Some Big Changes

      Hello everyone. I've got some news and thoughts  to share with you.  Sorry that I have no new art to share, but I'm sure you will understand when I tell you why.  First up, Cheryl brought me a new computer, and not just any computer, but a 20" Imac.  Now I know why when Daniel Horne told me "Once you go Mac, you'll never go back."  It is the most awesome computer ever. You can't even compare it to a PC.  It would be like comparing a skateboard to a Rolls Royce.  But there is a problem, I'm having to learn to use the computer all over again, from scratch. So it is taking time. I haven't even tried to use Corel Painter yet.  It looks like I'm gonna have to watch all the videos on using it. You know how us men are, throw away the directions and dive right in.  Any advice anyone has out there would be appreciated.

      You have no ideal  how much I needed a new computer. If you a long time reader of the blog, you will remember that my hard drive froze in storage when I got to Michigan.  And after we (Scott, Kim, me and their kids) got moved into the house, Kim let me use a hard drive that she had a few years earlier that had caught a bad virus and no one could remove it. But I did, and was able to work on it.  But it had a problem of just shutting down right in the middle of working on something, and I would lose a lot of time.  It wasn't long after that I fell in the middle of the night and knocked my plasma screen off the desk onto the floor.  That was it for that, and about a week later my mouse died.

       So, I was in a state of panic just trying to get my assignments done, but I was getting by.  Then Cheryl and the kids met me at the house when I got off from laying carpet, and told me she had a surprise, and what a surprise it was. I've been like a giddy school kid all week.  The next big thing is that I moved in with Cheryl. We were together all the time anyways, so it just seem like the right thing. With us, it was love at first site.  When we kissed for the first time, well, you know how people say you see fireworks?  With us, it was more like a nuke. We have no doubt that we are going to spend the rest of our life's together, so we started our life together and are already working on our future.

      I saw that I have a lot of readers from Saginaw and the surrounding areas.  Some of you are friends of Cheryl's, and some of you just like the art I do, but welcome to all of you.  I am looking forward to meeting Cheryl's friends and the others I will be doing appearances at comic stores, gallery's and museums later this year in the Tri-city area. I hope to meet you then. If you tell me that you  read the blog, I will give you a signed print of your chose.

     Also to any of my friends and readers, if you have something you want to promote, let me know, and I will let you guest blog or I will promote it for you. Well, it's getting late.  It's time to call it a night. Peace and Blessings all, and I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.

Something Old and Something New...

Hello my friends. I've gotten a little behind on some projects, so I don't have what I wanted to show you today. But by Sunday, I should be caught up again. The Picture at the top is something I did back in '85 while I was painting under the name "Gypsy" It's never been published or used for anything. I would really love to see it in print one day.
The next 3 pieces are rough sketches for my next story in the "Darc Karnivale" series. I wanted to show you how I bring an Illustration together. It always starts with the sketches either on Tracing paper or if I am using painter, then in layers. I have already done that and drew in the background. I am ready to paint now. Next time I will show you more in progress steps. I think you will find it interesting on how I get to the finished illustration.
I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I have been taking steps to promote and network myself and art. Networking is very important. I have a couple of friends that I have been trying to make understand this, but I don't think there getting it. I have some really good ideals and some big plans for the future and networking now will help get those plans off the ground. Once the legal part of my idea's are taking care of, I will share some of the plans with you. Right now I am still excited about doing the Steven King movie poster.
Wow, I just got a letter from Daniel (Master Horne) and he told me that he is proud of me. That sure makes a fellow feel good. Time to get to work. I would love to hear comments or questions, from you. Till next time, Peace and Blessings

Big News!

Happy Mother's Day everyone. I spent the day with Cheryl and her children, Andrea and Luke. We had a wonderful weekend full of love and happiness. Sorry I didn't post any new art, but I will in the next blog.
I wanted to share some news that is just awesome as far as I am concerned. Tonight while I was working I was asked to do a movie poster for a Steven King short called "Gray Matter" It will be shown at film festivals around the world. I am stoked. It's not everyday that an artist like me gets a shot at doing a movie poster for one of my idols, Mr. King!!!
Todd is sending me the screenplay this coming week to read. He wants me to do something very original for the movie. I can hardly wait. As you can imagine, I am very excited, as so is Cheryl and my friends.
I'm telling you, moving to Michigan was my lucky charm. I am getting awesome art gigs and I meet the woman I've always dreamed of. I just wanted to share this with the people that have followed my career, and I am thankful for each and everyone of you that read my blog. Peace and Blessings all.

City of the Dead!!!

Hello my friends. Here is the next piece for the "Darc Karnivale book. It is for a story written by "Iron Dave Byron" called "City of the Dead" Another winner.
I know this illustration is very different from anything you have seen from me. But I am trying to be more Versatile. In the future you may see Western type art from me as well. On this piece, the value layout was very challenging for me. But I think I pulled it off.
I had a lot of fun painting the neon lights. The next story up is about a giant spider and a woman determined to destroy it. This one will be fun.
I would love to hear thoughts on the new piece. Do you think I did a good job on the lights, the values. Does the illo make you curious to what the story is about? Well, I hope everyone has a safe holiday weekend. See you soon with a painting in progress. The new Dragon Piece I told you about. Peace and Blessings

Something Wicked this way Comes...............

Hello Friends. First I would like to say Hello to all the new readers. I'm really glad you stop by and check out the art. I would love to hear any one's comments. Input from the people who like my art helps me improve and do more works that you may want to see.
Above is "Something Wicked this way Comes......" It was inspired by a old metal band called Nuclear Assault. The painting will be the cover of the forthcoming book "Darc Karnivale" published by the Evil Nerd Empire later this summer. To the right you will a link to their site. You may be able to pre-order. The book will have 16 interior paintings by yours truly and the cover above. I am thinking that I will be selling prints of each painting, as well as Portfolio sets to include 4 prints each, and probably other types of things as well, like a calender, t-shirts, ect.
I really see great things for the Evil Nerd Empire. The writers are all awesome, the cream of the crop as the saying goes. I love getting done with an Illustration, just so I can read the next story I am going to do.
On a personal level, I am going through a series of changes in my life again. All good, but sometimes the road can be rough and I have to teach myself patience over and over. At least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and that keeps me going. By the end of the month I should be moving into my own house, so that is major cool. I am soooooooooo wanting to do some work in oils again, and right now, all my studio stuff is still in storage. All the work I've been doing these last few months has been digital. I use Corel Painter, and I love the program, but there's no feeling in the world to an artist like Painting with oil. Just the smell of the oils alone makes my happy.
Once I do have my studio set back up, I am going to doing some portrait work. I want to paint Cheryl's children, Andriana and Luke for her. I enjoy doing portraits and need to build a portfolio of them to get some local work. I'll probably do a painting of her as well. She doesn't know it yet, but I will probably get her to model for some Illustrations as well. The Kids too.
I know this sounds scary, but I am thinking about doing some "cute" work as well. It would be good for my Fantasy portfolio. You know, stuff like Unicorns and Fairies. I know, I know, I'll probably melt or something trying to do light work. But I could do Dark Cute. Hey that might work. A black unicorn instead of a white one. lol
Well, I got to get. I hope you all have a wonderful week. Peace and Blessings.