Sir Richard Wentworth's Sketchbook

TEENAGE LUVKRAFT is on facebook!

2011-08-14T23:01:00.000-04:00

Hey there, true believers!

We've set up a facebook page for our forthcoming TEENAGE LUVKRAFT: BEACH BLANKET BEYOND comic! Check out the sidebar for the 'Like' button, or head over directly via this link. We'd love to have you on board so we can share all the latest news and updates on this project, as well as behind the scenes sketches and script fragments.

Come on over and join the fun!

Here's the link again: http://www.facebook.com/pages/TEENAGE-LUVKRAFT/146552808756981
And check out our previous post on the project here.

Also, if you're feeling so inclined, please kick a dollar or two towards our Kickstarter drive!

Thanks folks -- and we'll see you in September!

-Rich

HypnoKomix Wants YOU!

2011-07-05T16:31:00.000-04:00

Hey folks!

Exciting news on the TEENAGE LUVKRAFT comic front!

HypnoKomix, the partnership that myself, Jason Squamata, Andrew Mc Kenzie and Owen Hunter have created in order to publish our comics, is looking for backers through Kickstarter.com. We're looking for enough money to print and distribute the first issue of each book we're working on.

TEENAGE LUVKRAFT: BEACH BLANKET BEYOND, the comic I'm collaborating on with Jason Squamata, is one of the comics we are raising money to print. Please consider helping us in the following ways:

By watching Jason's video at Kickstarter. In the video, Jason explains what we're trying to accomplish with our comics, and talks about all of the HypnoKomix projects that will be funded if we reach our goal. Here's the url: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/805920489/hypno-komix
Consider pledging whatever amount you can -- every pledge helps, no matter how great or small. When you visit our Kickstarter page, you can look at the variety of incentives that are available for people who pledge at different price points. Rewards include: Copies of the printed books, sketches, posters, and even ORIGINAL INKED PAGE ART from the books (including BEACH BLANKET BEYOND)!
Spread the word! Like or share our Kickstarter page on facebook. Tweet the URL. Post it on your blog or on forums you visit. Anywhere you can spread the word would be hugely helpful to us. We want to reach folks who love comics!

Here's the URL again:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/805920489/hypno-komix

Please wish us luck, and thanks in advance for any help you can give. We're really excited about where HypnoKomix is going!

-Rich

Maxwell and Erykah Badu at Madsion Square Garden

2010-06-14T09:05:00.000-04:00

Maxwell and Jill Scott at Madison Square Garden

2010-06-13T12:51:00.000-04:00

Lovecraftian creature sketch

2009-12-28T12:19:00.002-05:00

Here's a weirdie that will probably show up in Teenage Luvkraft. I hope y'all like!

-R

The Original Setzer Poster (1997)

2009-11-01T22:09:00.005-05:00

I realized that I hadn't posted this here before.

Brian Setzer saw my poster when he played the show it advertised (Detroit's State Theater) back in 1997. He liked it and commissioned me to do the cover art for his next album. That album was 1998's Grammy-winning album The Dirty Boogie, and that's all she wrote!

TEENAGE LUVKRAFT concept art

2009-10-03T14:13:00.006-04:00

Here are some pages of concept art from a TEENAGE LUVKRAFT Vol 1: BEACH BLANKET BEYOND package that I put together for this weekend's H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival & CthulhuCon. Mr. Squamata will be there tonight reppin' the sunken city -- so if you're there, keep an eye peeled and say hi!

a page from BEACH BLANKET BEYOND, and other sample pages from HYPNOKOMIX #0

2009-08-26T21:15:00.004-04:00

For a good sampling of the many varieties of HYPNOKOMIX, head on over to http://portlandcityart.org/2009/08/20/hypnokomix/, where you can look at the page above, from TEENAGE LUVKRAFT: BEACH BLANKET BEYOND and the other fantabulous stories that we're working on. Andrew Mc Kenzie's HYPNOZINE and AMERIKAN ZER0 art is featured, as well as a page by Owen Hunter from OTHERMAN and the ORAKULOIDS and Damian Zari's work on PARLIAMENT OF BABIES. You can also thrill to a HYPNO-artifact by Kate Fenker, plucked from the ZER0ZONE! Go check it out, and get straight for the coming of HYPNO!

