Happy Easter with Incarnations of Jesus

"Trinitarian Christ" inks on Bible page / 2007

Welcome to a time of year loaded with moral and religious high ground.  THE week started with Passover on Sunday on which I did exercises to limber my mind up after Rivers and Spires before I slid into Wednesday (4/20)- a night for reflection in which I cranked out some wonderful sketches for my Random Acts of Vibrance series as well as some other projects.  My week went totally Topsy-Turvy throughout Good Friday / Earth Day bringing me to the day we celebrate the myth and legend of the original Zombie himself...

Both of these works are from my Sacred Texts series, which were on display at the Tennessee Art League this past January - March...

"After the Crucifixion"  inks on page from a found copy The Holy Bible / 2007

"I have immunity from the Risen Jesus... and nobody beats The Riz."

-Mason Verger, from Hannibal

"Chocolate Jesus" inks on bristol / 2008 (for an online exhibit featuring works inspired by the music of Tom Waits)

Let's Play Jesus Dress-Up!!!

You Too Can Witness the Incredible Winking Jesus, one of the very first things I ever witnessed on the world wide web.

Illustration Friday: The Juggler

"Juggler" (inks on bristol / 2010)

I'm letting something out of the bag for you this week with a special preview from my upcoming Random Acts of Vibrance series.  The creatives over at Illustration Friday came up with the simple theme of "Bicycle" for us this week (and this piece just HAD to be what I shared!) 

All the works from this featured series involve a moment of brilliance or enlightenment.  My goal is to capture these moments with light bulbs and lampshades.  Let me know what you think!  What would you have my light-bulb-head doing?

 "Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use. "

-Charles M. Schulz (creator of Peanuts)

[Click HERE for more a stream of ALL of my Illustration Friday entries from this year so far!]

Top 10 Stoner Movies of All Time

"Green Hit" (inks on bristol / 2008)

April 20th has evolved over the past couple of decades into a counterculture holiday celebrating the drug marijuana.  The use of 420 as lingo for smoking pot allegedly dates back to the 1970's referring to teens meeting after school at 4:20 to smoke out and get high.  Cannabis reform groups are meeting all over the country today to discuss the decriminalization and use of this natural and holistic plant.

The movie and television industries have slowly but surely helped to bring pot out of the closet for Americans over the past few decades after a long history of demonizing it.  So while you celebrate 4/20 today whether it be blunt, bowl, bong, or joint- you may wanna put on one of my picks for the Top 10 Stoner Movies of All Time...

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Happy 65th Birthday Tim Curry!

Click HERE To Order a Print!

Tim Curry's breakthrough role in show business was penned by Richard O'brien with Rocky Horror Picture Show.  The two actors met on the stage as members of the original production of Hair in London.  This first portrait from my Cult of Personality series includes the character of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Curry) along with others including O'brien himself.  My personal favorite part of the work was getting to draw Meatloaf as his incarnation of Eddie the Ex-Delivery Boy. 

Click HERE to Order a Print!

I've always had a vivid imagination and loved activities which allowed me to flex my imagination such as reading books which take me places I'd not normally go.  Stephen King has painted these worlds for me since the 7th Grade, when I first picked up The Dark Tower series.  In my Sophomore year of High School, the English teacher didn't believe I read IT all the way through.  One of King's longest novels, it came in at just under 1,100 pages in my paperback version.  My hands were cramped from holding it for the three straight weeks I pounded through it.    IT went on to be made into a television miniseries also starring Tim Curry as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, one of King's most warped and disturbed characters.  Pennywise lives in the sewer and rips a boy's arm off within the first twenty pages of this epic which spans a lifetime for the characters involved.  I read it before seeing the miniseries and Curry definitely added a whole new level to the character's sick humor. Pennywise can be found here in my portrait of the author along with more of King's creations including The Dark Tower itself. 

There are some roles out there that only Tim Curry could have ever played including that of Darkness (An incarnation of Satan from Ridley Scott's Legend in 1985.  The actor finally won his sole Emmy in 1990 for being the voice of Capatin Hook in a made-for-TV animated Peter Pan and The Pirates which followed the story of the original book by J.M. Barie.  This was Curry's first real venture into voice acting and has now done dozens of movies and television productions. 

