President of the Bird Club

Done on an antique album of empty frames given to me by my Godmother. Made the night before the last lunar eclipse until 2014. Sadly, the cloud and fog cover was too thick when I looked this morning. But I could see the faintest of amber glows coming from one sector of the western sky.

Song of the Spindle Trailer for Sundance Film Festival 2012

Seattle Folk Festival 2011 Animated Promo

I did this animated commercial for the 2011 Seattle Folk Festival presented by Hearth Music. It features the music of Bryan John Appleby. The amazing song is called the Lake and I used the last 40 some seconds of it. I love the Cello!

Some Crazy Magic: Meeting Harry Smith

My New animation based around a story told to me by John Cohen when I interviewed him with Greg Vandy. From wikipedia: Harry Everett Smith (May 29 , 1923, Portland, Oregon – November 27, 1991, New York City) was an American archivist, ethnomusicologist, student of anthropology, record collector, experimental filmmaker, artist, bohemian and mystic. People who know his work as a filmmaker are often unfamiliar with his 1952 Anthology of American Folk Music, while folk music enthusiasts often do not know he was acclaimed as being "the greatest living magician" according to filmmaker, Kenneth Anger.

New Animation screening tonight at The Tribute to Harry Smith Show

Come on Down tot he Columbia City Theater at 8:00 pm. I will also be playing some music with my Cousin Kevin Murphy. Get tickets here in advance.

I'm Gonna be on the Radio Tonight!

So Listen in to KEXP 90.3 at 7:30 and you'll hear me playing banjo and guitar with my cousin Kevin Murphy of the Moondoggies! We will be co hosting the second half of the show (The Roadhouse) with Greg and playing tunes from the Anthology of American Folk Music. All in honor of the great Harry Smith. In addition to that, Friday night we will also be playing at the Harry Smith Tribute concert at Columbia City Theater where I will also be screening my newest animation pertaining to Harry. Get advance tickets here.

Strange Americans, my new book

70 pages. First edition is only 40 books. Each copy is signed and numbered by me. 20 bucks each. I will be selling them at Short Run this Saturday at the Vera Project at Seattle Center. Photo by Amanda Moore.

Framed Pictures made on Halloween

All of these pictures were done on Halloween night. Thanks to my Godmother Diane for giving me the book with all these empty frames in it.

Manzanita

Sepia Ink from Daniel Smith.

Museum of Alligatorid Crocodylians

Finally got to do my first intaglio etching! Been wanting to do one for many years. Love the way the excess ink looks. Couldn't find an etching press to use anywhere accept in the Utrecht store.

Edgar Allan Poe Jack O' Lantern

Did this one in record time. Notice the ravens on either side of his head. Made some really good pumpkin seeds too: paprika, old bay and salt.

Aquatic & Semi-Aquatic Mammal Skulls

Inspired by the great whale museum in Friday Harbor, WA.

Goodbye Bert Jansch

Tonight we must say goodbye to Bert Jansch, the man who got me interested in British Isle folk. I just played Blackwaterside on the guitar in his honor. Probably the best guitarist I have ever heard on record. Highly recommend LA Turnaround. Produced by Michael Nesmith with great pedal steel by him. Sad day indeed.

Elwood Snock & The Land of Lo-Fi!

My friends in the Bay area have gotten a whizbang website together pertaining to their Michael Hurley documentary Elwood Snock & The Land of Lo-Fi, which I created many an animated scene for. Before you can all see the movie, they are raising money to pay for the rights to music in the film, so head on over there and sponsor a song!

Interview with me on the Atlantic's website

They have Song of the Spindle up on their video area of the site along with a short interview with me. Read it here.

Check out the Vimeo blog

Because they have a post on my animations- read it here.

My Animation for Electric Literature's One Sentence Animations

Commissioned by Electric Literature for their one sentence animation series. The story is called The Reader by Nathan Englander. Michael Guggino did the music.

