Illustration Friday: Return

by David Finley

 I once joked with my sister, saying if I was ever to get publicly attacked by a lion or a bear, I think it's really funny to yell, "Not again!" just as they pounce on you.

 Not only would it be good for Youtube views later, but it would create an intrigue around the whole thing that went beyond the moment. I like to think people would wonder who this poor man was that was repeatedly stalked by a bear.

 The drawing above was made for the Illustration Friday topic: Return. This was one of those rare moments when an idea for the challenge popped immediately in my head.

 I made the drawing in Adobe Illustrator and added textures in Photoshop. Comments are welcomed here.

Thanks for looking!

-Dave, Grand Poobah of the Haven for Scofflaws

Fun with Photoshop- A Big Pile of Stupid Awesome

by David Finley

 It can't always be high art, or even good art. Somewhere deep inside, lurks the desire to create utter silliness. Sometimes, you must use photomanipulation to create the absurd. After all, Photoshop really is an amazing tool.

Over the years, I've made lots of ridiculous images:

This image has actually made its way around the web a bit, even landing on Icanhasacheesburger, but I promise I made it. I originally posted on a wrestling forum way back in 2005, and made a series of images about fighting monsters. Visit Online Onslaught to see the original thread.

 Before that I wasted a lot of time with MS paint making a Star Wars Parody called , "the Plaid Jedi".  It was a good excuse to put me and my friends in the Star Wars universe in various silly situations. You might say to yourself, 'MS Paint is worthless as a photomanipulation tool!' To which I might reply, ' Good point.'

Although most of the gags were inside jokes, the stories were still a lot of fun to make. Some of my favorite moments included characters like:

R2 Dandroid

Plot arcs like Obi Funn Fizzoli's training:

Obi Funn burns his hand on his lightsaber.

and my favorite plot:

Sneaking into Jabba's Palace with Afro Wig Disguises.

I even liked that last image so much that I did a remake years later just to see how I would handle the same joke now:

A better, more to the point joke in this version if you ask me.

 Of course, my photomanipulation has become a bit more sophisticated in recent years.

 

Well... sort of. The quality has improved at least. But the important part is that nonsense can have its say.

Thanks for reading, Scofflaws. May the nonsense be with you.

-Dave, Grand Poobah of the Haven for Scofflaws.

My Songbird

Words and Images by David Finley

Songbird- by David Finley

Songbird

Cold fatigue kisses my weathered cheek;

Upon sun feathered breasts where spring winds blow.

Her songbird voice becomes summer rain;

'Til my autumn crown becomes winter snow.

-David Finley

Rebirth

Guest post by Katie Finley

About the Art and Artist

Medium: Ink and pastel on bristol.

Theme: Death and rebirth

Katie Finley is now a two time guest contributor to the Haven for Scofflaws. A self professed scofflaw herself, Katie enjoys employing humor and irony in her own creative projects. You can see more of her writing and work on her new blog Potroast and Balderdash.

Don't Let Me Down- The Importance of Telling the Truth With Your Art

by David Finley

Don't Let Me Down: John Lennon/ Beatles Tribute- by David Finley

"Don't Let Me Down
Don't Let Me Down
Don't Let Me Down
Don't Let Me Down"

-John Lennon

 Don't Let Me Down by the Beatles is one of my favorite songs of all time. It is a song armed with lyrics, both raw and incredibly powerful. The song is a desperate plea for love that won't end, and the naked anguish can be heard throughout the chorus.

  With it's lack of pretense, it penetrates emotional barriers, reaching a part of us that has been terribly hurt before, but took a chance on new love anyway. There's a deep truth that you can feel. For those of us who have been betrayed or hurt by love, we can identify with the pain. We too have been there. It's real.

 It's one of the reasons I am such a big John Lennon fan. Although he was quite controversial as a public figure, Lennon seemed to make himself vulnerable through his music in a way that he never would otherwise. In speaking about his own process as a poet and songwriter he said,

"My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all. "

Speak the Truth

 Artists are communicators. We observe the world around us and the life within and document what we see. In this digital age, sometimes being clever or trendy is prized over truth in art, but it doesn't last.

