The Basement Monster Chronicles

Quick Notice...

2011-03-13T20:41:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe I have not done this yet. But to anyone that has this Blog bookmarked I just wanted to let you know that you can not find me at Two new blogs. One is The Transplanted Project at http://www.transplantedproject.wordpress.com/ . and the Other is The Basement Monster's Blog at http://www.lazarusink.wordpress.com/. So pleas adjust your bookmarks accordingly. Thank you very much =)

New Work ... New ongoing project.

2010-08-29T19:10:00.000-07:00

So as the title implies... this is the recent image for an ongoing project I have been working on. If you are at all interested about what it is about head on over to The Transplanted Project Blog. I will not say much more, because I want you to check out that link people!! So take care for now folks. More to come.

PS. Did you notice the blog name change??

A little bit of reference goes a long way...

2010-07-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

So recently a friend of mine was in the market for an new logo for her blog, and being the wonderful guy that I am... I offered her my services. She was looking for something that shouts "I have my eye on you" with a little sex appeal thrown into the mix as well. So continue reading to see the step by step process.

1-First up we had the rough thumbnail sketch. This was the easy part considering she had a very clear Idea of where she wanted to go with the image. So I just able to translate her ideas with a few of my twists here and there. Ultimately she chose to go with the bottom right image.

2-Next I jumped directly into the work up stage laying down color just to see what would work best. As you can see with out any real reference other than the face. The image just looks flat, and very off. Thank goodness I had to intentions of letting this be my finished image.

3-Here we have a much more worked up image. With this you can see that I was able to pull in better reference from the fedora, to the coat. It looks a lot better don't you think?

4- Finally I was able to lay down the desired font, and by request darken up the background a little more. Oh... and I even sprinkled a little fairy dust on it (I am not kidding, look closely)

If you are curious about what my friends blog is all about I encourage you to check it out HERE. It is a little bit of gossip with touch of humor. It always gets me laughing at the most inopportune times. As always... there will be more to come.

The Running Man...

2010-06-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

What you see above is my latest commission for a client. The concept was simple enough... draw a man running through a jungle with a bomb going off behind him. There is a deeper meaning behind this image, but I will not get into it. What I will get into though is the sketches that I did for it. So scroll down and see how this image came to be.

1. This was the first sketch that I came up with. I like the idea of the character frantically running towards the foreground. But ultimately my client wanted a more controlled almost jog like run.

2. This sketch was my personal favorite to be absolutely honest. I just liked the idea of the three quarter view and the exaggerated perspective. But... ultimately it comes down to what the client wants.

3. This one was simply a close up of the Character with a lot more foliage taking up the space. This... was my least favorite.

4. This was the Final work up sketch which was the amalgamation of what the client liked of all the previous sketches . So I took this and cleaned it up before laying down the color. I hope you all like what you see.

Quick Coloring Fun...

2010-06-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

Most of you may recognize this image from 40 days 40 posts. I was flipping thought the images the other day, and had an overwhelming urge to color it. More to come soon.

Goliath...

2010-05-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick post for you all. It has been a little while since the conclusion of my 40 day 40 posts project. Admittedly it has been hard these few weeks to put anything down on paper for one reason or another. But.. today I turn off the TV and turned on the podcasts, and made a conscious effort to put something down on paper. I hope you like.

Day 40 ... We have reached.

2010-03-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

So here we are at Day 40 of my little venture. Admittedly, even though I had hit some road blocks ... this process has gone relatively flown by.

Before I proceed I just wanted to quickly say a thing or two. First .. thanks to all of you that have kept up with my posts, and have always been there to give me constructive feedback. I draw and create for not only myself, but for everyone that would allow me to share. My work is the only time I ever really feel I am able to deal with being the center of attention, and it serves as a great release. And for the few of you that did not see your requests materialize, do not lose faith in me. Your are sure to see them pop up very soon.

So enough of that.. The following is what I have been promising, and hinting at for a week. I hope you enjoy it as much as I liked putting it together.

What you see above is the first Incarnation of an idea that I came up with nearly a decade ago. Just like a lot of young artists I chose to take the likenesses of friends of mine and create stories around them using the artistic ability I had available to me at the time. Using pencil and marker I went as far as creating a proposed "cover image" for the story I had rolling around in my head. I went as far as creating a few rough page layouts for the story in a sketchbook as well. But ultimately the idea was left to collect dust. As mentioned in a previous post I decided to go back and brush off the cobwebs of this old idea and in a way recreate it. Using all what I have learned in the past decade I wanted to see where I could take this original image. So scroll on down to see what I had come up with, as well as the process that took me to the final image.

1- Very, very rough sketch....

2- The work up sketch that was taken from the very very rough sketch...

3- The color swatches that were used to help me better color the final image...

4- The Final image folks...

Overall I am satisfied with the final product. Does the image have its issues?? Of course it does, but hind sight is 20/20. But like everything it is recognizing the pros on and cons, and then building upon them. It has been such a long time since I have been able to complete a project like this and it feels so good. I am already thinking ahead to next year and trying to figure out how I could make this process even better. So as always Stay Tuned.. there is always more to come.

Day 39 ... So very close.

