Vader

As the year comes to a close, it will go out with Star Wars and come in as Star Wars, so here is a little bit o' Vader (or what's left of him) to celebrate the new year.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope no one gets shot.

A Michigan To Texas Birthday Wish 2015

Each year my friend Sandra collects photos from her internet friends for her birthday. Here is a pic of a cheetah from a visit to the Toledo Zoo last March. This guy was so relaxed. I made a few clicking sound and he slowly turned my way and waited until I took the picture before going back to daydreaming or whatever it is that cheetahs do on chilly March days.

Happy Birthday, Sandra!

How We Built A Weathervane, Part Three

In the last section we left off at the formation of the tail fin in clay. Now on to some details.

Next up, we added the details to the tail fin.

The facial features were added at this point, including gills.

At this stage, the fins were carved out of foam using a hot wire sculpting tool and added in place to see how it would all come together. The electric eel was also started at this point and can be seen at the lower left of the pic.

The fins were then sculpted in clay to get the details.

Season's Greetings 2015

No matter how you celebrate, do it well, do it with joy and do it safely. All the best to you and yours!

Star Wars Hi Tek Sketch Cards

Since everything is Star Wars right now, here's some more of that goodness. These are a few of the 43 sketch cards that I did for the SW Hi Tek set recently put out by Topps. These cards are smaller than the usual kind, but are placed into a frame and then inserted into the packs. On this set I chose to focus of the animated series Rebels, since I have never drawn them before now. 

Star Wars At The Edge

Tomorrow, starting at noon and going until five, join me along with Bill Pulkovski, Tony Miello and John Marroquin at the River's Edge Gallery in Wyandotte, MI for the Star Wars at the Edge event to celebrate the release of the new film. We have all worked on official Star Wars properties, so the gallery has brought us in to sell our works with Star Wars in mind. We will have originals, prints, sketch cards and will be doing commissions of your favorite Star Wars characters.

Then, after that join us for the Motor City Sketch official Holiday Party. Bring your sketch books or bring yourselves and have some fun rewinding after a day of shopping and visiting.

How We Built A Weathervane, Part Two

In the last post about the making of the Belle Isle Aquarium weathervane, we left off with the basic form of the gar taking shape. Now, on to the next steps....

Here, we have the basic shape of the gar now with most of the fins made out of foam.

Since we took a sculptural approach instead of a metalsmith one, I needed to sculpt the gar.  So, after the foam was done I began adding clay to further push the gar into fruition.

Here the gar is completely covered with clay.

Each night we had to wrap the clay in water soaked clothes to prevent drying.

Here the tail fin is beginning to take shape.

Captain Scarlet Sketch Cards

These are the cards that I did for the very soon to be released Captain Scarlet set by Unstoppable Cards. I believe that they can be available for purchase on the 14th. Check out the site for more details.

Captain Scarlet was one of the creations of Gerry Anderson, who also did the Thunderbirds tv show.

Some Recent Commissions

Some recent sketch card commissions of Columbo (well, my version of him, anyways) and pin-up type card.

How We Built A Weathervane, Part One

The Belle Isle Aquarium weathervane is finished and it is up, so I've decided to do a series of posts showing how it was all put together.

It all started with a design. This was the image that I sent my proposal with for the design competition that was held by the belle Isle Conservancy and the Butzel Long law firm, which has a long time relationship with the aquarium.

After working out some details with Venus Bronze Works, the company selected to manufacture the weathervane, I glued together some foam blocks to the overall size of the gar. This step would be to find the basic shape before all the detail would be put in.

The carving of the foam was done in my backyard in October of 2014. I laid an enlarged copy of the gar over the foam as my guideline.

Using hot wire sculpting tools, the basic shape began to emerge.

Refining some basic shape, such as the tail and adding the nose.

This is the basic shape of the gar portion of the weathervane. The fins would be added next.