 Admittedly, there's nothing wrong with being clever as long as it's honest. If it's not true and doesn't carry the potential to connect with others, what have you or I as artists really accomplished? How have you reached within yourself to provide a reflection for others to see themselves in? How has your art made a difference in the lives of those who interact with it?

Sometimes What is Fantasy is Actually Reality

 In his book The Things They Carried, a memoir about Vietnam by Tim O'Brien, he often states,

"None of this actually happened, but all of it is true."

  I'm paraphrasing a bit on that quote, but he repeats it several times throughout the story. I was particularly taken with that idea that it would be possible to write something truer that didn't actually happen, than something that did. In O'Brien's case, he experienced the Vietnam war, and instead of describing the actual factual events, he tells us with various accounts what he emotionally experienced, instead. It made a book in a genera as gritty and raw as a war memoir connect that much more.

 Yet, truth is not really about genera, either. Tolkein wrote about genuine hope in the midst of despair in Lord of the Rings, Picasso reflected the horror by depicting bombs dropping on an innocent city with Guernica, and in Harry McClintock's Big Rock Candy Mountain, we see a hobo's desire to escape the hardship of life described in the ideals of a strange fantastic paradise. That's real art.

 It's when we are honest about what is inside us that a true connection begins to form. It's how we, as visual artists, writers, choreographers, musicians, actors and all types of artists make the most impact.

 Artists of all types, let me encourage you to speak your own unique truth. Being vulnerable poses the greatest risk, but yields a greater reward. It takes courage to speak out about something that we so deeply guard within ourselves. Speaking out invites criticism and derision, but it is worth speaking just the same.

 Your voice might be the reflection someone is waiting for to speak to them and heal them in a way nothing else can.

Thanks for reading, Scofflaws!

-Dave


 Oh yeah, and if you haven't heard the Beatles, Don't Let me Down, you can catch it on Youtube:

About the Art

 

Title: Don't Let Me Down: A John Lennon/ Beatles Tribute- by David Finley

Medium: Digital- Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop

 Being such a big Beatles fan, I've always wanted to do a piece of art in tribute to their music. This is the first of a series about songs written by the Band. With this song, I wanted to reflect the raw energy that came from his vocals, so I tried to imbue the piece with an active movement.

The Art and Beauty of the Cigar

by David Finley

 Don't tell my Mom, but I love cigars.

There is an art and beauty to them, their craft, and form. But, best of all is the ritual.        

The Cigar Smoker- by David Finley

The Art of the Ritual

Picture it: A nice temperate evening in spring.

 A refreshing breeze stirs the air. The sun bathes everything in sight in it's orange radiance as it sets over the trees. A jazz medley of birdsong is replaced by the tiny violins of cricket chirps.

 You and a group of your closest friends sit on the porch huddled around a table as the fireflies and stars begin to twinkle like Christmas lights.

 You peruse the inventory of cigars displayed on the table examining them for size, length, color and label before finally electing your prize. Raising it to your nose in victory, the aromas of earth, spice, leather, and a hint of wood drift toward your senses like snowflakes.

 It is the joy of the selection process. It's the anticipation of what the cigar will be, and the moment where potential is poised on a cliff above realization.

 A simple slice, punch, or snip opens the cigar tip. Followed by the scratch and crackle of a match as it releases flame and wisps of brimstone. The cylinder of tightly wrapped tobacco is slowly dipped and rotated in the small flame pooling on the match edge. You put the cigar to your mouth drawing air through dried leaf until it ignites, sending the first hints of smoke to bathe your tongue. A few more draws ensures a good even burn as smoke swirls through your mouth before escaping in a contented sigh.

 As you and your friends take your first few draws of smoke, a quiet settles over everyone. The gentle whispers of deep thought, philosophy, and life begin to form in a swirl of discussion, where men are bonded by flame and smoke. And, time becomes frozen like glass.

