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Sunday, October 17, 2010

"Burn the Ships" CD cover and poster art!

Cover art for Burn the Ships by Ironwood Rain...
CD front cover:


Poster art:

Posters are now available! Contact Toni at ToniB@IronwoodRain.com for more details!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sneak peeks of "Burn the Ships" cover art!





In honor of "Talk Like a Pirate Day" for a limited time, you can listen to the title track from the new Ironwood Rain CD, Burn the Ships, as well as the single, Ages! CLICK HERE!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Progress on "Burn The Ships" cover art!

Working on the cover art for the CD Burn The Ships by my band, Ironwood Rain.
As a pirate, I can't help but love the concept! It has ships, and fire, and more! And there are songs about ghosts (ooOOoo) and Christmas (Oi... BOOTY!!!) and, of course - "Burn The Ships"!!!

Here are a few of the highlights, in reverse chronological order.

The early stages of laying in the color washes:

oooo... look at that melty jungle!

Work on the final art begins! The initial drawing.


Testing the process, the color palette, and some techniques and effects:


Mapping out the space and the key points of visual interest:


Mapping out the distribution of darks and lights:


The concept sketches:

Sunday, December 27, 2009

New art - "Burn The Ships"

My band, Ironwood Rain, is working on the music for our second CD.
The title for one of the songs is "Burn The Ships," In reference to Cortez' infamous act, burning his ships, a statement of his resolute focus on his goal.
This inspired artwork, of course. And here is an initial sketch:


"Burn The Ships 09/Sketch 01"
Pencil, 9 x 12"
I wanted to capture the feel of the smoke billowing from the ship, and the intensity of the burning timbers, while keeping the sketch spontaneous and loose.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Sunken Bones Society's BUCCANEER BASH 09

Avast, me hearties!!! International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19) - the perfect date for the Sunken Bones Society "Buccaneer Bash 2009," Held at Red & Jerry's in Denver.

Our MC was the ever-entertaining Cap'n Jack of the Pirates of Ill Repute.

The place was awash in scoundrels, rogues, rascals, ne'er-do-wells, 'really bad eggs,' and villains.

There was lively music, costume contests, a "Talk Like a Pirate" competition (of course,) lots of swag and shiny objects for sale, and - of course - a full bar with lots o' RUM!!!

I made an appearance, to plunder, toss back some rum, and draw caricatures.

I met new friends, reconnected with old friends (some lost at sea for decades!) and everyone had a swash-buckling good time.

Alas, no one heard my dulcit tones regaling comrades with "Bein' a Pirate is All Fun & Games..." Perhaps next time.

Location: Denver, CO


The band Mondragon performs nautical - and naughty - songs for the crowd.



Many of the attendees found themselves behind bars, including Cap'n Jack, leader of the notorious "Pirates of Ill Repute" (is there any better kind of pirates?)
"Complications arose, ensued, and were overcome..."


Not all went quietly into the jail.


The term "dragged, kicking and screaming..." doesn't even begin to tell the tale in some cases.


The infamous Madame Rackham and the notorious Roger Rackham with their caricature. "Wanted"... indeed!


The feared Davy Jones and crew were in attendance.
"So he wasn't always so... tentacley?"


Cap'n Jack and his first mate paused to get their caricature drawn - and quartered!
Coming soon to a post office near you!


Did someone say "draw???"


Cap'n Jack and Nigel square off.
Jack looks doubtful of Nigel's marksmanship...


A failed attempt at the infamous Will Turner ploy... "He can't die... but I can!" ...
Or perhaps "If I can't hit that target, then I can most assuredly hit this one!!!"

Bearing an uncanny resemblance to "Blazing Saddles"
"He's just crazy enough to do it!!!"
Lesson learned: never use the barrel of your pistol to scratch your head.


Keep a lookout for nefarious upstarts, scoundrels and rogues.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!!!!


Avast, me hearties!!!
HAPPY TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!!!
Now if'n you'll pardon me, I be searchin' fer some swag to plunder!
And if'n ye won't, I'll blast the barnacles off yer mast, ye landlubber!!!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Talk Like a Pirate Day is Sept. 19!!!

I'll be doing pirate caricatures at the local TLAP Day Buccaneer Bash.
It'll be a blast!

Barbossa and Jack, marker, 8x10
"