So, a huge supporter of my work and artists in general passed away the other day.  His name was Ryan August.

Ryan created and ran the website and zine I WANT YOUR SKULL.

Ryan was a helluva guy, an awesome daddy, husband and artist.  He died in a car accident. Thankfully, his little son who was also in the car, survived with just a few scratches.  Ryan died on impact.

Ryan sent me a package of stuff a few days before he passed away. I was too wrapped up in my own life drama to call him or send him a simple thank you.

This whole thing has hit me VERY hard.

I’m not posting this for sympathy or for comforting pats on the back.

I’m posting this because Ryan was awesome.

He loved art and loved supporting and encouraging artists.  Genuine people like that are rare.  At least to me they are.

I’ve been in a severe funk and pretty depressed since I found out.  My emotions are a run-away roller coaster right now.  Soo bummed that his little son will have to grow up without the support of his awesome daddy in his life.

Aside from the obvious, his family could most likely use some financial assistance.  They just found out yesterday that his wife and son’s insurance will be discontinued, because they were covered by Ryan’s policy at his job.  Like they need any more troubles….  My heart goes out to his family.

Anyway, go look at Ryan’s work, his website and zine.  He ruled.

http://www.iwantyourskull.com/
http://www.ryanaugust.com/
http://www.gigposters.com/forums/anything-goes/151257-ryan-august-rip.html

Also, for the next month, 100% of the proceeds (minus shipping) when you buy one of my pinstriped skull art prints (originally seen in I WANT YOUR SKULL #5) will all be sent to Ryan’s family.  Please tell your friends.

So, sorry for the lack of updates lately.

I’ve been UBER-busy working on some new stuff and launching a new venture.   Quick sneakie peekie above.

Stay tuned………

A while back I started working on an idea to make smaller, more affordable bomber panels.

The new line, which I’m calling “1/4 Panels” have 3 major differences from my normal nose art -faux bomber panels:

1) They’re approx. 1/4 the size of my normal panels. I plan on making them around 2′ x 2′ in size

2) The focal point of the art is 1/4 more concentrated, taking up the majority of the surface of the metal.

3) The price is approx. 1/4 the cost of my normal bomber panels.

Side bonus – The time for completing commission pieces is faster as well.  The first one out of the gate is my tribute to Tex Avery.  It’s called “Ohh, Wolfy”.  The size is approx 30″ x 27″.  It’s for sale in my shop.

Here’s the pics I promised of my latest piece. It’s for Gasoline Gallery’s California Screamin’ show coming up this Sat.

“Martini Time” 2010 – Enamel on riveted, weathered sheet metal – approx – 40″ x 44″.  Let me know what ya think.

Yup!  It’s that time of year again!  When the “best of the best” in lowbrow art descend upon Gasoline Gallery.  If you’re in or near California, this is an event your eyeballs don’t want to miss.  I’m taking part in the show again this year.  Stay tuned, as I’ll soon be post pics of my art that will be in the show.

**UPDATE**

Originally this bomber panel was commissioned for a silent auction fund raising gala.  A VERY generous benefactor purchased the panel and then has kindly returned it back to me.  It is now for sale here: STARS AND STRIPES

Wrapped up my latest commission faux bomber panel / nose art piece this week.  I’ve got a few of these currently in the works, (as you’ve seen from previous posts).  I’ve also just picked up a new commission after sending out some teaser images online.  Keep your eyes peeled to this site or my Twitter feed for future updates!

“STARS AND STRIPES” 2010 – Enamel on riveted, weathered sheet metal – approx. 46″ x 48″

So, I woke up this morning to an e-mail from my partner-in-crime, Jimmy Palmiotti.  Subject: hex review.

This could either be really good or really, really bad….

I’ve worked on Jonah Hex since April 2006.  I can pretty much say that I’ve loved every minute of it.  I’ve been a professional colorist over 21 years.  I’ve worked on a LOT of books.  I had sort of grown tired of the same ole spandex and superpowers issues.  Getting on Hex was like breathing new life into me.  Westerns were a genre I’ve always loved, via movies and such, but never worked on it in comic form.  I originally started off my stint on Hex working over Luke Ross’ pencils. Always a good time.  Luke is a hella good artist.

Then, I was introduced to Jordi Bernet.

