The Man Who Left the Earth...

 As most of you know by now, we lost the iconic David Bowie a few days ago. And also most of you also know...That it's been a long while since I posted any work on the blog.
 But with Davids passing I felt compelled to do something...to say something, to create something voicing my grief over the passing of a man, that for all purposes, has always been a part of my life in one way or another.
 I grew up listening to him when I was a teen. And as I matured, and my taste in music matured and changed, his always seemed to fit somewhere in the playlist of my life. I've always felt Davids music had a certain sensuality to it. (His soundtrack from Cat People oozes it) And as outward appearances go, he carried himself a certain way...a classic look. Stylish...but with that bit of punk, eccentric appeal that I've always admired. I listened to a broadcast interview on my way in to work this afternoon. As they played samplings of his music, they shared little tidbits of info about some of Davids songs as they played. I just found out today that the song "Heroes", written during what some called his Berlin Era, is actually about two lovers separated on either side of the Berlin Wall.
How did I never not know that?
 I think I'm going to be doing a lot of delving into Bowie music over the next few months.
 I personally feel....we may never see another of his ilk ever again. And at this point, if you have children or grandchildren, be sure to play Davids music for them. So that his legacy never dwindle...he truly does become immortal. Travel well David...and thank you for the years of inspiration. A friend of mine over on my FB page wrote this...and it feels so poignant...so perfect on how I feel,aside from the sadness and loss, I feel the need to share it here as well. (My thanks to my long time I-friend on the other side of the pond, Aidy Gerrard for these words. You inspired me to create this.)
REV~
""Go make some art. 

Write a poem, draw a picture, play a song, go into the city and be a mime, bake a ten-tier lemon cake, wear your Gran's old dresses combined with a flat cap and high tops, build a shed, tell some one you love them using only abstract levels of expression, paint a big, red, lightening bolt on your face - do whatever. Just make it mad, bold, avant garde, irreverent and be your own Zeitgeist.

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Doesn't matter if it sucks, or even if it doesn't. Just give it a try, tomorrow it will be something to look at, touch, feel, laugh at, smile about and remember.
Just make some art.
That's what Bowie did. Today you should. "

Craig's Gauntlet Day 4: Sir Steven the Cook

Today's challenge:

The Knight Templar     Refugee     Chef

This one is a bit of a stretch but if you have watched the Steven Seagal movie "Under Siege" you will get at least the chef/cook part.  The refugee part, kinda left that out.

Happy Hour

For your Friday's festivities Our 2013 Great Lakes Brewery Block Party mural.  

How many Great Lakes Brewery Beers can you find?

Everyone should be punished...A History of Violence

Or...at least that's what Frank Castle seems to be brooding over. Hi..it's me, Rev. Jim. It's been waaaay to long since I posted anything to the blog...(something the devious Crider nonchalantly screams out at events.) So I thought I'd throw this here. This is a piece I did, entitled "The Punisher: A History of Violence", for the gallery show for the upcoming Free Comic Book Day event at one of our bestest buds, Carol and Johns Comics Shop. There will be sketches done at the Friday night Pre-Party and on Saturday, the RBMC and myself will be doing the live mural thingy. So come by and see us and the rest of the talented artists Cleveland has to offer. You can get the skinny on everything here...Carol and Johns Comic Shop
So until we meet again...Stay frosty.

Ben: Prepare the Baby's Room!

The times are changing, and the monsters are multiplying.  And with new monsters comes new opportunities.  Its with that in mind that I decided to create a painting for my daughter's bedroom.  With the help of fellow monster, Craig Worrell, we set out to create something special for my unborn child.  Follow along as you see a day worth of painting compressed into less than a minute.  Enjoy.

The Finished Product and my Happy Wife, Courtney.

The Original Sketch

The color treatment

I'm Thorry...oh so Thorry

In celebration of the new Thor flick we did a draw off at this weeks Drink and Draw Social held in Great Lakes Brewing Co. I liked this sketch enough to add colors. Bic pen, pen and ink, markers in my sketchbook

Erin: Before Zombies were Cool

My contribution to "Creep Show" at Gallery 160 on Waterloo Road.

