It Gets Better: Dan and Terry

Sexapeel!

I finally sat down and finished one of the Boylesque T.O. fellas -- Patastrophic Sexapeel is the name of this gorgeous hunk of a man. He's new to the team but immediately became a favourite! If you're in Toronto check out the Boys' next show October 6th at the Gladstone Melody Bar.

j.

On the Subject of Men.

I was talking to someone recently about the guys I draw on my blog. He asked if I made them up out of my head. I said I did...and then I looked at my last several updates and realized that I'd lately been drawing real guys I see or know from around town. And Colby Keller :)
Today is no exception. At Toronto's recent Fetish Fair I met the above masked super man (then drew this image from a photo by Tony Fong).
Below are two sketches a hot tattooed leatherman! I absolutely love his dragon tattoo and want to do a finished piece of the Dragon clawing its way off of his body.

j.

Life Drawing!

I did some life drawing last night at the local community center. I really like drawing with the brush end of Tombow markers on regular sketch paper. It lets me go over the drawings again by placing a sheet on top of my rough sketch -- not quite as thin as tracing paper but I'm able to see the drawing without using a lightbox.
Usually I work the drawing again traditionally but every now and then I'll play with the lines and go for something a little less literal (the drawing with purple was an attempt to do this).







j.

Adorkable!

By now you all know that I'm a Friend of Colby Keller (which I just realized can be Acronymed as F.O.C.K which is an amalgamation of TWO dirty words! Hello, t-shirts!) Many posts ago he put up an absolutely adorable photo of himself sitting in undies. Right away I wanted to draw him! Finally I sat down and did it. I'm a little bugged by my lack of likeness -- especially the adorkable smile on Colby's mug. I think I should have gone cartoonier.

For those in the Toronto area I'll be at the Fan Expo Horror/Sci-Fi/Comic Con at the end of this month (August 27th to 29th). I've got a table and will be selling books, original art and a few little crocheted superheroes.

j.

Getting Sketchy!

I've been enjoying a little break from work recently -- but that doesn't mean I've stopped drawing. I scanned in some of the most recent sketches that have been sitting on my desk. Most were morning warm ups as I sipped coffee and read through e-mails/blogs/picture files!



Below are my studies of straight porn star Cody Cummings! I think he's so dreamy!!
Hope you're all having a great summer/winter depending on where you live.
j.bone

Showing some Skin!

This morning I got up early, made coffee and sat down in front of my computer to check e-mail while eating my bowl of cereal. Below is what greeted me:
Grant, of Ink and Leather, tattooed himself with My drawing of Colby! How awesome is that? That's pretty damn Awesome! He'd written to Colby and I a while back to make sure it was okay with both of us. We both said "Go for it, baby!"*
Now that it's done and I see it I am speechless! :)
Here is another drawing of one of the Boylesque T.O. fellas. This time it's Mahogany Storm. Hotness!

j.

Boylesque Toronto!

The Toronto Burlesque Festival hit town this past weekend and I was absolutely enveloped by it! I LOVE the growing popularity of Burlesque. Some absolutely stunning performers hit the stage -- Roxi Dlite! Miss Indigo Blue! Tigger! Cherry Typhoon! Coco Framboise! Just to name a few!
But this is "MAN'S ADVENTURE". Among the Boylesque performers were Toronto's own Patastrophic Sexapeel! Relatively new to the troupe, he's already made an impression -- on me, at least :)
And Dew Lily! Remember that name because Dew is gonna explode in the Burlesque scene. He's already a favourite in T.O. The mere mention of his name drives the crowd into a frenzy.
I'll be drawing the boys as I go through my photos from the weekend! I've got to draw Mahogany Storm and Wrong Note Rusty! Two more of Toronto's favourite Boylesquers!

j.

Hot Cross Buns!

Here in all it's raw glory is another fantastic coloring job by Michael Wiggam! When I opened the e-mail I nearly overheated! Hot sizzling color bursts from the screen.

Thanks Michael! I love it! Oh, and so does the guy in the original photo on which I based my drawing.

j.

The Birth of Penis!

May Botticelli forgive me -- this is inspired by superstar Colby Keller's recent trip to a waterpark and the adorable (and wet) photos posted on his blog.

j.

Pushing Ink!

Not the prettiest profile in the world but it was all done on the fly, so to speak. I worked on a lightbox over my marker drawing from the session with Peter. And speaking of peter, this is probably one of the only "finished" drawings of mine you'll see with one. :)

Above was drawn from a photo found online. This guy has an absolutely stunning backside to which I tried to do justice.

j.

Man-Shaping in Marker!

After the session with He-Man and Skeletor it occurred to me that I might never be able to draw a "normal" model again! Happily this is not the case. I received an e-mail the other day from a model at the local community center letting me know he'd be posing and that he hoped I'd be able to make it out to draw. I've drawn Peter once before and know what a great physique he has -- naturally I had to attend.




