Bettie Page, "14 Cent"

Bettie Page - 14 Cent

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

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!

Jackie Onassis, "Hat"

Jackie Onassis - Hat

  

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Jackie Kennedy Onassis was the woman who best represents the term First Lady for a lot of people, and I am one of them.  I had to do a piece with one of her snazzy hats - she was well known for her many amazing outfits, competing with the movie stars of the day.  Join me in remembering this amazing woman and her legacy with this stunning print today.

Mickey Rourke: Sin City - Marv, "Cornered"

Mickey Rourke - Cornered

Portrait, 8.5 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Mickey Rourke was unquestionably the best thing about the Sin City film.  The gritty black and white imagery that remained so true to the essence of the comic book lends itself almost perfectly to my style.  Team that with the fact that I love the character and you've got a recipe for a great piece.  The contrast in this picture work better than almost any of my other work and I am really proud of this piece - these almost might be some of the best prints we've ever offered...

Marilyn Manson, "Dope"

Marilyn Manson - Dope

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

Somehow Manson has managed to stay ahead of the competition for lo these many years now.  His inventive use of shock tactics and gothic, angst ridden lyrics belies an extraordinary man.   The more you know about him as a human being, and especially the more you hear him talk the more you know how he's stayed ahead of the game for this long!  In the midst of all the Halloween hooplah this year with all the classic monsters I wanted to show my love for some of the monsters that have meant a lot to me personally.  Most of those are musicians so I decided to do Manson and Zombie - I was really pleased with the way that both of them turned out.  This is old school Manson, but not so old school that he isn't recognizable, if there is interest I might be intised into doing another piece from another era - hint hint...

Lon Chaney Sr. - Phantom Of The Opera: "Phantom"

Lon Chaney Sr. - The Phantom Of The Opera

Portrait,15 1/2 x 10 /2 in.
Lead on Paper

Another piece in the ongoing series of Classic Universal Horror Monsters is in my opinion - the original Horror monster.  Before there was Lugosi there was Chaney, before there was sound there was Chancey, before there were make-up artists there was Chaney.  We still don't honestly know how he achieved the upturned nose make-up for The Phantom of The Opera to this day, though these days most people believe he used very thin wire to upturn his snout.  Seemingly impervious to pain in the service of achieving a realistic appearance on screen Chaney is considered by some to the first character actor.  Whatever your opinion on the man might be it's hard to argue that he is anything but a legend among horror fans.  Once he haunted the screen, they say he still haunts the opera set which is miraculously still standing today, but if you want he can always haunt your wall!

Kurt Cobain, "Spirit"

Kurt Cobain - Spirit

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

Kurt represented a lot of things to a lot of different people and 16 years later I still think he does, I know that he hasn't lost any of his impact or interest.  Loosing him at such a young age felt like a robbery to me and my generation, like we had lost something shinning and wonderful - some height that would never be reached again. Thankfully the music and memories that he left behind are still around to this day and seem like they will be for a long, long time to come.

As Kurt comes toppling off of the page in this piece, the essence of the madness of Kurt on stage in really evident; yes the picture is right side up - he's on his head playing guitar!  A small smoke filled club where most people would be choking for air is where he called home.  Music is what he loved, and this way he can perform for you anywhere you want anytime you want!  Let this whirling dervish loose at the house and be the toast of the town.

Kurt Cobain, "Dumb"

Kurt Cobain - Dumb

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

This is a companion piece that I did to go along with Spirit.  The raw energy of Kurt spills out of the lines on the page here blending into a mix of madness and ecstasy.   Anarchistic symmetry at it's finest.  You can't see his face, but the wild eyes underneath that furry mane are what fueled an entire musical movement.  Usually Cobain was sporting shades or long enough hair you couldn't make out his eyes, but it doesn't matter - this piece glares at you with no eye sockets, bring him home and maybe you can get him to stop screaming!

