Bottom of the Ink Well

Artificial Dissemination 2: Propaganda to Popaganda

2012-01-24T15:40:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already seen the media-blitzkrieg I've had a hand in; I'm participating in the second exhibition at PHANTOM HAND: Artificial Dissemination 2; Propaganda to Popaganda. Because of scheduling I had to pass on the first installment in this exhibition series last year at Masthead, and I'm still kicking myself because the work was pretty awesome. When my brother suggested doing a part two at PHANTOM HAND I jumped at the idea. The opening is this Friday, and with some badass work already leaking online and some of the artists from the first show participating, this is going to be one not to miss.

I spent the last few weeks kicking around a few ideas, some offensive, some heartfelt, and some just flat out fucked up, but when the smoke cleared I was left with my first love.

Just got done screen-printing the above for the opening; purple ink on orange french paper, a small run of 24, so if this tickles your taint, then grab one quick before they sell out. Below is a color variation I did up for shits and giggles. I'm way too rusty to do a 4 color screen-print and way to cheap to buy enough blue paper to compensate for my screw-ups, so giclee's will be available in the weeks to come, however they won't be poster-size like the screen-print.

And keeping with the Halloween theme; I dug up this gem, a song I recorded to be handed out at the Autumn Society's Hallowed Halloween exhibition I curated at Paradigm gallery October 2010. This is the demo version, I never made it into my friends studio to re-record it, so you're left with a mash-up of bad vocals and out-of-tune guitars. Enjoy!

Artificial Dissemination; Propaganda to Popaganda
Opening reception: Friday, January 27th 6:00PM-???
at PHANTOM HAND
604 South Street, Philadelphia

I have so much to tell you...

2012-01-16T06:53:00.000-08:00

Friends,
Hope you're all well. Things have gone from stagnant to overdrive very quickly so I've got several different projects to report, as well as quite a few events.
First and foremost, if you haven't seen the volley of posts on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, some friends and I are running a gallery at 6th and South, aptly titled Phantom Hand, to which most of my artistic efforts have gone in the past month. Below is the finished color version of Bar Squid; giclees are available at the gallery.

Bar Squid is part of the current show at Phantom Hand; the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society presents Out to Dry 3. The closing reception is this coming Saturday, the 21st, from 6PM to the witching hour. The very next Friday, Artificial Dissemination 2; Propaganda to Popaganda opens. The following is a cropped color study for my piece, which may or may not get scrapped later today for something else.

You can like the gallery on Facebook, follow the blog, or add us on twitter @PhantomHandArt to get updates about upcoming shows. February we'll be showing AD, as well as a traveling show, a weekend show-poster exhibit, and the opening of a top-secret show curated by the enigmatic team that is Eamon Dougherty and Jeffro Kilpatrick.

If you have not yet made it through our doors, you really should stop by. I've been to, and in, quite a few Philadelphia exhibitions, and as far as the Low-Brow and working man's art goes, this is the largest collection I've seen to date. The show is cash and carry, and new work has been arriving on an almost daily basis, so the show has been continually changing over the month, keeping it fresh and really exciting.

This next piece is a doodle from the intramural art & design club I run at the school I work. The project was both combining photo-reference and a personal piece. I'll let you guess what this piece says about me. Even with photo-reference, I cannot handle lighting... something to work on.

Also on the stove; I've been invite to Jinxed's annual Heart show, opening the weekend prior to my Birthday...and some other Holiday. I let them down last year, so I've got to do up something nice this year. AND I'm participating in a Horror Anthology comic where writers are given topics at random and paired with an artist. Mine includes Russia, tattoos, Demons, and an Orphanage. Rock! If any of you remember my long term comic project, The Detective with a Melted Face, you know that sequential format is a challenge I have yet to best, so this will be a rough ride.
And lastly, what blog post is complete without some nonsensical doodles.

The above was inspired by both my new obsession with Hot Diggity, and overhearing some polo-wearing Ricky Retardos have a fearful conversation about gay marriage.

I hope you've all enjoyed this, and please, come down to Phantom Hand, say hi, chew the fat, see the art, and have a beer with me. More soon. A lot more.

BIG NEWS comes in strange packages...

2011-12-14T18:58:00.000-08:00

Friends,

I hope you're all doing well and everybody's healthy going into the Holiday season. I know it's been a while, but I assure you I've been extremely busy sowing together random animal limbs and chanting out of skin-bound tomes, all in preparation, solely for your delight. The above is a work in progress, proof that the pen has not left my hand.

More importantly, It's with great pleasure that I whisper in your ear that after several dozen back-alley meetings, a whole lot of beer, and a well-prepared proposal, some friends and I have been granted our own gallery space. Thanks to the Arts on South program, our gallery PHANTOM HAND (logo by James Heimer) will be kicking off a four exhibition run hosting the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society's Out to Dry 3 this December 23rd at 6:00 PM. If you're not familiar with these extremely fun and affordable shows, they're collections of sketchbook pages, limited edition prints, and framed work. We felt this should would act as a great introduction to the artists showing at PHANTOM HAND. The gallery is at 604 South Street, so you can pay us a visit, and in the same foul swoop pick up some comics, grab a dog or two at Hot Diggity, and slam a few pounders at Tattooed Moms. Now I know what you're thinking... "an opening on December 23rd? That's Christmas eve EVE." Well howdya like that, it IS. And because this show is CASH and CARRY, you can get artwork for all the friends and family you forgot to get gifts for... or maybe you already got gifts for, but now you feel an original Jefffro Kilpatrick would make a nicer gift than monogramed wine glasses, or that a silk-screened poster by James Heimer kicks the shit out of a snuggie any day of the week. So if you're not headed off to the North Pole, stop by the opening, check out some great art, have a beer or two, and maybe get yourself some new purty pictures for your bare, depressing walls. And bring some friends while you're at it; the place is pretty big and we need lots of bodies to heat it.