2010-03-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

So there is yet again no new image tonight, but I hope you would believe me when I say that I have been hard at work today. Check back in tomorrow for the final installment of "40 days ... 40 posts"

In the mean time here is a link to a little cartoon that made me laugh out loud but also scared me a little. Enjoy!

Day 38 ... Almost there.

2010-03-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

You know it is bad when you are sitting at a bar with friends and all you can think about is getting back home and finishing work. That was me this evening. I have no new Hell Bent updates tonight. I decided to now save it until I am done, and I am hoping I will be done by Sunday.

Day 37 ... Chugging along

2010-03-25T19:53:00.001-07:00

So the coloring is taking a little longer than expected. But I am getting there. Here are just the steps thus far. The last frame is the very very rough color that I have laid down so far. Three more days folks... Anyone else excited?

Day 36 ... DRT

2010-03-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

This one needs some edits... But I did this purely for the Geek in me (yes I know how does this make this any different from what I do. Go HERE and you will understand what I am talking about. Click on the Deck Gibson episodes, and you do not think that screams GEEK!! ... I would be speechless.

Day 35 ... Color Swatches

2010-03-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

So here is the layout I decided to run with. I filled in the different segments with color swatches. This was a trick I learned a little while ago. This makes the coloring process a little bit easier. Five more days people. I am hoping I can finish this in time.

Day 34 .... His name is Isaiah Bradley

2010-03-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

To date Isaiah Bradley has to be my favorite main stream (tragic) comic book character. If you are a comic book fan... or hell.. even if you are not. I suggest you look up Truth:Red, White, and Black.(The link takes you to a free preview of the first issue.) I must warn you though ... I personally think the art is wonky. But the story more than makes up for it.

Day 33 ... 8 Days left...

2010-03-21T19:51:00.001-07:00

So I got this message from a friend earlier today. " 8 days left... you gonna knock it out of the park?". My reply to that is... I am sure as HELL going to try.

I had been debating showing you the whole work up sketch I had been working on; but after some deliberation, I decided to go with what you see above. I figured I would keep things exciting by just showing snippets of the images up until everything is done. Until then.. I hope you enjoy what you get.

Day 32 .... Preparation

2010-03-20T21:36:00.001-07:00

So I started to clear my work station today. It has been such a long time since I have sat myself down in front of my desk. Tomorrow I will be sitting there working on my work up.

Day 31 ... Thumbs and more thumbs

2010-03-19T15:32:00.001-07:00

Dynamic is the key to this. And I am still not sure which route I should take this image. All I know is ... I want your eyes to keep moving .

Day 30 ... What a difference a Decade makes

2010-03-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

So what you see above is snippets of an Image I did TEN years ago. The reason I am not showing the whole thing is because 1- I am a little embarrassed... and 2- It plays into what I have planned for the next few days. If you have been paying attention I mentioned in a previous post about how I would like to do a project that takes me a few days to complete. So for the next few days you may be seeing sketches, incoherent thumbnail drawings, and little pieces of nothing in particular. But trust me when I say it will all make sense in the end. Wish me luck...

Day 29 ... It's just me and my BIC

2010-03-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

So here is my contribution for today. The man ... the legend... Mr. Larry Bird. I sat down to watch that new documentary called Magic & Bird on HBO tonight, and I was inspired. It gave me so much more respect for that particular era of basketball. Along with the "Final" image, I wanted to include the small thumbnail that started this whole process as well.

And on another note. Happy St. Patrick's Day folks!! And I SWEAR the fact that I decided to draw a Celtics player tonight was pure coincidence. No really I am serious...

Day 28 ... In need of some inspiration

2010-03-16T20:04:00.001-07:00

I just sat there tonight making lines, and these two pages are the product of said lines. I was trying to think of something that would take up a few days so I could once again show my progress. it is taking some doing, but I am sure I will figure something out. Peace...

Day 27...I wish I had more to offer today.

2010-03-15T19:24:00.001-07:00

Today was one of those days. I only had so much time to draw, and this is what came to mind. It has been a while since I have cross hatched though. So I am going to try and look at the bright side and consider this a warm up.

Day 26... Ninja Turtle Dump..

2010-03-14T20:46:00.000-07:00

So remember when I said ... as far back as I could remember there has always been a Ninja Turtle in each of my sketchbooks?? Well here is the proof. Four images from four different Sketchbooks. I am going to try to dig a little further back and see what I can find.

Day 25...Ol' Two Eyes.

2010-03-13T19:12:00.001-08:00

Tonight's theme is Mythology. I present to you ... Cyclops and friends.

Day 24 ... Let's call this one "Driver"

2010-03-12T18:36:00.001-08:00

Once again Hell Bent is the name I will throw out there for all of you that are familiar with it.

Day 23 ... Fifteen minute faces 2

2010-03-11T18:27:00.000-08:00

I lost my blue graphite pencil today. So I had to use the good ol' Bic.

Day 22 ... 15 minute face

2010-03-10T18:34:00.000-08:00

So the one thing that I am coming to terms with is that inspiration is not going to hit me everyday. Take this face only a mother could love for example... It did not really take much for me to put it together. But I still wanted to make sure to put something down on paper today. Hmmmm maybe I will have better luck tomorrow.

