Ben's Sketches

TIKI waterpark

2012-02-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

I had to do an illustration of a waterpark, and this is one of the sketches I liked. The final design was much more generic, but this one I liked. Not sure how it would work practically, but it looks like fun.

Boxhab

2012-01-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

This one is for my wife, it's about her favorite cat.

RIP Amy Winehouse

Maru, you are not alone

Baby Bea

2012-01-21T10:50:00.000-08:00

What a weird baby! Some Photoshop work, for fun.

Be careful who you share your pictures with!

Hawg-Goblin

2012-01-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

Well, I've got the final vector image done, and I'm pretty happy with it. I like the black, blue and green color scheme, and I seem to really click with the vignette image on white background. I'd like to do a large, banner-size printout of this (and other pieces I've done over the years) and have a nice little art show. Maybe 2012 is my year!

WIP: Hawg-Goblin

2012-01-05T11:58:00.000-08:00

Working on this old sketch, doing a final vector piece...It's looking pretty good!

Grave Diggers

2011-12-29T12:35:00.000-08:00

Been sketching/working on a piece, trying to finalize one of my favorite sketches. Here's a few shots at the main character, I thought I'd want him "in action" digging but I'm really liking the pensive one sitting on the stump. With a Skull-face. The whole piece is about mortality, so the reflective pose works.

....been on a roll recently, inspired, which is always nice. I've been getting a lot done, going back to some sketches/ideas and moving more toward a finished piece.

Purple Monkey Headphones

2011-12-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

Muppets Movie Art Show

2011-11-29T21:29:00.001-08:00

I was recently invited to participate in an art show based on the Muppets, to coincide with the new movie. I was only too happy to submit a piece. I had actually thought of this particular subject before so I was excited to have a reason to take a shot at it--the Muppet Sweetums, as a Frazetta-style barbarian-king! Of course, it was a great opportunity to draw some topless barbarian babes adorning his throne, so I went for it! Here are some shots of the painting-in-progress. Pencil sketches, ink drawing, and watercolors.

This was the original drawing, the layout is the classic "Frazetta triangle" composition.

I had to do a little more work on the slave girls....once I got into the final drawing stages I realized the quick sketch had some awkward, undefined anatomy going on. I ended up with two nice poses for the girl in the foreground, and I chose the one laying on her back instead of the kneeling one. I liked 'em both, though!

Ink drawing.

Underpainting.

Starting to add colors--concentrating on the "hot" center of the image. Here's where I made the major mistake in my drawing--most don't seem to even notice, but to me--it's unforgivable!

Adding dimension to the slave girls.

Continuing to fill in colors and values.

The final, framed image.

Overall, I would give this piece an "OK" rating, but I'm my own toughest critic. I'm sure it will show well and I'm happy enough with it but the perfectionist in me thinks I overworked it a bit, should have put the brush down an hour earlier than I did. I had some Frazetta images on my reference board, staring me down, intimidating me while I worked, making me very conscious of my non-Fraz-ness. Also, I'm so used to working in vector on a computer with limited undos that it's hard to just dive in and try to crank out a painting with unforgiving watercolor. I'm a bit rusty on my real-world, "analog" skills!

The show is at this Hilliard comic shop: Pack Rat Comics There is a meet-and-greet reception this weekend, Dec 3rd, I think it starts around 7.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T09:41:00.001-08:00

60's girl under blanket

2011-10-28T21:03:00.000-07:00

I've been practicing sketching again, and working on a piece for a show next month. Here's a sketch, I've been referencing 60's photography annuals and the pictures are so cool, the models have great style and hair and presence, they make great inspiration/source material for drawing.

Skunk Ape Florida's Bigfoot!

2011-10-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, this was drawn for a textbook! I think it was for a feature about "pseudo-science," but I was excited to have a chance to draw a Bigfoot! The request was for a sketch based on a somewhat–famous photo/sighting of the Florida Bigfoot, called Skunk Ape. Fun stuff!

Another Spaceman

2011-09-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

Another meeting, another 70's Outer Space Man.

I'm okay at the gear, but I just haven't come up with any of the weird heads that series of figures is known for.