My First Cigar: the Ashton

 

 My first cigar was a churchill made by Ashton. It was a light, well made, tawny cigar that produced a mild, mellow and flavorful smoke. Churchill, in this case, refers to the length and size of the cigar.

 It was the summer before I married my wife. Several of my friends had begun to collect cigars, and the notion of it had seduced me. I've never been a smoker, but cigars have always had a manly and sophisticated appeal to me in a way that cigarettes never have. Plus, I was ready for a new experience. So, I took the leap (with my wife's blessing) and fell in love with these smokey treats.

 As I sat with two of my friends, drawing delicious smoke into my mouth through my first cigar, the appeal of them began to wash over me. Cigars, especially the longer ones, take a long time to smoke. You have to stop what you're doing for at least an hour to smoke a churchill like the one pictured above. It makes you slow down from the rigors and stresses of your life to enjoy the moment at hand.

 I also enjoy that you are only supposed to take cigar smoke into your mouth, and not into your lungs. It's more about flavor, which adds to the atmosphere of appreciation that cigars carry with them.

 As far as that Ashton is concerned, it is still one of my favorites, but there is one brand that slightly edges it out of the top spot on my list:

Rocky Patel

 No matter how many different varieties of Rocky Patels have come my way, all of them have been excellent.

 A good and well crafted cigar will produce a long ash when smoked, (which you don't want to flick off until absolutely necessary) and as you can see from the picture above, Rocky Patel cigars don't disappoint. They also age their cigars and distribute vintage varieties.

 I promise that neither Rocky Patel or Ashton are sending me endorsements for saying any of this. I just like them a lot. You can, visit their websites and see more of their catalog at the following links:

Rocky Patel

Ashton Cigars

Winston Churchill

 A great deal of the lore and romance of cigars can be attributed to guys like Winston Churchill. Just look at the guy. He personifies great leadership, manly determination, and great big mountains of awesome. I mean, as Prime Minister he took on Hitler and did not falter. Let that sink in for a second.

 He is the cigar smoker personified. He's so synonymous with cigars that they named brands and lengths of cigars after him.

 Here's a witty quote of his about his own ritual involving cigars, which I don't subscribe to myself. My own cigar experiences tend to be spread out between much longer spans of time, but I enjoy his words just the same.

"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them." 

-Winston Churchill

An object of Beauty

 Hopefully you can now see how a simple cigar can be a work of art and beauty. I close my article with a link to an info graphic that explains how to select, and smoke a cigar. Just click the picture below to take you there.

Thanks for reading, my fellow Scofflaws.

-Dave, Grand Poobah of the Haven

Say Somethin'- A Guide to Writing Music

Guest Article by Andrew Garner

I went down to the sacred store,

Where I’d heard the music years before,

But the man there said the music wouldn’t play.

 - Don McLean

Songwriter- by David Finley

 For most of us this song (American Pie) is one of the longest we’ve ever heard.  Yet, for all of its detailed writing with whimsical and apocalyptic imagery, hidden metaphors and broad range of emotions, the base of the message is beautifully encapsulated in this one simple line.

 As a songwriter it is often a temptation to devise complex story with intricate wording and rhythm creating a grand opus that millions will adore for generations to come! ...eh hem… sorry I got carried away.  In truth that kind of grandiosity is only achieved with a fundamental emotional connection.   

To connect with people you must find a common ground.  

 In songwriting (I have found) this oftentimes comes in very simple statements or ideas. Let’s take a look at some other songs to illustrate: 

Satisfaction- The Rolling Stones

 The era this song was written in definitely connects with its message.  As the years have gone by this song has only gained popularity in the always bigger-and-better ideals of western culture.

 Hey Jude- The Beatles

 With simple lines like “Take a sad song and make it better”  “Don’t be afraid” “Don’t let me down”, it’s simple encouragement culminated into expectation.  This is not just emotional but something we all need.

Blowin’ in the Wind- Bob Dylan  

 Asking so many of life’s persistently unanswered questions, the writer gives a simple and profound answer for us all.