PHANTOM HAND Presents: The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society's Out to Dry 3

Opening reception December 23rd, 6:00 PM

PHANTOM HAND

604 South Street

PhantomHand.blogspot.com

PhantomHandInfo@gmail.com

If you don't hear from me again prior, happy holidays folks.

<3 Catfish Heimer

Rejected Shirt Design...

2011-11-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

... for Mental Health Education Month.

Halloween Over the Years

2011-10-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Halloween has always been a muse of mine. While cemented by date, the holiday, almost like the avatar of some dead god, has shadowed high-points and low-points of my life, and has been especially important to me, for reasons beyond nostalgia and love of autumn, since I can remember. Halloween to me is pure America in that it's a melting-pot. Borrowing lore and customs from several dozen nations, and while less obvious than a carved turnip or a stack of cabbage stalks piled on the hearth; Halloween unites the world with something old, vital, and highly taken for granted; the harvest. Every aspect of the holiday, in some way or another, is rooted in the fact that every civilization, since agrarian activities began, have made note of the end of the growing season, stockpiling of grain, coming of winter, and the fact their lively-hood was largely decided by the harvest. Some held feasts and festivals, others prayed for safe deliverance to the thaw, and still others consulted passed loved ones; the whole world simultaneously stops and in some grand spectacle or brief thought, acknowledges how frail life is and how lucky they are to be on this side of the dirt beneath them.

I love every kernel of candy corn and piece of skeleton paper ephemera. Even the heavy commercial aspect and fact that everybody is slowly forgetting the true nature of the holiday holds a place in my heart, and makes it all the more special when I see children excitedly going door to door, too young to understand the role-reversal they participate in dressed as devils and witches. Nothing compels me more to put ink on paper than Halloween, and year after year, I find myself creating art in homage. I figured this year, since I'll probably be celebrating on the quiet side with a stiff drink and cigar, I'd post a sort of retrospective of my Halloween inspired art. The work spans the last eight years, so you can kinda see a progression in my hand. Hope you enjoy, and happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Blow wind blow...

2011-10-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

Hey folks. Hope you're all enjoying the world decomposing around you. I sure as fuck am. Not a whole lot to report today; hope you enjoy it none the less. Below started as an idea for a Halloween card; there was originally a skull fella waving to the Great Punkin Worm in the bottom right corner, with type centered in the top reading 'Don't worry, I will come find you underground just to say Happy Halloween'. This probably won't get finished to be printed in time for the holidays.
The following are two busted brush-pen doodles. I really need to go art-supply shopping... or just give-up on disposable brush-pens and pick back up the crowquill and ink-pot.

Also of interest, Adultswim.com is doing a write-up on Dead and Dreaming. It might be up monday; I'll be sure to post the linkage here. Thanks to all the artists and folks who attended the opening. If you missed it, you can see/buy art HERE or get a copy of the collected book HERE.

More soon folks. I promise...

Sketch Book Shenanigans and then some!

2011-09-25T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
Thanks for stopping by to chew the fat. I've got a lot to report, so quick mix a fresh highball and empty the ashtray, don't worry, I'll wait...
A lot of changes in my life lately, and finally Fall is blowing the stank of summer off my scorched bones with a crisp breeze howling and whistling through the rocks that make up my slump of a burial mound. With the aforementioned changes came a nice chunk of sketchbook time, and some other long-term projects finally have a dim pulse again. Also, this Friday is the opening of Dead and Dreaming, so all kinds of happenings lately. Please share in the unholy matrimony of ink and paper below...
The above is the combination of boredom, some favorite themes, and a half-baked idea for a submission to an upcoming show at Jinxed Gallery. The clearing in the clouds was left blank because I don't want to spoil the punch-line, and I'll more than likely re-draw the whole thing, but the space is going to be filled with a black and white photo (as seen below, but it's just a random image). I did up a little color comp, and as you can probably assume; I don't use color often for a reason.
Next up is two images born of stock-photo browsing. A lot of devil lately. I don't know why... He can cut a rug and would probably be fun to drink with.

