The Other Side...

After seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan in '64 my friends Lou Maresca, George Menella and I started a band named "The Other Side".
At first we practiced at our parents houses, easing the pain inflicted on our families by playing at a different house each time.

I can still remember my Dad asking my Mom: "Do they ever finish a song?", as we searched for the right chords and rhythms. We played in the streets, at block parties, birthday parties and at school dances and "Battle of the Bands" shows held in St. Stephen's School Auditorium. We also did a few outdoor shows at Prospect Park and Carroll Park.
Competition in Brooklyn was tough, there were lots of other groups also looking for the same bookings.

In the fall of 1970 me and my buddies rented out a neighborhood meeting hall, The Luso-American Cultural Center on Henry and Rapelye Streets to stage one of our shows. The club was a popular neighborhood location, with a full size stage and backstage area. It was used mainly for catered affairs like engagement parties,'football weddings' and anniversaries. We drew a crowd of nearly a hundred people and played a lot of Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Cream and Rolling Stones songs, all with extended jams for about four hours.
Here we are, together again, nearly four decades later, in front of the still-existing hall.

We're thinking about having a Halloween Show at the same location in 2009.

That's our good friend Chuck Farranto sandwiched between me and Lou in the bottom photo.

All day and all of the night...

So my wife and I arrived early at Newark Liberty International Airport for a five pm flight back to LA, because that's how we roll.

And then the flight was delayed an hour.

No reason was specified.

An hour later we were told in an announcement delivered by the most unintelligible person in the terminal that our plane needed a new part, and it wouldn't get there until tomorrow... BUT they were flying another jet from JFK to Newark, and it would arrive in a half hour.

An hour and fifteen minutes later the unintelligible lady announced that our plane would not be arriving for another hour.

An hour and a half later we were told that the plane was still waiting for takeoff clearance. So we waited. And waited. A very angry lady made her way up to the counter and gave unintelligible lady a piece of her alcohol-soaked mind. Other frustrated passengers chimed in, letting the F-Bombs fly!

Happily, the Mrs. and I kept our cool. I was a bit cooler, but my lady kept her cool.
I've learned not to let this type of thing bother me. If a plane is broken I'll wait until it's repaired. I'll just hang.
But I must admit it is fun to watch the passengers grow stir crazy as they boil over while sitting it out going on and on about the Passenger's Bill of Rights, while they keep screaming into their cellphones to update people waiting for them, sharing their misery with the outside world.

At one point I wondered if I'd died and wound up in the afterlife.
It probably looks like an American Airlines Terminal, right?

Twelve hours later we were home and dry.

Here are some quick sketches made during the wait...

Hey Pilgrims--

ink stuff...

Finally finished!

Thanks to my buddies: Steve, Ryan & David.

Halloween Sketch-- Updated (11/07)

This is the latest. Still needs to be color corrected in Photoshop.
I apologize for stretching a 'Halloween Sketch' out until nearly Thanksgiving. But, sometimes it happens.

Dead-Eye...

click it,
don't be
afraid--

It's almost time for--

Bjorn's been field-testing his treat bag.
Now all he needs is a costume!

Schnozz and 'Stein...

Something from the '80s, kind of Halloweeny.

Thanks!

Just a quick note to everyone who attended my party last night: It was a pleasure having you in my home. I hope you enjoyed yourselves.

"Touch of Evil"

This is one of my favorite films.
Quirky, seedy, corrupt and more over the top than any noir movie ever made. And to top it all off-- it was a complete failure on its release! Isn't it amazing how Orson Welles had such an underappreciated career as a film maker? Not to mention the fact that he was also one of the greatest actors of his time. It's almost as if his gifts and talents never came into focus, was never seen for the wonder they were. Some artists are invisible in their time. Like Vincent van Gogh, for example.

See this wonderful film now in a few different versions on DVD.

And if you've never watched it before, I envy you, you lucky bastard.

