And yet another post chock-full of creepy-crawlies and four-wheeled danger! First up is a poster for long-time Friends, Cybertrybe. And it’s specifically for their co-vocalist, Kitty’s birthday. This is one of the few pieces where I felt the first stab I took was less-than-exemplary, and got sent to the scrap-heap. Thus, what you see below!

Next up are two new pieces and a reanimated corpse from last for Toronto’s Zombie Walk. The new images use photos I’ve taken of the Zombie Queen herself, Thea Munster and brain-eating compatriot, Salar Madidi. I tried to class-up the whole zombie flash-mob thing. Hopefully it puts an inhuman a human element on the idea.  The last one’s a rehash of one of the ones I did last year. It’s being resurrected for a reason… one I cannot divulge. Yet…

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Normally I do an update for each individual project and/or piece. But things have been flying so swiftly, I haven’t had time to update about each-and-every piece I’ve cranked out. So instead, I’m taking a page out of a book of one of my compatriots, and do a single post with a few pieces in it. This is that post.

First up is a poster for ToRD. I just blindly threw my name into an e-mail and laid on the shmooze. The rest, as they say, is history. The framework for their posters is a lot more strict than the DDG posters that I’m used to. So going balls-out on one of theirs isn’t as easy  as from my stomping grounds. But I’m always one to rise to a challenge. And below is what happened. Honestly, I liked the original before I had to make a couple key modifications (it was more red, surprise surprise). But they like it, so that’s what’s important; keeping the client happy. And they were definitely happy with the opened can of whoop-ass.

Next up is a postcard for the Lucky Monkey Tattoo Parlour. Originally, this design came from a 4×4″ sticker I just finished up for them, only translated for a 4×6″ postcard. I dig the vertical format, so I’m opting to show this over the sticker (it’s basically the same design).

Next up is for the same people, LMTP. They’re putting on their First Annual Tattoo Art Show called Skulls, Daggers & Gypsies, Oh My! that coincides with the Ann Arbor Art Fair. The illustration was lovingly crafted by Brian Massey (and frankly, that’s why this piece shines). Below the poster is the postcard iteration of the promotion which contains illustrations by Steve Flores.

And last, but certainly far from least, is a poster for a show that gives tribute to a Detroit legend, Joe Scharf, also known as the mighty Meatcannon, King of the Roadies. Meat is no longer with us, sadly. And this show is the kick-off for the Joseph Scharf Scholarship Fund which will help pay for Meat’s two-and-a-half  year old son Gavin’s college. I never ever got the chance to meet Meat in the flesh (sorry, I couldn’t help but be a tad glib), but from all I’ve heard, he was one hell of a fella. All the bands playing the show have been roadied by Meatcannon at some point. Cheers!

And that about sums this up! Hope your browsers didn’t choke!

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This above is merely a taste of what’s being cooked up for the soulful Kevin Quain and his delightfully Mad Bastards. Though not all upcoming pieces will be for said Mad Batsards, I merely enjoy repeating mad bastards over and over. Even going so far as to say bastardo loco for mere shits and giggles. Anyway… dig the image.

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My boys in blood-and-black in Detroit, Graveside Manner, has a new album coming out sometime in June, and I just finished stitching together their album artwork. And let me just say, I’m very, very proud of what the guys have let me do for them. I won’t spill the blood on the entire package just yet, so I’m merely providing a preview of the cover which I illustrated from one of my own photos.

Rocking the devil horns and corset is a model that’s local to Toronto named Ashley Lotecki. The always evil Myla Strange did the hair and make-up, while Miss Lotecki provided her own wardrobe (as can be seen in the previous post). I then used the photo as an underlay and went to town making her red and devilish. A little back-and-forths with the gravediggers in the band, and bam! Mind you, this is just the cover. I’m chomping at the bit to show off the whole package… but I’ll wait. More to come…

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Update: Below you’ll find the full spread of Graveside’s Devil Girl album artwork. Warning, it’s a large file, so please be patient. (I believe it’s 1400 pixels wide, so be prepared to scroll!)

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Well, sort of. I guess a traditional pin-up shot wouldn’t be as revealing. However, these few photos are a product of a shoot I did for photo reference for some album art I’m currently working on for a great Detroit gothabilly/rockabilly band. (That art will hopefully get shown soon.) In the meantime, here are a few shots of the model for said art, Ashley Lotecki. The make-up and hair was done, as always, by my lovely Myla who knocked it out of the park for a devilishly good retro make-up job. Miss Lotecki provided her own wardrobe. Enjoy!

