RememBEAR!

Do you remember a guy that drew bears, and stuff.  He'd put stuff on a blog and share drawings.  Yeah, I'm a goon and I've been out of touch for a very very long time.  I'm still drawing, believe me.  Just need to get back into posting stuff for you all to see.

If you are still around checking stuff out, many thanks to you.
I'll see about getting some more art for you.
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DRAW A BIRD DAY!!

Once again it is the 8th of April... So, here is my quick little Bird drawing to keep my pen moving..

Hope you DIG!
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He is MODOK.

...and In spite of March ending.  He was, is, and ALWAYS WILL BE MIGHTY.

It's been many moons since that evening way back in 2008.  Having drinks at Jimmy's Corner here in NY with my friend Brendan.  When we figured that making a MODOK blog for the month of March would be a stellar idea.  So we finished our drinks and proceeded to order another few rounds.

It wasn't until that following day that we both sobered up and again we agreed that it was still a great idea.  So, we hopped onto blogger and nabbed the site for MMM and got to work.  It took off without too much difficulty at all.  People are cool like that, and MODOK fans are phenomenal with their love and devotion to this Unique Kirby creation. 

Many thanks to everyone who shares this blog, and takes time to commit they're craft with the appreciation of MODOK!  This blog is great because of all of you.

It's become an annual treat for me, a fun way to spend my March. You know, right before the tax man descends on my good humor, and it keeps me completely in the dark about what the hell is happening with college hoops.  But equally important is that this event keeps me in touch with my friend Brendan.

He's a most excellent friend, it's my pleasure to know him.  Without him I'd know far less about MODOK and comics in general.  Thanks Brendan.

For All of this I am grateful, and I hope everyone has enjoyed the MMM2013 festivities.

Till next time & Hope you dig,
P

M.O.T.U-DOK: TrapjawDok

Yep, my Masters Of The Universe vibe continues.
So, I added a villain to offset my previous hero sidekick painting of ORKO.   Heck, MODOK is a super terrifying robot/human hybrid type villain right?  So, I might as well paint him that way.
I've chosen TRAPJAW because I completely love his design,

and figured it would work well with some floating hover chair tech.  Plus I had to be sure to ad that little loopy think on his head so that he could zip line into a fight possibly verses Iron Man.

--P

M.U.T.O.DOK!

ORKO-DOK!

Yep, I got a Masters Of The Universe vibe here so I added some MODOK in an attempt to be all painterly and stuff.
For a Hero, Opted for ORKO.  Ummm, if your looking for an acronym maybe I'll trot out the term ORKODOK: Organism Really Keen On Destruction Obliteration & Killing.  This design lent itself well to MODOK, sure the ears look funny and the hat too come to think of it.  But, the hover chair is completely concealed making the outfit seem more ghostly.

--P

MODOK's CUBE.

Here's another run at that MODOK with his Cosmic RUBIK'S cube...  and some COLOR now!!

Hope you Dig,
--P

MODOK and the CUBE

MODOK is a master of THE CUBE!

MODOK always covets the cosmic cube. But, during his downtime he does indulge in another cube that he enjoys very much... The RUBIK'S variety.
I had colors on this but have since dabbed them back to work the values a bit more  I may have to swap in new colors before posting it up later.

Hope you dig,
P

HOLODOK

In 2199 MODOK is still top villian.
His organic body decayed over time, and was replaced with alien artifacts and holographic projection by the scientists at A.I.M.  His hover chair was also remade, out of sleek indestructible black metal  with alloys of Adamantium and Vibranium.  So, look to the future and despair for MODOK looks down on us all with holographic eyes of cold light radiating from a cauldron of smoldering darkness.

Hope you dig.
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MIRO-DOK REDUX

HE IS MIGHTY, MIGHTY MURDEROUS!!

Shortly after I'd started the other Joan Miro Inspired MODOK I was doing, I had a though.  "I'm just drawing the face here," I said to myself as I set about trying to see if I could work more of MODOK'S mighty features into the image.  I mean how do I pass up the chance to graphically screw around with that Hover chair, thingy.

Well, after a bit of investigation I realized that I needed to do another image... My head shot worked too well by itself and I needed to adjust my plan of attack.  So I sketched up a new MODOK threw some finish onto it.  I could keep noodling with the colors, on into forever.  But, I like this right now so I'll post it on up..

Hope you dig,
Keep on MINDBLASTING!

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MIRO MODOK!

Take MODOK add a dash of MIRO....

