Pirate Kitten Book Dummy Fun

I just signed up at issuu.com to make this little dummy for my old pirate kitten book. The book has changed a bit since this version, but I thought it would be fun to do book dummies digitally and show them to potential editors. I could just make a version like this in flash too, but this service was so easy and fast. It's also great for making portfolios and embedding them into your websites. All free! Click the small book here if you want to view it at a larger size to read.

Opening of "SIDESHOW"

The opening for Sideshow was really incredible. A very big turnout as you can see. I had a great wall for my pieces that seemed to be the perfect spot for people to check it out and discover what I do. Brad Benedict, the curator, seemed so busy chatting it up with about a million people. Bergamot Station has a pretty big parking lot, but man they need to start thinking about valet parking after the last year because the shows just keep getting bigger and bigger. So, if you are in the area I hope you come see the show while it's up. The Gallery has it up for basically the majority of April. I'm in good company as you can see by the samples here of Colin Johnson, Everett Peck and Van Arno. See the post below for links and more information!

Brad Benedict's Sideshow

I just got back from dropping off 10 paintings for Brad Benedict's curated "Sideshow" at the Robert Berman Gallery in Santa Monica. Hope you all can come out for the opening on the 5th of April. That's a week from this Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. 2525 Michigan Ave C2, Santa Monica, California.(at Bergamot Station) Also check out robertbermangallery.com

The Morlock and The Eloi

Yes, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells got me inspired to paint a piece about The Morlock and The Eloi. And, I read an article about how we as a species are evolving into 2 separate species based on rich and poor, which is so very "Time Machiney". I've always been a fan of eating the rich anyway. It's their fault for being so succulent...so delish! Some day in the distant future you may see a Morlock, who slightly resembles me, turning the gears of some underworld mechanism to supply the patrician Eloi with a milk-fed diet of sunshine and moonbeams... only to be devoured by the poor brutish Morlock.

A boy can dream, can't he? (and I would totally rock that Morlock hairdo!)

Brainiac Club

I'm working way into the night to get a bunch of illustrations done, so I have a feeling that I won't be getting an ounce of sleep tonight. I've been working for a company in North Hollywood creating backgrounds for an interactive web game and now I find I am getting up at 4:30 am and doing my editorial work here and then rushing into the Valley to work 8 hours on those backgrounds. Well, I got what I wished for...to be busy. Here's an illustration I just finished about joining the Mensa Group. If you haven't heard of them, it's a group for people with high IQ's. Nerds galore!

Now I'm starting all my finishes for a cover and 2 inside spots for The Washington City Paper. Maybe Tuesday I'll get to sleep again.

Sympathy For The Cyclops (Part Deux)

I finally got around to getting this painting shot. There are still a few more paintings being spiffed up for the Sideshow Show at The Robert Berman Gallery coming up in April. The next one I'm dropping off to get shot is about a Morlock and an Eloi, 2 of my favorite science fiction characters from H.G. Wells' The Time Machine.

Don't Touch My Pic-a-Nic Basket!

I just finished a marathon website posting week, my taxes and now a small illustration for a St. Louis newspaper. I feel like my little stuffed friend here. Tattered and old, but oh so lovable! I'm about to head off to try to get some sleep, but felt like making a small post.

A Little Cupidity

Click this link for something really stupid I made a few years back when I was teaching myself Flash. Notice how odd the lip synch is. But, consider this my Valentine's Day gift to you. Click me for a Special Valentine's Day Message!

The Book of Esther

You can purchase Unlovable comics and products at Funchicken.com or at other fine comic stores and boutiques across the universe. Also, Visit Esther's Site for news and info on her other projects.

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Poster

I did this poster last year for my friends Paula Killen and Lisa Orkin at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Hollywood. Their show got rave reviews and I've since done another poster for Lisa's one-woman show. One promise I have for myself is to do more independent theatre posters if I can get them. I love illustrating for the Theatre.

Uncle Sam Postcard Mailer

Here's the image I came up with for the next postcard mailing. Hopefully this image says a few things....The Economy, the Government, The Recession. I don't know about you guys, but work is slowing down to a crawl. I guess it's just that deathly tax season crawl that distracts art directors from assigning or maybe they are just told to hold back on their budgets. Either way, it always freaks me out. Speaking of freaking out, I gotta finish my taxes.

Oh yeah, and by the way!!!! I fixed my subscription button to my mailing list. So, please feel free to submit your e-mail address to get updates here. Aw, come on...try it!

Nutter Speaks

I finally learned how to export some animation clips for the web using imovie. This was my test.

Molotov Cocktease

I can't resist Cold War double entendre's any more than you can.

