I CAN SEE THE HOLIDAYS!

This week's portrait, Sonia!

 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It's so weird that with all the changes going on in my life right now that this is the first time in 6 years I actually feel like enjoying this holiday season. I started listening to Christmas music weeks ago. 

I’ve been working hard on several art projects. I am trying to finish enough new art works to put up on my long overdue, updated “Totally Graphic” website. As a result, the weekly portrait project has fallen from the back seat right into the trunk. It almost stayed there for the rest of the year if it wasn’t for a profile that came up on my Instagram.

She is not a celebrity as far as I can tell and definitely not someone I know, but her profile picture stood out to me, She looked like Christmas! Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. But looking at her I felt like I was seeing the holiday as if it had taken human form. I felt instantly inspired and decided to take a break from my other undertakings to revisit the portrait project.

I tried to put on paper what I felt I was seeing when I looked at Sonia's photos, but of course, my scanner just can’t seem to reproduce the bright colors and gold tones that are in the final art. The hair has the effect of Christmas lights: you can almost feel them going on and off. And the background has the look of gift wrapping paper, the idea being, here’s Christmas and everything that’s great about it being presented to you, the viewer.

This is the second time in my life that I saw someone who looked like the holiday and inspired me to created them on paper as such. I think we all have the holiday to some degree coming through us at this time of the year, but some people just seem to strip away the commercialism and make you see and feel happy.

Seeing Sonia made me feel happy!

I think I’ll try to get one or two more portraits in now before the year is over; though I have so much to do, art work, class homework and prepare for a Convention.

January 25 to the 28, I will be hosting Cosplay Life Drawing again at Anime Los Angeles at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario!

Back in January of this past year, I did 2 events at this convention which were incredibly FUN! I had two awesome costumed models, and both days brought in large crowds of artists. I expect this coming year to be even bigger. If you’re free that weekend get in your car and come down, this is one of those great conventions that has found its perfect size, not too big, not too small, with enough activities going on straight into the night that you’ll never have time to be bored. Plus of course, there will be drawing events.

A perfect way to enjoy Anime and start the New Year!!

NUFF' SAID

This Week's Portrait is, Stan Lee!

If you are any kind of a fan when it comes to comics, then the first name that comes to mind is Stan Lee. Second name, Jack Kirby. Honestly any other names, you should turn in your nerd membership card!

Comic books have always been a part of my life. I still have a couple of comics from my youth on which I wrote my name so my brother wouldn't take them. Most of the books are held together with that yellowing nasty cellophane tape.

Because I loved to draw, I'd copy the images and in some cases, cut out the characters and make my own comics from the comics. Years later, I thought I was good enough and sent samples of my work to Marvel only to have them returned with a nice rejection letter, which wasn't from Stan!

Now as an adult, I see his name included in things and I just know whatever it is, it will be cool just by association.

And that is what I hope I accomplished with this portrait of him.

Along with the portrait I wanted to mimic the Marvel movies opening credit with images of some main characters. The background characters would be rendered like their vintage 60s comic book look, but of course done with circles. With the amount of colors in the background, keeping Stan Lee’s colors simple was key to making it stand out.

By the way, this weekend, October 27-29, is the Los Angeles Comic Con, aka, Comikaze, aka, Stan Lee’s Comic Con. 

Here’s some “Bottom Line America” advice, “Pay Stan whatever it takes to license his name and just call it Stan Lee’s Comic Con, it's classy and it's worth it!”

I'll be at the convention helping a friend with her table. How cool would it be if I could get a picture with Stan Lee holding the portrait?!

Nuff’ Said!

BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND!

This week's portrait is, Fuu!

After the Major in “Ghost In The Shell”, Fuu from “Samurai Champloo” is my second favorite female anime character. She reminds me of a couple of women friends. 

This is an image which I decided to revisited. I did the original about a year ago at which time I was still experimenting with how I was going to proceed with this portrait project. I wasn't quite sure of the background at the time other than I wanted to use a meme theme. With over a couple of years doing these portraits now, my approach has changed a lot. Lots of line weight experimenting as well as mixing colors.

I post both images for comparison.

