Golden Lasso

"To Lasso the Little Dog"
Another new small commission on wood. If you have a dog with an exposed third eye you will appreciate the strategic placement of a key.

Another Alice Piece

"Down the Hole"
I'm working on so many pieces at a time that it is something of a surprise when I actually finish one. It's also nice to see that I can do a fairly nice piece now and then.

My Book

Looks like this will be the cover of my upcoming book. Not easy settling on a cover for the first book of my work. I tried serious and beautiful but ultimately I've wanted to use this image forever and it says something about me. Simple can be beautiful. Humor can be serious. I'll reveal more over time.

Narmored Guard

"The Mobile Narmored Guard Big Bear Double Ball-Peen Hammer Challenge"
An experiment. Toying with a storyline having to do with the Narmored Guard. I'm not yet sure how I'll draw it yet.

Aging Batman 2

Another aging Batman quickie. DC comics is constantly knocking at my door.

New Painting on Wood

"The Bird is Home"
This is a painting that I have been working on here and there for awhile. I was thinking it would be used on the cover of my book and the book's subtitle would be The Bird is Home. But it's not enough and I was over thinking the title thing. Moving on but the painting is still OK with a great message. The bird really belongs in my brain.

Spectrum 21

Went out a bought a copy of Spectrum 21. It is big and beautiful and a must have if you any interest at all in good artwork especially if you are into the art of the fantastic. I really keeps getting better despite my work being in it.

Illustration for Germany

This is an illustration I did for a German client. Pretty heavily art directed but it's a piece I can finish in color and sell. Strange seeing work like this of mine in black and white.

Travis Louie

If you don't know Travis's work you should. He is having a show at AFANYC where I show. If you are int town or interested in some cool stuff go see and go buy.

Tree

Finally finished, after painting it over three or four times, the second in a trilogy coming from a narrative provided by one of my favorite collectors. Tree as character is an interesting challenge.

Finally a New Painting

Haven't been able to post this, a surprise. But now I can. She was happy with the surprise.

Neglect

Really sorry I've been neglecting my blog here but changes are a comin'. In the meantime old sketchbook stuff. Looking through old stuff preparing for a book of my work.

Latest Commission

"Conunganger"

Spies Finish

"Spies"
It's at that point where I could keep adding stuff forever but should probably stop. I'll let it stew for awhile but for now I'm stopping.  12x16 acrylic on panel

Spies Process

I feel like I haven't posted anything new for awhile now so I'm posting this progress pic on the right. Bad scan and still a ways off from finished but it's a cool look at how much something can change during my process. Hope to have this done next week but no guarantees. Too many other things going on. Also this is a commission for an incredible artist whose work I really admire. Some perceived added pressure.

Giant Color Catcher Machine

Did I ever post this "color catcher" machine done for one of the 8,293 stories I have started but never finished? I really kind of like it.

Bald Men Rule

And of course always make time to keep an active sketchbook no matter how hard, how bad, or how little time you have. I've done better but I've also done worse. I love drawing. Sketching from life is best but finding time is difficult and drawing from a photo will do just fine.

Little Diversions

"They have My Eyes"
As I work on intense larger paintings these little 4x6 diversions on wood help keep me visually sane. They're kind of fun too.

Spectrum 3 Exhibition

Honored to have these two pieces selected for the Spectrum 3 Exhibition at the Society of Illustrators September 3 - October 18, 2014. Hey it ends on my b-day. Of course I'll be in NYC Nov. 2-4 so I'll miss it. Not much for luck.
Spectrum 3 Exhibition

Something a Little Different?

I'm excited about this piece. This is one of three being done for a client who started writing his own short story and wanted me to do some paintings from it. He didn't, and neither did I, wand illustrations but this naturally has a very narrative feel to it. I wish the colors did the original justice. I'm excited as I work on the other two.

Thank You Card

"Zip"
When someone does something very nice for me I can be somewhat generous in my response. This is a Carman thank you note. Of course if the recipient hates the drawing then it's not so generous.

Batfan

In honor of 5000 likes to my FB page I did a request from a very young fan. I don;t normally do superhero stuff but this was a special occasion.

