Bob Kennedy: MuscleMag's creator, publisher, editor and artist peer, passes away.

I'll miss you, Bob. It was a pleasure drawing for you.

-Steve

Obituary article of Bob's life.

Four vintage guys

Who, I'm not sure, and from when in history, I don't know. However I liked the reference and warmed it up a bit. Photograph of my original oversized drawing with some filters and blurring added.

-s-

"Squint" Eastwood. Making my day.

Clint Squint'in Eastwood.

I can feel the heat off the desert plain now.

Ehhhhhh.

-Steve

Sketchcards from Stanleyart

With a little nudge, I can make the pencil make lines on paper stock. It's amazing. :)

I've got new card stock coming up and then I'll begin to sell these little suckers. 

                

Be Well-

Steve

Scott Cranford Superman Portfolio. The Return of a long dormant project?

Since meeting my friend, Scott P. Cranford, back in 2002, I've always believed his Steve Reeves/ Kirk Alyn resemblances made him the solid character model for Superman. Certainly for 8 years the city of Metropolis, Illinois thought so too, as Scott portrayed Superman annually for the city's Superman Celebration.

Years ago I set out to produce a Superman Portfolio and had high-hopes of submitting it to DC for review. Although, here it is, what, 10 years later, and the project is still incomplete. From countless thumbnails, to designing and creating brand-new Super-Cran costumes, seamlessly seamed together by my friend, Lisa Huggins, to hundreds if not thousands of reference poses, and multiple drawings, the project has yet to coming close to the finish line.

Honestly I wish I had a sane reason for the project not being finished and ready to show. But looking back on the years my guess would be that I simply favored paying freelance gigs and fatherhood over this portfolio. Don't get me wrong, both were wise-decisions mind you, although my time-lordship has improved greatly, my kids are older and my interest with this project has begun to come back-- and I want to resume it.

And maybe I will.

Montaged photos of Scott P. Cranford in the process of being illustrated
into Superman. Canson paper stock. Stanleyart © 2005

Sketchbook image of Scott Cranford as Superman, or more
appropriately, "Super-Cran".

Stay Tuned.

Clowning around town.

Prismacolor on red Canson stock.

It's rarer these days for me to demo in public, (let alone setting aside time to,) but I was able at the recent PCS Arts Festival. This years theme was based on clowns & circus. So following the direction of my dear friend and art teacher extreme, Mrs. Duffy, an oversized clown emerged on my easel which drew out many decorated smiley faced students with many solid art questions.

Here's a digital snap right before I packed it up and split.

My most rewarding off-site art moment of the year by far.

-Steve

Ghost 'Writer" disowned.

Bummer to read this about Gary Friedrich. We've talked a few times @ shows we guested at together, and I had high hopes the ownership rights could have been resolved and that he could have been integrated back into the Marvel workplace. Didn't expect this for the outcome. Wow.

----------------

MARVEL COMICS WANTS $17,000 FROM GHOST RIDER CREATOR GARY FRIEDRICHBRITTANY VINCENT FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Judgment has finally been passed in the Gary Friedrich (creator of Ghost Rider) versus Marvel Comics case, and what judgment it is. The courts have ruled against Friedrich, requesting the colossal sum of $17,000 from the one-time freelancer for Marvel in a shameful show of corporate greed. While the evidence is stacked against Marvel with numerous accounts and documents (many of which you can read for yourself here) with Friedrich’s ideas clearly having been conceived before his employment with Marvel, the decision rested solely on the “work-for-hire” agreements signed by Marvel workers back around 1978. In essence, the “work-for-hire” clauses (on the back of paychecks, no less) were a clever way for Marvel to usurp any and all creative rights from those who would submit work, commissioned or otherwise.

This sneaky stipulation worked to keep Marvel Comics in the clear, demanding the hefty sum in exchange for Friedrich’s monetary gains related to the Ghost Rider name. Friedrich has been shafted, for lack of a better term, and all for a few measly words on a piece of paper, proving that in the corporate world, nothing is ever truly yours until you get it in writing. While unfortunate for Friedrich, it should serve as a warning for any freelancer or young comic artist looking to establish a name for themselves.

It’s a shame, and one good reason to reconsider seeing the upcoming Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. We doubt Marvel will be having Friedrich over for a viewing party any time soon.

Original source: http://www.wizardworld.com/marvel-comics-wants-17000-from-ghost-rider-creator-gary-friedrich.html

"Cuz ya gotta have FRIENDS!"

Classic monsters or celebrities in need of plastic surgery. You decide.

-Steve

"Full of Shemp".

Bee-Bee-Bee! It's Shemp Howard! A stooge if ever I sawr one.

Read about Shemp you knuckleheads!

-Steve

J.C. Penney

And here all this time I thought he was just a department store. :)

James Cash Penney. Original sketchcard art.
Copics and Pitt pen markers on cardstock.

James Cash Penney. I kid you not.

Founder of JC Penny's.

A plethora of Pun.

-Steve

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Cash_Penney

Miller's Dark Knight sells for huge money.

I think I swallowed my gum. It only sold for $448,125. And this was during a bad economy.
Imagine if had been good. WOW.

-Steve

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dark-knight-original-art-sells-186468

Get tew duh choppa, Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Hey, it's Arnold or Ahnowd, depending on what country you're from. I've rendered Arnold a few times for t-shirt designs, caricatures and cards, but I've never painted him full color. The attached image represents 1/4 of the nearly finished piece, which I hope to share soon.

Brrr! It's cold outside!
-Steve

Full color image coming soon.

More Sketchbook

Merely to confuse you--by making more than one blog post in one day.

Cool grey copic markers,
with a hint of Pitt pens,
and Prismacolor on sketchbook
stock. What is this?
Oh yeah, 8.5 x 11".

-Steve

Stanleyart REBOOT--and it feels good. :)

It's taken the better part of a year to regain my creative senses and get back to the drawing board. While I had some seriously dark clouds looming over my head in 2011, I'm happy to say they seem to have passed and I'm now enjoying being back in my studio in a creative environment.

Today's attachments are a few pieces from my sketchbook. The finished versions of these comps will pop up on my website, and I'll make notice when they do.

Some will remain sketches though, so, keep that in mind. :P

Be well-

Steve

Full color illustration (cropped) of
bodybuilder, Steve Reeves.
Classic and natural physique.

2012--All new--It's comin'.

Stay Tuned. New look, new stuff, and --new stuff. :D
-Steve