Bela Lugosi, "Dracula"

Bela Lugosi - Dracula

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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The first talkie horror film and the movie that launched the golden era of Universal's horror films.  Lugosi was a renowned stage actor and his presence on the screen is undeniable, he defined the Dracula character for generations to come with his stage and coinciding film performances of the character in the 20's and 30's.  While the latter half of his career was fraught with difficulty and typecasting - none of this diminishes the fact that Lugosi will be remembered for a long time to come for amazing portrayal of Dracula and so many other classic horror characters!

Boris Karloff, "Frankenstein"

Boris Karloff - Frankenstein

Portrait, 15 x 18 in.

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While most people remember Dracula has having kicked off the golden age of Universal Horror films there were several movies before and around the same time that cemented their role as priceless pieces of Americana; Frankenstein was one of those films.  If it hadn't been for Karloff's kind and naive portrayal of Frankenstein's monster and Lon Cheney Sr. performance in The Phantom Of The Opera I have little doubt that Dracula would have been a flash in the pan.  With Karloff referred to the monster as his "friend" and was glad to have played the role that made him a legend, though I doubt he enjoyed it nearly as much as those of us who have spent countless hours watching and re-watching his films.

Robert Englund - A Nightmare On Elm Street, "Freddy Kruger"

Robert Englund: A Nightmare On Elm Street - Freddy Krueger

Portrait, 12 x 14.5 in.

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Robert Englund here as the face that's haunted  my nightmares since I was six years old, Freddy Kruger!  From his first appearance in the original Last House On The Left, We Craven had big plans for Freddy, though I don't think even Craven himself foresaw just how popular the character would become.  With a 2010 sequel in the bag I was really excited, until I found out that they had recast the Freddy Kruger part after nine films.  This is my little way of saying thanks to Robert for all the great years and scares we've shared, long live Kruger!

Pam Grier, "Foxy"

Pam Grier - Foxy

Portrait, 11 x 14 in.

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When I set out to do a Pam Grier piece I was originally going to do one from the Jackie Brown era - as that is probably the best things she's ever done despite her prolific career.  The more I thought about it though the more I thought I needed to at least start with a piece that paid homage to her films such as Fox Brown, Coffee and Doll House.  I started off with a small 8.5 x 11 in lay out but her hair wouldn't allow for that.  It was huge and even adding the extra inches I didn't quite get it all.  If you grew up watching her movies like I did it's time to snag up one of these amazing prints and get your wall snazzy yesterday!

Rob Zombie, "Hellbilly"

Rob Zombie - Hellbilly

Portrait, 14.5 x 10.5 in.

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Years ago when Rob Zombie was first making his transition out of White Zombie there were a lot of people that weren't sure he was going to be able to make it on his own.  While Zombie is a talented lyricist he's always relied on the cadre of extremely talented musicians he surrounds himself with.  Any doubts were shattered when the ground breaking Hellbilly Deluxe album came out.  Dragula, Living Dead Girl and Demonoid Phenomenon invaded the radio waves and the deal was sealed.  His look has constantly evolved like his music but looking back, I will always fondly remember the Hellbilly Deluxe years as the ones that defined what he looked and sounded like to me.

Marlon Brando, "Godfather"

Marlon Brando - Godfather

  

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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Marlon Brando was a master of acting and over his illustrious career played more roles than I could recount here.  Many of those roles have become legendary, some of the most lauded moments in American cinema - but in my mind one of them stand above almost all the rest.  It at least earns a place on the top five list there and that's his role as Vito Corleone, The Don, The Godfather - in the movie of the same title.  One of the best period films ever made and unarguably one of the best mafia films ever made, Brando cemented his place as a house hold name for generations to come with this one.  And now Vito can give you your own consultation any time you want!

Alfred Hitchcock, "Shadow"

Alfred Hitchcock - Shadow

Portrait, 8.5 11 in.

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Everyone has a favorite Hitchcock film - Vertigo, The Birds, North By North West, Psycho, Rear Window, Dial M For Murder, I could go on and on.  Looking over the list of movies it's almost inconceivable that one person could have done them all, and that he was also the person that at once created a uniquely original version of the emerging horror film of the time - the thriller.  Suspense and mystery were the supreme tools of Hitchcock, earning him the apt title,the Master of Suspense.  On one hand he was a dark and sinister, brilliant and uplifting director of the time - and on the other a loving and warm family man.  I tried to do a half and half image of him that kind of conveyed that a little.  No matter what your favorite film, hasn't he earned a spot on your wall?