Memories

I'm about ready to call this finished. I'll let it sit for a day or two and maybe some birds or something will show up. This is a commission for an old friend who's living in Italy and driving a Ferrari. We were in a band together and had a magic show together. You know the usual.
"We Played in a Band Together"

Still Sketchbookin' It

 Once again apologizing for being neglectful. Here are some sketchbook pages to say I'm sorry.

Chesteye

OK, OK. I know that this isn't what you'd expect from me but I do these sketches on wood and sometimes they take me to dark narrative places that residing deep in my psyche. I don't always post these but I started this at Spectrum Live and just worked on it yesterday and today. I call it finished. Sketching with paint seems natural for me.

Vampirella

"A Penchant for Seafood"

Another in my growing line of comic book character treatments. Commissions for these have taken me into some interesting territory. This original will be unveiled at Spectrum Live this weekend.

More for Spectrum Live

Though he eats through a straw, in his mind he is still the fierce apex predator and warrior.
Another for Spectrum Live. It's getting close.
"Once Fierce" with a few process shots.

New Wood

A new one on wood for Spectrum Fantastic Art Live. You all should think about coming

Opening at Brumfield's

I'm going to be at the opening of a group show tonight at Brumfield's here in Hyde Park. Come on out and say hi. I have one new piece in the show and a couple others thrown in.

More Wood

"She Rides a Bee with many Eyes"
OK I think it's finished. Another for Spectrum Live in May.

Another on Wood

One of the things I love about painting on wood is that it speaks to me sooner and tells me to stop painting before I ruin things.

"Rider Rodent"

Spectrum Honors

Another incredible honor from Arnie Fenner and the Spectrum Live gang. This ad will run in the April edition of American Art Collector Magazine. Pretty great group of artists and then there's me.

And if that's not enough: "Shared Eyewear" has been nominated for an award in Spectrum 21 in the institutional category. We'll find out in May, at Spectrum Live, if I actually win. Really tough competition so I am extremely honored: http://fleskpublications.com/blog/2014/03/03/the-spectrum-21-award-nominees/

Another Quick Woody

"We feed our Pets only the Best"
Do you think anyone will buy these at Spectrum Live in May? These are really fun to work on as I tackle major commissions for you all out there. You know what, my job is pretty cool.

Little Claybord Commission

"The Writing Tree"

Mixed media on claybord. I went a little overboard, as usual. It really came to an good place. I was going to do this simple sort of drawing but things just kept happening. Claybord can be like that.

Little Things on Wood

"We breed our Pets with partially Armored Skin"
A little different than my usual offerings but I think I'm liking the direction. Hoping to have a bunch of these small pieces on wood done for Spectrum Live in May. Love to meet some of you all there.

"The 3 Bigger Pigs"
A quicker commission that wasn't as quick as it probably should have been.

Quicker Commission

"Why Fly Yourself when You can be Flown by Something that doesn't really Fly?"
My latest quicker commission.

Batman and Joker

A new commission. I still have a couple of things to do like finish off the stack of stones next to Batman but will take a few days to step away from this to think about it. Sometimes a fresh perspective is the best thing.

Enter Spectrum 21

Deadline to enter Spectrum 21 is tomorrow. They are now taking digital submissions but if you mail prints the post mark for tomorrow is good enough. If you've never entered give it a try. it can be a true game changer. If you don't know what Spectrum is find out.
Spectrum Fantastic Art

I always choose one of my entries as a "sure get in piece."  I have been wrong more than once. Maybe this year I will be right with Fredusa.

Proscenium Hill

"Proscenium Hill"
Latest commission and it works pretty well, at least I think so.

Book

So I have decided to do another black and white book of sketches and drawings. Stuff like this converted color drawing and sketchbook pages. it will be the same size as my last one, 6x9 inches, with apprx. 80-100 pages and a color front and back cover. It will be a very limited run mostly for Spectrum Live but I will try to save a few for my online guys. I'll post a few more possible pages over the next little while.

Video Interview

A nice interview done by my gallery in Soho, AFANYC:

Bill Carman Interview