Coming Out of Stasis

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 | M. R. Kessell

How have y’all been? How you holding up in these strange days of COVID-19?

I hope you are well.

Even though the past few months have been spent mostly indoors, I haven’t accomplished very much creatively. I’ve discovered that working remotely in the construction industry is just as stressful as being there in person. Plus making home cooked meals on a daily basis and the dirty dishes that follow take up quite a bit of time and energy.

And don’t get me started on Dr. Mario:

Clip of Nintendo game in which Doctor Mario drops a yellow pill onto the germs

In the past few weeks things have started returning somewhat to normal here in New York City. We can now get haircuts again. We can drink alcohol and dine outdoors at tables set up literally in the street. Everyone’s riding bikes because the subway creeps them out. Most people are wearing masks. I’m exhausted again having returned to the office full time.

Noir Spiderman Into the Spiderverse costume with Rubik's cube. — On the bright side, I didn’t think I would ever get to wear this Halloween costume again.

I’m a bit more motivated now coming out of stasis and trying to produce some new works.

Vampire creature flying in front of full moon pencil sketch by M. R. Kessell

I recently finished a decent sized short story. I’ve started sketching up a horror comedy comic book. I’ve made a handful of digital illustrations. I’ve started recording music again. And there was something else I wanted to tell you…

Oh yeah, I started a YouTube channel.

This channel will be a place to showcase my art, animation and music. And to possibly offer tips and tricks. Please check it out and subscribe if you have a few minutes.

Alejandro Jodorowsky digital oil portrait by M. R. Kessell — Alejandro Jodorowsky offering us a glimpse deep into his mind. There’s a bunch of weird stuff there.

Hoppy Holidays!

April 10, 2020 | M. R. Kessell

a whole thing of candy beans, like on Arrested Development

This will be a short post.

I just wanted to share another quick doodle.

It might be a little early, but I figured you could use a whole thing of candy beans to brighten your day.

That’s all for now.

I am notoriously anti-viral

March 28, 2020 | M. R. Kessell

First thing’s first:

cartoon man struggles to not touch his own face

How’s everyone holding up in the days of the coronavirus? I hope you’re all staying safe.

I am currently working from my shoe box-sized home, my anxiety levels are off the charts, and I have been neglecting all of my creative outlets.

I figured I would share some of the things I’ve actually accomplished since the start of our current global crisis. The graphic above was something I thought I could send out into the world as a sort of PSA. A reminder for people.

I don’t know if it helped.

space girl floating admiring a distant galaxy.

You might not know that I love science fiction. But I do! Beep. Bop. Boop. I am a robot from Mars.

Right now, living in NYC, I’ve been going a little crazy, dreaming of more space, and that led me to create the image above. You can see the full image over in my portfolio.

Aside from that, I haven’t really been able to focus. Social media (mostly Twitter) has been creeping back, distracting me again and again. The news doesn’t help either. Does anyone else have these issues?

I should really get back to work.

If you happen to find yourself bored at home for some reason, my e-book is available for FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

Art, Updates, and the Dangers of Eggnog

January 23, 2020 | M. R. Kessell

Firstly, I want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It’s been a while since my last post.

As you may have noticed, I went a little overboard with the Christmas spirit. You know how it goes, one mug of eggnog leads to a second, and a third, and before you know it, I’ve quit my day job and run off to become a Candy Cane Stilt-Walker.

But I digress.

It’s a new year and I have some new toys…er…tools, I mean tools. This is all very serious business.

I am now the proud owner a Wacom digital drawing tablet, something I’ve dreamed about for over a decade. And I’m having way too much fun over here.

**Here’s a quick sketch of my spirit animal, a rodent in distress.**

I’ve been taking some time to really learn the ins and outs of my new tablet and software. I’ve just completed my first major illustration using the Wacom. Take a look at my process video below and then head over to my portfolio page to see the artwork in full.

Jenny Greenteeth Awakes

I’ve also got some exciting new projects up ahead which I hope to share with you all very soon.

Stay tuned.

Until then, I’m off to work…

Eggnog is a hell of a drug.

About A Thurl (Ravenscroft, that is)

December 13, 2019 | M. R. Kessell

Continuing in my efforts to be less Grinchy Winchy and more Holly Jolly this month, I wanted to talk to you briefly about Thurl Ravenscroft.

“What or who is Thurl Ravenscroft?” I can hear you saying, “He’s from Lord of the Rings, right? No wait, Game of Thrones! Is it Game of Thrones?”

Nope!

“Is it some sort of Nordic death metal band?”

Negative. Although…

The Thurl Ravenscroft I’m referring to was a singer and a voice actor who might best be known(or maybe not) for singing the classic “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from the 1966 TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

This song really hit me, because I too have garlic in my soul. I should probably have that checked out.

After a recent viewing, I was shocked to learn that Thurl wasn’t credited in the animated special.

Did they expect us to believe that the narrator, Boris Karloff, provided the vocals?

Dr. Seuss himself felt terrible about the situation and later tried to remedy it with a letter-writing campaign to various influencers of the day, giving credit to Thurl.

I imagine it went something like this:

While doing my brief bit of research I’ve found that people have been asking Google this question: “Did James Earl Jones sing the Grinch?”

That’s a pretty good guess, I guess.

If only there was some way this confusion could have been avoided from the start.

One last thing before I set off on the sea of swirly-twirly gum drops...

In the spirit of the season, I want to share with you a special little animated gif that I created.

Please feel free to share!

Especially if you have ever been wrongly labeled a Grinch.

Christmas is Coming and I am not a Grinch

December 5, 2019 | M. R. Kessell

‘Twas a stressful December evening in the Gingerbread household.

In the spirit of the season, I’ve decided to create some silly holiday doodles. Hopefully they amuse you as much as they amuse me.

This is also an effort to prove to my wife that I am not a Grinch.

I’ll be the first to admit that in the past decade I have displayed some Grinchy tendencies; Complaining about Christmas music in October, avoiding being trampled on Black Fridays like the plague, insisting that Diehard is a Christmas movie, stealing all the toys and decorations and roast beast from Whoville.

But I’m working on it.

The past few years have seen our Christmas playlists expand like my waistline after feasting on a bacon-wrapped, Yuletide Turducken.

Below is my current favorite. And yes, it is a polka.

Must Be Santa by Brave Combo

My wife and I drive through suburban neighborhoods admiring the decorations whilst listening to holiday tunes and sipping hot cocoa.

I own an ironically ugly Christmas sweater. Need I say more? Yes?

Well, bah humbug!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that we visited London earlier in the year and I acquired a reproduction of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I’m terribly excited to read it. I should probably go start that now.

I will be posting more doodles as they come to me throughout the month on here and through various other social media. Let me know what you think!

By the way, do you have a favorite Christmas song?

I’m always looking to augment and expand those playlists. I’d love some new suggestions. The weirder the better too.

Okay, talk to you later, I’m off to meet my friend Scrooge.