Busy as a Bee: The Paper Wasp Queen Update

Like most of my art work, everything starts out as a drawing. A couple of weeks ago I started on some new illustrations for my book. Most of which is for the up-coming chapters (which I will not disclose) but what I do enjoy is giving a little so it gets those that want to read it drooling over the eye candy which will be out soon.
I started with the drawing, and then did an India ink job around the pencil layout to give it a flat shape. Then I start by layering color on the outside. I use different Terra shades to get the border down. I only do a little at a time so I can give it that dirty look I love so much in my artwork.

From this point, I’ve begun to add Prisma Color Pencil (Tuscan Red). This is the main color for the worker. I start dark and then add different shades lighter than before. The wings are done with the same Pitt Pens (shades of grey) again darker on the inside and then lighter working out.



After the lower part is done; I start adding shape to it by using the black prisma color pencil. This is always done last before the grey and white (which will be done latter to give it a slimy look) so it adds texture and body-giving it that dark skuzzy look. This is all I have done today, but as more is done; I will be sure to add updates.

Weeping Daymares…

When you dream, it moves in slow motion. Sometimes you don’t even know that you have slipped into the realm; past the dreamscape and into the parts of your mind that lie dormant. I’ve been gone from the realm of realism for so long; I almost couldn’t tell where I had fallen. The queen spoke of this, a place filled with my deepest contentment. Joy sets; and the sound of voices; whispers of something I could not make out. I walked down the beach, my bare feet sinking into the grainy sand with each step I took towards the crest. The sound of waves, water, children laughing; it was the warmest I had felt since I fell from the light. There was no cold snow, no chilling wind that blew through my bones like the freezing blade of hate.

I could see- and it was more beautiful than any color an artist could mix on a pallet of a warm day of the season. A woman with her child; no doubt the mother of the young little boy. A man knelt down in front of them with a camera; capturing a moment in time. For one a second, there was this complete look of absolute love. She held him close; I can only assume that he ran into her arms. The face of the boy not visible, but his tiny hands brushed her shoulder. He did not run for any hero in a book, nor for a fictional character created by man; but to the one he called mom, mother, mommy. She embraced him, holding him tight as her hair blew across her face in the steady warm wind which came off the soothing ocean tide. And although she spoke no words, her face painted deep with a look of unconditional love. And then time stops; No more wind, no more warm sun, no more joy. It was nothing more than a mere daymare, a day dream night mare, a look to the past. A tear; weeping in my mind, a trick to. . .


Illustration and excerpt taken from the Illustrated Novel, Tormented Souls by Michael R Fudge Jr.

Long Live the Queen: Update

So two, three days into it and I’m half way there. Last night (after staying up until 3am-again-god bless NOS) I finished the final lay out. It got a little tight in some places, and you can see from the drawing, there seems to be a lot going on here. You have a worker placing an egg on the top right of the hive, and then in the lower left a warrior awaits for the birth of the first fertile queen.
The layouts take longer than most of the drawing. Combining 4 different sketch's to bring out one final print requires a lot of over lays (Transfer sheets). This is nothing more than doing a trace over the original, and placing them in the right places of the final illustration board. But both sides have to be traced on, this creates an HB#2 carbon paper effect minus the mess. Easy to erase the black spots and fill in the gaps. It takes a long time but the effect is worth it.
Once it is completed then one more transfer sheet must be made of the entire picture to be placed on the illustration board. And that’s where I’m at today. Once I finish the final Trans Sheet, I can begin painting. I’ll post more as it comes along.
R/S
MRF

NOS…???

