Tuesday is the New Monday!

Truth is I was busy on Monday and forgot to update. So Tuesday will have to pretend to be Monday for my sake. Frankly, it's the least Tuesday can do after all I've done for it.

This is the image which you can find on the CafePress Store clock...minus the numbers. It's from a photo that Josh had taken himself (or perhaps a friend took it?) I saw it and just had to draw it. I especially worked at capturing the scruffy little snarl on his face.

My accident, while Photoshopping, I removed the black layer...and was surprised at how identifiable almost everything was in my under-color! So for fun I'm throwing this up on the wall. You can see just how basic my color is. Nothin' special...I think there are about nine shades and tints here.

Happy Fat Tuesday/Pancake Tuesday! Or just Plain Tuesday if that's how you celebrate it!
best,
j.

Through the Looking Glass!

Some of you may have already noticed this image added to the CafePress shop. I keep changing the name of the image...Mirror-Man, Reflection (for the journal), Mirror Image...anything but "Man in the Mirror". That name conjours up the song by Michael Jackson. I can think of no better way to lose your erection than to think of Michael Jackson. Ugh!

Andy (of Foxy Andy) pointed out another print-on-demand shop called Zazzle. I've opened a one item store there because, well, frankly their merchandise is a whole lot more expensive. But it's possible the quality is far superior and therefore justifies the higher price. I'll be ordering a shirt from them myself so that I can compare them to the CafePress items (which should arrive any day now).
Sometimes when I've finished an image I'll play around with the file; reversing or inverting the colours, making it black and white, applying ridiulous filters. Because every now and then I get something that I like almost more than the straight up final art. I really like the rough blurriness of this black and whiter version and will most likely put it on the Zazzle shirt that I order for myself. I'll make it available here, as well, for anyone else who might want it.

best,
j.

Jungle Adventure!

The adventure continues in this weeks exciting episode! Rimah must re-unite a lost baby t-rex with it's mother; the thing is, mom doesn't trust Rimah and tries to eat him! Meanwhile, a volcano erupts and the flowing lava threatens to destroy Rimah's village and it's people if they don't evacuate in time!
Does Rimah make it back to his village in time to help his people? Or does Mama T-Rex make a have beefcake for brunch! Tune in to this weeks exciting episode of Rimah, Lord of the Jungle! *

In case no one saw the update - I've added another couple of items to the Bone's Men shop, including a clock featuring, what I think is, a very sexy image of Josh in his underpants! Keep an eye on the store for new items as the weeks go on. I'll be swapping out older images for new ones just to keep it fresh and moving!

j.

*Before you get too excited, there is no episdoe to look forward to. Sorry. However, that's a pretty terrific story idea and I believe I know how it wraps up! That's FOUR Rimah stories now.

Pin-Up Boy!

This just happens to be my favourite of all of the Josh drawings I've done so far. Personal taste, totally. It reminds me of a Vargas pin-up pose...not in the execution, mind you. The pose feels like vintage pin-up girl, but with masculine curves!

Josh took the pose quite naturally as he curled up in my studio chair. It was just a simple matter of having him point his toes and raise his right arm for the pose to be perfection. I love how his chest comes down into his abs and disappear behind the thigh. I love the bulge of his calves as he flexes his feet. And I love the playful smile and eyes that sorta say "I know I'm posing and maybe I look ridiculous but who cares!" Josh had the same slightly goofy grin as I drew him.

So, the big news is that I've finally got some product up on CafePress! Check out the side link under my profile to see what I've made available. So far I'm making this Josh image the main product. I will most certainly be upgrading and adding more product as I get images finalized.

PLEASE, please let me know what you guys (those of you who order) think of the end product. Tell me if there are certain items you'd like added to the store (cloth bags, hats, hoodies, etc...) Let me know if there's a particular image that you'd like to have on a shirt, mug, magnet, etc... I want to make sure that I make available product that you guys actually want to buy. So don't be shy about telling me!

Prints of certain images will also be added. I think I want to order a few for myself just to see the quality before I make such things available.

Thanks, guys!
best,
j.

