Grantland – The Beitar Soccer Team’s Problem with Racists

Recently did an illustration for an article on Grantland about the Betair (Israeli Premier League) soccer team's ongoing struggles to successfully integrate non-Jewish players, specifically two Muslim players from Chechnya, with a small but vocal faction of their fan base called La Familia, a proudly racist group who wants their team "pure".  In the past, ownership has bowed to these angry voices and traded those non-Jewish players away. The banner in the illustration reads "Beitar Forever Pure". It is held up and displayed during games when they play. However, recently ownership has held firm to the idea that religion of the soccer field doesn't matter and have withstood a barrage of pressure, ending the season without a trade.

21st Century Love Story

Here's a recent image I did for a filmmaker's script currently being shopped around Hollywood. It's about a burnt out guy and a distracted young lady.  I sure hope it gets made.

Cover for The Pitch – NCAA BIG XII Warriors

Just did a cover for The Pitch (Kansas City) out today. NCAA Big XII basketball meets The Warriors movie from the 70s.  Come out and play March Madness!

Detail shots

Plus some interiors, "Can you match the hair to the Coach?" and various spots.

LA Weekly - The Big Lebowski!

Got a bunch of Big Lebowski character illustrations in this week's issue of LA Weekly - Maude, The Dude and "Shut the F up, Donnie" Walter. There's a big article on the movie and these are each individually spots interspersed throughout the article at about 6 inches high I hear.  Cant wait to check out the article, I'm a big fan of the movie, saw it like a pachillion times when I was younger.  Hadn't in a while though leading up to this, so I watched it again. It's a tough job, this art thing, sometimes.  Used my camera to take pictures of paused shots in the tv, then in combination with other reference and such, created these.    Went with a biblical vibe with The Dude, robes flowing.  Wanted to partly show Walter's briefly seen sensitive side, hence the "pomeranian".  And for Maude, I just wanted to show off her - amen - wardrobe.

Tots, Babies and Kids, Oh My!

I did a bunch of kid portraits for family and friends recently. Behold the next generation.

Benjamin DiLeone - Applesauce on Shirt

Charlie Sallese #1 - Beach Ponderer

Charlie Sallese #2 - Cake Overload

Charlie Kelley - The Grand Buddha

A Very Presidential "Stay"cation

Got an illustration in this week's Time Out Chicago spotlighting local hotel stay-cations with a Presidential twist.  Most seductive Lincoln ever? Yes, I think it is. Had a lot of fun with this one, wish I had a twee more time on it but hey that's the biz. My fav prez in this illo keeps switching, but right now Clinton is, looks like he's raring to go. The other week, I got an online glimpse of a painting that W. did of his dog Barney, who recently passed away :( -  it was really quite impressive.  Looks like this sensitive, artistic side is shining through now that he's gotten away from Cheney and Bolton.  Obama and Reagen look to be having a grand time, perhaps they are playing Mario Kart or maybe Call of Duty: Black Ops.

TRUE ROMANCE Phone Booth Scene & Movie Theater Montage

True Romance is a classic.  So many good scenes, great dialogue, fantastic actors.  Patricia Arquette is just amazing in it. Heck, even Christian Slater was spot on.  Chris Walken, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Michael Rappaport all give over the top, cinematic but really believable performances, and of course there's Bronson Pinchot! It was a total flop in the theaters, but has since gone on to retain a revered spot in film lore.  When I was approached by The Bottleneck Gallery to do a piece for their Get A Room show that was held last night, I was stumped, there were a lot of options.  Then I thought about True Romance, thought it'd be the perfect.  The Phone Booth scene stands out as the epitome of youthful, romantic passion.  I also felt compelled to draw all the cool characters in the movie so I busted out a montage in record time this week, only took a couple all nighters.  Interestingly, in Quentin Tarantino's original script, Clarence dies at the end and Alabama hitchhikes away in a cold manner with a briefcase full of money.  Tony Scott fell in love with the characters during the course of filming and decided he liked them too much to not give them a sweet, romantic ending. Good call.

Both are limited edition (50) giclées, signed and numbered, available through The Bottleneck Gallery.  Printed 300 gsm fine art rag.  Click below for links to The Bottleneck Gallery's website.

True Romance Phone Booth Scene 17x11"

True Romance Movie Theater Montage 13x19"

Marvin Gaye's National Anthem. The Best Ever.

Check out my portrait of Marvin Gaye singing the National Anthem on Grantland's website today. My favorite all time rendition, step aside Beyonce.  30 years later, no one has come close to matching his version of The Star-Spangled Banner.  Check out the article HERE