RED DIRT IN MISSISSIPPI?

Man, it's been a long time since I've blogged anything... TOO long! Just been busy working, drawing, and paying bills! I HAD to take time and post this one, 'cause I got another drawing autographed! WOO HOO! This time is was Red Dirt Music Master, Stoney Larue. Took me about two months of drawing for an hour or two every night to finish his portrait. It was worth it, though.

My hard work finally payed off Saturday night in Hattiesburg, MS when I tracked down Stoney & The Arsenals at the Side Street Bar. I found the bus parked beside the venue and waited for someone to go in or out. I finally saw the door open, and out walked Jeremy Bryant (the drummer). He was really cool, and talked to me for a few minutes. I showed him my drawing and asked if he could help me get it signed. He said that the other guys were out running errands, but when they got back he'd wave me over. Sure enough, about an hour later they showed up. I gave him a framed print to keep, and asked if he'd sign my drawing. He graciously obliged and seemed to be impressed! (YESSSSS!!) I couldn't have asked for a nicer encounter- they were in a hurry and didn't have much time, but they were all very cool! I wanted to stay for the show, but I was sick and still had 70 miles to drive back home. I'm definitely staying for the entertainment next time!

If you read this Stoney- thanks again! Holler at me if you or any of the other guys in the band need some free portraits done (that goes for any other Red Dirt Superstars you know too!)

Check out these pics of the occasion:

OLD FRIENDS

I haven't had much time to do any drawing lately, so I thought I would post some older drawings that I've been meaning to put on here for a while. These were done a few years back, but they're still pretty good. I think my skills have improved a lot since then, but I still like 'em! Anyway, here they are- enjoy!

Portrait of famed University of Alabama football head coach, Paul "Bear" Bryant. Inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in 1986, Coach Bryant was one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division I Football with a lifetime record of 323-85-17.This was drawn for a friend as a 2005 Christmas present. He's a major Tide fan and was tickled to get it!

I drew this portrait of "Precious" (a Bichon Frise) as a gift for my friends, Scott & Leann.

This is the first of two ducks that I drew several years ago. This one is a Mallard drake.

This is the second duck - a Northern Pintail.

ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE

I recently had a request for a portrait from a Brett Favre fan. I guess it's fitting with all the drama that's been surrounding him and his [possible] return to professional football. I didn't figure there was any chance of getting it autographed any time soon so I didn't wanna spend two weeks working on it. I solved my dilemma by drawing him on a 3"x5" yellow sticky note. This brings us to the moral of this drawing.... "Becareful what you wish for, 'cause you just might get it!" Hope you like it Chuck!

THE GARZA BROS.

Here's a drawing I did a few weeks ago and just never got around to posting it. We went to see the Los Lonely Boys show at the 59th annual Choctaw Indian Fair in Choctaw, Mississippi on July 12th. Native American blues group "Indigenous" opened for them, and both bands put on a great show! It was a small venue and kinda had a more intimate feel, which was nice. We stood around after the show hoping to meet them and get an autograph, but no such luck. They went from the stage straight to their bus and didn't come back out. We weren't allowed near the buses, so we just left. I really like the picture anyway, and we had a great time too! If you see Henry, Ringo, or JoJo, tell 'em I want my autograph!

THE GIANT SAINT

Today I went to the New Orleans Saints training camp and watched them practice. Somehow they weren't the "super heroes" they seem to be on Sunday afternoons in the fall. I thought I would have been more star-struck than I was, but it was kinda nice seeing that they were just regular guys standing around in jerseys and football helmets. In fact, the only difference between them and myself is that they can run faster, ok and jump higher, and maybe bench press way more...... ok, ok, so they ARE super heroes after all!

When I heard that they were coming back to town again this year for training camp, I started looking for another candidate to draw. Since I'd already drawn Deuce, I thought about the usual Reggie Bush or Drew Brees, but suddenly Jeremy Shockey's name popped up and he was the newest member of the team. I had my candidate! It took me about a weeks worth of late nights spent sketching and shading to get the job done before they packed up and left.