Edited to add: I've just added a few new items to the Cafe Press store, including a wall clock with an, as yet, unseen image! xo

Teepee or not Teepee! or You Loin a new Thong Every Day!

It's Thursday! Officially "Loincloth Thursday"! Today we celebrate all things Loin-y. Looser than a speedo but more revealing than track pants, the Loin cloth is loved for its nearly-naked, not-quite-clothing, almost-revealing-it-all qualities. Popularized by the many incarnations of that famous King of the Jungle, Tarzan, the loincloth is the ultimate in comfort clothing. Won't bind or pull. Doesn't bunch up like boxers. It allows the freedom of "commando" with slightly more protection!

In celebration of Loincloth Thursday I'll share with you my own loincloth story. I don't remember how old I was...possibly eleven-ish?? My dad has always been into hunting and fishing. My parents took us to a hunting club; a huge wooded area where people had set up tents, there was a lodge with a giant dining hall (giant at least to my young eyes). Roasting on a tremendous outdoor spit was a bison! I remember clearly that it was most definitely a cut of meat I'd not yet eaten, and that I wasn't even sure what a bison was but that it was most definitely bigger than a cow. I believe there were several smaller spits with pig, cow and deer. All slowly roasting for the big feast to come.

What fascinated us kids was that someone had built an actual teepee (forgive me if that's not the PC term used today). A real actual teepee with wooden logs as it's support beams, animal hide stitched together for covering and a fire burning right up the middle. The guy who lived in it, out there on the hunting grounds, was an older (late 40's maybe early 50's) gentleman with a greying beard, grizzly Adams friendliness and wearing an honest to goodness leather loincloth. I'm sure I'd never seen anyone outside of the tv wearing a loincloth and I couldn't stop staring. He also wore leather chaps to cover his legs which only seemed to frame that loincloth.

What does he do when the wind blows? Has he different loincloths for all types of weather? What does he wear in the winter? Is it legal to walk around in a loincloth? Where do you buy loincloths? 

This kindly fellow saw us kids admiring his teepee and invited our family inside. It was large enough to hold us all with plenty of room to spare. We squatted around the fire (Is it too cold to sit on the ground in a loincloth?) and he told us all about making the teepee and how you put the fire in the middle so that the shape of the cone makes a natural chimney. The whole time he was talking I'm pretty sure I was trying to figure out that loincloth. He had on some sort of leather underwear so as not to be bared to the world...but I distinctly remember that it didn't cover his butt! I wonder now if my staring was obvious. I was a kid so I'm sure it was.

My parents thanked him for showing us the teepee, we toured more of the club and then ate a huge meal of spit-roasted meats and, I'm sure, some pot-luck style variety of other dishes. I kept looking for that loincloth guy afterwards but we didn't see him in the dining lodge. I like to think he sat, cross legged with his loyal dog by his side; eating a leg of bison with no utensils, no barbecue sauce or salt. Just roasted smoky charred meat. He'd toss the rest to his dog when he was finished, then lay back and watch the stars appear in the sky through the hole in the top of his teepee.

Happy Loincloth Thursday!

j.

p.s. The drawing? Oh yeah. The drawing is ol' Josh as a Tarzan type. I've always wanted to do a jungle series and now I've got a fantastically fun character in Rim'Ah. He'll be joined by a chimpanzee, naturally, though not in the typical "Cheetah/Tarzan" relationship. Fear not fans of loinclothery, Rim'Ah shall return!

It's all in the Jeans!

I like the intensity of the eyes in this sketch. I feel like the pose is "interrupted relaxation". As if the model...yes, Josh again...was just hanging out, maybe about to take a nap and then you walked in the room. He turns mid-stretch and looks you in the eyes. You meet his gaze as you freeze just inside the doorway.
What happened next? Well, I drew the pose and we set up another one. What? You thought this was a session on erotic writing?

best,
j.
p.s. Musclsvg - Loin cloth Thursday! I promise! Mark it on your calendar :)

Luc the Tulip!

