Friday, February 26, 2010

The 2nd Deadly Dolz, Suzi Lorraine





Hello friends. I hope you all are well. Above are pictures of the 3rd and final "Deadly Dolz", Suzi Lorraine. Suzi and I have been friends for 3 years now. She has been featured and stared in almost 50 movies now. She writes a couple of columns for horror magazines including Gorezone. She is also a model and recently has become a movie producer. Her credits and accomplishments are impressive as it gets, and on top of all that she is one of my best friends. I can't say enough about her, or all of the Deadly Dolz. Fate has brought the 4 of use together and we're going to do some awesome things for horror fans. The 3 ladies, Suzi, Miss Gory Rae, and Spooky have bonded and become like sisters.
At the moment I am working on their Logo and a oil painting. Making a living as an artist is getting harder and the terrible economy is not helping. But Madison and I get by, and I have been rethinking my career and have decided, which you already know, we are starting our own publishing company. The Deadly Dolz and "Book of Rose" will be published by us. Plus Madison is writing some special things and I will illustrate them from front to back. Kind of like the "Darc Karnivale" book I did the artwork for. Of course this want happen over night. It will probably take a couple of years to really get the ball a rolling on this, but I have so many things I want to do that I know the fans will love, but I don't want to see someone else get rich off of my idea's.
The search for an agent is going very well. I have gotten nothing but positive letters back from them and one has agreed to take me on in August, and he is without a doubt one of the best out there. The talent he handles is amazing. Having him represent me is the other piece of the puzzle, and now that it is in place, I can see wonderful things for the future. In about a year, I am going to start looking for a gallery to show my work and hopefully sell some originals Paintings.
Something funny that happened a couple of months ago is that I got a "I hate you" letter, and the person was saying that if you put a pencil or brush in my hand I wouldn't know what to do. You know, I'm use to hate mail, but if your gonna give me hell, please know your facts. When I trained under a master, Daniel Horne, everything I did was traditional art. I started doing digital art about 2 years ago so I could stay competitive in my pricing and getting work. These days I do both Traditional and Digital. I personally believe that if your going to make it as an Illustrator, you have to be able to do both. You have to keep up with whats new, and embrace most of it. For me, painting digitally is much faster and it much more easier to correct mistakes or make changes an Art Director may want. It makes my job working in publishing much easier and faster. But on the other hand, I just love drawing in pencil and painting in oils. It's terrible romantic to me. There is nothing like it. It makes my heart and soul sing.
Next time I see you, I will have some art for you to check out. Until then, "May the Darkness comfort you"

Friday, February 19, 2010

The Good and the messed up....



Hello my friends. It is always good to talk to you. It makes me feel good to share things with you. Lets see, above is a couple of illustrations that are for Logo's, but the bottom one I can't really say anything about at the moment, just show you. I don't want to spoil the surprise of for what it is for. It is for a good friend though, but she is on a trip and it may be a few days before she can check it out. The top one is the beginnings of "The Deadly Dolz" logo. I'm going to show you this one step by step, right now I am waiting to hear input from the DD'z themselves, and yes, I will post who the 3rd one is in a couple of days. Close friends of mine probably have already guessed who it is. She has modeled for me the last few years, and I love drawing and painting her. She is so wonderful to work with, as the other 2 Dolz. We have all became close here this last couple of months and that is why I know this is going to work. Each is a Star in their own right, but all 4 of us are working together as friends, equals toward a goal that we each believe in. It's very exciting and one of the main reasons I decided to give the model thing a second chance. All my long time friends and fans know what a disaster the Dark Angels was because of ego's. That's the thing that I still don't get. I took a group of unknown models and artist and formed the group, and each one thought they where a super star or some crap. Now I am working with true TV and Movie stars, and they are the most down to earth people you could ever hope to work with. I figure that the Dark Angels was just a warm up to teach me about how to go about this.
Life is being awesome to me now. Its not perfect, but I love everyday. I love getting up and working and being able to talk with my friends via Facebook or the phone. Finding an agent is really cool. I have been getting back awesome letters from the ones I contact, and very flattering I might add. I should make a decision on that in the next couple of months. I'm not rushing. I figure this is going to be like a marriage, so I want to get it right the first time around. I'm also figuring that the work I do through the agent, the Deadly Dolz, and the "Book of Rose" is going to keep me busy, and prosperous. One of the perks is that I am going to get my own publishing company off the ground after all these years. Yeah!!!
On the down side, we have a return stalker. I mean, I always have stalkers and I could care less these days. There was a time they use to bother me. Now when someone tries something, I play very hardball and make them regret it. So, if they decide to bother me, they only do it once. The stalker I am referring to, we know who he is, we have his address, phone number the whole 9 yards, but he's about as bright as a dead light bulb. This thing with him all started because i refused to do a project with him because of his total lack of respect of women, and I had brought a few of my women friends into the project until this guy showed what a piece of sh@t he truly was. I got my friends out of the mess, and then told this clown to drop dead and never contact me again.
Since then, he has done everything including stealing my art, claiming he did it. But the thing that really pisses me off, once he realized he couldn't touch me, he started threatening Madison. Now I don't care who you are, you know that is taking something to far. He is going to get what he deserves, we've already seen to that, but I just can believe that someone would threaten one of my loved ones because I refuse to play ball with them. That is one of the main reasons I decided to get a agent because, unless it is an old friend or a very respectable publication, I will not deal with them directly, they will have to go through the agent. By doing that, hopefully it will put an end to me or my loved ones having to deal with idiots.
So in case you where wondering, that is one of the big reasons I decided to get an agent. Ahhhhhh, Friday night. That means Nick gets a 6 pack! I sure do look forward to that at the end of a week, but of course my weeks never end it seems. Unless I am very sick, I am always in the studio. If not here, then I am watching a movie on that awesome TV Madison has. It's one of those flat screen deals, and plenty large! Old movies look great on it. Speaking of Madison, she is sleeping late today, but her and her work buddies had drinks this morning after work. When she got home, she was pretty happy to say the least. lol She works very hard and she deserves to have a good time with her buddies. Since I've been with her, this is the first time that her and her buds went to a bar after work. That's kinda strange. She gets off at 7 am, heck I ain't even out of bed by then! lol. But if I worked 3rd shift, I would do the same I am sure.
I really love my new studio, even though there seems to be a nest of these ugly,black, hairy spiders that about the size of a quarter. I can't find them anywhere, but my hero, our fearless cat, Misty, has new dead ones in a pile for me every morning in front of my chair. take goodness, because if i saw one of those things crawling on me, i would probably have a cow. There can't be many left at the rate she has been going, so needless to say, she has been getting lots of treats, hair brushing and love. The only thing that worries me is when I do start a oil painting (I'm still thinking of an idea. I am really wanting to go in a different direction when I paint with oils.) is the cat hair flying around. If it gets on the painting, or in the pallet, I don't know how to get rid of it. Any suggestions from fellow cat owners out there?
Well my friends, I am signing off to get a little more work done tonight. I hope you all have a awesome weekend! Peace and Blessings, and "May the Darkness comfort You"

