A Michigan To Texas Birthday Wish

Today is the birthday of my internet pal, Sandra, and on this day she likes to collect photos from all her internet peeps across the globe. So, I thought that I would pass along a bit of Detroit for her enjoyment. This is the entrance to the historic Belle Isle Aquarium located on Belle Isle on the Detroit River. The aquarium was shut down a few years ago by the cultural deficient "leaders" of Detroit, but great efforts are being made to reopen the nation's oldest aquarium. It's a beautiful building.

Happy Birthday, Sandra!

Happy Holidays 2009!

That's right, I said 'Happy Holidays.' For the life of me, I'll never understand why people need to make a fuss or be offended over a good sentiment or a well wish. Get it? It's a positive thing, no matter how it's said. Now that I'm done ranting, I hope that each and every one of you (all two of you) has a great holiday season and that you find more than one surprise that will make you smile. Peace.

Clone Wars, Season One Widevision Sketch Cards, part two

Here are a few more of my cards that were done for The Clone Wars, Season One Widevision set from Topps. Within the next few weeks I'll be putting up some cards from the various sets that I have worked on this fall, including Zombies vs Cheerleaders, Moonstone Comics and Iron Man. I have another set that I'm still waiting on approvals for, so I can't show that yet.

Two With Water Release Party

Well now, there's nothing like waiting until the last possible moment to post this, as the party in question is tonight. But, with all that I've been doing lately, I'm sad to say that it slipped my mind (sorry TWW peeps!).

Anyways, Two With Water is a literary magazine and they are celebrating the print release of their first issue and having a party complete with bands and readings and such. And yours truly has a sketch done for one of the stories. So, if you are in the Chicago area tonight stop on by and see what's up.

Below is the sketch done for a story about a man's struggle with a urine sample that he must give and the drugs he took recently. The view is kind of from the vantage point of the toilet looking up. This sketch was actually done a few years ago about something entirely different. It was how I viewed my dad as a kid. His hands seemed monstrously huge.

The Boondock Saints

Last October when I went down to Columbus, Ohio for the Mid Ohio Con I talked with quite a few people about the upcoming sequel to The Boondock Saints movie. So, it was there that I hatched the idea to do a Saints painting and get some prints made up to sell at cons and through this here site, as well. Above is what the finished project will look like. The prints will be 13x19 and I should have them available by the first of the year. The original painting is much larger at 20x30 and was done in acrylic washes.

I'm super happy with this painting on so many levels and it's probably one of the better pieces that I've done (if I may say so myself), so I hope that someone finds some enjoyment in it, as well.

Koi Roundup Wrapup

On November 7th, The Friends Of Belle Isle Aquarium held the transferring of the koi from the outside pond on Belle Isle to the basement tanks of the aquarium. So, a bunch of us helped scoop, net, wrangle and then bucket the various sized fish and send them off to their winter home. Of course, we thought that we had most of them, but about 30 or so did their best to escape the nets and will be spending their winter under ice. It's amazing how easily these bad boys could hide under a thick layer of fish poop and escape detection.

Here's a cartoon capturing the beauty of the event with Vance, the president of FOBIA and his two boys, Cameron and Spencer.

This is me in one of the inside tanks trying to get a not too healthy fish outta there.

Vance, with his stylish (not too matching) boots trying to get the last of the trouble makers.

This was one of the trouble makers who will be spending the winter outside.

One of the inside koi.

If you'd like to see more pics from the day (including a dog rescue), check out the aquarium website for that and other cool stuff.

Winter Migration

The Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium will be helping our little koi friends move from the outside pond between the conservatory and the aquarium to their winter habitation in the basement of said aquarium. So, if you'd like to help these critters with their winter migration to warmer climes, come on down to Belle Isle tomorrow at 10:00am and lend a fin or two. There's always plenty of fish poop, it's fun!