The top image was a set of jazz-age cocktail party photos. I stowed them away for later use. Below; a vintage Halloween noise-maker (which I found an identical one selling on ebay for $100).
The above I'm not sure I can explain. I'm pretty sure a song-birds' death rattle is a few bars of an Otis Redding song. I'm a long time James John Audubon fan, and I think there's something bizarre and esoteric about birds, almost to a point of paranoia when I see a heron sailing above seemingly without moving.While typing this I just saw a car commercial with Jennifer Lopez and can't help wondering what her death rattle would be if I stomped her face in with a cast-iron skillet taped to my boot. Makeup stains leather... don't want to mess up my kicks.
Again, stock photos and too much time. Wolf, octopus, flaming heart. Feel free to make-up your own back-story. If it's good maybe we'll do a little book that nobody will read.
Above; signs of life that The Decoy and the Detective with a Melted Face is still roaming around in the back of my heard mumbling Bogart quotes and filling my head with smoke and witty shamus banter. The specific imagery is not from the story; just doodling.

So this Friday the 30th, 6-10PM, at Paradigm Gallery (2020 South Street) is the long-awaited opening of Dead and Dreaming, an exhibition of art inspired by H.P.Lovecraft. Curating this show was a labor of love; it involves both my favorite author and all of my favorite Philadelphia artists and then some. Every time I curate a show, I end up wanting to buy every piece off the wall, so to remedy this: Dead and Dreaming is the first Autumn Society show to have a companion art-book. Laying out the book was a bit of a bitch, as was dealing with Lulu, but the end result is a sweet fucking tome of awesome, available HERE. See the full press release for the show HERE and RSVP on the facebook event page HERE.
And there are still Lovecraft shirts available (I'm not sure what sizes...I think all except medium), buying one helps offset some of the costs for this show/book so take a gander HERE.
Thanks for stopping in and perusing my scribbles. I've got a lot of things in the works so blog-updates will be a little more frequent now. Check back soon folks.

Dead and Dreaming book NOW AVAILABLE!

2011-09-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Folks,
After much ado, layout, and waiting for a proof, I present to you the printed rendition of 'Dead and Dreaming'. The book turned out fan-fucking-tastic (aside from my own piece, that printed dark, and the levels are off, and it looks like shit). I always felt like Lovecraft's voluminous correspondence and handwritten manuscripts were art worth framing, so I thought it would be appropriate to pair each finished piece with a piece of preliminary art, which turned out swimmingly, and really takes the work to another level. You can see a short preview and pick-up a copy of the book HERE.

More soon folks. Been doing a lot of sketching and plotting.

Dead and Dreaming poster

2011-09-04T12:23:00.001-07:00

Hey folks,
Hope you're all well. Above is the promo poster for 'Dead and Dreaming' (I picked the pieces and letters at random, hope nobody's offended I couldn't fit each artist in). To see the press-release, check out the last post.
Also, I've been invited to a Halloween show, and I have a load of sketchbook stuff to scan and share, so plenty of new stuff soon folks. Fall is turning out to be a pretty good 'art month'. Check back soon!

DEAD and DREAMING and other good news!

2011-08-31T08:15:00.001-07:00

Friends,
Hope you're all well. It's with all the pomp of a New Orleans funeral that I announce to you the Dead and Dreaming exhibition at Paradigm gallery, opening September 30th. Curating this exhibition was a dream come true; getting to hand-pick all of my favorite local artists to create renderings based on the work of H.P. Lovecraft was at the top of my bucket list. All of the work has been collected in a tome by the same name, and having seen all the work while laying out the companion book, the scope and range of style and tone of this collection of work is truly horror inspiring and has all the flourish and weird light of Lovecraft's own bizarre script.

When sending out the invites for this show, I had my fingers crossed that nobody would pick The Call of Cthulhu, not because I wanted to illustrate the story, but because part of me wanted people to focus on the less iconic, less well known in Lovecraft's writing. I wanted to see all the madness I had read about but had yet to see be illustrated. I made the mistake of not reserving a story for myself, not that I would have been able to decide on just one, and when all the RSVP's came back, I was left with Rats in the Walls, From Beyond, The Lurking Fear, and... The Call of Cthulhu. I started multiple sketches, and even finishes for each story, but when it came to brass tax, I was going to be the asshole to render Cthulhu. Lovecraft's descriptions of the monster are pretty thorough, and over the years folk like Frazetta have giving the beast an image, a look that has rarely been strayed from. I've always been a fan of accuracy from source-material, but this time around, to not be a rehasher of icons, I had to put from my head the writing, and all the art I had seen. In a perfect world, I would have started my finish ten years ago, to give it the detail deserved, and draw each fold of skin and wave in my own blood, but this was not the case. I'm not happy with the final, but deadlines are made to be followed...after breaking them five or six times. Hope you like it. I really do.

When asked to curate this show, I knew it would be one of those "holy shit, I gotta mortgage my house because I want to buy every piece off the wall" sort of shows, so this would be the perfect exhibition to collect in a book. These will be available at the gallery, and online. For the cover, I wanted to showcase each artist, so I tried to pick details that would force people to pick up the book in anticipation of what lays lurking around each detail.

For Immediate Release:

When considering an artist’s body of work, one often looks for the late greats, the other artists whom have had an impact on said body of work. But one rarely ponders the prose or writing that may have had an impact on said artist.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937), American author of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, has had an immense impact on the artistically inclined since he put pen to paper. It is obvious why artists who dabble in dark and macabre imagery have been touched by Lovecraft’s brand of New England terror for decades. Often thought of as verbose, Lovecraft’s long, in depth descriptions of architecture, landscapes, horrible flora and debased fauna verbally paint a picture almost as vivid as an artists rendering. These detailed descriptions in Lovecraft’s work truly make the reader see each tentacle, tooth, wing, and membranous head that stalks his writing.