Day 21... Time to OIL UP!!

2010-03-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

This is the quickest of sketches. Here is the latest addition to the Street Fighter family. He goes by the name of HAKAN, and I can honestly say this is the most unique character I have seen in the SF universe to date. Is anyone familiar with Turkish Oil Wrestling??

Day 20... Digging in the Old Idea Bin

2010-03-08T20:33:00.001-08:00

Guaranteed only ONE of you reading this right now know what I am talking about when I say HELL BENT. If you had to classify this image, you can consider this a revamped character design of an old idea of mine. I may just delve deeper into this one.

Day 19 ... Remember this???

2010-03-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

I decided to go back to an old image I have been wanting to finish. More progress to come...

Day 18... This is interesting.

2010-03-06T20:01:00.000-08:00

So interestingly enough here is an image I did EONS ago. Due to a number of reasons I had tried to distance myself from this painting as much as possible. But recently I have been receiving emails and phone calls for work referencing the painting you see above.

All I can really say about that is ... wow...I am speechless. Rightfully this image no longer belongs to me, but I found it so strange that this is the image that people have been finding me. Do not get me wrong there are a few elements that I love about this painting. But I would like to think I have come so much further than this. Am I wrong?

Day 17 ... Meh...

2010-03-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

I wish I could say ... Today inspiration hit me like a Semi. But nope it did not. But I do have a nifty little thumbnail of a Ninja Turtle (my sketchbook is not my sketch book without at least ONE picture of a ninja turtle), and a recent work up sketch of The Patriot. I suggest you click on the Patriot link. I think his origins are worth reading about. Until tomorrow folks.

Day 16 .... Another night with Neil Gaiman

2010-03-04T19:30:00.001-08:00

So I decided to take last nights drawing a little further, and I feel as if it is growing on me.

Day 15... Relaxing with The Graveyard Book

2010-03-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

To be honest I am not a fan of how this has come along. It is still a work in progress, but I am not sure if I even want to continue with it. I think I will have to sleep on this one. What do you all think?

Day 14... The doctor is in

2010-03-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

Any one out there a fan of Dr. WHO?? Any person that knows me well enough sure as hell know that I am. what you see above is a doodle of my the newest doctor. I am working on something a little more substantial behind the scenes, but I just wanted to post this to keep things rolling. Until next time folks!!

Day 13... Bear as a ... Bear

2010-03-01T19:33:00.001-08:00

So I decided to soften things up a little today. This is another request from a friend (you know who you are). For all of you that have made requests... you will see yours soon. For those of you that have not... what are you waiting for??

Day 12... The Crazies by request..

2010-02-28T18:07:00.000-08:00

Today we have a twofer. This was a request to see an image based upon the movie THE CRAZIES. I got to see it this past weekend. I have to admit it is fun, but follows all the guidelines of its genre. So I have to be honest when I say it is ultimately forgettable. The images that you see were based upon two of the favorite scenes in the movie. Enjoy!! I will see you all tomorrow.

Day 11.... I would want to forget this elephant

2010-02-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Another request for you all. Here is an Elephant for you Sammy Sam!!

Day 10... Juri

2010-02-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

Not much to say here other than I am looking forward to Super Street Fighter IV . See you tomorrow folks!!

Day 9... Touchdown Celebration.

2010-02-25T19:51:00.000-08:00

Nine days and still going strong. Here we have yet another image based upon THE ROOKIE. This interesting little creature is a Sklorno... well at least my vision of it. If you are at all curious to what I am talking about go ahead and click on preceding links. If you are are lover of fun Sci Fi you are going to get a kick out of it. Trust me...

Day 8... A Monkey Tail.

2010-02-24T19:23:00.000-08:00

So the story goes something like this ... A monkey had saved this king's wife who had been kidnapped. To show his gratitude the king rewarded the monkey with coins and jewelry.

The monkey then started chewing on the jewelry they awarded it thinking, where is the ultimate in this? He didnt want a present, he did it out of the goodness of his heart. He did it just because he wanted to and it feels good, its the right thing

Day 7... Under a full moon.

2010-02-23T19:24:00.000-08:00

Q: "Can you do some kind of part beast part human? like a lady turning into a tiger or a werewolf."

A: Hell yes I could!! Kind of ... sort of...

The preceding was a loose interpretation of a chat I had recently, and the newest image is a result of said conversation. What do you think?

If anyone out there has any other requests feel free to ask. But keep in mind i reserve the right to respectfully decline any I do not deem appropriate. See you tomorrow folks!!

Day 6...request in progress...

2010-02-22T19:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick post of a work in progress. This is little twist of a requested image. I will hopefully have a completed image by tomorrow evening. See you then folks!!

day 5.... After all this time I am still a JUNKIE at heart.

2010-02-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

So I have found myself listening to Scott Sigler once again, and it feels as if I am being reintroduced to an old friend. If you know anything about THE ROOKIE this image will make the utmost sense. So I suggest to follow the link to catch yourself up. While you are there you may recognize an old IMAGE of mine front and center being used to promote the hell out of the book. And yes if you look at the comments section of that particular image post you will realize that is the dark overlord himself commenting on how he loves the image.

