Rejected Drawings No. 1

And now for something completely different. I'm starting a new subject: client rejected drawings that I like. This little hummingbird fellow didn't make the cut.

Night of the Living Dead, Monster Show 3

I actually created this more than a year ago. I was contacted by some people that were doing a comic adaptation of the movie and wanted me to do a pin-up for it. I don't think the thing ever got off the ground, I'm tired of waiting and I've never posted it on the blog before (although I did bury it into my portfolio site). Since I was completely swamped with work along with the chunk of time Hurricane Ike stole I didn't have any time to make something new for the Monster Show at DOMY this year...so here it is with some color. It's Pitt pen on paper, and I added the red using Dr. Martin's concentrated water color.

The Final Frontier

Here's a little project that I actually finished up over the summer, but just got down to Space Center Houston to take some photos. The Zero G Dinner is the food court area, and they had this giant blank wall, so I talked them into a psuedo-anime style mural to jazz up the place. I inked the original, then colored it in Photoshop at full size and 40 dpi as per the printers instructions. It was still a gig file! The mural is about 23 feet tall and 140 feet wide. The top image is the finished illustration, and the bottom three is the installed work. They are still going to put in some special theater style lighting that will make it pop more. It's not nearly as dark in person as it looks from my digital camera shots.

Days Long Past, No. 14

Based on a photo by Robert Capa of President Harry Truman in an old Life Magazine compilation that was my grandparents. Whenever I would look through that book I was always drawn to this image. Pitt Brush pen and Copic marker.

Days Long Past, No. 13

I like finding images to draw from those sites about abandoned and decaying spaces, and this was inspired by one of those.

Random Heads & Stuff 2

I have been drawing, just not posting...I swear! The end of Summer kicked my rear but I didn't miss a SketchKlubb until last week. These are some random sketch book doodles, I picked up a couple of high school yearbooks from the 30's that are pretty fun to draw from.

Escape With Your Life!

At long last (about one and a half years in the making from initial concepts to actual construction of the box)....our big multimedia health intervention video game for MD Anderson Health Science Center is ready to go. Actually some of you may have seen this post last year for just a day, but the client saw it and asked that I take it down until the project was officially announced. Pretty cool looking, eh? It's called "Escape With Your Life" and it's a real damn video game! That's right folks, we made the entire thing: created the characters, wrote the scripts, animated everything, did all the programming, recorded all the voice-overs in our studio's recording booth (you may recognize such voice talents...me) and built the kiosk (actually three of them). I did all the backgrounds and character design and art, and some of the animation (when I had time). I built the kiosk from scratch out of MDF, it has a real arcade joystick, a touch screen, and a MacMini running on the inside. I created the art for the case and had it output on vinyl and applied it to the case after painting it black. Of course the folks at MD Anderson Health Science Center were involved in all aspects of the project. And even though I wanted to toot our horn, it's all their baby! I'll post some grabs from the game next time.

The Force is Strong in This One

Here is a quick 20 minute (that's quick for me) Luke Skywalker for my nephew Ben's birthday card (he'll be seven). It's also funny but I don't think I've ever drawn Luke before, mostly Stormtroopers. It's about 4"x 5", Pitt pen and blue Copic marker for the Light saber.

7th Annual Luck Of The Draw

Well it's here again, the Luck Of The Draw Art Auction Fundraiser at Diverse Works Art Space. Last year the gallery space was so packed you could barely breathe. It happens tomorrow night so if you are close enough come on down! All the work is smaller than 8.5" x 11" and on paper, you pay for a chance and are given a number (and you could buy more than one number), and when the number is called you have 30 seconds to go get the one you want (unless someone already beat you to it). With 200+ pieces from local artists it's a great opportunity, and a lot of fun!

The Red Bird of Happiness

Whenever Sydney (my 6 year old daughter) can't use her Hello Kitty lunch bag because they have a field trip or something I will do a little drawing for her. This was actually the first time I thought to take a photo before it's gone forever (they never seem to make it back home).

Matt Deckard

A friend is going to write a column for a pub out in LA and asked me to do a portrait for him that will run with his story. And if you hadn't guessed it already he is also a fellow retrophile.