Mix it all together and you get MIRODOK!,

He's evil and graphical.  I'd wanted to do one of these now for a couple of years, it's a departure for me, and I had fun doing it.  Even though I'm not sure I succeeded in capturing the feel of a MIRO in the image.  This here is just a modok head... I've got another one that I hope to finish up by the end of the month.


Hope you dig,
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MODOK skywriting.

MORE MODOK!... Just because it keeps me going strong.

Hope you dig,
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RAMBLING CAT...

He sat on the step and though on the coming winter...

I drew this a few months back in a sketchbook and kinda liked the mood of this cat fella.  I'll see about knocking out some more soon.

I hope you dig,
P

Biscuits and Wood Glue.

NUMBER TEN BISCUITS!

Watching people work with they're hands to make something is something I really do enjoy.  I've been known to open a YouTube window to watch someone oil paint, or throw pottery on a wheel, sculpt a bust, and even do calligraphy from time to time.

Growing up I would get that afternoon PBS jolt of artists who'd paint in little half hour segments.  There was Bob Ross of course, and a few others that I can't quite place names for right now.  But the other big thing that I grew to love was watching Norm Abram on the NEW YANKEE workshop.  For those unfamiliar.  The show was a half hour woodworking project, where NORM would take you to a a historic site or an antique shop.  He'd show you some furniture, using a myriad of great descriptive terms, and then you'd watch him build the thing.  His shop was staggering, I remember watching episodes with my father and looking over to see my father just Marveling at the space, when I got older we'd discuss the fact that Norm had an abundance of space and more power tools then any ONE PROJECT could ever need.

Norm also did a lot of Biscuit Joinery.  A process where to panels of wood were precisely planed to fit evenly.  Grooves where cut in the joints of the two panels and it was all fitted with these little wooden bits (Biscuits) and lots of glue... It made for a really nice joints.
I found some episodes on the ol' YOUTUBE.  Norm builds a CHEST on a CHEST! 

Other terms I like from the show:
Router, Stacked Dado Head Cutter, Dovetailing Jig, Morticing Gig, Dutching, Random Orbital Sander, Rip Fence, Sacrificial Strip, and many many more.

Hope you dig..
P

P.S.
Remember shop safety... "There is no more important safety rule then to wear these.  Safety Glasses."

Evil Little Bald MODOK

He's an evil little MODOK inside a little circle...  But no image margin will contain him for very long... HE IS MODOK, and HE IS MIGHTY.

Hope  you dig,
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Infantry Goblin...

I suppose it could have been a drawing of any kind of goblin but figured he was in the infantry... Standing in formation, getting ready to head into some kind of battle.

Hope you dig,
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MODOK & ST. PADDY'S DAY!!!

GO ahead and CLICK to get a closer READ!

MODOK Supports St. Paddy's Day 100%.
But he has some advice for you, when tackling the days festivities,   Just try not to MINDBLAST yourself too badly with the Guinness and Bushmills Black.  A heavy hangover can be almost as mighty as M.O.D.O.K's  fearsome MENTAL ATTACKS!

Hope you dig,
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TOONATIC

I like Cartoons.
I'm an older guy now so that statement often gets a raised eyebrow these days.  People either asking me when I'm gonna "Grow Up", or if all the work is "done in the computer nowadays?".

I love Old Cartoons.
Man I love old cartoons, simple characters.  Limbs of the finest rubbery hose, and drawings finished in thick black ink.

I plan to watch more Cartoons.
I've hit a bit of a lull lately, and really need to go back and rewatch some stuff.  Possibly lay hand on some new disks too.

I even Draw Cartoons. 
Though truthfully I need to stop typing this post and get back to the actual drawings.

Hope you dig.
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TUDOK

Portrait of MONARCH MODOK the First.... and ONLY!

Deep within the hallowed halls of A.I.M. there is an inner sanctum where MODOK keeps many prized items.  Including this masterful portrait of him as a famed MONARCH.  His eyes follow you about the room and most of the beekeepers believe it is haunted to this date...  

Beyond the little back story I've been afraid that I BRICKED this image.  I started with a rough rough sketch and set about completely painting over it and implying as much texture as I could muster with bits and bobs of collage.  I think it's a decent effort but, I still have a lot to learn.

Hope you dig,
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P.S.  Skip on over to March MODOK Madness to see the art from 2013!

Desert Nomad

It may not be Dune specific but I kinda think I had that book on the brain when I drew it.  Started out as a lil' marker doodle.  Slapped PHOTO chop colors and a quickie noise texture on it.  So, here it be.