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Breaks Over and Introducing Spooky Demensia!





Hello my friends. Sorry for the lapse of posts, but I needed to take some time off and get my studio finally set up and get rejuvenated. Above is Spooky, the first Deadly Dolz. Not only is she one of the best people I know, she is extremely talented. She has her own video shows and is a one of the best "bizarre" personality's in the business. Many people have been trying to copy her, but she is the original, and we have gotten her name and look protected now. Just like Suzi Lorainne, she is a major talent, and when we introduce who the 3rd Dolz is, well it's gonna blow your mind that this kind of talent has come together to do this together with me. Mark my words, the 4 of us are gonna set the horror world on fire, and The Deadly Dolz will be a household name to all horror fans in a very short few years. I'm not going to brag and tell you about the things that we already have in the works or the things that are coming. When the horror world and all my wonderful friends found out what I was planning on doing, the buzz started.
One of the big things that we have been working on this last couple of months is really getting to know each other, learning about each others lives, the mistakes we have all made, the enemy's we have out there and we have bonded in a major way. I'll have you a piece of Deadly Dolz art by the end of the week and a logo too. I am also going to do a logo for a friend of mine.
Speaking of getting the studio set up, Cheryl bought me my first canvas, which is good luck for your loved one to do for you. I paid for all the other things, like my new easel and lots of things, but it was important that she got my first canvas. I am trying to figure out now what I want to paint on it. lol What I mean is that when i paint in oils, I really want to let another part of me come out. When I paint on the comp, that will mainly be for my publishing work. But it is darn exciting to be able to draw with pencils and paint with oils again. The paintings I do on canvas will be the ones I take to shows, along with prints of the comp stuff.
I was trained to draw my painting out on paper, and then transfer it to a sheet of Masonite. It's okay doing it that way, but I want to give canvas a try for a while. I am also going to take some pictures of the studio soon, so you can see what it looks like. Personally I love to see other artist set-ups, because the environment you create for yourself to work in is very important. I'm getting ready to do a long haul, and I am going to be living in the dungeon working like a wild man.
We had a wonderful Valentines weekend. Madison and I went to Chili's to eat, and then went Karaoke Friday night, and today, me and the kids all made her hand made cards to go with the presents I got for her. I got her this really pretty "dark" looking necklace that she loves, and of course plenty of candy. The bad news is that she has to work tonight, and that bites. But, keeping the money coming in is important. I am very actively looking for a good agent now. I feel like I am ready to break into some of the large markets, and you need an agent for that. So far I have been getting some awesome feedback from most of the ones I have contacted. I still haven't found one that specializes in the Dark/ horror type of stuff, but i know there out there, and I will find them.
My friends, it's been a long day and I am about to chill out with a good movie and a bowl of Ice Cream! I just want you all to know that I really appreciate all the support I get from you all. Your all just awesome. Next time around I'll have some new art for you. Peace and Blessings.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

"Keep on Trucking!"

