Pirates Poster1

I'm doing a poster for "Pirates of Penzance" for the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society this year and am going to attempt to post a running update of the creation of the poster, like I want to every year but then lame out.

I've already created the initial comp with colored pencils that the client signed off on, and here I'm tracing the outlines onto tracing paper so I can transfer it to the scratchboard. (no this photo is not sideways, I create most hand-drawn artwork at a 90 degree angle.)

Scratchboard is basically heavy paper covered with a thick layer of white clay, then painted with a layer of black ink, so you can "scratch" off the ink revealing the white clay underneath. You get cool "negative" artwork this way and get lots of cool little scratchy lines for a nice grungy look that we in Seattle love.

This year's artwork is inspired by the little pirate portraits in the queue at Pirates of the Caribbean Ride in Disneyland.

I went to the University Bookstore to buy a big sheet as I do every year, only to find that they recently discontinued it! In shock, I staggered over to the "clearance" table, and found that they put their whole kitty on the table, for half off! So I scored something like 7 giant 18"x24" sheets for only $7 a sheet! So I can do seven more posters before I retire.

Below: My art director (and future shoulder decoration of the pirate) inspects the work thus far. You'll also notice the pirate's face has been modified a bit. I'm using a certain next-door-neighbor's likeness, especially his waxen moustache.

Aspartame

It's pronounced "Ass-part-ah-may" people!

Geez.

A new post

My boss is reading my blog, so I figger I better start posting again!
Here's a funny headline from Yahoo yesterday. Can't believe they got away with it!

My pet bug, Sigfried

This is my first car, Sigfried, named after West German decathlete star Sigfried Wentz (AKA "Siggie"). He, as you recall, was the bronze medalist in Rome '87, behind East German winner Thorston Voss.

Anywayz, I inherited it from my Grandparents. Herbert (grandpa) had driven it in its early days in 1973, then my cousins Stan and Steve took over and drove it around the area and down to the river. It sat in it's little garage for a decade or so, rusting away in dispair. Then I saved it and drove it down, and...lots more.

Later it tried to kill me, so I sold it. Back to work, people.

Getting hoarse...

...from all these horses. here's another in mom's parade of horses, apparently named "Snoop." This picture shows mom atop Snoop, 5 months pregnant with yours truly. I can't say enough about photoshop's ability to equalize these old pink photos and make them look like they were taken last week. Well, ok this one is still faded around the edges, but pretty amazing, I think. Mom, do you know where this picture was taken?

Cats from the past

I'm not sure who these guys are, but I love the line of the kitten's back and tail. It's the essence of cat, I think, the way he's arching up to look bigger, and looks slightly annoyed. Little cat acting like big cat.

I think one of them is named "Charlie." These are dated 11/66. The top picture is one of those "cute overload" type pictures of the same kitten, obviously rarin' to go hikin' in the backpack. The old kind before they had those padded straps and other luxuries we wimps have today. And the pack was made of heavy canvas and steel and weighed 20 lbs. just by itself.

Suzy and I not compatible!

Before Suzy and I started dating, we decided to hash out once and for all if we'd work together. So we went to Disneyland and got this printout. (That's also the trip where Chris and Angie got married) I forget if it was based on our birthdays, or our aura (say that 5x fast) or what. Alas, our relationship was apparently not meant to be. But we stuck it out anyway despite fate decreeing that we were riding the doombuggy to splitsville. Does anybody know what Cheryl Ladd is up to nowadays?

Chubby Cheeks

Here's a picture of our faithful dog, Fletcher. He was a border collie "mix", (yea I know, just a mutt) and this was taken about 1982. I just had my molars pulled, to kick off the joy of years of braces/headgear wearing. It's apropo that Fletcher is young and full-faced as well.

When I would run around the next-door-neighbor's fields, he would, purely on instinct, chase after all the sheep and round them up and herd them into their barn. Impressive, but the owner didn't like it.

Another Horse

Yet another horse! Ye old photo box is full of them! Is that Jackson Pollack holding him? Or perhaps Grandpa Herbert? And is that a cigarette I see, hmmm? He (mr. horse) looks a bit like Frankie. Arabian? It looks like Salmon Arm, I recognize that steep hill in the background. No on second thought I don't. And is that a UFO hovering in the background? Ok back to work.

ps check out another new post a couple posts down, didn't make it to the top for some reason.

This Old House

In the spirit of old B&W photos, here's an old photo of our house, taken about 1935 or so, in the depths of the Great Depression. People were getting nervous about Hitler's antics across the sea, Benny Goodman was the big thing in dance music, (about to do his Carnegie Hall concert) and cars fit in garages built for them.