Day 4... So I was never to good at Caricatures

2010-02-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

So as a surprise I was taken to a Caribbean cooking class today. And I must say it was well worth it. The image you see above was the quickest of sketches of the teacher. This wonderful Antiguan woman knew how to cook up a storm!! I am sorry to say though... this image does her no justice at all. And for that I must apologize.

If anyone is interested at all please feel free to leave comments and/or requests. I would love to be challenged!! So bring it on. Until tomorrow...

Day 3...This is a special dedication...

2010-02-19T16:03:00.000-08:00

This one is a special request by a special lady. I hope you like...

Day 2...The Scanner is up and running!!

2010-02-18T15:11:00.000-08:00

As promised... Here is the drawing of the day. Plus, a better copy of Mr. Dudley from yesterday. The first image is what you may call a quickly thrown together still life. I was in my truck this morning making and taking phone calls, and figured I would draw the view in front of me. I know it is nothing special, but this is just an exercise. Over the past few months I have gotten away from what I love to do. So I am trying to use these 40 days as a means to reconnect. So stay tuned there is much more on the way.

(pebbles)

So a Funny Thing happened When I tried to use my scanner Today...

2010-02-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

The damn thing did not work!! But I was so hell bent on posting today that I went ahead and took a picture with my phone. I am not totally happy with the picture quality, but it will have to do for now. In honor of the the new SSF4 news I decided to draw "Gutta Trash" Dudley. I will post a better picture as soon as I can get my scanner up and running again

This is the start of "40 days of posting". I made a resolution to draw/paint at least once a day... even if it just a sketch. And to keep myself honest I will be posting an image a day for the next 40 days.

So stay tuned to see me out right succeed ... or ... epically fail. Let's hope it is not the latter. And as always, comments are always welcome.

Inspiring Words for 2010...

2010-01-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

...I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind." - Neil Gaiman

Happy New Years everyone! Stay tuned... more new work coming down the pipeline.

Mail Call...

2009-12-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

So this weekend I recieved a package in the mail. What was it you ask?? It was the published copy of a The 8 Cylinders of Success complete with the Illustration I did for it on the inside. I don't know about you, but for me it is always a rush seeing my work in print.

It is now speeding up to the end of 2009, and I must say it has been all and all a good year. Sure things have been hectic and sometimes feeling a little out of control, but I am thankful that I am still able to do what I love. It has been a while since I have updated my website, but that only means I have been very busy. I am still creating and I do not plan on stopping any time soon. So as always stay tuned.

Brought to you in Colour...

2009-11-08T20:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick post for you all. This is the colored version of the drawing I did for CHOP SHOP SHAPES. I liked how it turned out. What do you think??

Speaking of the CHOP SHOP... A new shape is up, and there are a few new contributions to go along with it. I will be posting my image before the week is out, so keep and eye out. And as always.. stay tuned.

AWWW HELL....

2009-09-28T15:34:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that CHOP SHOP SHAPES is back in business, and here is my contribution to it. For all of you that have no clue what the Chop Shop is; here is a brief description.

"The mission is to create a character or two or three, etc. . . using the shape The moderator has posted. The only rule for this one is that the shape has to be a major part of the characters design. You can do human, animal or some made up creature."

I urge you to take a look at the blog. It is a great idea, and a great way to flex your creative muscle. If you like what you see and want to contribute from time to time feel free to contact me. The more contributors the merrier. In the meantime I will be coloring this image, and working on a few other projects. All of which will be posted here. So as always ... Stay tuned.

SO a Funny thing Happened...

2009-08-25T16:29:00.000-07:00

As promised here is a post explaining the process that went into the particular piece I put together for the Canvas + Chaos show.

I was sent the above image a week before the show. What you see is a very rough sketch of the garment, as well as the color that it would have been.

Because the sketch was so rough, I took it upon myself to clean it up. The reason for this was so I could have a better template to work from. I originally had a totally different concept in mind before this one.. but sadly it was not even worth posting. So day before the actual show I scrapped the original idea, and started over. When everything was all said and done, I was a lot happier with this final concept. Now here is where things become interesting....

I recieved an email at 4am from the producer of the show that morning. It stated that due to a conflict, both my model and color of my garment had be changed. No real worries though. Things still worked out really well. I just made some last minute color and design adjustments. Also...I had no clue my Model was going to have an afro before the show, but when I saw her I decided on the fly to make the female on my original design a loose likeness of her. It was amazing how things just seemed to fall into place.

I have to give a lot of credit to my model for hanging in there for an hour and a half. She was so good that during the painting session she would automatically adjust her pose to allow me better access to the area I was concentrating on.

Well that is it for this particular post. In a few weeks the painted garments will be going on auction. And when that happens...I will post the link and information on this blog. In addition to that I still have a few other projects in the works. So as alway Stay tuned...

After the Paint has Dried...

2009-08-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

So Rock the BLock 2009 has come and gone, and all n' all it was a great success!! Thanks goes out to Butch Diva, my friends, family, and supporters that came out. Also, much praise to the fellow artists of the Canvas and Chaos segment. And now with out any further distractions, here is a video and a few pictures of the event. Enjoy...

Lastly...because I did not want to make this post to long, I will be showing the process of how I came to my final design in the next post. It is actually a pretty interesting story how everything came together. So stay tuned.

