Let's talk Life and Art again.

        Hello my friends. I need to bring you up to speed with all that has been going on the last few months, and for me it hasn't been pleasant. Those of you that have been following my career know that last year, 2010 was a year beyond any dream I ever had or wished for. So many wonderful things happened, I wouldn't even know where to start. If you weren't here then and want to know, I suppose you would have to read back through the older blogs. With that said, the things already signed for this year blow last year away on every level. But this year, 2011 started with a major thud.
      From the beginning of the year to last week I have been plagued with medical issues. It started with my lower back going out for several weeks and  because of the intense pain I had no choice but to start taking Hydrocodone, the strongest version of the medicine as well as Tramadol.  While I was on the pain medications I went into a very deep depression. It lasted 2 months and took me to very dark places. I lost the will to paint, draw or do anything really. I just existed each day.  None of the things that normally excited me or made me happy had any effect. With the love of Madison, the kids, and my close friends I finally pulled out of it. Most of it was caused by the pain and then sickness brought on by the side effects of the pills.  The good news is that none of my old ailments bothered me and we actually have them well under control now. My sugar levels are excellent all of the time and my blood pressure is well within acceptable limits. I've only had 2 chest infections over the winter compared to having pneumonia 5 times last year. So my lungs are really starting to improve. It has been around 20 months since I quit smoking, and I am convinced that quitting when I did saved my life, but I have had to fight every step of the way to recover and I know that the fight is not over.  As long as I can see improvement, that alone gives me strength to keep on fighting.  Life has kicked me on my arshe over and over my whole life, but I am just to stubborn to give up and I cannot accept defeat. It is just not part of who I am.
     Just so you know and understand, this last year with all the International attention, there are those that keep trying to change me. Bless them. Madison isn't one of them, neither is Tilly, but there are folks that think I need to change my "Image" . No worries, I refuse to do that. I tried it for about 2 months and felt like a fish out of water. Why change the things about me that my friends and fans like?  I've gotten this far by being myself and being straight up with everyone. I think I am going to keep doing what I have always done. True, I have grown up a lot and growth is what life is all about. It is the same with art, and where going to talk some art here in a little bit, but I want everyone to know about these other things first.
    I don't know about anyone but me, but I have been in agony and tears for the people of Japan. I have always loved the country and the culture, but now seeing what those people are going through and the incredible strength and courage they are showing has inspired me as a man to reach to new levels and understand their beliefs and culture even more.  I am keeping them in my prayers constantly and I hope you are to. Prayer does work, no matter what your faith is.
   I know you all have noticed that I mention Tilly a lot and with good reason.  Madison and I both trust her and believe in her. She has done a great deal to help me with my career and never, not once, asked for anything in return. The woman almost has her law degree (less than a semester away), she owns her own publishing company, she is a best selling ( Millions and Millions of books sold) author, was one of the top models in the world and one of the smartest consultants I have ever talked with.  For some reason she really believes in me and my work and over this last year we have became the best of friends. So in a lot of ways, Tilly is a huge part of our lives now and a hug part of my career. She is going to help me reach the new goals I have set for myself, again asking nothing in return other than friendship. 
    I honestly feel like all I have to do is turn out the best work I can, and miracles are going to happen because of it.  Another thing that really has me stoked is Madison's book  "The Bone Extractor"  She has a fantastic editor working with her on the book and it is really becoming a book I believe will sell to a main stream publisher. I am going to be using the same editor to help me with my books as well.  So, now that I am out of this funk, I have to be careful not to let the things that lead me into it doesn't happen again.  When I am painting now, I am keeping a heating pad in my chair on my low back to keep it relaxed and doing all I can to keep off the pain medicines. I really have to start kicking butt an to do that I have to keep healthy and keeping a positive attitude.
     In the next blog I will have pictures again and a finished painting.  Right now I am just trying to get to square one again. Okay, lets talk art for a little bit and mainly about color. I have really been learning a lot since I came back to painting in oils, and as I said a few blogs back, the more I think I know, the less I actually do. I told you something last year that I am going to change up on you. I gave you a basic formula for mixing flesh tones, and when your first learning, and even for those of you that believe in painting flesh in 4 values (like comic book artist for instance) and only using one basic color combination, the formula I shared with you is way beyond that. After all it was created by American Master Howard Pyle.  But as I am growing as a painter I am seeing that rules are made to be broken, once you understand and master them.
     Always learn the rules to how it is all done, such as color mixing, or the basics of design and values. The very basics of drawing using shadow to create form, shape and weight. Once you have master the basics, then you may be ready to break the rules and move beyond them.  For instance mixing and painting flesh colors.  Always remember that the lighting, setting, the colors surroundings and the race of the subject  are going to determine a lot with the flesh tones, not to mention the temperature of the body, whether it is warm or cold.  If it is in action or has been, there will be more red in the tones of the flesh.  So what I am saying is that there is no simple cut and dry formula for painting the flesh. Even in passion, the tones vary compared to normal.  But these things are for the Artist to learn and I don't know if a lifetime is enough to Master this. I have come a long ways since my training, but this isn't something that I was taught. I was taught the basic formula. Daniel keep stressing to me that I already knew everything I need to know, he was simply gonna turn the key to unlock the knowledge that already was in me. Damn, that used to drive me up the wall trying to figure out what the heck he meant, but now I do. If you really want to learn to paint like the Masters, then the first lesson you need to learn about flesh is to learn the naturally warm and cold spots on the human body. Start with that, and remember that nature and your "eye" are the best teachers you can have. Learn to use and study them everyday.
     The thing that I truly realize now about myself is that I am on the road to becoming a Master. I understand things now that just 2 years ago I couldn't even fathom, and the "Art" is what matters to me, not the fame or attention. My goals for the next few years is to set new standards and to make my fellow artist think in ways they never dreamed of before.
     I said this before, but I was prevaricating.  I didn't want to admit my body and mind wasn't ready for the challenge, but it is now. It is time to rock, and if you want, I will take you along for the ride. After all, it wouldn't be no fun without you! Love and Hugs.
"May the Darkness Comfort You"
     


