WEEK 19: Mad King Max the Wild

Where The Wild Things Are...perhaps one of the most pivotal books for me as a child on a few different levels. First and foremost....I love monsters. Always have and still do. As a kid, while most of my friends were outside playing baseball or football..(although I did still play...just not as dedicated as they were.) I was inside watching horror films on T.V. (At the time there were several shows on Saturday afternoons a kid like me could catch horror flicks)..building my Aurora horror model kits, thumbing through issues of Forrest J. Akermans Famous Monsters of Filmland or just drawing and reading comics.
On the other level...it was Maurices inking that caught my eye. I'm a huge inking geek. Even now I dissect every pen and ink image I see, especially if it stands out to me. As I've grown older, people like Frank Booth, Alex Toth, Walter Simmonson and some of the newer artists Jason Shawn Alexander& Jim Mahfood inspire me constantly. But for me this is where it began. Maurices use of crosshatching and textures were an immediate attraction. And though over the years I've gotten away from the use of crosshatching, after doing this challenge I've been reminded of what it's capabilities are and I tried to repeat the look of Maurices original technique as much as possible. Enjoy.

Who doesn't like ketchup?

We here at the RBMC have been up to a TON of stuff lately: working out some more live art venues, helping kids bring on a brave new world of SUPER SCIENCE and some other TOP SECRET goodness coming up as well as our professional work.  We've decided, seeing as how Amalgamation week marks the end of round 2 to take a week to catch up before we jump into ROUND 3.  But take heart gentle viewer this week also marks the first week of NON TOPIC POSTS!!!!  An opportunity for you all to get to know us a little better!

So, keep your eyes peeled for EVEN MORE ART, use the link at the top right to go back to enjoy the weekly topics so far in a easy to access format and ready yourselves for ROUND 3!!

Thanks for viewing!

Bring Da Rumpus

When people ask me what exactly the RBMC is, I almost always compare it to the Wu Tang Clan.   Even if you don't like hip hop, you can't front on the template those dudes layed out for us.  Talented folks forming like Voltron to do something greater than what they could accomplish on their own.  You can't front on that.

If you're into wearing swear words on your chest, you can do that here.

Tim W19: Remembering Maurice

So, I kinda' unintentionally jumped the gun on week 20 (Amalgamation week) with this piece. I got my "Where the Wild Things Are" mixed into my "Into the Wild" and this is what came out. I'd like to tell you that these two stories gelled in my head because I think they both deal with a kind of escapist fantasy that I can relate to, even thought they are very VERY different (intended audience, medium, and outcome of the story to name a few), but as I said, "I'd like to tell you that". In reality it's probably because they both have the word "wild" in the title, I'm pretty simplistic like that (and maybe a bit of the previous reason as well).

My original ink drawing can be found here.

A large NO TEXT version can be found here.

Wk.19: There Must be more to life

Warning, this is going to get a little sappy.  For those uninterested in excessive sappiness this is Jennie, main character of Maurice Sendak's, "Higglety Pigglety, Pop!  Or there must be more to life."  Mr. Sendak placed Jennie in not only this book but as a background character in many other books.  Jennie was a beloved pet.  OK, that's about as far as I can go without being sappy so for those of you uninterested, punch out now.  The drawing is graphite and colored pencil on toned paper, thanks for checking it out. If you don't have the book handy to read here's some lovely British people to read it to you. 

I had not intended to draw this character when we decided to do a Sendak tribute week.  My mind went straight to "The Night Kitchen" with it's strong Windsor McKay influence or, "Really Rosie" the animated short that introduced me to Sendak's work when I was a boy.  I stumbled upon Jennie when I was getting ready to put pencil to paper.  I knew she was Mr. Sendak's actual pet, I knew he drew her in the background in much of his work and I knew he had lost her far too soon to sickness but I didn't remember much of this book.  "Higglety Pigglety, Pop!" was the book he wrote to cope with the death of his beloved friend, Jennie.  I didn't get that when I was a kid, I think cause death hadn't effected me yet.  The real purpose of the book washed right over me and what stuck was a fun book about the adventure of a dog.  

     A couple of years ago, in May, I was fortunate enough to help my Mom and Brother care for my Father who was dying of cancer.  Hardest thing I've ever done and the memory of it, although I am happy to have been able to take the time off and spend a month helping where I could and just to be with my Dad when it crosses my mind it still hurts.  SO May tends to not be a great month for me but I am glad that this May I rediscovered this book.  It's like a hug.  Sendak doesn't share his grief from having lost his friend he share the love he has for Jennie.  Sure, in reality his dog couldn't talk, didn't go on adventures but he loads the book with her personality.  He loved her and you can experience it with this book.  I think that's his genius or maybe his bravery that we are lucky to still have around.  He shared what most would have kept to themselves and the act of sharing helps us to be better and sometimes helps us cope with difficult things.

