Two-fer

I kinda like this one, although i can't explain why really.  

Maybe it's just the textures?  

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Here's two characters talking about my art. I wrote it because many years ago i overheard two fan boys at a comic con years ago wondering if i was deliberately denying my fans "lots of little lines" in my more abstract artwork?

But the truth is, my fans are probably even more open minded than i am.  I'm not sure what constitutes "abstract art" in comics anyway.   Maybe the terminology itself is the culprit?

Sweet Sweet Bulbs..

 Here's a piece from my art book called 'Sweet Sweet Bulbs'.

This Monday was the 34th year anniversary for me and my wife. 

Not to be overly sentimental or anything, but i wouldn't even *be* in comics, (or probably even be drawing at all), if it wasn't for her warm companionship, love and support over all these years.   

  

Sweet Bulbs line is from a Captain Beefheart song.  Melody wise, it's not an easy or conventionally 'pretty' song.  But there's a kind of ugly beauty, and a kind of honesty in the poetic lyrics,

at least for me.

In the old days, i used to print out lyrics to favorite songs, then paint across them in watercolor..

.. then tape them up on my old studio wall, just for inspiration.

She used to have a Garden we'd spend time in, and the lyric that reminded me of her are the ones towards the bottom: 

In darkness or light you're free t' grow as flowers
Share her throne n' use her toothbrush
'n spend some interesting hours 

Another piece from the Nola project.

Vintage Maxx Panel .. Nola.

Here's one you'll probably recognize.

Click on it for a closer look.

I remember Bill Lobes added the caption: "For her I can be a hero."

At the time i thought it was to corny, or to heroic... but looking back at it now? 

I'm kinda glad we left it in.

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Here's one of my favorite Nola pages, so stay tuned.

Sorry it's just a low-rez pic, the scanned page looks much better.

Someday i'll have to get off my butt and finish all Three of these Nola graphic novels.  That's the trouble with drawing so many pages at the same time. 

 

Worlds sketch, before & after...

A few years back i drew some sketches for Wayshak's copy of the Worlds o' Sam book.

Left side is the inside front cover without my sketches, and Right side are my crazy sketches over it.

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Here's the whole inside cover spread by it's self ..  kinda interesting, lots of little slim panels of all my stuff over the years, for better or worse. 

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Here's two different sketches - again I kinda went nuts drawing all over this sucker on Jon's copy, not sure why.

At least I *tried* to stick to the bottom with that orange guy on Terry & Amy's copy.

Oh well.

Sketches are always kinda like gambling - very hit or miss.

 

Few things, some old, some new.

This weird looking dude in pink shades is a symbol of Nola's Subconscious.   

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This bison is a symbol of something too,

but Nola can't figure out what it means yet..

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Same dude, different angle.

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- Have a Happy Holiday folks.

Sam

Okay people, here's your Maxx-Fix !

Countdown to a Maxx 1 Painted Cover,

in 11 easy steps...

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

4  - SPLAT...!

3

2

1


Not totally done - I did add some more after i took this last pic, (all i did was add some airbrush to  the top), but otherwise...

..this should give you a long overdue does of Maxx.

Next post you can indulge me with a fresh batch of Nola Panels & Pages, Layouts, etc.

stuff on my art table.

Various crap on that's been lying on my art table for waaaaaay too long.

Above are few quickie Maxx sketches for a few prints left over from Boston...

A Jungle Kitty to go along with the Heffalump.  

Here's something i'll work into a future comic somewhere..

Can never go wrong ..

... with a tree stump.

Before and after.

Okay.

Now... for no apparent reason...

a Rhino. 

..various Cities and Shapes . . .

Here are two magic city images.. from the Twout-a-verse..
(sometimes spelled with a W, sometimes with an R)

Older progress sketches of the same city..

Right is the first "Bimbo Wall" version that was published in the 'Worlds' book, and a larger version I'm still tweaking.

Here's the bigger version...

Build it up with clay and cut through the bristol board,

Here's the faux  "stained glass" effect added with paper..

This is a lot of trouble to go thru to get a light shinning through "window" effect, which could be done faster digitally, but what the heck.

Here it is with a flashlight shoved behind it.

I don't know why I'm wasting my time with this nonsense.  But obviously i seem to enjoy it.

Oops, i notice i didn't extend the yellow "glass" to the edges, better fix that too. I'm not sure this was really successful, building it up, adding a light,

but - hey... it was a fun experiment to try.

More assorted Nola panels..

Another Nola spread.

You know, i never noticed before, but here's that same spiral shape again, same as the Bimbo Wall has. I always seem to gravitate to certain shapes,

maybe it all goes back to Zero-girl.