Blah, Blah, Blah...

Assembled

2012-01-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a look at my retro Avengers piece. Trying to get it in before everyone and their grandma posts an Avengers piece later on this spring/summer.

Avengers movie baby! I'm so hyped for it. I've loved all the movies leading up to this point. Yes, even Hulk. I liked it way better than that crappy green-ringed superhero movie that shall remain nameless.

Stickers now available

2011-12-12T12:17:00.001-08:00

Urban Victory stickers (4" x 4") on durable vinyl are now available. Contact me if any of you are interested. For now, they're $1.50 each. I've also sold a bunch of them, so if you see them out and about in public please take a pic and send it to me!

Back into the swing of things

2011-11-30T16:08:00.000-08:00

After Thanksgiving is usually the hardest, heck this whole end-of-the-year thing is hard to do because the days are so short and there's so many holidays that it's hard to get a momentum going. But here's my trying with not just one but THREE new images and it's going up for sale on my DA site (http://domnx.deviantart.com).

Doing a triptych is a difficult thing to do. It's not just taking an image and splitting it into three pieces. As any artist will tell you, you have to make sure each image works on its own (i.e. color, composition, etc.) and then putting it together to see if it works as a whole.

I'm also trying to get my website up-to-date. No problem there since I didn't do much this past year. But I'm trying. Baby steps.

What Would Magneto Do?

2011-06-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

Because of the new X-Men movie, where we see a young Professor X and Magneto meet, I created a propaganda piece showcasing the X-Men's first villain...

Texicon

2011-05-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

This is part 2 of a Texicon triptych that the client wanted done. It's for their annual Roleplaying/miniatures convention in Forth Worth, Texas. It came it better than I expected.

Similar to last year's color scheme and layout. Two down, one more to go...

Thanks to the buyers

2010-11-16T11:59:00.000-08:00

It's really cool when buyers of my posters send me pics of their room when they buy my posters. Here's one from Malmö, Sweden:

and another from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK:

San Diego

2010-07-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

I'm kinda bummed because I missed this year's San Diego Comic-con. And yet, I feel kinda relieved. It's my first that I've missed in about 15 years, probably due to money issues and the recession, but also because it's grown into such a hype-filled extravaganza that doesn't even resemble what it was just 5 years ago. I'm sure the people who run the whole deal love it, but as a true comic fan, it sucks. Those of you in the know, know what I'm talking about. The pushing of actual comic vendors and artists out of the spotlight and into 'back alleys' so that room for Hollywood types can do their thing blows chunks.

What's worse is the crowds of non-fans coming in to share my personal space. Really Miss Twilight fan? Do I need to hear your screaming voice about how Robbie Patterson or some shit is coming? No. Will the whole scene change soon? Probably not as well. One thing that the comic con culture has spawned are more conventions, i.e. ones in L.A., Long Beach and Anaheim. These are still in its infancy and are probably closer in feel to those of years goneby. But give it a few years, I guess.

I know I probably sound like an old fogey complaining about beef prices when I was young, but that's the way it is. I'm sure in about 10 years, you readers will be the same way.

Just my 2¢.

Texicon

2010-05-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

Here's a first in a (hopefully) series of posters for a new convention down in Forth Worth Texas. The deal was to come up with a poster that would maybe link in to two other posters flanking this one:

The trick was incorporating various soldiers in different eras into the same image and to convey the focus being "miniatures." The client seemed to like it so I'll say it's a success.

Twitter and Twitterdee

2009-04-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

For you fans of social networking, along with my MySpace and Facebook Fan Page, I've added Twitter.

*crickets chirping*

I admit, this one is the one I LEAST understand. It's 'solicitated stalking' for the lazy. I guess it's ok if you're famous and need to update the paparazzi that you're grabbing a latte from the corner Starbucks, or if you're a business that wants to inform customers of just released items. So as an artist, I guess that would come in handy. But, I'm usually a private person, and I know the internet has de-personalized us as people, but I guess these type of social networking sites has been a backlash to that. So, who am I to question what's 'hip' and 'new.' You can find the app on my DA homepage or else have it sent to your mobile phone.