Quick Update...

2009-08-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Just two things.

One- I just wanted to remind you all that Rock The Block is only 5 days away. And if you have not already bought your tickets, I suggest you follow this link and buy them. This show has the makings of something great. I will be part of the Canvas + Chaos segment produced by Butch Diva. So if you are free this weekend come by and check it out.

Dos- I recently picked up a new Moleskine this past weekend and had a opportunity to break it in. My Brother and I were relaxing watching the Dark Knight on Saturday night and I decided to capture the moment via a quick sketch. I hope you like.

CANVAS + CHAOS

2009-08-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

I recently was asked to participate in an event within another event. For all of you who may not be familiar with Rock the Block BK . It is an urban

arts and culture series developed to bring awareness to Brooklyn’s underground urban arts renaissance, serves as Brooklyn’s pre-eminent showcase of emerging artistic talent in Brooklyn and the five boroughs of New York City. For much more information please click on the following link.

I will be part of an art installation within Rock the Block BK called Canvas + Chaos. The idea for this particular show was way to interesting to turn down. Produced by Butch Diva, a few artists and myself will be part of a live paint event. We will be painting on garments produced by Butch Diva, made of canvas, denims, and double knits materials. The finished garments will then be featured in a fashion show later on that day. Sounds pretty cool huh?

All this will be going down on August 15th starting at 12 noon. So please come and take in the scene, and support your local emerging artists (especially me of course). Keep in mind that anyone under 21 will not be admitted, and you must purchase tickets in advance. If not.. the ticket prices go up the day of the show. If you are at all interested... please click on the following link to purchase tickets.

(buy tickets here)

And as always .... there is more to come. So stay tuned.

More Progress and Process...

2009-06-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick couple of updates from my ongoing project. First is the process of one of my pieces from sketch to color study to near completed version. I am debating actually posting the final product. what do you think?

(click on the image for larger version of the image)

Next we have the sketches for my most recent paintings. The final paintings of these are near complete and I will post the process of those soon.

(click on the image for a not so larger version)

And as always ... more to come.

Chugging Along..

2009-05-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick update. As you can see this is a comparison between the original sketch and the (half finished) final painted version of this particular piece. There are still a few bells and whistles that will be added .. actually by the time you read this the bells and whistles would have already been added. I just want to show you all as much of the process as possible with out giving away to much. Enjoy....

Progress..

2009-04-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

The following is a portion of one of my finished pieces and the last two are the most recent additions to my ongoing project.

"The Mischief Maker"-Arylic on Paper

If more than one of those paintings looks familiar that means you have been paying attention. Of course the last two are works in progress. These two are especially exciting because I am reacquainting myself to an old friend that I have not played with in a while by the name of Oil Paint. More to come..

PS. Constructive comments are always welcome...

A little teaser ... the sequel...

2009-03-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Here are two detail shots of the new pieces I have been working on for my ongoing project. There will be much more to see in the weeks to come. So stayed tuned.

A little teaser..

2009-03-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

What you are seeing above is a sketch/color study for one of my pieces that is a part of my upcoming project. That is all the info I want to give for now though. The reason for that is because I just want to make sure all the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted before any big announcements are made. But be assured once that is done, you will read about it here first.

And to all of you that already follow my blog...I know it has been a while since my last update but, I promise to make an extra effort from this point on to update at least once a week. So check back often, because there will be more new work and exciting news to come...

Long Over due...

2009-01-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

So it has been well over a month since my last blog entry. A lot has happened, but not all of them good . The reason for the lack of posts is the fact that some how my computer managed to straight up fail on me not once but twice. Not only that, but I nearly lost all my precious files in the process. But thankfully that did not happen. With all that computer related anguish I have been hard at work putting together some special projects. I case you do not remember It is those same special plans I mentioned about two posts back. I would love to divulge all the details to those up coming plans, but I just want to make sure everything is set in stone. So until then you all will just have to sit in suspense, and just just enjoy the little bit of tidbits I will be leaving along the way.

Quick Production Post ..

2008-12-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post this image for a little while. So I figured this was a good a time as any. Say hello to Chuck everyone. He is one of the character designs I have put together for an ongoing project I was hired to do.

Fuerte's Rush Down....

2008-12-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

Hello all, I just got back from my two week excursion last night, and while trying to catch up on things this morning, I had realized that I have not updated for a while. So I just wanted to make this a quick post. Here is the piece I submitted for for the Street Fighter IV Inside Cover Art contest. I think it is now safe to say I did not win...soooo I am pretty sure I can post this image now.

While I was in Trinidad a few new great opportunities had presented themselves. So I just wanted to thank those people that went out of their way to help me out, and get me in contact with the right people. So make sure to keep checking back for more information on some upcoming projects, and events.

This one is for all the Junkies....

2008-11-08T20:26:00.000-08:00

Recently I have discovered the joys of Sigler-ism, and for you to totally get the full meaning of the title of this post you will have to experience him for yourselves. And when i say "him" .. I mean Scott Sigler. He is a writer who created a large following by creating "podiobook" versions of his novels online for free. They are truly an experience because he records all of them himself while doing the individual voices of all the character. The piece above is based on one of his novels called THE ROOKIE which you can find on his website. I must warn you though if you are squeamish I recommend that you listen at you own risk. If not..well you are in for some fun.

