whatever i want...

my brother recently asked me how i decide what type of stuff i put up on my blog. Was it purely an art blog or was it about your life in general, he asked.  I told him there was no rhyme or reason, and that I put up 'whatever I want.'

With that in mind, check out this photo from 1951 of aspiring comic book artist Martin Landau.

wow

i found myself seated next to a wonderful Italian couple from Brooklyn. It was a charity event for ALS, and I'm usually self conscious at these things and tend to eat my dinner, have a few drinks, and not say much to anyone.

You can tell nice, real people the minute you see them. I looked the fella in the eyes and I knew. I just knew. The first thing out of my mouth was, "You're the guy." He smiled a shy, Bensonhurst smile and nodded. I said "you're the guy that caught the ball," and indeed he was.

Sal Durante was a 19 year old kid when he caught Roger Maris' 61st home run of the 1961 season. It broke Babe Ruth's immortal record and put Roger and Sal's photo on the cover of every newspaper in the country. For a few days, Sal was the most famous kid in America.

50 years later, last night, I sat next to Sal Durante and his wife Rosemary and talked about that day. They were warm and real and we enjoyed each other's company. There was no ego, no histrionics or steroids or money, just a wonderful guy and his wife, sitting next to each other, holding hands, just like they did on that day 50 years ago in the right field stands at Yankee Stadium.

and from the "really, really cool gig department..."

ok, I'll admit I've been a comic book fan since I was 14 years old.

Comics, as they say, have been very good to me. Over the years I've worked at DC, Marvel and freelanced for just about every comics company in between.

I've had plenty of phenominal highlights as DC's Art Director, and as a comics artist, but this might very well be the coolest one: I just painted the cover to the 40th Anniversary Comic Book Price Guide!

Holy smokes, I've been buying that thing since 1974, and now my image of Batman will grace the cover to this milestone issue!

Ain't life grand?

I've been holding off posting the cover here until Gemstone Publishing posted it first, and since they did indeed post it yesterday, here she be....hope you dig.

ps...big shout out to the fabulous Jeff Vaughn at Gemstone, one of the GREAT guys in the biz!

Also, thanks to Misters Geppi and Overstreet for your very kind words.

here's the full article at the Gemstone/Diamond site:

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=259&ai=91147&ssd=1%2F28%2F2010&sp=chiarello&sd=1/22/10&arch=y

oh, yeah, just in case you're wondering, yes, this is a painting (not digital), and yes, those classic covers were a bitch to paint!

blame it on uncle norman...

Spent this past new year's weekend caught up in a blizzard up in Stockbridge, Mass. One of my favorite places on earth, home of the incredible Norman Rockwell Museum.

Of course, when in Stockbridge, you HAVE TO stay at the Red Lion Inn, the loveliest, spookiest, charmingist Inn in America. Sit by the fireplace in the lobby and enjoy a hot cider, friend.

Also ate at Theresa's, possibly the most famous unknown restaurant in the world. huh? Well, ok, it used to be called 'Alice's Restaurant.' Yes, THE Alice's Restaurant. And yes, it IS 'just a half a mile from the railroad track.'

The Rockwell Museum was running a show featuring a lot of Norman's photo reference, to coincide with the recent publication of the wonderful book "Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera" written by Ron Schick (go buy it, now!).

What's YOUR favorite Rockwell? (IMPOSSIBLE question, right?) I'm partial to "Freedom From Fear"...

but also this one from 'Tom Sawyer' is a fave...

...and this one too!...

and one more...

how about you???

blame it on Uncle Walt...

my very earliest memory is of being 4 years old and watching 'The Wonderful World of Color' (also known as "Disneyland") on a Sunday night in February 1964. The particular show that made such an indelible mark on me that night was "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh" staring the brilliant Patrick McGoohan.

It's pretty much the tale of a Robin Hood-like character who haunts the British countryside in the area near the cliffs of Dover, thwarting the efforts of the King in order to subsidize the poor country folk.

A fine enough tale for sure, but it was McGoohan, dressed all in tatters and wearing the horrific burlap mask of the Scarecrow that scarred me for life. Me and my brothers were so taken with him in this guise (and his blood-curdling laugh), that we made our mom make up our faces to look like the Scarecrow himself. That next night, we ran around the neighborhood, cackling like a bunch of loonies.

I'm happy to say that Disney FINALLY rereleased the 3-part show in a special DVD set last year.

I'm also happy to say that collector Jim Droese recently commissioned me to do a painting for him of the character (above). It's the first time I've ever drawn him, and I must say, it was fun as all hell!

1968 Academy Award: best picture

"Boy, it would give me a world of satisfaction to horse whip you, Virgil."

You take care, y'hear?"

"Stay cool, Harvey. "

the josh print...

just finished a limited edition print (12X16) of baseball hero Josh Gibson, and thought you might like a looksee. It's a very limited run of 40 numbered pieces that will be for sale in a few weeks through the great non-profit educational organization 'The Josh Gibson Foundation'.

I worked with Josh's awesome Great Grandson, Sean Gibson on the print, and it's something we're both proud of. The org will be selling 20 signed LE prints as well as 20 'Signed & Remarqued' prints (which feature an original pencil drawing on each print). They'll be available soon through the organization (http://www.joshgibson.org/) or through ArtInsights Gallery in Virginia (http://www.artinsights.com).

I'll also be selling 10 'Signed & Remarqued' Artist Proofs of the print, which also feature an original pencil drawing on each print. If interested, you can contact me directly.

I had a ton of fun doing all of the drawings on the 'Remarqued' prints. Most of the drawings are of Josh, but there are also a few of Satchel as well as one of Babe Ruth (the white Josh Gibson!). here's a few of them, hope you enjoy...

...plus a photo of me and Sean at last year's unveiling of the Josh Gibson statue at Nationals Stadium in Washington DC...