Duma Key (finished illustration)

Here's how the finished art came out on that Stephen king book review illustration. The art director and editor made some changes and additions, so I added in the things they asked me for. The tone is quite different from what I normally am assigned. I usually do light and humorous pieces, so it was a challenge to do a moody and creepy illustration for a change. Hope it looks like a good fit. I'll find out from the art director in the morning I guess.

Sketch for "Duma Key" Review

I just did a sketch for an illustration to go with the review for Stephen King's new book "Duma Key". The client is New York Newsday and the finish will be in color. I thought it'd be fun to blog about something as I was doing it. I just turned in this sketch and am waiting to see if it's a go. But, this is what my sketches look like for my clients. I don't like to show more than one unless there's a lot of time and money. Plus, I believe that the more you show a client, the more they want to explore. Although, with this particular client, time is always of the essence and they like directness and promptness. I'll post the finish in the next day or so.

Yeti: Giant of The 20th Century!

This is a slight change of subject, but hey...I wanted to blog about the stuff that inspires me. Right? Well, I went down to The Silent Movie Theatre here in my neighborhood to see the 1970's classic Yeti: Giant of The 20th Century with my friends Mark and luke. (I almost called my friend Matt to come with us but then I realized we'd be Matthew, Mark, Luke and Joe...virtual Apostles) The Silent Movie Theatre has started this Cinefamily thing where they show all kinds of fun movies. Not just the great silent movies there. They are focusing on all this Great/Bad/weird Italian stuff from the 70's. Yeti did not disappoint. I cannot tell you enough how brilliantly funny this movie was. I laughed almost all through the movie. See the short clip here from YouTube just for a taste of Yeti. Ewwwww! It's one of those..."You have to see it to believe it" movies. A classic '70's romp with an Italian sensibility. And yes, that's The Yeti's nipple getting aroused as the girl touches it. There's even a scene where a bad guy is almost stepped on by Yeti, but then he thinks for a second and raises his foot...only to kill the baddie between his giant hairy toes. Thank God this wasn't in Smell-o-rama! The soundtrack was a ripoff of Carmina Burana. There was even a slight disco version in the middle when Yeti terrorizes Toronto. This was pure cinema gold, I tell you!



See the incredible range of emotion from the actor who played Yeti. He was seriously robbed of an Oscar...or at least the Italian equivalent of one. Check out The Silent Movie Theatre for their schedule and information. The Silent Movie Theatre/Cinefamliy

Sympathy for The Cyclops

I'm trying to do a few paintings about The Cyclops. Here's a sketch I did yesterday in my sketchbook as a study for what I may do. poor old Cyclops. I think he's been terribly misunderstood. I'd like to buy him a beer.

David Sandlin at Billy Shire Fine Arts

I just got back from 2 very busy art openings. The first was for the opening at Billy Shire Fine Arts of David Sandlin and Helen Garber's new work. I'm such a long time fan of David Sandlin's work that I'm just commenting on his show there for this post entry. It was a tough night to have an opening because so many people were going over to the "Some Paintings" show at Track 16 (Bergamot Station in Santa Monica). That place was a madhouse. More of a partylike atmosphere, but good strong work and celebs filling the place. Matt Groening and Matt Dillon were there. Apparently a lot of famous men named Matt. Anyway, I'm just glad I made it to Billy Shire first to see David Sandlin's work. I will add more to this post in a day so I can get the name of the paintings that I found really impressive. Here are a couple of images from the show though. The work was big....BIG!!!! They were all oil on canvas (for the most part) and the colors were strong and vibrant. I've always loved how Sandlin rides this fine line between cartoonish and abstract. It's a dreamworld of distorted characters and genitalia. (Lord knows I love to paint the female breast.) He tends to draw on his life experiences and his 2 favorite topics are sex and religion. We have this in common for sure. He grew up in Belfast and also Alabama. His mother was from Ireland and the first painting here is an homage to her.

Golden Globes/Writers Strike Illustration

I just did a rush illustration about how The Writers Strike is affecting The Golden Globes Ceremony. Apparently there isn't anyone to write the patter for the ceremony. Is that a bad thing?

Martha Rich Goes "Nutrageous" at La Luz de Jesus

Martha Rich just had an opening at La Luz de Jesus Gallery (here in Los Angeles) with David Sandlin on the 4th of January. If you have been following Martha's work and her blog you may know that she had been doing a painting a day over the past year. She's been documenting it through her website at Freedomwig. I could never do a painting a day. That is true commitment. I can relate to Martha's work so much because she paints all the things that make her happy. What more do you need in life? Support bras, cherry pie, beehives, afro puffs and beavers are the muses to Martha's imagery. Hope you all check out the work at the gallery or through the website at La luz de Jesus.