Who is Sady Starkiss?

Simply put, Sady Starkiss was a product of a conversation and a single commission.

In this commission, the idea was to have what my friend referred to as a "Space Nubile." And that was as much information as he gave me. He wanted something with the '50s feel to it. So, I combined a classic Vargas girl pinup and a Wally Wood space girl.

I'm a sucker for old 50s pinup girls, to begin with. And Wally Wood had such a flair for the ladies of the time.

A questionable combination, but I needed the challenge of something new and not just my traditional superhero schlock. I ended up with an old-school control console and some deft gravity-defining clothing. The inside joke was Sady couldn't keep her clothes on.

Of course, this commission led right to the creation of Heavy Metal (an old-school robot based on the old black and white movie The Mysterious Doctor Satan).

Then there was talk of a crossover between the two. There have been a couple, but the best of the crossovers between the two was the piece called "Blast Off!".

Of course, there is also the crossover call entitled "Oh Yeah?" between heavy-metal and CD star kiss, dealing with a Fu Manchu type of character. Even mentioning that there was a Fu Manchu type of character would get me in trouble with people of today, so I will plan on redesigning my version of Fu with a slight change to color and look. He will be villainous, though. That's a mainstay of the character.

But back to Sady.

Initially, she was just eye candy, to be honest, but as I continued to draw her in different situations, I realized that I needed something more for her. I wanted a personality that would encompass her physically with some of her other mental attributes.

I wanted a strong woman who could fight when push came to shove and yet now always overpower her "detractors."

Another female character I found to be of interest is Una Persson from the Micheal Moorcock fantasy series. I felt she was someone I could base some of Sady on.

So I wanted her to be sexy and adventurous. She is the pinnacle of what my Fu Manchu character is looking for, and Heavy Metal always gets in the way. Of course, others want to be with her as well. Robot Monster is one; Corpse Cop is another.

And all of this chaotic craziness is going to be rendered in scratchboard.

What else?

Real Life and the Arctic Blast

Hey there, sports fans, Al here with the latest;

Life’s been interesting, especially when you have to physically move from one location to another. Nothing is more authentic than having moved over the last couple of years within a few different times, especially during Covid. It, in real life, has a tendency to really disrupt the way of your creative flow. And how it is going. The move alone took time to pack everything that I had and move again. There are some cool things about this move however. But on heals of the move it came the from the Northland, the Arctic Blast of 8 inches of snow! And all the craziness that comes along with that. Both and image and tik-tok video.

The Tik Tok video I shot outside of work. https://www.tiktok.com/@alanjohnbennett/video/7204173731235745066
But, I have a new location in New Home in New Setup, trying to set up my two different computers, one for doing digital work and one for home use, that’s coming together pretty quickly. The artwork is starting to flow. There’s been a lot of comic books. Illustrations for a story they have been working on that slow going, but you know that’s always what happens in the creative process when you’re trying to make something exciting.

With Chaos, comes lots of chaotic ideas. And here is one that could take on a bizarre chain of events. Possible Cross Over?

I am interested in working on a CD Starkiss storyline with Heavy-Metal, and seeing what I can develop. There will be a very tongue-in-cheek. Illustrates short stories, but the drawing will be fun, especially in scratchboard. Oh, it’ll be in the vein of Barbarella, or what I think Barbarella was, along with a little bit of Dejah Thoris and Red Sonja.

Just throwing some weird ideas out there, and like spaghetti, see what sticks.

Till next time.

The Reason for Lack of Content

Hey, there sports fans Al here with the latest;

I just wanted to let you all know that I've been trying to post more frequently. Still, at every turn I've been working on, something else comes up, and real life interferes with what I'm trying to do with artwork and others. Hence, I apologize for not getting back in touch with you guys a little earlier, but that's what's been happening to me.

I've been fortunate enough to have had a couple of different shows crop up. I've actually been able to finish off a couple of commission pieces, one of which I'm working on right now for a T-shirt for Unlimited IPA.

I hope to have a couple more pieces done and possibly work on some new work here after a while. Still, I'm awaiting tools to show so I can start working on those.

Anyway, I've successfully sold three pieces of artwork, from The Lusty Sasquatch Art Show down in Molala to original pieces of one print.

I've also been hit up in recent times for three different commissions after these other two commissions were completed, one of which is a dune tattoo, another for a father and daughter with a couple extra pieces, and an image of a cat.

Once again, it's Inktober this year. But the question is, do I actually follow any of the prompts? I've been taking a look at a few of them, but nothing has caught my attention. Yet but something else will, so I think I'm going to be messing around again with some more illustrative stuff up my alley.

I guess you'll see some ideas, and I've got a couple I'm putting in my sketchbook right now. We'll see if anything catches on, but it has to do with time travel.

There you go, and a few TikTok videos to get you through.

https://www.tiktok.com/@alanjohnbennett/video/7148569587041193259?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7019629005599311365

https://www.tiktok.com/@alanjohnbennett/video/7143010218845146411?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7019629005599311365

Sold pieces!

Life is Pesky

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest,

I know it's been a while since I've posted anything recently. And well, as I've said it once, and I'll repeat it. 

Real life gets in the way of the creative side of things. And emotions like there do happen to flare up from time to time. Because of that, they can hugely influence how the creative side of a person's personality comes out. Or not in my case. I was letting others' conflicts invade my personal space, and I just had to stop and deal with that. What a draining experience.

BUT I just wanted to let you know that things are moving forward with the Pasquinade Project; as far as artwork is concerned, I have five out of seven pieces almost wholly done. It’s just a matter of Hi-Rez scans and then matting and framing, and then there will be a new show.