   

  None of this is to say that detailed and heavy lyrics are no good.  Let’s go back to American Pie.  The “simple” line I quoted at the beginning wouldn’t have been so poignant if it didn’t have the support of the verses preceding it.  We find that-like everything else in life-we must find the balance.

 We need to focus on the simplistic, sometimes even obvious, elements of our surroundings-  What we know is true.  And if you’re like me, you subscribe to the Keats philosophy. It’s the only way to find beauty.   

 And isn’t that what art is all about?

 Thanks for reading all you crazy ne’er-do-wells!

Andrew Garner is a songwriter, musician, and actor living in central Florida.  You can find more about him and his music on the following links:

Reverb Nation

Andrew's Legend Facebook Page

Illustration Friday- Shades: The Rainy City at Night

Words and Image by David Finley

 How would you express a feeling of grief combined with a hope for something better?

 Would you write poetry or a song, or like me, are you the type of person who can only get your deepest feelings sorted out on the canvas or drawing table?

The Rainy City at Night- by David Finley

This abstract painting is being posted here for the first time. A few years ago I lost a friend to death and illness. He was a friend that I had grown close with in a very short time. It was not unexpected because he was very ill when I met him, and as a result, my pain associated with his passing was very complicated. Words were insufficient to sort out my own feelings. While I was sad, I was grateful that his suffering had ended. So, I painted.

 It is a piece about grief, but it also is about hope, faith, and life. For me, it was a prayer because I felt so adrift and alone when I painted it.

Illustration Friday

 I've posted this piece for this week's illustration Friday's topic because our feelings take on so many different shades. It's not always black and white. Art gives us a means to express ourselves in deep ways. Art helps bring understanding to our pain. Whether through the various tones of music, dance, narrative, or visual art, it is the voice that cries out when we need to express ourselves in a deeper way. It helps us share what we feel with others, and lets others connect, knowing they aren't alone in their own feelings.

  So, how would you express yourself? Would you paint a picture, write music, light a fire, or choreograph a dance? What is the story that you could only tell through art?

-Dave

An Artist and his Dog

Words and Illustration by David Finley

 Are you a dog person or a cat person?

 After years of being just a "cat" person, I am now the proud parent of a dog. Her name is Mable, and she's probably the best case scenario dog for a cat person like myself. She doesn't bark, she's house-trained, and she is well behaved.

 Of course, my cat hates her.

New Territory

To be honest having a dog is weird for me. As I said, I favor cats. Dogs tend to be high maintenance, and need a good deal more attention. I like the independent nature of cats, and how they also seem innocently evil in a way.

Skelly- by David Finley

My cat Skelly, who died a few months ago, personified my ideal animal companion. He was the perfect blend of attentiveness without being needy or aloof. He was a cat with dog-like qualities, and he is still by far my favorite pet of all time. Skelly was a muse of mine. He has been featured in more of my art, from fine-art to illustration, than anyone, human or animal. I still miss waking up to his purrs as he would sit on my chest staring at my face, patiently waiting for me to rouse.

 So, when he died, I knew I wasn't emotionally ready to get another cat to replace him. Still, we didn't want our other cat, Bea to be alone so my wife seized on the opportunity to suggest a dog, which I had keenly avoided before by saying we had enough pets already. And, that leads me to where I am now.

Life With a Dog

 Although I resisted it, living with a dog has its advantages. Despite her animosity toward Mable, Bea has perked up quite a bit since a dog came into our house. It's been healthy for me, too. While I don't like waking up at six or seven in the morning to take her outside, I think my favorite thing so far is taking Mable on afternoon walks. She just enjoys them so much and I can't help but feel her good mood infects me as well.

 I've met more of my neighbors in the last week than I have in the two months since we have lived here. And, I don't know if it is due to the exercise or the fresh air, but I've been feeling more energized and creative.

That's good for my art.