I had known the name, or at least heard of it in certain circles.  He was what folks dubbed a “European artist”.  I first got turned on to the European side of making comics while doing time at Crossgen.  Jordi was one of those artists.  An “artist’s artist”.

I truly ADORE working on Jordi’s art.

So much so, that in my 21 years of doing this professionally, I have never felt such a strong connection with any other artist that I’ve ever worked over.  There are days where I look at Jordi pages which I need to work on and I get kinda freaked out.  Because in my opinion, adding MY color to them would be sacrilege to a perfect B&W comic book page.  Like ruining an amazing piece of art.  I know this isn’t the case, as I would have been off the book long ago.  It’s just my own overly anal-retentive, judgemental self, loathing my own work.  I gotta tell ya, working on Jordi’s pages pushes the hell outta me as an artist.  I want to do the man’s awesome work justice.  So, I push myself to be better with every issue of his that I do.

I went over to Jimmy’s house one time to hang out, etc… and he gave me a copy of a Jordi TORPEDO hardcover which he had done translation work on.  After I got home and devoured it, I was hard-pressed NOT to scan in every single page and try my hand at coloring it.  THAT’S how much I love working on this man’s art.

Hopefully someday I’ll get to meet him in person and shake his hand.  To thank him for his years of amazing work.  Thank him for helping breathe new life into me, into Jonah Hex and for making me a better artist.

Thank you Jordi.

Also, a BIG thank you to Jimmy (for putting up with me, believing in my work and ALSO pushing me to be a better artist) and to Justin Gray for continually putting out the best written comic on the stands, every single month.

Now, do yourself a favor and read the following link Jimmy sent me, which I mentioned earlier.

Jonah Hex #54 – Pick of the Week

The gang at iFanboy made Jonah Hex #54, their Pick-of-the-Week.  It’s an awesome review.  Here’s a podcast about that issue too:

iFanboy – Episode #229 – Jonah Hex #54

Then, do yourself ANOTHER favor and go out and buy not only Jordi’s issues of Jonah Hex, but ANY issue of Hex.

You’ll be glad you did.

I’ve been going over my site stats for the past few months.  Seems there’s been a LOT of people Googling and clicking on my “pinstripe skull design” and also my “Ol’ Nasty cat” images lately.  People possibly wanting tattoos of them…?  Dunno.  But it made me decide to write this post.

About tattoos.  I have a lot of them.  Some I’ve designed for myself, some not.

Regardless, I feel a sense of real responsibility after I see a person getting my artwork tattooed on themselves. It’s a huge honor. But, it also kicks me into overdrive to make sure I don’t get complacent and start churning out schlock.  I see too many other artists getting lazy and re-hashing stuff they’ve done a million times before. I don’t want to fall into that trap. People digging my art enough to make a lifelong commitment to having it added to their bodies, keeps me in check. So, to all of you fans of mine whom have, thank you.

There is a flip side to everything.  As my fellow artist bud Von Glitschka says regarding people using his art for tattoos, “For those who commission me it’s a great gig. But for those who don’t, it’s a flattering copyright infringement when they use my art without paying for it. So ask permission before you become a walking portfolio of mine.”

So, if you’re somebody who wants to blatantly steal my art to make flash sheets, please don’t.  Ask first.  I’m sure there’s something we can work out.

Now, what if you’re simply a fan and you see something of mine that you enjoy and you’re thinking of adding it to your body…?  Please, feel free to contact me.  I can get you nice, clean line art that your tattoo guy can work from.  That way you won’t have to use a cruddy saved jpg or a potentially blurry photo of my stuff which you found in a magazine.

Either way, if you DO decide to add my art to your body, thank you and please, send me pictures!

A first look at my Carnies packaging design for Brandt Peters x Kidrobot’s eerie new mini-series.

The skies darken, the wind howls, and you’re drawn to the ominous carnival that mysteriously appeared overnight in the middle of the cornfield.  The fairgrounds are populated with creatures that possess a sinister cuteness.  Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right up and experience the mysterious and eerie carnival inhabited by Brandt Peters’ Carnies.  Stylistically reminiscent of early 20th century animation, each of the 13 carnies in this nightmarish mini-series, including the two chases, stand at 3-inches and are colored in grayscale.

On sale now at Kidrobot

Another sneak peek progress shot of the next faux bomber panel currently in the works.  What do ya think so far?