Also, white picket fences and lacy curtains were all the rage. Gutters hadn't been invented yet and window technology hadn't progressed to the point where they could make panes more than a few feet across. Good thing someone later took those eyesores out and put in big picture windows...(yes, I'm being sarcastic). And check out those crazy M.C. Escher roof tiles.

Chik-chik-chik-chik-chick-ENS!!

When we moved to Bellingham in 1980, we inherited 4 hens and a rooster. Mighty Meat Makers was the name of their strain. The Rooster was named, for lack of a better name, or any name at all, #1. The strongest and biggest hen was #2, and so on down to poor #5, who was always hen-pecked.

My fondest memory of them is bringing out the pieces of bread soaked in vegetable oil, which was their daily treat. One of us would call "Chik-chik-chik-chik-chick-ENS!!" and where ever they were, they'd stop what they were doing and start an all-out sprint to the front porch where we were. You should've seen how they "leaned into the curve" as they barrelled around the house at full speed.

They were good, if messy pets. The property was always splattered with chicken poop. Then we slaughtered and ate them. They did live up to their name. (One can't get too sentimental living in the sometimes harsh world of the country.)

This old house II

Why we took out the carpeting:

Mom's collie?

here's a picture of Mum as a child (I think?) with an unidentified pooch. Is he wearing a mask of somesort? And are those...ice cream cones on the dog's head? Mum must be 10 years old or so. And why so sullen? It looks like it's at Grandma & Grandpa's house in Tappen...?

Late breaking News! Mom emailed me the rest of the story. Thanks Mom!:
"Lassie, the dog in the pictures, was given to us, and had been trained to bring in a herd of cattle. Saying "go get the cow" set her in motion, and she would dash around looking for something to herd. Since we only had one cow, Lassie would bring her in, usually at a run, with her bag swinging wildly. Soon the cow figured out that she didn't have to run from the dog, so the dog had the cow chase her, and brought her in that way. Smart dog. But running is bad for milk production, so the whole scenario came to an end."

The Schwinn family

Continuing the theme, this is me and me first um, pet bicycle, circa 1977 or so. Note the protective plaid pants to guard against falls. It was actually a convertable bike for boys or girls. Just unbolt the top cross bar and attach it down by the pedals and boom! Instant chick ride. I wanted a bmx bike, but the kind young man behind me acquiesced a few years later and got me the bike of my dreams: The Schwinn SX 1000! Still have it in the garage. Great bike. Thanks dad!

Also, check out the fine physical specimen that is William I. Salas! I think that's when he swam 60 laps a night or something. But he was a male chauvinist pig. At least that's what it says on his Tshirt.

Cyclo & Ace II

We interupt this blog to bring you this special post. I found another Cyclo and Ace cartoon! You'll have to excuse my French bashing though, I think they were just another country besides the U.S., and therefore as good an enemy as any. Yiiiiiy!

(Jackie?), Chan and Mom 1955

Wow, thanks "Mille" for that illuminating coverage of the last photo!

I'm now a little scared to post this next one (while putting off doing a freelance job as long as possible) of mom herself on "Chan" from that same year. Chan was a quarter horse? No, he was a "Saddle bred Hackney Cross" according to the back of the photo. What's that? Did mom own him? And who's the handsome collie? Where was this? My mind wants to place it as Grandma's and Grandpa's in Salmon Arm, but I think this pre-dates that...?

And love the jaunty cowgirl hat!

Horse and Buggy

Here's an interesting photo dated September, 1957. It features an handsome horse in the foreground, held by someone I don't recognize (a young Grandma Gladys maybe?) and a cherry '55 bug in the background! Also beautiful beautiful brick tudor! (The bug is also a tudor of course) This also showcases the power of photoshop; This was all shades of pink and red when I scanned it, and I was able to coax out what is at least close to the original colors. Parents, if you want to fill in any details, I'm all ears.

Pets: Past, Present and Future

Since we seem to be getting a rep. for being crazy pet owners, I thought I'd start posting some of the animals of various sorts from the Salas fambly past. Here's a fun group from August 1983. From left to right: Sugar, Eleanor Roosevelt Smudge, and ChaCho. We trained them to all sit up at the same time for their dinner. It was quite impressive. Note our rockin', recently departed linoleum floor. Kind of gives me a headache looking at it like this.

House from a plane

Wee! This is a more recent follow up to my very first post. Thank you Mowrers for buying a unique car!

My scary face

I had some fun with facial hair last week. Grew it all out, then shaved bits of it off throughout the week. This was the final triumphant flourish before it all came off again. I'm taking off the sideburns too, and going back to mini-LukePerry's.













This next one may be even scarier looking: My silly grin looking at the boidy on me shoulder.