Art Show for the beginning of the year.

Hey, there are sports fans, Al here with the latest.

From Art Show at the Goodfoot Lounge earlier this month.

I wanted to bring you guys up to speed on what's been going on over the last month or so there's been a new show. It's been up for two weeks at a place called the Goodfoot Lounge here in Portland, Oregon. In this new art show, I will be with two other artists. Erik Bengtson and Jasmine Star. They are really cool people, and I have actually enjoyed getting to know each other, Erik, who is a photographer, and Jasmine, who is a painter.

Four of my pieces have a new home!

Below is link for a tiktok video.

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThQn5Rge/

At the show, there was a total of nine that I can count currently that were sold on that opening day and the following day. It turned out one of my older pieces had sold, which is great, and I love to see them find a new home. And some of the newer pieces also left the show as well. There were a couple of artists that in town that I did not get a chance to know properly, but we're curious about the work and have questions about the medium and execution.

There's a small video that I'm going to attach that has been posted on both YouTube and, depending on which one, that square space will allow to be seen. There are several other new pieces that I'm working on currently. There will be a total of four that will be posted at the beginning of the website. Things are moving in a new direction, by the way, I have been working in tandem with the folks over at Amazon at KDP (Kindle Digital Printing), and hopefully, there's a move forward and getting Richard Parker finally realized as an actual wordless graphic novel.

Mockup of the Cover for The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker. For KDP.

that's  a good chunk of my time last week during my vacation from work and hopefully I will have some more information about that book as the book  with the editors that I've been dealing with back in Florida other than that not much else to report  move forward. Sales are being made on a book being made. And there you go until next time.

The Year in Review: Was it good?

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest:

Was the year 2025 a good year for Black Box Visual Arts?

In all honesty, I can equivocally say yes. The beginning of the year 2025, this last year has been nothing but a success, going from strength to strength, towards the end of the year. Selling artwork is kind of like in a way selling a car. It looks pretty on the outside, or maybe I should use the idea of a piece of candy like a M&M peanut or something like that's great on the outside, smooth and slick, and crunchy on the inside, but does selling artwork make it any less? Every single sale is a high point in my mind. The candy analogy was a bad one. I apologize.

“Escape Art Show at the Flattop and Salamander Cafe.

At the beginning of the I love started with a new show at the Goodfoot making in January this last year and ended up selling the w I'd have to take a look now but probably about nine different pieces all coming up to a ork I total of take-home for about $1600 or so and take-home was actually 1200 which worked out really well for me from the very love hav I could actually afford getting framing and all that other stuff done and still have money left over to spend to be able to enjoy literally one month later I had a turnaround with another show with one single piece selling for $1200 (at the Multnomath Athletic Club) so that was a huge jump then there was a little bit of a ing shows which gave me a time to reevaluate where I was at with artwork and almost the entire collection of work that I've been working on including the 10 20”x 24”. With those, along with a bunch of an a number of other pieces in that particular The Flattop and Salamader Art show, I came home with about $600 in my pocket last year, which has been the best of all, at least for me anyway. I can't speak to anybody else. Unfortunately, I know 2025 has been traumatic with so many things  in the world, but I can only focus on a few things  is the biggest one of

But by the end of the year, things started to slow down. Was there another win for the kid? I had two more shows lined up. The only difference were these shows were, to a lesser degree, not advertised. They were both attached to a couple of places that are now going to be defunct. The first of those was during Halloween, when I had a short turnaround time to be able to get several pieces up for Halloween, and then by the time that show ended, I was able to turn around and put them up for another show that started in late November and is still currently at a place called the Misdemeanor Meadows.

I have been talking to a couple of different curators over the period of time, and because of the price point that I keep asking for for original pieces of scratchboard, they like what they see, but don’t want to pay the price for an original.

This is clearly not true from what already sold at the beginning of the year. They like the artwork, but they don't want to pay for the original. Well, that's kind of tough. I'm not gonna go and lower the price on my original pieces of work. HOWEVER, let's be clear that doesn't mean I can't sell prints for a lesser price. Just means that I'll be sitting on more original ideas, which I didn’t want to do.