Angry–Gun Monkey–Man

2011-09-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

Monster Dockworker Stogie

2011-09-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

Doodle Art #1.5

2011-09-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here's another one that didn't make the cut. You can guess why it didn't make it into a school book. It's my humble tribute to the Teacup Ride at the Magic Kingdom!

Doodle Art #4 Explicit Nudity

2011-09-02T11:01:00.000-07:00

This drawing was considered a bit too risque for our publication. Everyone on the art team got a good laugh out of the objection, but I can see the reasons why. (while I think I came up with the idea for this image, it was actually drawn by the intern here. Maybe I didn't think of it, after the 627th spec I don't remember!)

My primary concern was that if this cucumber behind a changing screen was too risque, what were we going to do about the thousands of other naked vegetables and fruit in the other images we'd created?!?! It's not like I drew t-shirts and shoes along with googly eyes on every piece of produce I got!

Doodle Art #3 Hazzard County Dirt Track Races

2011-09-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

I was trying to come up with some of the weirdest stuff I could for this project (they said they wanted funny weird stuff)—this math problem, I believe, was about auto racing. It made me think of the Dukes of Hazzard and dirt track racing, BBQ and beer and fried cheese, all that sort of dirty south kinda thing. Thinking of the south, then, I added a crawdaddy driving the old American muscle car. Anyway, it was cut. I think?
P.S. I know it's not really a "southern" thing to have dirt track races, etc. one of the highlights from the county fair where I grew up was the demolition derby on Thursday nights, and that was in Michigan, trust me: North or South that Southern Culture is always on the Skids.....

Doodle Art #2 Rockstar

2011-08-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

You
can't be me I'ma rockstar,
Rhymin' onna top of a
cop car....

Doodle Art #1!

2011-08-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I think it's been long enough I can share some of the art from the last project I worked on. It was a kid's math book and the art style is unique, at least to me, not how I usually draw but some of this stuff turned out nicely and is a lot of fun. Actually, I'll be showing mostly stuff that was rejected for various reasons and will never see print anyway...Hope you enjoy it and get a chuckle out of it.
Feel free to leave a comment!
So here we go:
The dentist here was cut for being "too threatening." This is for 3rd Graders, after all! Though it's interesting we actually try to draw toward the parent/teacher's perception of what a 3rd Grader should be able to see, which is probably different than what most 3rd Graders can handle. ;-)
This snowball fight was cut for being "too violent" and "bullying." You know, you bullies out there make it harder not just for those dorks and nerds at school--who are just begging for a slap upside the head!--but for me, too!
This one was cut, again, for being "too violent" but it did get a LOT of laughs around the office!
Ahh, yes, pineapple limbo. This guy was cut (ha-ha) for being "too morbid"--I thought it was clever. But with the knife there and the "self-mutilation" of course it's a no-go. Still, it's one of my favorites!
So that's my first post-math-book post, hope you like it. I'd like to post more of what I work on professionally but there's ownership issues and all that and it's just easier to only (mostly) post the personal stuff.

Sorry if any of it offends you--trust me, you're not alone!

Action Pose!!

2011-08-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Quick and fun. Gas mask, action pose, big machine gun, body armor--these are a few of my favorite things to draw. I'm still that kid in 2nd grade drawing GI Joes on the bus with my buddy Neal!

SWAT team

2011-08-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a fun project with lots of animation scenarios in it. So far I've come up with some things I think are very cool (that's often the elusive holy grail for illustrators), and while the schedule is rigorous, that just means there's not enough time to pick the images apart until there's not much of the original goodness left in them.
Here's a sketch of a SWAT officer/investigator. Hope he'll make it to the final stages. I actually think I'll go with the simpler version, so he's easier to animate quickly.

Space Shuttle Pilot (color)

2011-07-18T12:49:00.001-07:00

Space Shuttle Pilot

2011-07-12T05:36:00.000-07:00

This is a sketch from an animation project I'm currently working on, she's the pilot for a team of astronauts flying the shuttle when something goes wrong. I like her funky hair.

Better

2011-07-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

Sharpie and white-out on Chipotle bag.
This turned out nicely, probably because the last project I worked on was about 3,000 "spontaneous" sketches for a math book. Gotta lotta practice drawing quick and accurate and weird the first time!

