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.

#788: Secret Compartments Max and His Amazing Stovepipe Hat Full of Eggs and Junk

This is my submission to the 700 Hobos Project. John Hodgman wrote a book named The Areas of My Expertise which included a comprehensive list of notable historical hobo names, numbering 700. A website was created to have 700 cartoonists volunteer to draw one hobo each as a public service or for no particular reason. Russell brought this site to our attention at Sketch Klubb as a potential project, and when this hobo had Stovepipe in his name I could not resist. It might also look a little like me too. Go check them out at e-hobo.com, there are still some names left!

It's never too late to quit?

Believe it or not this is for work, but since Hallowe'en is fast approaching I thought it was appropriate. Boo.

Novella Style

The client for this job wanted a Mexican Novella style look to get a health screening message out to Hispanic males in their early 50's. It was a perfect opportunity to work in the high contrast style I've been cultivating.

Metal Sketchbook

This is my entry into the "Metal" themed Sketch Klubb pass around book. I have to admit I don't really know anything about metal, so I tied it into a couple of other entries.

Days Long Past, No. 7

I think the hardest thing about these is picking just the right photo. This one was a little harder, not as much contrast to work with. I thought the photographers shadow was kind of cool though.

Days Long Past, No. 6

From this weekends Sketch Klubb. This couple is not family and once again there is no writing on the photo back. I'm thinking of putting all these together in a little book after I have a few more I like.

Days Long Past, No. 5

Latest in this series. I'm really trying to push myself to explore positive and negative space. This photo has no caption, I probably bought it at some antique store.

On My Desk

My wife found this cool blog called "On My Desk", where artists, illustrators and creative people of all varieties show their workspaces. If you want to see my space, or any of the other dozens of examples, go check it out!

My 15 Minutes

The August issue of 002 Magazine has a short article on me and how I worked on the movie "A Scanner Darkly". If you can't pick up a copy of the issue you can check it out online at this link.