I look over in the corner of my apartment, and I see Richard Parker still sitting over there just waiting to be printed. For whatever reason, I keep sitting on it and not doing anything with it. There has been a possibility of actually picking up one of these AIs, like ChatGPT or something like that, to help animate the pieces that I already have for telling a wordless graphic novel. I don't know if that will even be attached, but I still need to deal with that, and then I've had my own share of real-life situations that had me come  a couple with my mortality, or at least it felt like it did at the time. I won’t go into great detail, but there was a situation in which I had to be rushed to the hospital, which really made me stop and think about stuff. But now I'm back up, so I've got about seven pieces of work right in front of me that need to be completed for any given show. I've got to head down to BLICK and pick up some backing boards, and hopefully I'll be able to get these knocked out within a couple of days.  I'm also going to end that time, I'm going to be taking a thumb drive down to Pearl Press and get Brian to print me off a couple of prints, each is a small print run, and mount those to a wood backing like my friend Mike does for his work. I might even try to see if I can actually get the paper to work on my own printer and try.  Regardless of the sales, all in all, the shows have been good. Response has been great. Artwork is evolving, and hopefully, 2026 will be an even better year for me.

The Seven.

Thanks, and this kid is out of here, and I hope you enjoy your New Year's.

The 2fer Show

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest.

To give you a heads up, over the last month or so, Jason Brown of the Goodfoot Lounge asked me to showcase some artwork, along with another gentleman, at a show at Gigantic Brewery, located on Hawthorne and 43rd in Portland.

The show only consisted of us, too, hence the name of the 2fer Art Show, but there’s a reason why I called the “2Fer Art Show, because the building itself is closing down and is relocating to it central location down on 26th and Division.

This is nothing against Jason Brown, and he’s offered me another show. That’s gonna be coming up here next year, which is gonna be great. I’m looking forward to it.

But there is nothing to advertise this event. No hand bills, no virtual advertising (except for what I put out on my own) for this show.

All the images I’m showing for the 2fer Art Show.

This is the reason why I had wanted to throw my hat in as a curator, and being able to take care of business, and being able to showcase others' artwork as well as advertise it and get it out to the general public. That’s what I’d like to do. That’s what it should be done for any art show, but there again is the rub anyway, nothing against Jason.

I just don’t feel like I should constantly have to keep advertising my own shows all the time unless I’m actually doing my own show but it seems like there seems like this could potentially be a stranglehold on curators wanting to share information or anything else for that matter.

This art show will be replaced by another show taking place over at a place called the Misdemeanor Meadows over on 52nd and that’s gonna be with three other artist that I’m looking forward to doing.

And with that thanks, and I am out of here 

Future Work and shows

Hey guys, Al here with the latest,

I just wanted to bring you all up to date, as it’s been a while since I've posted on the blog, which has been the case for the last couple of months.

The last few months have been a very fruitful and enjoyable time for producing artwork. I have had at least four shows, three major shows in one pop-up, and it looks like I will have one more show coming up later this year.

The last show that I know of currently is at a place called the Misdemeanor Meadows, which is another bar lounge that I have yet to attend, but I’ve gotten to know a few people who actually work there. This particular show will feature myself and three other artists that I know of, Chris Haberman, Matt Schlotzky, and curator Adam Sheppard.

I’m looking forward to this particular show and turning out some new 8”x8” pieces of artwork that I’m going to be posting up in the latest for the images that I’ve been able to turn out right now.

Lupo Rojo Blood Moon. 8”x8” Scratchboard

But now I have to turn my attention to how to monetize the work. There seems to be a threshold that I have reached with my work, and now it’s a matter of getting the work out to the general public to be able to see. It’s not a matter that people don’t like the work. It’s a matter of their being able to buy what they can on demand.

I’ve been trying to look into using AI such as ChatGPT to help me formulate some sort of a game plan as how to minimize and use the best potential selling point and place to sell my work on demand. I’ve looked at a couple of sites, but I’ve never liked some of them because the interface wasn’t user-friendly.

But I am looking to get into other mediums, whether or not AI will help me or not. I am still working on artwork and challenging myself with new mediums to add to the scratchboard and make it pop.

I have also been working on spreading out work into t-shirts with limited success with friends.

https://www.stickermule.com/dff417293639371/item/18629413?origin=PUBLIC_PROFILE

And with that, this kid is off to make more images.

April Showers

Hey there Sports Fans, Al here with the latest:

So, the beginning of April started off to a crazy start for me, as another of my pieces sold within the first week of being up. I've been pretty fortunate to have such a quick turnaround for the shows that I have been in.

Images from the sold pieces from the Goodfoot Lounge Show, January 2025.

That means that a lot of the money that I have collected has immediately been used to resupply art materials (more boards and etching tools, varnish, wood glue, and wooden frames).