Alien

2011-06-11T03:50:00.000-07:00

Meeting sketch. Without reference, obviously, though it has a good cartoon feel.

Outer Space Man

2011-06-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

Even more meetings, more sketches. This guy might get the "final" treatment.
I've been looking at the "Outer Space Men" the newer figures by the Four Horsemen and those designs, based on 70's bendy figures, are beautiful. I'd like to think this character would make a good action figure, too.

Warts and all

2011-06-08T10:00:00.001-07:00

Hip-Hoppa

2011-06-03T05:46:00.000-07:00

Lots of meetings this week...lots of boredom, sketching. ;-)

Archaeology Girl

2011-05-31T07:34:00.000-07:00

Here's another character from the same project as the mouse in the last post. She was going to be a teen archaeologist. At one point she was deemed "too sexy" for what we were trying to do, another point she looked "too mature", so she was re-worked a few times but ultimately scrapped. Just like the mouse, I really liked this character.Guess she was kinda sexy...

Mouse

2011-05-19T12:24:00.001-07:00

I developed this character, along with a few others, for a book. He didn't make it through many passes, but I liked him so I took him to final. I really like the way his utility vest turned out.

Bigfoot Hunter's Campsite

2011-04-14T11:52:00.001-07:00

This is where Bigfoot's hiding while all those hunters are out in the woods lookin' for him.

Science Bot does Chemistry

2011-02-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

Ray-Gun 1: Atomic Discombobulator 3D

2011-02-10T08:25:00.000-08:00

Here's my old Ray-Gun the "Atomic Discombobulator" (original post here) but done 3D by my friend in Solidworks. He was looking to practice and used my original art as his starting point. Being the creative fellow (and consummate dork) that he is, he also took the time to write me a letter about it....kinda....ahem....

Dr. Eisenmangorch,

Once again I have been tasked with taking your hair brained designs and making them work. I am not sure why the old man loves your proto-types.. no, they don't even rate that name.. shaky mock-ups so well, but he continues to forward them to me in an endless rain of prolific ignorance. OK, let's go over the changes I had to make to bring this unit to production level design. First and foremost that very ill-conceived top cooling fin is in the dustbin. Not only was it way over rated for the size of the Plasma chamber, it had a backward hook on it man! These weapons are produced for the mercenary, footloose, freelancers in the galaxy that need to shoot first and ask questions later. Could you imagine how Gorski LanceRay's reputation would plummet as merc after merc died after getting that contraption hooked on something while he was trying to draw his weapon!!!! The additional cooling was handled by simply increasing the size and surface area of the side cooling fins and also making them out of the newer Aluminauser material... (I am simply amazed that you still spec out titanium for such contrivances). The second major change was to redesign the trigger and use the standard Gorski Lanceray Gold Tripper configuration. Why in Pluto's name you ever try your hand at trigger design, I will never quite understand. To fit the standard Fokrak module you had speced would require cutting so far into Plenhearst Resonator, my goodness, the unit would have detonated like a good old fashioned Wapershnaats Grenade. The focal length of your beam caster was also off, once again you would have had the majority of nano-flash simply burning atmosphere instead of focusing on your target. It is true that this only drop the focal burn power down by 15%, but we have a reputation of leaving them charred and twitching, not burned, angry, and returning fire!

Oh, and I also increased the trigger guard opening for that ever important Faaskin sale. Geez man, it's as if your a speciesist or something. The Faaskin lover our products function but continually complain about having to modify their trigger guards (or simply remove them) in order to fit their Mandaris Claw. Did you get any of the briefs on how much we can gain in sales by accommodating them?

this unit now appears up to Gorski Lanceray standards and is currently entering the testing phase. To market time will be around 2 Solar Kiefs. In the future I hope you can keep some of the practicalities of the design in mind. good day Doctor!

Emanus Hornsday

Lead Production Engineer, Chief Fiscal Proprieter

Gorski Lanceray Heavy Industries

Metal Christmas to all!!!