Stephen Geoffreys, "Evil Ed"

Stephen Geoffreys - Evil Ed

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in..

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Until the recent talk of a remake the 1985 film, Fright Night has definitely flown under the radar for the most part, cementing it's role as a cult classic and fan favorite.  I am definitely one of those fans, watching both Fright Night and it's sequel nearly every Halloween for years now.  Roddy McDowell often steals the show for people as Peter Vincent but Stephen Geoffreys always caught my eye during a particularly charged seen that seems very out of place in the res of an otherwise camp and pretty badly acted film.  Geoffreys career has been a rough one, finding him doing pornographic films sometime after Fright Nights release.  I submit this piece in loving memory of the man who stole a scene from Roddy McDowell in one of the most awful films I've ever seen and ended up making me love it!

William S. Burroughs, "Tell"

William S. Burroughs - Tell

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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William S. Burroughs is probably best known for his amazing literary genius as displayed in his most famous book, Naked Lunch - as well as a herald and founding member of the Beat Generation along with Alan Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac.  Though Burroughs works have not celebrated the same success as Kerouac's works has he definitely carved out a comfortable niche amongst disillusioned drug addicts as well as collegiate and intellectual circuits alike.  Early in his career Burroughs accidentally shot his wife in the head while performing a re-enactment of the William Tell routine as they called it, where Burroughs would shoot a cup off of his wife's head.  He missed and she was killed in the middle of a crowded bar.  Though he never served time for the crime as it was ruled accidental it haunted him for the rest of his life.  Knowing this the symbolism of this picture should then not be missed...

Audrey Hepburn, "Cigarette"

Audrey Hepburn  - Cigarette

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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Audrey Hepburn is a legend, just mentioning her name summons the ideals of beauty and elegance.  She is pictured here early in her career while she spent all her time nursing those long cigarette filters in her dainty little fingers.  I had thought about doing her in Breakfast At Tiffany's but instead I decided instead simply to remain in those idyllic years of her career during which she would make such movies as Paris When It Sizzles, How To Steal A Million and of course 1964's blockbuster smash My Fair Lady.  If you're like me and just can't get enough Hepburn even with all of her films available on DVD now you need to snag this piece up and make your wall a bit more stylish, everyone should be so lucky as to have her consultation on decoration, haha!

Alyson Hannigan, "Sprite"

Alyson Hannigan - Sprite

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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Alyson Hannigan has worn many hats in her career.  She started off as a side joke int he American Pie series and has made her way into the the lexicon of the American language now with her role on the television series, How I Met Your Mother - which is in it's sixth season.  A mother several times over, I will always remember Alyson Hannigan in her early roles - so young and jovial, cute in ever sense of the word.  I tried to capture a snapshot of that smile - when you look at it you know exactly who you are looking at, and you almost can't help but smile back up at the wall every time - guaranteed to brighten the room up with this one!

Julie Newmar, "Tasteful"

Julie Newmar - Tasteful

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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Julie Newmar went on to world fame as an actress, most notably in her role as Catwoman on the 1960's camp version of Batman, she always wanted to be a comedian after all.  In the 30's though she made her living as a pin-up model.  She never did anything extremely racy in my opinion, but she did do some really nice tasteful pin-up work that I consider to be classic Americana along side the likes of Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe.  I think I captured the essence of that very well here in this piece which is a companion to the earlier Catwoman, #1 piece that I did portraying her more as she always wanted to be seen - a jovial comedian, rather than a sexy cover girl - in my mind and on your wall though she can be both!

Bettie Page, "Beach"

Bettie Page - Beach

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in.

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Bettie Page is known best for her classic pin-ups but I wanted to show her in a slightly brighter setting and a beach proved to be an ideal setting.  The black rose in her hair helped to keep the color of the picture in her color scheme, but I like how uncharacteristically light this is.  One one of the most recognizable faces in American these days, on everything from lunchboxes to t-shirts Bettie Page has become part of the American mythology.  Join in on the fun and pick yourself up one of these amazing drawings today!