Posing with my piece while in my work uniform - how mortifying.

Target Earth Add Ons 2 - placement. A photo taken about 20 minutes after piece left the show.

More large-scale prints have been made and are available to be shown at more shows in the future.

Large Scale Prints 18”x24” from Pearl Printing.

I am excited by this process because even though there has been a lot of movement in the work over the last couple of months, I know that the cost is still something that people bite their collective tongues on.

Ouch.

Also, there has been a huge increase in productivity for the work. Lots of new imagery and concepts are being explored. It's as if a dam had broken open and spilled out with wild out-of-this-world ideas.

T-shirts and magnets are the thing! Currently, I have been working with Stickermule.com to produce both. The new “Flick the Switch” tee and magnets (of the same image). The magnets are something new to the list of items that I have been working on.

Flick the Switch T-shirt design https://www.stickermule.com/dff417293639371/item/17510210

In Other News:

Possible job as a curator.

Now this is a concept for me that I had played around with. Over the years I have watched closely how art shows were and have been done in the past from several other places around the Portland metro area and a few other galleries in the Washington State area.

There are several common themes and then there are a few items that change depending on the curator.

Chris Haberman and Jason Brown had putting on group shows for years by the time I moved to Portland. All great group shows gave any artist the chance to present your creations.

Joey Mass was the first. He saw the potential in the work that I was doing for Habberman and Brown in the group shows. And based upon that drive gave me my first solo show.

But there was something else I wanted to do while creating. Curating.

So I started to take notice of other galleries that I had been to around town (Bite Studios or the Guardino Gallery, Verum Ultimum Art Gallery) I noticed the way shows have presented the work.

All this comes down to the choice of stepping onto the stage.

I am keeping a bunch of things close to the vest as I begin my pitch for doing something

AND NOW SOME OTHER SHOW NEWS:

Within this week (the 18th of April to be specific), I do have another show going up this week. The majority of the 18”x24” Pasquinade Project pieces, along with others that have been completed at the end of the Goodfoot Show run, will be going up at a new place here in Portland called Flattop and Salammander.

The outside of the Flattop and Salamander Cafe.

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What’s unique about this place is that the show will be up for a couple of months. Unlike other shows that I have been in the time of place is open 7 days a week but from 8AM till 3PM. so most of my regular show attendees probably won’t be able to come to the show. Like me, most of them are 9-5 Monday through Friday with the weekends scheduled with their pets and /or kids.

But a different kind of crowd might be just thing that pushes the work forward.

Art Show Now and Future

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest;

Hey, so I should mention that the show over at the Goodfoot Lounge started off this last month. It has worked out rather well for me. It turned out that within the first day on Thursday of the 28th, I sold 10 pieces that first day out out of 47. It is fairly remarkable as far as I’m concerned, but that was a telling sign that the work that I have is outstanding and appeals to a lot of people and it sells at a good price point as a friend of mine pointed out to me during the show reasonably priced for a reasonable size piece of artwork.

I don’t know why it’s taking years for people to kind of figure that out, but I’ve always tried to keep in mind that I don’t wanna gouge people for the amount of work that I do when it goes out for a show. As it turns out there’s a new show on the horizon that I have been invited to over at my workplace at the Multnomah Athletic Club. For me, this is a big deal because a lot of people don’t realize that there’s more to workers than just work as funny as that may sound some people think that the people who do the work at the place of my employment seem to be very narrow as far as their scope of Reviewing people who work there that’s very limited it’s as if the people don’t have a life outside of the workplace so they’re always there and I don’t think that’s it. I don’t think that’s a fair assessment, but that seems to be the general way people at work seem to view the members looking at people there. 

"Target Earth." The otherworldly intervention of alien influence on our primal ancestors leaving the distinct racial memory of being probed. Colloquial Title: Tag and release.

18”x24” Scratchboard 2022

Regardless of that, it should be mentioned that workers don’t often get a chance to show up in the spotlight. In this particular case, it shows that a person who usually has been working maintenance at their facility for eight years has a better side hustle that feeds their soul rather than just their pocketbook. But it allows me to hobnob with some of the members there and put a face that they said looks familiar MAINTENANCE OK I get it. This is your artwork?

The Enterprise. A commission from my late friend Steve Watson. RIP.