And like the dreams dictating the artist’s hand creating a bas-relief of clay in the Call of Cthulhu, or the humanesque daemon photo-reference in Pickman’s model, one almost feels possessed, a strong urge to dip a pen in ink and illustrate the evil that is so thoroughly described in each story. And that is what artists have been doing since the publishing of Lovecraft’s work. In re-printed volumes, personal sketch books, mythos inspired film, games, and writing, Lovecraft’s work takes on almost a second life, a horrible re-birth by the hands of hundreds of artists worldwide, carrying on Lovecraft’s legacy, weather for print or pure pleasure, they keep the green, noxious flame burning in some burrow, tomb, or cyclopean vista just beyond the wall of sleep. This coming autumn, 20 artists depicting the stories and characters of H.P. Lovecraft will stoke that flame at Paradigm Gallery in the exhibit ‘Dead and Dreaming’. The artwork from this show will be collected in a volume also titled ‘Dead and Dreaming’, available at the gallery and online.

H.P.Lovecraft-Jay Bevenour
Wilbur Whateley-Michael Bukowski
The Horror at Red Hook-Eamon Dougherty
The Tomb-Tim Durning
The Thing on the Doorstep-Alex Eckman-Lawn
Pickman’s Model-Jen Gin
He-Justin Gray
Celephais-Kirsten Harper
Shadow Over Innsmouth-Rachel Harper Joseph
The Call of Cthulhu-Sam Heimer
The Temple-Jeffro Kilpatrick
Dagon-Christine Larsen
Shadow Over Innsmouth-German Orozco
Herbert West - Reanimator-Paul Palcko
At the Mountains of Madness-Christian Patchell
Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family-Anthony Pedro
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward-Rog Petersen
The Moon Bog-Joseph Querio
The White Ship-Paul Romano
The Picture in the House-Mike Wohlberg

Dead and Dreaming
Paradigm Gallery
www.paradigm-gallery.com
2020 South Street, Philadelphia PA
Opening Reception: September 30th 6-10 PM

And last, but surely not least, over the summer a few friends and I had a few think-tank sessions and applied to the Arts on South Program; and after waiting with fingers crossed, we've been granted a space. Arts on South is a program run by Magic Gardens and Triad Real-estate, that grants RENT-FREE gallery spaces to artists and collectives. We put together a rock-solid pitch of 4 exhibitions, demonstrations, and extra programing, and come this December to April, we will have a gallery at 6th and South, in a big store-front, aptly titled Almost Anonymous. We're going to need a lot of art to fill those walls, so keep an ear to the ground folks.

Letters and Posters.

2011-07-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, hope you're all well. The coming month is going to be a killer, filled with artsy morsels and mystic wine a.k.a. I'm gonna get fat and soused before the return of my favorite season, Fall. This August is the digital deadline for the up and coming Lovecraft art exhibition 'Dead and Dreaming', I'll be at the Philadelphia Alternative Comic Con with some fine PCS folks haucking shirts, prints, and other sundries, and I'm participating in 'Drawn to Letters', opening this coming first Friday at Brave New Worlds. Busy Month.

Below is a detail from a failed rush-job show poster. Giggle Party contacted me to do a poster for an August 6th show out San Fran way. These guys have been a fun client all along. Sadly, after some crossed communications, this image is going orphan. I got carried away on this one, but I still love the image, and it's been a while since I paid homage to Possada. Under that is the image sans type. I might work back into this one. Some elements don't work in my head, and it needs a background or something. Maybe I'll sling this up on a t-shirt.

Below is a color version of my entry into PCS's 'Drawn to Letters' art exhibition. Another great show put together by Patch and Concetta, this one focuses on the alphabet. I was given 'N'. I decided to delve into my childhood; I have a journal I kept in first grade, and each day the teacher gave us a starter sentence. The one days' starter sentence was 'I feel my best when...', bad grammar aside, I wrote Halloween, and drew myself as Frankenstein's Monster. Figured I'd revisit that feeling. It's going to be a great show! (See press release below)

“Drawn to Letters”
An art show that features both the characters of the Alphabet and the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society.
August 5^th to August 31^st
Opening Reception August 5^th from 6pm to 9pm

The 26 characters of the English Alphabet are what we rely on to communicate in our society. Whether text message, e-mail, signage, books, or your Facebook status it boils down to knowing your P’s and Q’s. The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society is out to prove that these emblems of communication are built upon, well, character. Each member of the PCS will be interpreting one letter from the Alphabet to be on display at Brave New World Comic Shop this August. From paintings to pen and ink, cartoons to chiaroscuro, all the art will be priced to sell for those who are graphically inclined. From images to icons this exhibition will be one you won’t want to miss.

The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society is a group of cartoonists living and working in Philadelphia. Since 1997, with over 80 members on our mailing list, the PCS has been actively participating in the cartoon and comics community in Philadelphia and its surrounding area. The Philadelphia Cartoonist Society prides itself on contributing to a wide variety of local charities and causes.