I'll see about getting more stuff out this week, for everyone to look down they're noses at.  Feel free to drop me a comment or critique if you have a moment free or the inclination.  I love feedback.

Hope you dig.
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Monday Bear

It's a BEAR!  Happy Monday everybody.

Hope you Dig,
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Capture Nature with your Camera.

Here's a drawing I like from one of my most recent sketch pads.  There is a bear, and even a very charming squirrel.

P

GIgantic Hill Giant

I figure that to get the point across better there probably should have been a person or a house or something in the shot with this to imply scale.  But, when I originally drew it I definitely imagined him as some kinda of lumbering giant.

Sorta wish I'd made his beard white but, I figured it wouldn't help his teeth pop out at all.  Still I like him, perhaps he uses his giant mace to crush other large creatures, or even small ones for that matter.

Hope you dig,
GogoPedro

EVEN more MODOK!

Hey All,

Now with a snazzy MINDBLAST.  Again this is a quick brush pen sketch (with that nice pen I LOST), and some photoshop to round it all out.  Still focusing on my color selections a lot in the hopes that I can get images that re more moody.

I'm happy with how this one came out too.  It works as a one off even though I'm noticing that his outstretched arm could be doing something more in the composition.
But, for now I'll look at that as "food for though in the future".  I've got more images to make still.

Hope you dig,
P

ONE WEEK DOWN!

DESIGNED for MARCH!

Yep, this evening will mark the end of the first seven days in this 2013 tribute 

to his MASTERFUL MENTAL MAGNITUDE, 

MODOK!  

The MMM blog is always a treat for me because I get to see lots of cool tribute art, in the name of MODOK.   Now, I know some people would call it fan art.  But, in spite of the fact that the images are often made by fans of the subject matter.   Something about the way the term "fan art" rolls off the tongue hasn't ever sat well with me.  So, I call it tribute art because artists devote love, time, and talent to things that are drawing, composing, and rendering.

For This particular image  I tried to render a M.O.D.O.K. with more mood lighting and less of my usual slant towards super bright colors.  I kinda like how it came out.  The sketch on the left was done with a brush pen (which I've since LOST), and the following color treatments happened in Photoshop.

I know I've said this before, and I sound like a broken record.
But, DO NOT HESITATE.  DRAW SOME MODOK!  SEND IT ON IN!
I'd love to celebrate MMM 2013 with anyone who's up for having fun and making an image based on an awesomely weird comic book character.

Keep on MINDBLASTING!
Hope you dig,

P

Bear Cave Bear...

This bear, lives in a cave. as many bears tend to do.  His electric bills have been particularly pesky of late so, he's had to find a way to work around some rolling blackouts.  He asks that if you plan to visit him that you bring along a six of beer, soda, some ice, and maybe some bratwurst.

He's also a fan of lawn darts and bocce if you got that laying around.

Hope you dig,
P

One foot in front of the other.

He'd found a map in the Parlor. The tattered paper told the story of many long dusty years in hiding.

So, I've been through the ringer here a bit of late.  But, Drawing seems to be the thing that keeps me at a most even keel, So I draw.  This little image makes me smile and I kinda needed to smile today.  I drew it in photoshop (where I've been dabbling more lately with whole images from start to finish.  Need to work out more locations in my drawings, think about setting a stage within the image.

This seemed like a good one to share and like I'd stated.  It made me smile.

Hope you dig,
P

MARCH MODOK MADNESS 2013!

So I referenced a little Carl Sagan quote to kick off my MODOK endeavors of this new year.  I actually have a bunch of images that I'm gonna try to knock out for the festivities as well.

But, I also kind of appreciate that I'll probably have to back burner a few for next year.
As always You can see the magic over at MARCH MODOK MADNESS.

Tell your Friends, Family, that Cute Secretary down on the fifth floor.  It doesn't matter!  There is a little MODOK inside us all and it's WONDERFUL.

Hope you dig.
P

I like old Video Games.

    Many times when I sketch or have a long project I'll either listen to music.  Or, I'll hop onto Youtube and find an old video game (be it a playthrough/walkthrough (or whatever you call it) because I find the music can be very good, and you don't always need to play the game to kinda enjoy the sounds of game play.

    Recently I watched a old NES play through while I happen to have my big Photoshop file open (It's a large workspace I keep open for mucking about with process/sketches/color experimentation) and I fiddled this out based on a cut scene... Something about Ninja Gaiden and its cinematic style of storytelling between game play has always stuck with me.  Hard game, memorable music, really nice graphics in the cinematics.

Hope you dig.
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Eat Your Art Out 6!