No, it does come with a heavy heart unfortunately that I have to mention this but about a week ago a friend of mine a commissioner of my artwork did the Sophie the cat piece as well as the Enterprise. No Bloody A No Bloody B, No Bloody C, and no Bloody D. NCCN 1701. My friend Steve Watson passed away recently, which was kind of a big shock because of the way that he went out and is left a a hole as far as seeing people that I know and people who have been a great support for me over the years, rest in peace, Steve Watson you’re one of the best.

In other news: there’s been talk of a new show lining up at a place called The Hungry Tiger. Another bar that I have yet to go to, but it was featured predominantly by a friend of mine named Paul. (He is one of the many I know). He had been telling me about the idea of setting up an art show and he’s also already been supportive of a couple of pieces of artwork and I’m hoping to be able to get those printed off for him today. It hasn’t turned out exactly the way I wanted you to get down to the printer to get these prints made, but I have an original piece of artwork that I’m just gonna hand off to him and say you can pay 25 bucks and call again because I was a dumbass and forgot to make a high image scan. It doesn’t bother me that I’ll only charge $25 bucks for $100 piece because I was being dumb. I’ll still have the original piece and he’ll get a brand new one in the process I think that is a fair trade for a friend for sure.

In Other News; there’s work on another T-shirt, design, and or sticker for "Flick the Switch." This is a close-up piece of juice box with a slight variation to the look of the woman and I think it’ll be a great selling point for any artwork going forward so I’m gonna be making a T-shirt of that here fairly soon today and then after that I’m going to be prepping about four new pieces of artwork. I have three of a 12 x 16 that need to be mounted and then I’ve got two 8 x 8 I’m working on concurrently so I’m planning on another show a little bit later this year at the not-flat iron but I believe it’s called a flat top for a show that comes up later this June and that’s it lots of shows and one loss of a friend, but Art never stops and continues on. Don’t let the drones keep you down. And this kid is out of here. 

Prepping Work - Early 2025

It's been a while there sports fans, but the kid is back with upcoming news by the end of January of 2025, if you haven't been besieged by the drone invasion of 2024, I will be in another upcoming art show for the Goodfoot Lounge again. This time there will be several new 8"x8" pieces to be shown publicly.

Now honestly, if you have been following any of these postings, and if you haven't you should, because these pieces are great looking and highly detailed.

A part of this show will show some of my previous work on colored mounted prints and some older scratchboard pieces.

There should be the amount of 30 some 8"x8" images and then there are the bigger images like Blast Off! and Target Earth both 18"x24"

Mix of 2025 of the images.

There are prints that I will be offering this time rather than the originals.

The pricing of this will be reflected in this as well.

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest;

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post anything on a blog in recent times I’ve had a little bit of personal issues dealing with just creativity and you know that time of the year when people start feeling a little out of sorts but with that being said I’m back. 

I've been involved with a couple of other projects recently. I have a new commission that’s about nearly completed or at least 2/3 of the way done for a friend of mine at work by the name of Robbie Shabasson 

Robbie’s Valkyrie Commission. 9”x12” Scratchboard

, I’ll post an image here.

On another note, I’ve been working on doing some digital and trying to master the art of digital inking over my comic book pages for the Quantum Society. And also have been working on it. I guess what you would call a thirst comic for a friend of my name, Amy that one includes Sadie Sarkus and some compromising positions. 

Page 10 of Quantum Society.

However, art is art sometimes art always takes precedence over written reviews and so on.

I should mention, however, that there are a couple of shows that are going to be lined up maybe not for the end of this year but for the beginning of next year at the end of January, and another show at a place called the flat iron in June so about six months later, I’ll have one of and that’ll be up for three months.

There’s also some possibility of actually approaching some of the folks at the slingshot to see about the possibility of taking over the ownership or leadership of being the art curator there. Nothing against the person who’s running it currently, but there have been some instances in the past that make me question, the whole situation of hanging artwork. 

I’m hoping that the Comics will get done here in relatively quick fashion and colored and once that’s completed then I can move on looking for a natural printer so I can get three different titles printed up and we’ll see if that works out to my advantage. 8 x 8 are still on standby mode but we’ll see if I can crank out a few more before the end of June or January rolls around and maybe even have some more by the time that the June show rolls up more details to follow as time goes on. 

Also portraitures I’ve been looking at some other portrait for some of my friends from the bar and I’ve got another one lined up and I may be doing that here in a short period once I’m done with the commission, but I gotta keep moving.

During Vacation

Hey, there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

It was just gonna be a short entry because I’ve been on vacation for like the last two weeks but at that time is not been unproductive.