Pretty Awesome in Pink...

2008-10-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Sure he looks like a giant butterfly, but would you want to meet him in a dark alley? This is the newest contribution to my SFIV alt. costume series. A friend of mine wanted to draw Guile but when i saw this get up.. I could not resist. Enjoy

Happy Halloween from the CHOP SHOP...

2008-10-15T07:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some images I did for the new shape on Chop Shop Shapes. I suggest you head over there and take a look at all the other contributors as well. They are all worth your time. For those of you who are keeping track this is when you should be asking yourself ...where is the new Street Fighter image? ...and my answer to that is be patient. More to come.

Bison and the Bear...

2008-10-06T06:53:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to Illustrate M. Bison for my SF project. I am asking the same question here that I am asking on the SRK forums. Which character should I do next? I want to keep this project going and I want so sort outside involvement. So if you want to .. feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions.

And for all you bear lovers out there here is a little extra for you. This is Big Bear in the Yellow Hat, and he wants to say hello.

Week 4 belongs to Sagat.

2008-09-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

This weeks addition is Sagat. Like I have mentioned before I have been experimenting with new processes, and so far I like where it is going. This particular character is extremely stylized. And when it comes to Sagat it has to be just to let you know this man is menacing. Due to a friends advice I started posting on the SRK fan art forums. He told me make sure to post the SF images where real fans could appriciate the work. Which ... makes all the sense in the world.
And here is a little extra this week. One of my favorite novels of the recent day was Anansi's Boys by Neil Gaiman. This is a portrait of Anansi based on his description in the book. If you are familiar with African folklore you would know exactly who this character is. He is a character full of mischief and some of the greatest stories ever told.

Why is her foot on fire?

2008-09-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

Here is one of the new characters called C. Viper in her alt costume. To me she is an amalgam of a few SNK characters but I'm not complaining. When I showed this to a close friend of mine the first reaction was .."Why is her foot on fire?". I made me laugh .. and at the same time it made me think. Enjoy, and make sure to check back next week for another installment of my little Street Fighter "tribute".

This Dude is a Beast!!

2008-09-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

It is Monday, and therefor I have the second installment of my Geek-tastic project for you all. The Boxer was my second choice for my latest en devour. I love this new look (even though it is a mix up of Apollo Creed and T.J Combo ) because it adds another dimension to the characters. We have seen 25 years of the same old costumes and the near gear as well as the graphic and tactical update breathes an new life into the classic fighting game. Like the title says this dude is a BEAST , and to prove it take a look at the following video. About 37 seconds into the vid he unleashes one massive combo.

Aaaaand I think I am done geeking out for the day. So enjoy the piece and enjoy the video. Don't forget to check back for the weekly installments, there is a lot more where this came from.

2008-09-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Any one that knows me well enough has an idea of much of a Street Fighter fan I am. Just recently Street Fighter IV has hit a select few arcades in the United States, and I had a chance to play it. In all honesty... I completely GEEKED out over the game. So much in fact that I decided to do a series of pieces depicting the SF characters in their new alternate costumes. So each week I will attempt to post a new installment.

Also, I was recently asked to put together a few "sketches" of what a modern day detective office would look like, and I figured I would post them here.

A Duenne on my Back... and a few other updates.

2008-09-02T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here is a piece that I did that will eventually be part of a series I am working on. For those of you who have been keeping tabs, the creepy little creature should look familiar.

Also, the new issue of The Coup has gone live. Above is and illustration I did for one of the articles which talked about Countries that are now banning Reggae artists from performing due to their homophobic lyrics. Sadly I was informed that this would be the last issue of the Coup for quite some time.

Last but not least, Chop Shop Shapes will be brewing with talented artists once again starting next Sunday, so stay tuned.

He Killed "A Milli"

2008-08-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to quickly post this piece that I had put together this past week. It is a portrait of Asher Roth. He is an up and coming Hip Hop artist straight out of the burbs. He has been getting a lot of press as of late, and I feel it is well deserved. Enjoy...

Go See EXODUS...

2008-07-29T14:18:00.000-07:00

This was a piece I had recently put together in order to promote the upcoming play EXODUS. Which is part of the I was approached by the writer and given a synopsis of the production. From there I was off to the races.

I was able to put together a few work-ups that I felt best gave you the feel of the play, but did not totally give it away. Upon review... the second work up was chosen but they mentioned the colors were too harsh, and asked If I could tone them down.

Taking note of what was said, I moved onto the final.

If you are interested tickets and more information can be found are HERE.

Fun with office supplies, and brand new Illustrations...

2008-07-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here is an image I had put together one day at my former place of employment. On one of my breaks I had started doodling with a BIC pen. Then came the highlighters and white out. This was really a lot of fun, and I really liked the outcome. And as you can see I had Transformers on the brain that day...

Also head on over to The COUP MAGAZINE, where three new illustrations of mine can be found. One was the Cover image for the magazine...as you can see above.

The Storyteller...

