Heroes on the Half Shell

Pencil w/digital color - Click to Enlarge

Between the ages of 8 and 11, I drew very little that wasn't some sort of mutated animal sporting a non projectile weapon.  Ninja monkeys being the most common.  A few weeks ago, when visiting with my co-conspirator in the creation of a martial menagerie, we reflected on those ninja monkeys, even proving to each other that we still knew how to draw the battle ready beasties.

In honor of of various ninja animals covering the worksheets of third graders around the globe I present to you...Raphael of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - muse of pre-adolescent boys.

 
I wish I could find some original monkey drawings.  They would be proof positive that anyone can learn to draw.

I'm an ordinary guy...

Digital Paint - Click to Enlarge

Watch out!  You might get what you're after.
Cool baby!  Strange but not a stranger.
I'm an ordinary guy 
Burning down the house

Burning Down the House

Talking Heads

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Digital Paint - Click to Enlarge

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

                                                                       Robert Frost
                                                                       New Hampshire
                                                                       1923

The Tale of Despereaux

Digital Paint - Click to Enlarge

The world is dark, and light is precious.

Come closer, dear reader.

You must trust me.

I am telling you a story.

A quick digital painting inspired by Kate DiCamillo's amazing book, The Tale of Despereaux.

If there were books this good around when I was a kid, I may have learned to love reading much earlier.


*Of course there were great books when I was a kid.  Sadly, I had no interest in reading them.

Should I call you Logan, Weapon X?

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I suspect anyone who draws is somewhat idiosyncratic in his/her subject matter.  I am certainly no exception.  I have found that my most frequent visitor in my less thought out mark-making trips to planet Blankpage is none other than Wolverine of the X-Men.  He visits often, spilling out of my pencil as though he was already inside.

This watercolor drawing was put to paper in about 30 minutes this afternoon.  No purpose other than the satisfaction of process. 

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I found this unfinished sketch from at least four years ago on the back of some work papers.  It just goes to show you - no matter how you beat the man down, the Wolverine just keeps coming back for more.  I have no doubt that I will still be scratching out doodles of the hairy Canadian when I am old and gray. 

I can hear the grandchildren already.
"Grandpa draws funny hair."

What do you always find yourself drawing?

A Brief Interview With Batman

Kevin: You have trained under the deadliest martial artists on the planet. Your wealth and resources dwarf those of some small nations. You are the world's greatest detective, vigilante and overall bad-ass, going toe to toe with the most hardened criminals and demented maniacs in Gotham City. Well Batman, what is missing from this picture?

Batman: Well, I could use a little kid in daisy dukes for some back-up.

Kevin: (gasp) Excuse me.

Batman: You know. I'll dress him up in bright colors to draw the fire of all my enemies, giving me a chance to strike.

Kevin: Batman! What the Hell?

Batman: Nah, dude! It's cool. We'll find an orphan. That way if the Joker beats him to death...well, he was just an orphan.

Please take a few seconds to click on the link above, vote for my design and leave a nice comment. :)  Thanks everyone!

Inked w/ W&D series 7

8 colors on light blue tee