I’ve been able to work on trying to complete a bunch of 8” x 8” Scratchboard pieces that is ready for another show that I’m lining up for this next couple of days and try to get a hold of two curators one for the Slingshot Lounge the other for the good foot lounge. 

I’m hoping to get a response from either one of them to be either part of a group show or an individual show if possible I’ve got enough pieces to supply myself with. I just need to furnish a couple more and I’ll be good to go.

On top of that time to reach out and grab a hold of the people who have commissioned me to do a couple of pieces for them once that’s completed then I’ll start having a little bit more money to be able to spend on getting some more prints made either large scale the eight by eights or Prince of the 18 x 24 images in have a lower price but still framed for sale. 

On top of that, I also have Blue T-shirts and blue pins. “The vote for Blue is a vote for you”, so I’ve been fairly productive in the last couple of weeks that I’ve been on my so called Staycation.

Hope to see you on the flip side.

Blue Dog Group

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest;

It’s been a while since I have added a blog to the webpage but I figured I should probably do something because I’ve been so stuck doing artwork of recent times that I haven’t been able to spend a lot of time talking about our new productions on new material.

I don’t usually get into the politics game on anything with anybody because I think it’s a waste of time in my personal opinion - everybody gets so wrapped up in their opinions of who does what.

Makes me crazy.

But instead of falling on someone's sword I decided to throw my hat into the political ring, and state this - I want Blue the Bulldog to be my candidate, so it was with great fondness that I managed to get a great snapshot of him and turn it into a piece of artwork, along with a top hat that Uncle Sam would be proud of, and now lo and behold there is a T-shirt with that says "a Vote for Blue is a vote for you!".

I can’t do any better than that. I also have some pins made of the same thing (image) with just Blue's head on a couple of items. Blue Pin Finished is one item that just got placed up. I'm hoping to have these ready to sell here within the next couple of weeks at my store Alan Bennett on Stickermule. Hopefully, I’ll be able to link the link in and you’ll be able to go directly to Sticker Mule to buy your shirt there if you want. Anyway, there you go some new stuff as always and fun to design. I’ve got new artwork coming your way with some new 8" x 8" images that are gonna be hopefully ready for another show a little bit later this year when it happens I will give you the heads up.

The Blue the Bulldog pin. Swag that is being added to the t-shirt collection.

Thanks, Alan. 

Been a little while

Hey there, a sports fans, Al here with the latest;

Hey guys, so I just thought I would bring you up to speed there’s been a couple of new developments with some new artwork being produced. It’s been a lot of fun because I’ve been mixing in a lot of traditional comic book illustrations, and stuff such as Sady Starkiss, but I’ve also been mixing in celebrity images to the work.

These images are based on photographs and screen grabs from the Internet, such as Debbie Harry, or Sam Elliott, along with my traditional illustration. It’s looking good.

Just a quick update as I am currently working on more 8”x8” images.

Of May and Merch

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest;

Blue the Bulldog. 16”x20” scratchboard 2023. Alan Bennett

It’s been a little while since I had a chance to post a blog, but I’ve also been working on Photos as well as selling retail shirts a couple of times a week, which is been a really fun time, currently, I have a "Love Machine" print that I need to get printed for a person who had wanted to get the original before the show it was supposed to premiere in.  I’m gonna be talking to Brian in pearl printing next week, specifically this Monday morning, and see if I can also get a set up for a couple of other prints to be made as well. Blue the Bulldog T-shirt and the sticker seem to be selling well but I’m not sure how well a Blue the Bulldog print will work. I’m gonna hold off on that one for right now, my piece of artwork for my friend, Lynnie Peterson called "Equal Opportunity" with Sadie Starkiss, being the hero of the peace instead of being the hapless heroine that she’s been depicted as a while will come to pass. But now leaves me with a quandary. How do I make her more of an action-oriented heroine, along with Heavy Metal any of the other characters? I did throw in a spot as an ode to Johnny Vega with the symbol on her belt, so she may be part of that particular universe to some degree.

16”x12” Scratchboard 2024

But I’ve been having fun working on the commissions, and we have some more commissions, but as it always turns out commissions are a one-time kind of thing lots of people talk about them, but only ever if you ever pay for them. It’s also a problem that I ran into. Is that all run and do an actual image before the people pay for them I’m very just get very excited about working on a new piece of artwork for somebody, but then they always fail as far as payments go. It’s something I need to get a hold of the pieces are good but not regularly in my wheelhouse but we’ll see I’ll just continue to keep working on my space pieces, my heroes, my villains, my robots, and keep cranking piece after piece after piece but I’ll tell you this, though, every single one of them is gonna be fun and.