Robert Walser Linocut (two block print)

I was deeply inspired by the Quay Brothers film Insitute Benjamenta or This Dream People Call Human Life. It was based on the 1909 book Jakob Von Gunten by the Swiss author Robert Walser. From Wikipedia: A characteristic of Walser's texts is a playful serenity behind which hide existential fears. Today, Walser's texts, completely re-edited since the 1970s, are regarded as among the most important writings of literary modernism. Walser was only rediscovered in the 1970s, even though very famous German writers such as Christian Morgenstern, Franz Kafka, Walter Benjamin, and Hermann Hesse were among his great admirers. Since then, almost all his writings have become accessible through an extensive republication of his entire body of work. He lived in a mental institution for many years and on the 25th of December 1956 he was found, dead of a heart attack, in a field of snow near the asylum.

Important Individuals in the History Of The Mandolin #5: David Grisman

I first came across David Grisman when I heard Old & In The Way (Jerry Garcia, Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, and David Grisman's early 70's bluegrass band) my senior year in high school. I especially loved his mandolin playing on Wild Horses.

Nautical Knots and Magnifying Glass

The Crab Fisherman's Daughter

New and Improved. My ode to crabs. Shot in La Conner, Washington.

Artist Portrait of John Cohen Up at American Standard Time

I directed this video and interview with the legendary musicologist, photographer, filmmaker and musician, John Cohen for American Standard Time. There are two nice big posts up on him over there, so check em' out. Produced by Greg Vandy and shot by Kent Colony. Kent and I wanted the look of it to be visually reminiscent of John's films, in particular, The End Of An Old Song and The High Lonesome Sound, so we made it black and white. Within the next couple of months there will be a follow up to it in animation form!

TMWSTMWSL featured on both Cartoon Brew and Drawn

I am very proud about this because, in my opinion, they are the two best animation/illustration related blogs on the internet.

Arnold Palmer

Whale On A Crabshell

Crabshell found at Discovery Park Beach. Great animation to watch with crabs in it: Svankmajer's Historia Naturae.

The Incorrect Way To Measure A Lobster

Iceboating, 1952

Maine Lobsterman

The Man Who Shot The Man Who Shot Lincoln playing at Anthology Film Archives and 92Y Tribeca

It already played at Anthology Film Archives on July 3rd- but its coming back again! If you cant make it to New York I have posted the entire movie here.
Wednesday, July 20th 2011
Time: 6:00pm
City: New York
Venue: NewFilmmakers @ Anthology Film Archives
Address: 32 Second Avenue
more info here: http://www.filmandscissors.com/

Fire, Fire, I Heard The Cry Opening at 4 Culture's e4c Gallery on Thursday, July 7th 6-8 pm

Here's a link. Come on by if you want!

Astoria (a book)

Song Of The Spindle (a new animation)

Trestle

The Merchant & The Fiddler in Hell (A Russian Folk Tale)

This is an actual illustrated book I am working on. Although, it may end up being called The Fiddler In Hell.

Important Individuals in the History Of The Mandolin #4: Lloyd Loar

This is the man behind the famous Gibson "Lloyd Loar" mandolins. Brought to public attention by Mr. Bill Monroe playing one for most of his career. A Lloyd Loar now goes for approximately $250,000.00 US. A longer and more in depth post on this should be up over at Greg Vandy's blog American Standard Time soon.

Garnet, Montana

The best ghost town I have ever been to. My Mom and Kent and I were there in June and it was snowing.

Birds of the North Cascades

Inspired by the wildlife identification wall at Rasar State Park.

History Is Us Wins Best In Show at MOHAI's First Ever History Is____Film Contest

Seattle's Museum of History and Industry put on a great contest that was right up my alley. Obviously, I had to leave out a million important events and cultures throughout human history, so for that I am sad. The amazing music was composed, performed and recorded by the great new American composer Spencer Thun. The event was really fun and I got to drink beer (that was served from a tugboat!) in a museum after closing! Thanks to Helen Divjak at MOHAI for conceiving the idea. I can't wait to see the museum's new home on South Lake Union- in the old armory.

Woman With Guitar #3

My Animations playing at the Rendezvous in Belltown on Friday, April 22nd

My animations will be playing in between Le Sang Song and Case Studies this Friday night at 10:00 pm. Jesse Lortz did the awesome poster.

Woman With Guitar #2 in Color

Woman With Guitar #2

Woman With Guitar #1