       

A Quick Explanation

     I feel like I need to post this because I know a lot of you come here looking for new posts from me. The last few weeks, and probably for another few weeks I don't know what to expect. I am having a problem that seems to indicate that I am having problems with my Gall Bladder. I have been in the emergency room about it last week, and am seeing my Doctor on Thursday about getting an ultrasound done on it, and possibly surgery.
    As it is I am in a lot of pain off and on and I haven't been able to do much of anything creative, although I keep trying. I will keep you posted on how this all goes, but until it is resolved, I don't think I will be able to do my normal things. Love and Hugs everyone."May the Darkness Comfort You."

The fire is starting.

       There is a song by an old Metal band called Metal Church "Start the Fire" which is really states the frame of mind I am in right now. Hello my friends, I hope and pray that you are all well. I am doing fine and my health is really improving day by day. This time last year I was in the hospital with pneumonia for the 4th time in that year. This year, I have only had to deal with a chest infection 3 times, and we nipped it in the bud as the saying goes. Now that we have a treadmill at home, that is really helping to. This last 2 years has truly been a miracle for me. I guess that the powers that be want me around for a while longer. Personally I am hoping for about 30 more years. That should give me the time I need to conquer the world, as the saying goes. lol
      I am probably making a huge mistake, but I have finally figured out what it is I want to do with my work and how I want to move forward. I bought a second easel this week and on it i am going to do nothing but canvas paintings. I want to be something more than an Illustrator, I want to be an artist. I know it is in me, and I know now that is what I have been longing to do. So I am going to be trying all kinds of new types of paintings. Things you've never seen from me. It will still mostly be dark, but different. I am going to start searching for a gallery soon either local or in Detroit that will show and sell my paintings.
    20 years ago I don't think that would have been an option, but now I see my type of work in more and more places. I want to build a group of patrons that collect my originals. I want to keep a few and give some to my friends, but overall I want people who like or love my work to own an original or 20.
    The last several months I have been feeling burnt out and knew that I needed a change, but I just wasn't sure what the change would be. Then in the middle of the night I had a dream about the future, maybe, and was seeing all these paintings from me yet to come and it was very exciting. I could see that my style had really evolved and my work had become very unique and different that anyone Else's.  So thinking about that I started coming out of the depression I had been in for so long and now the flame is burning inside of me again. The "Eye of the Tiger" is coming back and it's  about damn time. I should be done with the "Dark Fairy" painting by the weekend, and then I will show you that and the changes I made to the studio. 
     Switching gears I think that for one thing last year I wasn't very confident that I would live much longer, but now I feel like as long as I don't do stupid things I can be around for many years to come now, and that is another thing that is really motivating me. Another thing that really has me pumped is my studio and just all the cool things I have now that I never had before. I know a lot of you folks have a much nicer studio and stuff, but to me what I have now is beyond anything I ever hoped for. It was just 3 years ago that I could only buy 1 tube a paint a month, now I order 20 tubes at a time, whenever I want. So thats huge for me. So all these things combined has had a very positive effect on me and I feel like I can emerge myself in painting and learning now.
    Like I said in the last blog, I am not going to make any promises to do anything anymore. I will just do what I can when I have time. If I want to paint, I don't want to have to stop to do something I really don't want to. That totally takes you out of the creative mood.
    Another thing that I am excited about is that Madison bought a HUGE LCD tv, and now when I watch something on TV it's like being at the movies. I was watching an original episode of Jonny Quest last night, and I haven't seen it or any of them since I was a child. It was really exciting and emotional for me. I recently got all the original Astro Boy cartoons from 1963 and I hadn't seen them since I was 6 years old.  Just awesome.  To me, these are the things that make me feel rich and I don't know how I could be happier?
