Mickey Rourke

So here's the first of what I'm hoping will be many celebrity portraits with the Parallel Pen. Mickey Rourke, the actor turned boxer turned actor playing brutes, savages and other ne'er-do-wells, is kind of enigmatic. In the past he has been described as a nightmare to work with but in recent years he has forged a street cred that is almost impenetrable. Going through his wikipedia page makes for some interesting "what ifs?" when you look at some of the massive roles he apparently turned down. Tom Cruise's role in Rain Man, Eliot Ness in the Untouchables, Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop (WTF?!?!) and Christopher Lambert's role in The Highlander.

The portrait is drawn on Bienfang Graphics 360 Translucent Marker Paper. Love it! No Bleeding! Not even bleeding through to the next page.

New Toy!

Well I'd been eying this thing for a while at Job #2. It's Pilot's Parallel Pen, in particular the broadest one, 6.0 mm. The parallel bit refers to the nib which unlike most fountain pen/calligraphy nibs has no top or bottom and is instead made up of 2 identical plates which sandwich the ink. The drawing above was my first crack at using it. I am head over heels in love with this pen. The colours are vivid and it allows me to work a lot looser which is a welcomed change from the meticulous line work I usually employ. The ink is begging to get out but it never really gushes or pools. It is very versatile. You can use the full width for broad traditional calligraphy strokes or you can use the just the corners of the blunt square tip to get the thinnest of strokes.

My aim at present is to do celebrity portraits in this style...the first of which is already completed...stay tuned.

This is drawn on 100 lb. bristol paper with vellum finish (Strathmore).

"Too high, Bug-eater." PART 2!!!

Another installment of the Greatest Misses switch plate series.....kind of. This is the sequel to the previous installment seen HERE. It started as a suggestion from my friend Yves and was further promoted by my eternal cohort, Amarina. I'm so glad I did it.

This amazon made short work of her avian foe. Yikes on bikes! That is one sharp elbow. POW!

Available here at Cyclops and Owl

"Too high, Bug-eater."

Here's another of the Greatest Misses series of switch plates. Entitled "Too high, Bug-eater."

He really should have caught her in the face if he was going to get away without a broken arm, which is surely what that girl is planning on doing once she snatches that sword and breaks it over her knee.

Available here at Cyclops and Owl

Tinbeard

An old ghost robot, Tinbeard rides his plume of smoke in search closure. The factory where he used to be employed burned down during the 5th annual Flamethrower Festival.

This piece is done on the same 5"x7" matte board that Abe was, gel pen and.....GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MOD PODGE. That's where it gets that green tint. I layered it on thick to build up the silhouette in the beginning. Though I couldn't take a picture that would capture it, Tinbeard glows quite hauntingly, especially on the hands and head, where I made the Podge the thickest.