Frank Sinatra, "Blue Eyes"

Frank Sinatra - Blue Eyes

 

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in

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Who can forget Old Blue Eyes himself, Mr Frank Sinatra?  I know I can't.  When trying to think of things that went along with the Christmas season I heard Frank singing song after song about the season in my head and decided that I had to do a piece for him.  Everyone knows at least one Sinatra fanatic and yet it seems like these days there just isn't the amount of cool memorabilia created, but this should help.  Get Frank on your walls for the holidays before the family comes round and watch the conversations begin!

Bettie Page, "14 Cent"

Bettie Page - 14 Cent

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in

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The unforgettable Bettie page is seen here in one of her classic pin-up poses.  After I did the beach scene with here and all that bright color light color scheme I wanted to do a piece that remained a little truer to the black and white images that have become so associated with Page.  I wanted something that felt more like a pulp magazine cover than what I had ended up with before - and this stunning piece is the finished result.  I hope you like it as much as I liked drawing it!

Bruce Campbell - Evil Dead: Ash, "Woods"

Bruce Campbell, "Woods"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

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I guess it all depends on what circles you run in, but if you know anyone that I do then Bruce don't call me "Ash" Campbell has been one of the biggest names in and out of little Hollywood, and has been for nearly three decades!  Due to Campbell's working relationship with director Sam Raimi on their Evil Dead trilogy and cameos in such films as Spider-Man 1,2 and 3, as well as Dark Man he has become a house hold name.  In more recent memory he has been starring as Sam Axe on the television show, "Burn Notice" for some time now.  Despite all of that I will forever remember him as the star of Within The Woods.  A 30 minute short film version of Evil Dead that was shot on 8mm while Bruce was still on college to attract investors to the aforementioned film.

Holding his spattered chainsaw just out of frame you can almost feel the blood oozing off the page in this illustration.  If you grab a print of this one be careful, it looks like it might drip a little!

Mike Smith: Trailer Park Boys - Bubbles, "Hat"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

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I did this piece for Vulturefest down in Makanda this year.  Trailer Park Boys is probably the most brilliant show I've ever seen and of all the characters Bubbles is undeniable the best.  Mike Smith started on the show as a sound-engineer having had limited success in his Canadian grunge band Sandbox, who recorded two albums on EMI.  Due to some wonderful coincidences he ended up landing a starring role on Trailer Park Boys and is working on a new show with the cast from TPBoys now.  Watching TPB lately I was struck with how much I liked Bubbles when he was in his snow gear so I decided to stick him in that here.  His little beanie cap just cracks me up, not that his face isn't enough that is!  I can't wait to see this suckers hanging in the living room, now that's a conversation starter!

Joel Gion - Brian Jonestown Massacre, "Dig"

Joel Gion, "Dig"

Portrait, 10 x 10 1/2 in

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Can you hear the tambourine man a callin?  Joel Gion from The Brian Jonestown Massacre, or at least he as back as of the time of this portrait, made me reconsider my opion of tambourine players in a band.  He served not only as a musician but also a bouncer and the glue that very nearly held everything together.  Typical of Joel, nothing about this drawing was typical - his glasses weren't the hardest part of this picture, it was that hand that nearly drove me nuts.  For some reason getting the proper foreshortening on it was just a massive pain in the neck.  In the end though I was really happy with how this ended up.  Everything about this besides that hand was an absolute pleasure to draw.  You normally don't get to draw mutton chops or a hair cut like that on anything but a comic book character, and even then it's hard to pull off - I mean you just can't dream that kind of thing up!

Tom Waits, "Dark"

Tom Waits, "Dark"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 10 1/2 in

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So far the final installation in the Tom Waits series he is depicted here in the mid-90's while working on one of his plays, The Black Rider with writer William S. Burroughs of "Naked Lunch" notoriety.  It was this era in Tom's life that made me know he was going to knock his role as Satan in Doctor Parnassus out of the park.  Going well back to his Mystery Men days, this classic fedora and suit look just screams lounge lizard but there's so much more to Tom.  This was the very first picture that I did in the Conte Pierre Noire lead pencils that have become the basis of most of the work presented on this blog.  A fortuitous combination of subject and medium to say the least.

Clint Eastwood - The Man With No Name, "No Name"

Clint Eastwood, "No Name"

Portrait, 10 1/2 x 13 in

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Before he was Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood became known as The Man With No Name supplanting the legacy of John Wayne for several generations.