Visigoths

And there's this guy. Unfortunately, I have to live across the street from him. He is one of those ex-convict, anti-government (so, he can commit more crimes), anti-nature (offended by it, actually), racist ( he usually has a confederate flag flying in between his red bow Christmas decorations), redneck(shoot everything and everybody) type of loser. His mugshot is entertaining. He usually acts up when I'm not around, but my wife has no tolerance for this guy and gives him shit when he deserves it. So, a few weeks ago he is blowing the leaves on his lawn across the street to our side because we have a big tree with lots of leaves. When my wife confronts him, he says 'they aren't his leaves.' Awesome. And being the type that he is, intelligence is a strong skill with him. The leaves on his lawn probably weren't ours to begin with, because the wind usually blows from west to east, not north to south.

When I see him next )of course, he is never around when I'm home), I'll be sure to tell him that the cigarette butts that he flicks on my lawn aren't mine when I flick them back.

If you are wondering what that is behind his head, that's a rat's nest he calls hair. Or what's left of it.

Journey To The Force Awakens Artist Proof Cards

I finally received my return cards back from Topps for the Journey To The Force Awakens set and here they are. So, if you are a fan of Jango, Poggle, the Emperor, Darth, Akbar or Maul hit me up.

Local Author And Comic Book Fair

Tomorrow, I alongside a few local creators will be at the Bacon Memorial Library in Wyandotte, MI for the first Local Author Book Fair. In addition to the authors there will be a comic (and cartoon) section featuring the above artists and writers. The fun starts and three and goes until eight. Snowstorm be damned!

The Grand Poobah of Motor City Sketch

This past Saturday, we had the November meet up of Motor City Sketch and joked that we should be more like the Waterbuffaloes and have cool hats. So, I sketched Darin Palmer as the Grand Poobah.

ISISSY

In response to yesterday's cowardly attacks in Paris, I was compelled to do a cartoon, as one such as I is wont to do. The pen is mightier than the sword as ISIS knows all to well, with their fear of cartoons. They shall from this day forward be know as terrorists from ISISSY and here is how you can spot one.

Dinosaur Sketch Cards

Now that I see these cards hitting eBay, I'd say it's safe to show these now. These are some of the many sketch cards that I did earlier in the year for Upper Deck. The multi paneled cards have drawing on the backs of them, as well. I do have blank artist proof cards for commissions.

Caliber Rounds Interview

Here is a short interview that I did recently with Travis Mcintire from Caliber Rounds. You can check out their Facebook page here.

1.How did you end up doing work for Caliber Comics?

       

       I helped start a sketch group about five years ago called Motor City Sketch and we had a get         together at Wonderworld Comics in Taylor. Gary had put a call out for a somewhat secret project that he would like to discuss with local creators and that he would be there to talk about it. There was a pretty good turnout as can be imagined. Gary was putting together the Voices From The Deadworld book and wanted it to mainly have Michigan artists in it. I’m not sure how the selection process worked, but I was given the character Tattoo to illustrate and I was able to submit a zombie character of my own design. I had done a sketch a few years before of a hermit type guy with a black trench coat and all these pocket watches attached to it. I’m not sure if he was out of time, had nothing but time or was timeless, but I liked the imagery, so I changed him from a hermit to a zombie and sent it in. There were some funny email exchanges about this character, but in the end Gary wrote up an interesting back story for him. Since Voices of the Deadworld I have been fortunate enough to contribute illustrations for various Gary Reed publications. 

2. If you could be the artist for any character or property, what would it be and why?

    When I was younger, I would have killed to be the artist for The Amazing Spider-Man. He was by far my favorite character and had all the great artists on that title. Spider-Man had the best costume and would have been great to draw. I’m sure all of the buildings would have given me fits, but I could always see the attraction to drawing that title.

If we are talking about a Caliber character, then I would go with a King Zombie tale. That would be great fun. He lends himself wonderfully to great visuals with the leather biker jacket, red headband, spiked hair, etc. He’s an interesting creature to draw and explore graphically. 

These days I tend to lean more to the stories I want to tell. I have three graphic novels that I have been kicking around ideas on for quite some time. They need to be done, but with being busy (which is good) I have a hard time getting to them. So many stories to tell with so little time. There’s that clock zombie coming back to haunt me. So, with that said, I need to set aside time to get these stories told.

3. What’s next on the horizon for Bruce Gerlach?

      I am currently working on the third book for the Stoopid Stuf cartoons that I do with my fellow co-conspirator Kevin Minor. We seem to have a good following and were almost picked up by Universal Press Syndicate, plus we are just having too much fun in creating these off the wall and most times cheesy cartoons. It’s what we do. 

