And I thought snood was just a computer game my wife played...

In honor of the meals I'll be eating this week I thought I would take a quick look at the awesomeness of the turkey that we usually don't see. Check out these images I gathered from miscellaneous sites around the web. Just pure snood and caruncle goodness... (Yes, they are real parts of the turkey head but I'll let you explore those on your own.)

Heatherette

Speaking of spooking kids out AND the Wizard of Oz AND gender bending performance artists of 90's club 'fame'(ish)...

NYC-based Heatherette, lead by the design team duo of Traver Rains and former club kid Richie Rich, rose to the top of the established/recognized fashion world in a matter of minutes. Their looks are anti-fashion glam inspired, and they're often absurd, outrageous, and naughty - in a way that makes me want them for Christmas (Please? Someone? I NEEEEED these!).

Here are some pics from Heatherette's Wizard of Oz-themed 2007 Fashion Week show.

Making Monsters Is Fun Work

Max Toy Custom Painted Pharaohs ファラオス!

It's a great post with a lot of great process images and concept artwork.

art history 106: sketchbook

oh! i didn't see you there.
is it monday already?
then it must be time to break out some sweet sweet sketchie goodness.

today's nugget is this crazy face.
...
i have nothing to say about it.

Spooking Little Kids Out on VHS

In the Wizard of Oz there's a part where you can see a guy hang himself!

AND

In 3 Men and a Baby there's a ghost boy caught on tape standing behind a curtain!

I watched and rewound these scenes on VHS a million bazillion times, and, like so many other kids, came to the conclusion that a stage hand and/or Munchkin did in fact hang himself on camera and they left it in the movie, and that there was indeed a ghost standing behind the curtain. It was so exciting to talk about at school. You did it too, I bet...

Well, here they are, in case you haven't thought about them since you were a kid. Thanks, technology, for ruining all the fun...

It did NOT look like a giant bird back then.

This one kinda did look like a cardboard cut out all along. (I didn't really like this movie anyway - the mixture of Tom Selleck's mustache and Ted Danson in general creeped me out more than the ghost boy.)

I Love Leigh Bowery!

The 1980-90s NYC club scene was a notorious incubator for gender bending performance artists. Glitterfied, gay (or whatever), and glorious, these creatives still inspire - they live on in my heart and they always will, damn-it!

Some live in the actual flesh on both coasts and in locations in between, dealing with real life as aging queens. Some remain eerily timeless. Some didn't make it through for various reasons (self destruction, HIV, 'real' life).

Among the most remarkable and sparkleable was the legendary Leigh Bowery, who wasn't American at all (Australian), but whose looks were imitated in NYC in his own time. Here are some great Leigh Bowery pics.

Walking With Dinosaurs

We had the opportunity to see Walking with Dinosaurs free of charge a couple of weeks ago. "We" are adults with no kids, and even for us it was pretty amazing. The life size dinosaurs are mixtures of gigantic puppets, animatronics, and actors in costume. It was well worth fighting through the sea of families to get in.

The official Walking With Dinosaurs Website

T-Rex on Regis and Kelly

Lego Is Life

Look what I snagged! Small Lego art is Big Awesome...

Modern Pirates!

Check out this very recent article about pirates off the coast of Africa! It's amazing! ...and actually kind of spooky.

New Lego Pirates Review!

Yet another of the new Lego pirates sets has been reviewed over at the Eurobricks site! Check out 'Loot Island' by clicking HERE! It features an excellent base plate, some great clothes, a gator, and NO stickers!

art history 105: sketchbook

join me, would you, as i change out of my out-door coat, and as i get into my in-door coat.
ah, that's better. now let's look at some old sketches, what do you say?

today is a big giant angry superman.
with an anime sort of frown.
i can't help but think it suits him.

"A" is for Ackbar

Just thought I would jump into the game with a fun little Star Wars art post... Check out the ABCs of Star Wars from artist Michael Fleming. I've included a few highlights but be sure to check out the full alphabet when you get a chance. Its beautiful stuff and you can't beat the cute little Vader hand in the background of the "O" piece.

Masters Of The Universe Art

Do you recall how important the inserts were that came with most toys of the 80s? I fondly remember pouring over the carefully crafted illustrations they would hold; each one offering me a better understanding of the epic conflicts and struggles I was about to reenact. ...as passive as it may sound, the illustrations really played a big role in igniting a lot of the excitement. They brought life to the characters. Purpose. ...On this note. Here are a few samples of some of the amazing paintings that accompanied Mattel's Master Of The Universe toys. Beautiful work.

The First Review Of A Pirate Set!

Head Over To EuroBricks.com for the first review of the new Lego Pirate Set Soldier's Fort (6242)! Though, be prepared! If you're a fan of the original pirate sets, your going to be disappointed by the addition of stickers (Bricks & Spider Webs), and the retooling of the palm tree. The trunk is now a single piece... BOO! I also think it's strange that a set that costs $50 can have less than 400 pieces. Usually you would expect 10 pieces per $1. Just seems a little too steep. Especially for a set that doesn't feature a costly license. ...Lego, what's up?