Today's Featured Illustration: Dog Versus Cat

 As you can see from today's featured illustration, and yesterday's illustration, I've been on a bit of a Japanese print experiment kick. I'm not quite where I want the experiment to go with the images I've made this way so far, but it's fun learning. I like the idea of eventually using a Japanese print- based style that depicts life in modern America. I think that strange blend helps make a commentary of sorts. Today's piece is a bit more cartoony than I originally intended, but it gets close to that old print feel in places.

 What do you guys think? Has anyone else out there opened up their home to a dog after being a cat person for years? I'd love to hear your comments, stories, and feedback.

Thanks for reading!

Blog Like a Samurai- Do the Work

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Words and Images by David Finley

 The Samurai

A lone man raises from his crouch as a sentinel amidst a garden blanketed in the petals of cherry blossoms. Concentration has bolted his eyes shut, his body inanimate. A calloused and colorless finger begins to trace the worn and engraved bone handle of his sword as his ears decode the wind's secrets. A dry twig calls out in barely audible alarm as it snaps. Slowly he turns. His oyster shell eyelids reveal two keen black pearl eyes.

 The lone man's sword screams in shrill anguish as it leaves its home, becoming the wind itself. There is blood, so much blood... and dirt.

The garden sleeps in silence once more.

"The Samurai" digital- David Finley

  
Ninjas Get All the Attention

 The 1980's were the decade of my childhood. Then, ninja movies seemed to pour out of Hollywood like a fountain. For some reason, with the exception of four mutated turtles most of those ninjas were American and weren't assassins of stealth like the historical version born from the shadows of feudal Japan. Instead, they were blue eyed white-bread karate guys in ninja suits with American flag headbands, who existed for the sole purpose of kicking the Russian's asses.

 Did you know a throwing star can plug a tank barrel and down a helicopter? Me either.

 As I reached adolescence, I can't tell you how disappointed I was to learn that ninjas weren't heroes at all. Instead, the Samurai should have been the hero of choice. Samurai lived by Bushido, a moral code emphasizing virtue. They were disciplined, diligent, and would enter battle without fear of death no matter the odds.

Become a Samurai

 You don't become a Samurai overnight. It is years of constant hard work. Swinging a sword without cutting yourself is hard. And, it's much the same for most any profession worth pursuing. In my case it's art and writing.

 I'll confess, there are times in my life when I've waited for inspiration, and waited for someone to "discover me". I enjoy fantasizing about what might be. Fantasies are wonderful because they bring us pleasure without the sacrifice and hard work that life requires. In the last few years, I've learned, mostly the hard way, that the only way to accomplish your dreams is to actually start doing them. For me that means drawing, painting, or writing almost every day whether I want to or not, and whether I have any actual ideas or not.

 So, I will blog like a samurai. I will draw, paint, write, and conceptualize like a samurai. My brush is my katana. Everyday will be another step closer to what I'm trying to accomplish. When creative opposition or writer's block comes my way, I will wade into the fray without fear.

 I encourage you, my scofflaw friends, to do the same. Raise your brush, your guitar, your ballet slipper, your keyboard: whatever your samurai sword might be, and boldly fight the nagging fears, the procrastination urges, and the creative depression that would seek to stop you.

 Don't worry about being brilliant overnight. Don't wait for the big ideas or perfect scenarios before you start. Just go for it. Do the work. Do it right now.

 I close this article with a quote from the brilliant artist, Chuck Close, who sums up the whole concept perfectly.

“The advice I like to give young artists, or really anybody who'll listen to me, is not to wait around for inspiration. Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and get to work.

If you wait around for the clouds to part and a bolt of lightning to strike you in the brain, you are not going to make an awful lot of work. All the best ideas come out of the process; they come out of the work itself. Things occur to you.

If you're sitting around trying to dream up a great art idea, you can sit there a long time before anything happens. But if you just get to work, something will occur to you and something else will occur to you and something else that you reject will push you in another direction. Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive. You feel like you need this great idea before you can get down to work, and I find that's almost never the case.”

- Chuck Close

 Thanks for reading!