The Giver

This illustration is for Stages Repertory Threatre and their EarlyStages program. The EarlyStages series introduces young audiences to live theatre. I've made probably about eight or so illustrations for them over the past several years, and they are always a blast. This play is adapted from the novel The Giver by Lois Lowry. The story has a little Logans Run idea behind it, but it's a great read from anyone twelve and up.

Cash II

Here's another Johnny Cash drawing. I don't have a thing for him, honest! It's just I found a cool photo in an old Rolling Stone while at Antidote Coffee Bar for Sketch Klubb is all. I was really trying to be fast and loose with this one and not overwork it (which is my tendency). And I actually did two drawings in one meet-up, which is also pretty rare for me. Black Pitt Pen on paper.

Roller Girl

Quicky rollergirl at Sketch Klubb on Saturday. Black and blue pitt pens on paper. It is the start of rollerderby season after all!

Mister X

I've always wanted to do a Mister X drawing from the self-titled, watershed '80's comic. It's deco-retro future must have been a big influence on Tim Burton's Batman and Batman the Animated Series. And for some reason I seem to be doing a lot of "search light" drawings lately. Completed in Sketch Club, Pitt Pen on paper.

Days Long Past, No. 12

The reference for this came from my old college textbook the History of Photography by Beaumont Newhall, always a good source of sketching fun. The photo is by Lewis Hine entitled Young Russian Jewess, Ellis Island New York 1905.

Days Long Past, No. 11

This is the latest for the Days Long Past sketchbook. I was referencing an old, publicity still I found online with no title. The file was named Tracy (I don't think it's Spencer Tracy, maybe Dick Tracy?). If you know drop me a line. I drew this at the last Sketch Klubb with ye ol' trusty black and blue Pitt Brush pens.

Merry Christmas

For this years card we decided to take one of the vintage photo interpretations I did and add color to it. Different than what I had been doing for past cards, but I always wanted to add some limited color to these (and you can't get any more limited than one). Have a great Holiday Season everyone!

Good 'ol Mom and Apple Pie

This is an illustration for a company called The Grateful Palate an awesome boutique, high end, mail order store that specializes in all kinds of bacon (yummm), plus coffee and a lot more. They also use a really talented graphic designer that puts together the catalogs every year named Beth Elliot. They are more like high end paper samples than any type of catalog I've ever seen! The illustration is going to be used for a special new promotion, but like many of my other projects lately I can't really talk about it right now. Rats. But still go check out the site and if you are a graphic designer request a catalog, you won't be sorry.

Monster Show 2

It's that time of year again for Monster Show 2 at Domy Books here in Houston. My piece this year continues my classic monsters in everyday settings with a female Creature From The Black Lagoon. The show opens Friday, October 26 at 7pm and runs until November 30. Come check it out! I'll be making an appearance in my Lobster Johnson costume of course.

"Beware my claw, for I've come to inflict justice!"

Here is my uber nerd project of all time. I decided about two months ago to put together a Lobster Johnson costume based on Mike Mignola's character from the Hellboy comics for Hallowe'en this year. Here is a photo my wife shot of me in Austin at the Monster Mash show with the Austin Sketch Squad. I've also convinced a photographer friend of mine to do some professional shots that I'll post later.

Fiction?

Monster Mash

Here is the piece I did for the Lowbrow MonsterMash: an Art Extravaganza. The show opens in Austin, Texas on Saturday, October 13th at 7pm and will hang until November 30th. Plenty of beer and a live art event! Surely to be the social event of the season! So come on down to the Lowbrow Emporium at 2708 South Lamar this weekend!

Everyone Needs a Little Cash

Drawing from last weeks Sketch Klubb. I may have to do a series of some of my favorite musicians...in my spare time.

Secret Project # 22

I have so many "Secret Projects" lately it's really hampering my blog updating. Here is something to show that I'll go into more detail later. That's about all I can say.

6th Annual Luck Of The Draw

This was my second year to contribute to Luck Of The Draw at Diverse Works Art Space. More than 200 people crammed the gallery space to vie for a chance to pick a piece of art. All the works had to be smaller than 8.5" x 11" and on paper, you would pay for a chance and be given a number (and you could buy more than one number), and when the number was called you would have 30 seconds to go get the one you want. 207 or so artists contributed at least one piece of art each for this great fundraiser!

