tendril-headed man

Variation on an old obsession. It's quite a large drawing and looks better in 'real life' than it does in miniaturised electronic digital voodoo on screen. You can click on the image to get a slightly bigger version, but even then you won't get the full on Enormo-vision © viewing experience of the original.

The green and purple colours work especially well; I think I must have subconsciously cribbed them from the 'Incredible Hulk'. Speaking of which, I must say that I always had a great amount of respect for Bruce Banner. Despite the constant worry that he might transform into a raging, out-of-control monster at any moment, he still had time to think about buying trousers of a colour that complimented the skin tone of his alter ego. And on that note, did he buy his purple trousers in bulk? And if so, did he get a reasonable discount?

face

I've been DOING STUFF. Okay?!?

rocket 88

ein fliegendes schwein pt.2

ein fliegendes schwein

A couple of weeks ago, I received a rather curious letter from a German gentleman called Hans. In it, he explained that he was a fan of illustration and cartooning, told me that he liked my work and asked if it was possible to send him an image, preferably one containing a picture of a pig. Well, I was more than happy to oblige but I didn't have such a picture, so I drew the above which I sent off to my Teutonic correspondent yesterday.

I've subsequently used it as the basis of a screenprint as I wanted to do a quick experiment with halftone (see next post) in anticipation of a larger print-based project later in the year. Anyway, the drawing/print that resulted from this episode isn't earth-shattering by any stretch of the imagination (I'm at a loss to explain why this particular porcine is grounded, for one thing) but I'm happy with it and it was a welcome break from all the portraits I've been drawing recently.

sweet soul music

And that's that. Finally. To recap, you're looking at:

Top row: Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, Steve Cropper, Booker T. Jones, LaVern Baker.

Second Row: Ben E. King, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, King Curtis, Solomon Burke, Al Jackson Jr.

Third Row: Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Barbara Lewis, Arthur Conley, Aretha Franklin.

Fourth Row: Ruth Brown, Don Covay, Clyde McPhatter, Dave Prater, Carla Thomas.

Bottom Row: Ray Charles, Sam Moore, Joe Tex, Jimmy Hughes, Rufus Thomas.

Click on the image to see a bigger version.

aretha franklin

Okay, okay, I know it's not the greatest likeness, but if you turn the lights out and squint, it's a dead ringer for Aretha. I've drawn about forty versions of Lady Soul and this is the one I'm happiest with (you should've seen the other ones, sheesh). Besides, this project has dragged on for too long and needs to be put to bed, so that's it. Over. Finished. Complete. Except for a logo. And a bit of recolouring here and there. And maybe a redrawn portait or two. Arrrgh, leggoofmeknackers.