So this one I dedicate to Maurice Sendak and also to my Father, Mason Worrell.  The world is a better place for having had the both of you in it. 

Week 20: Amalgamation!

This week the Rust Belt Monsters are tasked with combining two seemingly unrelated characters to create one amazing-super character.  The rules state that this could be done by either tearing a rift in space and time, combining dimensions, and thus merging these other worldly beings... or you could just draw.  So take any two real people or fictional characters and see what you come up with.

Wk 19: Maurice Sendak

Just a quicky this week.  I'm starting to feel like they are all quickies anymore.  Just a sign of a busy schedule I guess.  Regardless, I wanted to make sure I put forward a tribute to Maurice Sendak.  Drawn digitally with Sketchbook Pro and Photoshop CS6.

See a WIP at my personal blog: Need Your Disease

Week 19: Tribute to Maurice Sendak (June 1928 - May 2012)

Erin here. I don't know how else to do the intro to this week's topic other than speaking personally. As you probably have heard, picture book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak passed away last Tuesday.

I have read only a few books that have had an impact on my life as large as "Where the Wild Things Are." This book was an integral part of my childhood and is one of the reasons I chose to go to art school. The everyday fantasy of it all is something that I always try to bring into my own artwork. Whether I am conscious of it or not, "Where the Wild Things Are" is part of who I am and I am positive that there are generations out there that feel the same way.

Mr. Sendak was the illustrator and/or author of far too many books to list here, but is known most for "In the Night Kitchen," "Little Bear," and of course, "Where the Wild Things Are". Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a good database of his illustrations online - I recommend sitting on the floor of the Children's Book section for a few hours. Not long ago, Marice did an excellent and touching interview with Terry Gross and a delightful 2-part interview with Stephen Colbert (part 1, part 2); I am very glad I listened to / watched both of them.

This week, the RBMC pays tribute to this influential and inspiring story teller.
Marice Sendak please don't go, we'll eat you up, we love you so.

Stay Tuned.

Week 18: Let it Be

I love the Beatles and I love this album. It felt really good to do a tribute to them. This is a charcoal drawing embedded in encaustic wax medium with oil paint on top. I found out that I am a much looser painter at 2 in the morning that I am normally. Hmm... good to know!

Interested in seeing the process behind this piece? Check it out at ErininArtLand.com!

OVER 9000!!!!!!

Actually well over 9000, 10,000 page views to be specific. 

 Sure in the grand scheme of all of the internet it's small but for us it's a milestone.  In just over four months we've churned out one piece a week on top of our professional work, collaborated on a printed advertisement and participated in our first live art event.  All in all WAY more than any of us suspected when we started what was suppose to be just a blog.  What we've found is we work extremely well together.  It's collaboration, it's friendly competition: a little Art family pushing each other to keep going and to grow as Artists. 

We would like to thank everyone who has come by to see our work every week.  We don't get to personally interact with you all but we see the numbers, read the comments and very much appreciate it. 

SO, keep your eyes on our humble little blog cause it's only going to get bigger from here on out!  There's more weekly topics, more live art and some surprises bubbling away in the lab!

EXCELSIOR!!!!

WEEK 18: Social Distortion

I love Social Distortion...so there. The band has had its ups and downs but has always remained true to it's beginnings and has never sacrificed it's original sound or intentions. Something we have in common. With that in mind I wanted to remain true to the original cover, keeping with the familiar color scheme, but add my own touch. I had the liberty of using their now obvious skeleton mascot as the focus of the piece. After doing pieces for Break Neck Gallery for the Black and White show...I wanted to continue the run of noir stuff I've been doing.....So I went with a smoked filled dive with a bunch of seedy lowlifes. Booze, dames and guns. My kinda' place.

Wk 18: Stephanie asks.....

Would that be a velvet painting of a London Underground sign? 

 Yup.  

Velvet painting of an underground sign eah?  Velvet Underground?

Yup

That's silly.
Yes it is. Now listen to this.

Tim W18: Zombie Thriller!

Surprisingly the "zombie well" has yet to run dry! My entry for the "Album of the Year" topic, is Michael Jackson's "Thriller", with MJ as a zombie. Yes, kind of obvious, but it's my kind of obvious, so... yeah, more zombies (I love them).

Week 18: Album Of The Year

Flyer by Ms. Ashley Ribblett

Music soothes a monsters savage soul, so this week we're picking our favorite albums and drawing the covers we wish they had.  