Something different today. A few years ago I met Luc Latulippe through the Internet. Luc is an amazingly talented illustrator who's been working in the industry for years and years and years ;) Seriously, I've seen his work everywhere and I always love it. You've seen his work too, you just didn't know it! Luc is everywhere!

But besides being a fantastic artist he's also a slice of delicious Beefcake! Looking at some pictures of him that I saw online, I couldn't believe that I hadn't yet drawn him. Or at least tried to. He's quite yummy. SO just for kicks I doodled up a Superhero alter-ego for Latulippe, giving him a bit of leather gear and some fancy schmancy metal bracelets. I see The Tulip as a gentle giant of a Hero gifted with incredible strength and an unfailing need to right wrongs.

After finishing this drawing I noticed how like a He-Man toy my cartoonier Man-atomy is. I quite like the extreme proportions but in reality The Tulip would have trouble staying upright! Good thing this is just a cartoon world!

best,
j.

Just Joshing!

You wanted more Josh so here he is! This one is sort of tough guy with a smirk...just to let you know that he knows you're checking him out.

We're working on some fun ideas together, Josh and I. So I hope you guys like him as a model. Not to worry, though, that I've stopped drawing other types of guys. Roger Rodgers will appear in something new (and something old) rather soon...at the very least by Spring. Jett is not forgotten! Once I wrap up my issue of Super Friends I plan to use the next month to get Jett Vector back into production! And if I can figure out how to make a PDF I will do my best to put together a collection of art in some sort of book form. I've got so much more art that you guys haven't seen on this blog...and that I haven't seen myself for some time.

This will be the Summer of Bonesmen or my name is Mud!
best,
Mud ;)

p.s. Congratulations, Josh. You've just been given a Bonesmen Blog Label!

Posterior Cleavage!

This post could easily be subtitled "How Life Drawing Changed My Life", or some such equally self-important drivel :) That is to say that often I forget how important it is to draw REAL people...a person who is right there, in the room, with you! I get lazy, though, and use photographs as a poor substitute (although they certainly have their place when creating art and I don't mean to sound ungrateful for the many hours of drawing pleasure they have given me over the years). But when one has at his command the gift of a willing and charming model one would be foolish not to accept.

When I draw from a live model I almost always get a better sense of movement, which muscles flex and those that relax for a pose, and how weight compresses the fleshy parts. I've always had a little trouble with foreshortening, as well, and so I try to draw the model from an angle in order to "work out" that part of my weakest drawing muscle.

I think what happens is I get used to my own visual shorthand, the lines I use for the abs, for example. I like how they look and so I use the same lines repeatedly. Not that I have a problem with doing so but with life drawing I have the opportunity to see different shapes in the body and maybe come up with a few variations on my little shortcuts.

So, the drawing above is Josh again. The Hockey model, etc... And, yes, I actually had him wear clothing for a few of the drawings.

best,

j.

Guy a Day!

Oh dear, my grand "Guy a Day" plans continue to limp along...here we are in the bitter chill of January's grasp and GaD warms it's face in the waning light of August. I had notes and sketches enough to take me through September (probably), but I just couldn't keep up, could I. 

I'm not giving up. August have it's final days drawn, and then I think I'll start fresh with some January images. I can no longer ignore how cold it is. Nor how impossible it is to get glimpses of bared flesh. If you want to see nudity in winter (and you're single) you just have to pay for it...by joining a Gym. What did you think I meant?

Monday's and Thursday's are still my update days, though I'm not always weekly (as many of you know). I'm already really excited about some of the plans I've got for this year. 2009 will definitely see the publication of a sketchbook and/or calendar of my drawings. 

best,

j.

Go Long!

Just a quick little something today. I can't stop drawing "Summer's Eve"...I mean, Josh, the hockey model from last past. Response was positive from you guys so I figured you wouldn't be too upset to see another doodle from my drawing session with Josh. I'll color it eventually. Right now I've got to get some work done. All fun and no work makes me a broke...jerk?

Have a great day, guys!
j.
p.s. He's holding a football...how could I not play off that for the title of this post?!

Hockey Knight in Canada!