Hello my friends. I thought I should write a blog today. We hit over 600 followers now, and I thought that was a pretty cool thing for the blog. In just this last week we have had 4 major things happen. The birth of the "Deadly Dolz" (and the 3rd one is on board, and guess what, she is a famous scream queen as well. Basically we have 3 film stars doing this! Can I get a "Oh HELL YEAH!?) I finished 2nd in a MAJOR International people's choice art award. We hit our 100th blog, and today we hit 600 followers. Well, it's really a lot more if you count all the follower things. I'm just counting the FaceBook thing. So we are doing really good. In a time when we all have money and personal problems, this is something we all can take pride in. You all have made me what I am. Well, it started with Cheryl, then you guys, but we all did all of this together, and there are much cooler things on the horizon to look forward too.
I have been taking it easy since I finished the little girl painting. I have been working, but not pushing it right now. I am rejuvenating for a little time would be the best way to put it.. I have a lot of new ideas going through my mind for the Deadly Dolz and The Book of Rose. An before you ask, The book of Rose is something like "The book of the Dead" but not really. There will be a game and all kinds of things that will be based on it, all created by me. An then I have tons of little projects that will be really cool as well.
Monday also marked my 1 year anniversary of moving to Michigan. So far this year, the weather has been better here that their having it back home. Heck, I've done gotten use to going everywhere in the snow. It used to be a huge deal to get out in it back home, now it seems like it snows everyday. When Madison goes to work, I always check to make sure her car is warm and the windows are clear, and the headlights too. I've gotten so use to the cold, I don't even where boots or anything. I just got out in my slippers and I am proud of that. If you had told me a year ago the cold and snow wouldn't bother me no more, I would have laughed at you.
Right now my sweetie is napping, but we are going out in a little bit. She wants to go play a game called Keyno. I've never played it, and will probably just watch her. It sounds like she really enjoys it, and she really deserves that. I know i can't change the past, but I get the feeling that she was not treated with the respect that she deserved in her past relationships. She is a darn good person, and is so full of love. Every time I see her when she wakes up I feel like this little boy inside of me is jumping up and down because I am so happy to see her.
It's hard to believe my life has changed in a very short year, and all for the good. Sure there where a few bad things that happen, but that's life. Overall though, it has been wonderful. I honestly believe that if I hadn't came here and meet Cheryl, I would be dead now. My health had really gone down hill along with my mental health. I just didn't care anymore. But Cheryl's love saved me, and look at what has happen since. My biggest problem is anger issues, but everyday I get past that more and more. I feel like I've been given a second chance, and now I am thinking about that in a major way and asking myself, what will I do different this time. A lot, a whole lot.
The thing I don't understand is this. I work in horror, and I love it. I grew up watching it, glued to the tube. I was goth before they even had a name for it. When I work or do the artist thing, my icon is scary, because what I do is scary. I do have a VERY dark side to me. On the other hand, as extreme as that dark side is, there is a "Light" side to me as well. I am very emotional. I cry all the time. The older I get, the worse it has gotten. When ever the "good guys" come out OK, I am crying because I am happy for them, the same if the story is sad. I wear my heart on my sleeve as the saying goes. People that love me, keep me from harm, because that is a bad thing in this cold world. But when someone uses me or hurts me or someone I love, I loose it anger wise.. It takes me years to get over some things. That's because I go from one extreme to another. But that is who I am, and if I wasn't, I wouldn't be doing the things that horror fans love, and you would have no idea of who I am. My art is about emotion, plain and simple. When I say I am in a dark mood, that usually means I am drawing on some past emotions of pain or angry to do a piece that I see in my ID.
On one hand, I get letters daily from fans that say basically "your to nice to be who you are" and I wonder do some people think I am a Evil being because of the type of imagination I have. I know my brother and most of my family do. That is why I use the name Rose. There ashamed of me, lmao.. I am ashamed of them and I truly don't want people to know who I am related too, with the exception of my younger sisters family. An as much as I love her, she never calls when she says she will because, I guess, I am just to different. Hell if I know.
No, chances are I am nothing like you or anyone you know. NO, I don't wake up plotting the end of the world, but I have nightmares that would make you think the end is here. If I was a God, the world would be like all the kid movies you see. Every one would be happy, everyone would love each other, but we know this world is nothing like that, and I have a gift for seeing the darkside, and live to draw about it. The Master once told me "be careful when you stare into the darkness, because it might stare back" lmao. I am the darkness staring back, and all the pain and betrayal that has been stabbed into my heart and soul has just feed it over the years. May the Darkness comfort you....