In A Gallery Far Far Away

                                        
                                     General Ursus
                       acrylic and gold leaf on canvas

No Canaries Here

acrylic on canvas

Although, the show actually started last week, tomorrow is the opening for the gallery show entitle In A Gallery Far Far Away. The show is sci-fi/fantasy/pop culture based and features some of Detroit's best illustrators and fine artists, including Alex Buechel, Matt Busch, Anne Garavaggio, Jeremy Hansen, Bill Morrison, Kelly Nemzek, Bill Pulkovski, Jay Shimko and myself. The speed painter Dave Santia will be doing his thing at about seven in front of the gallery. All proceeds from his auctioned paintings will go towards Benefits For Backpacks (I think). 

Here are the details:

A Gallery Far Far Away

The River's Edge Gallery

3024 Biddle Ave.

Wyandotte, MI 48192

www.artattheedge.com

The Star Wars costuming group, the 501st will also be on hand to make the evening even more festive. So, come on down river tomorrow evening, view some cool artwork, socialize with the animals, I mean the artists, and maybe hit one of the local eateries for dinner or a late snack. See ya there!

Alice In Wonderland

While I'm gearing up for the San Diego Comic Con next week, I thought I'd try to catch up a little in my posts here. So, I have the three images that I did for the Alice In Wonderland book called The Looking Glass. In the book there are 17 artists and over 30 illustrations all depicting their own version of Alice and her world. You can purchase the book directly through me or by clicking on the banner at the bottom of this page.

The book was concocted by fellow illustrator Bill Pulkovski and also has artwork by Matt Busch, Alex Buechel, Jay Shimko, to name a few.

The Queens

15x16

acrylic on illustration board

Alice And The Caterpillar

15x16

acrylic on illustration board

We're All Mad Here

15x16

acrylic on illustration board

I'd like to add that I used the likenesses of two of my nieces for the two Alice paintings.

Mid Ohio Con Wrap up

This past weekend I loaded up my stuff and headed down to Columbus for the Mid Ohio Con and had a very good time, I might add. The convention center was a very nice venue and was about half the size of the Motor City Con, but put together better, I think. It was mostly illustrators and like minded creators, with a few actors and just a small area of comic dealers, whereas Detroit's con has a huge area of dealers. Nothing wrong with that, I just thought it was refreshing to see a con with mostly artists.

It was fun to talk with quite a few sketch card collectors and to see their excitement about what they liked about the hobby. Also, it was nice to see the people who collected as a family, which I guess took me by surprise.

So, much thanks to everyone who came by my table, which was nestled right in the middle of fellow illustrators (and travel mates) Bill Pulkovski and Alex Buechel. Much fun was had by all.

This was my set up this time. I couldn't bring my display stands with framed originals because there just wasn't enough room in my jeep. The dude sitting there is fellow sci-fi/comics geek David Ozias who came along to help out and have a grand ole time.

Some illustrator type (Alex Buechel) who thinks he is a certain webslinger.

My friend Jay Miglia, the famed and notorious sax playin' Columbus inhabitant showing that yes, he was here.

Columbus from what little I saw of it seems like a great city and hopefully I'll be able to explore it some more soon!

Motor City Comic Con 2009

Last weekend was my first ever appearance as a guest artist at the Motor City comic Con. My buddie Matt has been urging me to do this for the past three cons, but I never felt quite ready. But, as I have learned, I will never be ready. For anything! So, this was my year to jump in and enjoy. Another of my friends, Darin, was my guest and helper for the weekend and we had been talking about doing the show for years, like, way back in the early nineties, or something. So, it was nice that we finally got to experience it.

This was one of the pieces that I had just finished prior to the show.

Night Owl

15x20

acrylic on illustration board
This was my view for most of the day on Saturday. Like the guy next to me said, "chicks dig R2."
Matt Busch and Tracy Surgener scaring off customers on an already slow Sunday.
This was my set-up. I had prints, original paintings, copies of my cartoon books and sketch cards.

This was a really good weekend and I had a lot of fun doing it. I was lucky to be set up right next to Matt Busch and Alex Beuchel, so there at least was someone to talk to. The traffic flow right in front of us wasn't all that great (we were in a big area), but we were in the celebrity area, which was kind of cool. Just three booths over was Gil "Buck Rogers" Gerard and we were right across from the playmates (sweet) and some scary wrestlers. 

Many thanks to the people and friends who stopped by to make a purchase or to just chat about art and comics and stuff. 

Motor City Art Expo, Part Two

Last week's Motor City Art Expo at the Emerald Theatre was the best yet out of my three years there. Not only did I get to see some peeps that I only see at this event, but I sold two paintings , a few prints, some magnets and bookmarks. It felt good to pound back a few whiskey sours and talk art with patrons, friends, family and my fellow artists.

One of my wife's co-worker's David Ozias with my painting Icarus 1915, in which he purchased.
Young art patron David with another purchased painting, WTF?
Friend and Author/Ghost Hunter, Wolf Little Bear
And my little corner at the Emerald Theatre.

Some of the other artists that were there promoting their own stuff included illustrator Matt Busch who besides his usual great Star Wars illos, was promoting his new movie, Illustration Nation, which documents his travels around the world in support of his artwork. I'm told I have a split second cameo (more on this later). Author Wolf Little Bear was there promoting his books and his ghost hunting investigations and Alex Buechel who is also a very good illustrator. So, check them out when you get the chance.

Once again, thanks to all the people who came out and stopped by my table, even if it was just to say hello. It was a fun night.