So I was originally going to use the hockey drawing as a Guy a Day model...but then I ended up getting in touch with the real flesh and blood model HIMSELF! How fortuitous!

I'm not a Hockey fan, never played on a little league team as a kid, nor have any of my family members. When I found myself reading an article about Hockey in an issue of Xtra it was only because one of the models in the photo shoot was super hot! (There's a teeny tiny little picture at the link). I ended up with these two drawings of him which I'll post as stand alone, non-Guy a Day drawings...for now.

I'll say no more until I get a chance to talk more with him. I'm really hoping to get a chance to draw this guy again.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. We're all back to our literal and figurative drawing boards, eh!

best,

j.

Baby New Year!

I have a feeling Old Man '08 might hang around for just a little while longer! At Javier's suggestion I thought up this little scenario. Every new year should begin with a little whistlin' optimism!

Happy New Year, all!

j.

Chestnuts Roasting!

I'm revisiting an old chestnut with this image. My very first personalized Christmas card was a two parter. The first image was a pin-up girl hanging one of her nylon stockings on a fireplace with caption reading "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care." The second part was beefcake and was a much simpler image than the one below.

I can't believe I had the nerve to send both images to my folks, to whom I was not yet out. My faith in the joke and the "cleverness" of my pun superseded any nervousness I might have had about reavealing myself in such a way. 

Have a great Holiday, guys, however you choose to celebrate it. I think work and family togetherness are going to keep me from posting again until the new year...so Happy New Year, too!

best,

j.

Be an Athletic Supporter!

"If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter." So says Eve Arden in Grease. I can not take credit for the awesome pose in this image. As with the previous Olympic drawings I am using photo reference so any credit for "capturing a moment" must go to the photographer(s).

Now this doodle is dedicated to Super Underwear Pervert! His site is among my daily ref-checks and he recently posted this wrestling photo. I imagined the discomfort the American guy must be feeling standing on his head and cartooned up my version. I remember wrestling in Gym and having my head jammed into the mat, chin touching my chest as I try to break the hold of my stronger opponent. After I drew it I just had to colour it. I needed to see the beat red exertion in the bottom guy's face.

Man, did I ever hate wrestling.

Sorry there are only two drawings. I spent more time colouring than I should have.

j.

Olympic Guy a Day!

Did someone say Gymnasts? No? Well here are a few gymnasts anyway. I'm sorry to say I didn't get all their names. The photos on which all of these are based were all labelled "Olympics". 

I tried to cartoon these guys a little but I can see in the Parallel Bars that I was a little too slavish to the photo. It's an incredible pose and I really wanted to include every flexed muscle. That stomache was so...grrr!!!

We're now caught up to the Alexander Despatie drawings posted on the 19th and 20th. Whew! Feels good. The next set is going to include a few older Olympiads and some fitness models. I've been linked to some really inspiring athletes (Al Oerter, Jason Lezak, and Jared Connaughton).

In other news, I recently saw A Chorus Line here in Toronto. I tell you, a dancer's body is truly a thing of beauty...both male and female. I find that when I go to a show I pick my favourite performers (usually by build :) and keep an eye on them throughout the show. I wish I could sit there in the audience with my sketchbook at hand to record all the great poses. 

best,

j.

Begin the Beijing!

The Olympic drawings begin this week...I've already done a few days of Alexandre Despatie back when he actually competed. Since I am still catching up with my guy a day doodles we all get to revisit those thrilling summer days. I don't know who the wrestlers are...it was a random net jpeg that I used as reference. But everyone knows Michael Phelps, winner of EIGHT (thanks, Javier) weighty awards. I wanted to caricature him based on all of the articles that appeared describing his abnormal physical attributes. Apparently Phelps has incredibly long arms, a long torso, and an adorable grin. Not in the drawing are his supremely quick reflexes, faster than normal pumping heart, and webbed toes.

I've got some great photos of gymnasts to draw from next...and then I think I'm gonna have to come up with some way to speed through September. I've really got to get caught up with myself :)

best,

j.

Howl-O-Ween!