I'll have some work on display tonight, out on the west coast in sunny L.A.

This will be my second year showing with the Angel City Derby Girls, and the theme for this year was Creature Feature at the Drive-In.  The subject has made for some fun artwork based on what I've seen thus far. 

Personally, I struggled a bit to figure out what I wanted to do for the show.  A lot of back and forth with varied Ideas and executions.  When all was said and done I opted to draw a blob sort of character.  Perhaps I'll attach some of my other sketch ideas in the coming weeks. 
Come to think of it, I might just haul off and make some of the other art ideas I had for this show just to practice some new techniques.  Practice is a good thing right?

"Maybe We Could Talk to the Projectionist?"
Pen, Marker, Pencil on Vellum 2013.

So if you find yourself looking for something to do in L.A. tonight go check out the show.
See info at the AngelCity Derby Girls Site.
 

Hope you dig.
P

NoisyROBOT

He hopped around on his metal feet, while passing down a quiet street.
The buildings all echoed, while his vocal cords rang.
"CLING, CLANG, CLANG-A-DANG!"

Another fun time robot drawing, with some quickie Photoshop treatment, to keep myself loose.  Lately my plan for doing digital color has been changing a bit..  I try to spend more time knocking out quick compositions and focusing on color selection verses a lot of time spent rendering.

I'm rather happy with the outcome, right now.  It lets me incorporation a simple pen drawing I've done with some digital stuff.  Simply and effective.

Hope you dig,
P

ENCHANTED BOTTLE!

I seem to draw lots of cartoon figures lately, and they're often running somewhere.

It's not really a bear, or a beer for that matter.  But, this little fella is chasing after some liquid refreshment.  I imagine that come Friday night I'll probably do the same.

Hope you dig,
P

It's a Mouse.

"I just wanted to know if you have a snack for me."

Here be a little rodent.  I sure do like mice.
Hope you dig,

P

Flowpacity

Hey All,

It's been a smaller delay this time while I sorted out some gallery work and began to ramp up to the March Modok Madness for 2013.  I've still been drawing a fair amount too, just sluggish to post much of anything up.  To rectify that I'm gonna post up these studies I painted in photoshop. 

Yep, I've become closer and more cordial with Photoshop in the past few years.  There was a time when I wouldn't have dared to render something from scratch (mainly because I like the feel of having some manner of hand drawn or scanned element to play with) for fear that it would look too rigid, and awful.  The passage of time however, has called on me to do Photoshop paints that were quick and pretty... So, I adapted.

Probably the biggest epiphanies came from that first set of Ryan Church paint demos I saw.  Granted he was painting in Painter (not Photoshop) but, his approach to the process was revolutionary for me to look at and implement.  From then on I watched (and rewatched) samples of Seiler, Chiu, Bluhm, Zhu, and countless others just looking at how people paint and digitally.  Picking up habits that worked along the way, and trying new things.

Both of these lines were made with the same brush, using Black.

However, It wasn't until about a week ago that I'd read an online tutorial about resetting the FLOW of a brush as opposed to changing its OPACITY.  I'd always dinked around with opacity settings knew the hot keys right off the top of my head.  But, something new clicked in my brain this time.  I found a new way of approaching my work in photoshop.  By monkeying with the flow settings now I feel like the paints are more lively, flexible and I've had fun incorporating it into my workflow.

• So manage those layers while trying to keep them at a minimum.
• You CAN do a whole lot with that basic round brush.
• It's much easier on your eyes to interface with a workspace that is midtone.
• Check your values, and remember that you can always add color later.

Will shoot to share more soon!

Hope you dig,
P

Finley Ferrumfanny...

Here is a friendly little rusted out ROBOT pal I sketched... He was drawn with markers and some pen and I tinkered with him in the photoshops..   The stuff he's saying has no meaning,  but when I drew him I imagined he was just saying Hello in his native robot language...

Other then that, I'm still sketching. Working with the newly acquired Copic maker set I'm putting together.  Putting together a showpiece and cooking korean food a the moment.
Just trying to keep busy.

Hope you dig.
P

Little Marker Studies.

I've been doing some more playing about with markers of late.  Making a small set of COPIC markers that I can work with in the coming weeks and months..  I've been doing these small little characters to practice blending and color mixing so that maybe Everything I post on the blog isn't just me working in PHOTOSHOP.  I'm also trying to familiarize myself with the limited palette that I'm trying to set up.

My favorite scribble here is the whacky looking wolf.  And the strange dude in the pink pants.

Hope you dig.
P

Hello, like before....

