Saturday, November 29, 2008

A few tidbits


For those of you who are waiting. I got approval on my Marvel Masterpieces Proofs and they will be going out in the mail in the next few days. The one I have posted here is a four card set, and IS available. I may toss it up on ebay but am not sure yet.

Also, I am working on Topps upcoming Star Wars Galaxy set. I will be contributing 350 cards to this set, and it marks my first go round with the 6 movies. So I am jazzed!!!!

Hope everyone had a nice holiday.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Feed me Seymour!


This piece was done around Halloween. I have been taking a trip down ultra detailed lane lately and straying a bit from cartoon side of the world. Still I am finding that even with that, some of my more cartoonish aspects are peeking through. Perhaps I have finally found a happy medium. Anyway, this piece took me forever to ink. I haven't inked in a while but if I was going to go in, I may as well have gone in full force.
So here is a bit darker look at the wonderful movie and show, Little Shop Of Horrors.

Done on the back of an 11 by 14 bleed sheet.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Bret The Hitman Hart


So anyone who knows me.....well, knows that I am a big wrestling fan. And Bret hart was always my favorite wrestler. Anyone who knows me even more....well, also knows that I was fortunate enough to become friends with and travel with the Hitman.
Meeting and knowing the best wrestler in the world will always be one of my most treasured memories. I mean not many people can say that they got to hang out with their childhood hero.
Of course as time wore on and life took it's course for both of us, we fell out of contact. But I always followed his career, both the ups and downs of it.
Recently Bret released his autobiography Hitman: My real life in the world of cartoon wrestling. I remember him talking about this book on a few occasions and was happy to finally see it released. After snagging up my copy I got to know Bret more through his book. And I was worried that it might knock my childhood hero off his pedestal, and I guess in some respects it did. But in doing so it made Bret more human. A human who overcame and achieved loads of greatness that most men only dream about.
Bret did a book signing at the Virgin Megastore in Orlando last week, and I was right in line, not only to get my book signed, (and one for a good friend) but to visit an old friend as well.
My ex wife joked that he wouldn't remember me, but I knew better.

On the way into the store I noticed a few other fans dressed as Bret and Shawn Michaels respectively. And for whatever reason they decided to act out the sharpshooter right in the parking lot. It was a bit funny how long it took them to actually get into the move. "Bret" was afraid his pants would tear.
After waiting in line for an hour and a half I got to see Bret. It was funny to watch him do a double take and then smile. "You haven't changed a bit Mike" he said. The moment was brief and he gave me some contact info so we wouldn't lose touch again. And it was good to see him, if only for that moment.

Had I changed? I'm sure we both had, especially after 12 years. So I came home and compared the images, and while the reflection may have changed a little bit. The friendship was still there.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

The Return of the Duck Part 2.

I have all kinds of blogs and art I am ready to post, and I know I have been gone for a long time. But I am watching all my uber talented buddies update their blogs almost everyday, and I am getting motivated to try the same. It's not that I haven't wanted to update. But I am so embarrassed by how far behind I have fallen with my workload that it would have been weird taking time out to update here.

But I have knocked a bunch of it out of the way. And I have dusted off some of my emotional cobwebs. In the next few days I'll add art, and a few stories for my two readers who may have been concerned. But here is the most recent of stories accompanied by an appropriate illustration.

Yesterday was a good day. I have to admit that I was a little bummed initially when my plans for the way it was supposed to play out fell through. Sometimes surprises can be a tricky thing. But the intent and thought behind it was there and that was what was important.

But Ultimately I ended up having a very unexpectedly and much needed good time. It was a night of release, silliness, enlightenment, irritations, and self discovery and empowerment.

My good buddy Luandra stepped in to help fill the night and I was really glad she did. We got to check out Walking with Dinosaurs, The LIVE experience at the Amway arena. It was crazy cool, and the seats were awesome, albeit a bit scrunchy. But it was really cool to see what these massive beasts might have looked like walking around with us. The show was a tad shorter than expected, but a good time nonetheless.



Needless to say, we had time on our side, and we headed to downtown Orlando. We ate, drank, chatted, drank some more, chatted, moved, drank more. Yeah. Much needed buzz central.

