Interlude

While I try and muster the post-holiday energy to make three more installments to my "thankful" miniseries, I thought I'd post a few random sketches that I have put in Limited Edition AGGREGATE copies.

Speaking of that, if you have no idea what AGGREGATE is, well, it's a book of a whole bunch of my drawings. Here's my official ad (which doubles as a pleasant distraction from my ever-languishing website that I promised to update like 5 years ago). The limited edition copies are suddenly going fast - thanks to THIS flattering post by Dan Dos Santos on the most excellent MuddyColors blog.

And speaking of self-centered hyperlinks, I have a long-winded 2010 look-back post on Rottface News if you have the interest.

Hope everyone has had a fantastic year and that y'all have a great New Year's. Thanks for all your look-sees and comments - and to everyone that parted with their money for a copy of my book! Take care and see you in 2011!

10 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR BESIDES THE OBVIOUS #7

Armor that favors sex appeal over protecting vital organs.

Why should I be thankful for this? You take away cleavage-accentuating armor and pointy toothed creatures and fantasy art doesn't exist. And I'm left to mow lawns for a living. And I'm not even that good at mowing lawns.

10 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR BESIDES THE OBVIOUS #6

We live in the day and age of planned obsolescence. Makes me sick. To think that people actually design crap to perish and need replaced after a very short lifespan, when, obviously even to a layman, they could make it last for decades with little maintenance! Christmas lights and everything tech-based come to mind as the leaders in this frustrating and disgusting practice .

But even with built in short life spans, sometimes you get something that totally defies the system. First of all, I have a Zebra Danio (a tiny inch-long fish) that is at least 6 years old. It has looked like it got stepped on and spent some time in a garbage disposal for the last few years - Many times I thought it was dead - yet, there it is, still flitting around my aquarium - eluding the little mer-grim reaper.

But secondly, is my scanner. It's an AGFA Snapscan 1212 that I think I bought in 1998 or early '99. It has been my workhorse for all those years - scanning no less than 8000 (but probably much much more) drawings and paintings for me in that time. It has long since lost the lid which broke off like 5 years ago. And for the past two years or so, the power line connector has been really touchy so I have to unplug it and then plug it back in to get it to work. But it keeps kicking and doing what I bought it to do - so I keep using it.

Over 11 years of life and use from a computer component is unheard of! Anything that sticks it to greedy-ass companies that design shit to break down so you have to buy a new one more frequently is exactly the kind of thing that warms the cockles of my heart. Bravo to AGFA, even if I have the only 1212 that lasted longer than 4 years, I applaud them for letting this one slip by them on the assembly line.

Yet, I'm seeing the signs of approaching death for the old girl. She's a bit more persnickity about starting up these days - it's taking a bit more attention and fiddling to get it scanning. But, even with death so close, it still works - and I keep scanning.

Thank you, AGFA Snapscan 1212 for your many moons of honorable and courageous service!

10 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR BESIDES THE OBVIOUS #5

I love books. I like reading books but those kind I usually borrow or get from the library or possibly buy and then lend/give to someone else. But as far as buying, collecting, and stocking my shelves to their weight limits, I love books with lots of great pictures to look at.

I had a very modest, easily moved collection of books before discovering the greatest store ever. Ever since I discovered this store and gave myself the (mostly justified) reason to build a vast library of reference material, my collection has exploded. I don't know if I can estimate how many books I have purchased from the greatest store ever - but it's a lot. I recently just moved and believe me, there is a lot - and books are heavy (in case you didn't know).

Books of art from Klimt, Homer, Wyeth, Rockwell, Lockwood, Whelan, Berkey, Hildenbrandts, Gurney, Brom, Remington, Poortveilt, Alan Lee, Howe, Ian McCaig, etc - all for dirt-ass cheap. Books of photography - I scoop them up and devour them, too. The greatest store ever's a phenomenal trove of reference books and inspiration - and a dangerous place to be if you're trying to curb spending money!

So, what is this glorious place? Why, Half Price Books, friendo. If you didn't know that already, you have problems with your cerebrum.

Oh how I am thankful for Half Price Books!

10 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR BESIDES THE OBVIOUS #4

Speaking of piping hot liquids (as per my previous post):

In the last four or five years, I have become a hot tea junkie - and not because I'm addicted to caffeine - because I'm drinking no-caf stuff most of the time. No, I just really like drinking hot tea. I like iced tea, too - but the hot stuff is where it's at. I even drink it all through the Summer (though I don't come in from a sweaty lawnmowing session and toss back a cup o' steaming chamomile!). But certainly during the cold and dark months, my hot tea consumption goes way up - with green tea being my fave.

I might not ever have another reason to draw something as simple and unremarkable as a teapot ever again so, with that, as I sit here sipping yet another cup of green and staining my teeth, I'm thankful for HOT TEA!

10 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR BESIDES THE OBVIOUS #3

I'm no fan of modern technological advancement. Because most of it these days is thrown out there way too soon and was created just to get people to buy shit - and/or replace something they already have even though it works perfectly fine. That's our abominated version of capitalism for ya.

There was a time before this suffocating tide of money-worshipping when inventions and innovations were actually benefitting quality of life - instead of unnecessarily complicating it and thus making us undoubtedly the most annoying organisms in the entire universe. Inventions like the telescope, the screw, the toothbrush, the radio, scissors - all very good and useful. My vote for one of the greatest inventions of all time? The Water Heater - specifically for HOT showers.

So this day I am thankful for HOT SHOWERS. Not showers made hot by hot naked ladies taking a shower (though that makes a more captivating sketch than just a shower head). No, I'm talkin' about temperature hot - as in a degree less than scalding hot. I loves me a nice, near-boiling hot shower. You didn't think I bathed at all, did you? Well, I probably never would if the hot shower was never invented. Aw yeah. In fact, I'm going to go take one right now.

10 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR BESIDES THE OBVIOUS #2

There's only a small handful of singers that can give me goosebumps when their pipes go into action. At the top of that list is Mike Patton. And on top of the top of that list is Chris Cornell.

I'm not going to break down every song and album and all that - just suffice it to say when Cornell lets loose with the larynx and lungs, I lean homosexual. Just a tad. Soundgarden was on Conan just the other night - Cornell sounded like he was 20 again and singing with Badmotorfinger abandon!

I was sitting at my booth at IlluxCon with "Like Suicide" in my head and doodled out this little portrait from memory. Such whims as drawing likenesses from memory usually end up a crappy mess - but this one came out well enough.

So, in honor of Soundgarden reforming and the upcoming holiday, I give thanks for Chris Cornell. Well, specifically his voice I guess - but you get what I'm saying.

Appropriate to Thanksgiving and this post, check this: Thank you!