Wednesday, August 27, 2008

24 Years and Counting

I don't count this post as an official blog post, just some shameless boasting. It's August 27th 2008, that means it has been 24 years since I have done any illegal drugs. I've pretty much quit drinking as well, maybe once every 4-6 months. I was well into my 30's before I trusted myself with alcohol again, and indeed I haven't been to the point of intoxication for those same 24 years. Just to be clear it isn't like it was a major drug problem, mostly dope and the occasional dalliance with cocaine, but even at the age of 18 I could see where things were headed, so I quit. My theory is that there are two kinds of people when it comes to mild recreational drugs, those that can handle it, and those who can't, and I am definitely in the latter category. Just imagine what a mess I would be if I had continued. Man Alive! Now, if I could just kick the cigarettes, I'd be set.

Anyway, in celebration of my 24 years of sobriety, here is another little something from the archives called: The Sad Bastard.

-Cheers.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Jumped the Gun

Well kids, it would seem that I've jumped the gun a bit here. I've been crazy busy with a wide variety of projects, that I really should have done before I started this ol' blog, and that is why I haven't posted much lately. Actually, now that I think about it, I was having tremendous problems with my blog on "another blogging service" (it rhymes with PypeTad). So although I am much happier here at blogger, I am still quite a bit behind in some things. Nevertheless, I will be returning soon with a regular posting schedule, and just to keep you in the loop, there are some really cool things coming down the road, so stop by again.

In the meantime, here is a little something from the archives (meaning my old blog). Its a self promo prototype I did a while back, which I never really used, but at some point, I may revisit this theme, and do a variation on it.

If you're wondering, its marker and ink on either 2 ply bristol or marker paper, I don't remember, of course, when you get to be my age that's to be expected.

-Cheers.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The Dreaded Sketchbook: Douche Bag

Here is a little blast from the past entitled: The Douche Bag. I did this one sometime last year, shortly after a seemingly simple trip to the coffee shop ended in a great deal of irritation for me. An idiot woman pulled her car out of a parking lot and cut me off, which set me off in the first place, because I do not suffer fools gladly. Surprisingly, she was not on a cell phone, however she was talking to her passenger, she never did see me. As luck would have it she was on her way to the very same coffee shop, and of course, since she had cut me off, she was also ahead of me in line. When it is her turn to order, maybe you can see this coming, she had absolutely no idea what she wanted. Seriously! It was as though she had never in her life been to a Starbucks (I'd seen her in this very Starbucks on previous occasions, so I knew that was not the case). Therefore, the little barista gal had to explain all the various nuances for nearly every item on the drink menu to find something this pinhead would drink. Then, (because on days like this there is always a then) this moron douchebag decided she needed something from the pastry case. Lather, rinse, repeat. By the time it was my turn to order, I was seething, and believe it or not, the coffee had expired, and they dumped it down the drain.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Pencil Slut


I've come to the realization that I'm becoming a bit of a pencil slut. I seem to be bouncing from one favorite pencil to another, much like the town trollop on payday. No sooner do I find one I love, than a new one comes sashaying along, enticing me with unimagined charms, and smooth lines. Shortly thereafter the old love will be sitting in a corner of my pencil drawer, forlorn and abandoned, tossed aside like yesterday's cheese.

Before you consider me too much of a freak, let me back up a bit here. Many years ago, I caught part of a show on PBS about ants, and I noticed one of the ant experts was in the field with his sketchbook, using a mechanical pencil to great effect. So, I thought to myself: hmm, maybe I should give that a try. I don't recall what kind of pencils I had been using up until then, but I was soon hooked on mechanical pencils, using them almost exclusively. I never really thought about it very much, and then somewhere along the line I started adding a standard #2 pencil to the mix, I have no clue as to why that seemed like a good idea; if you haven't tried this, it works about as well as a lawnmower with one wheel missing, although not as dangerous. Nevertheless, somehow I failed to notice just how much I was struggling with my drawings and I couldn't figure out why, although I probably just assumed that I was a crap artist. At some point a few years ago I rediscovered colored pencils, specifically using them on colored pastel paper, although I've found that using the back side, which has less tooth, works better for colored pencils. I found myself struggling less, and enjoying the drawing process more, yet I still didn't make the pencil quality connection.

Fast forward to a few months ago, when I discovered Derwent Sketching Pencils, and it clicked: yes, Bob-O, there is a reason they make special drawing pencils, because they work. Thin lines, thick lines, shading, man alive! these Derwents had it all, and I was in love, or so I thought. Of course, this was before I discovered the almighty Derwent Drawing Pencil. It isn't graphite, but seems to be some kind of charcoal-colored pencil hybrid.I asked at the art store, but nobody could tell me definitively what exactly is in them. Not that it really matters to me, because they just plain rock! They're dark like charcoal, but without the dust, and oh so smooth, like drawing with liquid velvet. Okay, perhaps that's a bit too poetic, actually I would say its more like drawing with a skinny black lipstick. However, as wonderful as they are, already I'm finding faults, nothing major, just a bit too smeary, and they become dull too quickly. So while I'm smitten for now, but I know its only temporary.

* Just for the record, the above illustration was done in ink, and colored in Photoshop.

Friday, August 8, 2008

Still No Official Grand Opening . . .but

Yeah I know, I still haven't done the Official Grand Opening posting yet, and truth be told, I may just skip that damned thing and jump straight into the real blogging. So, the plan is that starting next week I'll be shooting for regular posts on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. I have some great ideas on deck, and if you'd like a little hint about the first one, well I've got two words for you: Pencil Slut. Now doesn't that sound enticing. Anyway, be sure and stop by next week to see how the new plan pans out. In the meantime, here is a picture of how my friend, Pea, would look if she were a fish (which she isn't). Have a great weekend.
-Cheers.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Dork-Fest 2008

Hey kids, check it out in celebration of International Dork Appreciation Day, I'm posting a visual feast of dorkiness.

Enjoy!


A somewhat dorky anxious guy.

Just a quick sketch of the rare hipster dork.

uh . . . yeah, pretty much self explanatory.

The magnificent art dork in all his splendor.







Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Coffee Shop Girl

Now here's one I did quite some time ago. I was sitting in a Starbucks one evening, when this lovely young woman came in. She just naturally struck this great pose while she was waiting to be helped (there were actually people ahead of her in line, but I didn't put them in). Anyway, I recorded it in my trusty sketchbook, and then nearly a year later as I recall, I did this digital version. More of a practice piece than an actual illustration.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Route 66 Girl

Sorry kids, I've been a little busy, and somewhat scatterbrained as of late. A while back I was working on this really cool illustration of a cute little hitchhiker gal with a desert background, kind of a Route 66 feel to it. Well, fortunately I saved the girl as a separate file, because shortly after that, my computer took an enormous poop. The nearly completed illustration was lost for ever, as was my desire to create it (or re-create it). So after I got the computer fixed, I came up with this version. This was actually published last year in an online magazine called Off Beat Pulp (issue #1). Now that I think of it, my "All Aces" pinup girl was published in the same issue as well.

Okay, cheers for now, and I'll try to keep up on posting a little better. Oh, and I will be doing the grand opening/official introduction post soon, also.