From Sunday evening.

The story! : Elvis often found he had an enormous amount of free time, so he opened a barber shop that catered to only birds. He often twisted and shouted during a term of styling. All cuts were available, including permanents and weaves.

Thanks to all who participated! Dean Scott: Barber Shop Rob Maystead: Elvis Melissa Busby: Spoonbill, Heron Tiffany Sokolowski: Butter (On back of magazine) Ellen Hunter Simms: Snake Cindy Morris Mackey: Cookies Cindy Garland: Birthday Cake

Someday soon I’ll post a sped-up video of me drawing this.

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If you would like to help cover the costs of pens, paper, etc.: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/YBP4S36MCXP8E/checkout/4U2QISDKFR6SHD3UKDLVR7J2?fbclid=IwAR2A9GK2IrrZho6K6tbjbdlw9vxEUTmkxDWbDGY9_CNR5dMKT88VQJ0zPIM
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. #Art #Artlife #LIVEART #liveartist #Illustration #BArber #BarberShop #Elvis #Birds #Heron #Spoonbill

Tom and Jerry Wordless Graphic Novels by Christopher Harbo
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Instead of purchasing this, best spend less for any of the ‘Tom & Jerry’ comic books that existed from the ’40s through the ’80s. This volume is a poorly illustrated, greatly lacking tale. Sequential story telling isn’t difficult. The ones that put this together have a lot to learn. Making all of this worse is that this is basically a rehash of earlier ‘Tom & Jerry’ tales. The difference is a cell phone is inserted. There was so much that could’ve been done here! And with far less words!

A plus to the earlier comics, besides better stories and art, is that there are more of them. This book has just one story. One of those old Gold Key comics might run you a dollar to, maybe, ten, tops from a local comic book store. You can check E-Bay, too. That is the best direction for ‘Tom & Jerry’ printed material.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 3 out of ten points.

I should note I got access to this volume via the #NetGalley service for a review.

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Spirou & Fantasio in Moscow by Tome
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is an entry that has some fantastic artwork, but the execution of the story was poorly thought out. Not helping is a far too complicated tale for the limits of the usual length of these tales.

Too much gets confusing with two problems.
1) The inclusion of actual Russian and then a playful use of fonts that turn certain letters backwards to present the feel of Russian. Some of the Russian is translated. Some of it has an asterisk to see a footnote at bottom. The inconsistency makes the story hard to read and know where to look at any one point.
2) The illustrations are handled in a more erratic style that makes understanding what’s going on. That and distinguishing characters.
The two problems together create a story hard to get through.
Then the ending is unsatisfying.

Bottom line: I don’t recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

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A last minute project came in of a bar-b-que-ing Santa underwater.

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My love of Doyle comes from his science and studies of man. Here he combines both. Most won’t pick up how much of both subjects is stuffed in this odd novel. Most will also be surprised that this is not an entirely London based novel.

Doyle has a readable style that can make about any subject readable. Most writing today write down to the reader, where Doyle wrote up. Making it all that more intriguing.

Though the Holmes and Watson characters are quickly established, the mystery is established to a point. Then suddenly a western starts in the middle of the book and trails on with little sign Holmes will ever reappear. The story of the western U.S. is extremely well done (Though there are British slips, like the use of “Likely lad”). Doyle also mostly well lays out the story of Mormons. His view of creation myths scream from this section.

All returns to London and wraps to an interesting conclusion. Though i would’ve liked to see the two tales told in this book as two books with similar conclusions in each location. The location shift i found a hard jolt. A smoother telling of both tales would’ve made two very story stories.

Bottom line: i recommend this book. 7 out of ten points.

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Sharky’s Machine by William Diehl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’ve wanted to read this book since I saw the film nearly 40 years ago. I’d purchased a few editions of the book over the years, but had not read the book. I finally got to it!
The book is very good. I found the back story excessive and likely more an issue of a first time writer. The first chapters being edited to one more focused would’ve made the bulk of the police procedural more powerful. The film needed more back story. The happy compromise missed.

Getting past the back story, the Sharky and Machine part is excellent in approach and writing. The dialogue – especially for a first time writer – is extraordinary. The back and forth and the rest is as I’ve witnessed with my involvement with law enforcement over the decades.

The bad guys are another story. Diehl is trying to create some believable bad guys, but I get the impression he didn’t want to make them too evil and held back more than he should have. The suspense is also thwarted near the end. At that point I didn’t care what happened to the bad guys.

I wanted to read more of the “Machine”. I wish Diehl had picked up the McBain waning series and continued with an Atlanta based version. GREAT characters.

Bottom line: i recommend this book: 6 out of ten points.

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Got this piece inked. In the process of digitally coloring it. I’ll post that version when it is finished.

If you’d like a piece like this, send me a message and I’d be happy to help!