A Michigan To Texas Birthday Wish 2019

Each year, my friend Sandra down in Texas gets internet pics posted for her birthday and hopefully, she still gets a bunch of them. This year's pic is from a foggy rainy day back in March along Lake St. Clair here in Michigan.

Happy Birthday, Sandra!

Happy Festivus!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Go Figure! Sketch Night At Rainy Day

Here are some sketches that I did for the December meet-up of the Go Figure! sketch night at Rainy Day Art Supply. This time, our model was Mary Perrin who returned dressed as Krampus. And a fine get up, it was. Hooved, horned and festive.

Our host Kelly being dragged away for unspeakable acts, I'm assuming.

It's a fun time at these get-togethers and among some of the local artists that attended were Kelly O'Hara, Darin Palmer, Jay Fosgitt, Dug Rusin, Dave Linabury, Jaime Crystal Taperek and Erin Leggett, Anne Garavaglia and Jason Westlake. Check out their work!

Rise Of Skywalker Artist Proof Sketch Cards

Here are my Artist Proofs that were done for the just-released Rise Of Skywalker card set from Topps. The links are listed below if interested:

Palpatine (?)    KlaudSOLD    The Emperor

C-3PO  

A Christmas Cartoon

A Christmas/pop culture mash-up cartoon for ya.

Pipedreams #13

(click on image to make bigly)

In this next installment of the Pipedreams strip that I did with fellow creator Darin Palmer many moons ago, we have here Melvin with his little 'friends' trying his best to put the moves of the womenfolk.  It might not be working. 

Keep in mind that these characters are all based on actual people and events, so let that sink in while you try to sleep tonight. 

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.

Call & Response 3: Poets And Artists In Dialogue

Starting next week, I'll have two pieces in a show called Call & Response 3: Poets and Artists in Dialogue. For this unique show, the poets selected a piece of work from the artists and they then wrote a poem based on the work. The artists did the same. We had to create a piece based on their poems. The poet who selected my work is James Macmillen and I look forward to what he has done. The poem that I selected was done by Lucinda Sabino. Both of my pieces are sculptures and I will show them here next week.

The show will be held in the basement of the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church at 240 Chalfonte in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, starting on Nov. 10 with the opening reception to be held on the 14th (7-9pm). There will be a Poetry reading and Discussion Forum to be held on January 9th (7-9pm). The show runs through January 26th.

Pipedreams #12

(click on image to make big-like)

Here is the next strip that was done oh, so many years ago by Darim Palmer (story/inks/colors) and myself (story/pencils). We took a lot of material from the day to day happenings of the factory life that we were enduring and some of these are not too far from the truth. Melvin was smitten with the lady kind quite often. 

Inktober Day 31: Ripe

Well, maybe this one is a little past ripe.

Well, there ya have it, the last of the Inktober challenges. A puking pumpkin a fitting end on Halloween.

Inktober Day 30: Catch

Oh, so many ways to interpret the word 'catch.' Catch a cold, catch a fish monster, catch a facehugger... And a wide receiver catching a severed head. Watch the splatter when you spike it. 

Inktober Day 29: Injured

Today's word prompt was 'injured.' 

"It's only a flesh wound!"

Inktober Day 28: Ride

Today's word prompt is 'ride.' It's the last ride for this fella...

Go Figure! Sketch Night At Rainy Day

This past Saturday night was the monthly Go Figure! sketch night at Rainy Day Art Supply. This month, our model was Mary Perrin dressed as Edward Scissorhands. And a fine Scissorhands she was, with the mannerisms and all.

Besides our host, Kelly O'Hara, some Detroit notables were on hand. Jay Fosgitt, Darian Wolfe, Jason Westlake and Dave Linabury. Check out their artwork! 

Inktober Day 27: Coat

Today's word prompt is 'coat.' This guy has places to go, places to be. 

Inktober Day 26: Dark

Today's word prompt is 'dark.' As in Darkman! Sure, why not? 

Inktober Day 25: Tasty

This is from experience. I know this first hand. My dogs find me very tasty. 

Inktober Day 24: Dizzy

I was going to go with a ditzy Ivanka Trump, but the word prompt wasn't 'dumbass.' so I went with the man himself, Dizzy. 

Inktober Day 23: Ancient

Today's word prompt was 'ancient,' so here's a little Mummy's Shroud action for ya.

Inktober Day 22: Ghost

Today's word prompt is 'ghost,' so I thought to combine the singer of Ghost as a ghost, as well. It was this or a sheet with two holes cut out for eyes. I'm all or nothing it seems. 

Inktober Day 21: Treasure

Today's word prompt was 'treasure.'

Visions From The Upside Down: Stranger Things Art Book

Discovering Things

ink on bristol

8.5x11.25

Last Tuesday was the release of the Stranger Things art book, Visions From the Upside Down, in which I have a piece. I call this one Discovering Things and the book is put out by Printed In Blood through Del Rey Books. Check it out on Amazon and wherever books are sold. I will have an official print available at some point soon.

Inktober Day 20: Tread

For today's official Inktober word prompt, I present 'tread.' It could be a commercial. It could. 

Traction in all conditions.

Inktober Day 19: Sling

You know... Sling as in Sling Blade. Although my Billy Bob Thornton might just look more like Harry Belafonte. I'm seeing a little of both. Weird.

Inktober Day 18: Misfit

A little play on the Misfits logo for the word of the day, Misfit.

Inktober Day 17: Ornament

Today's official word prompt was 'ornament.' So, a Halloweeny type ornament for ya.

Inktober Day 16: Wild

Today's word is from the place where those things are generally found. Wild. It's where they are.

And a little bit of Sendak style thrown in to boot. 

Inktober Day 15: Legend

The official Inktober word prompt for today is 'legend.' You know it.