Though I don't 'follow' anyone per se, (because I don't really want to know if you're on the toilet pinching off a loaf, or that you're seeing the neighbor's dog hump your cat on the lawn) I don't begrudge anyone from seeing what I'm doing (as uninteresting as it seems) when it pertains to general art ideas or pop culture items of interest. Go ahead and comment too. I don't mind, and I might even comment back! Hell, I might even make stuff up just to seem like my life is interesting.

Obama Nation!

2008-11-05T23:32:00.000-08:00

I don't think the rest of the west coast or US territories even finished voting before McCain conceded. Is that a record time? or is it because it's way past McCain's bedtime? *heh*

It's a historic moment and a turning point in US history here. For me, it just shows that the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction as history has shown us.

I mean look at where the previous administration has left us: high gas prices, a collapsing economy, our military stuck in a war we have no way to get out of. I guess we're just tired of being led by a stupid, old, white guy, we've decided that electing just the opposite will fix it.

Good job President Obama, and good luck!

I got my package stimulated!

2008-05-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Uh...I think that came out wrong.

Here in the U.S. something called the Stimulus Package was just released. I don't know too much about the reasoning behind it all. Basically, from May to July of this year, the US is giving out free money! Yay!

The government in all its wisdom is 'rebating' every tax-paying American about $600 US dollars ($1200 for married couples) plus $300 per child in order for us to go out and spend in this time of near-recession. In hopes of energizing the economy, and give the Americans a greater outlook on life...blah blah blah. There's a cap for the "rich" of course, (175K+) but I digress. Did you make under $3000 last year? You're shit-outta-luck there too pal. You get squat. The people who probably need it the most get shafted again.

While it's all well and good for people to be blinded by 'free' money, the real question is "Where the hell are we getting all this money from?" I'm no expert in Economics, but we're BILLIONS of dollars in debt from this stupid Iraq war, and overspent because of the Real Estate greedfest.

Besides, just because you're out of money, doesn't mean you can basically just "print more" bills. It's based on the value of gold and some shit right? "Hey, I'm low on this month's rent, I'll just go to Kinko's and color copy some quarters and nickels from the change drawer." Priceless. Literally.

Anyway, I got my check today and I think I'm gonna go purchase some crack with it, or maybe a handgun. Thanks Uncle Sam! (retarded...)

MyFace & Spacebook

2008-04-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

For the last few weeks to a month I've been focusing on updating my 2 networking pages on MySpace and Facebook, which I've had for about 2 years now, but only really filled out with basic info and images. I still don't understand the entire concept behind the whole 'networking' concept of it. Maybe a testiment to my 'old' age and inability to connect, ironically, with today's youth.

Damn, some of those games on Facebook are somewhat addicting, as if I haven't found more distractions in life. *sigh* I especially like My Heroes Ability and Who's got the Biggest Brain. Those who know those apps, can I get a "wah-wah."

Other than those sites making you take a good look at your own life and where you've been ("I watch way way too many TV shows..." "What books have I read that didn't require an exam at the end?..." or "I need to connect with more people who's name doesn't end in the suffix: .jpeg"

But for some reason, I've found that it's working on some level. I've managed to come into contact with friends and classmates from years gone by. It's very nostalgic and surprising in some cases. Most are thousands of miles away, living lives in their own fashion, and having adult problems and situations. Some are eyebrow-raising and some obvious, as some of you may know from contacting your old friends. And for those still young enough, you WILL know what I'm talking about in future years to come.

On the other hand, it's been very lucrative in terms of people seeing my artwork and requesting commissioned art pieces, images for their band, or even just poster prints of my stuff. Freelance work has also been up a bit because of it, which is probably caused the lack of artwork on my behalf here on DA. Some just request that it not be shown by me just yet, and some prefer not to show it at all. Which is cool by me. As long as you keep those checks coming.

Anywho, I have tabled a lot of art pieces and I'm at the point where I'm experimenting with styles just for my own education and evolution of style. Oh you'll continue to see propaganda pieces and pin-up girls, but maybe with 3 breasts or with more dog-headed dissidents and somesuch.

But for those interested in the networking sites, I figure I'd post it here for all you MySpace and Facebook addicts to connect.
MySpace: (mention this blog and I'll speed your application through)
Facebook (This is more of a Fan Page created by me, but you can still "become a fan" and add a little icon to your page)

24 inches of happiness...

