I had a demon in me.

Looks like I had a little demon in me. Just sat down to draw something, and here we are. I think this looks like decor for some warlock's grimoire.
Probably all over a grimoire somewhere. I'm fiddling with some seriously dangerous joojoo, so don't stand too close.

Baby New Year

This year is the year of the Rabbit in the Chinese calendar. My son will come into the world later this year, so that makes him a Rabbit.

(It already shows, his first communication with me was a wicked kick to the ear.)

According to our acupuncturist, boy Rabbits have quick reflexes and keen wit. It sounds like he'll keep us running, but I'm excited to have a boy in the family who acts quickly. Dear old dad is much

more of a tortoise.

Darwin At Large

Darwin At Large

Darwin at Large 1

Happy New Year!

Blockhead, and his quest for diluvian bliss

Blockhead Takes a Dip from Neil Graf on Vimeo. 
I'm using Flash these days to animate, and it feels good! I got an idea here for something like a video game level, a character going from point a to point b. Aside from the first animated post, this is also my first time using Vimeo. Its a good site/service and I recommend it highly.

Lighthouse

Its a lighthouse! With cannons!

That could be useful, right?

This actually is related to something I'm working on, so its not a complete non-sequitor.

Website and Blog Updates!

Good news! I've completely overhauled my website. I learned some CSS and Javascript in the process. They were a little time-consuming to pick up, but over all, much less difficult than I expected!
To match the website, I've redone the colors on the blog. Hope nobody barfs. Neons rule, is all. Must be my early 90's teenhood. Memories of dayglo fannypacks and LA Style shoes are so vivid. Wrong as they may be, I can't shake em!

Here's an illustration from the new crop featured on my site. That's my pet chinchilla messing around down there. I had to tone down his antics a little. In reality, all you would see is motion blurs.

These Stairs..

These stairs, in the parking garage of the building in which I work...

It used to be that I would come in in the morning and they would smell like delicious chocolate chip cookies. There aren't any cookies near the stairwell, so who knows why it was they smelled that way. It made me happy, I left it at that. 

Nowadays they smell sorta like pee. Its not a public stairwell, so its unlikely that there is actually pee in there.  I'd rather not know where the smell is coming from. I just wish the cookies would return.

Two of my favorite things

Suckas break like Totoro and Ozone..

Guys in Vans

Apparently guys in vans are very friendly. Waving is all well and good, but don't get in unless you know them!

Fun with Pronuncitation

So I've been seeing this car around town, the Bentley Brabus. Every time I see it, I can't help but start saying "Brabus" every single way I can imagine it being pronounced. Usually I use a kind of a british, fireside chat, old man who's a little too close with his tea-puckered lips kind of a voice.
"My boy.. when I was your age.. Neither man nor beast dare lay eyes upon.. for fear of terrible cabbage-ridden torment.. THE BRA-BYOOS!" (as he wips his head toward you, eyes ablaze, spittle flying, teacup trembling..)

Dragons and Otters

They have such a similar appeal,
Dragons and Otters.
Don't you think?

Nnnnnnnnnext.

Here's an update!
Oh what a weekend can bring. I went to the Nissei Week parade in Little Tokyo this weekend, it was a pretty good show. What did I come away with? A renewed interest in Taiko drumming and Akita dogs.
Akita fur is like a dense, soft brush. They have some angularish features and look bitchin as all get-out in a neck kerchief. Like if Dean Martin in 'Rio Bravo' were a japanese dog. I know the possibility has crossed your mind.
Taiko drumming is (apparently, mind you, I've done no research yet) a manner of beating a huge drum and looking as intense as possible doing it. Even when the dudes and gals would dance about as they beat the drums, it was intense.
If there is one thing I love, its intensely beaten drums. Don't ever think otherwise.

Oh, and then I got back to work and turned out this new pic of Rock. He looks more in line with the other characters now, while still feeling fluffy and reasonably un-roosterish. I like it way better!

Neil