Hey everyone,


Sorry I've been away for a bit but I'd rather not dwell on it too much.  Had a good long with family and friends back home and am readjusting to life here in the big bad city.  Right now I want to see about getting back into a steady regiment of sharing stuff here with you all...

I may not have been POSTING, but at no point did I stop drawing.  I've even picked up markers again recently and am trying to have fun with those too.  Getting some new photoshop chops as well.

Don't believe me?  Behold a scurrilous stack of scribble-dy scrawl and select strange sketches.

The photo is a few months old... So, the heap is a bit bigger now, and I look forward to sharing it with you all in the coming months.

For now though I'll go get some sleep seeing as how I'm not feeling very well today.
Take it easy everyone, and best wishes on 2013..

I hope you dig,
P

Rock'n Billy

I liked where this sketch started out so I slapped a color treatment on it and even a snazzy circular crop job... With some DITHER!...

Just havin' fun.
Hope you dig,

P

P.S.: Here's the lines without the colorin'!

The Gravity of Things...

Here's a scribble of Isaac Newton from a Few months back...
Just never wrapped it up, before today.
With summer drawing to a close, the last few months seem like they're finally being internalized and dealt with. Mind you I've been drawing bunches, but without the same zeal for posting as I'd once had... I'll definitely get back to posting here in the coming months... Making a mini challenge of hitting One Thousand posts before years end..

But, even as I do this I'm thinking there should be something more. I've kicked around the idea of doing books and more shows for a while... Possibly getting into more published illustrative based work.

Lots for me to consider...
But, more then anything these days I feel the need to choose a course... and take it...

Hope you dig,
P

Just plain weird...

YEP!!
It's a strange bubblegum pink colored rabbit creature...

Hope you dig,
P

Ugly Fish...

Truth is... some of them can be mighty tasty. And they know it..

Hope you dig..
P

BLUH WHALE!...

This emerged on a page of of brown craft paper a while back... the photoshop is really minimal.. I actually fiddled some colored pencils in with the inks on the here Blue Whale. Stay cool everyone...

Hope you dig.
P

HOORAY for the D.I.A!!

So, after much tension yesterday. I learned that the millage for the Detroit Institute of Arts has PASSED! The door of that fine museum will continue to be open to the public... I couldn't be happier or more eager to get back home so I can do some drawings there...

A quick thank you to my friends in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne County. Who got out and voted to keep this Historic Landmark alive within the City of DETROIT.

Hope you dig,
P

THE DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS...

There is a vote going on today to keep the Museum open.. The though of it closing is really hard for me to handle. Made an image to reflect what I'm feeling right now..

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There's a BEAR!

Yeah I need to get offa' my butt again here... I've been drawing, Sure.
Just need to post some more of it here, yah know. Get my artwork seen by someone other then just myself. Been a while since I'd drawn a bear so here's one.

P

Time to get Cooking.

Hey all,

Just a quick hello from the ol' Beers an' Bears because I've been a bit aloof of late with posting. It certainly has been on the warm side lately and that generally tends to keep me off the computer. Instead I favor of a cold drink and a sketchpad by the nearest fan or shady tree in weather like this. Beyond that the humidity and heat make me pretty sleepy, Which brings me to the art of this post...

On Monday, I awoke from a fitful evening of sleep to face the work week. Normally, my phone will sound the morning wake-up call (and following snooze alarms) to wrest me from my bed.... But I hadn't heard it. So, I got up. Upon getting dressed, I realized that I didn't have my phone. After a brief search it materialized underneath my bed. I figured I must have knocked it onto the floor, it does happen sometimes.

More interesting than finding my phone on the floor was finding that I'd received a text from my friend Brendan in Rhode Island earlier that same morning. The text simply read,

"I think you need to draw Walter White before Sunday on the blog."

So I did.
Later that day I scrounged a bit of ref and got down to a bit o' digital painting. I'm a fan of Breaking Bad and have actually painted Walt a few times before (three times I think) and figured I'd have another go at Mr. Cranston's MUG. On the whole I dig how the image came out... I tried to keep the paint rough and limit my brushes down to one or two. In the end I had to keep things simpler for the sake of time. So, the composition got truncated and I incorporated some Blue Meth. I might try to do a series of images like this...It was fun.

I'll see about compiling some of the work in progress here for the next post on the ol' blog. But, that might be a few days. For now I wanna wish everyone visiting the blog a safe and happy summer, and hope that you'll all enjoy the Season Premiere of Breaking Bad this Sunday evening.

Hope you dig...
P