2010-12-23T11:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, last year I entered the Megadeth Christmas card contest, to design the card that they send to the fan club, and I feared my submission was lost in the junk box, like many emails with attachments seem to do. I re-entered this year and made sure the webmaster got my design by asking for a receipt (brilliant, right?!?!) Here's the blog entry from last year's scenario:
Happy Christmas Anyway.....

I made it into the top ten this year! Very cool, and I get a signed CD for my troubles, which was really no trouble at all....it was fun to think up and draw the card. The competition was fierce this year and the first-place winner was far from a slouch--it's a very, very cool image. I gotta start thinking about next year's design......

Anyway, here's the link, check 'em all out:
Megadeth Christmas Card winners 2010

Bilateral Beast

2010-12-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

100th post

2010-12-03T05:42:00.000-08:00

I was thinking I'd do something special for #100. This post, however, is just what the whole blog is supposed to be about--sketches.

If only space travel were this easy.....

2010-10-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

If you could see planet-to-planet, I mean. Driving in the country you can't even see the next stop sign!

Destroy!––Kill All Hippies

2010-10-08T03:21:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there remember TMNT After the Bomb or Mutants Down Under? Some cool stuff in those.....

Yanker's Garage

2010-10-04T12:43:00.001-07:00

A musical blast from the past.

2010-09-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

On the ride into work today CD101 was playing "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet. Man, it's been awhile since I heard that song. When that cd came out I played the hell out of it. Non-stop, spin, spin, spin. Which was a weird for me as a guy whose preferences were mainly rock-metal, that disk spoke to me in a way no music ever had before. Maybe it was because I was going through my first real lost loves and broken hearts? Maybe it was the cute manga girls in the videos? I listened to a decent amount of different-style music but college-rock radio wasn't one of my favorites. It was also (I think) the first time I thought of an album as a whole entity instead of just a collection of songs, hits and duds. All the songs on that had a place and a purpose and got equal treatment from the craftsmen involved. Lenny Kravitz's "Mama Said" may have opened my eyes to that concept earlier, I don't remember.

I think my friend Tim summed it up best when he said "it's great because the lyrics are clever and sensitive and the girls will like it, but then it rocks out with solid songs and there's the weird guitars that make it cool for a guy to listen to." The guitars of Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd, if I remember correctly.

A few years ago Matthew Sweet re-gathered the Girlfriend musicians and recorded a quick album for his Japanese fans that was later given a US release. It was quick, dirty and fun, spontaneous and solid. I wish he would continue to work in that direction instead of trying to re-invent Pet Sounds over and over again. The rough edges suit his songs much better than the shiny polish of his last few "official" releases.

I should start a music blog. I could write all day about my collection. Maybe musicians would start to send me free music? Probably not. ;-)

So, anyone else like "Girlfriend" as much as I did?

Mouth & Teeth

2010-08-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

More Random Stuff

2010-08-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Cliff Diver

2010-07-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

4th of July Screamin' Skull Corvette

2010-07-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Farmer Zombie

2010-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

FrankNstein's Monster runs

2010-06-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Tree of Life

2010-06-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Bovine Devilock

2010-06-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

This cow's in the Fiend Club, ya know. Newfits or old, he's in. Midwest punk.

Monster Magnet

2010-05-25T09:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a bevvy of sketches of classic monsters. Shooting for a cuter, more cuddly monster for youngsters. Switched from drawing a boy vampire to a girl because, well, he was starting to look like The Count from Sesame Street. I won't bore you with the story of how they were rejected.

Meeting Fallout

2010-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was in another endless corporate meeting yesterday. God what a waste of time!

Rain Train

2010-05-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

Kid's carrying a model train car walking in the rain. I don't know why.
Probably do this in watercolor when I get the time. Maybe "if" I get the time!

S.P.A.C.E.