We've all been really excited about this week,  so we're spilling out of the internet and onto the streets of Tremont (In Cleveland, Ohio) this friday.  This topic was way too fun to keep to ourselves, so we invited our friends to join the part.   A LOT of our friends.  This friday we'll be displaying more than 30 re imagined albums, and the girls from Cleveland Exotic Dance are putting themselves on display too!  Not to mention all the things listed on the dope flyer.  

If you're in the area, check the event page for maps and further details, it promises to be a great way to kick off another great summer in Cleveland.  

Bal Ingenieux: A Benefit for IngenuityFest 2012

Logo Created by The Rust Belt Monsters' own Craig Worrell

The Rust Belt Monsters have been toiling away in the lab (metaphorically) and have come up with a delightful treat (literally) for the upcoming Benefit to support the Cleveland Ingenuity Fest.  The whole group will be on hand creating an expansive piece of art for the party goers to view.  The night's theme is "feed" and we have something special in store for all who attend.  If you live in the Cleveland, Ohio area please get tickets and support the arts and make the annual Ingenuity Fest possible.

Half the excitement is seeing what we come up with.  The other half?  Whether or not we are torn apart by infighting and self doubt.  So come see the Rust Belt Monsters unable to crumple up the page and start again, unable to press Ctrl + Z and forget you ever drew that line, and miles from any white out.  This is completely drawing without a net.

Please view the Bal Ingenieux site for a list of scheduled performers as well as ticket information.  We hope to see you there.

Bal Ingenieux: A Benefit for Ingenuity Fest 2012

For more photos from the event check out our Facebook page!

Tim W17: Does whatever a spider can!

This is my cover for Free Comic Book Day 2012, for Carol & John's Comic Book Shop.

I love me some Spidey, and Spidey loves him some Mary Jane (despite what the current Marvel editorial regime thinks).

 I suffer from a well documented Spider-man addiction (I have the long boxes to prove it), and hope to someday get a chance to draw the web slinger professionally, so far this is as close as I have come to that childhood dream, and I couldn't be happier for the chance.

 I also love "Free Comic Day". It's such an awesome idea. The photo is me at my first "free comic day" (sort of). It was the grand opening at a local drug store and "Spider-man" was there giving out free comic books, I couldn't pass that up (see Spider-man addiction).

9yr old Tim loved comics too!

So go find a comic book store on Saturday, May 5th, and pick up some cool free comics! 

Week 17: Ira Spidermen, call your MOTHER!

Cut paper and string!

I chose Spiderman because is the 2nd most bendiest of the superheros.


Go see this and the other RMBC comic covers LIVE at Carol and John's comic shop on Saturday, May 5th (Starting at Midnight!) Rumor is that you can even take some home...

Week 17: Kracka BOOM

One of my best pals performs under the name Thor, so when we got the challenge there was no other choice for me but to feature Marvel's Thunder God.  So there Lisa, I drew this thing.     

I love drawing in this style, and I really hope they do this next year.  Because I'm itching to draw Namor macking on Sue Storm. 

Never trust a lady that can turn invisible, fellas. 

Week 17: Hold me back!

Not sure where this idea came from.  I just think I wanted to do something a little more playful and the thought of The Hulk dragging a bunch of people down the street on the way to a fight popped in my head.  Working on the card stock cover and knowing that it would be hung on a wall (blemishes and all) was the closest thing to working without a net that I've done in a long time.  All and all, I had a lot of fun with this.

See Work-In-Progress shots at my personal blog: Incredible Hulk: Free Comic Book Day

Personal Blog: Still-Reaching
Twitter: NeedYourDisease

Wk 17: Say Hello to my little friend!

I have yet to see Scarface all the way through but I've seen enough to do this.  I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this mash up but Mr. Fixit version of hulk as Scarface because it seems absolutely natural (although cocaine + Hulk sounds absolutely horrifying).  The step after Hulk as Scarface is inevitably what do you do with the quote, "Say Hello to my little friend"?  Thanks to Jim's Sabertooth cover and good old Wolverine #8,

 

the punchline for the back cover came to mind.

By the end of this sketch I came to the conclusion I need to draw way more comic characters. 

WEEK 17: Sabretooth- Oh..there will be blood.

Perhaps my favorite villain in, at least Wolverines history, has to be Sabretooth. His feral nature..his savagery, unhampered by morals. The exact opposite of Logans character. Plus with such a badass name as Creed...well...I just like the character. Years ago during the Mutant Massacre crossover is what did it for me. And since he makes an appearance in this issue...it was just screaming at me to be done. Markers, pen and lot's of red ink. I wanted to frame his figure in red, bringing the logo down into the piece. And what better way than with blood...lot's of blood...or in this case red ink..If'n you'd like you can head over to my site at www.chelzostudios.com to see the penciled version before inks...color...and blood.