Brave New Worlds Comic Shop is a comic jewel located in Olde City. With a wide selection of graphic novels and toys you can always find something unique and extraordinary on their shelves.

“Drawn to Letters”
The Alphabet According the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society

August 5^th to August 31^st
Opening Reception August 5^th 6pm to 9pm
at Brave New Worlds Comic Shop
49 N. 2^nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 1906

For more information on the PCS, their members and future shows look us up at www.phillytoon.org

And lastly, in an attempt to raise some funds for 'Dead and Dreaming', I'm selling Lovecraft t-shirts. Check them out HERE. They're stylish, a conversation starter, and CHEAP!!!

I highly recommend coming out to the above events! Hit me up and chew the fat and maybe if you're lucky I'll buy you a beer and tell you about the ten years I spent at the bottom of the ocean building a temple to Dagon.

Dead and Dreaming Fundraiser T-Shirt

2011-07-20T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, hope you're well. In an effort to raise funds to help print the upcoming 'Dead and Dreaming' art book, I'm doing up Lovecraft t-shirts with the image above. Help out the Autumn Society and a show I'm curating and snag a fancy nerdy t-shirt! You can order them HERE on my etsy store.

This, That, and the Ugly Thing.

2011-07-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, hope you're all well. These past few weeks have been odd at best. Above and below are doodles drawn at Terri's Bar down South Philly way with Steve Ferrell. Drawn in very dim light with a busted micron brush in a swarm of PBR and dirty hipsters. The term 'creep' has always been near and dear to me. I really don't know how else to explain these pieces.

In one month all the digital files are due for 'Dead and Dreaming', a Lovecraft exhibition/book I'm curating at Paradigm Gallery. As per usual, I'm running way behind and have yet to pick a story. Below are two ink warm-ups; From Beyond and Rats in the Walls were bouncing around in my head, but I probably won't do either. If you're going to be stoked for one show this year...this should be the one! A little closer to the show date I'll start leaking images and the artist roster.

Last, but surely not least: Tonight, 'Artificial Dissemination' opens at Masthead Print Studios, curated by my brother, James. Sadly I couldn't manage to get a piece in by the hanging, but it's a stellar show and if you've got nothing better to do... and I'm gonna guess you don't, go to this. Click the image to see the Facebook event page.
More soon folks. I'm not sure what, but it's a commin'.

Leave the bone in.

2011-06-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

Hey folks. Hope you're all happy and healthy. I'm not going to put the dead-horse before the mortuary cart, but I think I'm slowly coming out of my slump. Due to a lack of paying jobs, and gallery shows too far off in the distance to start the art-panic attacks, the following are odds and ends from this and that and the lint-filled spaces in betwixt.

First up is a cover idea for my going-to-be-very-drawn-out-never-finished comic project 'The Decoy and the Detective with a Melted Face'. The always insightful and far too humble Christine Larsen gave me a pep talk of sorts at the PCS Hobo Day BBQ at Locust Moon Comics, so I picked up where I left off and did some writing and inking. It needs some more fleshing out, ink-wash, color and type... so expect to see this again in the future.

Below is a personal piece. The other night I was wandering my neighborhood half past the witching hour feeding on the dreams floating out of childrens bedroom windows, and I felt kind of out of place.
The following is a comment on my drawing-block. I hate nothing more than having a bunch of free time and not being able to put ink on paper...except Glen Beck...and American Apparel...and a ton of other things...
Below is probably the cause of my drawing block. Over the past month or so I've drawn about 50 gypsy women for a beer label and they all look like shit. I think I burnt myself out stressing over the face of an old sea-hag. This one has a Robert E. Howard twist.
That's all for now folks. Doing more carving and some other random projects, and I also have three gallery shows (and maybe more) I'm participating in in the near future. You keep coming back, and I'll keep feeding you.

Interlude and an Old Interview

2011-05-13T13:22:00.001-07:00

Hey folks, hope you're all well. I've still got massive drawing-block, but I think I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Below are some random doodles and the interview from Cigar Press a few Halloweens ago. Enjoy!

More soon folks, I promise.

SITE and SHOP

2011-04-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, hope all is well. I'm still lacking direction but I've been keeping busy. Nothing epic to show so far, but there's plenty in the hopper. Just a head's up:
-My official SITE is under construction. I've been trying to figure out things myself, and this web stuff is completely new to me, so bear with me. Most of the new samples in the Portfolio and Sketchbook are things you've seen here. What's on the site now is just a place-holder. I'm still trying to figure out a set-up I'm happy with.
-Some new odds and ends in the SHOP. I'm still doing the poster and sketch combo deal... and what a deal it is! 3 posters picked at random and an original sketch. So far, the sketches sent out have not been sketches, but fully inked pages from portfolio pieces...so buy now! Also, I've been taking out some of my daily anger on wood. Below is a set of Nautical Book Ends I just finished. And below that, a little thank you I carved for my neighbor who's been a real help getting my machinery up to current Mac standards.

Hopefully after this relaxing weekend I'll be able to get my ass in gear and start getting back to some ink work. More soon folks... I swear.

Idle hands are the Devil's sex toys...