    I have love now, the first time in a very long time. I have a family that loves me and I get to do what I love everyday. I am blessed, very blessed. Well my friends, it's family time. Much love and hugs. "May the Darkness Comfort you"
    

Learning to live.

       Hello my friends, I am glad that you stopped by to read my blog.  I have some insights I wish to share with you today.  But first, here is finished pencil work for my newest work.  Once again, the model it Tilly Rivers. One of the best models in the world, hands down.  If you wish to purchase a print of it or any of my work, click HERE.  To the person who sent the anonymous  letter to my blog,  Tilly owns 50% of all the model work that she has ever done. She was very smart in making this part of her contract with each photographer she has done work with throughout her career.  If you read the news release that is posted on my website under "Media" you will see that she made a news release to CNN stating that I am to be the last person she will ever model for and gave me full rights to all of her photo's that I could use. Seriously, you should worry about your affairs instead of mine. 

     Normally I would be further along with a painting by now, but lately I have been doing a lot of reflecting and learning. I have found that with the decisions I made concerning my career that I am able to approach everything differently. I don't have to be in a rush or a panic to get a piece done. I can take the painting at whatever pace I desire. My goals now are simply to do Print work and that is very different than Illustration work. I sell very few prints of any cover or interior assignments I ever did for any publisher, but the pieces I do simply for the love of it sell very nicely and give me a good life.
     Madison got me a nice Treadmill for Valentines day.  I am so thankful for that. I have wanted one for a few months now, but I have had to put buying a lot of art stuff first. I was going to the gym for a while there, but that just became to time consuming each day.  Now with the Treadmill here and weights as well, I can workout every morning before my shower and then I can get straight to work.
    Speaking of work, I am finding myself in a new frame of mind, or a new challenge? I am trying to take my work from being Illustration to being art. I will always paint "Dark" things.  That is who I am, but I am wanting to take my work to a new level and a more expressive and skillful one. I am going to say something now that will probably upset some of you, and for that I am sorry.  Over the years there are artist that I have watched to see how they progress.  A lot of them are friends and a good many are just artist I run across frequently, but what I am seeing is going against what I have said and thought in the past. I have always believed that if you really work hard at your chosen field that you would constantly grow and improve. I am backing up on that statement now. Most all of my friends I see growing and improving. They where born with the gift and it is obvious, but their a lot of people that have some talent but it is not growing. I am not sure why.  Could it be that they feel they know it all and have nothing left to learn? Is there a limit to talent?  Do some people get more than others?  If so, that is so unfair.  Is it the same with writers, musicians, actors and so on?
     I find it inconceivable that anyone would quit learning, especially now with so much information available to us all through the Internet. If nothing else the Internet has become the greatest tool for us all to learn, if that is what you desire. I can't imagine a day that I was not thirsting to learn new things. I get frustrated because I don't have more time to study and learn. I really kick myself for not taking school more seriously. But when your young..... you know. lol 
    I am not sure where I am going with this, but I am on a artist group and have been for many years. I rarely comment, but I do watch all the artist there as they post new works and I saw one yesterday post something new. I have been watching this artist for about 7 years now, and in all of that time, I have seen very little to any growth. It is very sad, so this has been on my mind.
    Time to get to work my friends, but I hope you will stop by the store and look at the prints we are offering. You can even get a Giclee if you want. Have a great week my friends, "May the Darkness Comfort you"