Johnny Depp: Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas - Raol Duke, "Colonel"

Johnny Depp - The Colonel

Portrait, 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.

Lead on Paper

The essence of gonzo in it's purest form - or is it?  Johnny Depp, a Kentucky native, is seen here in his leading role as Raol Duke aka Hunter S Thompson in 1998's Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas.  Though released to mediocre reviews and a disappointing box office, the film has gone onto to become a cult classic.  It was selected as a modern classic by The Criterion Collection Company and won a Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival.  Now, twelve years later we are still waiting on the companion piece to this film, The Rum Diary which is slated for release in the next year or two.  You don't have to wait until then though, get gonzo - grab this print, stick it in a suitcase and smuggle that sucker home!

Jimi Hendrix, "Hair"

Jimi Hendrix, "Hair"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Graphite on Paper

Jimi Hendrix was an undeniable force in the evolution of rock and roll guitar.  Where most people in his position would push the boundaries, he instead chose to shatter them.  Moving into a transcendent free-form blend of tradition rhythm and blues, surf rock and country as well as jazz - Hendrix used them to redefine what the establishment had come to think of as rock music in the late 60's.  Although his life was cut short at the young age of twenty-seven, we remember him now, forty years later just as lovingly as those who saw him perform.  Isn't it about time to bring a little piece of the legend home with you?

Jack White: The White Stripes, "GBMS"

Jack White, "GBMS"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

The White Stripes took the music industry by storm, were all over the radio and had become the toast of the town - but I had no idea of any of this.  I live under a rock and listening to top 40 radio shows, ick!  So when a buddy stuck on Death Letter for me,  I had to hear the rest of DeStijl - I was in love.  It was a delightful blend of dissonant chords and screeching harmonic chatter from Jack White, mirrored by the childlike drum beats slipping from in inexperienced hands of Meg White.  It had been far too long since I'd heard some good old fashioned garage rock, and Jack helped me remember why I missed it so much.  Even while he was in The Stripes it seemed like he was inventing a new persona for himself periodically.  Whether it was for the new tour or the new album, and he's fronted several different bands since then - all with their own nuances.  This is Jack at the height of The Stripes era from the Get Behind Me Satan tour and album.  It is a section of my life that will remain vivid for the rest of my days, and this picture helps me recall them.  It can help you if you need a little help as well, like Jack said after all, "I can tell we are going to be friends..."

Howlin' Wolf, "Oval"

Howlin' Wolf, "Oval

Portrait, 7 x 5 1/2 in
Graphite on Paper

Before The Beatles, rock stars and even Elvis Presley there was a proud few musicians that stood on their own - outside of the established idea of what mainstream music should be in a still segregated society.  But with the help of people like Howlin' Wolf and his unique brand of rhythm and blues music, they began to dissolve the invisible wall that held people apart.  If it weren't for people like Muddy Waters and Hownlin' Wolf spreading their gospel through song it would have been an even longer tougher road than it was.  He sits here, brooding as always, so hurry up and give him a place to site before he gets real mad...

Jimi Hendrix, "1967"

Jimi Hendrix, "1967"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Hendrix was on the scene solo for only about four years - from early 1967 until his death on September 18th of 1970.  In that period though he went through two very distinct personality and wardrobe changes.  This is the first of the two, far more dark and brooding than the jovial hippie that would follow some months later.  In these early months he would always appear deep in thought, a solemn look on his granite face.  I chose to picture him here in my favorite outfit from those years, the band leader jacket.  It makes me smile for one reason or another and I hope it brings a little smile to your face or wall as well as it might be.

Bruce Campbell - Evil Dead: Ash, "Woods"

Bruce Campbell, "Woods"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

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!

