Is everyone aware that Troy Polamalu's hair is insured for one million dollars? We all know this, right?
Anyway, this is an illustration of Polamalu for Great Lakes Life Magazine. This is my second month with the magazine and I'm slowly weaseling drawings into various sections of the publication. The print version of this image is only about 2 inches by 2 inches so details weren't the highest priority.
Be sure to check back soon, because the October issue just hit stands so I'll be releasing other images from it shortly. I'd post them now...but I'd much rather eat some eat some leftover pizza.
The other day, I was at a steakhouse, seeing how much prime rib I can suck down before I actually start to sweat au jus, when I noticed two enormous bikers sitting at a table next to me. Typically, this wouldn't be a big deal. I expect to see bikers at a steakhouse. What was odd is that they were both drinking large, neon colored margaritas, complete with fruit spears.
I suppose it takes a big man to order a girly drink...and that's where this came from. Now who wants to nurse some lemon drops?
Jellyfish on toast. Is this the most original or funny idea ever? Absolutely not. But back when I did the Devil Went Down To Georgia and Wolf in Sheep's Clothing sculptures, a really loose pen drawing of this jellyfish got scribbled down as a potential third 3-D piece. That project never took off but every time I flipped through my sketchbook, I would see the little doodle and something about it seemed appealing to me. So the line work got a face lift and I threw some color on it.
I think he's meant to remain two dimensional...but that could just be the laziness talking...
Admittedly, "unicycle infantry" is a cooler name, but it's horribly inaccurate. And based on the drawing, you can clearly see I'm all about historical accuracy.
Drawing inspired by THIS
People like this are why I dislike going to concerts. Regardless of the music genre, at least four of these bro-dads seem to manifest and fill my body with hatred.
Hello, all! Summer is winding down which means sleepless nights due to insane heat will soon be replaced by sleepless nights due to insane work. I hope you've all gotten your fill of beaches, hammocks and mojitos (but I think we can all agree, enough is never enough).
My summer as a tanned, jobless bum ended a few weeks ago when I was hired by the nice people at Great Lakes Life magazine. I do a lot of different tasks there, but by far the most enjoyable thing is illustration, and here is the first published image I've done for them (and their first illustrated cover, ever). This is the cover for their annual food and wine issue and I was asked to have a wine bottle and have something growing out of it, while having a psychedelic feel. Artists they gave as examples were Romero Britto and Peter Max. The only real guidelines I was forced to follow were image size and room needed to be left for headlines. The turnaround for this project was really short, and with that considered, I'm pretty happy with the piece. It's very different from the stuff I usually do.
So if you're in Ohio, Pennsylvania or New York, go out and pick up one of these bad-boys. If they sell enough, maybe I'll get to do this sort of thing again.
My original artwork before it was spruced up by the graphic designers:
Here are the original concepts for the piece:
I've also got my hands in a few other cookie jars right now, but the projects are still "hush-hush" so it'll be a while before they turn up here. Now, go out and enjoy some sunshine.
My friend Joe hooked me up with some work, so to return the favor, I promised I'd do some doodles for his band "Bang Pop!" I'd try to explain what type of music they perform, but I feel like their official description does a better job than I ever could:"
It's exactly what most of us did when we were 16 years old, but now we're like 25 years old doing it.. So its way cooler? We create music from the sewage sounds of punk rock to RAP that will leave exit wounds all up in your dome.
Not gunna lie. Probably 95% of the lyrics are going to be written with booze. Because that's how the flow gets spit. ...I don't write the rules. We never make rules. ..But the booze stays.
We sing about the easy targets like Bro-Montanas and kids who do air dusters! But we also have a very large heart for the things that matter in life... Like eating good food for cheap and amateur strippers. Or both combined at a nicely priced $10.99 strip buffet that offers a fair range of morning fruit, to which would then play out as an adequate brunch if one chose to bring the family along as a last minute meal decision."
Another Sketch-2-Death thing. I'm not sure why I drew him with such a small body...
Wolvie simply wishes he could be as cool as Gambit. Doesn't everyone?
Here are some really early concepts for a Bigfoot image for a snow shovel company. Unfortunately, the project has since gone belly-up and now these lil blue guys serve as a silent reminder of what could have been.
Some call it "Bean Bag Toss" while others call it "Cornhole," but the name really isn't important. What is important is that this is one of the few, oh-so-perfect sports that allows you to stand in one place and play while drinking a beer. It's almost as great as Bocce (which is clearly the greatest summer game, ever).
Anyway, a few months ago I dug these old toss boxes out of our shed and wanted to fix them up. I soon found out that my aunt and uncle were organizing a beach party for my little cousins, so I dressed these bad boys up like tiki heads and slapped them down on the shores of Lake Erie. With these, a limbo contest, hula hoops, box hockey, potted palm trees, tiki torches, fire roasted chicken with corn and one awesome sound system, I think it's pretty safe to say the party was a success.
It's been freakishly hot lately. Not the sort of summer heat that can be solved with a cool beverage and a dip in the pool, but instead the humid, unrelenting type that doesn't allow you to eat or sleep or do anything but stew in your own juices.
The lack of posting as of late can be blamed on this heat, because it has taken my skull and turned it into a crock pot (which my brain isn't too fond of). So I've started about eight different personal projects, but shortly after they get started, they get pushed aside so that I can lay in front of a fan feel the life leak out of me.
On a lighter note, here is a sculpture I did a while back and some concept sketches to boot.
Also, those of you with a keen eye may have noticed that the blog got a major overhaul today. It seemed long overdue to knock out some spiderwebs and slap a fresh coat of paint on the place. I hope you enjoy it!
About a year ago, I did a sketch of the Charlie Daniels Band's song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." For some reason, when staring into a big pile of sculpey, the sketch popped into my mind and this fella came into being.
There are some pretty clear changes between the two pieces. Johnny is now taking a more active role in the piece because the old pose, while funnier, was pretty boring. The smoke has become more stylized in shaping and color. Also, the shaping of the devil is a little different and the sombrero, vest and arm tattoos have gone by the wayside. The vest and hat were sculpted, but for some reason just looked goofy when worn. I blame it on this devil's less pointy head. At some point, I'd like to rig up some red lighting to come up through the smoke to shine on the devil's face.
I have another one of these sculptures that should be up pretty soon. So keep your peepers peeping.