A Vagabond's Adventure.

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest:

I've been somewhat away from the drawing table. I've been dealing with some personal life stuff, which has brought me back home to my old stomping grounds of Eugene, Oregon.

Looking at the old homestead, there are a lot of old places that are no longer there, but there are some that still stick out and remain. Which is in itself is very comforting.

But art awaits for no one. Commissions are exactly that situation, so regardless of whether I am away for a week or not, I still need to work on the commissions. With that being said, I've been really working hard to try to finish off one commission when I've got a little bit of free time. I've got another one in the wings.

But in recent times, I've been challenged to be able to create some new pieces with Sady Starkiss and heavy metal.

Of course, some people would like me to do role reversal on these particular characters, and so that is what I am going to be working on here in a short period of time.

I've got a couple of new ideas about how I'm going to go about that, but that'll definitely be the heavy-metal and Starkiss situation. It should be fun, and I'll have a new piece ready to go for any new show that comes up. I need to get the frames ready for them.

But it may also turn out they have some other commissions coming my way once I get done with these two. It always turns out that if I'm sitting in the bar working on some illustrations, especially the scratchboard, somebody is always going to step up and give me something.

So, not all is lost, and nothing is lost in the bad situation of dealing with my late father's estate, so I'm keeping on top of everything. Blue The Bulldog did really well as both a sticker and a T-shirt.

As of this writing, five t-shirts are awaiting my arrival to sell as soon as I get back into town. Both are extra large, and there are 10 and 13 left of that size. 

So I'm heading home with sales already. 

Now, if I can only start making prints of my large images, I just might have something.

IN OTHER NEWS!

So, a collection of art books has been suggested to me to track the volume of material that I have made over the years. 

This would also include images and stories of the comic illustration. 

There are at least three stories that have yet to be published. 

There are several hundred pages of that. 

This includes "Last Monster on EARTH" (248 pages), Corpse Cop 4, "Death Walks the Stars" (60 pages scratchboard), Quantum Society "Rules of Set" (48 pages), and The Grandfather of all these, "The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker" (100 pages scratchboard).

Revelation

I making prints now; I've always known about this. My ex-girlfriend Beth and I had talked about this for years, and she had been working on that process for a long time. How to sell other works in tandem with a passive revenue stream from T-shirts, posters, and prints based upon original pieces of work.

Sady Starkiss Sticker “Blast Off!” on external memory drive.

My friend, the tattooist, had given me some information about a printer down in downtown Portland that I might want to get a hold of for making prints looking into that so I can see if I can make cheaper prints than where I'm going out right now. I need to get the cost of those prints down so I can make more of the artwork. Suppose I get more of my prints made out over social media. In that case, I can start swinging other ways from having to actually work out a 9-to-5 job and actually start making money off of passive income rather than active income. That was the most significant point that was a revelation to me. I've been fighting it and fighting it and fighting it for a long while now. I realize I could actually make more money off of making prints off of my work and making original pieces all the time, and then I can spend more time making original pieces there for making prints and then go from there.

The biggest thing that my friend also pointed out to me at the show was that they were the other artists I didn't see there at the opening. I was the only one there.

In the process, my artwork also stood out from the others on the wall, knowing this was his description, not mine. But massive black-and-white pieces have a tendency to stand out amongst most of the color stuff, so they definitely stood out.

At the same time, a lot of extra work was done on each one of these pieces, whether it be an 8 x 8, a 12 x 16, or an 18 x 24.

Baby Blue Escape. 8”x8” Scratchboard.

People can see the effort that's done in these individual pieces of work. That's the reason why my stuff has a tendency to grab people's attention. My friend had also mentioned to me that if you're doing the work just to crank stuff out, that's one thing. Still, if you're doing it because you're driven to it, which I know I am, I love working on the artwork; it makes me feel creative and whole and gets a lot of ideas out of my head on the paper or on the board in this case.

A whole mess of 8”x8” pieces being prepped for work.

Remember, I have often talked about in previous posts how some artists are stuck in the creative mode and are not trying so much to work on figuring out how to sell themselves. That's where I've been. I need to branch out if I'm ever going to make it as a successful artist. I need to branch out and start focusing on how to not only crank stuff out, putting great ideas out there but allowing pieces to breathe, and that means making prints, T-shirts, posters, and stickers.