I've come to realize that Halloween is truly my favourite out of all of the Holidays. I'm not so much into candy, but I love handing out treats. I love dressing up in monstery costumes. I love old monster movies...some of the new ones, too. There are still a few that I just can't watch because they scare the bejeezus out of me and I won't be able to sleep. A few days ago I watched the original Night of the Living Dead in its new digitally colored version. It was not nearly as scary as the first time I saw it.

The first time I saw Night of the Living Dead I lived with a roommate who worked a night shift...I watched the movie alone and had to keep looking down the hallway to make sure ghouls weren't slowing making their way towards me. When I went to sleep that night I put a case of books against my door so that no one or no THING could enter. I'm pretty sure I watched the rest of the movies in the Romero series including the Tom Savini directed remake.

And yet I've put up a drawing of a Wolf Man.

Just once I'd like to dress as the Wolf Man for Halloween. I just don't know if I could stand to have all that hair stuck to my face, though. I've seen good Werewolf make-up but if I ever did it I'd want to look really scary.

When I was a kid I saw a bit of the movie The Company of Wolves. There's another film that scared the crap out of me. The scene with the wolf snout popping out of the guy's face! Ugh! And I carried with me the scene of the werewolf getting its head chopped off and it falls into a vat of milk. When the woman stirs the milk the head has changed back into a man (her husband, I think). It really freaked me out and I'm not sure I saw the rest of the movie. Not until years later when I watched the movie on TV and realized from whence came that horrible nightmarish image!!

Speaking of nightmares, I hope you all have a terrifying Halloween! Don't make yourself sick on leftover candy!

best,
j.

Guy a Day! Follicle Guys!

"Mr. Natural" has a full chest and stomach of hair that may also continue to grow up over his shoulders and down the other side. Stomach hair weaves its way into the pants, down the legs and stops somewhere around the toes. "Mr. Natural" is commonly found in the bear family tree although the ectomorphic members are often referred to as "Otters".

From Bears we go to the barely hairy. The "Eyelashes" are little tufts of hair that grow around the nipples of a man's chest and no where else (although sometimes there is a small sprout between the pecs it does not connect with the lashes). Too often a guy with "eyelashes" trims or shaves them off perhaps out of embarassment at the inability to grow a fuller chest of hair?

And finally there's the "Hairless" man. No hair at all on his chest or stomach...naturally. This does not include those who shave their bodies for streamlining or vanity. Those guys have body hair they just choose, heaven knows why, to remove it. The "hairless" man may have light dustings of hair elsewhere on his body but this hair is often so faint as to be non-existent. Also not to be confused with Alopecia which is the involuntary loss of hair. This guy just simply does not grow much hair on his body. It's as simple, and unfortunate, as that.

:)

best,

j.

p.s. I'm just teasing the hairless or less hairy. I happen to enjoy a hairy man but not everyone does. Certainly I would have to sweep my bathroom floor a whole lot less often if I weren't so hairy myself.

Guy a Day!

A little theme begins with August 7th's image...the previous sketches of facial hair inspired me to take a look at chest hair. Above is "The Superman". I had a roomate in college who had a perfectly shaped Superman "S" symbol of hair. Totally untrimmed, naturally pentagrammical (five-sided). This type of chest hair is misleading when seen shirted. The tufts peeking over a neckline, or out of an un-buttoned dress shirt suggest a full torso of hair. The reality: what you see is all you get.

The "T-Bird"! So named because the growth of hair forms a capital letter "T". Hair may be sparse around the nipples and thin out as it heads south but it definitely connects with lower stomach hair as it enters the pants line.

Definitely more to come :) And please feel free to suggest alternative names for the various styles of chest hair. These are simply my names for them.

And speaking of chest hair, Happy Birthday* to RJ Danvers . Clicking the link takes you to the very cute young fella's totally not safe for work blog. He's a comics fan which is totally how I know about him and is my only interest in him, this I swear.

best,

j.

*Belated Birthday, really. This should have been monday's post but Monday was Thanksgiving Holiday here in Canada and I was out eating a large dinner with my family. Gobble, gobble. One of us!