I am also currently wrapping up a couple of projects for clients, including a ten page comic for a writer in Chicago and a sculpture for someone in Tennessee. I will release details about those when I can. 

Also, the clock zombie tells me that a few graphic novels that need to be started…

The Force Awakens Sketch Cards, Part Three

These are the rest of my Journey To The Force awakens sketch cards recently released by Topps. I do have return cards available, if interested.

The Belle Isle Aquarium Weathervane

After a little more than a year since winning the design competition for the aquarium weathervane, it is finally sitting atop its new home. I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of each step from conception to installation and will do weekly posts about the entire process, but for now I'd like to thank some people. Although, most of the work was done by myself and Giorgio Gikas, there were a lot of people who helped out along the way (even if their contribution was brief, it still helped to achieve the goal). This was truly a team effort. I know that I will probably forget someone, so if you read this post and felt you helped in some way, give me a holler and I'll add you to the list.

First and foremost, thanks need to be said to Dick Rassel and the law firm of Butzel Long. Butyl Long has a connection with the aquarium that goes back 100 years, I believe, and to celebrate their longevity and their connection with the fishes they put up the money for the design contest. They started it all. Dick seems like a good guy and I hope he is happy with the final product.

Next, the Belle Isle Conservancy and the chair people of the Belle Isle Aquarium, which include Michelle Hodges, Vance Patrick, Jennifer Boardman, Katy Wyerman, and Chris Meister. Some volunteers and staff at the aquarium should be thanked for their support and enthusiasm: Tom Drummy, Carol White, Richard Kik, John MacKenzie, Joe Guibourg, Steven Macklay, Steve Huer and many more!

At Venus Bronze Works where the work was done, my thanks to Giorgio Gikas, Leslie Cislo, James Viste, Cory, Josh Martin, Andre, Zach and Nario.

There were some local businesses who supplied materials for the work or did some actual work for us and all of them were super helpful and great to deal with. The staff at Federal Pipe, the guys at Metric Tool, Alro Steel, J&R Sheet Metal...

Brad Shimko and the rest of the guys from the Detroit Fire Department for helping get this sucker to the roof.

The Macomb Daily, WJR and ClickonDetroit for the interviews and coverage.

My wife, Tina, for putting up with me and being supportive during the whole process.

Thanks to all who appreciate such things and for being so patient while this thing was being built.

Day Of The Dead Show At St. Cece's, Part Three

                                                      Sugared Buffalo
                                                      5x7
                                                      watercolor and ink on bristol
                                                      $40

                                                      Sugared Horns
                                                      5x7
                                                      watercolor and ink on bristol
                                                      SOLD

                                                      Sugared Horns #2
                                                      5x7
                                                      watercolor and ink on bristol
                                                      $40

                                                      Sugared Rodent
                                                      5x7
                                                      watercolor and ink on bristol
                                                      $40



Today was the last day for the Day Of The Dead show at St. Cece's in Detroit and has all but been taken down. But, here are the other four pieces that were on display. They are all framed and can still be purchased from me.

Deadworld Day

This Saturday I will be in Saginaw, MI for the Deadworld Halloween Comicfest at Coy's Comics. The event will go from noon until 8pm and I will be there with Gary Reed And Marvel/DC inker Jason Moore. I will have most of the usual stuff, including two Deadworld prints and some Deadworld books and will be signing bottles of dead world Soda, as well, so stop on by.

Btw, that zombie pig is drinking a Deadworld soda that I drew the label for.

Thunderbirds 50th Sketch Cards

These are the sketch cards that I did for the very soon to be released Thunderbirds 50th card set by Unstoppable Cards. This set celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Thunderbirds tv series by Gerry Anderson.

Day Of The Dead Show At St. Cece's, Part Two

                                            Sugared Four-Legs
                                            5x7
                                            watercolor and ink on bristol
                                            $40 framed

                                          Sugared Gar
                                          5x7
                                          watercolor and ink on bristol
                                          $40 framed


Here's a couple more from the Day Of The Dead show currently going on at St. Cece's in Detroit. The show runs until Nov. 2.