How time flies when you're...really busy and no time for anything.  sorry folks, been a while.  I was talking to a very creative person today about his creations and the talents of his musical son.   Go support his songs musical skills here...buy the album and support a dream...or just listen and share.   pythalo.bandcamp.com/album/you…

Well talking with him I realized I had not been on DA for a very long time.  Way too long and I've not drawn in just about as much time...that"s Pretty sad.  I've been laid off from railroad a great deal.  On then off then trying to find part time work to fill the huge void that unemployment left me and my family in...but finally I've transferred to a permanent position.  With that stability I hope to return here to DA.

I`ve been trying to work on a project for a friend that is a card game.  Which I'm a the colorist but again my luck has been deplorable on that luck...lost a hard drive, system crash, lost my work...started again from saves...then second hard drive went out with my back up zip in PC and it also fried!!!  I lost everything and have had to start over again...It's been a year and I'm frustrated beyond measure on my misfortune here.  I'm plugging a way a third time and once done I hope to come back to the drawing board.

I'm re-posting my old powergirl vs Shehulk stuff to have something...stay tuned I hope to return soon.  

And thank you all so much for still visiting and the birthday wishes as well...Thank you for your support...

Hello all,

Well some truly wonderful news to announce.   A completely unexpected event has happened with regards to my artwork that went to benefit Stan Sakai.   It raised $338!!!   A true miracle.  Never in a million, zillion years would I have thought my art could generate so much for them...I am shocked,  honored, and overwhelmed.  But most of all THANKFUL to those that had the faith and appreciation to bid, so high, for my art.  I hope that one day I will be worthy of your faith in my work...thank you.   There was no way we could have financially helped the Sakai's, so thank you...you did more to help them than I could have ever been able to do. My family,  and I'm sure his as well,  appreciate your contribution.

I am so happy.   Stan took the time to thank personally on my FB page (that meants a lot to me) :woot: and in addition the incredibly talented Bill Morrison (Simpson's and Futurama) was really kind And 1) liked my art holy crap!! and 2) inform me that I made it into the tribute book as well!!!  What the F!!!   I am in the up coming tribute book for Stan with all the great artists I both admire and work I look at all the time to help me draw!

Seriously,  this is the 2nd greatest honor of my life.  First marriage to my wife, Melsie.   Being in this book Is certainly #2.   A book that helps someone and it is someone I both admire and respect.   A book in which the greatest and most skilled artists of the industry have contributed to.   I feel far out of place people.  

But I am in print...and pick up a copy to see myself and all the truly great artists.  ALL PROFITS go to help Stan and Sharon.   Awesome  gesture Dark Horse Comics,  yet another reason I love that company.

Its out next month.  www.darkhorse.com/Blog/1581/da….

I'll post when and where to order...no idea yet.


Well thank you all for your support.   HONESTLY,  without all of you giving me faves and support which gave me the confidence to keep at my art.  So I thank all too!

Still in shock...
Mike

Hey My art donation to help Stan Sakai is up on Ebay!!

www.ebay.com/itm/STAN-SAKAI-AU…

Please bid and help a great artist and his loving wife recover financially from an ongoing medical hardship.  It is my pleasure and Honor to help them.  If it only received a dollar I would have been happy and as of now it's $27!  But Stan and his wife need a lot more $ and cents to help so go and BID!! 

I have no Idea if my art made it into the art book but if it did it, and if that matters, it would be my first published art.  Regardless I really, REALLY put my utter all into the art.  I put a LOT of detail in everything I could...even some items on the sword are from stories of Stan.  So I know my normal commission rate is not high, but this is to help someone that really meant a lot to me in his art and stories so this is valued beyond a normal commission...

So please help out this great artist and family.

If anything keep going to the Caps site and you'll find many great artworks and some from the greats of the comic industry from Adam Hughes to Eric Powell to fans like me and all points in-between...

Thanks for reading and keep your fingers crossed It gets some good $ for stan!

Mike

Just saying hello and thank you for everyone that continues to come to my page here. 