J. M. Simpson

Fellow Sketch Klubber David Wang found that you can make yourself a Simpsons character on the movies web site. It got pretty close, but I did have to do a screen grab and tweak it a little more in Photoshop. Doh! www.simpsonsmovie.com

Na na na na na na Batgirl

Latest drawing for Austin Sketch Squad covering the topics of Bats and Heroes.

Days Long Past, No. 10

I haven't done one of these in a while, too busy with other things. It's a hot day in Houston today, maybe this will cool things down a little (at least in my mind).

Iron Man

OK, I'm making up for not drawing all this stuff when I was a kid. Sorry. I cleverly did this drawing for my Austin Sketch Squad blogs cyborg theme and to submit to Michael Cho's Iron Man fan blog at the same time. I hope it gets on!

Foxy Turkey

This is for the weekly Austin Sketch Squad challenge...Hand Turkey.

I think I may have veered away from the spirit on this one a little bit more than normal, but it was the first thing to pop into my head. And that's my modus operandi for Austin Sketch Squad.

Nerd Flea Market & Swap Meet!

Ya'll come now, ya hear!

Atlanta Magazine

Here's an illustration I just finished for Atlanta Magazine. It's for a story on the first woman sports reporters, and this piece is based on an incident with the New England Patriots in 1990. It's hard to believe that these ladies had to put up with this kind of stuff so recently.

Who Said Police Work is Exciting?

Miss Anne and I went to Austin last weekend to visit friends and hang out. On Saturday morning I met up with a few "Scanner" Alum and fellow Austin Sketch Squad members for a little drawing session. So special thanks and in no particular order to Jason, Kennon and Kevin! Here is the dragon contribution I (almost) finished Saturday. Too bad we forgot to take some photos.

No. 12 with Chicken

Latest for Austin Sketch Squad, completed during Sketch Klubb. Is that legal?

Random Heads & Stuff

These are just Sketch Klubb doodles, you can never draw too may heads-right? And no not every guy in hat is me (although at least one of these guys could be). These were drawn from live people, photos and such.

TRON

I've recently been invited to be a long distance member of Austin Sketch Squad. Made up mostly of former animators of A Scanner Darkly, they meet once a week and draw, plus a weekly topic to post some work. Since I was the newby they had me pick this past weeks theme, which is "Circuit". I thought it would be a good excuse for a TRON drawing.

A Couple of Gents on the Stoop

Here is this weeks entry into my Days Long Past sketchbook. I don't think I've ever stated before, but these are all Pitt pen in a 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" hardcover sketch book, started and completed within one Sketch Klubb meeting (which is about 1 1/2 hours). The only work I do ahead is to find a suitable photo. I then very loosely lay it out in blue pencil then go right to inking.

Days Long Past, No. 9

Here is another background. I'm sticking to the alternating with the people sketches for now. And sorry for the lapse in posts, with the Nerd Garage Sale and Thanksgiving, November was just too busy!

Oxford American Magazine

Here's something that should be hitting news stands any day now. I have a full page illustration in this months Oxford American Magazine, a literary publication that focuses on the South and Southern writers. My art accompanies Roy Blount Jr.'s monthly column (If his name sounds familiar he is a regular on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me on NPR). You can see the piece in web form and read his column here.

Five Fab Fez Fellows

I found the photo that I based this drawing on while doing fez research for Sketch Klubb online. I'm trying to talk the group into getting an official fez...we'll see.

Happy Hallowe'en!

The Monster Show, a compendium of awesome monster drawings, was at Domy Books last Saturday night and was a rousing success! The art was all well received to a packed house and fun was had by all. Here are the three pieces I contributed and a shot of them on the wall. For more press and photos go to Domy's Flickr.

The Packard Plant, Detroit Michigan

I decided that I needed to alternate the vintage snapshot interpretation with a little landscape and still life work, here's the first. I got this from a photo book on abandoned places, can't remember the name off hand.