Big news on the drawing front! The Themed Costume Life Drawing event that I host once a month at Nelson Creative Spaces in North Hollywood, will feature a celebrity performer from the adult world. Kendra Sunderland will be modeling as a couple of female superheroes. I personally am excited to have her model, she is tall and beautiful. I think some wonderful pieces of art will come out of this three hour event. The date is Saturday September 30th, 6:30 to 9:30. COME DRAW!

What a great time to be an artist!

DRAGON CON

This week’s portrait, Misty Noble!

This weekend is Dragon Con! The BEST COMIC / COSPLAY CONVENTION ever!

Four official days of nonstop partying, but anyone who’s a regular knows the actual convention begins on Thursday, and if by Sunday you haven’t partially lost your voice or have a hangover that you’re fighting through and made several new friends, then you’ve missed out on what this convention is all about.

I found out about Dragon Con a few years ago through some people who later became friends. That first year of attending redefined conventions for me in so many ways. From the round the clock convention parties to the Saturday morning cosplay parade. My personal favorite memories to date, Jello Wrestling, Stargate parties and Cosplay Life Drawing. Yes, Cosplay Life Drawing! 2 years in a row the amazing people running Dragon Con allowed me to do the Cosplay Life Drawing event and each time it was fantastic, with attendance well over 100 people!

I tell people if they are a true fan of comics, sci-fi, cosplay and everything that’s part of that universe, then this is the only convention you should attend especially if you’re on a budget and had to pick one.

In the 30 years since this convention has been going on they seem have managed to keep the spirit of this convention intact by not allowing the entertainment world to get a foothold in it with television or movie studios, so what you’re left with is a safe haven for people who aren’t there just to sell and promote crap but actually enjoy being there and want to have fun.

And as I mentioned earlier, you actually will make new friends that for the most part you will see every year like a family barbecue reunion.

That was my experience in my first year of attending back in 2007, I met a bunch of amazing people, the majority of which were Stargate fans (greatest TV show ever!), who I’ve looked forward to seeing every year since around this time and among them is Misty Noble.

Misty and her sister, Sandy won me over in that first year and we’ve been friends ever since.

I choose Misty for this portrait because she is the first person that usually comes to my mind when I think about Dragon Con. Each year I’ve attended DC, the majority of my time is spent with her and her family. She’s such a wonderful person.

Misty is a Stargate fan as well so I thought I’d incorporate that into this portrait. The blue hair was meant to represent the blue puddle or wormhole effect that occurs when the gate is dialed. I felt leaving out the outline on the head allowed the hair and head to blend into the gate.

This year unfortunately I won’t be able to attend Dragon Con. This is the second year in a row that I will be missing out on seeing Misty and all the great people I’ve been keeping in touch with through social media.

Hopefully if life doesn’t throw me any more curves, I’ll see you Misty, family and friends next year.  I miss our Mexican dinners at that place downstairs and waiting for a table at the diner. Hope you guys have fun and post lots of pictures!

I feel like some Stargate binge watching is in order now!

LONG BEACH COMIC CON

This week portrait, Iron Man!

So this portrait was meant to be posted a couple of weeks ago, after San Diego Comic Con, but I had to suddenly leave for New York for family business and while I was there a surprise visit to Marvel happened. I won't go into details, especially concerning family matters but as for Marvel, maybe there's a trailer in 2018? I think it was kind of funny though that I was planning to post this Iron Man image and suddenly I find myself invited to the home of Iron Man.

These images actually have history. All eight of them were done exactly a year ago during the week of the 2016 San Diego Comic Con. They were an experimental idea I had, I wanted to draw and animated the different Iron Man costumes with the circles of course. I knew there were a lot (about 36 costumes over the years), I settled on the 8 main ones or at least the ones I thought were important (and I could find reference on!)

Am not too happy with missing over two weeks of posting, but I have been creating other art works, so my time has been productive. I will be showing many of the new pieces at the Long Beach Comic Con, Labor Day weekend. I also will be hosting the Cosplay Lifedrawing event again, which is always a lot of fun.

For those of you planning to attend the Long Beach event, this year’s theme is, “The Heroes of Mystic and Magic” The models will be the amazing Jennifer Fabos Paton as Zatanna and the Gal Gadot look a like, Shadia Ghantous, as Wonder Woman. Personally, I think Shadia is even more attractive than Gadot, if that's even possible, look her up on Facebook and see for yourself.