2011-04-17T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, hope all is well your end. The past few weeks have been filled with aimless doodles stemming from the inability to organize my thoughts. The following mass of unfinished ink exercises were drawn during downtime at my day-job, which should give you a pretty good idea what's going through my head at the daily grind. Take them with a grain of salt. They are the bastard children, the coarse, malodorous vegetables of boredom, frustration, and longing. Enjoy!
The above is a prime-example of my extreme nerdiness. With Dead and Dreaming coming in the fall, Lovecraft has been on my mind more than food and sex. I've never been a fan of the 'Cthulhu for President' and other crappy Lovecraft shirts floating around the web, so I figured I'd draw up one I could be proud to wear. The colors, if ever finished, would be black, red, yellow, and green.
Next up is some brush work. I've yet to find a happy balance between obsessive hatching and blocky grunge, so I like to go back to the ink-well on occasion to limit my line. The above I really can't explain. If you know me well, it makes vague sense. Below is a quick study done for the 'Art & Design Club' I run for middleschoolers.
The following, also brush and ink, was a sort of exercise in type that ate up a Saturday afternoon and had me ordering candy-corn off the interweb. It's followed by a color-mock up. I'd like to have these done up on shirts...but I don't imagine anybody would wear one but me...and Tim Durning, thanks for the kind words! Again, a perfect example of the themes I am married to till death.

Next is a thumbnail and unfinished inks for a beer label. Steve and Daniel at Bongo Zepto Brewery are awesome dudes. The beer is going to be called something along the lines of Gypsy and the recipe, which I won't divulge, sounds pretty unique. After two failed mailers that went out to a few hundred beer companies, it feels pretty fucking good to be doing a beer label.

The next three is where the fear, self-loathing, and longing come in. It's barely spring and already I want fall. Sure, I'll probably have a bender or two down at the beach this summer, but for the duration I'll be smitten for pumpkin soup, epic foliage, and hayrides.

Below is an image re-posted from my comic-project blog.

And lastly, my Dremmel tool was returned to me...finally. Below is... I'm not sure, but it's got a ways to go.
Thanks for stopping in. I'm not sure what they next few weeks/months will have in store, but there'll be plenty of hate brushed on paper involved. Hopefully the next batch of work will be a little more focused and meaningful. More soon, I promise.

DEAD AND DREAMING

2011-03-19T11:27:00.001-07:00

I have a list of dream-shows I hope to one day curate, and number one on the list became a reality earlier this year. It is with extreme pleasure that I am announce 'Dead and Dreaming' exhibition and companion art book. 26 of my favorite artists celebrating the writing of H.P. Lovecraft.
Each artist picked a story or character to illustrate, and the artist list and their picks alone make me salivate. The book will collect the exhibition's art, as well as preliminary work from all the artists, and a foreword by a celebrity Lovecraft illustrator! I have yet to pick a story myself, but over the past few days I've been doodling and rereading Lovecraft's body of work to get the congealed juices flowing. The above is a drawing I decided to use as a sort of teaser promo. The show is sill off in the distance, but I'm far too excited about this to stay tight lipped any longer. Also of note, Bottom Feeder Brewing Company will most likely being doing one or two limited edition beers for this exhibition, featuring art from yours truly; Innsmouth IPA, and time permitting, Wilbur Whatley Wheat Ale! Below is another excited doodle, drawn while dead bored and proctoring PSSAs.
Sadly, I got too much hand-oil on the layout comp, and the ink stopped going down uniformly, so this one won't get finished.

In other news; If you haven't stumbled upon it already, I've made a blog for a side-project of mine, a comic experiment subtlety titled 'The Decoy and The Detective With a Melted Face'. Also, just to be a jerk, meetings have been held, planning is happening, it's a long shot, but...I can't tell you just yet. If we pull it off, it's gonna be freaking amazing. And lastly, a new mailer goes out today to various publishers, beer and cigar companies, and other places that probably would never hire me. Fingers crossed.

More soon folks!

FIST FULL OF INK...

2011-02-20T18:35:00.001-08:00

Hope you're all doing well. I've been trying to keep busy, and lucky you, I'm going to share the fruits of my labor. The above stems from my brother telling me that I should throw out my microns and start using the brush again. While the above was done with a micron brush pen, it was busted to a degree I would have normally discard it. The image is a hodgepodge of elements I rely on too heavily, inspired by a Walt Whitman short story about a man watching the occupants of a potters field moving to a nicer cemetery across town. Leaves and wind...check, death...check, oil-lantern...check, yup, that's me. Standard fare, but I like the fact that it's a wee bit dirtier than I'm normally comfortable with when I go to ink.

The below is something I've always wanted to do, but told myself I couldn't...draw a comic. These three pages are from a story I've had in my head for a few years called 'The Detective with a Melted Face'. It's a vignette a good ways into the story. I won't chew your ear with the story. I've tried sequential format in the past and it's been a disaster...this is more of a calamity. Feedback would be greatly appreciated...

The below is the extremely late work in progress for The Age of Reptiles exhibition, at Paradigm Gallery, opening this Friday, the 25th, hosted by Sir Anthony Pedro of the Turkish Scrub-lands. It's titled 'If you look to the stars with questions, pray they don't answer'. Beyond the initial ink, I'm not quite sure how to treat this one...and I don't really have time to give it too much thought. Shit...

