Kidney Stone!

 

So, this past Monday night was a bout with the dreaded kidney stone(s). Hopefully, it's just one! I'm pretty much out of the woods on this one, but I thought about the cartoon that I did way back when I had my second go with this crap (shown above). That one was bad; it took two weeks to pass three rocks. Delightful. 

Second Star #3 Preview

 

My latest Substack has a sneak peek at issue #3 of my comic book, Second Star, which is currently being lettered and then colored. I also go over what the comic is about, in general and a review of the previous two issues. So, click here to be most informed.

Drop Dead Sketchy April 2025

 Last night was the first sketch night for the Drop Dead Sketchy group held at the Detroit Shipping Company. There was a good turnout and all had a good time.

My first attempt at the sketching stuff was working out some designs for some book illustrations involving children and bugs. Then, an attempt at capturing some fellow arteests, Jay Fosgitt and Jim Anderson.

And an awful attempt some guy named Steve. 

Above, a pic from after we moved to a different area with better lighting. With Steve, jay and Jim, who is judging my sketchbook...

This was a good venue for our event to be held... A variety of food, a bar, plenty of seating and art all over.

Kellog Rooster?

 So, last weekend, I had this dream, where I was at a meeting with my pal John, with whom I will be doing a book with. Said meeting was about said book. We were brainstorming. I had a couple of ideas, One was to do those medieval type drawings of the first letter of a paragraph. Initials, I believe they are called. I drew one up the other day, but my colors from the second sketch bled through my thought to be thick enough sketchbook page. Pshaw. Anyways here is an example. My drawing was the letter B, btw.

The second idea that I had and for what reason remains a mystery to me, but it was of the Kellog rooster that is found on boxes of corn flakes. My sketch was a bit more detailed, but the colors were all there and I guess maybe I thought it was a good idea because the book is about Michigan folklore and such and Kellog's is in Michigan...

I cannot express enough that this drawing will not, I repeat, will not be in our book. Bur here it is anyways. Complete with ghost eye.

5x8

ink and marker in sketchbook

Maybe we could adopt him as our mascot, or something. Or have a bowl of corn flakes. Or something. 

Like I said earlier... from a dream.

Pure Michigan

 

A few weeks ago, we were driving up I-75 to Frankenmuth and I saw a sign that said 'Keep Michigan Beautiful.' And there along the embankments was a ton of trash. I mean, a lot. I changed the sign to the more popular one, but the sarcasm remains. I will never understand how or why people accept living in filth. But, then again, there's a lot about people that I have never understood...

Detroit Comic Book and Toy Show

 

poster/flyer by Martin Hirchak

This Saturday, I will be set up at the Detroit Comic Book and Toy Show, which will be held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, MI. The show will run from 10 to 6.

I will have all my usual paraphernalia, including more original art and this time I will be debuting a new product. Jigsaw puzzles! I have taken my drawing of the Creature From the Black Lagoon, title Kin and mad it into a puzzle. 

The puzzle has 500 wooden pieces and the overall size when complete will be 15x20. It's a tough one to put together, as there are large areas of black, but I think that that will lend to the challenge. I'm still putting together my copy.

As you can see, inside the box there will be another image of what the puzzle will look like. 

Resist!

 

5x8

from sketchbook

Penguin resistance is still a thing, right? Hell yeah, it is. Whatever it takes.