Portraiture Post Ponderings

 As an artist one strives to be a jack of all trades. Which means knowing how to paint, watercolor, ink, sculpt, develop photographs, edit film, stitch fabrics, hack tree stumps, clip hair, melt small toy soldiers, spray tags, arrange food neatly upon thy plate and/or any other infinite amount of particular methodologies and variations thereof. Crafting the raw into the refined, evoking from the ether- beauty manifest. Becoming godlike in a world-making potential if only for a moment. 
  "Nick and Talin" 9"x12" Pencil on Bristol. 2012.

Before I broke boundaries into other tools I was a solely reliant master of the fifty shades of grey and penciling is still probably the most expressive means of me capturing a likeness, channeling a softness of character, mirroring the light of the eye. Usually my life drawings are more gestural, fleetingly stolen in a corner-of-the eye glance but when it comes to people I know- my family and friends, people whose character I admire and whose lives I cherish-it's more of a meditation upon their spirit, and capturing the focused-totality of their life spark, before casting it to the page in rough grooved pencils. 

                                                                   "Sofia" 9"x12" Pencil on Bristol. 2012.

I fancy myself a comic artist primarily but maintain my ability to channel the Renaissance Man of yore.  So while I'd really rather ink my version of an animated and distorted person in my own stylo than spend the time trying to reproduce God Himself's handiwork- it gets me closer to him. (Because its time consuming, evolving beauty takes positively eons.) Let a camera capture true life, as it is the best tool for the job and takes a  mere fraction of the time. Still, there's something to be said for eclipsing the uncanny valley of a photo-real depiction completely hewn by hands. Imposing the second dimension onto a supremely physical third and fourth dimensionally acting personnage is quite the challenge, I undertake it only with the greatest consideration. 

"Marion" 8.5" x11" Charcoal on Bristol. 2008.

When I draw something, I'm tinkering, figuring it out, trancing at the miracle of flesh and bone, fabric and stone, knitting it together on paper alone. Nothing grants the appreciation for bare reality like trying to reproduce it. Only a maker can possibly sympathize with thee Maker. So I live in the firm belief that all things are born of some kind of love. Above all let it be said, I drew what I loved and fell in love with whatever I drew. There's no helping it. 

Gallery Showing and Art Sale at NEIU

You can pick up prints of my latest montages at the NEIU Art Gallery this week. I've got all my old stuff including the Beatles Musical Montage, Alice in Wunderbar and Twilight Kiss as well as these newly finished Batman Rogues Gallery and Ninja Turtles Rogues Gallery. At $5 a pop, they surely shouldn't be missed and would make fine holiday presents for any comic art fan. Now that I've got these out of the way, what property should I take on next?

FINGER PUPPETS SEIZE TIN HAND, MAKE DEMANDS: "Nu moar bewbz, only catz plz."

Right. Updating the blerg ermagherds.

So its been a bit. I'm taller now.

What have I done since...

For starters I won the EnterVoid 2012 Invitational defeating 50 other incredibly talented artists in a bi weekly comic challenge bracket to take the top slot. I'll tell you none of these battles was easy- I had to bring my A-game every time. No collaboration, no prep time- only ink-slingin wizardry and my wits to stave off the mongrels armed with tablets and all manner of cybernetic chimeras with free time danglin out they wazoos and I COWBOYED UP SON. Did 80- some pages in two months. Last 25 pages in two weeks worth of sleepless nights fueled only by the desire to see it through to the bitter end.

Check out my Character Toro Joe and read all those comics here. Also check out my opponents work while you're at it. They all gave me a run for my money and I earned every inch.

Before that I wrapped up a five year story and character arc for the titular Tinwoodsman at ">War for Arcadia. . They run things a little differently there- massive overarching plots and collaborative efforts make for a more cohesive verse I find but they game got away from me. Did manage to make comics in all manner of sub-genres however- Weird Westerns, Epic 50paged clashes between Heaven and Hell, Gladiator Coliseum Battles, even Silent Bamboo Ninja Battles in Fish armor... Check em out, join the fight at the new Hollow City.

That's just the comics, otherwise its been the usual Con circuit, Drink n Draws,way too many unpaid commissions for tattoos, childs photos, SEVERAL LARGE PAINTINGS that shall never see the light of day, cooperative collaborations with my artistic cohorts, Anthology works, traveling Europe with fellow artists... mostly playing vidja gaymes in all honesty.

PODCASTS- Talking comics, Reviewing Joe the Barbarian and such: VOIDCAST #3



Hit up my DeviantArt page I also never update but hordes of my comic making peers do so pursue them instead.


ART of WAR FOR ARCADIA

http://indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=5875

What's upcoming: No plans for any further arts of any kind being made. THE PUPPETS HAVE SHPOKEN.