Burn to Build.

Heart Shoooooow.

2012-02-10T04:03:00.000-08:00

Another year of making Valentines day hearts! This Saturday. Feb 10th, come over to Jinxed Clothing in the Piazza to see a variety of heart-work (Huh? Get it?!) ranging from the beautiful and complex to my yearly, cartoonish, dummo attempt at painting!

Friday Night Special!

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hey all! A quick blast about openings tonight! The newly opened, genuinely astounding Phantom Hand Gallery at 604 South St. will be hosting an opening tonight featuring artworks by some of Philadelphia's finest artists, in a pop-to-propaganda (or vice versa) salon. My MBMBaM fan-art propaganda piece will be making it's full color full size premier, and there will be a Hunger Games nod from the lovely, talented Alicia Neal, that is not to be missed.

And right down the street at the same time more or less, will be an event hosted by the awesome-as-shit Liz Demartino at Tattooed Mom's featuring: well, what the flier says: Skulls, Snakes, Art, Food, and Heavy Fucking Metal!

Hope to see folks out and about!

MBMBAM and a Year in Review.

2012-01-05T19:40:00.001-08:00

So. As anyone who may read this may know: I get excited about things. Something will pop into the ole' noggin, and I will get absolutely stuck on it. Books, comics, movies, vijeogames, whatever.
This happened to me in the last year or so with podcasts. I work at the 'puter most of the day, and can't find it in me to listen to music all of the time, and so: podcasts.
And audiobooks.
But podcasts are free.

Of all the things I listen to, only one over the last year has forced me out of my chair and the office with school-boyish giggle fits. Which is something a grown ass man shouldn't have to write. That podcast is: My Brother, My Brother, and Me: An advice show for the modern era. See their complete deal at the link.

This is a piece constructed from ideas jotted down that made me laugh (too often actually out loud) over the last year of changing jobs, headlights, and opinions and for a Pop-propaganda show (Upcoming). All the mini illo's. are from 2011 episodes of the show, so if they don't make a whole lotta sense right now: don't sweat it. Do the research and go listen.

And I may be getting these made at some point, so holler at a dude if you want a print, and we'll work something out.

And thanks for looking!

A Very Special Rob Bass Xmas Drawing.

2011-12-23T14:29:00.001-08:00

So, this year was the first time in a long time I was involved in a Secret Santa. It was through work, which was an absolute joy, because I genuinely love everyone I work with. I was lucky enough to pull my bud Rob's name, who I had secretly been hoping for, because this was a thing I wanted to do, regardless of Secret Santa.

The story here is this: Rob draws at work all the time. He creates these awesome, scratchy, super imaginative monsters, wizards, skateboarding things, et al. and draws them all over our warehouse. Which is fucking great. Months ago he gave me a page of drawings in exchange for a bag of Andy Capp BBQ fries, which I took and recreated as a finished illustration. (Above.)

I took this retooled idea, slapped a stupid Justin filter on it, printed and framed it for his gift.
Below, see the original, my re-sketch, and the final side by side. I'm pretty stoked on all of it.

The Cake is a Lie.

2011-12-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

(Click Above for Larger.)

This is a new project for a bit of an older (and terrific) videogame, Portal, done as an Xmas present for a great dude who has just run across it's addictive wonderfulness. I hope he likes it!

Latterman are Go!

2011-09-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

So my friend Andy who lives next door ,just asked me if I could draw up a little flier for the band Latterman for their show here in December. FUCK YES. Latterman is one of my favorite bands from the last few years, who's passion, concern, nerdiness, and energy all come through in music that absolutely hits all of my favorite marks. Here's my humble little drawing for them, in a similar vein to the fliers I've been putting together for Good Luck...

Check out the awesome lineup/ get tix for the show here.
And see more of Latterman's music and such here.

I sincerely think everyone who might be reading this should come out and support these good fellas if they are playing in your area for one of the best show-going experiences, maybe ever.

The Descendant of Edrick.

2011-08-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

This is my submission to the first (or second, who can keep track) international show sponsored by the Autumn Society of Philadelphia. The title of said show is '8 Bit Champions' and, as is suggested by the title, is comprised solely of works paying homage to the late, great era of 8-Bit gaming.

The game I chose was Dragon Quest, or, if you grew up here, Warrior, which was literally my first foray into the realm of RPG's. It was also the first video game I got that wasn't Super Mario Bros., which came bundled with my NES console. And as a bonus, I got it for free with my subscription to Nintendo Power, a subscription which I almost wholeheartedly blame for my current, adult addiction to reading endlessly about videogames.