Time for a break so I thought I would drop a post. Okay, the past couple of days I’ve been really bogged down with all the work I’ve laid on me. Yeah.... don’t you hate when you create your own work and have no one to blame for being busy but you? Okay so I’m at the shoppette on post Friday and I just dropped Maria off at work, I’m already done and was told to come back on Monday for regular PT (Physical Training) at 0615 (another day of running). Run down and feeling burnt out with no energy left; I stopped in to grab a Red Bull and saw these instead. NOS? Wasn’t sure what to make of it, so I picked up 3 and brought them back home, jumped in the studio and donned my brain to begin the creative part of all layout designs. I received the post from Illustration Friday about the newest topic…BUZZ. I could sure use one, I thought as I sat there at the drawing board; and started on lay out ideas. You know, beer bottles, pictures of insects that go buzz and none of that was hitting the spot. Well cracked open one of these NOS and decided to give’em a try! WOW!!! It was all I could say.
My hand was working on the paper faster than my warped mind could think. With God Smack “Time Bomb” kicking in the back ground the only thing I could do was roll with the flow. Hey the bottom line is this, I found myself up until 3am working on an illustration, mind full throttle, and had to force myself to crash. But even when I was laying in bed on my way to the happy world of slumber, I still had the illustration in my head, I could see the colors fill themselves into the humble lines of way. I think this stuff is better than Red Bull, and I’ve been a big fan of it since my last deployment. But I have to say, step out of the bull, NOS is about to blow by! So if you’re into energy drinks; give NOS a try.
Here are some pictures of pre-layout and over lay designs for this week.
R/S
MRF

Hooked on A Series of Unfortunate Events

As a writer an artist, you have to expand yourself to different avenues; it helps you to grow and create a certain style. Each writer and artist has their own personal style, or voice so to speak. Their words entangle you into a realm which pulls you into a world created by their imagination.
Now I have to admit, as a beginner, I latched onto one writer and stuck with him for a while, the master of horror, Stephen King himself. I read all his books a dozen times, own his entire library and movies which were adapted from his tangled world of mystery and macabre. Then came Dean Koontz (which I recall reading The Door to December in a recycle trailer where I worked as a kid trying to earn my first way in this world at the age of 15) and became trapped in his web of demise. Both authors I still read today, adding their newest novels to my library.
Just last week I was in Target when I ran across the entire collection of Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events. The first thing that popped into my head was Jim Carrey and the words, “it’s french for beef which is roasted.” Now I must’ve watched this movie about a hundred times with my kids while I lived with them in Georgia, waiting for their mother to return from her recent rotation to Iraq, and never once imagined how the book was written. I picked up the first book (out of 13) and read the back which told me to put it down, don’t buy it, it’s filled with nothing but misfortunes for 3 orphan children. I have to admit, if I had never seen the movie, I would’ve bought the book right on the spot. Why, because I’m human, and when you tell a human not to do something; they 99 times out of 100 will do it anyway.
I have to say that I was hooked from the first 4 pages. The style of the book was the same as that in the movie. Each page led to another event, one right after another to the point where I had flipped 20 pages into it and almost missed my appointment. Long story short, I ended up buying it, and I’m sad to report that I will probably spend the money and by the whole box collection. Lemony Snicket (Brett Helquist) has a mysterious way of telling a story, and if you are a big reading fan, and never read it; I would have to implore picking up the collection. Even though it might seem it was meant for a child, it can turn your head and keep you flipping through the story until you reach the end. Filled with illustrations by Brett Helquist; and tuned with words from Lemony Snicket, the book is as good as the movie and well worth the time to step away from Stephen King for just a second and take a journey with the Baudelaire Children and witness first hand a series of unfortunate events.
R/S
MRF

Where I found the box collection:

Where you can find the movie:

A little about the writer:

Dawn Of the New Year: The Tormented Soul

So another year is upon us; what will it hold? I guess it’s as good as time as any to post an outlook of the future. I’m sure like many others, we waited and count down as the ball fell to conclude the passing of one year and welcome a new. I’m even closer to saying that I’m sure that everyone made a resolution which will stick for a month or two until it becomes inconvenient to carry on. Whether it was going to the gym, give up smoking, find a better job, or just try and make peace among one another. Some will hold true and make an attempt, while others will just pacify themselves in believing that they will commit to some and fall short to others. Hey I’m not being an ass; I’m just stating the hard cold truth. It is in our nature (the ultimate design) to fall short and fail. That’s the glorious purpose of learning. The true and undoubted failure is not when you unsuccessfully fall belly up; but how and if you learned from it, pick yourself up and try again. Some hit that rock bottom and become complacent and decide to stay at the level. Remember I’m not pointing fingers; if the shoe fits, then wear it. I too suffer from this ultimate design. And at a lot of points; remain complacent with the failure I create. So in all, I’m not really pointing blame, but accepting it; and I guess that is the first step in the recovery. It’s the “finding the horse” so you can get back on it again.
But on to the real reason I’m here. In the past year, I’ve maintained this blog, not for dumping my endless thoughts or questions on to a web url in hopes of finding a reason to it all. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t even call myself a true blogger. I have no groups attached, I try when I find to the time, to check out all blogs to see what it is I’m missing around the world. I mostly have Illustration Friday in which I submit a work of art, hope for feed back, and wait until the next topic is submitted. So I guess I’m a failure when it comes to the blog issue. But what I do offer is a chance for you to step from your world and see what another is like. To ease your everyday suffering with the thoughts of mine. Pictures of dread that come from a #2 pencil, a story of torment that plays like a symphony orchestra of pain. And while some read it and view this world that has pushed into mine, I’ve gathered enough to finally begin the final stages of my illustrated novel,
”Tormented Souls.” A piece that I started a year ago with a cover design that turned from a short story into a mini series of stories. Pages filled with illustrations that bring life to the words on paper. A story not meant for the week or faint-hearted.
So I’m taking this next year, which will be spent in the desert of Iraq, and finish piecing together this puzzle that has yearned to live for the past 12 months. What I’m offering to those that read is the chance that no one else had when other mystery writers started. And that is to watch it grow. It’s like a flower, you plant the seed, give it water, sun, and in time, it will grow to something that was made in it’s design. A blue print of torment on paper. And a chance to see what truth lies behind the tormented soul. I have no idea where it will go and I’m not sure if it will even come true. But if it does, it will be one hell of a ride. I guess only time will tell. So drop in from time to time. I’ve packed what I could in my studio that will help bring life to those images. And with that being said, I can finally close the deal on the first book. The true question to all of it is this; do I hold onto the horse as it bucks or do I fall so that I can learn to get back on it again.
Respectfully Sent
MRF

From the burning ashes; arise the great Phoenix

The Phoenix is a supernatural creature, living for 1000 years. Once that time is over, it builds its own funeral pyre, and throws itself into the flames. As it dies, it is reborn anew, and rises from the ashes to live another 1000 years. Alternatively, it lays an egg in the burning coals of the fire which hatches into a new Phoenix, and the life cycle repeats.

This is the great sign in which our Battalion uses. It is just that I use this for Illustration Friday enlighten to our up-coming deployment to Iraq in February. Here is to the soldiers in honor of what will come.
4TH Infantry Brigade Combat Team,
1ST Infantry Division,
610 Brigade Support Battalion
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great- Duty First!"

Which Super Villain Are You?

Your results:
You are Venom

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90%
Apocalypse

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70%
Dr. Doom

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66%
Lex Luthor

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63%
The Joker

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56%
Juggernaut

---

56%
Dark Phoenix

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56%
Green Goblin

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56%
Two-Face

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56%
Magneto

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46%
Mr. Freeze

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46%
Riddler

---

46%
Kingpin

---

39%
Mystique

---

32%
Catwoman

---

23%
Poison Ivy

---

15%
Strength, disguise and adrenaline are your greatest weapons.



Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

Which Super Hero Are You?

You are The Hulk

You are a wanderer with
amazing strength.

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100%
The Flash

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95%
Green Lantern

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95%
Superman

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90%
Iron Man

---

70%
Spider-Man

---

65%
Batman

---

60%
Supergirl

---

55%
Robin

---

45%
Catwoman

---

40%
Wonder Woman


Click here to take the "Which Superhero are you?" quiz...