2008-05-28T06:04:00.000-07:00

This time around I was inspired by the compiled works of the Hip Hop artist Lupe Fiasco. I remember when I was first introduced to his music my friend said “you have to listen to this guy... Each of his songs tells a story...They all have a beginning, middle, and end.” I eventually copped his first album Food and Liquor and instantly became a fan. Ever since, all of his albums (Mix tapes as well) have been on a regular rotation on my iPod. With this piece I tried to take elements from his music and try to create an interesting composition out of them. Hope you like.

Tipping the Issue...

2008-05-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

I was recently comissioned by The Coup Magazine to do a lead in image for thier latest issue.

I was able to play with dimensions of the piece, hence the reason you see little variation between this sketch and the next.

Even though the Art editor liked this particular composition, she ultimately wanted something a little more simple but had a greater impact.

This is the work up of the final piece minus the font.

This is the final. Here your can see the entire idea realized. This was the first time I went the route of using font as part of my finished illustration. By introducing the font I was able to give the phrase "The Justice Issue" a double meaning.

Lyrical Assault...

2008-04-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

This particular piece was inspired by the song 75_Bars off the new album by the Legendary Roots Crew. Entitled "Rising Down" the album dropped today. Even though I am huge fan of them, I must admit I had not found out about Leonard "Hub" Hubbard stepping down as their lead bassist until AFTER I finished this piece…Shame on me.

I recommend picking this album up because the Roots never disappoint. Hell I called in late to work today just so I could go pick it early. Shhhhh….that’s our little secret.

Two-fer Special...

2008-04-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a little while since my last post. I have been quite busy. Fear not though, because I have two posts condensed into one.

One thing that’s kept me busy is the piece I posted above. The story behind this is that I was given the opportunity to create an image for the cover of the upcoming album by The Blackhorse Project; headed by Mikeloliver and lead vocalist Miss Brooks. They specialize in authentic NYC Deep House Music. On Molaman Records, the Album is due to drop with cover image and all at the end of May so make sure you listen out.

Next order of fun is Chop Shop Shapes... This particular blog (that I contribute too on a regualr basis) is headed by Aaron Brewer of Brewtoons.com. The concept of this site is relatively simple idea, but oh so wonderful all at the same time. Each week or so Mr. Brewer posts a new shape and from there all who wish to contribute have to create an image (or more) involving that shape. My contribution for this week for this week is posted above. If you want to see the shape it is based on you best head on over. I promise it will be worth your time

The Results are In...

2008-03-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Recently I had submitted a piece for consideration for Beasts! Book 2, but unfortunately my piece was not chosen. But on the brighter side of things one of my old studio mates from school did so… Congrats Jen!! (Jennifer Tong).

The Second order of business is that my Prints page is finally up. There, you will be able to purchase quality reproductions of some of my work. I recommend checking back periodically because I will be adding new ones from time to time. So spread the word…

What Lies Beneath...

2008-02-15T12:29:00.001-08:00

This piece came together as a result of a recent sit down I was able to have with an Art Director for a well known magazine. I would not go as far as mentioning that person's name but, I would like to thank that person for taking the time out to sit down and talk to me and give me some much needed feedback.

As you can see this particular piece is a response to the recent story revolving around Angelina Jolie and her non-revealing gown.

Pond Water...

2008-01-16T18:29:00.000-08:00

My Illustration entitled "Pond Water" was recently published in the winter 2007 edition of CMYK magazine.If you come across a copy don't hesitate to pick it up.

Maracas Bay.

2007-12-18T06:53:00.001-08:00

This piece was inspired by a recent trip to my native land of Trinidad and Tobago. One of the days down there we had taken a trip to one of its most popular beaches, Maracas Bay. The beach was almost empty that day and so relaxing. I wanted to convey that same feeling in the Illustration.

I just wanted to share this new image as well as letting you all know that prints of my work are available upon request. Soon I will have a section of my website up where you can purchase prints online. Prints will be individually signed and numbered. More information will be available soon, so keep checking back.

Mc Secret??

2007-12-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

This new piece is a reaction to a recent article I had read concerning a well known Tex-Mex establishment. This particular restaurant is a place I used to frequent once a week until I read the news. I felt like a lover scorned, and I had a whole rant and rave prepared for any reader that happened to come across this blog. But...I managed to calm myself down. Instead, I will just provide these links which serve as better sources of information... enjoy

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200309301.html
http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html

Chipotle Fan
http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

Gone Fishing.

2007-10-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

These are the are the two peices I had done for the Sea Creatures show down at Avenue A. The turn out was great. Thanks to everyone that came out in support.Pictures of the event will be posted soon.

Sea Creatures group art show.

2007-10-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

(If you are reading this..you are invited)
It has been a little while since my last update, but I have been real busy as of late. If you want to see the fruits of my labor I recommend you take a trip down to the Avenue A sushi bar on October 25th. There you will find two of my latest works along with a few other artists including my friend Aaron Brewer of Brewtoons.com . So check out the flyer below and come on down to take in the work and consume a few drinks while you are at it. Hope to see you there.