And lastly, this little doodle is something I've been hatching away at while I'm proctoring tests at my day job. The kids love it. They ask why I only draw zombies and monsters. One wrote a few characters on my layout pad in Arabic... turns out they translate to 'Devil'. Ha ha. I hope you've enjoyed the new work. If not, gimmie a call and we can sort out our differences through native throat singing. And almost forgot, this Saturday, the 26th, is the closing of the run away success, A Nation of Evil Men at Masthead Print Studio! Check out a great write-up on the show HERE. More soon folks. I promise.

Bucket full of updates...

2011-01-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

Hope you've all been well; the last few weeks have treated me like a scorned mexican grandmother. Ive been working on a lot of odds and ends, most coming to fruition in the next few weeks, and felt it was high time I shared them with you. First and foremost; A Nation of Evil Men. While haphazardly set up last minute, this show is already bearing the nasty, overripe fruits of the awesome tree. Below is an early detail of the first piece I did for the show, Walt Disney. This was my third try, and after James gave me some color pointers nixing my love of black and red, it's ready to be printed.

ANOEM will likely collect the art of 30+ artists, some doing more than one 8 X 10 portrait. I decided to try and pump out one to print, and a few to hang as original art. Below is Rex 'Ice-Man' Morgan, one of Al Capone's more twisted hit-men.

Below is the Promo-card for ANOEM. The front was a collaboration between James and I, the back was done by Shawn of Masthead.

Likely to be available for the first time at ANOEM is DIRT WORK, a collaboration sketch-book by James and I. Below are the covers. Screen-printed cover and title page, black and white interior, fits easily in the pocket to serve as a reminder that you could be... sorry, nothing witty comes to mind. Buy one...please. It contains some awesome doodles by James, and some doodles by me you've more than likely seen already if you read my blog.

A detail of my third piece for ANOEM, Gergori Rasputin. I'm pretty sure this show is going to have a few portraits of him; and these unplanned duplicates are the charm of this show. You'll get to see which crazy assholes artists gravitate to, either for their gruesome handiwork, or their flat out crazy eyes and facial hair... I'm not happy with this piece in the least bit, but I wanted it to be very different from the look of Walt and Rex. And lucky you, I gave up on my Mother Theresa. I was doing two versions; in the first she was licking the nails in christ's feet, the second had her with an emaciated body and huge saggy tits...fucking bitch. The tag-line on both was "To be forgiven you must suffer".

Coming up on the heels of ANOEM is The Age of Reptiles, curated by Sir Anthony Pedro of the Modavian Scrub-lands. This show is at Paradigm, 20 artists and some heavy hitters... myself excluded. Below is the first hack at this show. I'm extremely worried because the deadline is coming up fast, and the last thing I want to do it let down Ant. I love shows like this because it's a huge challenge for me to do anything I'd even consider showing my mom...

And for your viewing pleasure, a random doodle...

The below is the finished poster for Giggle Party. It might look familiar; I started this a few months ago and finally finished it. These guys are a pleasure to work for, for a multitude of reasons, and I hope they have me do up some more stuff in the future.

I apologize for being cryptic, and I've dropped less vague hints in the past, but the invites for a show/book are going out in the next week or two, I'm curating and hoping will be Epic as all get out. Here's a hint; to mark the occasion, photographer/home-brewer Ryan Studley and myself are brewing a batch of Innsmouth IPA, and time permitting, Wilbur Whatley Wheat Ale.

That's all for now folks. Hope you enjoyed the update, and hope you can all make it out to the upcoming shows.

A NATION OF EVIL MEN

Saturday, February 5 · 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Masthead Print Studio

340 Brown St.

Philadelphia, PA

Masthead, ASOP and the Philly Cartoonist Society presents an expose of the faces of evil that make history grimly entertaining. A collection of the debased, comically villainous, perverted, violent, controversial,and grotesque figures that were truly stranger than fiction. These faces and persona have been the fodder for a million books, movies, history channel specials, and bad jokes; A Nation of Evil Men will bring them all together for your viewing pleasure.

Hosted by Shawn Hileman
Curated by Sam Heimer
Participants Include:

Jeffro Kilpatrick
Paul Romano
Kirsten Harper
Sam Heimer
Justin Gray
Jay Bevenour
Christian Patchell
James Heimer
Mike Wohlberg
Jennifer Gin
Matt Cavanaugh
Tom Augustino
Amy Houser
Paul Palcko
Mark Price
Anthony Pedro
Kevin Mercer
George Tan
Eamon Dougherty
Justin Miller
JP Flexner
Christine Larsen
Tim Durning
Brian Meitz
Max Gordon
Shawn Hileman
And many, many more...

A NATION OF EVIL MEN

2011-01-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 5 · 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Masthead Print Studio

340 Brown St.

DIRT WORK and EVIL MEN

2011-01-06T13:52:00.001-08:00

The finished covers (me on bottom, James on top) for DIRT WORK, a collaborative pocket-sized ashcan filled with sketchbook pages by my brother and myself. Hopefully these will be available at...

