Sketching At The Detroit Zoo

 

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colored pencil in sketchbook

This past Wednesday found me back at the Detroit Zoo with some friends doing a little sketching and walking around. The Detroit Zoo is known worldwide for the happy mental state of their animals and it shows. They are usually quite active. Those dainty rhinos would not stay in one place. I tried to sketch the young chimpanzees, but wow, were they flying around. I was able to at least get some good pics, though. 

Blue Shark Sketch

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ink in sketchbook

My buddy's kid is going to the University of Maine to become a marine biologist and he's been keeping me in the loop as to his doings and experiences. He just finished a weeklong course where they went out into the Atlantic and caught and tagged some sharks, mostly blues. So, a bit inspired, I did a quick blue shark sketch for #SundayFishSketch. It's been awhile since I've done one.

And he had some very cool pics. 

 

Emerging

 

My latest Substack is about one of the pieces that I have in the Emerge! 2026 show at the Hannan Center in Detroit. You can click HERE to get there.

Star Wars Galaxy Chrome Sketch Cards

 So, after a six year time-out with Topps and doing Star Wars stuff, I am now back in the fold. I was doing MLB work for them, during that time, so all was not lost. Anyways, I am now on my 3rd set for them this year. I signed on to do 60 cards and had 19 of them rejected. My likenesses were off, so they say. Some of them, I could see why, as I was pushing some stylized looks. Others had me scratching my head, but it happens. So, here are my accepted cards for the just released set for the Galaxy Chrome series.

You can click on each individual set of nine for a closer look. For this set, I wanted to focus on the movies and series that I didn't get to draw during my six year absence. Andor, The Mandalorian, Season 3, Skeleton Crew, and The Acolyte. Fun stuff to draw, for sure. 

My next set has less rejections! 

Entangled

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ink on bristol board

I started this drawing years ago and just now finished it. It really only had a little bit to go, I just needed to buckle down on the bottom part. So, I'm thinking that maybe my style evolved some, but not too sure. I think I would have handled the helmet a little different these days, but I think that my objective was met with this one, so I'm happy. 

This could have easily been titled Mislead Man In A Mangrove. 

 

Sketchbooks And The Stickers That Adorn them

Hey, a double post today!

My latest Substack is up and is about... stickers! You can read about it HERE.

 

Emerge! 2026

 I will have two pieces in the Emerge! 2026 exhibit starting tomorrow at the Hannan Center in Detroit. The show will run through mid September . 

My two pieces are a sculpture and a woodblock print, keeping with the them of emergence. 

Emerging

soapstone
photo by John Wood

The sculpture, pictured above was carved out of soapstone and has all these great looking colors that come out when wet. I had applied a coat of tung oil recently that brought out some of those colors, but it did make it darker than what is pictured here. 

Ascending

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woodcut print

The woodcut print was a lot of fun to do. My first woodcut, actually. I was happy with how the patterns of the sea came out. And... it's a hammerhead!

So, the opening is tomorrow as stated in the flyer and it goes from noon until 7.

I will be exhibiting alongside a few friends, as well. Dug Rusin will have two colored pencil pieces and Mary Stebbins Taitt and Laura Reed will have pieces, too. Stop on by, check out the show. I'm sure that it will be a good one (I saw some of the works when I was dropping my pieces off and there are some good ones). And remember, there will be a hammerhead present!

Broomstick Bee Sketch

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pencil sketch in sketchbook

Recently, we watched the documentary Secrets of the Bees and in it they showed a cool little bee named the broomstick bee, because it collects sticks and branches that resemble broomsticks to build temporary protective covering for themselves and each other. So, of course, I wanted to do up a sketch of a little witch bee riding its broomstick. And they do need a hat, after all. 

 

Elroy

 

colored pencil from sketchbook

We lost our faithful, loyal and best buddy, Elroy on Monday. 