2010-04-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I made it to SPACE (Small Press and Comics Expo) this year! I'm not really a fanboy comic reader so I'm pretty much out of the loop, and this thing sneaks up on me every year so I'm always unprepared with any kind of business card to hand out and any kind of surplus cash to toss around. But thanks to my buddy Justin who texted me to let me know yesterday was the day!
Overall the quality of self-published books was much, much higher than the last time I attended. It was wicked inspiring to see some of the stuff there, some real high-caliber work done by some talented folks. Of course there's the weird shit too!
I will update this post with links for some of the cooler stuff I came across as I find the time to dig through my goodie bag. I couldn't afford all the great stuff I saw BUT I got a sweet book called Afrodesiac by Greg Rugg (I think, I will update when I know for sure) and it's way cool. Unfortunately I bought it on my way out and he was "on-panel" for the show so I didn't get it signed! Bummer.

The Endless War.....

2010-04-22T05:42:00.000-07:00

So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:22-24

Another Day After

2010-03-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Day After

2010-03-22T13:06:00.000-07:00

Monsters

2010-03-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

Test Yourself!

2010-03-18T05:34:00.000-07:00

My bread-and-butter is making art for educational publishing. To denote different learning sections of a book, I get requests to create icons of various sizes and complexities. Often, rather than getting a detailed description of what each icon will be, I simply get a list of sections for a book with little to no description. Not only is it "reinventing the wheel" again and again but it's usually so vague it might as well say "draw the air."
Anyway, the latest list said things like: Living Image, Primary Source, and Test Yourself. I simply drew the first thing that popped into my head. It wasn't approved....

ZMG sketches

2010-03-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

ZMG sketches. I don't usually post stuff this rough, do I? Anyway, I should work on this story, it'd be fun to draw. When I find the time.....

Bigfoot Emerges

2010-02-18T09:54:00.000-08:00

A fun little sketch, hope you like it. I always enjoy drawing from life.....

Ray-Gun 5: The Laser Lamprey

2010-02-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

Alright, this is the last one for now.....this is designed for a space pirate. I had an older drawing of a pirate, holding a severed head among other distasteful things, which I posted on this blog, and sticking out of his coat was the beginnings of this gun....the handle with the serpent's mouth. So I pulled those shapes out of that file and started in on this, trying to mix the feeling of old and futuristic.

I guess this also keeps with the nautical theme of the last post. I don't know why these .jpg files aren't showing up larger when you click on them, but I think I've got it worked out now....so feel free to get a better look at these Retro Ray Guns.

Ray-Gun 4: The Shackelton Crackler

2010-02-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

This one is rifle-sized...trying to get back to something very retro, in material and shape. The ridge of fins on the main body are for heat-dispersion of the plasma core, and the spheres are electrical dynamos for an added two stages, increasing power augmentation of the plasma beam.

Originally was going to call this the "Brass Hammer" but on Friday a co-worker shared with me that modern explorers had found a case of whisky that was left behind when Shackelton's expedition to the South Pole failed. Their ship was caught in the ice and eventually crushed; they had to abandon ship onto the ice, taking only what they could transport. The article stated that the goal was to reverse-engineer this blend of booze and make it anew--great idea, it practically markets and sells itself! It comes with a built-in legend.

If you want to read a great book on Shackelton's trip, "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing is the one to read, in my opinion. Try to get an edition with photos to better illustrate the conditions these men were pitted against, it's truly an amazing story from the end of the Age of Exploration.

So here it is, the Shackelton Crackler!

Ray-Gun 3: The Iron & Glass Corditizor

2010-02-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

This heavy pistol utilizes plasma, supplied by an external top-mounted storage capsule, mixed with atmospheric oxygen and electricity from an internal D-cell battery to produce a super-charged blast of energy, vaporizing anything in it's range.
This weapon takes its cues from Steampunk design as much as old-school futurism. I like all the bells and whistles.

Ray-Gun 2: The Vektor-Light "Lite"

2010-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Hand-held cousin to the heavier Vektor-Light rifle, this weapon fires concentrated photons of light. This pistol comes with an optional long-range target-finder scope with a dial to control the intensity of the blast.

Ahh, I'm not in the mood to invent pseudo-descriptive mumbo-jumbo today. This gun reminds me of the shape of the old Nintendo gray-and-orange light gun that you used to play Duck Hunt. I like the shaping at the end of the barrel, and the dial on the back of the "scope" attachment. Nice and slick and shiny.

I've been listening to a metal band called "Vektor" so I named this one after them. Check them out, they're retro-thrash with a sound and theme like VoiVod.

