INKS TO COLOR!

This post might be slightly premature, seeing as how CHARLATAN BALL issue #4 hasn't even hit the shelves, but the colorist, MARC LETZMANN and I just finished a round of 'back and forth' with colors for issue #5, I was so excited about the results I thought I'd share some. Hot off the box!

SOME THINGS I'VE STUMBLED UPON...

...WHILE LOOKING FOR SOME OTHER THINGS.

Y'know, when you're googling images for reference, etc. and you find gems that make you smile, inspire or enraged? Well, we'll stick with the first two emotions as I walk you through my sifting...like a 49er and his pan of gold. Mind you, these aren't images I sought after, only the ones that I happened across in my quest.


I'm not sure where I pulled this off of, or perhaps whose blog it occupied previously--or exactly who the artist was that did this, mighty fine tribute to KING KIRBY...but it took my breath away--in the most romantically inappropriate way possible. Those colors...that costume; HELA, possibly one of my favorite Kirby designs.

...and here is Kirby's original, The Mighty Thor #150.

I. Love. That. Costume.
...Seriously; what is it, two colors?! Genius: it's already such an elaborate, overly complicated design, sticking to monochromatic color schemes made it bold, made it strong, made it one of my favorite designs. Ever.

Does the above image need any explanation as to why its up here?


Got to love it when folks put up hi-rez scans of their original Kirby art they're auctioning off on eBay! Suckers.


This anthology book is coming out soon from Image--featuring art and stories from guys on the other side of the world. Some of the work in here looks really, really impressive. You can check out a preview here.

I stumbled across this image from a colorist I'm smitten with named Dylan McCrae. His pyrotechnic palette can be seen in the latest issue of SAVAGE DRAGON #137!




To be honest, I've no idea WHERE the above-images came from. I think it's an Indian Comic Book Series, but to know for sure would be to google it specifically instead of the indirect surprise the rest have been. I'll have to make sure and do a follow-up. It definitely reminds me of Howard Chaykin's work, along with his dashing, misogynistic anti-heroes...even down to the haircut!


Aahhh...my favorite anti-hero, hero-killer MARSHAL LAW. Geez, talk about stories and images that've shaped my idea of the medium, FEAR and LOATHING is one of the BEST graphic novels on the planet. Incredible. While I'm happy Kevin O'Neill is taking a break from LEAGUE of EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN to put out another volume of this futuristic cape-killing cop, I'm bummed to discover it looks to be another picture-book with less pictures and more book, if you catch my drift.




...and here's my favorite cartoon of all time. I think I found these images while investigating any possible leads on DVD collections. Sigh. Sure, in retrospect it probably wasn't a great cartoon by any stretch--but I long for the day when I can create and produce a cartoon where the main characters spend the entire episode going fishin'...or persimmon pie poaching....or shooting guns. I also loved how "off model" the book covers were to the actual animated designs.


...and call me "late to the party", but I just had no idea just how MANY people steal from Ronald Searle.


And my favorite thing of the moment:

What and amazing 1967 manga by KAZUO UMEZU. Not a big fan of reading things backwards, I picked it up on a lark and mostly because I'm working on an idea seemingly very similar and wanted to make sure I was only stealing the good parts-- (haha).

And for Japan's answer to our Leprechaun Trilogies, check out this trailer. I dare you not to tinkle a little in your pants.


I'm not sure I can dutifully explain the mind explosion that occurred when I saw this online. All of my faves...in one powerful embrace.


Mwaw! Oh come on Bats, quit being so butch--a little PDA won't kill you!

WHAT DID YOU DO LAST WEEKEND?

I'll let you know how you can get one of these for a STEAL at a charity auction coming up...


"Blue Harlequin and Child With Toy"
16"x20"
Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas



"Red Harlequin Playing Accordion"
16"x20"
Oil on Canvas

HE LIVES!!!

'NUFF SAID.

...well, almost. More to come. Perhaps some info, even.

ART SHOW AT CARTOON NETWORK!

...or as the kids call it now, "CNS". Focus Groups can't be wrong!

My aptly named show...

That's right boys and girls, tell your parents to get sitters! Mothers, lock up your daughters (I don't know what that means), my work will be adorning the halls and walls of Cartoon Network Studios THIS Wednesday, September 10th, 5:30-7pm. They'll have refreshments (though I was told not quite the fanfare they once did---anyone remember when I had corndogs and circus foods at my last show?) I'll have my specific genre of Sea-inspired Paintings (that, if you'll recall or bothered to dig deeper, discovered they were, in fact an analogy to being laid off, casted off and away after having produced work and pilots for the networks), AS WELL AS some original pages from Charlatan Ball! Should be an interesting mix.

This was a last-minute event, as I'm filler until the next, "actual" show takes over next month. I'm just happy they still had my number! hahaha I kid, I appreciate ANY opportunity to slap my paintings on bare walls. A big THANK YOU to Leigh @ YES GALLERY in Rhode Island, for not only showing me these past few months, but being kind enough to ship my pieces back so I could include them as a whole, body of work. I'm still on the fence about selling anything, as I'd like to keep these paintings together for an actual show...if any galleries would be interested...? I might let go of a couple, perhaps a few comic pages as well--once I find out what a good price would be. I will DEFINITELY have some "ART OF ANDY" hardcovers on hand, so please make sure to ask me for one!

See you there, and for my friends that are still employed: see you there!