I was looking for this sketch done last December when I was working on ideas for future Christmas cards. This one was done of Elroy wearing a plush reindeer hoodie. He looks a little crazy here, but sometimes that tooth came out. So, instead of an elf lip-locked to a giant candy cane, this is what you can expect for this year's card. 

He was a good boy. 

Bill Mauldin

 

I wasn't too sure that I would be able to write up this post for today due to unavoidable circumstance here on the home front, but as I started to make it yesterday, I found it to be helpful with dealing with what we were dealing with. I suppose, more on that later.

Anyways, today's Substack is about the cartoonist Bill Maudlin and how he influenced my own cartoons. You can check it out HERE.

Ye Olde Quill Pen

My latest newsletter post is up and is about sketching with a goose quill pen. Fun. You can click HERE to read it whenever you get a chance.

 

Sketch Safari At The Detroit Zoo

 In the two sketch groups that I am a part of, there has been talk for about a year now of having a sketch night at the Detroit Zoo. We were finally able to do so, albeit a low turnout for this first time. We started when most people are still at work (peeps can arrive whenever they want as the zoo is open until 8 on Wednesdays) and there was intermittent rain, but that didn't deter us. Plus, there are buildings to duck (pun intended?) into when the rain became heavy. The animals were quite active, so we did a lot of walking around and taking pics. We did sketch, as that was the plan!

Here a some sketches that I did.

The male otter was out and was swimming in the rain. before he became active, I sketched the enclosure, including the water slide.

The top sketch is of the otter zipping by underwater. Sketching movement quickly is an exercise one must work at. The rhinos were out and about, moving around in the rain. 

Oceanic Tendrils

 

My latest Substack is up and has everything to do with the process of creating the scratchboard piece. You can check it out HERE. 

Blue & White Invitational At The Holland Museum

 

Oceanic Tendrils

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scratchboard/clayboard and watercolor

I will have a piece in the Blue & White Invitational at the Holland Museum. The exhibit starts this Friday and runs through October. You can get all the details HERE. 

This is my second gallery show of the year (there will be a third) and my first ever at a museum, so that's exciting. 

The show is inspired by the Delft collection at the museum, so anything blue and white was fair game. Of course, I went weird. Weird, you say? Pshaw, it's normal where I operate. Tentacles, sharks and gulper eels... I hang with only the best creatures.

So, make sure to tell your friends and if you find yourself on the west side of the state of Michigan, then check it out. It's a cool museum and city, as well.

A Tracery Of Loss

 Here is the second illustration that I did for Mary Stebbins Taitt's book of poetry titled When Time Stumbled. It's a simple image for some strong imagery. 

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ink on bristol board

Here is the poem by Mary:

A Tracery Of Loss

While spray painting a fern for a collage,

I left behind a tracery of the space

around the fern and an absence where the fern

had been, which reminded me of the shadows

of people left by the bomb,

which in turn reminded me of that giant you-shaped hole

in my heart now that you are gone.

  You can pick up a copy of When Time Stumbled here. 

Robots, Aliens, Heroes, and Villains...

And a lizard, too. 

My latest Substack is up and is all about some watercolor pop culture images that I did some time ago and forgot about. You can click HERE to check them out.

Belleville Drink N Draw May 2026

 This past Wednesday was the May edition of the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub. I worked on a few ideas for some cartoons, a fantasy job and sketched one of our sketchers, although it really doesn't look like her.

colored pencil in sketchbook

The little chickadee is my fantasy idea of attempting to instill some culture in the city where I reside. It'll never happen, but I can dream. I have another idea involving the military museum near my house. I can design a better sign than what they have...

These little catfish are for a cartoon that I will soon do, involving them and a kayak. Hilarious.

Antlered Maul

 

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ink on bristol board

Over the weekend at the Cherry Capital Comic Con, I did this drawing of Darth Maul, with his horns forming something of a crown. Antlered, so to speak. The idea coming from pal and fellow artist Bryan Mazany. I wanted to do something focused on a new show or movie and the new Darth Maul series Maul: Shadow Lord recently dropped, so that's where I went. Disclaimer: He doesn't have a crown of horns in the series. 