2008-04-13T00:08:00.001-07:00

Uncle Sam has been generous to us this year, by giving us a big tax refund, which we immediately spent on a new Apple 24" iMac.

*precious...my precious...*

It was about time, since we had the last computer (G4/450) for about 8 years now.

We actually got this guy a couple weeks ago, and because of either busy schedules and whatnot, weren't able to bring it out of it's box and started slowly transferring files and just cleaning out the old computer of old crap that we don't need. After working on this bad boy for the past couple weeks updating and transplanting files from my old hard drive,
It's hard to believe I've been working on a CRT monitor and on OS9 all this time. So much detail, and I can open, like, 3 web pages side by side...ooooohhhhh...

What sucks is the ~~bootlegging~~ purchasing of all the new programs. *damn you Apple!*

Now I can get more work done faster!

Thank you Mr. Tax Man!

True Blue

2008-03-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

I just posted a new piece in my gallery, if you haven't been there recently, check it out. I'll usually do a minimum of two pieces of a certain theme and/or style, A) just to prove to myself that I'm not jumping on a bandwagon and B) to try and work it out of my system and basically bore myself into not doing it again.

If I can do neither, I'll keep it going until I work it to death or come up with something else to beat like a dead horse.

50 years of Smurfiness

2008-02-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

Saw an article in the paper saying that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Smurfs, so I did a little tribute piece to the 80s Saturday morning cartoon.

The basic smurfs are there, along with a few that should have been there.

This is harder than it seems. Customizing each individual smurf is tedious.

Figure I'd submit something on Leap Year Day as well. It'll be another 4 years before I submit something on Feb. 29...

Ripped resolution?

2008-02-13T13:11:00.000-08:00

And speaking of the ripped situation, the site owner wrote back saying that he was sold the file by another 'artist' claiming he owned it. He said he would tell the webmaster to take it down immediately...Yeah, we'll see...

Political Views or lack thereof...

2008-02-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

Lastly, I should explain my politics, (though I feel I shouldn't have to). There's a couple of you who feel that the messages in my propaganda pieces are totally "un-American." I totally disagree. I'll tell you why: I feel that it's American right to question our own system; To make light of injustices and to call on the government when we feel they've screwed us in some way. Whether it be by writing a news article, or by calling your representative, or doing a measly art piece. We all hope to better our way of life: as Americans; as human beings. As for my soviet propaganda pieces, they do not reflect a love of communism or any such political agenda.

I'm not a political guy, far from it. Politics is the last thing on my mind in whatever I do. But that doesn't mean I don't know when the little guy is getting screwed or when a certain group is given the shaft.

I just love the colors of that era, the blatant imagery and the straight-to the-point message they have, whether obvious or implied. It's graphic design on an urban level. It's art spoken to the man on the street. Hey, just because I like Michael Jackson songs, doesn't mean I like to have sleepovers with little boys, y'know? Same goes with the art of certain eras. Just because I like an art style, doesn't mean I like the fashion, politics, or movies of said time.

Will it change the course of history? Probably not. But I feel it brings something new to the table, and at least it makes you think. If you don't like thinking then skip over me and go to the manga section or to that guy who traces pics of his girlfriend/brother/dog/etc in vectors.

So if you don't believe in what I do, or what I say, then by all means, avoid me and my art. Unwatch me, but don't take a crap in my yard. Post your own journals and post your own deviations about your own beliefs. But don't go writing to me trying to push me into your belief system, and insulting me, especially if you're not one of the disenfranchised I'm standing up for. Makes you look like a jerk. And It'll only strengthen my views. You have a better chance at commenting me on my color theory or composition and content.

Getting ripped off

2008-02-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

First, I'm getting ripped off on The Art of the Revolution They're selling canvas prints on a handful of lo-res jpegs taken from either my personal website or DA gallery. Actually they're kinda expensive, and cheaper to get on DeviantArt, really.

When I first hear this kind of news, you think "Oh wow, I'm actually a good enough artist for people to steal from!" which is immediately replaced by "WTF! I'm gonna tear these guys a new one for stealing my sh*t!" I'm not the only artist they're stealing from, so this makes the owner a multiple-douchebag. But thanks to the Deviants for alerting me to this infraction; I'm talking to some attorney friends of mine to weigh my options.