Jenna SIx

2007-09-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

This piece was inspired by recent events that have been unfolding in Jena, Louisiana. The following is and excerpt taken from www.whileseated.org

In September 2006, a group of African American high school students in Jena, Louisiana, asked the school for permission to sit beneath a "whites only" shade tree. There was an unwritten rule that blacks couldn't sit beneath the tree. The school said they didn't care where students sat. The next day, students arrived at school to see three nooses (in school colors) hanging from the tree. (Please note, the tree above is not the tree, but a tree at Jena High School.)

The boys who hung the nooses were suspended from school for a few days. The school administration chalked it up as a harmless prank, but Jena's black population didn't take it so lightly. Fights and unrest started breaking out at school. The District Attorney, Reed Walters, was called in to directly address black students at the school and told them all he could "end their life with a stroke of the pen."

Black students were assaulted at white parties. A white man drew a loaded rifle on three black teens at a local convenience store. (They wrestled it from him and ran away.) Someone tried to burn down the school, and on December 4th, a fight broke out that led to six black students being charged with attempted murder. To his word, the D.A. pushed for maximum charges, which carry sentences of eighty years. Four of the six are being tried as adults (ages 17 & 18) and two are juveniles.

If you want to find out more about this story I recommend visiting BBCnews.com and www.freejenasix.org

On the other hand...

2007-09-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up the new Talib Kweli album Eardrum and if you have not, I recommend you do the same thing. This piece was inspired by a particular verse where Talib had described how his old record label kept trying to categorize him in different Hip Hop genres. Categories such as the "Angry rapper " , " Backpack rapper" or " Conscious rapper". But I feel if you are familiar with his catalog of work you would realize that he is universal, and if I had to classify him ... he would be put in the category of Dope MC.

Rage

2007-08-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

On the heels of the Rock the Bells concert, I decided to put together this piece in honor of the headlining act. Also, feel free to head over to my website for all my other work. LazarusINK

Free Pass

2007-07-14T23:08:00.001-07:00

In no way is this piece meant to be subtle...

This particular creation stems from the recent outcry of both the right and left wings of the US government over the recent suspension of Scooter Libby's jail sentence by President Bush. It seems the president's abuses can no longer be ignored by either side. I don't think many have commented on this situation better than Mr. Keith Olbermann . Its a little lengthy, but enjoy ...

Also check out this link I had come across on the Meathaus website : Freeway Blogger

in BRAIN we TRUST.

2007-06-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here are a few preliminary sketches for an ongoing projects some friends and I are working on.
The first one was done by Mr. Jordan

The next three were done by Mr. O'Brien

Then there is one done by the Genius

And feel free to head over to the next links for more additions to the project . Mr. Brewer and Mr. Jones.

Justice?

2007-06-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

This illustration was inspired by a story I have been following for some time now. It is about a boy with a very promising future, who was arrested and scentenced to ten years in jail for having a partner of the opposite sex perfrom a CONSENSUAL sex act on him. Now of course there is a lot more to this story. But I hope my peice and this brief synopsis will encourage you to learn more about this. You can easily do a search or easier yet follow this link.

Fish boy says ...suprise ?

2007-05-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

There is not really much to say about this particular peice .. It started out as a sketch..I never really intended to take it any futher but I started to color it and fell in love with the process. So take a look ..and feed back is always appreciated.

Cyclical Trends

2007-04-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

So let me start by saying that I try not to be judgmental. But I was in NYC around Spring Street last Saturday just walking around and picking up some art supplies when suddenly I started to realize that every once in a while people with those huge Dookie rope chains draped around their necks would pass. I kind of smirked to myself thinking that it was interesting piece of fashion that just happened to be making a come back. But, it did not stop there little by little I started to see more late 80's early 90's hip-hop fashion. Everything from the flip up multi colored caps to, high top fades, to those big rimmed glasses that Spike Lee used to sport in Jordan commercials back in the day.

Now, seeing all these fashion revivals separately I pretty much just dismissed it and kept it moving. Then, heading uptown I heard a rumbling of bass and the sounds of clapping behind me. I turned around to find a group of no less that ten full-grown men dressed like something straight out of Krush Groove. I felt like I was in a time warp, these people were decked out in what was the height of fashion…about two decades ago. And the bass was coming from a boom box hoisted upon the shoulder of the man that seemed like he was the pied-piper navigating his group merry human throw-backs through a crowd of people either shaking their heads or clapping.

Bear vs. Shark

2007-03-27T16:51:00.000-07:00

So I was just sitting at work one day and thought to myself ..."self, what would a bear wearing a pointy hat versus a shark under water look like? Yea I know, I have a lot of time on my hands. But I digress, I started putting some ideas down on paper and eventually turned that into a finished product. So feel free to scroll down at take a look at the process from beginning to end.
This is step one of my process. Just using copy paper I put down two sketched on paper.
This is step two, I decided to go with the first sketch mainly because it looked more like an even battle, rather than the bear hitching a ride on the back of the shark. I took the first sketch and created a cleaner work up with a few variations.

Step three is me spending hours pushing and pulling the color and mess with filters in Photoshop. After all that what you see above is the finished product...I hope you like.

Popping my blog cherry...

2007-03-18T11:45:00.000-07:00

I don't have much to say as of now. After all, this is my first attempt at blogging. So i will just post an image that I put together a few days back that i intend on using for a special project. What is that special project you ask? Well keep checking back to find out of course.