Happy Birthday Mr. Curry!

Click HERE for more of my Cult of Personality series!

Freestyles in Red and Purple

Sometimes I just have to free my hands up and let my mind wander and be nimble.  It's like doing Tai Chi on paper- laying down some loose lines and tightening them up and bringing them together with your skills.  Last night I just took a red pen and a pad of bristol board and let myself have fun and draw in and out of watching a movie.  I haven't drawn like this in a while having been much more conceptual with my work the past two years.  What came out was a full page Topsy-Turvy, which you can see here either side up...

"Topsy-Turvy: RED freestyle" Red Pen on Bristol / 2011

I had so much fun running that red pen around that I picked up a purple one when I was finished...

"Topsy-Turvy: PURPLE freestyle" Purple Pen on Bristol / 2011

Now the big debate is whether to color these bad boys or not?  (Just with a very light palette on each.)  Any suggestions?  Yes?  No?

Illustration Friday: Hitcher

"Hitcher" (inks on bristol / 2008)

Here's a surreal illustration for you from 2008 to go along with the theme of "Journey" for this week's Illustration Friday.  I look at this as my backpacker hippie-kinda piece.  I have always been pleased with the way the flower eyes turned out on the figure.  The four armed hitcher has his bag flung over his shoulder as he tests the air with a fistful of the desert.  Which way will the wind take him?

Each week, Illustration Friday chooses a theme from those submitted by artists and patrons for creative types to use as a prompt for their submissions. Click HERE to see all of my entries from this year!

The 2011 Rivers and Spires Festival

One of the billboards featuring my winning illustration!

The 2011 Rivers & Spires Festival kicks off Thursday night in Historic Downtown Clarksville with live music beginning at 4PM and rounding out with Mr. Speed (16 year veterans of being "America's Kiss Tribute") on the Public Square Stage at 8PM!

This is just to warm things up!  The streets will really fill up all weekend with more music, vendors and artisans.  I'll be in the Artz Galore section next to City Hall all day Friday and Saturday along with dozens of other photographers, artists and craftspeople.  Come by and see me to talk about art and take advantage of the only time of year you'll be allowed to drink a beer on the street!  I have tons of new framed work and prints to exhibit and will be giving away autographed Rivers & Spires posters featuring my artwork!

You'll also be able to see all that downtown has to offer as local businesses on Strawberry Alley and Franklin Street have their doors open to the public for even more live music and art.  While you're there, make sure to check out "Imagination Unchained," a group art exhibit above the Front Page Deli featuring work from Charles Bennett, Peggy Bonnington, Andi Casali, Patrick Daly, Christy Johnson, Jay Swafford, and Roly Viruez.  All the artists give will give you a wild ride through their pop surrealism, abstract and low-brow art.  This must-see exhibit is open 1-8PM Thursday-Saturday night!

You can also see one of my own personal favorite illustrations, "Octopus's Garden" at the U.S. Bank Open Exhibit in the APSU Downtown Gallery on Strawberry Alley, which will have it's doors open during the festival as well.  This illustration is exhibited with over 100 local artists.  Proceeds from the show go to scholarships for the Austin Peay Art Department to dole out to young artists!

"Topsy-Turvy: Octopus's Garden" (Portrait of The Beatles) at the APSU Downtown Gallery

Festival Manager, Doug Barber and his hard-working committee hustle year-round to bring together three days packed full of entertainment and activities for the public.  There is something for everyone with Jazz music, Rock music, Country music, and Christian music on multiple stages simultaneously.  The streets will be packed full of local and regional artists, craftspersons, food vendors, and activities.  The Rivers & Spires Festival is FREE every year here in downtown Clarksville.  In it's 9th year, this event has won a slew of awards including being in the Top 100 Event In North America.  This year will be even better all the way through Saturday night when headliner, Clint Black takes the stage.

[Click HERE for more on my winning design for the 2011 Rivers & Spires Poster Contest]

[Click HERE for more about last year's Festival]

[Click HERE for a Map of the Festival and The Rivers & Spires Official Site]