Bradley Nowell - Sublime, "Back"

Bradley Nowell, "Back"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Lead on Paper

A young man was taken before his time.  His band was just getting ready to make their big break.  Now fifteen years later we look back on the tragedy with as much regret and fervor as ever.  Leaving a family behind is never easy but imagine if there were scores of fans that loved you so much that they would never let you go.  Maybe it's because we feel like we are part of Brad's family, and if you love someone you can never let their memory die that I chose to use a picture with some of Brad's face slightly obscured - you can see his tattoo well though and I thought that the smile on his face and the microphone in his hand spoke more about him than my lines ever could.  He was after all a man who lived for his music, who had to be gagged and drug off stage at times and never lost his passion for life even in death.  Won't you help him perform one more song?

Bob Marley - The Wailers, "Laugh"

Bob Marley, "Laugh"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Marley was a movement unto himself.  He didn't see himself as black or white, he didn't see himself as Jamaican or English - he saw himself as a divine creation of God like all other men and women.  And God had put him here for one reason - to spread love.  It was this unparalleled message of joy, happiness, peace and forgiveness that drove Marley's music and sky rocketed him into the international spotlight before his untimely death in 1981.  Likewise it was these same ideals that I tried to convey in the smiling visage you see before you.  Marley's smile was so strong it seemed like it could move mountains - his laugh jovial enough to raise the dead for one more joke.  Dreadlocks and a scruffy goatee were his visual trademarks but you still can't help but be affected by the peace and happiness that Marley was able to find in a world that seems to so dark atavistic at times. A light in a dark tunnel - at least now you can get a flashlight in the form of a print or poster...

Bob Dylan, "Half"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in
Graphite on Paper

What can you say that hasn't been said about Dylan before?  He's be known as everything from a poet to a madman, thief to genius and it's hard to pin him down.  He sits here lurking in the shadows straight out of the mid-60's as he was just beginning to work with The Band, which was a more than somewhat controversial move at the time.  Half light, half dark - acoustic to electric, I tried to make a connection there.  Either way this Dylan will always remain baby faced for you no matter what happens from now on...

Jimi Hendrix, "Smile"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Graphite on Paper

Sometimes you just end up with an image that sums up a person for you.  That's what happened here.  Initially I had set out to do a much larger study of Hendrix but as the face emerged it was all I could see.  That giant toothy grin peaking out of that wild hair had me hypnotized.  This is what I ended up with - the personification of Hendrix, for me at least.  His music conveyed such an upbeat and almost carefree tone that I never thought I'd get near to capturing that on paper, but I think I accomplished my goal quite well here, and I hope that you agree.  Forty years after his death Jimi is still greatly missed and will always be remembered.

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight: The Joker, "Face"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Charcoal, Soft Pastel and Oil Pastel on Paper

After completing the Jack Nicholson 1989 "Splash" picture I knew I had to do a Heath Ledger companion to the piece.  I re-watched The Dark Knight and decided that this had to be my first color piece.  I went with a mixed medium approach, blending charcoal, soft and oil pastels to achieve the finished product.  It wasn't easy - the minimalistic approach to color was a fun thing to play with in this piece but it really made me want to do one with his bright green hair.  I'm really happy with the finished product in this case though, Ledger's sardonic eyes peering out from the shadows and that demonic smile perfectly silhouetted.  I can't wait to start getting prints of this one done, they are going to look just amazing!

Johnny Depp: Pirates Of The Caribbean - Jack Sparrow, "Sparrow"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

If there ever was a man outside of the Chaney family that could 'wear' the title, "the man of a thousand faces" it is Johnny Depp.  Over his career he's taken more and more control over his own career and taken it some really interesting places.  In this picture I decided to do a portrait of Johnny Depp in The Pirate's Of The Caribbean as Jack Sparrow the head pirate and arguably the lead of the films so far.  Eyeliner and dreadlocks have now become synonymous with Depp and I don't think he minds one bit with that scraggly little goatee hanging out on his face months after the completion of the films.  And have no fear if you feel left out at the end of the film because you don't have any wicked pirate booty for yourself you can forget about it now!

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

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

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!