posted: February 6, 2010

If you don't know who Afrodisiac is, click on this jimmy jank.

If you don't know what Velocity Comics is, click on this jimmy jank.

Now, story time. Grab some popcorn or something.

Velocity was going to have comic artist/writer Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca, Jim's writing partner, for an in-store signing for Afrodisiac on Feb. 5. I already had a copy, but i was really excited when I found out. Not only that, but Jim was going to be a judge for the monthly Velocity art competition. The theme for this one: Afrodisiac vs. [fill in the blank]. Oh yes.

Afrodisiac's greatest power is the power of seduction, so my first thought was to have him pitted against a strong female heroine: Wonder Woman. I realized, knowing Afrodisiac's power of effortless seduction, it wouldn't necessarily be that much of a struggle. Still debating my final idea a night or two before the deadline, I get a text from my fellow illustrator Josh Graydon. It said:

Afrodisiac vs. Confederacy Man

I immediately burst into laughter until he told me he was an actual character. His name is Captain Confederacy. Then it hit me. I live in Richmond. There are Confederacy statues everywhere. Why not put Afrodisiac against the entire army of the Confederacy?

I started with the following drawings on three separate sheets of tracing paper, taking scale into account.

I scanned them, moved them around in Photoshop and played with the levels until I was happy with the composition. I erased sections of each drawing that were showing through until I got this.

There are three very important things you should take note of: 1. His kung-fu hand makes the realistic sound effect of "CHOP!" 2. To Afrodisiac's left is his Confederate fling. 3. The historically accurate quotes of "HATE! HATE!" coming from the mouths of the Confederate soldiers. Unfortunately, I didn't get to color it in time. I'm definitely going to revisit it and finish it up.

I got to Velocity, turned in my piece, ran into Chris Johnson, another fellow illustrator, and got Jim Rugg to sign my copy of Afrodisiac.

I also got a free print just for entering the competition. Yeaaaaaa! I have no idea how/when the judging will be for the competition, but I'll definitely include it in the post with the final final, along with another Afrodisiac-related tidbit.

To make a long story short: It was the best Feb. 5 ever. Oh yeah, check out Jim's blog.

comics, conceptual, Richmond, VA

posted: February 6, 2010

After living in what seemed like artistic purgatory for a few arctic winter weeks, I finally stopped staring at my piece of illustration board and re-did Guys' Eyes. The first attempt (below) was fine, but I felt it lacked the energy and "happy accidents" that I really love to see in my own work along with art in general. Also, her face was off and too confrontational for the concept of the piece.

Below is the second attempt which is much better and was a lot more fun to work on. The woman is laid back and is not actively engaging the viewer, making her look more zoned-out. Instead of drawing the couch she was laying on, I decided to print out and transfer a pattern behind her to suggest the couch. I put masking fluid on all the parts of the drawing I didn't want the pattern to be. Unfortunately, the transfer hardly worked on the type of paper I was using. Lame. I decided to just print out the pattern and collage it onto the piece instead which I think will work out better in the end. I got my space heater, amazing music from a band called Gossip and an evening of illustratin' waiting for me.

conceptual, illustration , women

posted: December 22, 2009

Here's a thumbnail for another self-promotional/piece I'm working on called Guy's Eyes.

conceptual, illustration , women

posted: December 16, 2009

This conceptual (portrait?) piece was inspired by the song "Tourist" from Julian Casablanca's debut album, Phrazes for the Young. Here are some of the lyrics.


I really love living in Richmond, VA with all it's juxtaposed cultures and undiscovered nooks. I've been here for 5 years and it has truly become my home away from home. I may not know all the street names by heart, but if you put me on a random street, I can probably find my way home. I'll probably even find inexpensive take-out on the way.

At times while I'm walking down these street, I get a strange feeling. I know exactly where I am at all times, but I get an uneasy feeling akin to hair standing on end. It's like when you walk into a party full of people you have never met before. You feel that rush of energy mixed with a little nervousness. You're anxious because you've never met them, yet at the same time, you're anxious to meet them. You look around the party. You recognize the way the towel rod is slightly crooked on the bathroom wall. You notice the way the plastic with wood print on it has been peeling away from the kitchen sink with each passing day. You even remember the random stain on the hardwood floor, still unsure of it's origin or how to get it up.

You realize this place is your house...but you know no one in it. At times, I feel like a tourist in my own city.

Special thanks to Brian McDaniels at Dirty Richmond who allowed me to use some photos from his awesome fashion/photography blog for reference

20-somethings, conceptual, famous people, illustration , music, Richmond, VA

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