Hunter S. Thompson, "Gonzo"

Hunter S. Thompson, "Gonzo"

Portrait, 10 1/2 x 12 1/2 in
Lead on Paper

Thompson led a troubled life and might not have been a picture of sanity to most people, but he's a personal hero.  He was always ahead of he game, one step in front of everyone else.  His life was an incredible journey, kicked out of his home town after he was arrested, Thompson subsequently joined the army where he began his illustrious career as a journalist.  Though he worked at Rolling Stones magazine for several years, and was even teamed with Ralph Steadman the artist who would follow Thompson on his rise to the top, but failed to hit it big until there was an 'incident'.  Thompson was sent to cover the Mint 500 motorcycle race but instead turned in a bizarre op-ed piece of what would later become known as "gonzo" journalism.  The manuscript was the outlines of what would become the know American Literary Classic, "Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas"; which know stand along with other titles like "On The Road" and "Naked Lunch" as quintessential counter-culture reading material.

Joel Gion - Brian Jonestown Massacre, "Dig"

Joel Gion, "Dig"

Portrait, 10 x 10 1/2 in

Lead on Paper

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

Lead on Paper

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

Lead on Paper

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

Tom Waits, "Laugh"

Tom Waits, "Laugh"

Portrait, 10 1/2 x 12 in

Lead on Paper

Yet another Tom Waits piece, spotlighting yet another of his many eccentric appearances and personalities.  This particular picture is from the Heart Attack and Vine era in the early 80's just before he got that crazy pin-stripe mustache going on for the next few years.  There is something about Tom when he laughs.  The sound is like gravel being dumped through a steel sieve and it seems to shake the ground beneath your feet, it's no accident he played the devil in Dr Parnasus.  His worn out suit drips off his shoulders as he shakes with laughter, summing up much of his life to me.  Looking back the lines are a little loose and the shirt is a little undefined, and I love it.  It all screams Tom to me and it should look really nice peering down from a mantle somewhere.

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, "Easy Rider"

Portrait, 11 x 14 in

Lead on Paper

This was a really fun piece to do.  Peter Fonda hurtling along the road on his Chopper, Dennis Hopper lurking in the background.  I also had to get Jack Nicholson's helmet in there or it wouldn't really be Easy Rider now would it?  I chose to do this in a slightly larger format that most of my other stuff so I could really get some more of the bikes and that helmet into frame which I think makes the picture.  It's one of the strongest compositional pieces that I've done and I'm super pleased to be able to finally offer prints of it!

Marilyn Monroe, "Personal"

Marilyn Monroe, "Personal"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Few personalities have captivated America like Marilyn Monroe.  She defined the term super-model for perhaps the fist time, but that's not what this portrait is about.  I really wanted to do a picture of Marilyn Monroe as a person, not an object, something rarely seen in my opinion.  It's a million miles from the toothy Hollywood grin that made her a household name, but there's something tangibly beautiful and sincere about this piece.  On a lighter note, Something Had To Give and this print is available now, cause Some Like It Hot (I had to do it!).

Gene Wilder - Young Frankenstein, "Fronkunschteen"

Gene Wilder - Young Frankenstein, "Fronkunschteen"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

The companion piece to Marty Feldman's Igor, Gene Wilder can be seen here in his role as Dr. Frankenstein, though he might prefer you not know that.  It's true Wilder was one of Mel Brooks' go to guys and it was no surprise to see him turn up in Young Frankenstein, but he seems much more suited for the role than some of his other Brooks films.  His looks lend themselves to the black and what color scheme of the film perfectly and the dark eye make-up commonly associated with those early films looks so natural on his face he might be able to pull them off in public, then again maybe not.  You can be sure you could pull this print off in public though, cast out of his castle and the town the doctor needs a place to sleep it off people, it's been a long day!

Marty Feldman, "Playboy"

Marty Feldman, "Playboy"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

I just can't get enough of that face!  Graves Disease was responsible for Marty's trademark bulging eyes but there was something else lurking beneath that disarming grin, responsible for his lasting legacy as a comedy genius.  It's not hard to picture him running amok on the BBC or teasing Frankenstein's monster - but there was a real guy behind all that, a man with some enormous mutton chops.  I tried to really conjure the essence of Feldman here, presenting him as seriously as I dared with out compromising the pictures integrity in some fashion.  I just got the fist prints of this back and I have to say I am more than impressed with them than I anticipated, and I had some high expectations - simply put, this is a hell of a print.

Marty Feldman - Young Frankenstein, "Abby Normal"

Marty Feldman - Igor, "Abby Normal"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

This Marty Feldman piece is the first in a series spotlighting the film, "Young Frankenstein" by Mel Brooks.  It's one of my favorite films and has to be one of the funniest films ever made, due in no small part to the mad genius that is Marty Feldman.  His face might look like a caricature but he had some serious skill to back up those boyish good looks.  Just watch Young Frankenstein and try to imagine any one else as Igor.  Feldman can be seen here procuring a brain from the morgue in one of the films most famous scenes as he break the fourth wall, looking directly into the camera.  With all the trouble up at the castle lately it looks like he might be looking for somewhere new to stay, care to help him out a little?

Animal Portrait - Gir Dog, "Nightvision"

Gir Dog, "Nightvision"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

This happens to be a great example of two different types of portraiture, photo reproduction and animal portraiture.  This is my assistant Roman's dog, Gir.  He's a Brussels Griffin, the type of dog that wookies, ewoks and mogwai are based on, and has to be the cutest thing on three legs - that's right he's missing a paw, the poor guy!  I will make sure to post the original picture as well so you can compare the two, but in the meantime if you need a copy of this one we might be able to help you get the cuddly little thing settled into a new home, he does love laps after all.

