Blog

So, I'm being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the Internet Age. Those of you who know me well should find this amusing. I make no secret of the fact that I am not "technologically savvy". Even my preferred methods of artistic expression are very traditional techniques that date back hundreds of years.  Nevertheless, this “Old Dog” will at least be attempting to learn some new tricks. One of those tricks will be this blog. To begin with let’s talk about my new Cigar Series.

As an artist I frequently try and combine my interests with my artistic pursuits. This is why pirates and Renaissance themes tend to appear frequently in my work. There are so many fantastic models just walking around at Renaissance Faires that it would be a shame to not use them in my work. The same idea applies to the many incredible people and companies that I encounter as a cigar enthusiast. In a time when Corporate America seems to have lost its way, the cigar industry is a shining example of what business should be. Cigar company executives actually care about the quality of their products, respect their employees and actively seek out opportunities to meet and speak with their customers. They don’t manage their companies strictly by numbers and statistics the way too many executives do today. They actually understand what is important for their business. The product they create, the employees who create it and the customers who buy it. This is the focus of these great companies rather than short term profits and increasing the value of their own stock options at the customer’s expense. I have begun a series of works inspired by the advertising art of Alphonse Mucha as a tribute to these companies and the love and dedication that goes into their products. My idea is to create artwork that is consistent with my own personal artistic vision that includes the logos of cigar companies as a design element. These are the first of the series, but certainly not the last. To maintain a sense of continuity, and make a strong statement when grouped together, all of the drawings will be stippled using India ink. They will also be available as limited edition prints on archival paper.

                              Tatuaje Still Life with Skull

The first of the series. I have always been inspired by skulls of all types. They are incredibly fun to draw. So full of complex curves and shapes, I find them irresistible. When setting up my first still life for this series I wanted to avoid the traditional approach of depicting a cigar with a glass of wine or liquor, usually some variety of whiskey. I want my cigar series to be different, but stay true to the spirit of the each company. Tatuaje Cigars is a small cigar company started by Pete Johnson and based in Los Angeles. They make great cigars and have a very unique image. When thinking about my skull project, Tatuaje was the first company that came to mind. Every year at Halloween they release a limited Monster Series cigar named after classic Hollywood movie monsters. This made them the perfect choice for the drawing that I had planned.

                                Pasíon

For the second drawing of the series I was inspired by Liga Privada #9 by Drew Estates. The passion and commitment to excellence show by Drew Estates in the creation of this cigar is obvious. From the selection and blending of the aged tobacco to the craftsmanship in the construction of the cigar, their passion shines through. How do you depict something as intangible as passion? My answer to this question was to combine the wonderful Liga Privada logo with the subject that most inspires my own artistic passion. The human figure.