More silliness

It seems to me that all those Neo-con Republicans who want laws and amendments defining marriage as being between a man and woman actually need a law that defines homosexuality as sex between a man and another man, because they seem awfully confused.

First there was Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) caught performing various gestures associated with soliciting sex in a men's room (to be henceforth knows as 'craiging') but who denies he is gay, and now Representative Richard Curtis (R-Washington) who reported to police he was being blackmailed by a male prostitute he had sex with, also denies he is gay.

Hey guys, guess what? You're gay - deal with it.

It just re-enforces the old adage about homosexuality, "the louder the objection the stronger the erection". That's an old adage right?

Holiday Artwork '07

With the weather outside frightful and the fire inside delightful, is there any better way to enjoy the Night Before Christmas than cuddled up with your sweetie reading 'A Christmas Carol'?

"The Night Before Christmas" is available as:

* Original (image size 18.5" x 23.25")
* Gallery Prints (on 24" x 28") signed & numbered limited edition (qty 25).
* Studio prints (on 13" x 19") open edition.
* Portfolio prints (on 8.5" x 11") signed & numbered limited edition (qty 25).
* Christmas Cards

[Click to order]

During the 'Day of Issue Sale' they are 20% off. Sale ends around midnight Midnight (EDT) October 31, 2007. Framing is also available.

Best or Worst Halloween Costumes

I can't decide if this is the best Halloween costume or the scariest, George W. Bush as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Not only do they share the same beady eyes but both put religious ideology ahead of civil liberties, and one thinks gays and lesbians are second class citizens and the other thinks they aren't citizens at all.

I've always thought Amadinejad looked like Bush, so I only needed about 5 minutes with photoshop to put George in his 'costume'.


And not to be out done, Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), in an attempt to quell any remaining rumours of his homosexuality is going trick or treating as the icon of men's fitness, Richard Simmons.

On The Drawing Board: Finished...but

Usually at this point I announce the release of my latest work and make it available for purchase. However, this being my holiday piece and I am having greeting cards made of it, I won't officially release it until I have seen the proof from the printer that makes the cards.

Until then, here are the finished faces of my Christmas couple.

Work & Playlist: October 26, 2007

"Guess Who Ran off with the Milkman" - Live at Rocknacht

1. "Guess Who Ran off with the Milkman" - The Pipettes
2. "Storm in a Teacup" - Erasure
3. "I Want Your Soul" - Armand Van Helden
4. "Whine Up" - Kat De Luna ft. Elephant Man
5. "Dark Road" - Annie Lennox
6. "Reveal" - Roxette
7. "Hey Darling" - Ace of Base
8. "Amazing" - Seal
9. "In the Stars" - Madison Park & Sunday People
10. "Grace Kelly" - MIKA
11. "Message to Myself" - Melissa Etheridge
12. "Leave Me Alone, (I'm Lonely)" - Pink
13. "Slow Me Down" - Emmy Rossum
14. "The Mating Game" - Bitter:Sweet
15. "On The Verge of Something Wonderful" - Darren Hayes
16. "One Step Further" - Jenna Drey
17. "She Wants to Move" - N.E.R.D.
18. "Big Spender" - Dame Shirley Bassey
19. "I Like Music" - Junior Senior
20. "Better Get To Livin'"- Dolly Parton
21. "Take My Time" - Junior Senior
22. "The Way I Are" - Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E.
23. "Holy Ground" - A-ha*
24. "Shame, Shame, Shame" - Soulseekers ft. Cece Peniston
25. "Lollipop"- MIKA
26. "Forbidden Love" - Madonna
27. "Walk Away" - Tony Moran ft. Kristine W.
28. "Analogue" - A-Ha*
29. "Step Into The Light (Tony Moran Full Mix)" - Darren Hayes
30. "Do You Know (Ping Pong Song)" - Enrique Iglesias

Blue - Moved up from last week
Green - New entry
* Not available on iTunes

Flashback - 1995

Belly - "Super Connected"

No, I was never a big fan of grunge-rock in the mid 90's but I did like Belly and I guess they kinda fall into that category. Perhaps it's the female energy that made them seem less pretentious than say Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Oasis etc.

On The Drawing Board: Warming Light

To add to the cozy feel of my Christmas illustration, I wanted to put the cuddly couple near a fireplace. Without a lot of space to fit it in with the layout I have, I've left it out of view but am showing the glow coming from it on the left side of the picture.