For you non-employees, you can come too, just say you're there to see the art! CNS is located @ 300 N 3rd St. Burbank, CA 91502 (818) 729-4000. Or Google Map it HERE.

FOR ANYONE WHO WANTED TO SEE ME IN A WEDDING DRESS...

...AND FORCIBLY TRYING TO KISS WIL WHEATON on "The Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show", then this video's for you!

This, plus my PEE-WEE PAINTING from the GALLERY 1988 "CRAZY 4 CULT" SHOW got me a mention on his highly trafficked BLOG.

Thanks for the kind words, Wil! Sorry about my breath!



...then imagine receiving this email in the middle of the night from the guy that's coloring your comic book: "Man, I just saw you in a dress trying to kiss Wil Wheaton. Joanne's friends with him, we had dinner during the convention. Joanne and her crazy connections. You and your hairy chest."

"I'M SORRY STEVE DITKO"

...and my apologies for such pedestrian Photoshop pieces of late. Just an exploration of simple, flat colors.

And if you haven't already, do yourself a favor and pick up "Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko", available at finer comic shop establishments or Amazon.

"THAT'S WHAT MY CROW SAID!"

"WHAT'S WITH THESE CRAZY WALLS?!"

"EVERYBODY'S GOT A SCI-FI GUMSHOE IDEA."

...I believe is what I said in my ART OF ANDY Sketchbook. Those who've picked one up know what I'm talking about. Those that haven't...should pick up the book!



TM and COPYRIGHT Andy Suriano

CHECK THIS ARTIST OUT!!!

There's a fellow artist I've known for longer than I've been out in LA. Her blog is called TINY PICNIC, her name is MICHELLE BICKFORD, though sometimes she goes by "BIC". Anyway, she is phenomenal--at ANY style of craft. She's also lots of collectors "best kept secret". She shouldn't be. Together with her man (and fellow friend and a phenom of designer himself), created MACSKINZ and PODSKINZ a few years back. You may recall their artists series featuring Bill Wray, Tim Biskup, Coop...and those were the LEAST famous characters of the bunch!

Anyway, her newest work reminds me of those old copper wall-hangers from the 60's. They're all affordable and unique, completely one-of-a-kind pieces. Like a mad scientist, she's Frankensteined yet another idea, check out these gift/wine bag tags. Genius. I'm about to order a set. You can to at HER STORE SITE.


The kitchy, above mentioned wall-hangers...


And then, not to be outdone in any medium, her jewelry is out of this world. The missus, my wife owns a pair of gold, cherub earrings!


To get the total breadth of her work, go to her main site HERE, then I emplore you to check out all her site(s). Navigate around their websites, it's fun and well-designed to say the least--and explore all the many facets of this incredible, multiphrenic, reclusive artist.

PAINTING SHOW FRIDAY NIGHT!

The group show is called: "CRAZY 4 CULT 2: This Time it's Personal". Hosted by Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier (of Clerks fame) at GALLERY 1988, this Friday night, August 22nd, 7-11pm. Their info, address and directions are here.


"Pee Wee and His Dog Spec: Before the Curious Incident with the Bike"
Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas
24"x30"

...so the deal with this piece was we had to do something representing a "cult"-type movie(s) (list included)...being one to recognize most quote unquote "cult" movies are now widely accepted, thus no longer subversive, but rather welcomed into the mainstream consciousness--I attempted to make life hard on myself by sketching out a painting for one of the weirdest films I'd scene: "GUMMO". When I went to pop in my DVD to reference a specific scene (where he's eating spaghetti in the bath), I discovered the disc missing...(so whoEVER you are that's borrowed it, give it back! AND my copy of "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang"...Ian.) hahaha Anyhow, I then switched subject matter and began actually painting a scene I made up from Jim Jarmusch's "Deadman". Almost finished, I didn't think anyone would see my 'irony' of painting style vs. subject matter, so I scrapped that piece too. So what you see above is more or less my compromise plus an exercise in painting my cartoon/animation-style designs. Who knows, perhaps that irony will fall on deaf ears, no, wait, blind--oh, you know what I mean. Hope you make the show or visit their website *(and buy my piece!).

CHARLATAN BALL #3 IN STORES THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20th!!!

Go get some!!!

Attempting to evoke a bit of Jack Kirby's "LOVE COMICS" from the 1960's, issue 3 is our romance issue.


WWW.COMICBOOKRESOURCES.COM has the first five pages on display here.

...and if you haven't already, order "The Art of Andy" via the paypal buttons on side, or ride on over to HOUSE OF SECRETS in Burbank and pick yourself up a copy (or twelve).

*And if you HAVE ordered a book, drop me a line and let me know what you thought!

BOOK #5 ROUGHS...

We're exactly 1 week away from issue #3 hitting the shelves (mark your calenders!). Instead of posting up a preview of what you'll see next week, I thought I'd post bits and pieces of CHARLATAN BALL #5, coming out in October (which feels like a long ways away!).

I actually had some of these originals floating around in a portfolio at the con. Until my good friend and collaborator BEN KALINA scans them at full size, I've managed to pick and choose a piece-mealed sampler for you...

Issue 5 has a lot of big-robot-action:


Here's the same image, only in it's preliminary state:


To add to the thrilling excitement is a...BANK!


Pulse pounding BANK MANAGER-ACTION! haha


And one of the coolest characters around: "THE HOST", part David Bowie, part Chuck Woolery--


And no comic book is complete without WILFORD BRIMLEY!


...yeah, it's a strange comic book.