Odd Tales From The Curio Shop Anthology

The Odd Tales anthology from Rocket Ink Studios has been finally published and looks darn good! This was done as a kickstarter, but should be available to the public in the coming year, so be sure to check it out. The book features such creators as Tony Miello, Mikey Babinski, Bill Pulkovski, Bill Maus, Kasey Pierce, Jay Jacot, John Marroquin, Dan Dougherty, Gary Reed, Dirk Manning, and myself. So, check it out!

cover by Bill Pulkovski

Back cover by me 

A sneak peek at the artwork by Bill Maus for the story that I wrote called Family Connections

Besides the written story, I also provided the pencils for a story written by Dan Dougherty called The Birdhouse. 

Belle Isle Aquarium 'Tankscaper' Pin

The Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit has a pretty good tankscaping team and who I'd like to think of as the chief (chef) member of that team asked me to help out with a pin design that he could give to each of the members as a way of showing his appreciation. If you ever get the chance, head on down to Belle Isle and see the work that they have done!

I had come up with a few designs, but this one with the coelacanth kept rising to the surface. The aquarium is the oldest one in the US, so why not an old fish to go along for the ride? The top part is keeping with the glass tile of the interior ceiling and the bottom is similar to the bottom walls and dividing wall. The jigsaw puzzle shape is a nod to the team's ability to put together the different pieces that go into making the scenery of each tank display. 

The pins were given to each team member yesterday at a party and hopefully, they were well received.

Go Figure! Sketch Night At Rainy Day Art Supply

This past Saturday night was the Go Figure sketch night at Rainy Day Art Supply. November's model was Rebbecah Sharpe a Mandolorian. 

I also draw some of the artists from time to time, as the one on the right attests.

Besides our host Kelly O'Hare, some of the artists present were Darin Palmer, Jay Fosgitt, Kevin Minor, Erin Legget, Darian Wolfe, Anne Garavaglia, Dug Rusin, and Scott Zambelli. Check out their artwork!

Star Wars Masterwork Artist Proof Sketch Cards

Here are the listings for my Artist Proofs for the Masterwork set released this week by Topps:

Qu'raSOLD    Dryden Voss

Darth Maul    Lady Proxima    Enfys Nest 

Star Wars Masterwork Sketch Cards

These here sketch cards are most of the ones that I did for the Star Wars Masterwork set released today by Topps. I chose to do all of my cards from the Solo movie as I hadn't drawn anything from that one so far. I will post my AP's probably on Friday.

Call & Response 3: Opening Reception, Part Two

Last night was the opening reception for the Call & Response 3: Artists and Poets in Dialogue show at the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. It was a good opening night with a very sizeable crowd and a whole lot of very good artwork and poetry. Below are the pics of my two pieces in the show alongside the coinciding poems.

My piece Ghost on the Tracks has been shown before and what was selected by the poet James Macmillen to write a poem about. This piece does have a specific story, so it was interesting to read the poem that James wrote about it. I was rewarded a fine piece, for sure.  

The Ghost On The Track

by James Macmillen

I am the ghost on the track, a track for trains

that sketched the land where the horses were.

And these lines are not my own.

For in a thousand years, when I am desoiled

and displayed by professors in mad suits

before a sea of kids, there will be a show

of hands, wild and eager, when asked

who I was. They will know my face,

know of my sleep, my missing limbs,

these clouded cheeks heavy with stories.

Though fewer hands will rise,

perhaps only the smallest,

when asked of my ladder

and what is was for.

The show runs through January 26, 2020 and you can buy a book with all of the works represented. 

Call & Response 3: Opening Reception

Tomorrow evening (7-9pm) is the opening reception for the Call & Response 3: Poets and artists in dialogue show at the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, located at 240 Chalfonte Ave. Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236

Below is one of the two pieces that will be shown. The other is a piece that I've shown before and that is the one that poet James Macmillen chose to write a poem about. I'm really looking forward to reading that. I'll show that piece along with the poem by James after the opening. My piece below is based on a poem by Lucinda Sabino. 

Haunted Waters

11x5x1.5

mixed media

Stones of Remembrance

by Lucinda Sabino 

Budapest 

We are huddled in a small group

with our guide, her superfluous words

whipped away with the wind. The bronze shoes

line up along the riverbank and the dead

speak for themselves.

A very old man in green uniform pants

cinched high like the mouth of a purse

plucks cigarette butts from around our feet

into an H&M shopping bag. We watch

mourners with their ancient

and eternal sorrow place stones

in those shoes and some of us lean close

to follow suit.

No one wants to look into the river,

to see what may be lodged their,

a child's toy, a bit of coat with pocket,

all the scattered bones

but we watch the surface, mesmerized 

by the ripples caused as ghosts buffet the surface.

They will not be weighted down. 

I hope that my sculpture does this poem justice and others will see, hopefully, a little of what I saw when reading it.

So, come on out tomorrow, if you are so inclined. Perhaps you'll see me burst into flames or something.