Rocket Ride in 3-D...

The immensely talented and generous Mr. Max Calo of the U.K. took the time to create a 3-D model of my little guy. Max is a very gifted illustrator and designer. He also draws some very funny cartoons. Check out his blog at: http://maxs-stuff.blogspot.com/
Use the link above to see the revolving display that Max was kind enough to create. He also has an "Eeyore and Piglet" design a few posts back that will blow your mind.

Thank you, Mr. Calo!

The 3-D model:


The original sketch:

"When in Rome..."

Sketchbook: Disney's Cali Adventure

So, I took a breather with some dear friends/co-workers on an off-site the other day at DCA, a beautiful theme park that's different from its 'sister' from across the way.

I love Disney's Cali Adventure because I've always had a great time with my granddaughters there. It's not as crowded as Disneyland and the surroundings are lush with beautiful native foliage and a boardwalk that in my opinion makes Santa Monica look like a slum.

Plus with the added bonus of the new "Toy Story" attraction it's really jumping! So there I sat with my friends- Becky (she's always number one!) Mi Ran and Rick, happily sketching a structure from the water rafting ride.

I also made this other drawing out of my head (because it's the only head I have) of a kid who I imagined would feel as I would, after coming off this exciting ride. I hope you get the chance to experience this wonderfully singular experience at Disney's California Adventure someday, soon. You really deserve it.

a watercolor for a co-worker...

Every time someone moves out or up we're asked in the art department to create a piece of art to commemorate the occasion. Happily this time someone is moving up. It also helps a great deal when you know and have worked with the subject.

it beats listening...

Brush Pen sketches done during meetings.

new york sunsets

Just a little photographic diversion. New camera. Plus my carpal tunnel's been kicking my ass in lately.

How about some fresh old stuff?

Here are a few concept drawings of the Ol' Schnozzola that I used to bat out in the early '90s. I liked to work in felt tip pens and rolling writers a lot in those days, so please forgive the uneven aging process of the penwork. I also had an affinity for buff colored bond paper. These days I'd much rather use a brush, but I kind of like the feel of these. The rooftop piece in particular shows that I was trying for newer, more dramatic ways of storytelling.

I hope you enjoy them. I remember having a good time creating them.

I've added this last piece to show the original way I wanted to approach the 'Nose, using Craft Tint paper. But I found it to be slippery and unforgiving, too smooth. So I developed the approach used in these examples shown above.

'80s felt pen fan sketches--

While working in advertising and producing The Honeymooners comic books in the '80s I'd occasionally try to break up the monotony by doing fan sketches and sending them to various publications and comic book creators. Both of these were published.

The Stuntman piece was published in Fantagraphics' Amazing Heroes magazine and the MM illo was published in the Mr. Monster 3-D Special.

(These were intentionally scanned at lo-res, due to respective copyright considerations)

silent film stars

Coming soon... sort of.

My buddy Johnny Ortiz, publisher/creator of the Silver Comics Universe asked me if I'd like to write and illustrate an upcoming issue of Silver Comics featuring my character "Alex Armstrong" and his super-team "The Sudden Disaster Stoppers". He even took the time to put together a cover comp to present to me. How could I refuse?

So I emailed a synopsis to Mr. Silver and he gave me the green light.

Armstrong originally appeared in Silver Comics' issues 6 and 7, in a two part story. And soon Alex and the Stoppers will be coming your way courtesy of Johnny and the Silver Comics Group.

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr.O.!

(cover image above created by and courtesy of Juan Ortiz)

My art above, with preliminary colors by Dwight Wanhala from Silver Comics' back cover, Issue #6.

Story art below from Issue #7...



left to right: Ortiz, Beltran, Musacchia & Seeto at SD Comicon '06


George Tuska art/Musacchia color guide, unpublished version.


Nick Cardy art/Musacchia color guide, unpublished version.

silly sketches--