Illustration Friday: MASK

Twisted, dark, tormented souls like bleak in waiting. Behind all of us hides a mask in which we wear. No matter how horrible or ominous, beneath all its hate...it smiles.

Brow clinched, teeth grinding, holding all its aversion to destroy what is left of our worthless composure. We attempt to hold the beast back. Sometimes it is kept silent...other times unleashed beyond our control.
If you close the door, stand in the hollow darkness and hold a light just below your chin...smile deep, clinch your brow and tell us what you see.
Is it you....or the Dark Mask that hides just past the outer limits of our tormented soul.

Illustration Friday: Might

Imagine for one moment, that you have the wait of the world on top of your shoulders.
Behold, The Mighty Atlas



During the war of the TITANS, ATLAS stormed Olympus and threatened the Gods. And as punishment for this war crime, ZEUS sentenced him to hold up the heavens and bear their weight on his shoulders forever.

Title: Atlas
Size: 18 X 24
Medium: Water Color, Corel Paint

Back From Training

Okay, well training went a lot better than I had expected. At least it is done and I can return to the normal works of the real world. I did miss Halloween this year and it is my favorite holiday, but I understand that I can't be in two places at once. I did make it back for Thanksgiving and as of right now there is nothing that stands in the way of Christmas. So hopefully I can make it back down south to visit my kids before the up-coming deployment back to the sand box. Any way, I'm catching up on all my emails so I will hit everyone back that wrote while I was gone, I apologize for any short term projects that had to get rescheduled, but the military must come first. Congrats to the BLACK & ORANGE winners, and there has been a lot of great Illustration Friday ideas since I've been gone. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do. This week is invention, lets see what the voices have to say about that. Until next time-

Out Of Office

Okay, so this will be the last post for a little while. As I had mentioned earlier this week, I have some out of town business that will keep me occupied & busy, you know like a month. Unlike last time, I won't wait 8 months to make another post, hey I'm curious about who will win the Black & Orange on Illustration Friday. I'm completely addicted now. I will not keep anyone on the edge of their seat about the Novel or any ongoing projects. I should be back on line around Thanksgiving or so. If it is sooner, I will let you know. So until next time, have a Happy Halloween. Kyle, Missy and Jake, keep up the great work and daddy will be back soon.

Illustration Friday: Ghost 2

Darkness engulfs over her soul as she moves into the unknown. Wondering about, lost, and afraid of the uncertain she digs deep into herself to maintain what is left of her humanity. She has come to pass and understands that she is forlorn in this world. Not for what she is...but what she has become. Her transformation is quick, filled with suffering and unbearable pain. And even though she stands surrounded by the dark twisted tormented souls who to have fallen from light, she still remains abandoned, alone and lost.

Title: My Lost Love 2
Medium: Prisma Color Pencil, Ebony pencil, Corel Paint
Size: 8 1/2 X 11

Manipulated by the Manipulator_UPDATE

Okay, so after almost 8 months I finally have an up-date (see) http://surrealiststudio.blogspot.com/2006/02/manipulated-by-manipulator.html to this slow work in progress. Now you got to go easy, first of all, due to the move from Georgia to Kansas, working on the illustrated novel, attending schools and whatever else seems to fall into my plate there is not a whole lot done. But taken the fact that there is a lot of detail kicking with this one and to add to this....alright I'm done making excuses; this is what I got:
As you can tell, not much has come along, but believe it or not I just picked the project up about 4 days ago.

The neck and arm, both of which are coming together. Signs of the skin being burnt and stretch along with the smooth deep holes; all of which are shaded in Micron 02 0.30mm pen.



The detail for the neck connecting to the membrane on his back required a great amount of painstaking strokes, calm and stillness. With the tip so small and the flow of the ink, one sneeze, cough or poke to the arm could destroy the detail I was going for.