I wanted to let my DA friends know that the benefit auction for artist Stan Sakai and his wife is going on.  She has a Brain tumor and the insurance is not covering the costs.  www.comicbookresources.com/?pa…

www.ebay.com/usr/capsauction

Some of the top artists of the comic industry have donated art and many other items to help this great artist in need and they are all open for bids!  Adam Hughes, Guy Davis, Art Adams to even little fans like me and others have donated for an art book and the auction.  I have no idea if I made it into the book but you should still order one as all the profit goes to the family.  I will post where to order.  As for the auction it is on going and very thursday more art is up loaded for sale...one day mine will be up there and I hope it gets the Sakai's some money.  So if you want my art it maybe yours!  If not I'm sure you'll find someone you'd love to take home.

On an art level I ordered the art book Figure Drawing for all it's worth by Andrew Loomis, who's book is the one Alex Ross said really influenced him and I hope it does me as well...it's been an informative read so far.

On the home front our Baby had her first shots and doing well but a bit fussy, I'm being bad and up on the PC for a bit so I have to go and give Mommy a break and baby a bottle.  So that takes up some time but I'm working on my commissions and getting to all the deviations and journals time allows.  So be patient with me Speaking of which 

andrewr255

has been posting up the series he has been writing and I have been drawing as commissions for him.  It's going to be a whopping 17 page story and we are hitting 11 soon.  So pop on over and see the Powergirl and She hulk battle continue (only on his site!)  andrewr255.deviantart.com/art/…


..hope you are all well and thanks for coming by.

Hello everyone,

I have not been on very much do to other hardships of late.  Maya and her mom are good and fine and I'm happy to report that both are doing well....baby always hunger and mother always sleepy...I too am joining the later as I am back to work.  During the return of my daughter home we had a major lost. 

My Godson, Dakota, took his own life.  He was only 22 and, together, we where working thru some hardships he was trying to over come.  Sadly, he choose to fall to the blinding, over powering effects of hopelessness and depression.  For a while I was blaming myself (as where and still are others of his family).  I thought that perhaps I was pushing him to far to resolve some issues that where truly tearing himself up inside.  He was a good person at heart just a lot of hardships and problems that where out of his control sometimes.  But he would take that blame to himself regardless if he was to fault.  "I should have been there for this person, or I should not have done this or that..why am I doing these things?"  He was a trouble youth that, I thought, was getting past most of these issues and addressing them.  We had worked at getting him out of bad relationships, back to school, fight addictions he came to realize he had, and striving to be the person and a future he wanted to be and be part of.  On Monday he held my daughter and helped me put holiday decorations away...two days later he was gone.  No clue of his sadness or other clues...I was more concerned of another long friend going thru a horrific ordeal but not him...I thought he was ready to face what was to come, but in the end it was too much, his guilt and sadness even greater...Sometimes our actions can destroy us, both real or imagined, but it is how we atone for them that can be greater than the original act.  That is why I wanted to help him so much as he tried to come from the mire and be greater, to be what we all can strive to be...in the end he did pay the price, I guess he felt it was fitting...but that is because he lost hope. 

We can never lose that thought of hope...Of all the S#!t this world brings it is love, friendship and that small glimmer of hope that makes i worth it.  I had been there once in my life and I knew what he felt, but I had my faith in a God to help me and friends that did the same...I tried to bring Dakota both those but it was not enough.  If I had failed, believed that complete black pit of disrepair that tried to engulf me I would never had the joy of my wife or my daughter and that, my friends, is why we must not lose hope, ever.  It does change, it does get better..then bad again but up and down it goes.  That's the way it is..but it makes you value the good so much more.  I am blessed, to have known Him and to know he was trying.  I wish he could only seen the hope I had...or wish I could have shown it to him in that pit in a better way...

I pray for him still and hope he has seen the love he did have and the rest he now deserves.  We will miss you Dakota and for you we will never lose hope...

Thanks for the hope all you give me here in my art...it has meant a great deal to me.

Mike