There are thorns.....

     Hello my friends.  I do apologize for the length between blogs this time.  The truth is I was going through a very difficult time because of depression. It seems that my life is so full of highs that I must suffer through lows as balance I suppose.  It is not something I like, but I don't know how to avoid it. I think this is true with most all creative people. Luckily these days I do have some real people in my life that know how to help me through these times.  I wasn't so fortunate a few years ago. I will come back to this, but first I have some big news to share with you.

   There is no way you can work in the horror gender and not know who  April Burril is, or better know as "Chainsaw Sally" Guess what?

Did you guess yet? lol. Last week I got a "Tweet" from April and she said she would be interested in doing something together.  I gave some thought to it for about 2 seconds and wrote back to her and told her "Sure"  

April has starred in countless horror movies with various companies and she has her own web TV show going into its 3rd season and the list just goes on and on. Truly one of the legends of the business and One of the Best known Scream Queens in history. So to say I that I am truly honored that she likes my work and wants to work with me is the understatement of the year. I am thrilled to tell you that we are going to do 2 paintings to start with. I will start on the first one in about 6 weeks. 

The first one will be a "Chainsaw Sally" painting, and the second one will be

a painting of April in one of her other roles.  I spent most of the morning going through tons of photo's of her to find the ones I think will be great for  paintings. Who knows, we could decide to do more than 2 paintings. Her husband, and the man behind "Chainsaw Sally" Jimmyo is quite the artist himself.
     A lot of really great things are coming up for this year and new doors are being opened for me and I am getting to work in new areas I have always wanted to work in, but never had the chance before. 
     The bad news is that I had to put the "Steampunk" painting I showed you last week on the back burner for a few months. I have several paintings to get out that have priority over it. I will come back and finish it though, no worries. I  got so bogged downed with doing the convention and then depression that I just ran out of time. It is a very detailed painting and is going to take about 3 weeks to finish and I just don't have time for that now.
    I have came out of the depression, but that lasted almost 2 months and now I know for sure that Madison loves me or she would have never been able to deal with me during that time. It looks like I have finally found the life mate meant for me.  So hear is the new painting in progress. I am still not quite done with the pencil work yet, but it is coming along very well. I should have this one done within 2 weeks.

