Work. Work. Work.  Oh, Mr. Blog, I should update you more often.

Something exciting recently: “Illustration Sculptures.”  I’m mixing my illustration style with my training as a set-designer.  So, I’m making little sets with little flat characters.  It’s still a work in progress, but here are a few from the last month.

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Too Much to Drink Last Night

What’s Down There?

Markets Going Down

You all have done the blog thing I’m sure. You know, I’ve got this blog set-up so it doesn’t get spammed: I have to review comments before they go up. Man, I’m getting all kinds of spam for “Disney Ringtones.” It was hilarious for a good five minutes and then the emails just kept coming. (Perhaps it’s time to update the WordPress?)

Anyway. I’ll be off for a visit to Los Angeles. Should be a fruitful one; I plan to sit, drink and eat, and draw. I’ve been able to secure a visit to the Getty Villa. I’ll report more later.

Nevertheless, work is still coming in, so there are fun things to show you. Two new pieces for Greater Good Magazine.

Santa Is Only Generous Because He Takes Oxy
Illustration for an article detailing research on why people give.
We’re more generous, the study concludes, when we can identify with who we’re giving to.

Comedy in Relationships
For an article about a study relating comedy to successful relationships.

In other news, I’m starting a small series of comics that I might get printed into a short edition. You know, some funny little drawings that make the day a little better to swallow. I have one of a guy standing over a giant rift in the land, and a guy running full force right behind him. Hey, when I start laughing uncontrollably there has to be something there. Or not.

There a lots of Brad J. Aldridge illustrations in the pipeline. Many happen to be in Greater Good Magazine again. Last issue I had three, this issue I’ll have two (or three?).

There’s been some good praise for my children’s book, Try Me. I’m still working on getting that out in the world.

It could be cliche by now. A Web Comic. I mean, I even saw a book about this business in a coffee shop.

While listening to Jonathan Richman I was struck with an idea. A little web comic based on Orson Welles. It’s a great setup, but I wonder if I could pan things out better: What if Orson Welles had a better career later on?

The Doombuggies.com “Swinging Wake” at Disneyland featured a booklet written by Richard Kaufman and illustrated by me.

LA Weekly had a slideshow up this week, one photo features my picture of Madame Leota.

Photo from LA Weekly

There’s some new “kid” illustrations coming out in the next issue of Greater Good Magazine. Here’s a preview:

Smile
This went with an article about a study where viewers could “trust” someone more based on how real their smile was. According to the study, more people trusted the “true smile” as opposed to the “fake smile.”

Smart Baby
This demonstrated that an infant has quite a good sense of knowing good from bad.  According to a study, when babies watched a “nice” puppet (toy) they preferred to play with that toy later on instead of the “mean” one.

That’s fun for now. There’s some other stuff in the pipeline, and it’ll come here eventually.

Psst, I’m doing some illustrations about Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion for a small booklet.  Here’s one of the images that will be printed:

The Organ Player

From the Ballroom at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion

Seemingly things don’t get done. However, you realize that maybe you’ve done more. “I really should write more on BradBlog, what can I write about?” That’s what I said, and so, here I am attempting to update this more.

Hopefully people might find interest in this thing, but who knows.

1.
Either way: The BIG PROJECT that took quite a while to do is…done.

Try Me, my new children’s book is finished. Here’s a sample:

This shows our main character, Shell, as she looks inside the complex workings of the robot.

2.
Additional photographs from “Photigo.”

The Photigo Project went off very well, here’s an image of the finished installation.

3.
I have a few other neat illustration jobs in the works. I’ll put some up as they get done. I’m doing some illustrations of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. It’s quite a challenge considering it is one of my favorite rides and it will be hard to make work that holds on to the whimsy and greatness of the ride but also making a drawing that somehow contributes.

Tonight will mark the opening of CellSpace Gallery’s “Make a Mission Project.” 21 artists from around California were invited to make a California Mission–much like every California 4th grader does.

The show, curated by American Mythology, runs until 30th.

My mission is San Juan Bautista, used in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. Gallery visitors can have the experience of “falling” from the tower much like Kim Novak.

I’ll have some photos from the event later

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Character tests for my new children’s book, “Try Me.”