(Pitchers by the above noted artistes, woids by Jason Squamata!)

Your pal,
R

HYPNOKOMIX #0 in the flesh

2009-08-07T16:13:00.002-04:00

HYPNOKOMIX #0, a mindbending sampler of stories by Jason Squamata and illustrated by Owen Hunter, Andrew Mc Kenzie, Damian Zari and myself, has just arrived at Mr. Squamata's doorstep, smelling of comicky goodness.

6 Pages of my collaboration with Mr. Squamata, Teen Luvkraft in: BEACH BLANKET BEYOND, appear in the anthology, which has thus far been printed in extremely limited quantities.

In the picture below, Jason breathes deeply of the graphic fictions that he is a midwife to.

If you are able to commute to Portland next week, do stop by the Manor of Art show at Milepost 5, where you will be able to purchase one of these honeys. Check out my previous post on the show for links and details.

Sketches from Beach Blanket Beyond, Part 1

2009-07-22T18:15:00.007-04:00

So, folks, in order to give y'all a look into what exactly goes on my headcheese, I thought I'd start posting some sketches and designs that I've been making while working on the Beach Blanket Beyond comic.

I'll be posting bits of this stuff with regularity leading up to the World Premiere of the Hypnokomix Anthology, in August which, as you may remember, will feature 6 pages of BBB teaser material.

As always, I hope you enjoy this stuff, and both of you please feel free to comment or ask me any questions you may have!

R

This first sketch is of Aunt Agatha -- I got a bit carried away with this one, deviating from the Jack Davis-Rick Griffin style that I've been working in for most of BBB's character designs. Still, I like her hands. Creepy...

Here's the first sketch of Howie P. Luvkraft that I did, when Jason Squamata and I were still just spitballin' possible storylines. I think it sums him up nicely, although I have continued to (gleefully) elongate his head.

And here's some initial designs for Augie, Howie's intrepid sidekick.

Beach Blanket Beyond - sneak peek!

2009-07-17T00:34:00.006-04:00

As promised, here are a few images from the 6-page Beach Blanket Beyond teaser...

6-page Beach Blanket Beyond teaser completed!

2009-07-16T11:07:00.004-04:00

After much burning of midnight oil, and many zombified hours, I have finished work on the Beach Blanket Beyond teaser pages for the HYPNOKOMIX Anthology.

I am very excited to share it with you two! I will be posting images later today, so stay tuned!

As you may have read in my previous post on the subject, Beach Blanket Beyond is a comic that I'm working on with one of my oldest friends, the infernally talented writer Jason Squamata. It follows the adventures of a teenage Howie P. Luvkraft and his sideckick Augie as they spend a summer on the action-packed beaches of Innsmouth. If you want to find out more, head over to HYPNOKOMIX.com for the story synopses of Beach Blanket Beyond and the other senses-shattering tales that will be featured in the anthology which will be unveiled in Portland, OR this August. See the flyer above for all the details...

-R

HYPNOKOMIX!

2009-06-25T21:07:00.005-04:00

Hello folks,

Well, it's finally seeming summery again here in Lowell MA, so it seems like a good time to talk a bit about the comic that I'm currently drawing, and share some news.

Beach Blanket Beyond, the comic book collaboration that I am working on with writer and ideasman extrordinaire Jason Squamata, and part of a movement/product line called HYPNOKOMIX, will be part of a gallery exhibition in August!

HYPNOKOMIX will be an umbrella for a variety of other projects as well. Jason is working on a stunning variety of comics with Owen Hunter, Andrew McKenzie and Damian Zari, all of which will be promoted under the HYPNOKOMIX label.

To celebrate these collaborations, and to launch the HYPNOKOMIX brand, Squamata and his partner the amazing artist Kate Fenker will be displaying work from -- and pieces inspired by -- these comics, in a show called...