Grimlock in High Res!

Better Late Than Never! Here's the High Res pics of the new Transformers Masterpiece entry of Grimlock. I'm still unsure of the height of this guy, but judging from his $150 price tag, he should be about 14" tall. Throw some decast parts in, and you have yourself some XL Grimlock!

It's funny how this will still probably be scaled to about the same proportion as it was when people first got him as a kid. You know, we grew so Grimlock had to as well. ...So in a way, for those of us trying to reclaim our youth. This may be the best way to do it. ...If you were a Transformers fan. ;)

Cool Kaiju Pics I Swiped!

Finding yourself with an itch to make a kaiju army of plastic?... Me too. Here's a few of the pics that I've swiped from around the web that aren't making holding off any easier. A cool note: A few of these look to be early production pics of Gargamel kaiju. Gargamel, is one of the best producers of low run vinyl figures. Easily! I'll be posting more of their work before long.

Monster Monday Pt.4

It's a bit of an inside joke, but I thought Natalie might get a kick out of these. Enjoy!

Happy Early Christmas!

So I thought we still had some time before the new Lego Pirate sets were going to be released, but it looks as if the wait is over! According to Eurobricks.com they've hit some of the various Lego stores scattered around the States. Awesome! Happy hunting to anyone who's within reach of one of those stores! Here's some pics of a few of the sets in this first wave. Really great stuff.

art history 104: sketchbook

join me, won't you, as i peel back the layers of time, like so much... layers of time...

anyway, here's another doodle from an old sketchbook.
a samurai sort of guy.
guess there really isn't too much to say about him...

Nickelodeon's iCarly Shows Me The Way!

Ever found yourself itching to speak with your thumbs and too pressed for time to get out the big words? Fret no more! I just landed a style guide for Nickelodeon's iCarly, and it may have the answers you need. Check it out and see if it may help your 'productivity', simians!

Openly Transgender Mayor Elected in Oregon

Times, they are a change-in for the better!

Congratulations to Stu Rasmussen!

Check out this video interview: Video: Openly transgender mayor elected NBC13.com

Figure Doodle Friday Pt.6

Miniature Adventure - 127 Yard Sale - Part IV

We woke up to the sound of a couple arguing in the forest. "You bring the food inside at night so the animals don't get into it! Now doesn't that make sense to you?!" We climbed outside the tent to find that, naturally, since we had set up camp in the dark, our tent was right next to two giant dead trees that had caution tape wrapped around them.

Day 2 took us to TN and back. We stayed in Lawrenceberg, KY and returned on day 3.

Miniature Adventure - 127 Yard Sale - Part III

After a day on the road, Quincy and I were hungry, and far away from home. We stopped at Our Daily Bread, a restaurant near the TN border. Our waitress swore that she and all her co-workers were unaware of any place within an hour's drive where we could find a beer. Scripture, Christian poems, and crosses adorned the walls. I was too afraid of offending someone to take pictures of them. I read them as I ate "crab" from the buffet with my enormous buttered roll.

Our exit was routed through the gift shop, where I found matching bear ears and muzzle headbands. We got them out to the parking lot and realized that if you push the snoot they made a ROAR ROAR ROAR!

It was dark before we stopped at three hotels, where clerks delighted in telling us that all the hotels for 60 miles had been booked for months. So we camped in the Cumberland State Park. We pitched our tent and went looking for firewood. In the dark wilderness, Quincy, with his keen animal aptitude, found a black widow.

In the morning he set off to catch the spider in a water bottle. He decided against it.

Continued...

Happy Birthday to Super Aggresso!

Our very own Super Aggresso got a brand new president for his birthday. Hopefully this one will be more fun than other ones he's gotten over the years.

In honor of his birthday, here's a cute picture of a little Aggresso toting a pretty cool present. Gets cuter every year.

Election Day Is Here!

So Get Out There And Vote! ...And for the good of us all, make an ASS of yourself!

Miniature Adventure - 127 Yard Sale - Part II

Body art is a powerful bonding tool on the 127 Corridor, and my tattoo was exposed. A man dragged his wife over to me to showcase her calf tattoo. One super nice, lanky gentleman with a three foot long grey beard, dressed completely in black leather (August) nearly poured his coffee all over me as he weighed in on mine. Then he told me all about the one of a sexy lady he got on his bicep 40 years prior with his son. He gave me a lovely silver Celtic knot ring to remember him by.

Among my favorite yard sale buys were glasses that make your eyes look saggy.

Continued...

art history 103: sketchbook

monday again. join me, won't you, in dusting off an old "treasure" from sketchbooks long ago filled...

this is a racing turtle i drew in the title page of a sketchbook. so that anyone who found my lost sketchbook would instantly know i was the sort of man who drew turtles wearing goggles. quincy isn't the only guy on here who likes drawing shelled reptiles!