Dead and Dreaming, HE.

2011-08-08T04:36:00.001-07:00

Good morning eldritch, creeping friends! Here's my newest labor of love, and addition to the wonderful collection of art being put together by the endlessly talented, unnameably productive Sam Heimer for his newest show Dead and Dreaming, a modern take on illustrating the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

My foray into the Lovecraftian was based on the uber-short story 'He', about an aged NY magician showing a lurky artist the future of things to come with spells stolen from the native peoples of New York. I chose to leave out the space head-dresses, which, sadly, is not a joke.

Hope you enjoy!

Monster Creeps (A Fred Dekker Retrospective.)

2011-07-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

So. This is seriously the thing I have been most excited about for weeks. Without being able to tell many folks about it.

What we have here is the promotional poster for an exclusive, 1 night art show/screening/meet and greet with a person who is undoubtedly one of the most influential artistic forces in my early years: director Fred Dekker, the mind behind such great films as House, Night of the Creeps and Monster Squad. I am seriously honored to be participating in this show at all, let alone doing a poster for it!

It seems like it will be a truly amazing night, and if anyone is around here for it, please stop by and check out the works of a bunch of amazing artists paying homage to a visionary director!

I attached the full size version above, so feel free to DL, and inspect closer.

Thanks dudes!

Good Luck! Part Deux.

2011-07-13T16:38:00.000-07:00

(Click for FULL SIZE!)

So the lovely Mike Brennan recently approached me about doing a design of a flier for posi-pop-good time punk rockers Good Luck. It was to be the summer counterpart to the flier I put together for them over the winter: and here it is, tip to tails in 3 nights! Basically it's a dude for dude remake of the first one, only with switched seasons.

I need this band to do spring and fall tours too, I for no other reason than to finish the set.

The Dark and Deep is Full of Creeps.

2011-07-02T05:36:00.001-07:00

(Click for Larger View!)

So, after exterminating all living things in our house (and being vacant from it for several days) I finally have had time to scan in and frame this lil' painting for an upcoming benefit show hosted by the always wonderful Ryann Casey entitled 'From Whence We Came'. It is an benefit held entirely for Oceanic conservation, a cause I can fully support, despite being terrified of the things that live below the water. Read a more in depth summary of it at the FB page invite, and if you can, stop by and grab some amazing cheap artwork!

Also, yes, all of the things in this are real creatures referenced from the book The Deep...which I highly recommend.

Rockets, Robots, You Get the Idea.

2011-06-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

(Click Above for Larger Version.)

Here's my contribution to an upcoming show at the Jinxed Gallery (Toothless Cat) as a part of a show dedicated to Robots, Rockets, and Rayguns. Total blast to go outside my normal fair and deal with some retro sci-fi imagery.

Take a Lil' Toke(ka).

2011-05-27T14:36:00.001-07:00

I wasn't originally going to do a piece for the Autumn Society's 'TMNT' themed show, but founder, and all around good dude Chogrin sent me a mail to see if I'd contribute to a side project all wrapped up with the show, and do a portrait of the ever evil, perpetually dumb Tokka. Aaaaaand: here he is. Along with all his original armaments from the toyline.

Enjoy!

Latest Workings!

2011-04-28T15:03:00.001-07:00

Hey innernets! It's been a few few weeks of interweb absence. I have been occupied making things full time again at the new job (which I will post when I can...for now check out Sourpuss Clothing for the chance to maybe catch some of my designs), planting things, building and destroying things, drinking, cleaning paintball rifles, etc.
That said, attached are a couple small things I've been throwing together for...you know, the usual awesome suspects.
Up top a color flier for the sweet dudes from To Tremble, below a couple of small, small paintings for the Autumn Society's latest show at the new G1988 space.

2011-02-25T16:10:00.001-08:00

Duuuudes.
So, there is this little project I've been lending a slight hand to in the form of some artworks, logos, etc. called: Little Baby's Ice Cream. Recently, and before they even really are in business, they got a sweet write up in the Philadelphia City Paper. Pretty neat bunch of fellas, pretty neat idea.
Stoked for their business to be up and running come spring.
My inner fat kid waits impatiently.

Heart Show, Job Hunting, Video Games.