"The Birth of HYPNO"
A HYPNOKOMIX GALLERY EXPERIENCE
CURATED BY KATE FENKER & JASON SQUAMATA
august 14-24 (09) in “the manor of art”
at milepost 5 in portland, oregon)
FEATURING ART BY fenker/hunter/mckenzie/
squamata/wentworth/& zari

This should be an amazing experience for those fortunate enough to attend. Beach Blanket Beyond will be on display as part of the show so, please, West Coasters -- do try to check it out!

So, what is this "HYPNO", you ask? A very good question.

Here's a bit of backstory from HYPNO-Wiki:

HYPNO is the current default designation for a style, aesthetic and worldview that has its roots in Entropian and Hypgnostic salons, hatched in front rooms, secret gardens and humid discotheques across Boston, Brighton, Allston and Everett Massachusetts in the late 90s. The vision of the original movement informed the group's musical, artistic and narrative output, and generated recording projects, comic books, graphic design, short stories and even dance nights.

The original group's activities culminated in the summer of 2002 with a live presentation of Orji Walflauer's radical response to H.P. Lovecraft's From Beyond. This mass hyposis "happening" was staged and performed by members of the World Hypgnostik Order and featured spontaneous sound design by the ritual improvisation group Clue Display. The intensity of the evening's entertainment splintered the movement and placed an emphatic ellipsis on the future of HYPNO.

I was, of course, a part of this movement. There was much more to it than the above description, but most importantly it was a fantastic time of creativity, exploration and friendship. A large part of the movement's success was the effusive enthusiasm for artmaking and collaboration that Jason Squamata brought to the group. That's one of the reasons that it's so exciting to be working on Beach Blanket Beyond, and why the Rebirth of HYPNO is such a thrilling prospect. There is a lot of unfinished work from that time that languishes on the drawing tables and in 4 track recorders, work that will now be finished or at the very least will serve as raw material for new projects. And, maybe more importantly, there are a lot of minds out there that are yet unbent.

Which brings me to the following opportunity for my East Coast pals. The first event of the new era of HYPNO!

"HYPNOZINE”
a show of hypno poster art by andrew mckenzie
text pieces and soundscape by jason squamata
beginning july 14 (09) at the “in between gallery”
(328 main st...rockland, maine)
curated by andrew mckenzie & julia mcclure

Andrew McKenzie is one of the original Hypgnostics. His work in the style is breathtaking. You could call it Baroque-Noir, but that would only describe part of what he's doing. You really should just make the trip to Maine to see his work with your own eyes. You really owe it to yourself. I'll be there for the opening -- won't you join me?

The HYPNOKOMIX website will be up soon, and will have lots of images from the comics that we're working on. I will give you all a heads up when it goes live. Until then, stay in touch!

-Sir R.

HPL at the beach

2009-04-06T22:40:00.006-04:00

Well, here we are again. I've been away having a son who is now almost 2 years old, and have not been as diligent with keeping touch with you, my two or three casual site visitors. Well, I promise to stray no more!

As a vouchsafe of my undying gratitude for your attention, I'm posting some new and newish work.

Here's a piece I did last week. It's for an upcoming comic collab with the sensational Orji Walflauer. My first time inking with Adobe Illustrator...

Would you like to see the pencils? Let me know and I'll post em!

Your pal,
Sir R

Stuff at Night Summer Fun

2006-05-10T11:37:00.000-04:00

Here's an illo for Stuff at Night's Summer Preview issue... enjoy!

Phoenix Cover Pencils

2006-04-06T15:44:00.000-04:00

Pencils for the cover illustration of this week's Boston Phoenix.

Longtime Listener at ifilm

2006-04-01T00:10:00.000-05:00

Here is the short film Longtime Listener, which I acted in last summer, and which premiered at SXSW in March (more info in the posts below)...

I also designed the 1001 Electronics Kit boxes and Mearle's "Computer Classes" flyers, both of which I'm very proud.