The drawing was done at Friday night's Drink N Draw event and all the drawings done that night were auctioned off on Saturday night's after party. And wouldn't ya know it, Bryan bid on and won the drawing. 

Cherry Capital Comic Con 2026

 

I have been so gosh darned busy the past few days that I almost forgot to post about this weekend. Yikes! So, I will be set up in Artists Alley at the Cherry Capital Comic Con at the Grand Traverse Resort in Acme (Traverse City), MI the entire weekend. I'll have books, comics, prints, stickers, original art, including AP sketch cards, etc.

Stop on by, if you are in the area! There will be plenty of cool artists there!

The Gentoo Scratchboard Process

 

My latest Substack is up and has a brief description of the process of creating the gentoo penguin scratchboard. You can check it out HERE.

When Time Stumbled Exhibit

 

postcard by Mary Stebbins Taitt

This Saturday, May 9th from 3-5pm there will be an opening reception for the When Time Stumbled exhibit, featuring artwork from the book of the same name. A book of poetry by Mary Stebbins Taitt, honoring the life of her brother Tom, who passed in the fall.

I have two pieces in the book, but only one will be shown at the exhibition. Below is that illustration, all framed up courtesy of Rainy Day Art Supply.

photo by Kelly Nemzek

The show actually begins tomorrow, but the reception will be on Saturday.

Color Ink Studio is located at 20919 John R Rd, Hazel Park, MI 48030.

Belleville Drink N Draw April 2026

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ink in sketchbook

Last Wednesday was the April edition of the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub. I had Bangers & Mash for dinner... Joy struck up a conversation with some motorcycle gang members, then one of them struck up a conversation with us... there was talk of tattoos... then Joy became Bangers & Mash. She was destined to become Bangers & Mash or Internally Vulgar... B&M looked better on the forearms. 

There's always good conversation on sketch night.

 

2026 Appearances

 

Not my pic...stolen from the inter webs...

My latest Substack is up and is all about my appearances at comic cons and galleries and stuff like that. Check it out here.

Chili & Chester

 

My latest Substack post involves some cartoon characters from some time ago. Here, they meet their untimely and somewhat stupid demise. Click here to find out why they died and where they went.

Into The Voices

 

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ink on bristol board

(click on image to bigify)

I had the honor of providing two drawings for Mary Stebbins Taitt's book of poetry called When Time Stumbled. The book is a tribute for her brother Tom, who passed away last October. For those of you who aren't familiar with Mary, who is an incredible artist as is, but she is a wonderful poet, as well. I can really connect with her imagery. 

The first of the two drawings that I did is for a poem called Into The Voices. Sometimes, well actually, a lot of times, I can be quite literal when adapting the written word, whether a poem, a short story or a song, in which I have done all three at times. And this one is kind of no different. But, I have no regrets with this piece. The poem has an o'possum in it and I just had to make that my central focus. The rest is more of the literal part. I was quite happy with my crazed and excited  'possum. I'll show the second drawing in another post.

Here is Mary's poem Into The Voices

An animal climbs into the bush outside my window, 

it's identity lost in darkness, a 'possum, perhaps,

or a raccoon. meanwhile, inside my room, the voices. start.

All of them.

Some rise above the din, other sink

and disappear in the babble. Strange voices whisper

suggestions, make proclamations, ask questions.

Rant and rave. People I don't know, have never met, holler.

Their words make no sense, confuse me.

Outside,

the animal crashes in the branches. "How do you say -- afraid?

a male voice asks, in a heavy Russian accent.

His face appears from the dark sea of faces, a stout,

middle-aged man with a worried look and dark bushy eyebrows. 

Another man, speaking German, writes algebraic equations

on a blackboard while an old white-haired woman explains

how to crochet.

A man with odd, glowing salmon skin

appears on a white stallion with a flowing mane.

Though I don't know him, he feels familiar, a long ago lover,

perhaps. He holds out a hand, and I climb on behind.

