Civil War

Just kind of an American Civil War dealie.

Trick Van

This is about as close as I get to a realistic, smooth ink drawing. Because the writing thing is posponed, I spent a part of the day doing it. I like doing the cross hatching, or little ink textures , and crazy, spidery lines better. Still, trying to draw a machine that's supposed to work in space is a good challenge. A little like the model building I used to do as a kid, which is where I got most of the ideas that went into this drawing.

Was looking at van advertisements from Coop's blog. But this one is more or less imaginary.

Woodsman

The woodsman guy from Terry Gilliam's film, The Brothers Grimm. How do you say, "totally undisciplined imagination?"

New, New Sketchbook and paints.

Okay, saw hardback sketchbooks for sale at the art store for $5.00. couldn't resist. Also, paints were cheap, so I bought Permanent Violet and Van Dyke brown. My paint box doesn't have enough spaces for all of the colours I've got, so I guess I'll have to buy a new, larger paint box, and leave spaces for any new colours.

The guy at the bottom is supposed to be mad Dick Cheney, out to shoot himself some traitors.

Original Suffer Head

Been very busy, with work upon me now, and haven't drawn much interesting during the breaks. So here are pictures of some artwork I've got in my place.

It's a papier-mache head painted by Caro Caron, part of an independent comics show called Komikaze, I think, that happened a bunch of years ago, in the 90s. Some cool bands were playing, and we comic artists painted papier-mache balloon-based heads to hang in the auditorium, and we were able to take them home when the show was over. I did a black cat with ears I cut out from a failed balloon head, and Caro liked it so much, we traded heads.

Unfortunately, my black cat got trashed in one of Caro's many moves, but I still have this character, who rotates slowly below the light in my work room. You can see him from the window in the street, if you look up to the second story.

He's pretty dusty, but I love Caro's work, and am happy to have an example hanging around.

UPDATE: Hot dog, I found a link about the show (above), but it's a little sad, now. Certainly the event didn't turn out to be a regular thing like Angouleme. Comic artists (especially anglos in Montreal) remain hard to herd, unless there's a good shepherd like Rupert Bottenberg or Salgood Sam. (Organizers of past Montreal comic Jams and other events)

Ryan Larkin 1943-2007

Terrible news about Ryan Larkin. He treated himself very badly in the later part of his life, but made some beautiful films earlier on. I guess that's what matters.

I had a complex relationship with him. He used to shelter in the used bookstore I worked in during the 90s. More often drunk or messed up than otherwise. He'd brag to me about eating cat food and called me his friend, though I didn't feel like it, ushering him out of the store at closing time. He did a drawing for someone while I was there. It was a circle, reiterated until it almost went through the paper. He used to be a brilliant artist, but as Balzac said about an artist in similar straits, "he draws in circles, he is lost." (I think it was Balzac. I can't find the citation.)

I was happy that he got rediscovered for that documentary, and even did a few animations for MTV before the end. Still, he did what he enjoyed, even though it was killing him. He was one of those people who was only happy, or could only relax, when he was drunk or high. Art couldn't save him. It started to, towards the end, but that was too late.

There will be a memorial get-together for him at the Copacabana Bar, probably his real hangout, Sunday Feb 18, at 2 pm.

Truman Capote

A drawing after the movie "Infamous," one of two Truman Capote movies made in the last couple of years, about him writing "In Cold Blood." Don't do it, Truman, it will ruin your career!

He actually never took notes, relying intead on his "eidetic memory." That also allowed him to remember and write things the way he wanted. But the pad acts as a prop to prove he's a writer, as opposed to just standing there, sweating.

Grouchy Gangster Guy

Better watch out. He'd break your arm and think nothing of it!

Painting and Credits

Not drawing tons today. I'm afraid this is an older gouache thing I never put up. Nervous, because the full-scale writing gig for season three is starting next week. Doing lots to prepare. Last year's TV shows weren't too bad. Heck, I'll do this: it's my first ever TV writing credit:

Movies

Drawing, watching movies.

That's Tom Cruise's mask from "Vanilla Sky," and Sam Jackson in the upper corner from "Triple X." The guy in the middle started out as a Sam Jackson, but looks nothing like him (that's not unusual in my sketches). But I liked the shading, so he becomes "generic angry man."

Show Business

Gosh. Tired, but drew some show-business related pictures in pencil, then darkened them and scanned them again. They're value studies, for watercolour pictures.

Coffee Shop Sitters

Had to wait in a coffee shop for an appointment in West Montreal. Drew these two who were also sitting in the shop. Heaters were aimed towards the door to keep out the cold.

I chatted with a lady who was also sketching. She's a painter who had recently come out of chemotherapy. Drawing was helping her in her recovery. Hooray for her!

Collaboration

Collaboration, when it goes well, is really fun. My friend R. Gagnon and I collaborated on a comic strip, and other projects. It's been too long since the last time, but we'd also sit in bars with a pint, as with last night, and he'd draw inks over some of my pencil sketches. The results as above. I also enjoyed inking some of his drawings, but he's not such a sketchbook fiend as I am.

It's thrilling seeing one of your drawings acquiring a new life, as you look over someone's shoulder, or watch it upside down on the other side of the table. Later, there are little nitpicks (I wish I'd aligned things better, but the leaning girl works, at least for me). There are also difficulties in motivating a two-headed beast, or agreeing on how to proceed.

Dr. Who

Watched "Dr. Who" the other night - about a little girl who draws people, and makes them disappear. I hope that won't happen if I draw them here.

Rilly Big Shew

Another one of them scratchy drawings, this time of an old TV guy.

Bar Guy

Sat in a bar by myself, for the first time in a long time, and drew some people. Well, this guy, who was kind of stretched out all over the front of the bar. He seemed to be making evil eyes at me, too, every time I looked over, so I didn't actually draw him until he left.

Here's a link to a sketch artist who does a lot of musicians as subjects. Seems to be more prepared than I usually am. Still, I hate people who seem to have more talent than I. Actually, I enjoy just drawing, and try not to compare it to anyone else.

"No One Must Ever Know...

...How much I love you."

Still Another Post

I seem to be drawing and posting something every day. The lights on the skating rink outside just shut off, leaving some hockey players in darkness. Once, they used to leave them on all night, but perhaps they're saving energy. The cats are having a terrible fight in the front entry. But no evidence of anything now, even though I took out my camera.

Actually, it's kind of funny how that couple seem to be inspecting the right-hand column.

Late Night Coffee

Sitting in a coffee shop, ignoring my friends, drawing stuff. I thought of it as a stage set, or scene I'd like to set a future drawing or comic in. The people are mainly imaginary, at least in the sitting one. No colours here, but picture shades of beige and brown. Fake plants.