And, if you want to see it on the big screen, we have just recieved word that Longtime Listener will be featured in this years' Tribeca Film Festival in NYC, at the end of April.

Cool, eh?

Blast From the Past (Part 2)

2006-03-26T12:25:00.000-05:00

More "off brand" fun, also produced for Stuff@Night in the late nineties...

By the way, these blasts from the past are brought to you by The Wayback Machine, a very cool assortment of archived websites, some of which are long defunct. Check out more of my old work at the Online Tomb of Project3.com...

Blast From the Past (Part 1)

2006-03-24T11:21:00.000-05:00

Here's one from the archives... an illo I did for Stuff@Night, circa the late Nineties...

Latest News

2006-03-15T12:08:00.000-05:00

Hey folks!

Fortunately, I've been very busy lately with a bunch of cool projects, so here's some fun stuff to check out:

1. A new illustration I did for the Boston nightlife mag Stuff@Night.

2. This pic of me in Austin, hamming it up in front of a poster for the film "Longtime Listener", which premiered at the SXSW festival last weekend:

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine folks in Austin and at SXSW for being incredibly awesome people, and making the weekend a terrific time. If you haven't been, you oughtta get down there soon!

All right, that's all for now...

Browse on, brothers and sisters!

2006-02-06T11:22:00.000-05:00

Fashion Illustration

2005-12-19T15:25:00.000-05:00

Part of a larger series of holiday fashion illustrations.

Brian Setzer Xmas Show Poster

2005-12-19T15:14:00.000-05:00

Silk-screened poster for a holiday show in Detroit.

Now you can subscribe to Sir Richard's Sketchbook!

2005-12-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

You can now subscribe to Sir Richard's Sketchbook, thanks to bloglet.

Just scroll down the sidebar on the right of the page to join up. This will keep you informed of whenever this blog is updated. You'll be the first on your block to hear about new sketches, notices and musings.

Oh, and big thanks to all who attended the Beat Research class show. It was a fantastic night -- lots of fresh new work to see and hear, and friends enjoying an evening in one of Cambridge's best nightspots... what more could a guy ask for?

Highlights for me were Sean's video "Architexture", Tyler's "Transmission" video and sound piece, Mark's deep instrumental hip hop trax, Andrew's dinosaur video, Yoshi and Colin's mashup megamix and Caitlin's melancholy sound and video pieces -- and the chance to hear the theme I created for my animated pilot pumping over the house sound system!

Beat Research Class Show at the Enormous Room

2005-12-11T22:26:00.000-05:00

A few of my sound pieces as well as my most recent video piece will be shown as part of a group show on Monday, Dec. 12th at The Enormous Room in Central Sq., Cambridge.

The show will consist of work done by students in the Beat Research class that I took this semester at MassArt. There are a bunch of very talented folks in my class, so there will be some pretty amazing stuff to see and hear.

In addition, my teacher DJ Flack and his partner in crime DJ C will be spinning their signature blend of hip hop, mashups, dub and miscellaneous weirdness, which they do every Monday at the Enormous Room, and which is worth coming for alone. His website is http://www.djflack.com

The Enormous Room is a fantastic lounge space, with tasty medeterrenean snacks and excellent drinks. It's above the Central Kitchen on Mass Ave. If you need more complex directions let me know.

For stills from the video piece I'll be presenting, scroll down to my previous post.

The evening starts at 9PM and goes till 1AM. It's 18 plus and it's free. Hope to see you there!

stills from video project

2005-12-08T12:12:00.000-05:00

Here are some screen captures of a project I'm working on using video feedback as source footage. I think this particluar set of images is evocative of animated stained-glass windows and aboriginal creation myths, but I'm eager to hear what others think, so hit me with your (ahem) video feedback...

Video feedback experiments (part one)...

2005-12-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a while -- sorry about that. I'm in the process of uploading some new stuff, but until then, here's some abstract fun...

In Memoriam

2005-10-01T11:25:00.000-04:00

Marie Anne Colette Muise was born on July 28, 1929 to Regina Laurette Muise and Simon Maurice Muise of Amirault's Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada.