But it wasn't until we got to the I-Bar, or Independent Bar that we got to see some of the nights more interesting characters. I didn't have my sketchbook with me, but I sure registered some of the more amusing of the bunch. From up in one of the corners of the place we could observe all the slices of life that came in through the door.



There was the gal dressed as a nurse, and the Nelson haired fellow with the leather jacket and no shirt. But I think our favorite was the what appeared to be 40 year old guy in the blue polo that was all by himself on the dance floor. He was fascinating and I suppose somewhat disturbing at the same time. Everyone in the place had their own distinctness. Even in a quirky goth way, or outlandish style. But here was this normally dressed polo wearing, jeans and tennis shoes, slightly over weight guy just having the time of his life.

He swayed to the music with purpose. Eyes closed fists often clenched. Like God himself was moving him, saving him with Depeche Mode remixes. I laughed and thought, you'll never see me doing that. Alone out there. But the more Lu and I talked, the more I realized that maybe that guy, maybe Mr. Blue Polo was happier than anyone in the place.

Just maybe he was the most focused and balanced of the lot of us. He was content with his station in life. So happy and enthralled to be himself, that nothing else mattered but life, and the moment, the music that was racing through him. Envy settled in at that point. Lucky Bastard I thought.

Then Lu switched it up and said, that it could be the polar opposite and maybe days before he had his heart broken, lost his job, found out he was dying and ran over his puppy. Maybe he was so depressed with himself and life that this lonely dance and song was all he had. And that's why he was feeling it so powerfully.



Whatever the case was, that was our night. Odd discussions over alcoholic distractions. But you know what, it made me thankful for everything I did have. It made me realize that I had quite a bit going in a positive fashion. There was pleasant distractions in the form of artistic flare, a handful of other minds out there to mingle with as well. Work was good, I had just seen my babies, and here I was with probably one of the coolest women, and friends a guy could ask for. Hell I even cracked wise with my favorite ex in Texas.

So leave it to the buzz, the atmosphere, the dramatic underlying battles within, the art wanting to burst free, the challenges and shooting full of holes of theories on relationships, stolen face collisions both strange, unexpected, funny, meaningless and totally fucking perfect for the moment and to the realization that in Lu I have one of the best damn friends on the planet.

Hell, even the french toast, eggs and coffee afterward were even a little tastier.

Yeah it was a good night. It was a great night. If only they could all be like that right?

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Return of the Duck


Okay wow, so it's been since August 7th that I posted anything?!? Well a very brief reason why that happened is as follows.
I've gotten a divorce, watched my daughters move a thousand miles away, and had to relocate myself. I'm still in Orlando, and my skin is thick. Life goes on Indy.
I'm hurting more than I care to let on, but I am putting on my Tragic the Clown makeup and allowing life to continue, to take me on a new adventure.
I love my babies more than life itself, and they continue to be a part of my every waking thought. I will be a part of their life so I try not to be down about the indirectness of that involvement. Seeing them will just be like a constant Christmas I can't wait to get to!
As Evita sang out. Don't cry for me Argentina.
So now it's back to work. I just wrapped up and was approved on all my Marvel Masterpieces 3 cards. I will post scans this week.
And now it's on to Indiana Jones Masterpieces for Topps. I am doing 360 total cards, and they include 30 Panoramic cards as well.
The artwork below is a teaser for the set that was featured in the sell sheet for the set.
That's all for now folks. Much LocoLove.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

A Star Wars Love Story


It just came to me, in a moment of creative bliss. Like an exploding catharsis. An entire mini drama, ala Star Wars. I will try and update pages everyday or at least every other day. But Page two will be up tomorrow night.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Lost makes me cry, Scrubs makes me laugh, and nothing is ever as good as it seems.


So I am back from my trip. Good times. To a degree. But more on that later.
For now, I will say that I got to watch a few episodes of Lost season 2 on the plane. And damn, that show makes a guy cry. Everything from the emotional losses to the perfect music choices. The show's like a damn drug I have become helplessly addicted to.

