I'm blogging within a blog!!

It's kind of like Inception!


 Maybe.

http://10000peeps.blogspot.com/

Hey now!

Well, it's almost 2012.  A whole new year, with a whole new list of resolutions to forget about...
Figured I'd start a week early on my list.
So, here I am back on the blog train!  Picked up a new "toy" recently that I've long wanted.  And, finally, after all these years I finally picked me up one of 'em fancy Wacom tablets.  It's dreamy!
Here are a couple of sketches I did, moments after powering it up for the first time.
First up, are the ninja turtles.  Man, I love these guys.  Waaaay before all the "cowabungas", pizza, and a ninja April O'Neil.
Eastman and Laird's comic are on the list of big influences in my childhood days of wanting to be a comic book artist.  I remember the day my mom helped me order the big compilation book of all the early issues.  I must have read over that book for weeks.

Felt good to sketch 'em up again...

Next up, are a few drawings I did with the original True Grit movie playing in the background.
John Wayne's just a badass.  Damn good storyline, too.  I'm a fan of both versions...

Muppett Rawk 3: The carving!

Muppett Rawk 3 sure came up fast.  I decided to try something a little different.  I chose the album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.  I thought about going to painted route, but then I thought, why not replicate the school desk and actually carve on it?  Something different that I've never done before; Wood carving.

There aren't a lot of female muppets on the roster to choose from...  Miss Piggy, Janice, Camilla the chicken and maybe a couple of more obscure muppets.  Then, I remembered a muppet who was created for the new generation of kids:  Abby Cadabby.  She was a the best choice for the cover, especially with the fact that she goes to a fairy school kind of tied in with the album title.  

So, I picked up a 4 dollar piece of a broken shelf at Ikea.  And, with the help of my buddy, Tate and his plethora of power tools, he helped me cut the shelf to the shape of a school desk.  I asked if he could add the pencil holder, too!
The one thing that made me nervous the most, was the fact that this was my only canvas.  If I screwed up, well... it wouldn't have been good.
So, this took a little more planning.  I sketched out Abby, the album title, took a sheet of Saral transfer paper and retraced everything onto the wood.  First, Abby.  I decided to save all the lettering for last.  I figured I'd have learned a little more control and accuracy carving lines...
Each night for the next few days, I spent a couple of hours using my 10 dollar wood carving set to nick away at the pine.  Each time, building more confidence at this new craft.  There were a few times where more wood was picked off that I had wanted.  But, hey... "there is no accident", right?
Eventually, it got to the point where I was ready to stain it.  Back to Home Depot I went, and picked up a can of antique red, a brush, and a piece of tarp to work on.
I'd also forgotten to add something to the back to help, not only hang it on the wall, but in a way that left some space in between and give it a shadow.  The strongest wood glue was also acquired.  The one thing I failed to notice was the 24hr drying time it recommended.
Did I mention that this part happened on the evening before the show?
A slight panic attack occurred while I searched my place for a piece of wood I could use for my last minute plan.  Luckily, I had some leftover 5x5 wood "canvas".  With the help of a lot of tape, a ruler and a somewhat accurate measurement to center the piece of wood, I added on my backing.  A lot of glue was used.  And, tape, to help hold it in place.  A lot of tape was used.
Nap time.  I think I passed out for a few hours.
The next morning, I still didn't want to take a chance at staining the piece.  The wood I glued on seemed to hold steady.
Did I mention that this part happened on the day of the show?
It wasn't until I got to the gallery to begin the staining process.  I had the sun on my side to help speed the drying time.
Within a half an hour, stain had been applied and dried.  A couple of hours to spare.  Whew.

It was about this time, I had forgotten to pick up a pencil for the pencil holder.  Sigh.

Anyways, here are some pics of the progression!  Enjoy!

-Law

Dabble dabs...

Kenny called me out.

Man, it's been a while.  In a blink of an eye, months fly past.  Fast, like a hungry cat hearing the first turn of a can opener.
But, getting back to it... Coining the phrase, "like riding a bike".  Babysteps.
So, here are some warm up portraits.  No one in particular... just random faces that I see in my head.  I mean, why not?  I hear their voices... O____o

And the rough...

