Category Archives: Illustration

As an artist, I challenge the process to seek improvement and rebel against the status quo to innovate and pioneer.
I want to live a life focused on being an artist. I want to entertain and educate. I want to amaze and nourish imaginations.
I want to inspire others to be their best, while working on becoming my best.

Behind “Brush with Death”

Posted on by
Reply

It’s almost as if I totally forgot that I had a blog here, it’s been so long that I’ve posted something. It’s just that ended up being really busy recently. There’s been some family changes (congrats to Justin and Renzler), and I had my mustard knocked in the dirt by a sudden illness.

However, things have stabilized enough (as well as they do for me) that I was able to pursue a light interest of mine.

BUT, before I get into that, can I just post an image really quick? I took this back in April, but I totally forgot to post it. I’m a horrible blogger, no matter how much practice I have.

From left to right, the pencil sketch, the first pencil, and the final.

So yeah, next up, I’ll be talking about my next attempt at becoming infamous. It involves some dangerous chemicals, some heavy machinery, and a pretty hardcore 3D program.

Also, I need to start talking about other people here more. I like talking about what my friends and dotcomrads are up to.

More Products Available…

Posted on by
Reply

Being as I don’t think a few large format posters and a book is enough, I’ve gone ahead and updated my DeviantArt account. That means now I offer quite a few images in a wide range of product formats. Mugs, magnets, canvas prints, puzzles…

Speaking of puzzles, I think my favourite image/product combo right now is “Blackout” being available as a puzzle.

Seriously, who’s the sicko that’s going to order it and put it together? And can I sign it after you’re done?

In further news, I’ll be introducing my new portfolio, and probably a new landing page here shortly.

It’s live.

A Brush of Death with Todd Klein.

Posted on by
1

Last week at my favourite local comic shop (which I mentioned earlier and will mention again next week), I was introduced to Todd Klein.

For those of you know don’t know, Todd is considered by both fans, critics, and scholars of graphic novels to be the eminent master of lettercrafting sequential art.

Image Copyright - kyle cassidy

Todd Klein @ Locust Moon Comics

I recommend looking at his history and getting a feel of exactly how much he’s contributed to comic books. When people talk about any concept even remotely related to comics, they always picture those thought and word balloons. And I honestly believe when people picture word balloons, they all immediately picture Mr. Klein’s contributions to the craft.

He is the very embodiment of lettering, and I think he’s genuinely a nice guy.

I want to take a moment to personally thank Todd for appearing at Locust Moon.

It is always a great pleasure to watch artist at work.

Commission: Locust Moon. Lettering: Todd Klein. Character: Neil Gaiman

Thanks to Locust Moon for helping create one of the high watermarks of my career.

Recent Marker Renders.

Posted on by
Reply

Due to circumstances beyond my control… (my laptop exploded), I have had to take a break from all of my digital media projects.. However,  I did manage to resupply my drawing cabinet with enough tools I could focus properly on doing some illustrations. At the same time, I’ve also started hanging out with a small crowd of like minded artists twice a month. We meet up, sit together, and just break open sketchbooks. This week also featured Pictionary, but I missed it due to work concerns.


For now… here’s some of the illustrations I’ve done there. All of them rendered using my “concept art” tool set, but I’m using sketch techniques.

If you have any questions about the process, or just want to contribute to a FAQ, let me know, and I’ll get around to you pretty quick.

In Front of Her Mouth (A Book Review)

Posted on by
Reply

Let me take a moment to talk about a woman I know. She’s floats in a few of my social circles. She’s not just a loose friend of mine (every discussion draws us a little tighter), she’s also one of my idols. No pedestals for this broad though. The envy-tinged respect I have for her has been well earned. She’s approachable, she’s amicable, and she’s very friendly. Maybe too friendly for her own good. I count myself lucky enough that I’m probably one of her few fans that she doesn’t handle with kid gloves.

We also have a few things in common.

There’s a few parallels between Marrus and I. We’re both artists. There’s no way around it. It’s what we do, and we can’t get escape it. We also spent years on the road, doing the whole Renne Faire circuit thing. We’re both really well known in that circle, if for way different reasons. We’ve both had a few things published. We both try to eek out some sort of living being artists. We’re both pretty sharp witted and we never run out of things to say.

There’s some contrast between us. We’re very much in love with New Orleans. She’s a native. I’ve adopted the place. She’s great with kids, they kinda frighten me. She’s bright colours and sparkles. I’m dark and spikey. Seelie to Unseelie if you get the mythos. She’s the gentle queen of the court, I’m the evil jester.

The main difference between her and I (if it’s really considered a “difference”) is that while we may be on the same path, she’s definately way ahead of me. She’s way ahead of the game. More than likely, because she fought much harder for it than I have. She’s earned her successes. I’m just now starting to steal mine. She’s living my dream, and it’s been a pleasure watching her do it. If I’m going to pick anyone to live vicariously through, I couldn’t pick a nicer gal.

Continue reading →