2011-02-09T10:02:00.001-08:00

Having a full-time freelance job is tricky. Sometimes you don't have enough hours in the day to finish all the work you have piled up. Then there's January, and your job disappears. Maybe for good? Who knows.
But with free time comes freeing of responsibilities. Thus, I had time again to participate in several recent awesome, fun, and (hopefully profitable) shows. The pic posted above is from this year's Heart Show, a fun event full of Philadelphia's finest talent. Always great for a mixed bag of amazing artworks.

Pictured are my juvenile endeavor as well as the more refined, lovely work of Alicia Neal, who is always in danger of getting her hands punched due to talent.

Also up this month:
Beautiful Blooms hosts a new Second Thursday on Liberties Walk show, jam packed with good folks and great works.
And Masthead Gallery has a piece that I am not comfortable reposting. Due to it's entirely evil nature.

A Sneaky Peak.

2011-01-04T13:32:00.001-08:00

Happy new year all!

So, I have felt remiss in not posting much in the past month, but real work has gotten the better of me, and no one who reads this is likely interested in that.
Thus: no tween girls jewelery kits on the blahg.

This is the first sneakiest of images of a project that is on my schedule to be completed by this time, next year. 1 year, 1 project. Stoked about the possibilities.

The Sailors Grave.

2010-11-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

So there's this show at Sailor Jerry here in Philadelphia this week dedicated to, and I quote: "Booze, Broads, and Boats". So. There you have it.

Here's my contribution to the show. Sort of a spin on sailor-lass chic, mixed with some siren overtones. Oh and whiskey barrels.

The Tunnel x Dead of Night Radio.

2010-11-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Read about this illustration/collaboration project here. This was a rad experience, and I was honored to add my touch to this wonderful project.

Video Violence , Part 2.

2010-10-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

So, here's my second entry into the Video Violence show for Exhumed. This time I took a bit more, uh, let's say obscure to be kind, movie and redrew the cover. Namely Neon Maniacs, which, you should only really hunt down if you have a lot of time. Cover and comp.

Hope you enjoy, and thanks!

Video Violence. Part 1.

2010-10-15T17:52:00.001-07:00

So, Exhumed Films is doing this amazing art show later this month called Video Violence. In the show participants were asked to re-imagine a cover to one of their favorite cult-ish horror or sci-fi movies.

Here is my re-draw on Peter Jackson's penultimate film-making experiment, Dead Alive. So, uh...Nuff Said?

All the guts, lately. Here's the cover and a comp.

I should have my second cover up next week sometime. Stay tuned!

Gut Pile.

2010-10-14T10:58:00.001-07:00

So, Thanks again goes out to the Autumn Society for handing me some distraction this week from drawing beaded necklaces and knot tying instructions. Here is a submission piece for a forthcoming Image Comics book called Sullivan's Sluggers. I don't know how many details I can spill, but, the general idea is that a baseball team of miscreants fights demons. Think Major League meets Evil Dead. So good, right? Anyway, here is my hand at a pinup page for the book. Hope you like it. It's full of intestines.

Limbo.

2010-09-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Hey dudes! SO. In a rush after traveling I had to knock out a piece for the Autumn Society's Video Game Gore show, at the lovely Brave New Worlds. It's a subject I am totally in love with, and well versed in, but, since I didnt want to re-tread old ground, figured I would hammer out something new.

This piece is based on the ethereal, lovely, and brilliantly designed Xbox Live Arcade game Limbo, put out over the summer by a group of wonderfully talented Swedish designers. The game is very subtle, open to interpretation, and in a non-graphic way, extremely, extremely brutal. Anybody with an Xbox and a few hours should give it a go.

Anyhew. Here's my 2 color nod to their wonderful game.

Burning Bodies.

2010-09-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hanging from poles.
I have always loved the Misfits.
This Halloween, thanks to the wonderful Sam Heimer, I get to do a piece detailing their most Halloween-centric song for a wonderful show called Hallowed Halloween. I hope to see some of you there...this show should be awesome.
Cheers, Ghouls and Ghosts.

Technology is Racing.

2010-08-13T09:28:00.001-07:00

Hey dudes! So, here is my recently wrapped up contribution to the Triple G show. A nerd show at Gallery 1988 in LA based on 3 classic 80's movies. I always liked that there was a certain amount of scientific experimentation and innovation in each of the 3 movies involved(Goonies, Ghostbusters, and Gremlins:I know, I know, it's Gremlins 2, but....) which ends up usually mis-firing, but eventually turns the tables on the baddies.

I really enjoy making piece specific repeat patterns, and so attached is the detail of the wallpaper-esque patterns in the background of each part...