Acrylic on watercolor paper. Boo!

Round 39: Giant Robots vs. Colossal Monsters!

We here at the R.B.M.C. are right in the middle of a very busy summer but not too busy to draw up some Gargantuan Robots and Colossal Monsters!  From Johnny Sokko and Gigantor to Big Guy and Pacific Rim,  Godzilla and King Kong to Cloverfield if it's giant and has ever risked stubbing a toe on the Sears Tower we love it!  So join us in July's stomp through the internet.  Enjoy!

Craig defaces perfectly good, blank comic covers for your amusement.

Last week's foray into the depths of the amazing Great Lakes Brewing Company's Comic Book Heritage Night was a ton of fun!  Here's some of the sketches I got to do.

 Dark Knight style Bats,

 good ol' Jean Grey,

 an Amazon,

and Captain America/Conan the Barbarian aka.  Captain CooooooooNaaaaaaan!!!!  (yelled in the style of Captain Caveman).  That little postage stamp image of me was a little shot of me not knowing how to use my phone's camera correctly so it inserted this little front facing camera shot of me making my mouth tiny out of frustration.  Aside from this little user malfunction I had a great time at Comic Book Heritage night.  Thanks so much to Great Lakes Brewery and Carol and John's Comics for making it a blast.  And thank you to all those who I got to sketch for, you guys are great!! 

Up..up...and away!!

Good morning...Reverand Jim here. I've been handed the duty of tackling Fridays here at RBMC central. Mr. Friday you can call me. Or MF...wait..no...bad idea. As I was saying, I'll be posting on Fridays while the group and I work our hectic summer schedule. So be on the look out.

I thought I'd post a Superman cover a bunch of local artists are doing to help celebrate Supes 75th birthday...but more importantly, his heritage, his birthplace here in Cleveland. It's for an upcoming event at Carol and Johns Comic Shop. This is the initial pencil sketch I did, directly on the cover. Now originally I was going with a 3/4 profile view of Supes handsome chiseled features. But I opted out for a full side profile, liking the epicness of of his stance.
 However there was something wrong but I couldn't quite put my finger on it....I proceeded with colors hoping it would eventually pop out for me.

 Working so much with comics, where I work in black and white, I struggle with color. I typically work with acrylics or marker and chose the latter in this case. I started working with grays first. Going from light and working in my darker shade. It's always easier to go darker than to try and lighten. I then began laying in color. I wanted the figure to pop, so I went with a yellow background so the cools of Big Blues suit would pop. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to superheroes and went with his original suit and emblem. It wasn't until I neared completion that the eyesore popped out for me. I never adjusted the ear from 3/4 to profile. Kids...if you're paying attention, the ear is always placed half way from the back of the head to the front. Now I could have just started over, scrap this cover and begin again. But...our own Erin Schechtman once taught me a valuable lesson...one I've never forgotten and repeat often. "Every painting...every piece, goes through an ugly stage." And I was there. So I went back in, penciled and placed the ear where it belonged, went back in with ink and white paint marker, then overlayed color pencil to blend the ear into the piece. And I ended up with the final shown at the top of this page. The important lesson here is to, one pay attention to details such as basic anatomy and two, never feel that something can't be fixed. Even if not by computer. Hey...it's only art. What's the worse that can happen? You start over.

Round38: Run Clayman run

Skullmonkeys is still one of the best, most fully immersible game I have ever played. Art direction by Doug Tennepel and Terry Taylor's absolutely inspired soundtrack fit together like peas and carrots.  Goofyness almost on a level of sublime!  Would have played many, many more sequels.  

Messing around with some new colored pencils for this one, Graduated up to some Crayon d'Arche Pablos for this one.  Thanks for checking it out!

Enjoy some beans!

Round 36: I Hung My Head

When I think of Johnny Cash I think about the Johnny Cash I was introduced to when I was a kid.  The Johnny Cash who use to show up on "Little House on the Prairie",  "Hee-Haw" and any other show that had horses and cowboy hats on it in the late 70's early 80's.  He was the guy with the deep voice, always wore black and when I was really young I thought he had something to do with Abraham Lincoln so I couldn't help but pay attention to him.  My Grandad liked him, my Mom liked him, Aunts, Uncles, everybody and regardless of any music fascinations that popped up as I got older, I liked him and the older I get the more I like him.