I am almost done with the piece...perhaps today! Then it's time to get cards made.

Guilty Pleasure

A Jennifer Anniston 'look-a-like' with Style Team member Jeff Altenburg.

When I am working on a picture and I am tired of listening to music I put the TV on in the background. I like to put on a 'fluff' show, nothing heavy or with a complex story that needs to be followed. One of my current favorites is "Look-A-Like" on the TV Guide Channel. Each episode an ordinary person that has a vague resemblance to a celebrity gets made over into that celebrity by the 'Style Team'. The team consists of a hair stylist, make-up artist, wardrobe person and the photographer for the climactic photo shoot finalé. What gives me the biggest kick is how the Style Team has to 'meet the challenge' and wonders if they 'can pull it off', and every episode they just manage to succeed and then pat each other on the back at the wonderful job each of them did. It's oddly addictive. 95% of the time the make-overs are women, but once in a while they have a male look-a-like such as Justin Timberlake or Colin Farrell.

Viewing note: If you have DirecTV and not cable you luckily don't have half the screen taken up by the programming guide.

The Wretch is Gone - at least for a while

Yesterday, was the maternity farewell for two-faced Elisabeth Hasselbeck of ABC's "The View". I used to be a big fan of the show while Rosie O'Donnell was moderator, but stopped watching after she was betrayed by so-called friend, the brainwashed Bush-loving Hasselbeck.

I am a fan of Whoopi Goldberg, though not as outspoken as Rosie, and other newcomer Sherri Shepard who joined the panel this September. Now, that the Wretch is off to birth her idiot spawn, I finally will tune in to see Whoopi and Sherri in action.

On The Drawing Board: Cold weather

I had thought about doing a tropical Christmas theme, but I really wanted to do a snuggly winter piece. However it's been very hard to put myself in that frame of mind since we have been having temps in the 70's for a few weeks and today it's supposed to be near 80, about 20 degrees warmer than where we should be at this time of year in Massachusetts. For a change I have been looking forward to the cooler weather and except for a day here and there it's been unseasonable warm.

Work & Playlist: October 19, 2007

1. "Storm in a Teacup" - Erasure
2. "Dark Road" - Annie Lennox
3. "Guess Who Ran off with the Milkman" - The Pippettes
4. "Message to Myself" - Melissa Etheridge
5. "Whine Up" - Kat De Luna ft. Elephant Man
6. "Leave Me Alone, (I'm Lonely)" - Pink
7. "Reveal" - Roxette
8. "I Want Your Soul" - Armand Van Helden
9. "She Wants to Move" - N.E.R.D.
10. "On The Verge of Something Wonderful" - Darren Hayes

Green denotes new top 10 entry.
Song links will take you to the iTunes listing if you have iTunes on your computer.

Allies in Bigotry

Bigot Bob Jones III, chancellor of the Christian fundamentalist school named for his family, is endorsing Mormon Republican Mitt Romney for president. The BJ (Bob Jones) University, up until losing federal funding in 2000, had a ban on interracial dating.

"We're proud to have Dr. Jones' support and look forward to working with him to communicate Governor Romney's message of conservative change to voters," Romney spokesman William Holley said in a statement.

Romney is just so proud of Jones, a man who contends that relationships between people from different races - which he has described as "genetic blending" - runs against the Biblical order. Mitt must just be beaming!!!

"As a Christian I am completely opposed to the doctrines of Mormonism," Jones told a newspaper. "But I'm not voting for a preacher. I'm voting for a president. It boils down to who can best represent conservative American beliefs, not religious beliefs."

Jones has referred to Catholicism as "the religion of the anti-Christ and a Satanic system" and called Mormonism and Catholicism "cults which call themselves Christian."

Apparently bigots can put aside their differences, come together in glorious union for the purpose of inequality and division. Granted, Romney, (currently) a staunch opponent of same-sex marriage, ran his Massachusetts Senate campaign touting his commitment to GLBT issues, is the King of Flip-Flop and really will say anything that he thinks will get him elected. Jones meanwhile apparently can push aside his belief that Romney is a member of a cult in order to support him for president.