Scrubs on the other hand had me laughing my ass off out loud. So many ways I can relate to Zach Braff's character. Except of course the part about being a doctor. But what is cool about the show is that it too tugs at the heart strings. I'm sure glad there are several seasons of these shows out still to watch.

And I'll be honest, after finding out that nothing can possibly be as good or real as it seems, I could use the distraction.

Rant over. Artwork soon.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Because one is not enough


So I go for ages without posting and then BAM two posts in one day!?!!? Well I wanted to share this one. I know I am waaaaay behind, but I was finally turned on to Firefly and Serenity. And Damn I wish I'd been keen to it sooner. The show was completely addicting. And it sucks that it got canceled. But what a ride. And I am now forever a fan. And dare I say it, I think Malcolm Mal Reynolds is just as cool as Han Solo.
To prove it, here he is.

Heroes Season 2 scans

























Since the product is out on the market and I am seeing my cards on ebay, I guess it's okay to show these.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Are you ready for some long windedness?

Back from Chicago and what a trip. It seems my life has been turned upside down and inside out. I WISH I could spout on and on about why, but some things currently are better kept under wraps for now.
I will say that I was inspired to draw this sketch card from Moulin Rouge.
I saw it for the first time a few days ago and was instantly swept up. Ewan McGregor's character reminded me a lot of an overly over the top romantic I once knew. A guy who believed in love more than anything. Believed that as long as you had that going for you, anything was possible. That love could conquer all. That guy has been dead for a while. Or so I thought. Maybe it was the movie, but more than likely it was something else that re-awakened him. Of course the fear is that without the proper motivation fueling him, he may die out again. Or it maybe a temporary reliving. God I hope not though.
I met a lot of new people in Chicago, and was floored by some of the amazing personalities and talent out there. I only wish I had gone as a fanboy and not so much an exhibitor. Although by Sunday I had given into the fanboy a bit more. Over the weekend they also announced that Michael Turner had passed away. And that was hard to hear. It's sad that the world would lose such a talent, and take him so soon. He was only 37. There will be a huge amount of un drawn covers that the world will never be privledged to see.
I do have my computer back and thankfully all data was saved. So the heart of my studio has returned and I am slowly getting back into the groove of things.
That said, my website will be looking significantly different in the next week or so.
I also learned a few hard lessons about relationships this weekend. And I realized that I have no idea how to handle them. I thought that the fact that I had two amazing solid friends for over 18 years who support me through thick and thin as I do them was an example of how I could maintain great time tested relationships.
And as close as I think I am to achieving that lately, I think I'm completely clueless. But I'm trying to fix that. Make certain changes to preserve friendships, and to maintain a relationship permanently. Lord knows I'll probably blow it though too.
But know that for those of you who read this and care. As of this moment, I am extremely happy, but a little sad at the same time.
Now I need to catch up on my commissions. That's a damn good place to start.
So here is one more, I'm starting to really enjoy drawing Buffy.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Wizard World Chicago




Okay all kinds of news! My computer is home and all data was saved! Hooray!!!!
Now I am at Wizard World Chicago for the weekend. I will be at booth 4706 in Artist Alley all weekend so stop on by and see me! You never know how generous I will be feeling.

Also Anyone waiting on commissions, they will go out next week when I get home. Including any sketchbooks that were ordered.

Also I just got word that I will be contributing 200 cards to Upperdeck's next Marvel Masterpieces set!

Also, heh, lots of also's. Here are a few shots of the con from the preview night. Me nad my good buddy Kenny's table, and TNA's lovely knockout Gail Kim. Hailey drew her a picture and made sure I got it to her. For the record, Gail is one of the coolest most down to earth pro wrestlers I've ever met.

Okay kids, got to run, I'm late for the show......

Monday, June 16, 2008

I haven't died

I know it's been over a month now, and I just wanted to step in and let ya'll know I'm not dead/ But my computer currently is.
It's in the shop and working off the dinosaur in the house is a bitch. But hopefully as soon as I nail this Clone Wars deadline in a few days, I will post something with a little more meat on it's bones.

Friday, May 09, 2008

The rest of the Marvel Masterpieces 2










I'm in a world of sick. Stomach viruses suck. But either way, here are the rest of my Marvel Masterpieces 2.