On March 23, 1948 Colette married John Spadafora of Malden, Massachusetts, and relocated to the United States, where she became a US citizen. She soon had a daughter, Carmen (my mother), and twin sons, John and Thomas.

She enjoyed frequent trips between Portland, Maine and Yarmouth -- on the Bluenose, and later, on the Scotia Prince -- spending almost the entire trip at the one-armed bandits, which she loved. She refused to set foot on the Cat.

Colette loved to visit Prince Edward Island, and was particularly enraptured by L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables stories. "No! Anne with an 'e'!" She and I both agreed that Megan Follows (of a CBC television version) was extremely cute, and made a great Anne.

Colette, though Acadian as they come, learned how to make the most amazing Italian red sauce I've ever tasted, though she still retained the ability to whip up a first class Rappie Pie.

She had a lavender car -- her pride and joy -- and she loved to drive.

Throughout her years, Colette endured more than her share of tragedy and hardship, but kept her chin up and projected an air of bravery and fortitude that lifted our family through many troubles.

Colette laid her burden down on Thursday, September 29, in Medford, Massachusetts, surrounded by her family and closest friends. She went peacefully, calmly and bravely, with the same grace that she displayed so many times in her life.

Colette is survived by two sons, four grandchildren, and a great grandchild soon to be born.

Be safe, Grammy.

Japan-only Brian Setzer Cover Art

2005-09-23T01:41:00.000-04:00

This is a cover I designed for the BSO's Japanese "best of" record. The volcano was so fun to render... no "lasso tool" either -- it was all pen, brush, ink and x-acto knife!

Very old school. Elderly, even!

Take a look here to see how Brian used the volcano as his backdrop at a live show.

Thanks to Dave H., who reminded me that I promised to post this a while ago! I'll dig through the archives for my pencils and post those as soon as I can, too.

BlogAds logo contest finalists announced... and I'm one of them!

2005-09-22T23:31:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

BlogAds has just posted the Final 9, the logo designs that must now go head to head (to seven more heads) in order to take home the grand prize of 1000 USD!

My Tangerine Boardroom logo was chosen as one of the nine finalists, which is pretty neat (in my humble estimation)...

Competition is tight, true believers, so keep your fingers crossed! And leave your informed, thoughtful comments here -- that'd also help greatly!

Also: Lots more percolatin' in the sketchbook... will post some stuff early next week...

-R

"Don't mess with the Witch Doctor!"

2005-09-20T14:52:00.000-04:00

Well, ok. Halloween's not here just yet, but in anticipation, I've colored a drawing that I did a while back. The tagline would probably be "Don't mess with the Witch Doctor!", or something to that effect. In fact, I think I'll name this post after that very sentence... Yes... Enjoy.

Another image from the Loews project

2005-09-16T23:14:00.001-04:00

A background for the Loews Theatres animation contest entry. More here.

More Merry Misfits!

2005-09-16T23:13:00.002-04:00

More Merry Misfits material... alliteration anyone?

Brian Setzer Xmas CD - Back Cover

2005-09-16T23:13:00.001-04:00

Here's the illustration for the back cover of the Brian Setzer Xmas CD. This version is slightly different from the printed version.

Charles Burns and Chris Ware to speak in Cambridge, MA

2005-09-12T13:25:00.000-04:00

George at obey the time tells me that Charles Burns and Chris Ware will be speaking at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge, MA at 6pm on Monday, Oct. 24. This should be a fantastic evening, and is sponsored by the great Harvard Book Store, an excellent independent shop that deserves your support! Massachusetts folks forego attendance at their peril! I'll be there... will you?

Fashion sketches

2005-09-12T13:15:00.000-04:00

As promised, some recent sketches for a print job I'm working on. That's a Manolo Blahnik boot, btw. I'll post the finished work when the it's been published. Comments are appreciated!

Gone sketchin'

2005-09-06T17:55:00.000-04:00

Hey folks, it's a beautiful Sept. day, and I'm out in the garden working. Can't complain.