Dave, Grand Poobah of the Haven for Scofflaws

Just Like Starting Over- A Year Later

Words and Images by David Finley

 A year ago this week, my life changed.

 It changed both swiftly and painfully. Physically, I became broken. The rigors of life, stresses of my job, and the emotional scars of my past gathered in alliance, forming an assault against me.

 Waves of pain as I had never known before coursed through bone, nerve, and muscle traveling from my neck, down and up the left side of my back and shoulder, and back down my left arm. I couldn't lay down. I couldn't bend or turn my neck. I was unable to recline and sleep was all but impossible. My left arm began to noticeably atrophy and shrink. 

 All I could do was sit and concentrate on enduring and fighting my pain. And the pain... it just never stopped or eased at all.

 Nearly two weeks later, the pain mercifully dimmed. It still hurt a lot, and although I was still unable to lay down, I could recline somewhat, able to claim my first uninterrupted hour of sleep since the whole ordeal began. For the next week my sleep came in short bursts of two to four hours a night, but I was so thankful for even that.

 An MRI revealed multiple worn, fragmented and herniated disks in my neck. Combined exposure to both injury caused by repeated wear related to stunts I performed at work, along with intense emotional stress had taken its toll on my neck and overall health.

 A New Beginning

 But, I don't want this story to be about the way I was broken. This is a new beginning; my wake up call. Before the injury, I became so fixated on providing for my family that I allowed myself to work at a job that was perpetually destroying me. The irony is that I labored so intensely to provide money that I was inadvertently diminishing the amount of myself emotionally that I was able to give my wife and cats. As I've stated in previous posts, anger and fear had stolen a great deal of my quality of life, but now was my chance to begin reclaiming it.

 Although it wasn't overnight, I have steadily recovered over the past year. Over several months, the pain receded to its current level of minor occasional discomfort. My left arm has gotten stronger, regained its sensation, and is currently of similar size to my right arm. The most noticeable change is my day to day happiness and peace. I finally had the courage to stand up for myself at that stressful job in spite of the consequences. Now, I'm enjoying life and chasing my dreams.

 Don't get me wrong, there have been a lot of adjustments. Even now, I'm not nearly as strong overall as I was before the injury. Also, I have to be a lot more careful with my neck. But, it's okay. I have faith that those things will continue to improve as I continue to take better care of my emotional, spiritual, and physical health.

 Before I sign off, I just want to say that I don't know if I could have endured it all without the strength and love of my wife, who stood by me through the entire ordeal. She is an answer to prayer.

 So now, it's a year later and I am so thankful for the pain that reshaped my life. I am thankful to be doing work that matters even if the money isn't there yet. I am thankful to be given a second chance.

 Thanks for reading Scofflaws!

-Dave

First Impression

Guest Article by Katrina Finley

I sit in my car,
In front of my school,
Which looks like a place,
Where gangs fight duels.

 This is my first visit,
And I shalln't linger long,
Least I get an infection,
From a much used bong.

 It's shocking really,
To gaze at this place,
No doubt I'll need,
To be armed with mace.

 Surely it's charming,
Should I but really look,
The warehouse facade,
I merely mistook...

 Special thanks to Katrina Finley
for covering today's guest article!

My Lovely Anna

Words and Images by David Finley

 On heart walls, ink your devotion,

 While gardens grow where glass has broken;

 Gentle melody stir the breeze,
 
 And dance to music only we hear.

Thanks for Reading!

The Cinematic Storytelling of Kazu Kibuishi

by David Finley
Artwork © Kazu Kibuishi www.boltcity.com

© Kazu Kibuishi

 Kazu Kibuishi crafts beautiful and skillful drawings of charming and intimate beauty. There is a heart to it that has the ability to connect with his reader. He taps into our inner child, and our spirits of adventure. He breaks through our walls of disbelief, and allows us to once more explore the fantasy realms of our childhood. Personally, he inspires me to reach further with my own art.