So, an addendum: Good friend and fellow occasional Blogger, wonderful toy designer, and astounding musician Kyle Hussa-Lietz pointed this out to me, which fucking made a wonderful weekend more wonderful: one of my favorite nerd blogs posts about the show!

Kappas Will Eat Your Guts.

2010-08-13T08:28:00.000-07:00

So recently I was asked by good buddy Chogrin to contribute to a book all about monsters from world folklore. I chose the Kappa, a wonderfully odd, sort of cute, sort of terrifying aquatic creature from Japan's folk history. Look him up. Total weirdo. Anyway the book is being put out by the wonderful folks over at Tiki Machine. You should go check them out too.

Ultra-Mandance.

2010-07-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here's a new little limited color piece done for an Autumn Society show celebratin' Japanese Pop culture. Ultra-Mandance. The first dance is yours.

Mars!

2010-07-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

While I'm at it, here's another recently finished piece done for a Mars themed coloring book. The idea was to not stray too far from the realms of science, and possibility, namely: no aliens, space dragon/wizard battles, etc. This is a nod to both current technology and the idea of Mars being used as a backup Earth for when this one gets totally boned, which would be accomplished with space stations and shuttling and terraforming.

Pricks at Risk.

2010-07-06T09:03:00.001-07:00

Piece done for an 80's Toy themed show for the Autumn Society. All my favorite jerk dudes from my collection, who were all trying to take over a world, in some regard, succeeding the only way they were gonna. What a bunch of turds. Seriously? Buzz Saw arms? Ridic.

Recent Idiocy.

2010-06-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

So. Here are two pieces done for recent shows (Picklefest and The 90's). Both are really dumb. It turns out that's what I'm occasionally good at.

2010-06-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

So. I dont know how many folks are watching the world cup.
Probably a lot, I'd imagine. And as those folks watch, I have been listening, as I'm streaming that shit on my computer while I work, and I cant look both places at once.

So. Listening to the World Cup as you work. Almost useless really, thanks to the constant, unyielding buzz of the Vuvuzela. So. Here is a piece dedicated entirely to the Vuvuzela, it's users, it's fans, and it's creator.

Get fucked, dummies.

Brutal Triumph.

2010-04-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Car accidents with screaming NY cabbies. Tracing Disney Princess hero dudes. Watching extra dogs. Busy weeks. Here is a piece dedicated to all things not those things. Brutal Legend: the finest game crafted solely in a world of heavy metal. Lemmy, Ozzy, and Rob Halford are all in the game. On your side. Brothers of metal.

Love is in the Brains.

2010-03-14T11:05:00.001-07:00

Self Explanatory.

Beer Labels!

2010-03-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

So for the last couple months I have been brewing beer, as I am stilllll un-employed. Here are the labels for the first three batches that I made up. Uncle Touchy APA, Ole Nutter English Brown, and Jake and the Stoutman Oatmeal Stout.

Dead Time? Nope.

2010-02-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

Dead space. Did you like Alien(s)? Then check it out. Creepy creepy creepy. Amazing sound design. Here's everything I could remember from when I beat the game last year...in diminished smiley face format.

What Time Is It?

2010-02-23T06:59:00.000-08:00

Adventure Time!
Digital Illustration done as promotional (and fan) art for the forthcoming Cartoon Network television series Adventure Time. The show looks amazing, and,if you haven't seen anything about it yet check it out here.

Good Luck! Flier Design.

2010-02-20T08:22:00.000-08:00

Last week a very good friend approached me to do a flier for a forthcoming show he was booking featuring a wonderful, poppy-punk, good-time band named Good Luck, with whom I was previously unfamiliar. So. I listened to their music, took in my winter time surroundings and put this little guy together. Everyone was stoked!

Alex's Heart Show.

2010-02-12T08:32:00.001-08:00

A piece done for a themed show where all artwork is done in the format of a heart (the show is this weekend for Valentines day). The heart template is supplied to you when you enter the show. This is the first acrylic paint I have touched in probably 5 years. I cut out the puking kids head from another piece of balsa, which, it turns out is terrible to paint on.

Barf. Still funny to me. Sort of.

Fun-A-Days!

2010-02-09T15:14:00.000-08:00

So, having the time this year, I decided to contribute some things to the Fun-A-Day art project. The idea of this project is that you pick a theme (media, whatever) and do one piece a day for the entire month of January, and, come February, you put all your work up in a show.
Sweet.