    Once again, this painting features model and dear friend "Tilly Rivers" and yes, the same Tilly Rivers best selling author and super model. She has retired from modeling now, but has given me the rights to use all the photo's ever took of her during her career. So trust me, just the Tilly paintings are going to be awesome and will be featured in a book of there own somewhere down the road. I am hoping to do the same with Suzi Lorainne. I have used her in about 8 paintings now. It takes time, but the numbers and art do build up in time.
    The best part is my health has improved 1000% percent over this last year, and Madison is buying us a Treadmill for Valentines. I am so excited about that. I love doing the Treadmill.  I pretend I am a hamster and.... lol, just kidding my friends. But between that and the weights I bought a few months ago, I will be able to keep strong and not have to leave home. My time is priceless to me. I just don't have enough time in the day anymore. I try to take at least 1 hour at night for myself and watch my favorite new old show, "Two and a Half Men"  I so love DVR. It truly lets you live life more on your terms. For instance, I can watch my shows when I want to now, instead of when they come on.
    If you have noticed, the new piece is more like the old me, myself more so now than before. I kind of got away from the "Dark" work for a while there, and I think a lot of my depression came from that. I have already made up my mind to re-do "Dragon Mystress" for the 5th time now, because although most of you really liked it, I didn't feel like it has the dark edge I wanted for it, so i told Tilly I was redoing it, using the same pose. I loved her pose for it, I just didn't like the rest. Just a  note, Tilly and I are very tight friends. We really understand each other very well and are very much alike. We truly are "Kindred" 
    Madison and I both are very excited about her visit coming up in a couple of months or less now. We are hoping that George P comes up this way to do some photography as well. We have really become very fond of him as well. (He has the coolest stuff!)  I love for my other brother George to come for a visit as well. Maybe he can make it for the wedding.
   My friends, if you don't mind I want to talk about some "Sensitive" issues now. If you don't want to read about them, then this would be the time to say "Bye" until next week. There are 2 things I want to talk about, and both are very personal to me and to some of you I would imagine, especially the creative ones.
    The first is not a huge deal, but something I want to say to some of you.  I love everyone here, and yes I do mean even the "Old Friends" I don't consider you enemies or bad people anymore. I have grown up I suppose. My mind is always on the people I love and my art these days. I truly wish the best for you. If I write about something that is bothering me, please don't take it personal. If I was trying to attack you, wouldn't I say your name or point to your websites?  In truth, I have opinions, and I like any American am allowed to express them. I do apologize if you don't agree with me. I don't expect everyone to agree with me or accept my word as the gospel. So ease up and just do what you always do and be happy. I am not trying to hurt anyone. Just the opposite actually.
     Madison told me that when I tell you all about the things I have going on, that some of you may think I am bragging or worse. I assure you, that is not true. For those of you that have known me for a couple of years or longer now, know that I am like a big kid. I get excited when cool things happen, like the deal with April. It's like giving me a big piece of candy for doing well at my work. I just want to share with all of my friends. The people that love me and what I do. To me, it is like we are getting these cool things together and i want you to be part of it to. You have all encouraged me and believed in me that I just want you to fell like these are your blessings as well.  
     The other thing, which is much more serious, is depression. Depression will kill you if you let it and don't get a handle on it. One of the big things that had me in a depression was that, once again, I had found myself in a situation I did not want to be in. I found myself doing things that I did not want to do. I found myself letting other people tell me how to be myself. Madison did try to tell me this was happening, and like the hard headed man I am, I did not want to listen.
     Well, I got rid of those people, and I decided to go back to square one. This time I am not making no plans. I want to be like the dog that the "Joker" talks about in "Dark Knight"  When I do good and life throws me a bone, I want to enjoy that bone until the next one comes my way.  I just want to chase cars and see how many I can catch. lol Making plans concerning my art just doesn't work for me. I feel restricted or I feel like I am damning myself to a path instead of the whole field.
     So my mindset is now just simply to do what I feel like doing, and if I don't want to do something, I want. I will do my best to keep the blog regular (as far as being weekly) but I am not going to promise that. We'll just see how it goes and how busy I am.  I will continue to teach when it is possible, and I will keep working on the books and video's when I am motivated to do so, but not when I am not. I am going to be a free spirit and let the air under my wings take me to where ever it is the wind takes you.
     I know some of you may be upset about this decision, but those of you that really just care about me will understand and support my insanity. I will tell you this though, I have some really awesome idea's for some artwork, and this year will be very different from any other. You are going to see me expand into some new things more like art you may see in galleries. I am thinking that either this year or next I am going to start doing some sculpture work too. A lot of my friends are doing that and I am thinking I would really like to give it a shot as well.
     Well, I've rambled on long enough this time. I do hope that each and every one of you are having a wonderful and loving Valentines day as we are here in the "Rose Mansion" lol.  "May the Darkness Comfort You"


      Darn, I forgot. One of the big things that is happening is that I am licencing my art out to companies that make prints for me. You are now able to buy my work on canvas as well as paper and you can buy prints up to 5 foot tall if you want. They do every type of print of every quality of my work. They will even frame it for you if you want. It's not cheap, but I an not be doing "Cheap" prints anymore. I do art for a living and the people who buy my work mostly are collectors. I want to offer them high quality versions of my work. To go to this store, on the very top of the right hand column is the link to my business partners. There will be more coming soon. Places that you can buy T-shirts and all. Peace and Blessings.