Blue The Bulldog Sticker.

Talks, show and revelations

The biggest thing that my friend also pointed out to me at the show was that they were the other artist I didn’t see there at the opening I was the only one there

In the process also was how the artwork stood out from the others on the wall know this was his description not mine. But black and white, especially big, black and white pieces have a tendency to stand out amongst most of the color stuff so they definitely stood out.

12”x16” “Love Machine” now owed by a new collector. Goodfoot Lounge Art Opening Feb 29th, 2024.

At the same time also, there’s a lot of extra work that were done on each one of these pieces whether it be an 8 x 8, a 12 x 16, or an 18 x 24.

People can see the effort that’s done in these individual pieces of work. That’s the reason why my stuff has a tendency to grab people’s attention. My friend had also mentioned to me that if you’re doing the work just to crank stuff out, that’s one thing, but if you’re doing it because you’re driven to it, which I know I am, I love working on artwork, it makes me feel creative and whole and gets a lot of ideas out of my head on the paper or on the board in this case. 

So many more pieces left to mount on wood and varnish. Sorry about the mess. Y’know artists.

Remember have often talked about in previous posts, how are some artists are stuck in the creative mode and not so much and trying to work on figuring out how to sell them selves. That’s where I’ve been. I need to branch out if I’m ever going to make it as an a successful artist I need to branch out and start focusing on how to not only crank stuff out putting great ideas out there but allowing pieces to breathe, and that means by making prints, T-shirts, posters, and stickers. StickerMule

I think that the show was exactly what I needed to have happen to kick me in the ass and start moving again instead of sitting in my little hole coming out from time to time and get some notice.

A New Art Show 2024

As it turns out, a new art show begins next week. I am super excited about showing work again after this last year's show at the Slingshot. Of course, the other place I still need to show up is over at Unlimited IPA.

Charlie, the curator there, and I still have to cross paths, but eventually, I know that will happen. I blame the weather for the lack of getting over there.

It's been a while since I've had a posting of any artwork or otherwise. But seeing that next week, there will be another art show. This time, it will be taking place over at the Goodfoot Lounge. and I will be sharing it with three other artists as well.

The Goodfoot Ad for next week’s art show.

It has been years since the last time I showed any pieces there. This is from around 2008-2010 I believe.

Most of the pieces have been accounted for, priced, and boxed. Here is the listing of the pieces to be shown:

Original Scratchboard pieces:

2 of ten 8”x8” from the Bigfoot Show Last year.

6 of the ten 8’x8’ pieces of artwork from the Bigfoot Art show.

 8”x8”.

"Splash" $80.00    

"Swoop" $80.00

"EVA" $80.00

"Future Expansion" $80.00

"Future Frontier" $80.00

"Portal" $80.00

"Oh Yeah!" $80.00

"Apocalypto Rising" $80.00

"The Kiss" $80.00

"Bacon or Death" $80.00

11"x14"

"In Clutching Claws" $250.00

"Corpse Cop Rising" 250.00

12"x16"

"Sady Starkiss Lounging" $400.00

"Warrior Women" $400.00

"Love Machine" $400.00

"Seven Ravens" $300.00

13"x13"

13”x13” From Halloween Art Show.

"Radioactive Hornets" $300.00

18"x24"

"Juicebox." $1200.00

"Target Earth." $1200.00

"Duality of the Singularity." $1200.00

"Bacon and Eggs." $1000.00

"The Martian that fell to Earth." $1000.00

"The Unknown Co-monk." $1000.00

"Blast Off!" $1500.00

"Beasts of the Beach." $1200.00

"A Pitcher is Worth a 1000 Words." $1000.00

"The Wode Less Traveled." $1200.00

These are a collection over the last couple of years, from the Bigfoot Art Show down in Molla, OR, to the Half and Half Art show I had last year at the Slingshot Lounge. There are a couple of other show pieces that have never been shown except once over the years, from the Brothers Grimm art show and a Halloween Art show. Both are good pieces, but I haven’t seen the light of day (in a gallery show, anyway).
It's only a matter of being able to get it to the gallery/bar that is putting on the show and handing it off to the curator, Jason Brown.

The funny thing was that since Valentine’s Day and posting an image of “Love Machine,” I already have a bid on a piece of work.

Hopefully, people will be able to make it. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed. Come and check it out.

The Show Take Down

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest;

Well, it is now October, and it’s time for the art show of the half-and-half to come down.

