LOU ROMANO

YETI

8 3/4" X 11"
Gouache

SOLO JAM II

INDIANA JONES AND THE CRYSTAL SKULL

DOH-NKEY

JOKER

DANCER

WALKER

MAITRE D'

FRIENDLY

MATADOR

ATOMIC BLAST

MERMAID

Digital

3X4

These were done for a group project with Scott Morse, Don Shank and Nate Wragg. Each of us agreed to do 4 paintings using the theme of 3. In this case, 4 illustrations of 3 organic things. We're planning on putting all of them together in a book.

3 GEMS

3 FORMS

3 PLANTS

3 FISH

All 10" X 15"
Gouache

BB & ME

10" X 15"
Gouache

PHOENIX

10" X 15"
acrylic/gouache

BUGS : PART II

BLACK WIDOW

10" X 15"
acrylic/gouache

GREEN BUG

7 1/4" X 15 1/4"
Gouache

THE CYCLE

9 1/2" X 14 1/2"
Gouache

OLD DRAWINGS

I found these the other day. The Tony the Tiger drawing was taken to final paint (previous post). I did these for my friend Nate Pacheco, who was pitching 50th anniversary ads for Tony and Toucan Sam.

10" X 12"
Pencil

ICARUS

7 1/2" X 10"
pencil/colored pencil

BUGS : PART I

THE BACK DOOR

8" X 14 3/4"
Gouache

MANTIS & ANT

8" X 14 3/4"
Gouache

PIGGY-BACK

8" X 10 1/4"
Gouache

STAGE DESIGNS

ink/pencil

Digital

PLUTONIAN ICE STORM

8 1/2" X 15"
Gouache

Digital pass

Preliminary sketches

ANCIENT MODERN

Some artwork for a future book and show: THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX & SCIENCE. I'm doing some small 3D pieces and paintings, the idea being that these (below) could be art or relics from an ancient Martian civilization.

MARTIAN ABSTRACT 01

15" tall
foam core/hot glue/modeling paste/acrylic/gouache

EARLY MARTIAN CARVINGS

9" X 12" X 1"
balsa foam/acrylic/gouache

These are insect studies from a previous post and an upcoming bug-themed show. But here, they have also worked as ancient Martian hieroglyphics.

STEP BY STEP

Final foam core construction.

Build up of Light Molding Paste. Lays down like whipped cream, dries semi-hard and very light in weight.

Course Pumice Gel was applied over the dried paste (to add more grit/rust). Then, the piece was painted with acrylic and gouche.

Preliminary sketch

CYCLOPS & CRUSADER

Finished paint (before final detailing)

EFX studies
ink/pencil

Cyclops 4 1/4" tall / Crusader 3" tall
sculpting foam/acrylic/gouache/feather/glass/metal

ALEXANDER GIRARD

Alexander (Sandro) Girard (1907-1993) was a designer of textiles, graphics, furniture and exhibitions. He also had a passion for collecting textiles and folk art from around the world. In 1963 he designed and made these wooden dolls to decorate his home. They have been reproduced by the Vitra Design Museum based on his originals.

I purchased some LED lights and played around with lighting and photographing a few of the dolls. The resulting colors were achieved in camera using different combinations of the multi-colored lights. The tallest doll of the three is only about 10 inches.

WOODEN DOLLS by Alexander Girard (1963)

LED lights purchased at IKEA

HANSEL & GRETEL

This artwork was done for an upcoming group show based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The show will exhibit at the Gallery Met in conjunction with The Metropolitan Opera's production of Hansel und Gretel (1893) by Engelbert Humperdinck.

IM WALDE (IN THE WOOD)

11 3/4" X 23"
acrylic/gouache

DEM HAUSCHEN (THE HOUSE)

16 1/2" X 20"
acrylic/gouache

HEXENSCHUB (WITCH'S SPELL)

14" X 20"
Acrylic

Preliminary sketches
All 8 1/2" X 11"
pencil/ink

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS

I worked on The Powerpuff Girls from 1999-2000. I didn't work in-house during that time but would come into the studio as much as possible to run these thumbnails past Don Shank, who was the Art Director. Once he and the directors approved them I would do more finished keys based on the layouts, which would then be sent over-seas. It was a lot of fun.

Layouts by Dan Krall

All various sizes
gouache/pastel

BUG JAM

Bug studies for a future group show at Nucleus Gallery (2008).