Fu¢kers.

2007-12-31T14:42:00.000-08:00

Here's to wishing all of you a non-traumatic, and a non-dramatic 2008. ;) Here's to trying something new and learning from our mistakes and loving our fellow man, even though the mutherf*¢*er cuts you off in traffic. Hope you all see the trees through the forest, and observing the comedy through all the crap in the world today. Yeah I'm talking to your crap, George Dubya...

Here's my last post, at least for 2007. Get out of here, everybody. Turn off the computer and go spend time with your friends and family! I know I am...

Anyway, let's keep it safe out there people.

2007-12-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder this Christmas...

A Decent Signing

2007-11-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

It was a decent signing yesterday, as far as signings go. I managed to sell a print, which means I broke even as far as gas money ;) But the really cool thing was meeting fellow Spectrum 14 artists. I even got my own free copy signed by the 10 or so artists who were there. Kinda felt weird, since it seemed like I was the only one doing it, but oh well.

Artists are strange lot to begin with. We all kinda keep to ourselves, probably because we're so used to working in a vacuum so to speak. I mean everyone was cordial to each other, but there's an inheirent shyness mixed with looking down upon each other, even though we don't mean to. We try to hoard our secrets, and only give them up when something else is given to us. Catch-22, I know. We all (myself included) seem to look down upon other people's artwork, but also try to salvage the encounter by observing what another artist has done and in our minds try to apply a technique/color scheme/artistic element to something we might be working on. It's hard to explain. If there are any other artists reading this, please let me know if it's just me that notices this. Like I said, Artists are a strange lot to begin with...

It was a sparse crowd, but there were a lot of presales and mail order books sold through Dark Delicacies so it was fun nonetheless, signing a stack of books that were going to be mailed out. I get anxious and self-conscious anyway, when someone is above me waiting for their book to be signed. Wish I had something to submit for Spectrum 15, but I've been so busy with other things that I haven't really thrown anything together yet.

Charity and Signing

2007-11-01T16:54:00.000-07:00

I will push something for charity. So, I'm donating ALL of MY profit from this print sale for this creation will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

For those of you interested, I'll be at

Dark Delicacies
4213 W. Burbank Blvd.
Burbank, CA
on Nov. 11th, 2-4pm, with a bunch of other local artists from Spectrum 14 signing and hawking shit. So if you're in the area, by all means stop by. Mention DA and I'll give you a bunch of freebies.

Thanks guys!

SDCC '07 wrapup

2007-07-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to dislike going to these things. After 10 years of going to the San Diego Comic-Con, you start to see how commercial and Hollywood it's getting. Kind of a bummer because you have all these Monday morning quarterbacks and posers going to these things who don't belong and step on the backs of my shoes or block the aisles or get in the food line, making me wait 30 minutes to get a f*cking pretzel. *sigh*

But I degress...

SDCC '07

2007-07-23T12:56:00.000-07:00

Settin' up to head out down south for the yearly geek pilgrimage down in San Diego. Gonna spend a couple days down there buying tons of stuff I'll probably have buyer's remorse about 2 days later. (Don't tell me I'm alone on this, you know who you are) But it's always a good idea at the time. Too much peer pressure and that strategic placement of products. Kind of how they always put gum and candy at the cash register.

I always have mixed blessings at the Comic-con because it seems I always spend too much even before I get in the door (parking, gas, and hotel if applicable). It always starts off okay until about mid-afternoon when the crush of fellow comic geeks start sweating and acting like typical...well, comic geeks. I promise myself not to act and uphold my hygiene after going to these things.

But it's so huge that after awhile my eyes get tired and my mind shuts down from seeing the same ol' stack of comic displays after another. Am I the only one?

Anyway, thinking of getting a booth next year and displaying some of my wares. It's a big undertaking so I'm looking for other people to share a booth or something. Maybe creating a faux-group or team of similar stuff. I'm up for suggestions so If you're looking to share a space let me know by sending me a note.

See ya in about a week and a few hundred dollars poorer :)

Propaganda III Art Show

2007-07-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

For those of you interested in propaganda art (or at least my propaganda art) and in the San Fran area, can check out the opening of Start Soma's Propaganda III traveling art show starting today in San Francisco at the Phoenix Hotel. It's only a one-day show, but it will traverse the globe, and hopefully stop at a city near you.

