Relax

Flawless.

Wenquan Liu — Relax

Life

And isn't life sometimes like this, where even good fortune (here in the guise of a unicorn) can chase you over a cliff . . . ?

George Herriman — Krazy Kat

Sometimes Life Just Feels Like This

Wallace Smith —Pendleton Round Up Association
1927

Warm/Cool

I love the warm/cool impasto applied to this sweet portrait among sunflowers, by FH Varley, one of Canada's "Group of Seven".

Frederick Horsman Varley — Child's Portrait

Nostalgic and Melancholy

A nostalgic and melancholy portrayal of a young American idol.

N.C. Wyeth —The Young Charles Lindbergh — 1931

A Kind and Gentle Soul

A really great friend of ours passed away very recently. It was after a long illness, yet still it was a shock to actually lose him. He was the guiding force of Middle Earth Publishing, which was famous for having published fantasy art portfolios in the 1970s, showcasing the likes of Frank Frazetta, Jeffrey Jones, John Severin, Barry Smith, Howard Chaykin, Mike Ploog, and a number of others. 

This was a man who actually art directed Frank Frazetta, staying at his house for a number of days at a time, and actually served as a model for one of the portfolios. I will be producing a tribute to this man as soon as I can make time, and you'll learn more about him then. In the meantime we are greatly saddened at his passing. He was a kind and gentle soul . . . and Harlan Ellison is still pissed at him. More about that later.

Barry Smith — Conan of Cimmeria — © 1975 Gorblimey Press

Mother and Child

Haddon Sundblom, creator of the ubiquitous and iconic Santa Claus image for Coca Cola, painted other marvelous pieces that are not as well known.

Haddon Sundblom — Mother and Child

A Magazine for Adults

I remember being obsessed with The Spirit when Harvey Comics published two issues of reprints back in the mid '60s, bringing the stories out of retirement for a new generation. Seeing those and the one reprint story in Jules Feiffer's book, also of the mid '60s, made me crazy to want to see more. Well, of course nowadays all the Spirit stories have been reprinted in DC's archive series—yay. 

Back in the '70s, Kitchen Sink Enterprises brought the Spirit further out of retirement and into an "Adults Only" version, which was only very mildly spicy. I bought those at a headshop as beat up dog-eared copies. Then one day in the '80s there appeared a notice somewhere that Eisner was selling file copies of his later comics. I sent in an order for the underground issues along with a praising letter to Eisner. I received back mint condition copies, autographed on the inside, and a personal thank you note from Eisner himself. 

Never be afraid to let your heroes know that you appreciate them!

 © 1973 Will Eisner

© 1972 Will Eisner

Early Works—Obscure Material—Unpublished Art

I love this book, signed by Eisner, and I especially love this cover, adapted from one of his early comics. This is one of those kind of books that they'll have to pry from my dead bony hands in some forlorn nursing home (assuming of course that I make it that far).

Will Eisner — The Art of Will Eisner 

Why Did She Make Strong Men Shiver?

Hmmm, why indeed? Al Capp loved to tease, in more ways than one.

Al Capp's Wolf Gal #1

Freedom—Fraternity—Federation

I love illustrated maps, evoking exotic and adventurous travel. I'm guessing that this one is illustrated by Walter Crane, preeminent illustrator/designer of the early 20th century.

Up to the Rooftop

Ah, come my friend, up to the rooftop, where we may take a load off our feet, fill our pipes with bitter-sweet opium and dream of what is and what might've been.

Jean Lecomte du Nouÿ — Dream of a Eunuch — 1874

As a eunuch, that putto with the knife has great significance.

Winter Has Its Moments

A Magnificent Gift

The start of a new year can be like opening a magnificent gift.

Moebius (Jean Giraud)

Some Words of Wisdom for the New Year

The World Hotel

Checking out . . .

Checking in . . .

Oh, Hey!

Oh, hey! It looks like I've got my new machine on line.

I hear firecracker explosions all around, in honor of the new year. Handle them things with care, will ya?

Arline Judge — Girl Crazy — 1932

Love, Comfort & Good Will

Okay, here's one of those bad news/good news kind of things.

Bad news is that my computer is finally kaput once and for all, even after months of replacement parts and repairs.

Good news is that I have a brand new magic machine to get up to speed, so I can finish my immediate deadline and maybe get back to some sort of normalcy.

Bad news is that right now, I'm coming to you from my iPad until I get up to speed, so I can't post my new year's images that I was gonna do.

Good news is at least I can type one letter at a time to wish you all a GOOD new year---with love, comfort and good will!

Art Remains A Mystery

A Treasure

Mucha is a treasure for the world, it being a better place because of him. I take comfort in looking at his work.

Alphonse Mucha — Hearst's International — December 1922