Here's the latest layout for the page... Still might change towards the final.  But, I'm liking the direction it's taken.

catching up!

Focus sure is a tough thing to do when there are so many distractions.  Thought I'd share a sneak peek of another Alice page I'm putting together for the Alice's Adventure in Wonderland project.  I had a lot fun working on the last one, I had to do another... despite the other art projects I need to finish. :OP

Here are a few sketches:

The final piece!

oh by gosh by golly!

It's been a while!  Lots has gone on since I left for a Paris getaway.  There's been art that's been done since that time.  It's just a matter of posting 'em I suppose.

I'll start out with the latest.  It's a project I stumbled onto while browsing one of my fave sites, Super Punch.

The name of the project is, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.  Here's a description of what it's all about:

With 'What is the Use of a Book without Pictures?', each paragraph of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' will be given a full page of artwork, and were that not enough, we will then create additional pages to fill-in any missing story elements and help transition the viewer from the events in one piece to the next. The result will be a 500-1000+ piece collection which will cover the entire story without a single word of text.

After emailing the crew involved with the project, I was sent a paragraph along with it's context.

And the fun began!

Here are a few sketches I did to warm up... (er... not many people knew that Astroboy made an appearance in Alice in Wonderland. heh)

 Up next...
The final piece!

speedy...

One of my good buddies, Mike, and his crew at the old gallery have reorg and will be reborn a new gallery named The Piranha Shop.  The old name was Ouch My Eye.

The combination of the two names put an image in my head that I just had to paint out.  And here we have it...

It's at the printers!

So, here's the final lineup of miniprints that will be available for you at next week's comic con.
Heather and I had fun working one these and can't wait to see the final printing.
 

Onward and upward...

Not literally...  

But, I am going to try something different.  Something sort of new.

Next week, I'll be participating in another group show.  And the theme:  Coffins.

50 artists were given a small coffin to paint up however they want.  

I think I'm going to cut it close, but I finally had an idea of what to do ,and I hope it all works out.

I decided to make the coffin, itself, a character.

This is the angel of death seeks the souls of lovers meant to be together.  Even into the afterlife.

Unlike her sibling Death, known for his black and brooding attire.  She is seen robed in white, believing it symbolizes the innocence and purity of love between the two souls she collects.  In fear of tainting the souls and their love at her touch, she had Death cut her limbs, she rely on her minions of fallen cupids to do her deeds.  And, in exchange, they can continue to exist by feeding from her own soul.


Here are some sketches and the start of production...

La Mort des Amants

Nous aurons des lits pleins d'odeurs légères,
Des divans profonds comme des tombeaux,
Et d'étranges fleurs sur des étagères,
Ecloses pour nous sous des cieux plus beaux.

Usant à l'envi leurs chaleurs dernières,
Nos deux coeurs seront deux vastes flambeaux,
Qui réfléchiront leurs doubles lumières
Dans nos deux esprits, ces miroirs jumeaux.

Un soir fait de rose et de bleu mystique,
Nous échangerons un éclair unique,
Comme un long sanglot, tout chargé d'adieux;

Et plus tard un Ange, entr'ouvrant les portes,
Viendra ranimer, fidèle et joyeux,
Les miroirs ternis et les flammes mortes.

— Charles Baudelaire

*Translated


The Death of Lovers


We shall have beds full of odors, light
Couches deep as tombs,
And strange flowers on shelves
Blossomed for us Under more beautiful heavens.
Exercising at will their last heats,
Our two hearts will be two immense torches
Which will reflect their double lights
In both our minds, those twin mirrors.
One evening made of rose and mystic blue,
We exchange a single flash,
Like a long sob, charged with farewells;
And later an Angel, opening doors,
Will revive, faithful and joyful
The tarnished mirrors and the flames died.

-Charles Baudelaire

and maybe one more...

WIP, but I'm really happy how it's coming together from the magic that his Heather!

What's the scoop?

a sneak preview in the lastet collab Heather...

To be continued...

Tables are turned...

Another sneak preview!

This time Heather had drawn out one of her fave characters for me to paint up.  I'm still working on the finishing touches... still a ways to go, but getting close.

More to come...