Last fall I brought my first Wacom drawing tablet. Now you think I would be creating illustrations with it. Instead, I’m continuing to use the old fashioned method. Sketching by hand.
Case in point. Check out my latest sketch.
Black and white original illustration by Michele Witchipoo. May 2018.Â
Then here’s the same piece after a treatment of watercolor. The scan of the colored version threw me off. The flesh tones look quite different in person. However, I don’t mind the smoker effect from the scan.
Spider Lady illustration after colored with watercolor. The scan has altered the colors somewhat. Michele Witchipoo. May 2018.Â
Thinking about selling the original illustration, after I put it in a custom frame. Usually I sell only prints. That decision was made after I sold my original David Bowie/Aladdin Sane watercolor illustration. The Spider Lady item isn’t something I’m attached to. Despite her lovely spiderweb. Have to work on other illustration and sketches now. Will be back with another Psycho Bunny sketch of the week very soon.
Eddie Murphy’s eyes….on Sketch Lottery. Character of the week was Prince Akeem from the 80s film “Coming To America.” Sketch by Michele Witchipoo Nov. 2014
A week late, but the Sketch Lottery character was Prince Akeem from the 1988 film ‘Coming To America.’ For those who don’t know, comedian Eddie Murphy portrays Prince Akeem, a rich African prince in search of a bride. He goes to America to find the woman of his dreams, which lands him right in NYC boro of Queens.
As a side note. The scenes where Prince Akeem was working in McDowell’s were filmed on location at a local fast food restaurant. It was Wendy’s, located on Queens Boulevard, in Elmhurst, Queens. My mother used to pass by this Wendy’s during her work commute.
Years later, I moved to an area which wasn’t that far from Elmhurst. The Wendy’s location was still there. Unfortunately, that Wendy’s was known as one of the worse Wendy’s ever. In 2013, it was torn down. Below are a few online articles relating to the former business.
My contribution to last week’s Sketch Lottery, and keeping up with the Inktober theme. This time, the subject was Salvador Dali. I always thought of him as an original rock star. (Although the pic here looks a bit like Alan Moore) Which is probably why I drew him in that style.
Salvador Dali’s eye. Almost looks like Alan Moore for a second. Dali’s Car anyone? (Drawn by Michele Witchipoo, Oct. 2014)
Just for the hell of it, I’m gonna throw in a song from 1984. Dali’s Car, a side project between Bauhaus‘ lead vocalist Peter Murphy, and Mick Karn from the band Japan. In keeping with the Dali theme.
Slow news day today. So I’m thinking of ways to supplement my income. For years people have been asking me about selling prints. So finally I’m doing something about it.
This morning I set up an account on RedBubble. See where it goes. So check it out. I’ll be selling greeting cards here. Been meaning to sell greeting cards anyway. Also available, prints, posters, cell cases and iPad covers. The cell cases and iPad covers are more on the pricey side, but look at it this way. These are unique covers that no one else will have. I guarantee you won’t see anyone else with a Quentin Crisp cellphone cover – or a Quentin Crisp greeting card since we’re at it. Anyway, the stuff posted is some of my recent work, and more will be posted soon. In the meantime, I’ll check out more of the on demand art sites.
Quentin Crisp. Quickie illustration by Michele Witchipoo. Created March 28th, 2013. Pen, ink, glitter watercolor.Sugar Skulls. Done January 20th, 2013. Pen and ink. Drawn by Michele Witchipoo.“Ms. World” Watercolor, pen and ink illustration by Michele Witchipoo. Completed Jan. 2013.
It was about time I updated this blog. To tell you the truth, not much happened this summer. In fact, it was pretty uneventful. There were a few highlights. I caught a performance art piece by Ron Athey. It wasn’t type of performance he’s usually known for. Instead it focused on automatic writing. Thanks to my dear Facebook friend, she got me into this band called The Lost Patrol. Then every other Sunday I’ve been going to Hare Krisha services with one of my oldest friends. Not that I’m going to convert to Krisha consciousness anytime soon. I prefer the more traditional Hindu and Buddhist mindset. Still, I like the chanting, and I get to hang with my pal. So now I’m torn between my current agnostic stance, and wondering if I should tip my toes into the esoteric pool again. Then I had a fun night at one of Time Square’s last standing local bars. Nearby me on the desk are these drawn-on bar napkins from Jimmy’s Place. The art on these napkins was a collaboration between a me and a friend. My souvenir of the night. Maybe I’ll post the photo from Jimmy’s. Those napkins kinda sorta helped me fight against this artist block I’ve seem to be experiencing as of late. Instead this summer has been spent mostly reflecting. Reflection with a small black cloud stewing above my head.
Perhaps the artist block is starting to crack. I’ve been sketching on and off, but nothing stood out. Tonight I did this quick sketch below. It’s influence these two factors. One was a conversation from the past 48 hours. The other was articles I had been reading about Linda Lovelace, since a film about her life is currently in the theaters.
The style of this sketch is similar to what I used to do before I went back to college. Like with the first issue of Babalon Babes, warts and all. For those who don’t know, Babalon Babes was a self-published sketchbook I used to sell at comic cons and local shops. It’s focus was occult and sexuality. I stopped doing Babalon Babes around late 2009 after the astrology issue. Anyway, this sketch is kinda rough, but it works. It might do well as a painting, either in acrylic or watercolor and ink wash. For now it’s just basic pen work.
It’s soundtrack was Marc and The Mambas, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, classic Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, and early Death In June.
Gas Mask August 2013. Pen sketch by Michele Witchipoo, done August 19, 2013.
I walk around in the summertime saying “How about this heat?” – Dennis Leary
Summer’s here. Many people love summer. I don’t.
Around 2003 I came up with the idea of having a goddess for air conditioning. The character Goddess of The Air Conditioner was born.
She’s more of a seasonal character per say. I kinda wait until the heat is blistering. She’s not that hard to please. Offerings come in paying your electric bill. Central air is even better.
The Goddess of The Air Conditioner. Character design and drawing by Michele Witchipoo. July 2013.
She’s usually dressed in very girly colors. A pink kinda gal. At the time when I created her, Paris Hilton was constantly in the news. So in a way, these drawings were a piss take on the whole Paris Hilton image. Nowadays I just channel whatever bottle blond is “hot” at the moment. Rest assured though that this Goddess will always have class. I could see this Goddess having a haute couture wardrobe. She just doesn’t wear bathing suits you know. In her closet she wears Vivianne Westwood heels during the day, and crystal encrusted Christian Louboutins at night. She accessorizes with her cute little custom diamond tiaras along with Betsey Johnson and Alexander McQueen. When she feels like it she’ll do Versace and Gaultier. She appreciates the classics like Channel. She’s on the fence about John Galliano. Not a fur gal however. She considers furs rather tacky.
Yet despite her killer closet, she loves each and everyone of her devotees. Regardless of clothing labels or knock-offs.
You’ll find the Goddess of The Air Conditioning in such places like your local supermarket, the downtown movie theater, and Dunkin Donuts. While she sips her Cristal Brute 1990 Methuselah, she comforts those who suffer through work, school, or Facebook trolling. Just as long as you pay the electricity bill, darling, you’ll be fine.
Strangely enough, I never put the Goddess of The Air Conditioner to print. Been meaning to put her in a Psycho Bunny but it never happened. Perhaps one day. Meanwhile, here’s an unpublished panel from 2004. From the early days.
An unpublished Goddess of The Air Conditioner panel from 2004. It’s so hot, you can barely keep your tighty whities on. Drawn by Michele Witchipoo. Pen and marker.
May the Goddess bless you. Just as long as you pay your electricity bill.
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