Wildest Dreams

I had another wonderful opportunity to do a new illustration for Stoker Award-Winning author Norman Partridge.

This time I got to dip into the world of his novel WILDEST DREAMS, personal favorite of mine, to celebrate it becoming an ebook.

You can read a sneak peek at the first chapter of the book over at Amazon to find out why the little girl isn't quite what she seems to be. But if you want to unravel what's in the bag that's bleeding in the shape of a pentagram.... well, I'd suggest you pick up the book. It'll be worth it. Trust me.

For more info on the story or about the legend himself, check out Norm's blog:

http://americanfrankenstein.blogspot.com/

Peace.

What the hell....

I'm not usually big on showing pictures of myself but I figured I've got enough friends on the internet who I've never had the privilege to meet face to face so I thought it'd be nice to show the face behind the art and words.

Hope everyone out there is doing well.

Peace.

Witches

I never realized it until now but apparently I love witches. HOCUS POCUS being one of my all time favorite, nostalgic Halloween movies. Can't wait to color these up.

The Little Witch Colored

Here's my Little Witch all colored up. Enjoy!

The Little Witch

Did this for fun. I'll color it eventually. Enjoy.

Little Red Riding Hood

Here's another in the same style as The Little Prince. This time based on a classic fairy tale and with a much tighter color palette.

The Little Prince

I did this drawing for my sister for her graduation gift. It was done in warm and cool gray COPIC markers. I enjoyed it so much that I thought I'd scan it in and slap some color on it.

Because You Asked For It...

Here it is! In anticipation of the upcoming Captain America movie. The big bad himself: THE RED SKULL. Based on the design for the movie because Hugo Weaving just looks so damn slick.

Happy Birthday to Me

Don't have a whole lot of time today but I decided to celebrate my birthday with a gag from an old classic: THE SHADOW!!

Coloring Contest

I follow a blog of a very talented story board artist named Heather Dixon and she recently published a book. To celebrate Ms. Dixon is having a coloring contest. I just couldn't help myself. The line work was fantastic and it I just had to dig into my digital coloring box and have a go at it.

Be sure to check out Ms. Dixon's blog when you get a chance. Trust me, you'll thank me.

http://story-monster.blogspot.com/

Traditional Art

I've been working on a children's book for some time now and I've been starting to make some headway in completing it so I thought I post a small teaser.

What I've been doing is penciling and inking the pieces traditionally and then scanning them into the computer and digitally coloring them. In addition to that, I've started coloring the pages in warm and cool gray Copic Markers so that once the book has been published I can sell the original art.

So, I hope everyone enjoys this little sneak peek and wish me luck on getting it all done soon!

Pop & Pictures

I don't usually post something without pictures but I had two interesting things happen to me yesterday that I wanted to share.

The first story starts with my wife's grandfather who we call Pop. Pop is man's man. He worked hard labor all his life and would give and do anything for his family. Even if he tends to come off rather harsh. Especially since the man has a mouth like a trucker.

Awhile back, Pop got diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. He'll be on Chemo for the rest of his life so now this man who is used doing his own work and being independent can't do the things he used to. Knowing that he was gonna need help chopping and bringing in wood for his wood stove I called him to tell him not to touch it and that I would be over on Sunday to take care of it. I fully expected him to fight me on it. What I got was one of funniest conversations I've ever had with the man. It went a little something like this. . .

(Phone Rings)

POP: Vaughn's Whorehouse.
ME: Haha, hey Pop!
POP: Well you gonna place an order or what?
ME: Sure, I'm gonna need a woman with a lot of experience.
POP: Oh, yeah I've got one of those. You gotta spit on it to get it started but she's good to go after that.
ME: HAHAHAH!! Oh my god, Pop!
POP: What's going on, kid?
ME: Not much, Pop. I was just calling to let you know that I'm coming to take care of your wood on Sunday. So don't touch it.
POP: Oooh, you don't wanna come over on Sunday.
ME: Why not?
POP: Cause Pat (his wife) cleans on Sundays.
ME: So?
POP: She cleans in her nightgown with no underwear on. So when she bends over pick something up you get a shot of an old man with a gray beard and no teeth.

I was speechless after that. I did eventually manage to get him to say he wouldn't touch the wood and to let me handle it. But God bless him, he made me work for it.

***

The other thing that happened last night was rather sad. It brought to mind a song by The Cure called "Pictures of You".

"I've been looking so long at these pictures of you that I almost believe that you're real"

It's one of my all time favorite songs by Mr. Smith. It's about loss and wanting and maybe even nostalgia for a person or place in time that was so special you know it will never come again in your entire lifetime and these little bits of emulsion on paper are your only link to those lost feelings. To me it's such a sad thing to see photographs in the trash, or even in old magazines as the person pictured is - or was - real and they lived and loved and hurt and dreamed and sometimes this is the final reminder that this person existed.

Last night I was walking the dog and I spotted among this huge mound of broken chairs and discarded lamps and obsolete computer components a huge pegboard with perhaps 50 or so pictures still attached. I took it and removed all the photos, which appeared to be a young woman's happy college years, a wedding and class photos of close friends. I tried to return them because surely they were accidentally discarded. . . Why would someone trash all those happy moments? The answer was the new occupants of the house had just rented the dwelling and apparently all the previous owned possessions were left behind inexplicably. Perhaps she died, or was physically unable to retrieve them. In any case, it made me sad to return these special moments in time to the garbage heap of history - someone lived, loved, and was loved and should be remembered.If it means anything at all, I'll do my best to remember them.

A Gift.

I did this as a gift for an old friend who passed away a long time ago. It also gave me an opportunity to try something I've toyed with on other occasions. I don't normally like to post my more personal works because of what they mean to me, and I prefer to keep what's in my heart to myself. However, I feel that the best way to share this with someone who's no longer with us is to share it with the world.

This is also one of the few occasions where the I based the girl off of a single piece of reference. I found a stock photo from a blog that follow that I thought was simple yet beautiful. Be sure to check out Anna Marine's blog. She's a fantastic artist who's done several book covers that carry a terrific old world feel to them.

http://anna-marine.blogspot.com/

Peace.

Happy Birthday American Frankenstein

I tried to post this on Saturday but had some computer troubles. Anyways, my good buddy Norman Partridge's blog American Frankenstein has hit its first year birthday and I had the wonderful privilege of drawing a little something for it.

I had a blast doing this one. Although I was worried I might not finish it on time. I spent so much time on the "penciling" and "inking" phase that it was a mad dash to get the color in. Nonetheless I'm very proud of how this one came out.

A very big thanks to Norm for letting me draw the big three, plus some eye candy, one more time. All the best.

God Damn Pancakes...

Don't ask. Just enjoy a little Hellboy action. Done with Pitt Pens and Warm Gray COPIC markers.