Fingertips. The Buddha and me

Fingertips.joyless division

Fingertips.Soul Bunny

Fingertips.Is there gravity in heaven?

Waiting for the great Leap Forward Part 2

Dancing Animals

These dancing Animals were finished in one day, enjoy working in a short time frame and was happy with the end results. The only thing that needs to be added is some cat whiskers which will be work on today.

Here's my take on a Jimbo #1

Crumbbum MC Doodle

Crumbbum set #15 Run Rabbit Run

Crumbbum set #14 Mister Me

Crumbbum set #13 Me and the fish

Crumbbum set #12 Nero's toy

Coverless comic Sunday, NightHawk

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Went to see Terry Gilliam's latest film ( his 10th not including the Monty flicks) Monday night with Christine and we both blown away by the visuals and storytelling. For me it's up there with Brazil and Adventures of Baron Münchhausen. I haven't been a fan of Gilliam's last three films. Fear and Loathing was far too long and I got sick of Hunter S Thompson's nihilism of America. Brothers Grimm lacks Gilliam's heart and Tideland was to dark to enjoy. Dr Parnassus brings Gilliam back to what he does best to encourage a kind of fantasy, to create magical realism.

It tells the story of Dr Parnassus (top left) and his traveling show where members of the audience get an opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom. Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Dr Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. Long ago he made a bet with the devil, (played by my favorite musician, Tom Waits ( right)) in which he won immortality. Many centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his first-born reached its 16th birthday she would become the property of devil. Valentina is now rapidly approaching this age and Dr Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her fate. The devil arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager. Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr Parnassus promises his daughter's hand in marriage to the man that helps him win.

Like most of Gilliam's work he doesn't take any shortcuts. The imaginations of Dr. Pasrnassus mind is a joy to behold. Some of the landscapes, the colors are stark, saturated, and naturalistic. Such as in a Ladder World which reminds me of a painterly landscape of Grant Wood's Corn Paintings. Or the Water scene which is realistic, complex and baroque with color. Who ever enters into the Doctor's world would reflect his/her imagination. I like his take on the devil, he's the one who always distracts you from the big ideas - doing the difficult, doing the impossible. He's actually a good, reasonable person. Probably the most sensible person around in the film. But I don't want to dwell too much into the story, so go out and see the film, please. Movies today seem to generalized on popcorn eye candy, this film can be enjoyed time and time again.

Terry is turning 70 this year and is trying again to complete The Man who killed Don Quixote, Robert Duvell is the new choice for the Don. Let's wish him the best of luck.

Crumbbum set #11 king and I

Crumbbum set #10 billy

Crumbbum set #9 Rada and the Snake

Crumbbum set #8 Orson

Crumbbum set #7 Castro and Nero

Coverless comic Sunday. Fox and Crow #42

Here is one of my favorites from cartoondom which is Fauntleroy Fox and Crawford Crow. These two held down a regular series from DC Comics for close to 20 years (appearing in more than one title during the majority of those years). Artist Jim Davis (no relation to the Jim Davis who writes and draws Garfield, thank god!) is most closely associated with those hundreds and hundreds of stories (tho he had help from writers Hubie Karp and Cecil Beard). Here's Fox and Crow #42 Aug 1957.

Crumbbum set #6 The Stud

Crumbbum set #5 The Furies

Crumbbum set #4 Max and Rada

Crumbbum set #3 Fishbabe

Crumbbum set #2 Dr Death

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here's a favorite picture of my mom, enjoying life when she came for a visit to Mn three years ago. This picture always puts a smile to my face. She has always took an active, positive part of my life as an artist. Anytime I need an solution to a car problem or just some daily chit chat she has always have time for me. Thanks mom from the bottom of my heart.

Coverless comic Sunday

Always a big fan of Alex Toth, so I scanned this cover less comic during Christmas weekend. Here's the title story from My Greatest Adventure #77, March 1963.