: Day One

| Erika Schnatz

This week is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

He is my favorite president ever, and sometimes I get bored and draw pictures of him.

I will attempt to post something Lincoln-related every day this week, because he was the man.

Lincoln is a total BAMF. Absolute fact.
I will never draw Lincoln without his stovepipe hat. It is the best type of hat.

Friday Afternoon Comics: Your Brain on Jazz

| Erika Schnatz

So I’ve been a major slacker on the art front this week – my apologies, loyal followers.

The Year of Gnomes project is going on a bit of a hiatus, so I have more time to make comics. However, there will definitely be gnomes in some of my comics. So don’t despair, gnome fans.

Without further ado:

This is based on a silly idea I wrote down on a Post-it note months and months ago.
Enjoy.
More comics on the way next week!

Friday Afternoon Comics: AmeriComics

| Erika Schnatz

Welcome to the first installment of something that will hopefully become a permanent fixture of my sketch blog: Friday Afternoon Comics!

I created the comics below as a response to some personal reflection questions in my AmeriCorps mid-year report. For those of you unaware of AmeriCorps, it’s like the Peace Corps, but within the United States. There are AmeriCorps programs all over the place focusing on different themes and missions, this year I am working in a program called Oregon Campus Compact at Portland State University. Our focus is on student retention through mentoring programs. I’ve gained a lot of great knowledge and experience serving so far.

You don’t really need to know any of that to read these, but they probably make a bit more sense if you do.

AmeriComic 1:

 AmeriComic 2:

Materials: a pen!
I am pretty good at writing in ALL CAPS.

A Week of Gnomes: Day Eight

| Erika Schnatz
Day Eight: Turn an old book into something new
I am always on the lookout for old books that I can mess around with, so I had lots of choices for this one. I thought it would be fun to make the gnome visit a Mayan pyramid, so I got out my Exacto knife again and cut up an image to make it a pop up picture.
 
I believe this is a Reader’s Digest book about World Mysteries (or something of that nature). I bought it at Goodwill for a dollar.
 
I cut around different parts of the image and folded them up to make it pop up – there are four different levels to this picture.
 
You may also notice the tiny gnome I made on the right hand side of the picture, approaching the pyramid. Not correctly proportioned, but if I made it the “right” size he’d be practically invisible.
An additional view.
Materials: Book, Exacto knife, paper, pen, and markers (to make the tiny gnome), tape
This took very little time and turned out way better than I anticipated. Fun times!

A Week of Gnomes: Day Seven

| Erika Schnatz
Day Seven: Make something with your breakfast
My normal breakfast consists of a Nutrigrain bar and some yogurt, not terribly exciting or inspiring, so I waited until the weekend for this one. My wonderful boyfriend made the pancakes and I decorated. The first one turned out to be the perfect shape for a gnome’s head.
 
My workstation (the kitchen counter)
 
I added some powdered sugar to create some sideburns of some sort. It may have made him more Santa Claus-esque.
 
Ready to eat!
It was one of the tastiest pancakes I have ever eaten. It took me about two minutes to scarf down. Then I had some non-gnome pancakes that were also very delicious.
Materials: Pancakes, Reddi-Whip, strawberry topping, chocolate chips, powdered sugar
Tomorrow: fun with books!

A Week of Gnomes: Day Six

| Erika Schnatz
Day Six: Make something using a stencil.
My initial thought was to make something sort of like a chalk outline of a body, like what you might find at a crime scene, but I went with something a bit lighter. Gnome crossing sign!
 
First I had to use my Exacto knife skills on a piece of Bristol board.
 
Here’s the finished product! Stencil, cut out, and sign.
 
Another view.
Make way for gnomes!!
Materials used: Bristol board, acrylic paint, artists tape (to create lines around edge and underneath gnome), cardboard (for backing)
I kind of want to make a bunch of these and hang them up in parks at a kid’s eye level. Make a little mischief and spread some fun.
However, due to the Portland weather it’s going to be a few months before the sun comes back out. For now I’ll just hang it up in my room.
Tomorrow: gnome + food (again!)