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Monday, January 3, 2022

Mike Mignola "The Quarantine Sketchbook"

 









Artist Mike Mignola has been a mainstay and luminary in the world of story illustration particularly comic books and graphic novels for a multitude of years. He is unique in style, popularity and “rock solid.” With the rest of the nation and world he has experienced the Covid 19 lock downs and quarantines with a true resilience. His personal story within our shared (2020) isolation dilemma has become one of dedication to creativity, craft and what appears to have been also fun and a discovery of sorts.






Mignola spent much of his time and efforts during quarantine doing what began in childhood for the many and certainly for the most accomplished artists; sketching. The drawings from the many months were done for his own amusement and later he started sharing on line with his fans and followers. This led to their submissions of ideas for more sketches and experimentation. Going beyond what might have been a light-hearted frolic to the said drawings becoming donations for many charitable causes resulting in auctions.
 




The resulting images from those multitudes of hours is available now in book form (released last year) “The Quarantine Sketch Book.”   It is a delightfully misanthropic collection of monsters, absurdities and abundant curiosities. Each drawing bathed in a perfection of light and shadow enhancing a remarkable mastery of form.

Continuing here are more sketches from the volume and other drawings from Mignola for this blogs viewers. As reflecting with Mile’s original intention “Have Fun” with this page!

 











































               







For additional information and a more detailed look at the career of “The Magnificent” Mike Mignola follow this link:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Mignola








Wednesday, December 22, 2021

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

 

It was the Christmas and TV Winter Season of Nineteen Hundred & Ninety Three that the program “David Foster’s Christmas Carol” aired on NBC. The program was something I totally embraced and appreciated at the outset of the original airing. The fact that it was producer David Foster’s event; responsible for many of the most popular songs from the nineteen eighties and nineties gave reason enough for me to want to see what was being offered on that lustrous December night. It was in a word “Wonderful!” It was also lively, reverent and a pure joy.   



Johnny Mathis appearing was also a real draw for me as listener and viewer. He was and remains a Christmas staple for myself and my family. He is at the center of what might be called our “Christmas Sound Track” and the background music for many of our personal at home events. His segment “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is much like I would imagine as being the perfect holiday gathering; family, friends, associates and the incredible voicings of the Great Mr. Mathis! I’m featuring his segment as this blog’s title and prominently featured opening.



Johnny Mathis / David Foster: "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"  

There were many others of the music world’s top performers show cased here from the TV special as well: Celine Dion, Tom Jones, Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Vanessa Williams and Wynonna. Their brilliant, inspired and luminous contributions are just below (just click on the photos) then see and hear the videos of several of the  all-star cast…all Great and Well Received!


David Foster & Celine Dion



Tom Jones





Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson




Vanessa Williams




Wynonna





        Do Enjoy and Have a

Merry, Merry Christmas!