On The Drawing Board: The Holiday Rush

I had hoped to start on my Christmas piece a few weeks ago but fell behind with other projects and having a cold for a week, plus I wanted to squeeze in my Halloween illustration.
I racked my brain for an idea that I liked and have sketched and tweaked the layout. Here is a cropped section of the drawing. I hope all goes smoothly, as I'd like to offer it as a holiday card and for that to happen I need to get it to the printers in about 10 days.

A THOUSAND WORDS Project

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Work & Playlist: October 12, 2007

1. "Message to Myself" - Melissa Etheridge
2. "Dark Road" - Annie Lennox
3. "Storm in a Teacup" - Erasure
4. "Guess Who Ran off with the Milkman" - The Pippettes
5. "Leave Me Alone, (I'm Lonely)" - Pink
6. "Whine Up" - Kat De Luna ft. Elephant Man
7. "On The Verge of Something Wonderful" - Darren Hayes
8. "I Like Music" - Junior Senior
9. "She Wants to Move" - N.E.R.D.
10. "Better Get To Livin'" - Dolly Parton

Green denotes new top 10 entry.
Song links will take you to the iTunes listing if you have iTunes on your computer.

Studio1088.com Website is Down....AGAIN!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

New Work: "Leader of the Pack"

Once a year, on the night of the Blood Moon, a special hunt begins. Not for food. But for new members eager to join the pack.

"Leader of the Pack" is available as:

* Original (image size 23" x 18")
* Gallery Prints (on 28" x 24") signed & numbered limited edition.
* Studio prints (on 19" x 13") signed & numbered limited edition.
* Portfolio prints (on 11" x 8.5") open edition.

[Click to order]

During the 'Day of Issue Sale' they are 20% off. Sale ends around midnight Midnight (EDT) October 10, 2007. Framing is also available.

Book Pick

If you're a fan of those John Hughes movies from the 80's ("Sixteen Candles", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Weird Science") you'll likely enjoy Larry Doyle's first novel "I Love You, Beth Cooper".

Former TV writer and magazine editor Doyle frenetically chronicles in his debut a long night of goofy teenage antics. After concluding he has nothing to lose, geekazoid valedictorian Denis Cooverman declares, during his graduation speech, his love for Beth Cooper, the way hot head cheerleader. He is amazed to discover Beth is not completely repulsed by his feelings for her, although her army boyfriend, Kevin, is enraged. Along with his 'maybe gay' best friend Rich Denis spends his graduation night in pursuit and on the run with one outrageous mishap after the other.

Work & Playlist: October 5, 2007

1. "I Like Music" - Junior Senior
2. "On The Verge of Something Wonderful" - Darren Hayes
3. "Message to Myself" - Melissa Etheridge
4. "Better Get To Livin'" - Dolly Parton
5. "Leave Me Alone, (I'm Lonely)" - Pink
6. "Dark Road" - Annie Lennox
7. "Whine Up" - Kat De Luna ft. Elephant Man
8. "She Wants to Move" - N.E.R.D.
9. "Storm in a Teacup" - Erasure
10. "Guess Who Ran off with the Milkman" - The Pippettes

Green denotes new top 10 entry.
Song links will take you to the iTunes listing if you have iTunes on your computer.

Hennessy Ad, music by N.E.R.D.

When I first saw this commercial I had no idea what it was for. The music grabbed me. Once I found out what it was I immediately purchased the song "She Wants to Move" by N.E.R.D. from iTunes.

Art of The Month: Diablo

Over at my website, www.breyette.com, I am featuring "Diablo" as my Art of The Month. Therefore, through October prints and the original of the hot devil, are 15% off.

On The Drawing Board: Wolf Whistle

Having never done a guy that's part man part wolf, I figure the best way for me to approach it is by drawing him primarily as a regular man first then adding in the wolf elements. I will probably add more hair/fur to things like his ear, but first I need to draw him without it.

On The Drawing Board: Feeling Better

I'm feeling much better after being miserable with a cold all of last week. As much as I wanted to get to work on my new drawing, the sneezing and coughing and the thought of stirring up pastel dust kept me away. Though I did get some work done. I fiddled with my sketch a bit, altering the arms to bring more attention to the shredding off of the wolf man's clothes.

I also spent some time working up ideas for future works, including a fireman and a cowboy couple. I gave some thought to what I want to do for a winter holiday piece but haven't nailed it down yet. I have to get busy on that soon if I plan to get cards of it made and available.