My idea was to watch a terrible (or great, in a lot of cases) Post Apocalypse movie, and do a portrait of one of the survivors (or multiple survivors) from each. I tried to run the gamut from aliens to zombies to plague to mania. Here are sets of the finished illos. all about 5x7. Ink and Watercolor.

Video Game Nerdery, Cont'd. Again.

2010-01-22T08:57:00.000-08:00

As I havent been playing too many new new games, I reached into the back catalog to grab imagery from one of my favorite over the top games from last year. The ole' bromance shootem up of Gears of War has a lot of imagery to mine from, and I enjoyed every head popping moment of doing just that.

Video Game Nerdery, Cont'd.

2010-01-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

So.
To perpetuate the standard set over the last couple weeks: here is a new painting based on my love of video games.I recently finished Uncharted 2 on the PS3...which was an amazing romp. I hope to have captured a lot of the things that happened within.
Thanks for looking! More to come.

University of the Arts Alumni. Part Deux.

2010-01-05T13:39:00.001-08:00

Here is the second image chosen to hang in the University of the Arts Illustration Alumni show.

Nerdiest.

2010-01-04T10:19:00.001-08:00

Here are two paintings I have been working on over the last 2 weeks. Just something to feed an obsession and kill the time. They are, as a matter of pride, the nerdiest things I have ever drawn.

The first is a throwback to my first 'Next-Gen' addiction: Halo 3. Crammed in here is as much as I could remember from the game. And reading all the novels. Gulp.

The second is a tribute to my latest gaming addiction: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2. I tried to put in as much as I could post prestige-ing. Same format. Stay tuned for more nerdy, nerdy things to come.

Thanks!

Hello Friends.

2009-12-29T13:00:00.000-08:00

So.
When you're unemployed you find yourself making things for people a lot. Whether to trade, or as gifts, or often, just to kill time.
This is a painting that gets two out of three of those done.
A small portrait of a few of my friends who share a house in South Philadelphia and their things/things they are into.
Merry X-mas, nerds.

University of the Arts Alumni.

2009-12-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

So. A few years ago, I graduated from the University of the Arts. With a degree in Illustration. A move I wasn't sure of even when I was making it. Well; years later and hundreds of illustration projects later, I think a re-assessment of my judgement is in order.

Recently an invite was opened to all former illustration alumni to submit work to a faculty juried show. 5 submission enter, a couple may make it. And so on.

So, I turned in my 5 and lo and behold, actually managed to get 2 pieces accepted!

Stoked!

Here's one of them. It's an image I did for an Autumn Society show in reverence to DC comic's the Joker. It's a mash up of the Joker and Stephen King's Dark Tower ideas.

Title: Dork Tower.
Digital.
11" x 26".

Predating.

2009-12-15T06:40:00.001-08:00

So. I like the Predator. I'm a dude, and I was born in 1980. Therefore this predilection for Predator is nearly mandatory. Plus: c'mon. Have you seen that movie? Probably one of the best things ever.

Awhile ago I had a solo art show at a wonderful cafe who hosts an amazing number of equally amazing artists in the Philadelphia area, and decided to step out of what is my normal comfort zone of digital illustration. Instead I did in a number of weeks about a hundred small paintings. Very childish in appearance and very varied in theme.

Here is one that never made it out to the interwebs, combining the two.

Original size of this piece is 6.5" x 24.5".

Hellboy 15th Anniversary Show.

2009-12-01T17:41:00.000-08:00

So. I have been participating with a wonderful group of artists and illustrators and a higher caliber of nerd than I have any right to be a part of, calling themselves the Autumn Society of Philadelphia. And recently was asked to join in in a show celebrating the birth of one of modern comic's most creative and unique heroes: Hellboy.

My friend Peter and I collaborated on a promotional poster (for sale here) for the show and I created a standalone piece for display as well.
The poster does not leave much to the imagination, but, unless you are an in depth follower of Hellboy lore my piece may need some explanation.

I'll give you a brief one:this is the Ogdru Jahad, a 7 headed dragon, bringer of apocalypse. Protected by aliens. Something of a Lovecraftian thing to some, a more representational dragon to others.

I'll let you pick.

Thanks!

Dec. 1, 2009.

2009-12-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

This is the old splash page to my former website.
With the onset of what appears to be a long stretch of un-employment ahead of me I plan on updating my internet presence a bit more, and getting my artwork and digital life more readily available for consumption.
This is the first step in that.
Thanks for stopping by!