 The first time I saw Kazu's work was on an old illustration forum that I used to frequent called, the Drawing Board. While it is not as populated or frequented today, eight or nine years ago it was a great forum, teaming with art and commentary from professional animators and illustrators. There were all kinds of incredible talents posting their work for comment. Because I was just starting out professionally then, it could be a bit intimidating at the time. But, through observation and a bit of participation I learned a lot.

 One artist, whose work I was immediately taken with, was Kazu Kibuishi. I don't remember if it was actually posted on the forum or if I found it through a link to his website, but the first work of his I can ever remember seeing was a series of sequential art pages from a story entitled, "Clive and Cabbage in Escape", which I've posted below.

© Kazu Kibuishi

 That first panel on the last page is everything. It just makes me happy. It's brilliant because Kibuishi methodically builds tension on the first three pages of the story with a combination of facial expression, body language, and genuine character interaction until it is released on that final page. Even more impressive is that it is all done without dialogue. I love the transition of Clive's expression on the third page. As his eyes pop open for the first time, there is a spike in anticipation for the release that arrives on page four.
 Best of all, the story is easy to identify with and relate to. It's more than a story about someone who hates his job. It's a story about a spirit that needs to escape his oppressive routine and participate in an event that inspires true, even if temporary, happiness. It's both funny and sad when you reflect on it, which lends it an incredible strength of realism, despite its otherworldly setting and characters.

Another thing I appreciate about Kibuishi is his willingness to experiment. He could have simply continued with the type of art he made in Clive and Cabbage for the rest of his career and he would have had an admirable body of work and stories. But, over the years, I've seen genuine exploration within his art. He helped organize the critically acclaimed Flight Anthology, has participated in gallery shows, and has published graphic novels like the steampunk western "Daisy Kutter", and the high fantasy series, "Amulet".

© Kazu Kibuishi

 When looking over Kibuishi's body of work, you can see a definite improvement to his already impressive drawing and storytelling abilities. He has become a stronger designer, for one, weaving elements of line and shape, color, and movement, in increasingly different ways. His writing has delved deeper, his characters more complex, and his stories more intricate. Perhaps most impressive, he builds entire cinematic worlds that we can become lost in. Pictures like the one below have such a majesty and movie-like quality to them.

© Kazu Kibuishi

Yet, for all of the impressiveness of Kibuishis's more recent efforts with the epic and captivating books of "Amulet", I have a soft spot in my heart for the simple, yet philosophical comic, "Copper".

 This one, below, is my favorite. As an artist and writer, the waterfall dividing the panels gets me every time. It anchors the piece, serves as a visual transition, and a story transition. To even place it on the page was a great risk, but one that pays off considerably. Whenever I look at it, I want to make my own visual experiments and explore my own artistic boundaries.

© Kazu Kibuishi

  Kazu Kibuishi has inspired me as an artist for almost a decade, and it is my hope that he will inspire you as well.

 You can see more of his work and purchase his books and prints at Boltcity.com 

  Thanks for reading, scofflaws!

-Dave

The Decision That Will Affect the Rest of Your Life

Words and Images by David Finley, 

further images by Michelangelo and Jean Shin

 I'm living a double life.

 There are two sides of me at war; An ever present struggle between the fine artist and the illustrator. Unfortunately, it seems I must pick one path and leave behind the other, and what I decide will affect the rest of my life.

  Those of my Scofflaw readership who aren't visual artists might not see the clash as an issue that arises from being split between these two forms of art. Why not do both?

 That is a valid point. The problem arises when the visual artist seeks to have a career of some sort. In the professional art world, the difference between an illustrator and fine artist is like the difference between a dentist and a heart surgeon.

 Most professional advisers will encourage a unified portfolio full of similar work so potential clients will know what to expect when they seek commissions or wish to purchase art. In other words, clients will be shy to approach an artist for hire if they don't know what to expect from them.

"David", by Michelangelo Buonarroti

 For example, let's say a Cardinal living during the 15th century Italian Renaissance sees the sculpture work of Michelangelo on his visit to Florence. He is taken with the work and decides something similar would be perfect for his own chapel. He gathers the funds, hires Michelangelo and waits three months in anticipation.

