Mountain Mishaps

"What could possibly go wrong? Like hundreds (maybe thousands) of climbers before us, however, we soon learned that the seeds of tragicomedy are sown with seemingly inconsequential decisions."

I recently illustrated eight vignettes of comedic mountain accidents compiled by climbing legend Dougald MacDonald. I received the assignment while on a climbing trip in Germany and the Czech Republic...and the deadline was close. I had come prepared with brush pen and Moleskine, and, laying apartment-bound in Prague awaiting the snows to recede at Elbsandstein, I had a good opportunity to make some art. My limited tools forced me to make quick and loose sketches, a few of which ended up in the final art.

The article is out now in the December issue of Climbing.


A few examples:

Shirts!

The shirts are finally up and on sale at my Etsy Page (jgivens.etsy.com). Check them out, available in multiple colors. New designs will be coming soon as well, so check back!

Killed File

I am currently working on a holiday card for a client, and they just killed an idea that I particularly liked, and would have enjoyed finishing. So, I thought I would post it here and keep it alive, rather than file it away with the rest of the ideas-that-could-have-been. Its of a polar bear chasing a candy cane...maybe it was too unclear, or dark, or didn't make any sense...but I like it. So it goes.
Here are two versions, ink sketches colored in photoshop. My water brush filled with sumi ink comes in great for these quick sketches, and gives an idea of what the final art will look like.