Gold Dandelion

The miracle of wonder, the wonder of miracles, gold for the golden.

New Work

I've been busy. New comic on its way. Soon appearing in a comic book near you.

Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School

Done live and on the spot at Covington's Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. Only $5 to get in, held at Leapin' Lizard gallery and event space. This is my sketch of the evening's amazing '50s styled model, June Cleaver.

For all you artists, on Dec. 10th, the Dr. Sketchy live drawing night will be back at the Lizard.

And I had forgotten that portraits are a blast to do, especially in limited colors like this. I need to do this more often.

Impact New Orleans

One from the vaults.

When in New Orleans, these kinds of scenes were part of the wallpaper. So in 2001, I captured the New Year's Eve streets for Impact Magazine. I designed the unusual "L-shape" to wrap around the story for maximum emphasis.

Unfortunately, the piece never was printed right, so I thought: now's my chance to shine. So to speak.

(Click on it to enlarge.)

Nostalgia for New Orleans

When they're gone for good, they weren't so bad.

Vector Victor

My kid can steal your kid's identity.

(A proposed T-shirt design.)

The Ostrich Whistler

When was the last time you used a pay phone?

State of Mind

Also titled "Peace and Panic."

You know, I'm actually developing several FUNNY comic strips. But since that takes so much time, I'm posting the sketchbook stuff - which is scarier, I know.

But I love all of my children.

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Night Scene Seen

A soft folding of color over a shadowed street - back in Cincinnati, but my mind is elsewhere...

(Click on image to enlarge.)

Into Every Life Some Rain Must Fall

Let the headless horses walk and skeletons sing. Walls too high and cannot die.

(Click on image to zoom.)

Monkey on my back

You don't need drugs when you got my monkey! Mon-keeeeey!
(Click to enlarge.)

I Wish I Were a Fish

Oh, Don Knotts, if you were still alive, I would give this picture to you!

Elephant's Gerald

Elephant's Gerald. (I've always wanted to use that terrible jazz vocalist pun, and I finally decided not to wait for an excuse.)

This is a panel from a comic that does not yet exist. Or a watercolor with words.

Damn Right, I've Got the Blues

...sang Buddy Guy, and then he sent his guitar to scream down the walls.

Look out.

Got Job?

Art's a tough row to hoe, but, by God, I hoed it.

Jim Carroll

Jim Carroll, author, poet, punker. Most famous for "The Basketball Diaries." He came to the University of Florida in 2005 and I won a seat at the honorary lunch for him, answering the "why I deserve to eat with Jim Carroll" essay contest.

That evening, he performed his poem "8 Fragments for Kurt Cobain." This is my portrait of him, drawn while he was on stage. He signed the drawing after the show.

This section of the poem reads:
But Kurt...
Didn't the thought that you would never write another song
Another feverish line or riff
Make you think twice?
That's what I don't understand
Because it's kept me alive, above any wounds

Subconscious to Conscious

From subconscious to conscious. Insomnia and the 4th of July. 'Nuff said.

Summer Swimming Hole

This was drawn on a beautiful summer day in a natural spring swimming hole, outside of Gainesville, Florida. Not an alligator in sight.

Water is my sacred spot.

The Spineless Saint

Humanitarian award in his left hand, brass knuckles on his right.

Tigers of War

"Cry havoc! And let loose the Tigers of War."

And with that howl, the art blog "Open Mind Sketchbook" re-emerges from the dark caverns below my hair.

As always, amateur psychologists, dream interpreters and madmen/madwomen are heartily invited to leave comments.

BTW, if anyone has a better name for this blog, please suggest it. "Open Mind Sketchbook" really doesn't tell an audience what to expect.

Back to the Blog

And back to bring more love to all. (This item comes from my recent family visit to Mar del Plata, Argentina, as you can see from the writing on the non-floral shell.)

Next week, no more stalling. New art. Fer sure.

Brian Noir

A little old-time American styling, done on an Argentine afternoon.

Trust

I gave this sketch a little bit of extra love, 'cause I'll be putting this blog on semi-hiatus for a little while. I'll post as often as I can, and put some thought into how it should grow and evolve.

Trust in me and I'll trust in you.

And the Winner Is

...John Maggard! John, congratulations - email me as soon as you're able, and we'll get "Hot Rod Devil" into your hands.

And thank you to everyone who entered a comment in this giveaway contest. More freebies to come.

Contest Ends Sunday

Contest Reminder: Sunday is the last day for "Open Mind Sketchbook" visitors to post their comments to this blog, thereby making themselves eligible to win the original art "Hot Rod Devil."

The winner's name will appear Monday. Who will win?

In other news, absolutely nobody liked the prison comic posted Wednesday. Too dark, I suppose. So in an effort to once again win everyone's love, here is a picture of a cute kitty-cat.

However, as you may have suspected, the original kitty-cat picture from which this image was taken is much darker than the above "detail." It can be found at "Twistmind," the red-headed stepchild of this blog. (Link below.)

WARNING: Twistmind is NOT for everyone - it's a place for mature adults. A place where darkness, bad language, political incorrectness, and nudity can appear. It may depict challenging ideas - or brainless vulgar FUN.

For those who like that sort of trash, go see Twistmind.

Web Site Under Construction

Visitors to my portfolio Web site will find it temporarily out of order, as I add new art and pages. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Silent Comic: from "Prison"

These pictures were part of a choose-your-own-ending game I created called "Survive the Day: 24 Hours in Prison." Taken out of the game, the images make good comics.