Ray-Gun 1: The Atomic Discombobulator

2010-02-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

I came across this site with retro-styled space guns, and it inspired me.
WETA Rayguns
I've since been looking at all kinds of these guns, there is a plethora. I was surprised to find how much Han Solo's gun looks like Buck Roger's! Check it out for yourself.

I drew a few of my own of varying success so I'll post them and more as they come. They're fun to design and draw, the shapes are cool to play with. I was asked if I'm really into Sci-Fi because I'm drawing these guns, I had to say no, I'd much rather look at the Rocketeer than read about him. There's something about classic atomic style, there's nothing like it.

I picked up the core of this gun from an old drawing of a toy I had as a kid, I'd modernized the action figure and he needed a weapon so this was it. I added the cool fin and made it sleeker and longer. It's plain, but I'm liking this one.

All vector, drawn in Illustrator CS4.

ED 209

2010-01-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

I let my brother-in-law borrow my RoboCop dvd. He'd never seen it. He finally watched it with his wife and to my surprise, they both enjoyed it a lot. Maybe the people re-making it know something I don't? I just hope they can re-make it so it's enjoyable to people who loved the original.

Judge Dredd Portrait

2010-01-10T05:48:00.000-08:00

My favorite comic book character. A little "portrait" of Dredd, pencil sketch on the back of used copier paper, I probably should start using real sketchbooks again, because every so often, I get a drawing I kinda like and then the other side is printout, kinda sloppy and then I can't really give it to anyone or hang it up or anything like that. I like the drawing overall though he's not as "tough looking" as some of the pros draw him.

Cambo Moto

2009-12-29T08:10:00.000-08:00

I visited Cambodia last August. It was an amazing experience. It's a beautiful, fascinating country, I could go on and on about it but this blog is for art not pontification. Anyway, the main transportation is by "moto" which is a scooter or bike. Saw families of 5 or 6 people, including babies, all riding a scooter at the same time, without a helmet in sight. Wild! This piece is from a photo I took, and it's done punk-rock style like the cover of a Clash album.

Sad girl

2009-12-26T05:29:00.000-08:00

Snowmen

2009-12-22T12:44:00.000-08:00

Happy Christmas anyway (or: I Lost, Part 2)

2009-12-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

Every year Megadeth runs a contest to design the Christmas card they send to their fan club. This is my submission. I think I followed the rules and made the deadline with time to spare, but I'm not sure if they received it or not....and I didn't request confirmation. The results have been posted, though, and I'm thinking my submission accidentally ended up in someone's junk mail folder. Either that or the card I made is too religious (knowing Megadeth I seriously doubt that's a factor), or vector art is more reviled than I thought? ;-)
Oh, and I'm not discrediting the winners, there's some cool stuff this year (and as always, art is subjective):
Megadeth Christmas Card '09 winners

Overall though I enjoyed coming up with the concept, and drawing it. I feel good about the color and composition and I enjoyed messing with a traditional theme. I hope you like it, too.
Maybe I'll save it to submit next year. For now, it's going on the blog.

I Lost

2009-11-25T05:24:00.000-08:00

This was for the department pumpkin decorating contest, I whipped it out the morning of, using whiteout and a Sharpie. I cannot control when the muse strikes. ;-) I got first loser, second place.....Sorry, it's no DUNNY but what the hell.

Knoxville Girl

2009-11-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

I saw Megadeth play last night, it was a great show. Unfortunately they played at my least favorite venue here in the city, the LC. I've never heard a band sound great there, it's just a big concrete and steel box so the sound is usually terrible. That new guitarist is awesome, though. Last night I saw probably the most talented group of musicians I've ever seen.

This sketch is inspired by the song "Knoxville Girl" from the Louvin Bros. They played years ago, they were a big influence on country musicians and Johnny Cash in particular. When they weren't singing songs praisin' Jesus, etc. they were singing "Tragic Songs of Life" including murder ballads like this one. They also sang a song about nuclear annihilation called "The Great Atomic Power" which was later covered by Southern Culture on the Skids.

