Rotten Rex Update!!

Rotten Rex should be ready to be cut into parts this weekend. From there I will finish sculpting various details under the arms, between the legs, the belly and finishing the tail. Still a little bit of work left on this, but will finish in about a week if all is good!

'I am Not An Animal'

Here is the finished Sasquatch painting that I did for the show in the American Greetings art gallery. About 20 hours to complete, all in acrylic paints. Had so much fun doing this painting, forgot how much I love to paint. Just a few more of these and I could have a gallery show of my own someday...
Perhaps...

Rotten Rex:In Progress

Here are some shots of my undead dinosaur sculpture entitled: Rotten Rex.
Rex is 15 inches tall and weighs as much as a 2 year old child! I am hoping to get the sculpture done by the end of the month. He will be produced as a 15 inch tall articulated collectors vinyl figure. So far he is looking quite bad-ass, and I am hoping that he will be the first in a series of over-sized vinyl figures. Stay tuned to my blog, and I will continue to keep you posted on Rotten Rex's progress.

Sketchin' with Sasquatch

I am splitting my time these days between sculpting a 15 inch Tyrannosaurus and painting a portrait of Sasquatch.
Life is good!
The Tyrannosaur is for Lullubell Toys, and should be done in about 2 weeks, (will post photos this week).
The Sasquatch portrait is for a group show to be held in the American Greetings art gallery here in Cleveland. It will be 24 inches wide by 30 inches tall, so Sasquatch is gonna be BIG. The title to the piece will be: 'I Am Not An Animal, (hence the suit and tie in the portrait).
Will post more photos once he is finished.

Comicon 2011!

Got a few photos from San Diego Comicon I want to share. I was invited to participate in my first Comicon Panel 5:00 on Friday afternoon. It was a great experience getting to meet Monsterverse publisher/writer: Sam Park for the first time, (Sam and I collaborated on the story: 'Claws of the Werewolf' in issue 2 of Bela Lugosi Presents: Tales from the Grave. I illustrated, he wrote the story.)I actually sat next to one of my favorite artists in comics today, Dan Brereton. In this new age of digital art/painting, Dan shows us what a true master of traditional media is capable of.
While waiting to go into the Monsterverse panel on Friday, I happened to notice a well dressed, elderly gentleman that looked strangely familiar hiding behind a plant in the upstairs lobby.I recognized him right away as actor James Hong! James has probably appeared in more television shows and films than any actor in Hollywood (Outer Limits, Kung Fu, Senfield, Kung Fu Panda, Blade Runner... the list goes on and on. Google his name and you will be AMAZED!)
Many years ago I had actually sculpted an action figure of James as the villainous Lo Pan from the film: Big Trouble in Little China' for N2 Toys. He was familiar with the figure, and seemed to be excited to meet me. I even coaxed his companion (his daughter?) to take a photo of us.

Return to Weta Workshop

Just got back from trip number two to the Weta Workshop in New Zealand. Incredible, life altering experience. Richard Taylor and his guys are submerged in the wonderful craziness of The Hobbit, and I saw first hand what an amazing process it is for the talented guys and gals at the workshop to design and execute the many costumes, creatures and environments that have made all of the Lord of the Rings films so very special.
Success and fame has not effected Weta's guiding light: Richard Taylor. He is an awesome guy whose genuine love of what he does seems to effect everyone around him at the studio. While visiting with him he mentioned owning two American books on the garage kits hobby. Terry Webb's: Son of the Garage Kit that Ate My Wallet, and Revenge of the Garage Kit that Ate my Wallet. Two books that unbeknown to him, I had done the covers for!I had been having Richard sign all kinds of stuff for me over the last year, it was great to return the favor and sign these books for him.

Vinyl monstrosities!

Here are two sketches straight from my sketchbook that I did for a huge, 15 inch tall vinyl toy I am sculpting for Lullubell toys. Thats right, 15 inches tall! I will be posting some photos of the sculpt in progress over the next few weeks. It's gonna be MAGNIFICENT!

Zombot T-Shirt

Did this design over the course of a couple nights last week after the day job. Wanted to get a t-shirt graphic concept out to a company that had asked me for a design a while back.Liked this enough that I may color it up for a Zombot Ghoul comic book story that a company is in negotiations with me about right now.
May be a busy month. Getting ready for a trip out to New Zealand to spend a week with the amazing folks at the Weta Workshop. Hoping some of their amazing skills will rub off on me...

Claws of the Werewolf

Previews and Aint It Cool Newsjust posted some of the first images from Bela Lugosi's: Tales From The Grave issue #2! Not only do they show the cover (done by seven time Academy Award winner: Rick Baker) they have one of my pages from Sam Park's story: Claws of the Werewolf posted there as well! Loved working on this book!
You can also pre-order issue #2 from this site...so grab one before it's gone!!

Ciller Clown Color

Here is the finished clown rendering. Quick down and dirty. You can see when compared to my sketch that the client played around with the facial/head proportions a bit...I guess every bodies a critic!
(just kiddin', Matt!)

Clown Costume

Hey!
How 'bout that! I actually have something that I am allowed to post!
(...er, I hope so...Matt?)
I finished the art for writer Sam Park's CLAWS OF THE WEREWOLF comic story that will appear in issue 2 of Monsterverse Comics: Bela Lugosi's Tales From The Grave (issue 2 will have a cover by 7-time academy award winner Rick Baker!)but can't post anything from it right now. So when my buddy Matt Hawkins requested some concept art for a presentation he is making in L.A. in a few days, I jumped at the chance.
Anyway, here is the concept sketch...I will post a color version as soon as I get-er-done.

New Zombot Ghoul Photos

Howdy!
Got some new photos of the Zombot Ghoul figure for some trade ads. They look pretty cool so I thought I would post them...
Thanks to Hal Stata for the great pics!