All 5 1/4" X 6 1/4"
pencil/ink

THE NEW YORKER

As a result of The Ancient Book of Myth & War (see below) the art editor of The New Yorker magazine (Francoise Mouly) invited Scott Morse, Don Shank, Nate Wragg and I to submit ideas for covers. We were given a list of holidays and a lot of freedom to come up with concepts. After submitting thumbnails and receiving notes I was asked to do a final illustration, which was approved for print. The whole process took 3-4 weeks.

Final original
8 1/4" X 11"
Gouache

Color studies
Digital

JAZZ QUARTET

A music major at Northwestern University (Josh Moshier) saw my blog and asked if I would illustrate the CD cover of his debut album. The group liked #3 which I worked up into a final painting. Good Luck, Josh.

Final original
7 3/16" X 7 3/16"
Gouache

Rough layout drawing

Cover concepts
Digital

SPANKY VS. SAMURAI

Confronting the BEAST.

"Wake up! Do not try to humiliate me, Beast."

ZZZZzzzz

"I will come back when you are ready."

COHEN JAM

I was asked to participate in this art jam with a young boy named Cohen. His Dad sent me his watercolors in the mail then I added to them and mailed them back. I hope you like them, Cohen.

8 1/2" X 11"
watercolor/colored pencil

NERO

This is my piece for SKETCHTRAVEL a sketchbook that is being passed from one artist to another across the world. When completed it will be exhibited at a gallery in France then sold at a charity auction.

Final original
8 1/4" X 11 3/4"
Gouache

Rough drawing

Thumbnails

GEEGAR AT APE 2007

The Alternative Press Expo was a source of great fun and inspiration. I made new friends and picked up some excellent books and artwork. This was also the first convention in which GEEGAR exhibited professionally. GEEGAR is made up of some close friends and myself and we make, trade and sell our own small booklets, which usually have a theme we are passionate about (John Carpenter Movies / D&D / Superheroes / etc). Most of all Geegar is about having fun and taking things "off the wall", our motto since 2001. Meet the guys of GEEGAR and enjoy some APE hilights.

Don Shank and I with our new friends Kevin Dart (far left) & Chris Turnham (far right) the day before APE. They are super-nice and super-talented.

(L to R) Dave Long, Pete Graham and Josh Ridout prepare covers for final assembly.

(Man At Arms) Paul Maes adds some finishing touches to the book covers.

Book interior & title page. KILLING SPREE is GEEGAR'S 6th book.

(L to R) President of GEEGAR and pilot Jimmy Long, Dave Long and Pete Graham puzzle it all out.

"Do you hear explosions? That's GEEGAR dropping bombs on your face." J.R.R. Tolkien

Josh & Dave mind the GEEGAR table.

(L to R) Kid with silly Elephant hat, Lobster Man and myself taking a break.

(L to R) Don Shank, Me and Scott Morse juicing-up our art books for people at the AdHouse table.

Don Shank and his wife Raquel at the GALLERY 1988 opening in San Francisco with their friend, Wasp Man.

Lobster Man has had enough of the art show crowd and leaves..

..then attacks me. I throw my keys in his face and run.

The last day of APE. Paul & Dave fight some evil toys in the APE parking lot.

SOLO JAM

These drawings were done one right after another without any plan in mind. Then they were scanned and painted digitally in the order in which they were drawn. The goal for me was to get ideas out of my head, on to paper and into color as fluidly and as quickly as possible.

PLAYGROUND

VIKING

DRAGON

BABY DINOSAUR

FUTURE HOME

NIGHT WITCH

SPECIAL EDS

CIRCUS ELEPHANT

THE FALLEN

MAN & MONSTERS

FISH TANK

CONCERT

SODA JERK

DRUNK

RED EAGLE

FIGHT

WARLORD

ENGLISH RACE CAR

SWISS RACE CAR

AMERICAN RACE CAR

FRENCH RACE CAR

COMEDY

WHITE BABY

IRON HORSE & SNAKE

GERMAN BANDIT

STONE HORSE

FALLEN CREATURE

HORSE HEAD

DINOSAUR ROCK

All 8 1/2" X 11"
ink/digital

GORGON SPHINX

11 1/2" X 16"
Tempera

ANCIENT BOOK OF MYTH & WAR SHOW

(L to R) Don Shank, Lou Romano, Scott Morse, Nate Wragg

Thank you ALL for coming to the opening and for your support.
An extra special thanks to NUCLEUS for hosting a great show.
Visit their WEBSITE for photos and updates (below right)

CLASH OF THE DORKS

A dvd cover I made for my copy of Clash of the Titans using the art of Alice & Martin Provensen and Steele Savage. Ray Harryhausen signed it for me...but said that the cover was "terrible".