"Soundwave" by Jean Shin

 Then, the day of anticipation finally arrives and Michelangelo shows up with this sculpture constructed from his old collection of music on vinyl on his wooden cart. It is a fine sculpture and clever expression, but clearly not what the Cardinal expected. The Cardinal is outraged, not only because the sculpture is nothing like his expectations, but also because he sees a copy of "the Beatles White Album" in the sculpture and he's been looking to purchase that record for a long time. I think you can see the dilemma, which brings me back to my own battle.

 Should I choose Fine Arts or Illustration?

 Over the years, I've asked that question to a lot of people, ranging from college professors and gallery owners to friends and family. While the answers are usually very polarized from one end of the spectrum to the other, it never brings a conclusive answer for me. The answer they give is contingent upon their own preferences. That's okay. I'm not sure there is any other way people can really answer, and I've learned you shouldn't depend on others to make your life decisions for you.

 The real answer is that I was asking the wrong question. The real question I should be asking is...

Which do I love more?

Illustration

 Illustration, and by illustration I really mean cartooning, and I have been in a lasting relationship for as long as I can remember. It was there when I doodled in class, it made light of my bad situations, made the stories deep inside me visible, brought my heroes to life, and even earned me my first professional assignments and paychecks. I have made a decent living with illustration.

 And, it goes back a long way. I've spent my whole life looking at the work of my favorite cartoonists, comic book artists, and animators. I spent hours trying to learn to make lines as perfect as Hank Ketcham, characters as endearing as Charles Schultz and Bill Waterson, and tell stories like Walt Disney. There is real love in those drawings.

When I need to tell a joke or express frustration, Illustration is my tool of choice. Illustration helps me disarm the annoyances that would otherwise weigh me down. It's quirky, and fun. It relieves stress and makes me laugh.

 There is also less risk involved with illustration.

Fine Arts

 On the flip side, I first discovered my love for fine arts when I was introduced to the art of Auguste' Renoit in my high school art class. Further study in college uncovered the raw nerve of Kara Walker's silhouettes, the masculine power of Pablo Picasso, and the fleshy stripped down work of Francis Bacon.

With fine art, I can tap into something deep inside me- something that needs to break free becomming unhinged and unbound. As I paint and collage I openly express my rage, my hope, and the deepest sorrows of my soul in a more direct and honest way than I ever could with illustration. When I make this kind of work, I'm not bound by the style choices associated with illustration. It is more emotive and intuitive. I feel the piece as opposed to thinking about it.

Fine art communicates my inner truths in a way that nothing else can. I love it.

 However, when you expose yourself in such a deep and raw way, there is a lot of risk involved. People are not always ready to see what lurks within. Your naked emotion makes them uncomfortable. And, from a professional side of things, not everyone wants your sorrow and anger hanging in their living room.

A Decision

 So, as I said before, I'm living a double life. And, only recently, that's been okay with me.

 I don't mean to cop out with a no-decision here. I can tell you that if I was forced to make the choice professionally, I would pick fine arts. I had an epiphany of sorts when listening to an interview with actor, Bryan Cranston conducted by Marc Maron on his WTF podcast.

 The only one who can make me choose is me.

 Mr. Cranston, when talking about his career objective, said he always just wanted to be a working actor, an objective that he has succeeded in admirably. It wasn't about whether he worked on TV or movies, nor whether he had the lead role or whether it was comedy or drama. He just wanted to act. He was acting in 'Malcom in the Middle', and he is acting in 'Breaking Bad'. (one of my favorite shows, by the way)

 So, that answered it for me. I just want to be a working artist. Sometimes that's illustration which is like comedy, and sometimes that's fine arts which is like drama, but the important thing is that I get to do what I truly love: make art.

 I have made my choice and it is arts. Let others make the distinction between illustration and fine arts.

Thanks for reading!

-Dave