We canter easily off.

Somewhere in the receding distance,

an animal climbs down out of a bush and walks away

into the locusts. Tonight, with this man, I ride ankle deep, 

thigh deep in a sea of voices.

We climb the side of a hill, 

above a valley where a green sun just rises,

half of it visible above the edge of the ridge.

The book will be available for purchase at the gallery opening reception, on May 9th at the color Ink Studio in Hazel Park, MI. The show will run through the end of May and will feature artwork from the book. My above piece will be in that show. 

A Peter Dinklage Sketch

 

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pencil in sketchbook

Back in February, I watched a video of the actor Peter Dinklage, who was reading a poem by Amanda Gorman in Minneapolis at an event to show support for the people there, for obvious reasons. His stance, posture, balance, his long winter coat interested me. It would be fun to sketch him. A couple months later, I did so.

Detroit Comic Book And toy Show 2026

 

poster by Martin Hirschak

This Saturday, you can find me set up at the Detroit Comic Book and Toy Show in Dearborn, MI, among a good line-up of Michigan artists, including a few more than listed on the flyer above. Stop on by and say hello.

I'll have books, comic books, sketch card AP's stickers, prints, a jigsaw puzzle, or two and original art. See you there!

Workplace Cartoons, Part 13

 My latest Substack is the final chapter of my mattress making cartoons. I was there awhile, so there were a lot of them over the years. Click here to suffer miserably.

Belleville Drink N Draw March 2026

 

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pencil in sketchbook

Last week was the March meet-up for the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub. It was a smaller group this time, but the night was filled with good conversation, grub and drinks. The talk was so good that I almost forgot to sketch. But, I did get some in, doing a sketch of who has become a favorite subject, Todd. He has a great big bushy beard (that must be said in a Jim Broadbent as Frank Butterman voice. IFYKYK). 

Recent Scratchboards With Color

 

Bumblebee

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scratchboard/clayboard and watercolor

Gentoo

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scratchboard/clayboard and watercolor 

I just added a bit of color to each piece. 

The Detroit Minotaur

 

I did a post on my Substack about a small sculpture that I did a while back and the book that it appeared in. You can click here to read all about it. 

Cryptids Artist Proof Sketch Cards

 

I finally finished my Cryptids Artist Proof sketch cards that I have had sitting around since 2012 when the initial set was released via Viceroy Cards. The links are below if anyone is interested in obtaining them.

The Loveland Frogman    Ningen    Yeti    The Giant Green Squirrel of Amble. 

Warren Elks Comic Book Show March 2026

 

Poster by Martin Hirchak

This just in... I will be a last minute addition to tomorrow's Warren Elks Comic Book Show. All the details are on the flyer. I might, just might have a few new AP sketch cards on hand. Other than that, all the usual stuff, books, prints, stickers, AP sketch cards, original art, etc. Hope to see you there!

Workplace Cartoons, Part 12

 

I've posted more of my Workplace cartoons over on my Substack. Click Here to be amused. Hopefully.

Belleville Drink N Draw Feb 2026

 

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ink in sketchbook

This past Wednesday was our February meet-up for the Belleville Drink N Draw at Egan's Pub. There was a decent turnout and we had a great time with some good conversations and sketchin.' There was a small blip when a patron (not one of ours) went down hard and luckily an off-duty Detroit paramedic was right there when he went down and the guy received immediate attention. He seemed ok, but they decided to take him to the hospital anyways for safe measure. At that point, I wasn't sure what I wanted to work on, so sketched the scene. The image is a little blurry on the side there because of the sketchbook spine, but you get the idea.

A Scratchboard Gentoo

 

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scratchboard/clayboard

Last week a group of us visited the Detroit Zoo for a penguin experience where we could feed and interact with them. There were gentoos, rockhoppers, macaronis and even a king came to visit. 

Then a few days later, I got together with art pals Mary and Jennifer and I worked on this scratchboard gentoo based on some sketches made up from my photos. The plan is to add some color on the beak.