Still keeping an eye on the blogads logo contest, and there are many great entries indeed. Go check 'em out and, if you are so inclined, leave some feedback for myself and the other entrants.

For some good reading, check out obey the time, where George has assembled a bevy of links to some thoughtful articles on the ramifications and implications of the still-unfolding disaster in Louisiana.

Ok, more later... I'm heading back outside to get more graphite on my fingers.

Have a great holiday weekend!

2005-09-04T17:21:00.000-04:00

Hey folks... I'm reporting from my friend Stefan's place in Rosendale, NY. Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend, and I'll be back on Tuesday with some new work to post.

New to the Sketchblog? Scroll on down to see some examples of my work.

Thanks!

Welcome to Sir Richard Wentworth's Sketchbook!

2005-09-02T03:51:00.000-04:00

Hi there!

Glad you stopped by. While you're here, why not scroll down and take a look at some of my illustration and graphic design work?

I'm a 33 year old designer and illustrator living in the Boston, MA area and, as stated above, I'm available for freelance work.

If you like something, drop me a comment!

Thanks!

Graphic design work

2005-08-31T09:38:00.000-04:00

Graphic Design and Illustration work for LA charity Take Action Hollywood, and a postcard announcing an industry screening of the film Paper Clips.

Character Designs

2005-08-31T09:33:00.001-04:00

Two character designs for Loews Theaters policy trailer pitch, and a spaceman.

Boogie Woogie Xmas

2005-08-31T09:29:00.000-04:00

Cover art and preliminary sketches for the Brian Setzer Orchestra's CD Boogie Woogie Xmas. Pen and Ink, colored in Photoshop.

A new banner

2005-08-31T08:55:00.000-04:00

A new banner for the Yahoo! Group.

More Misfits pencils...

2005-08-31T02:02:00.000-04:00

Mr. Backlund finally explodes!

Rough pencils for Merry Misfits

2005-08-31T01:32:00.000-04:00

Here's some rough pencils, as promised, for the film In the Land of Merry Misfits. That's Filmstar Randal Malone on the left... More to come!

Sketch: old man picture

2005-08-30T22:21:00.000-04:00

Here's a nice one from my sketchbook, colored in Photoshop.

Mooncat!

2005-08-30T21:54:00.000-04:00

I didn't do this one -- He's Mooncat, a puppet from the 80's UK children's TV show "Get Up n' Go!"

My girlfriend Wendy loves this dashing green fellow... Look at realaudio of the opening sequence here.

Brian Setzer Orchestra CD Cover

2005-08-30T15:45:00.000-04:00

Illustration I created for the Brian Setzer Orchestra's album "The Dirty Boogie". This drawing was originally a poster I drew for the BSO's appearance in Detroit. Thanks to the fine folks at Ritual Inc. for the gig!

Character Design

2005-08-30T15:43:00.000-04:00

Character design for an animated television show I am producing with filmmakers Michael McQuilkin and Daniel Shea.

Business Card Designs

2005-08-30T15:41:00.000-04:00

Some business card designs for jewelry business.

Movie Poster

2005-08-30T15:40:00.000-04:00

Movie poster for Longtime Listener, a short film Directed by Maria Menounos and Written by Keven Undergaro. The film will make the festival rounds starting in the falll of '05. Yes, that's me on the left, and no, I didn't get to keep the tie...

Postcard Design

2005-08-30T15:38:00.000-04:00

Design for a Boston area shop expanding into online sales, created in Photoshop.

5678's Poster Art

2005-08-30T15:32:00.000-04:00

Here's a silkscreened poster I did for an amazing event in Kenmore Square, Boston.

Brian Setzer Orchestra Backdrop

2005-08-30T15:24:00.000-04:00

Here's a volcano illustration that I created, which was used as a giant illuminated backdrop for the Brian Setzer Orchestra on tour. This volcano can also be seen as part of the illustration I produced for the BSO album "Jumpin' East of Java". I will post that cover soon.