A few weeks ago I bought Dave McKean's book of postcard ink drawings and was absolutely blown away by his technique. His drawings are solid but maintain a loose fluidity that just mesmerizes me. I've been trying to loosen up when I ink with my brush. This life drawing session allowed me to let go a little and be free with my marker (I draw these with Tombow brush-tip colored markers). It's a lot of fun and I generally like the results.

I especially like how this one turned out. I exaggerated Peter's musculature, expanding his back and narrowing his waist (trust me, he doesn't need me to give him a good physique -- I'm just "cartooning" what's already there). I only wish I were better with color or I would have attempted a little skin tone. Peter has a great tan line so his white butt contrasted beautifully with the shadows shaping his tanned torso!

j.

p.s. Check out Colby Keller's blog post about little old me. He coined a new term for nerdy gays like me.

Masters Of The Universe™!!

My local chapter of the magnificent Dr. Sketchy's Anti Art School recently had a HE-MAN™ theme night! Organizers Brett Despotovich and Katherine Piro did an amazing job putting this together! He-Man's sword was incredible! (not a euphamism) and SKELETOR™ was jaw-dropping! I sketched like a madman trying to get all the energy the models were bringing to the poses. It was like a dream come true! :)
Above is a sketch I made over-top of one of the rougher drawings. You'll see the original below. These aren't by any means all of the drawings, but some of the best. Or at least ones I like the best.






j.

Fresh Ink!

This commission piece was drawn as a birthday gift -- I had to wait until after the dude's birthday before I could post it so as not to spoil the surprise. You might recognize the guy from an older post. He's grown in a full beard since the last time I drew him and looks more delicious than ever.

j.

Pulled Up by the Boot Straps!

I sketched this guy from a vintage photo. There was just something so sweet and innocent about the guy -- but also teasingly sexy with his spread legs and tattoo. When I get some time I want to finish this one in ink. I'm trying something new in my drawing by adding color to the original art. Just starting simple with one color. I'll post the results after I've played around with the idea a little.

I added some new images and merchandise to my CafePress Store! I know times are tough Mother's Day is just around the corner ;) and summer is coming. Maybe you need a new t-shirt or a water bottle with a loin-cloth clad jungle man on it! (I ordered one of those for myself). At any rate, please check it out and let me know if there's any image of mine you'd like to see added to a t-shirt, hat, underwear, etc... I'm going to be retiring the Vargas image soon to make room for other images.

best,
j.bone

Geeking Out!

If you live in the Toronto-ish area check out the newest issue of SPRINGPLAY! I drew the cover image and a four page comic. This issue celebrates all things Geek. On the cover I needed to show the various "interests" which can find one labeled a "Geek" -- sci-fi (my own personal geekness), fantasy, comic books and manga/anime specifically. The characters are all loosely caricatures of members of the magazine's staff.

The editor, Jeff, (who is also a close friend and the barbarian on the cover) came up with the concept of a universal bar where the Geek is king. The final image includes a model posing as Geeky bartender, as well as a cute bouncer questioning the credentials of the one-eyed giant!

I read the issue last night and really enjoyed the idea of Geek being Chic! And not just the external aspect of it! With the popularity of Buffy, Battlestar Galactica and Avatar there is almost an acceptance of all things which, in the past, would have earned you a beat-down (probably still exists on the grade school level...but that's just part of growing up).

Being Gay AND a Geek in high school (though I was not out as a gay, I was certainly known as a geek) didn't get me beat up but it definitely led me to being a loner. Not that I minded at all at the time. I was left alone to my science fiction, Doc Savage, comic books and drawing. And now I make a living doing exactly those things (Doc Savage will happen one day).

I invite you to share your own stories of growing up Geek in the comments. And be sure to check out the issue! *Which you can download by clicking the SPRINGPLAY link! Thanks, Javier!

best,
j.bone

Buy Canadian!

Act now! Act Fast! I drew this Wolverine last summer, which was fabulously inked by the amazing Darwyn Cooke! It is now being auctioned, and I quote Shuster's organizer Kevin Boyd - "All profits from the sale of this original artwork goes towards the operating costs for the JOE SHUSTER CANADIAN COMIC BOOK CREATOR AWARDS. The 6th annual Joe Shuster Awards will be presented on SATURDAY, JUNE 5th, 2010 in TORONTO, CANADA at the University of Toronto's INNIS TOWN HALL starting at 8PM. "
Above colors are by talented Michael Wiggam -- the original is not in color. I just thought you'd all enjoy Michael's beautiful work. He sent this to me last year and I'd neglected to post it! Foolish me!
This is the original you'll be bidding on if you choose to go for it!

best,
j.

Feeling Peckish!

I'm a chest man. I could wax poetic about chests -- I just don't want to WAX the chest! :) Happily the natural look is back (along with some horrible, horrible 80's fashions but such is the toll of fashion). Men are keeping their chests natural and it's nearly always the first thing I'll notice about a man.
Though the drawing above is mostly about the chest I also love the way it shows off a guy's biceps! Mmm-hm! This guy is actually someone I met at a recent comic-con who, it turns out, I actually went to high school with. We graduated the very same year. Man, oh man! That's all I have to say about that! :)

best,
j.