But different views and steady hands closed on some tight spaces and the outcome for it is looking great. I have no idea when it will be done. I'm hoping before the end of the year, but I guess will just see what is in store.

The Sketch Book Diary

Painting the cover
It's Tuesday and time is running short for me. Between work, projects and the book; I have been pretty busy. I have some out of town training that will take me from the studio for right around 27 to 28 days. Which I don't really mind because it will give my creative side a time to settle and relax. The thing is I have until Thursday to get a few more hours on the drawing board done so when I get back in late November, I can flow back into the book and get the damn thing done. I did take some time out yesterday to enjoy a Frappe at the Hard Back Cafe. It sits next to Hobby Lobby and I had to stop there to pick up a gift idea for my 3 Kiddos.
It would seem to be that my three little ones have latched on to the liking of art.
Michaela, Jake & I
Now Michaela, who is 5, has always enjoyed doing art. Any time I was at home in the studio she had to be there. I would be at the drawing board and she would be at her table either coloring or painting. Every five minutes would be used for a quick critique and a smile saying "Thanks daddy." And even then there would be the added pressure of her advice... "Dad it’s too dark, dad you didn't use enough color..etc" but it was always welcomed and enjoyed.
But it would appear that my oldest,

Kyle, has flipped the script. He has a new art teacher at school that has pulled the creative side from him and place it on paper. There's still the added X-Box every now and then, but according to my mother-in-law (who is watching the three of them right now) said he has taken up the work and to his excitement is enjoying it a lot.
So I figured this much, everything begins with a sketch, I still own several sketch books from when I was a kid and refer to them often. But I bought four of them and modified the cover so each would be able to identify their own. (If not it would be a blow out fight) and sending it to them so that they can keep sort of a sketch diary. I told my mother-in-law that it would be a great idea if they all drew in it so they could show their mother when she returns from Iraq. I even got her one; she’s always working on projects with the kids and pretty creative herself. This way when the time comes to sketch, color or paint, she won't have to fight for her own piece of paper. I hope it works; after all, I got my first sketch book when I was five and haven't dropped the pencil yet.

Finished work

Illustration Friday: GHOST

I have spoke of the voices before. Each one of the tormented souls talks differently. Their words are foreign and sometimes sound like a distant murmur...almost to faint to hear their flesh ripping screech. But as soon as I clicked on my email this morning there it was...Illustration Friday- the subject, Ghost...and boy did they start talking.


I have used this face in "Kathryn's Temptation" and in "The Grip". There is just something about it that scares the living hell out of me. This one spoke immediately as I read the title for I.F. It's one of the darkest souls that I have and you can see by the detail that him and I have had a very close run in before.

If I had to say it, then I would say that this is the drawing of the face in which the bad voice that looms over my shoulder and speaks only when rage emerges. It is thus far the darkest side of my soul yet, and the one I tend to stay far away from.
I never intended on him to show up...but he answered with a thunderous roar when Illustration Friday called.


Title: Dark Adaptation
Medium: Ebony Pencil
Size: 8 1/2 X 11

Kathryn's Temptation

Long after the Creed...
way before the Song...
there was the Temptation.
So who would like to hear the story behind the dark portal of this Tormented Soul?

Title: Kathryn's Temptation
Medium: Gauche Water Color, Pen & Ink, Prisma Color Pencil & Photo Shop
Size: 18 X 24

Recent submission in Illustration Friday "Black & Orange"

SMITTEN

She crys, and doesn't know why. Her song is that of a lonely one. She can't explain why and has gain no closer knowledge to where it will take her. The melody dark, almost eerie. Miserable strings play from melting violins as the composer moves his wand of misery to vocals of her echoing cry from behind bleeding curtains of pain. Figures with no faces line the pews of unreasonable doubt as the climax bursts into what seems like the end. But in all reality, in the tormented soul, its only the end of the beginning of the end.

Title: Kathryn's Song
Medium: gauche Water Color
Size: 18 X 24