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Thanks to a long-time CCS buddy, Dang, I scored a fun, little gig for Tesco Vee‘s Hate Police. The legendary meat man and his pile of cronies were, to say the least, a hoot to work with. Their concept is to have tongue-in-buttcheek photos of the band as a group of early-twentieth-century hooligans. Well, early-twentieth-century-ish. In any event, between the mug shots and the group shots, I about pissed myself laughing. These guys are more fun to work with than honey-covered chimpanzees. Especially when Leighton made his “oh hellooooo, Mister kitty cat” face. Funny that a band called Hate Police has such a sense of humor.

And as always, Myla impresses with her make-up and effects. Especially with Leighton’s cat scratch fever. She always comes through with the right stuff for what’s required. Even bestiality scars. And since it might be gone in a matter of months, let me also say that the group shots were shot at a portion of the old Packard plant. Seems they really want to tear this thing down, so I’m extra glad I got to shoot a band there. Check out the images below (and as always, feel free to click the big image up there for a larger version).

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One of Myla’s friends (and ergo, my friend) Salar Madadi, came to Detroit for his first time in search of awesome urban decay and good, undead times. And as you can see below, a good time was had, indeed. Salar has his own zombie suit which he is sporting, and as always, Myla kicks ass with the zombie effects. Even got an old suitcase and filled them with parts and fake entrails. How appealing. The best part? After the shoot, we went to Detroit’s own Slows Bar-B-Q for some much-earned dinner. And Salar was in full costume still. Fun times!

Hopefully this won’t be his last trip to Detroit. Even if to just come down and get some of those jalapeno blasted cheetos.

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I’ve actually been sitting a version of this illustration for quite some time now. Originally it was just a simple pin-up that I was making from an old photo I took. Then it became a sort-of self-promo piece, with a logo of mine big and filling that left negative space. Now I’ve finally finished the damned thing (not for lack of want, I’ve wanted to show this for a while, but waited) and can show it off. And, surprise-surprise, it’s dipping its toes in the pond of 50′s B-movie horror.

Anyhow, yes, I know there’s an ugly, unsightly, horrendous watermark/copyright over the damndable thing. But that’s out of necessity, as I’m sure you can figure out.  I’ve had a number of images misappropriated in the recent past. So hopefully an ugly pockmark upon its face will deter the would-be thieves from pilfering my wares. Cross your fingers.

That being said, if you would like a copy of this unmarred by ghastly watermarks, I’m thinking of selling this at this year’s Festival of Fear that’s part of FanExpo. Then selling online perhaps via Etsy. Penny for your thoughts, people. As always, clicken-to-embiggen.

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If you frequent this site, odds are you’ve heard of The Toronto Zombie Walk. Or if not that, at least some local zombie walk in your area which was inspired by the Toronto Zombie Walk. Now, do you know who organizes and promotes said undead flash-mob? That would be the lovely ghoul you see in these pictures; Thea Munster.

We worked together with my very own ghoulfriend on getting these sassy, zombie shots crawling. Thea provided her dress, blood, make-up and gore, and Myla and myself worked on sets, props, styling and that fucking sweet tiara made from real bones. Let me tell you about that bone-tiara… I suffered so it could exist. Second degree burns that have yet to completely heal will always be a reminder of this lil’ ol’ shoot. Myla assisted with the make-up, too. She’s the best right-hand a scattered photog could ask for. And a special shout out to Ankixa Risk for letting us use her place as a studio, even though you can’t tell it’s her place.

Don’t be surprised if you see one of these used for the 2010 Toronto Zombie Walk poster. In fact, that’s kind of what these were for to begin with! Also of note, a little detail which you most likely won’t be able to make out too clearly, but the frame on the little green table? It has a photo of Miss Munster with the one-and-only George A. Romero. Just a fun, little detail I like to throw in to these sorts of things.

Click the image to the left for a larger version and check the gallery of the rest below.

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I love doing these DDG posters. I don’t get to do many Detroit shows, believe it or not. So when they come around, I try to do my damndest. Featured on this particular poster is the derby girl, Yin, of the Detroit Pistoffs. I shot her at her boyfriend’s house and my lovely lady did her make-up (not that you can tell in the poster’s style). Anyway, enjoy! As usual, click to enlarge!

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