Hmm, songs about murder and nuclear war, and you wondered what could possibly be the connection in a post that started with Megadeth and ended with the Louvins!

Quickly added some color in Photoshop.

Half-Gunner

2009-11-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

Haven't posted anything in awhile. Don't you hate it when you start drawing in the center and then run out of room on the side?

SA 401

2009-10-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

BALZAC

2009-09-30T06:24:00.000-07:00

Continuing to try to simplify and not over-draw.

True, so True

2009-09-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

From the corner of a page of "notes."

Coffee

2009-09-23T11:35:00.000-07:00

Digging the Grave

2009-09-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Winter Skull

2009-08-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

Trophy

2009-06-30T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've been on a skull-banner-tattoo-design kick lately.
Could be worse, eh?

BioDiesel Rat Rod

2009-06-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

In other news, my friend's BioDiesel shipping company has used my image a few times now. So it's increasing the amount of people who have the opportunity to ignore my drawings! Seriously, though, they have used it on their website and they sent my wife and I some wicked nice hoodies with the image screenprinted on it.

Hit the link to see the website, especially if you happen to be a shipper/trucker who uses sustainable resources:
http://www.blueskyshipping.com/sustainable_truckers.php

The Treaty

2009-06-23T11:15:00.000-07:00

I think you'll agree this image speaks for itself.

More Stuff

2009-06-18T10:00:00.001-07:00

Weird Stuff

2009-06-11T12:34:00.001-07:00

Have had a bit of a dry spell as far as sketching inspiration goes. Oh well.
Was in a meeting the other day, and drew this stuff.

ROBOT ARMY

2009-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

I've been busy. Better busy than bored!
I am doing a blog co-op where we all sketch something on a weekly (or bi-weekly, or monthly more likely) theme. Here's the link.
This time around was killer robots. I drew this simple bot and tried to pile the weapons on. Graffiti, too. It's hard to know when to stop! Guess that's what deadlines are for......

Rust Rocket

2009-03-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

My buddy Josh is a bike-tinkering wrench-turning greasemonkey. And I say all that as a good thing. He's got a project bike and he's documenting it in a blog as it progresses. Having used this blog for posting art, I gotta admit, it's decent motivation, so I hope he finishes. And finishes soon, as the bike he's building will be mine, and summer is fast approaching. Here's the link: http://joshrustrockets.blogspot.com/
Anyway, I made the banner, and we're quite happy with the results. Often times, less is SO MUCH MORE.

Squid-girl

2009-03-12T10:57:00.000-07:00

Irate Pirate Final

2009-03-05T06:16:00.000-08:00

Ford Falcon Ranchero

2009-02-27T06:22:00.001-08:00

Impending Punch in the Face

2009-02-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

Lumberjack

2009-02-15T06:19:00.000-08:00

Irate Pirate

2009-02-09T09:58:00.001-08:00

Pretty cool. It'll never get approved.

Cold Skull Zombie

2009-02-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

Cat

2009-01-27T12:53:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted anything in a while. I've been busy.

Slick Vinyl Girls and Cars

2008-12-18T06:16:00.000-08:00

I was in a small art sale this past weekend, it was fun to show some art again, and the gallery was great (thanks to 4th Street Studio, Beth and Kyla.) I tried something new, printouts of some vector-drawn pieces in a unique format. I was pleased with the results. Here's the pieces I had in the show.

Mach 1 Girl

2008-12-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

I'm in a show this weekend, a charity art sale, so I've been busy.
Here's a sketch that ended up being involved in one of my pieces.
I plan to post some pix of the sale next week....

GorillaBot

2008-11-28T13:20:00.001-08:00

Santo Strikes

2008-11-07T11:07:00.000-08:00

Ugh. Stuck in another pointless Friday meeting. I had to redeem the time somehow! So my loss is your gain:

Apple

2008-11-06T07:50:00.000-08:00

A co-worker commented on the shiny apple sitting on my desk. We got into a conversation about the best apples and found out we both only eat Braeburns. I drew this for her to hang in her cube, or possibly tattoo on her shoulder....

Halloween Post

2008-10-31T00:01:00.000-07:00

This one is older, I drew it quickly but I like it.
SPOOKY!!!