If you'd like to see the rest of the art, or play the game, go to "Play This Game, Go to Prison." (Each choice you make in the game leads to a different ending, so do different things to see different parts of the story.)

Angry Chica

I've always liked this one. She started as a few lines that pleased me immediately - and kept pleasing me as she became complete.
And her lines and design inspire my senses.

The Mousetrap

A piece I offered to a local production of "The Mousetrap."

Disambiguation: That's Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap." However, if you were looking for the infrared, motion-detecting mousetrap coffee table, click here.

Comic: Jazz Funeral, page 1 of 4

Click on the image above for a larger, readable comic.

I'm busy today improving the organization of my portfolio Web site, adding a place to buy my two mini-comics, and adding more intelligent tags to this blog.

Therefore, please excuse my brevity today. I go to curse at books of code.

The contest for free art continues - post a comment for your chance to win the original of "Hot Rod Devil."

FREE ART: Win this "Hot Rod Devil"

ORIGINAL ART GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate my first 500 visitors to the Open Mind Sketchbook blog, I am giving away "Hot Rod Devil," an original, 8.5" by 11.5", watercolor and ink work.

Here's how to get it:

1. Between now and Monday, May 11, post a new comment underneath your favorite piece here at "Open Mind".
   
2. If you have commented here, but it was before April 20, comment again and you will also be eligible to win.
3. Sorry, but posts on Facebook don't count.
   
4. On Monday, May 11, I will randomly select a winner from all the people who have commented since April 20.

If this isn't clear, just comment and ask me a question.

Good luck - and thank you.

Inner Child

I'm actually in a good mood today.

It's just that my friend Megan Abdallah is re-starting a new series of paintings featuring mothers and babies. They're beautiful and sometimes disturbing, and the crowd hasn't yet shown her the love. So this picture's for her.

And for all of you - because posting photos on my vulgar site "Twistmind" is a cop-out, don't you think?

CONTEST: I'm still giving away original art to one lucky person who leaves a comment on my blogs before May 12. However, I ruined the intended art yesterday, darn it. Be patient, keep commenting, art is coming, art is coming!

Twistmind: New Posting

There's a new, disgusting post over at the mutant sister of this Web site, "Twistmind."

WARNING: Twistmind is NOT for everyone - it's a place for mature adults. A place where bad language, political incorrectness, and nudity can appear. It may depict challenging ideas - or brainless vulgar FUN.

For those who like that sort of trash, go see Twistmind.

Comics: The Ostrich-sized Ostrich

Click on the image to expand and read.

Those characters really need a name.

Contest prize should be ready to announce by Friday.

Love and hisses - B.

Original Art - I'm Giving It Away

First off, Yee-haw for SPACE, the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo! It was my first time behind the exhibitors table, and I'm still buzzing. Thanks to my friends from the Cincinnati Illustrators, to all the interesting people I met, to my talented booth partner/cartoonist Joe Kuth, and - always - to my ever-amazing wife.


ORIGINAL ART GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate my first 500 visitors to the Open Mind Sketchbook blog, I am giving away an original piece of art.

Here's how to win:

1. Look at the art posted here at "Open Mind".
2. Post a comment on your favorite piece. This is your "entry."
3. Subscribers to the RSS feed automatically receive TWO entries.
4. On Monday, May 12, I will announce the winner.
   

Take a peek at the prize art here as soon as I decide what the delicious morsel will be. (This site is updated every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.)

I hope you enjoy your visit and come back often.

SPACE (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo)

My brain is hanging upside down! (Getting ready for SPACE.)

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

I drew this one back in the nasty depths of a break-up. One of smoke's symbolic powers is to provide distance from an audience of dozens, or of one.

Stormy Weather

I'm at home, dip pen on the desk, creating comics to the sounds of Thelonius Monk, with Natalia on a nearby couch.

It's a good day.

Go Gators!

I know, it's the wrong season. But I'm a UF alumni, doggone it, so I can post this whenever I want.

Bernie Machen is going to take away my degree now, isn't he?

Napkin Art

Restaurant Time is Art Time. Napkin art free with purchase of the artist's dinner!

Twistmind

Today's art posting is on my new blog, Twistmind.

Twistmind is NOT for everyone - it's a place for mature adults. A place where bad language, political incorrectness, and nudity can appear. It may depict challenging ideas - or brainless vulgar FUN.

Here at "Open Mind Sketchbook," I will continue to post art and ideas appropriate for everyone. Please keep coming back!

And as for the rest of you heathen: here's Twistmind.

Scary Places

The black mountains are filled with monsters.

New Comic Finished

4 pages of black-and-white comics have emerged. It will be part of a mini comic to be distributed at the Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo in Columbus, Ohio, on April 18.

Want a copy? I'll have them available soon, details to follow when I know them.

Family Portrait

My wife Natalia has been away for six weeks in Nicaragua. To surprise her, I created and sent her this "family portrait" of her, me, and our life-sized stuffed tiger.

It was a big hit. And now that the secret has been delivered and Natalia is back (finally), I'm sharing the picture with all of you.

Spilled Ink

I was a little nervous tonight - and boom - there went the ink over my new comic.

What is there to say? It could have been worse.

I was smart enough to quit inking for the night.

Obey

I'm sure there's a wonderful caption to add to this picture.

I tried -

Shepherd Fairey,
Quite contrary,
How do your images grow?

- and then I got stuck.

Baby Tiger Balloon

What could go wrong on this beautiful day with my beautiful balloon? I can't wait to see what's around the next corner. Perhaps I'll meet my very bestest friend in the whole world. Or maybe a small, helpless mammal. Oh, what a day!