If you look at the new Pasquinade Project pieces, there will be at least seven pieces, possibly eight depending on what is needed to fill the space with all the work being done. It looks like it’s coming together, and from the reactions, I’ve seen from people when I’ve shown him the group together seems to be a very positive reaction.

Another topic of conversation. "The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker," and I have yet to get this book formatted. For one reason or another, I’ve been putting it off because I’ve been having a hard time focusing on the idea of just doing the physical part of the book. It’s not a creative process; therefore, like so many other artists, I’m just not into it, but I have to force myself to get this book done.

Here is a list for the Pasquinade Project: (as it stands so far) The Pasquinade Project should include the classic Star Trek letter font for this work, except for the title of the art show poster.

Number One: Juicebox. A need for something refreshing turns deeply into something quite unnatural. Colloquial Title: Ask, and ye shall receive.

Number Two: Target Earth. Otherworldly intervention of alien influence on our primal ancestors leaving the distinct racial memory of being probed. Colloquial Title: Tag and release.

Number Three: Duality of the Singularity. The isolated A.I. clad in boilerplate hitting it's thermal limits of its positronic overload of data input under the collapse of known physical laws. Colloquial Title: The gravity of new situations on the horizons.

Number Four: Bacon and Eggs. The Supreme Intelligence contemplating its control over minions of a simian nature with the most base desire for sustenance. Colloquial Title: A good way to start off your day.

Number Five: “The Martian that fell to Earth. “No one would have believed in the early years and a 21st century that an intelligence greater than our own would surely draw his plans against us.” Colloquial Title: “Ack Ack Ack” translation - “I’m sooo angry!”

Number Six: “The Unknown Co-monk”. Set adrift from his humble beginnings in mass media, now fights against boredom with martial mastery of the paper bag technique. Colloquial Title: Bang a gong, get yerself gone!

Number Seven: “Blast Off!” Sady Starkiss rockets out into the infinite comic space way carried away upon Heavy Metal’s thrumming motors only to catch passers-by notice while on his way to earthly invasion and ultimately world domination. Colloquial Title: More thrust!

Here is a visual link for the work that has been worked on https://www.tiktok.com/@alanjohnbennett/video/7107101079900572974?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7019629005599311365

Filling in the Gaps

Hey, there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

So, in the last several posts, I had previously mentioned how I've had to constantly go over my story of Richard Parker and his watery adventure.

It has been a trial for me. Because like every artist I have ever known, the initial concept NEVER equals the finished piece. Sometimes you can come close to that ephemeral idea, but almost every time, it never happens.

SO as an editor on your work, you have to be super critical of your work. Those other types of artists who think that their work is the shiz are those who don't deal with criticism- of any kind. I think the popular word to describe this is "spreg out."

The only way to grow as a person, both personally and professionally, is through criticism. There is no such thing as bad criticism. If you're honest with yourself, listen and then move forward. Yeah, you might like what they have to say. They'll even try to troll you. But take it on the chin. Right now, there are art critics who roam this town of Portland's art scene that are toxic just by comments alone and have some artists in fear of their professional lives. That is just a side note btw.

With that, a few images fill in the gaps to make transitions between significant parts of Richard Parker's story.

A Combo of images of transitional images for “The Watery Adventure of Richard Parker”

I have been working on the battle before Parker's ultimate demise and strengthening (in my opinion) the reason why the mermaid depicted has an emotional change of heart towards Parker.

As I write this, the Prodigy's "Firestarter" is playing in the background. This song is a great sign to start a fire under me to get work going and finished.

I want Richard Parker's story to be done.

I know that a lot of other people are waiting as well. I know that a lot of other people are waiting as well. They keep asking me about it. Many people want to support the book when it's done, but they've been hearing tales of this epic tale, but the epic continues to keep growing, and it's epic Ness. So I got a finish it. Not only for me but for them, and it'll be a monumental piece of work. So here are some more images of the book groups and pages, and I got to get to work, and this kid is out of here.

An idea for a new mermaid piece - for a 4 year old

 Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest;

An idea for a new mermaid piece.

I need a not creepy piece of mermaid artwork with earrings and a necklace and a tail and white that has rainbows. I'll see how well I can do that with a piece of black and white or work.

So now the "Say it ain't so show" has been going on for about three weeks now. In that time, I have sold five pieces of artwork. One original black and white of Richard Parker "Cargo Hold of the Deep" four small mounted prints. It's been reasonably successful for me showing people the artwork with them commenting about it. I've had other questions about the work. As you could tell by the beginning part of this blog, I was approached by my coworker. She wanted to have a piece of artwork done for her daughter, who happens to be four years old. Her description of what she likes about mermaids are as follows - "probably with not as long a tail and not and make it not as "creepy. " This made me laugh out loud. Which is four-year-old speak means to make the eyebrows not so pointed and jaggy, and it has to have rainbows.

Please refer to the piece of artwork "Spell Upon Richard Parker."

I might be able to do that. But right now, I'm in the process of working on three new big 18 x 24 pieces of artwork that have already been drawn out they've already been transferred over. It's a matter of just starting to work on it. I need to finish the last the let the previous three, and then start planning for number seven, the apocalyptic forecast. It'll be a 9 x 12, but I need to design that one out.

UPDATE: 8-29-21

Currently, I am looking over some aspects of looking for an artist's agent to help me find other venues to showcase my art. It has been pointed out that I might have to change my subject matter to attain a higher status with more "conservative tastes."

This is a personal choice for me. I can do such pieces (and who knows, I might actually do it just because), but I am not about to just change course on what I have set for myself. I've already changed course in trying to finish Richard Parker, and look where that has gotten me. Closer to being finished, but what does that really mean?

Anyway, heady thoughts for long-term stuff.

And I am outta here.