I, personally, have 3 pieces submitted and will be alongside more famous names in propaganda art like Shepard Fairey and Aiden Hughes (if you don't know the names you'll more than likely know their art...go ahead and google, I'll wait.)

Sure there are hundreds of other artists from around the world, but definitely a good way for me to start showing off my stuff on an international basis, and be taken as a more-or-less serious manner.

Start Soma is an up and coming art outlet whose art projects and artists have been featured in various newspapers and magazines like Juxtapoz. Check them out!

Tubes and Sig Tags

2007-05-01T12:45:00.000-07:00

Over the last year, I've had a lot of people asking permission to use my art for tubing and signature tag purposes. Those of you can now purchase my art for tags through my new licensing agreement with MyPSPtubes.com

I still don't understand the whole fascination with them. But anything that will earn me a little more ch-ching for my art is always welcome.
They've approached me with a unique chance to get paid for selected pieces that I submit. They have an awesome lineup of fellow artists, some of whom are here on DA and even on my watch list.

This supercedes any and all previous requests.

Spectrum #14

2007-04-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Just got advanced notice that my "Revolution" piece was accepted into Spectrum #14. For those who know, it's one of those books that has a collection of illustrators that are judged by a jury, and the 'best' of those submitted (subjective, mind you) are printed in a yearly annual.

Spectrum #1-#13 can still be bought on Amazon.com.

I think #14's coming out in November of this year.

For those interested in Aphrodisia 2, I have 5 pieces in there. (also on Amazon)

I have a couple gallery showings as well, based on some of my work. They're pending approval, but once the dates and locations get locked down, I'll post them here.

Aphrodisia II

2006-10-30T12:37:00.000-08:00

Woohoo! I just received an advance copy of Aphrodisia 2 in the mail. And it's looks top notch. Printing is great, quality is great, it's just great all around. Walking on cloud nine here.

It should come out in Jan. 2007, and it features five of my pieces:
Reminisce,
Cherry Blossom,
Ingenue,
Desert Rose,
and Sneaky Tiki. Look out for it!

2006-06-11T12:34:00.000-07:00

Just got news that a handful of my works will be in the upcoming Aphrodisia 2 showcase book probably due out sometime the Fall/Winter of this year. More news as this develops.

Deviant art store

2006-03-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

My new Deviant art store is up and running. I'll be posting prints for sale if there's enough requests for a certain print on my Deviantart site. Two new prints entitled Reminisce and 8-Balled are up. So for those of you who enjoy my work and want to purchase them they're for sale.

So sue me for being an entrepreneur. Hey I'm an artist. And I gotta eat, right?

2005-12-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

After months of trying to put my artwork together, I finally put up my store. *whew* Just in time for Christmas :) I'm slowly putting stuff up so come by often!

2005-07-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

I was able to head down to San Diego Comic-Con today. And as a professional who pre-registered, it was Friggin' ridiculous to get my badge. I thought I was being smart by going in on a weekday, but the wait was 10 times as long as if I went on the Saturday. Can I get a Wha-Wha?! But other than that, it was less crowded than a Saturday, which was less stressful :)
But I managed to get what I wanted to get: A bunch of sketchbooks from some of my favorite artists. Awesome stuff. I even made some connections with a few artists which was pretty cool. Big-ups to you guys (and gals) you know who you are.
I tried submitting some stuff to the freebie tables up on the upper level, but I noticed they confiscated some of the decals. Does anyone know why? Please tell me.
Another thing I noticed was that some of the medium-sized artists (I'd rather not say who), even though this was their 3rd year or so putting their stuff out there, seemed a bit stand-offish. Like they expected people to just buy their stuff and get the hell out of their faces. I thought they were just bored but this was their first day!
But otherwise I had fun. I hope to see you all there next year when I finally get my crap together and open a booth of my own!

Domnx.com

2005-07-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Basic Website is finally up. *whew* Just in time for the San Diego Comic Con, where I'm going to be pushing the website with some postcards, decals and whatnot at the freebie table, so look out for me. I'm movin' on up, to the east side...