After work, I went to the afternoon practice and stood in the sun melting, drawing in hand, waiting for the autographs to begin! There were a LOT of people there (several hundred) and they all started crowding together trying to get something signed. It took a few minutes for him to sign it, but it finally happened! I haven't decided if I'm going to try to draw any more before training camp is over. I might just watch another practice or two and enjoy the experience while it lasts!

DRAWING WITHDRAWALS

I don't know what's gotten into me - I've been drawing like a madman?!? For years now, I've only been able to draw when the urge hits me and those moods were few and far between. I might doodle here and there, but for the most part I would only sit down for a serious drawing session maybe three or four times a year.

Well, that definitely hasn't been the case lately! I've been spitting out three or four drawings PER WEEK! I guess I'm making up for lost time, or something. Portraits were always the most difficult things for me to draw, but that's what I've been drawing almost exclusively?? Here are a few examples of what I've been working on lately (Marilyn Monroe, Cameron Diaz, and Christopher Reeves):

I'm working on a project that's been in progress now for about a year. There's one portrait that's already finished that is associated with the bigger picture, but I want to reveal them at the same time. I'll also post some other older drawings from time to time, so check back every now and then to see 'em!

"HE'S WORTH A DEUCE!"--Gene Simmons

I've always thought it would be cool to draw someone famous, then get them to autograph it. Well... I finally did it! I heard that New Orleans Saints running back Deuce McAllister was going to be in town signing autographs for a meet & greet at a local cell phone store. I heard this on the radio last Thursday afternoon, and he was making an appearance on Friday - the next day! [PANIC!] This was my chance, but I didn't have much time. Usually, drawings of this nature take me at least 10-12 hours of tedious mind-numbing detail work over a time span of at least a week or two. It's very exhausting to spend an hour drawing an area the size of a postage stamp, but that's what it takes to achieve that level of detail.

I hurried home and decided that it was gonna require pulling an all-nighter. I grabbed something to eat, put on some music and started to work. By 10:00 p.m. I had finished the preliminary sketch and started on his right arm and the football. At 5:00 a.m. I started on his helmet and face. I was really scared that I had gotten this far, then wouldn't be able to get his helmet/face to look right in the limited amount of time I had left. That was probably the hardest part of the entire picture to complete. The helmet and face-mask have to be perfect in order to look real. One little line out of place and the whole thing will look retarded. I finally finished the piece at 9:30 a.m., scanned it, then hurried off to work.

I was completely DEAD! Michelle said that I was dumb for staying up all night (and I was beginning to agree with her), but it was something I had to do if I wanted that all-elusive celebrity autograph. I had a little time to relax before going to meet him - he wasn't scheduled to appear until 5 p.m. I made a couple of prints to be autographed as well (one for Scott and one for a Christmas present). I was a little nervous because I wasn't sure if he would be willing to autograph something like that. Sometimes those autograph sessions are pretty strict about what can be signed - some won't let you bring anything from outside, some will only allow a certain number of things to be signed, etc.

Scott and I arrived at the store and hoped there wouldn't be too much of a crowd. We were pleasantly surprised! There were quite a few people there, but the line was moving really fast. He was sitting at the back of the store with a stack of photos on the table. he seemed very quiet and polite. He shook my hand and asked how I was doing. He signed one of the promotional photos, and then I asked the big question... He said that he would gladly sign the prints. [YES!]

He never really said much about the drawing itself. I asked if he would like to have a print, and he asked me to write down my contact info. I don't really expect him to get in touch with me - he's probably got a million nuts trying to get his attention. So I figured it might be easier if I got in touch with HIM! I'm going to try and contact him through his charity organization and see if I can send him a framed print. You never know, he might even hang it up somewhere!