Django Reinhardt, "Classic"

Django Reinhardt, "Classic"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 1 in

Lead on Paper

Modern music just wouldn't be the same with out Django Reinhardt.  He was badly burnt in a caravan fire when he was young costing Django several fingers, and while this would have stopped most people from playing the guitar but this inventive Gypsy decided, instead to use it to his advantage.  He developed an entirely new system of finger sweeps for the neck of the guitar that would become the basis for contemporary and modern guitar, most of his recognition would come after his lifetime.  Beyond his music though Django's persona was almost as cool as his music.  Sleek ties and hand tailored suits were a trademark for the man who came up from nowhere.  It seems like they designed Art Deco directly off of Django.  Tired of imitations and translations?  Bring the enigmatic gypsy wanderer back to your place, maybe you'll have better luck getting him to stay than we did!

Julie Newmar - Batman: Catwoman, "#1"

Julie Newmar - Catwoman, "#1"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Perhaps best remembered for her role as the original Catwoman on the 1960's Batman show with Adam West, Julie Newmar wanted to be a comedian but ended up working her way into some feature films before establishing a fruitful television career that would plateau in many ways with her role as Catwoman on the Batman series.  Keeping that in mind I found an early version of her make-up with much more of her face exposed.  She would eventually wear a mask but I didn't want to obscure her fact that much.  I also did a companion piece to this one of her earlier pin-up years that I will post soon.  In the meantime, you know where to find this print; same bat time, same bat channel er, bat blog that is!

Jack Skellington - The Nightmate Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King, "Smile"

Jack Skellington - The Pumpkin King, "Smile"

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11in

Lead on Paper

Tim Burton has done some amazing work - and his designs are the largest part of many of his most memorable films. Edward Scissorhands and so many others started off in his sketch book and were brought to life through his vivid imagination.  A Nightmare Before Christmas might be his largest undertaking in this category though, as it was the first full length animated film he had designed from the ground up.  He did a great job of not buckling under the pressure in this case, resulting in some amazing designs.  Jack Skelligton is one of the coolest designs out there.  Sheik and cool, complex in his simplicity - it was a real pleasure to draw him.  I stuck him in the woods for a little background and plastered a silly smile on his face as that's how I remember him, though I must admit I'm a more than a little tempted to do a companion piece that's a little more ominous than this one. In the meantime, bring a little Halloween, or Christmas - whatever you like, home with you for the holiday seasons in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Buddha Shakyamuni

Buddha Shakyamuni

 

Cover Illustration,

Scratchboard

This was done as a cover illustration for another local artist who is putting together a book and wanted some illustrations breaking up the sections.  This one was for the "Spirituality" Section so I decided to go with Buddha, he called out to me what can I say.  This is with out a doubt the largest and most detailed scratchboard that I've done to date.  If you look really closely you can even see miniature hidden yin-yangs throughout the picture, it was pretty intense to say the least.  Because of the medium though I was able to achieve a much greater level of definition.  This was actually the first piece that anyone asked for a print of so I probably owe it all to this piece.

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.

Tom Waits, "Diner"

Tom Waits - Diner

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

Tom Waits is the man of a million faces.  He seamlessly changes from decade to decade, depending on how he feels and where he's at in his life.  Ranging from soft folk ballads and gentle jazz piano, to out and out rock and roll, even going to so far as to record an album with Keith Richards helming the guitar.  In that spirit I did three pieces ranging from different parts of his career.  This one goes all the way back to those smoke filled bars and coffee shops that he would have been haunting back in the early 70's.  Although he was still cementing himself as an indispensable piece of rock music he already had the look down - and you can have the look down if you want to.  Of course you could always hang it up on the wall and bask in the glory that is Tom like I do though.

John Lennon, "Imagine"

John Lennon - Imagine

 

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

John Lennon was a member of The Beatles, arguably the world's most popular band.  They invented the term superstar and went on to revolutionize not only music sonically but the way that it was recorded and even how it was perceived by those who listened to it.  John Lennon was a man, and he felt the need to share his strengths and weaknesses and happiness and insecurities with the rest of the world in the hopes it might make it a little better place, or teach someone something - at least make them stop and think.  So on what would have been John's 70th birthday I chose to draw this as I share many of the same hopes and dreams.  I was looking for a way to help remember this amazing man and his legacy, I found it and so can you.

Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, "Strangelove"

Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove

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

The multi-talented Peter Sellers is probably best remember for his zany role in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 classic, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb as an American recruited ex-Nazi scientist.  You can almost smell the smoke from Sellers cigarette as he mutters in a  raspy snarl,  the loud squeak from the bearings on his wheel chair drowning out soft obscenities.  It had to be hard getting around the set in that clunky old prop but it won't be hard to get him into your house with the help of prints and posters!

Jack Nicholson - Chinatown, "Chinatown"

Jack Nicholson - Chinatown

Portrait, 8 1/2 x 11 in

Lead on Paper

Jack Nicholson has been entertaining audiences for years and has earned his Academy Awards coming up the hard way starring in low budget art films making a name for himself despite the fact several of his movies were banned at the time of their release.  In some cases though he just plain old stole the show - Chinatown was one of those cases.  He took that movie, ran off and never looked back.  In a more buttoned down role with more direction than I was used to seeing for Nicholson it was a wonderful change of pace and I loved the fact that they cut up his nose, though I chose to leave that out of the picture as it looked a bit grotesque otherwise.  Detection isn't easy when everyone's against you -  but don't worry we can help you get this slippery character home today!