It’s been a good show. In fact, it’s actually been a great show. Lots of great responses from people T-shirts being made and prints being made.

All of this will have a dollar amount to it. I only wish for somebody who bought a piece but can always aim for the stars, and sometimes you’ll get the moon for me. That’s a return trip right now.

During the show, I’ve also been approached by doing and taking some old digital images of Comics that I did in the early 2000s, with the help of an old ally of mine, to rework and sell work online. I’m still working out the details on that right now. I’ve taken some of my other joint projects that are about halfway done for each, working them and rescanning them, reworking and scanning and adding new digital paint brushes to the work to promote and show the way I’d like to see these comics being printed and seen the way I used to read comics. So keep a lookout; there will be new work, new things to show on TikTok, and new items to sell. As they say, I’ll see you in the funny pictures.

End of the Year 2023 - A review

Hey there, Sports Fans; Al here with the latest:

Just a leap of faith!

Well, it has come around again, that special time of the year when you see the old man with the scythe walk away with a downtrodden look, a look of weariness that can only be described as a "Thank God, that's over!". 

I, like so many people and not just Americans, mind you (even though they constantly surround me. And I happen to be one.), am just tired of the constant news feed of fear and loathing of our species: war, disease, classism, diversity, equality VS equity.

And that is real life crashing down on creatives like myself. 

All artists are empathic to some degree; otherwise, we wouldn't be able to render our work the way we do. We are giving you, the public, the heart that beats within every one of us.

But this has been a hard year for the kid.

The relocation to a new environment and feeling settled has always been an elusive goal. Over this last Christmas break from work, I was able to spend some time with my younger brother, who is in basically the same financial boat that I am. I voiced a fear that I never felt settled. There is a reason why I still have things in cardboard boxes around my apartment: I never know when I am going to get that typed or handwritten letter. "You are going to need to move. We need the space ... blah, blah, blah". 

This is nothing new to anybody else, but if you have moved as many times as I have over the decades. I don't feel settled. I probably won't till I kick it- six feet down, ash and all. And I have seen a bit of Death's handiwork that recently, up close and personal. 

And what of artwork?

A group of prints of work that I have been doing along with a lot of swag this last year.

Art has been a trial this year, BUT There has been an uptick in work sales and associated material. I have managed to navigate a show, get the frames for it, and prep for another art show for the upcoming year. The commissions have been a big help in alleviating the finance of paying for the new materials needed for a show. 

And for that, I am grateful. 

So, what do I hope for next year?

12”x16” Scratchboard Commission #3 of the USS Enterprise 1701. “The Mutara Nebula”

That a few world conflicts come to a close. No more war; atrocities are accounted for, and the world's emotions are on a decline. People would stop being rude to each other. Those are always lofty hopes.

But on a closer and personal nature, I would hope that I would have found success in selling the artwork and having successful art shows around town as well as the merchandise that I have been working on currently.

One of the Sunrises in town on the way to work.

And the judgment is?

2023 is gone — no more than a fart in the wind. Things are always going to change; people are going to fight and die over stupid things rather than embrace breathing in the air or watching a sunrise. New friendships will be forged, and old friendships will continue to age like fine wine. 

I'm an artist who loves to draw and illustrate. I love a good story, and I love a good beer. 

I am looking forward to the new year. 

The Last Month of the Year

Hey there, sports fans. Al here with the latest;

Well, it’s October (Now December) or at least late October, now getting close to the month of the end of October and Halloween—my favorite time of the year. There is nothing wrong with November mind you.

Also, I should mention that prints have been made and now not only but also T-shirts as well! UPDATE: AND on top of the prints and t-shirts, I have been working on a smaller idea with stickers! Just a fun little way to get things out there.

“Juice Box” T-shirt design.

I’ve been putting together swag bags for some people who bought products from me. It’s a great time, and hopefully, I’ll be able to get my investment back as quickly as possible.

About

Not to bore you with the absolutes of business, but returns are always an excellent little supplement when you’re putting a lot of money out to make yourself look good.

Anyway, I’m looking to see if I can add another option to the website for clothing and other materials to be bought, so hopefully, I can be able to actually start supplementing my artwork a little bit better than just standard commissions.

As far as commissions are concerned, I have two more in the works. I have one that I just started, another enterprise piece, and after that, I have another solo piece that’ll be mentioned later on. It’s going to be a unique-looking piece. I can say this much.

So there you go.

And this kid is out of here.