Wrapping up the countdown of favorite images from 2010 is  "Dream."
 
Sometimes certain images have a longer gestation  period in my head than others. This one has been floating in my head in some form or another since 2001. That is when I created a small movie poster in the background of a local comic book for a fictional movie called "Goin' South!" witch was very similar to this. I have another version of this image that currently is still in development that is more like a World War II propaganda poster.

No matter what the final composition is in this still ever evolving piece for me , I love the idea, of a penguin soaring high above in a cloud of other penguins, defying logic and all reason, to achieve his dream.

Some days I am a cynic, some days I am a romantic. Either way, this piece is one of the few that whenever I look at it, makes me smile.
Prints are currently available in the store.

New Years Eve is tomorrow along with the First big news item of 2011. So Come back then and have a great night!
~ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

In continuation of the countdown of my favorite images from 2010 I bring you "One Last Run".
This was created at the very beginning of the year as a tribute to the end of David Tennant's run as The Doctor on Doctor Who.
I have created a few paintings of Converse style tennis shoes in the past. This is due mainly to the fact that I have only been wearing those shoes since I was first able to put on shoes.(I am talking Velcro here people) But this one for me nailed the fun of both The Doctor, that show, and what it feels like to wear those shoes.
Oil on Canvas, the original is currently available at Twilight Comics in Shiloh IL. Or pick up a print of it in the store today.

Just a few more images to go before New Years! Have a great night everyone!
~ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

         I  have decided that in this last week of 2010, I would do the obligatory countdown  of my favorite images created this year. Now this is a little like choosing  your favorite kid, so I present these to you in no specific order. At the end of the week I have a big announcement for the upcoming year that will hopefully see me creating a LOT more images.

This image was originally created just when people were really starting to get a sense of how big this oil disaster was going to be. Being a Sci-Fi junkie, I just couldn't resist throwing in my own 2 cents and created this cartoon which was subsequently shared on the website io9.com. This image for me was created out of pure frustration at the absolute blind  positivity that people kept trying to spin on this event, which I personally feel we will see the ramifications of for years.

Here's hoping all of you not currently buried under feet of snow or reading this in an airport lounge are having a great week, and those of you who are buried or in an airport find relief soon.
Until Tuesday,
ArtMonkeyworld Dave

Between snow on Christmas Eve, a search for Santa, late night gift wrapping, a trip to the North Pole to deliver some penguins and (get the monkey a proper hat), zero illness on my part for sometime, and the Christmas Day Episode of Doctor Who on BBCA I have had an amazing 24 hours. I hope the same for you and your family.

Big news for the upcoming new year, things are only starting to ramp up...and its about to be one hell of a ride. Stay tuned... and Merry Christmas.

Cheers,
ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

Its a been a great year, and I want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of it. You have all been amazing.
This year I am looking forward to making more art that makes you smile, laugh and think than ever before. Follow me on Facebook or Twitter for updates or your general amusement and don't forget to check out the store for any last minute gift ideas.
Have a safe and very Happy Holiday Season!
~ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

Winter is coming. Well, officially anyway. Unofficially it feels like it has been here for week. But this week is the solstice and the official start of the winter season. While I generally dislike extreme cold and grey weather, I must admit that there is something completely peaceful about a new fallen unbroken snow. With that in mind I present "At Peace". Completed in oil on canvas the original currently hangs at FCB Bank in Swansea Illinois, and is available for purchase. If you are interested in the original contact me, and I can give you more details. For an 11x17 print, check out the store here.

The weather reports are saying that more snow and ice is on the way this week. Looks like we may have a white Christmas after all. Its been a while, here's hoping its just enough to be gorgeous, and not a headache. Be safe on those roads guys.
~ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

Update #3
Hey Guys, I just wanted to share this wonderful write up with the History and outcome of the whole "Time Traveler in a Charlie Chaplin film" fiasco from a few weeks back. This great summation of the event and its end comes from forgetomori.com a site that seems devoted to the paranormal and unexplained.

Now that is something I can get behind. :)

Previously Update # 2 from :The Daily Wh.at

"Carr bids adieu to the Charlie Chaplin time traveler who kept us awake at night daydreaming of righting all our wrongs with a clever homage to René Magritte’s iconic “The Treachery of Images.”

Previously before that Update # 1:
So I saw this post earlier this week from IO9
and was instantly fascinated with the idea of a timetraveler being caught in the background of an old Charlie Chaplin film.

Sadly this was proven to be false when this news update hit the web today from The Daily What.

And while this unique idea has now passed, I am still thinking about that “ear trumpet” that was mistaken for a phone, and as soon as I saw the image online of the trumpet it is believed to be, all I could see was the above image in my head. Sometimes inspiration comes from the strangest places.

For anyone who wants this, I am offering it free, just right click the image and use it wherever you like,Facebook, twitter, wherever. Spread the word, lets have one last run of fun with this story shall we?

Have a great afternoon everyone!
ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

*Update*
1:21 am 10/30/10
Wow. To all those who are finding this site for the first time, I welcome and thank you sincerely. Please feel free to look around or become a fan of my work on Facebook. Cheers!

Typically the cold inspires paintings of snow and ice. And while I have done my share of those paintings, one very recently in fact, I wanted to do something different.

This was originally painted at the Belle Clair Fairgrounds this November during the Kay Weber Fall Art and Craft show. It was a very blustery cold day and all I could think about was how I wanted to get warm. Thoughts of hot beverages and warm muffins are always a great way to warm up. The real thing is always better. This image falls somewhere in between those two realities for me. 

With the Ice storm outside tonight, I just thought this would go over better than an image of a snow park.

The original is currently available in the store
Gnight,
ArtMonkeyWorld Dave

Sometimes I really like the juxtaposition of nature and technology. A lot of people tell me that lends some of my images to have a children’s book flair to them. I am not sure about all that, but I will say this. The birds were the last piece of this puzzle to make the composition work for me. I created this on the last day of the amazing Art and Craft Fair at the Fairgrounds in Belleville last weekend. A huge THANK YOU must go out to all those who attended.

I could tell you how the title came about, but its between me and those who work at Twilight Comics in Shiloh, IL where the original piece is currently available. I will say this, I always name images, after they are finished. Never before. Prints soon to come. Feel free to e-mail for details and more info. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that so far December is treating you well.
~ArtMonkeyWorld Dave