Predator, "Alpha"

Predator - "Alpha"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

This piece is in loving memory of Stan Winston who left us with so many wonderful creations and images and asked so little for himself.  His designs have been stuck in the heads of a million people all over the planet and there's definitely a reason why.  This is specifically the predator from the original Predator film as Stan designed that helmet himself and while others have imitated it they have never successfully improved on that design; why mess with a good thing?  Recently "Alpha" also showed up as the wounded predator in the 2010 film, "Predators" and it felt as good a time as any to do a serious piece showcasing just how beautiful and sheik the design really is almost 30 years later, a functional work of art as nearly all of Stan's creations invariably were.  He will be missed.

Frank Oz - Star Wars, "Yoda"

Frank Oz - Yoda

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Who doesn't love Yoda?  This is one of those pieces where everything just fell into place.  I had done a much smaller version of this drawing in graphite for a CD cover a while back and really liked the layout and composition, so I decided to do a full size portrait based on the earlier, rougher version.  I was out in the blistering sun at a show and sold one print in the twelve hours we spent sitting there.  I did, however manage to get this piece done and am rather proud of it.  You can almost sense the hand of master puppeteer Frank Oz beneath the amazingly articulate and lifelike puppet, and yet he has such a distinct personality all his own.  At least that's some of what I attempted to convey with this piece, as Star Wars has been a continuing source of inspiration and intrigue all my life.  I get the feeling that if you like Yoda half as much as I do you'll have to jump all over this print!