This piece is inspired by his remake of Sting's "I Hung My Head" which like his remake of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt" he did WAY better than the original, the record covers I grew up with and Johnny Cash from the late 70's early 80's.  Graphite, toned paper, bleach and Photoshop to finish it up.

If you haven't heard his version you can check it out here.

Round 34: Surrender the Booty!!!

I must have drawn that stupid pirate...turtle...sweet cuddly bear hundreds of times. But I never ordered the course. I did however have a cousin who did...and they were nice enough to turn some of the course books over to me...I think I still have a few of them laying about. Anyway...I dig pirates...and robots...and explosions. And da booty...so there you have it.

Round 35: Adventure Time!!

Sweet babies, What time is it? ...Time for the RBMC to unleash some algebraic fan-art on to the land of Ooo. Shmowzow!

Round 34: Just pile 'em up anywhere

What happens to all those old tests?  Pile 'em up!  Imagine the piles and piles of Tippy, Pirate and Cubby drawings through the years.  The fire risk alone is incredibly staggering!  

This isn't the first time I thought strange thoughts about these characters, OH NO!  In the spring of last year these characters invaded our first  RBMC collaboration.

It seems they are inescapable, once you draw them you are DOOMED to draw them again.

Round 34: The Power of Tippy Compels you!

If you have looked at ANY publications since 1914 You have seen these guys.  If you are of Artist or anyone that has attended and Art School or ANY Art Class of any kind odds are good that some would-be joker has tried to make a a funny about Tippy, Cubby or the Pirate somewhere near your person.  Love it, hate it they are still around.  We here at the R.B.M.C. have decided to take these and all the Art Test characters head on!  Check back too see the paces we run them through until then check out this great post about the "test" here! 

2013: Year of the stern beardie man

drawn with China marker

Inspired by the art of Jason Shawn Alexander and his post surgery undertaking to relearn to draw with his non dominant hand after temporarily losing use of his dominant a few of us here at the RBMC have decided to give our off hands a workout.  I am left handed and to draw with my right was absolutely jarring.  It was all I could do to stop myself from switching back to my left.  It felt like I was straining both my hand and my brain.  This all being said I think I am going to do this more often, it gets a lot of little short cut "ticks" out of the way when you are pushing your brain and off hand to do something exceedingly different.  It's like it pushed me to make clearer decisions from what I was seeing rather than the comfy, easy chair of stuff I have learned are there.  I think the strangest thing is it was difficult to get my values, dark darks were hard to get with the pencil in the wrong hand.

All in all it was a great exercise, give it a try!

24601: Who am I?

Thought I might toss up a little drawing I did to brush up on my fundamentals.  Some times you draw and draw without working on your skills that you stop seeing and drawing efficiently. From a running conversation I've been having with Ben I've decided to jump back in to the basics.  Did this drawing from a pic of Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean in the movie Les Miserables.  Sure it doesn't entirely hit the Hugh mark but I think it at least hits the Jackman mark, dude looks like he could at least be related.  I'll be doing more of this stuff throughout the year and I figured I would post it as a bench mark.   Also thought I would post it here to keep my feet to the fire, let's see how this goes!

Round 33: Gollum

This is probably the closest self portrait I've done in a long time.  I cough just like Gollum and substitute an all powerful, magical ring with a cough drop and it's totally me ......with a couple stitches more clothes.

Inspired by Tim's pie eating Venom I decided to do it all on the iPad (minus the text).  Otherwise it's all from Procreate, love that app!

Round 33: There and back again!

It's fair to say that we are a multi-headed hydra of Geekdom.  Superheros, monsters, robots, aliens, Supermonsterrobotaliens, we have 'em all!  It was only a matter of time that we dip our feet into the vast waters of fantasy and what better place than in Tolkein's Middle Earth?  To commemorate the new Hobbit movie we thought it best to end 2012 with a walk through Middle Earth.  Enjoy!