Updates on The Demon Boy.com

 

Thedemonboy.com

 

I'm working on my Demon Boy website and graphic novel at the same time. I think my brain is going to explode like Robert Crumb's portrait of himself with his characters bursting out of his head (see below). I love it. he, he.

This website is going to be extrodinary, beautiful and full of fun stuff. Animations, music videos (eventually little games the user can play) my graphic novel in progress, the characters and their art galleries, other little interactive things as well. Basically my Demon Boy world and his pals gathered around. I'm learning ALL about web design and animation at the same time: it's craziness but I have to so I can eventually do something I love or at least understand and I think the animation thing may be the answer. I hope, I pray, (I want it! gimme!) I need something good to happen or I'll end up like the illustration below.

R. Crumb

 

Demon Boy sketch of his school

 

 

 

Happy to announce my book cover for Ben Tanzer's "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" got some words of love from Bay Shore Books (Oconto, Wisconsin, United States). Thanks you guys!

Nice to know it's affecting people. Pretty soon, I'll do an adaption of Ben's book into a comic/graphic novel of sorts (parts of it at least). Still working out the drawings and gestures for the figures. It's purely experimental but I think it's going to be an interesting concept because the dialog between Ben's characters are really engaging, especially Paul and Geoff discussing girls, dating, music and other stuff we males tend to obsess about.

Cheers everyone.

M

 

 

 

 

 

 

My work is travelling across the country on a touring exhibition called the sketchbook project which is hosted by the Art House Co-op out of Atlanta, GA.

It's showing here in Brooklyn at an art facility called 3rd Ward. It's small 3x5 mole skin sketchbook and I didn't get to finish all of it but oh well, time sucks and you move on.

 

Thanks to Trickhouse for posting my works in this months issue.

 

Cheers

 

www.trickhouse.org

My Characters are evolving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Wyeth, son of famed Illustrator N.C. Wyeth.....one of the American greats, passed away this morning. He was one of my favorite artists growing up and to an extent, he still is because I view him as a type of rogue who never got caught up in the critics' opinion of himself and his work. His reputation suffered tremendously throughout the years for taking this position and of course, you can't please everyone but the last time I checked, it's not easy pleasing any critic, especially an art critic and DOUBLE that for an art critic who use to be an artist but couldn't make it in the art world.

You have to view his work in real life to fully appreciate what he is capable of and his work will make you stand still. I never felt as if I were the "passive observer" but rather; seeing through his eyes and heart and feeling a genuine presence of the painters psyche. Something I rarely feel with today's art. There is something to be said for mastering ones craft and skill and he did it effectively through meticulous brushwork. So many artists have tried to copy him and have failed miserably. He was, to say the least "obsessed".  This is not your typical photo-realism...it goes beyond realism entirely. One of the reasons he is hated by the art world is simply because he was so gifted with his technique and few people can even come close to achieving what he accomplished or be as prolific. Sure, he had a lot of sentimental work and it's not his strongest point but what artist doesn't go through this stage or express some type of human sentiment?

Good to see someone who went against the grain, the norm or more importantly, the smug pretentiousness of the Art World. His work was more than just technical precision and I believe, in time, will be seen as a rare and misunderstood man.  

 

I saw the work below in a show once (title-Winter, 1946) and it's mesmerizing in real life. Tone, mood, abstraction, complexity, strangeness, "otherness", somber, austere, pensive, powerful and unsettling. Did mention dark? I love it.

 

 

 

 

Super JC, Pen and Ink

 

Whoa!, a new comic in progress. I'm taking a break from painting and expanding my brain a little.

Introducing Demon Boy and Super Jesus.

Thanks SVA, Tom Hart and Lauren Weinstein for refreshing my creative life :)

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED.............

(he's not punching the guy out by the way, just preparing to exorcise Demon Boy.)

 

 

 

 

New Drawings. Pen and Ink. Comics soon to follow.

 

 

 

 

My buddy in Chicago, Ben Tanzer, has a cool interview you need to check out on Apostrophecast

very cool stuff by the man himself.

Also, released in the Radiohead style format (pay what you wish) is Ben's work Repetition Patterns which can be found here CClap Publishing

This man is on the move! I need to follow his example!

A very cool event I'm looking forward to tonight.

Chris Onstad, the creator of Achewood, a HILARIOUS online comic strip, will be doing a book signing at Rocketship,  my favorite Graphic Novel/ Comic/ Art Book store in Carrol Gardens/Cobble Hill (who knows which one is correct).

The guy has gotten mad reviews and his comic strip was dubbed #1 online comic of 2007 by Time magazine.

 It's adult humor by the way. Not for kids.

 

  

Well, it finally happened folks and I could not be more happier. I was able to meet the Man, the Myth, the Legend....ladies and gents... Ben Tanzer! Hooray! 

Ben was able to give a reading at Freebird Books (a SUPER cool used book store......I bought like 5 books that night) right here in Brooklyn. Of course, Ben read from his book, "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine"  which contains my very first book cover art and I'm very proud of that fact because it's a beautiful cover and a super great story!

I  have to say, hearing Ben read in person was a great pleasure . He's a natural born stage man and narrator as well. Sharp wit, highly animated and overall a warm and thoughtful guy.  I was thinking "dude, you have to do a  book on tape  series" and I think more than one person agreed, if not, even mentioned it to him. Seriously, the book takes on a whole new spectrum when he reads and I hope other people will have the opportunity to hear him as well. THIS is an important characteristic for a writer and very crucial to making appearances and giving readings. If you have a certain flair for reading in front of people and keeping their attention, then you have a special gift.

Congrats Ben on a great book, reading and night of beers!!!!

You see, even the camera can't keep up with Ben's super fast moves! Slicing and dicing all the way!

Ben and Me. Okay, this is what happens when the camera man has too many drinks. Slightly blurred but you get the idea.

 

I love this comic by Robert Crumb. When you  need a good laugh -  he's the go-to man:)

Hup, hup, huppy hup!

Ben Tanzer's book "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" ( and my cover art!) have finally arrived and are ready for purchase. This is the link

OA Press, Ben Tanzer Book

Thanks you guys and I look forward to getting a few of these things!!!

Okay, I'm very happy to have been interviewed by Jason at Orange Alert Press for the cover art I recently did for Ben Tanzer's book "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll go Mine".

As I said before, this was a sweet project, my very first cover art for a book I really dig and go now to check the interview! 

 Thanks you guys!

Orange Alert Interview
 

MPG 

To all those who occasionally browse through my bloggy blog writings and events, here is something I'm very happy to be involved with: Ben Tanzer and Orange Alert Press.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been working on the cover art for Ben's new book "Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" and it's been a great pleasure. It's my first experience illustrating a book cover and I hope to continue with future projects. I wish him the best as well as much success.

Well, this is not about me per-say, it's about Ben and his new book AND, a great interview he gave to Jason and OA Press.  Check it here: Ben Tanzer Interview.

Congrats Ben!

MPG