Hope I see some of you at Long Beach!

HOLY DOUBLE IMAGE!

This week’s portrait, Adam West aka Batman!

Nelson Riddle, The Markettes, The Ventures, R.E.M., The Kinks, The Who, what do they all have in common, they all recorded versions of the 1960s Batman theme song.

I think we can all agree, Adam West’s Batman hands down was the greatest TV character since Kirk and Spock from Star Trek. I grew up watching the series in syndication. I remembered planning my day around the time when I knew it was going to be on. Adam West was a cool character, he always had this look of trying to be serious but there was that constant smirking smile letting you feel like you were in on a joke, and of course, who couldn't wait to hear Robin’s, “Holy (fill in the blank) cry for that week.

If you’ve ever watched the show (If you haven’t, lower your head in shame) then you must have tried doing the Batusi at least once. I think it was introduced in the very first episode. Everything about that show was cool and hip. Adam West was the perfect actor for the role, I can't imagine anyone else doing it. But then again knowing the lack of creativity in TV, am sure there are a couple of executive TV clowns some where trying to reboot it, thinking they can do better. 

I started this portrait a few weeks back when I heard about Adam’s death. Wasn’t sure if this was going to be a portrait of Adam West or of him as Batman. Somewhere in my mind the idea came of doing both but I didn’t want to do 2 drawings. After a day of thinking, the idea of combining the two came to mind. I was prepared to re do this one, since I felt it might not work out the way I envisioned it on the first try. But I did it, I made it work. The final art does a great job of bouncing the eye back and forth between the two images, if I say so myself, am really happy with the outcome of this piece.

In time people will likely forget about most of the current dramatic Batman movies that have come out in the last 30 years but they will always remember and very likely still be watching Adam West’s Batman!

Too bad there wasn't a way for someone to put a clause in place to block any future re make of the series. The Batman series is a classic, and there is no replacement for Adam West, he is Batman!

“DC Comics and TV execs, show some self controls, leave a great show alone!”*



*That’s a recliner moment!

GO SPEED RACER

This week’s portrait, Peter Fernandez.

I can’t believe it’s been 7 years since he past away. He isn’t the first person I’ve known and care about to have died. My dad was a person who had a huge influence in my life. My close high school friend, Gregory Baker. My next door neigbor Ms Cleary. Mr Ferguson, Ms Klyde, Mr Nagel, 3 teachers from high school, who without their guidance, I wouldn’t be the artist I am today. Grade school teacher, Sister Raphel, who allowed me to work on art projects with her class of 8 graders when I was in the 6 grade.

I was late with posting this week because of something that happened on Monday. Through conversation with someone it was bought to my attention that they had no idea who Earth, Wind and Fire were, never heard the name before. The timing of course being Monday made me introspect even more on the subject of this piece, the meaning of who we are, and how quickly what we think of as important is forgot very quickly as time moves forward. And time did move forward and here I am posting at the end of the week.

Am sure a lot of you have never heard of Peter before, I didn't know of him until I met him back in 2008 at the New York Amine Award Show where he was given the American Anime Award for Outstanding Achievement. I was also shooting a video at the convention which he was kind enough to be a part of. It’s on YouTube, called “Pierre Bernard at the NY Anime Festival”. Very funny, if I say so myself, I wrote it all. (who says am not a writer!)

Here’s the link

https://youtu.be/WUpGLIoI9NI

If the above link doesn't work, just go to YouTube and type in: “Pierre Bernard at the NY Anime Festival”.

On this portrait, I used the colors that were prominent in the anime serie. The checkered background to represent racing flags. I felt the grey showed a more matured, respectful person.

Overall, calming no saturated colors to reflect the kind person he was.

I guess in the end like Earth, Wind and Fire, and many other people and things I am aware of, they will be forgotten in time by the world around us and be replaced by that moment’s topic.

This all brings to mind another instance where 3 years ago I was talking to an intern who didn’t know who Conan was, name or person. I kid you not, imagine working somewhere and not caring enough to knowing who your boss was.

By the way, Go check out Speed Racer, the anime series from the 60s. Also, in case you are wondering, Earth, Wind and Fire is a music group.