'A Nation of Evil Men' at Masthead Print Studio, is a collaboration between the Autumn Society's Philadelphia Chapter, the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society, and friends. This show is an expose of the faces of evil that make history grimly entertaining. A collection of the debased, comically villainous, perverted, violent, controversial,and grotesque figures that were truly stranger than fiction. These faces and persona have been the fodder for a million books, movies, history channel specials, and bad jokes; A 'Nation of Evil Men' will bring them all together for your viewing pleasure.

show feb 5th
closing feb 19

James and I have been curating this show, and so far we have over 20 great artists participating, and a promo card in the works. This is turning out to be a killer show; mark your calendar!

I'm also curating a H.P. Lovecraft show this fall, and participating in 'Age of the Reptiles' curated by Sir Anthony Pedro of the Carpathian Wastelands. Lots more soon folks!

Cleaning House: World's Fair Outcasts and Sketches...

2010-12-27T07:54:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a happy holiday and are well rested for New Years debauchery.
Now available on my ETSY shop are the unsold pieces from this past November's World's Fair exhibition, two inked pages of vampires smoking weed from THC Expo, and an inked sketchbook page. Take a gander if you see fit...

In other news; the collaborative sketchbook with James is near completion, three shows are being ironed out, a beer label is being designed for my homebrew, and other assorted madness will be presented to you on a rusty platter in the near and dear future.

Seasons Greeting From Catfish Heimer

2010-12-24T09:16:00.001-08:00

Friends,
I hope this finds you all healthy and happy. I'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year. I hope the coming 2011 treats us all well. I'd like to thank you all for the gift of your support, love, criticism, friendship, and business. Knowing you all is more than I could have ever asked for, and I'm thankful for that going into the New Year. I wish the best for all of you.

Much Love,
Sam 'Catfish' Heimer

I've been taking Fish Oil for a few weeks now...

2010-12-19T14:33:00.000-08:00

...and my dreams keep getting weirder and weirder. This is a work in progress. I feel like I should do some washes, or color, or something. We'll see...
I got a lot of cool stuff on the burner for 2011 folks, including inclusion in a Dinosaur show curated by Sir Anthony Pedro of the Turkish Royal Rifleman's Society, curating an H.P.Lovecraft show that will hopefully involve a companion book, in the talks for two other shows that may or may not happen, a limited edition sketch-book collaboration with James, a new mailer and new site, and a mess of other craziness.

If this is the last you all hear of my this fading year, I wish you all Happy Holidays and I hope you're all in good health.

Love,
Catfish Heimer

WE WANT YOU!

2010-12-09T13:22:00.001-08:00

ODDS AND ENDS ARE MY RACKET...

2010-12-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

The following is a hodge-podge of ink doodles that may be used for a top-secret project. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed drawing them. The first is directly linked to my belief that James John Audubon absorbed the souls of each bird he euthanized to document and draw for 'Birds of North America' causing him to be reanimated sometime in the late 70's at which point he started to send me... yes me...messages in the queer formations of flocks of society finches and the well placed cry of killdeer and whipporwill.

The following was an idea for an image to be framed by an Angler Fish drawn by my brother for the 'Public School' exhibition at Masthead.

The following was sheer pointless doodle.

The following is a storm feeder worm that lives in the south pacific and often wars with the shore birds that control hurricanes.

The following is my contribution for the second piece my brother and I had in the 'Public School' show at Mast head.

More soon folks, I promise. 2011 is looking to be an art filled year and you will all have front-row seats to the madness.

Also, If you're in need of some quick christmas present ideas GO HERE. Real men give art for the holidays.

GIVE ART FOR CHRISTMAS... my art that is...

2010-11-27T19:03:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, hope you're all well. So here's the skinny; I want to have a new mailer ready and funded by the new year and to do it I'm putting together grab-bags of (3) randomly picked screen-prints, and (1) original inked doodle at the low low, ready to move, quality goes in before the paint goes on, shipping included, price of $35. Check it out here! Much thanks to anybody who picks up one of these, it'll greatly help me further my illustration career.

Also, working on a collaborative show with James that's turning out pretty badass. More work up soon!

Works in progress, studys, and doodles OH MY!

2010-11-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hope you're all well. The following is a collection of works in progress, doodles and sketches, and a study.

Above is an early detail from a Giggle Party poster. Much thanks for these guys searching me out because of my work for Parade of Flesh; so far they've been a blast to do work for. If you can't tell; it's Lincoln with balloons and confetti exploding out the back of his head, the biggest balloon bears the bands name. I still need to work in more type, a blue layer, and some zip-tone. It's been fun to work on thus far and I really miss doing posters... just not printing them.

Above is a doodle I decided to ink and color. It's a shirt idea for the Philadelphia Chapter of the Autumn Society. Right now a few shirt designs are being worked up as a small fundraiser to get the group one step closer to being a 501(3)(c).
Above is an ink-study of the great Cthulhu. I've been a die-hard member of The Esoteric Order of Dagon for years now and for some reason this is the first time I've drawn the lord of the old ones. I did an ink-wash and then inked some areas. PLEASE NOTE the layout comp I used warped considerably so the scan is god-awful. This was done as an ink-wash demo for the Pennfield Art & Design Club im running.

Above are a few ink doodles I've done over the past few weeks on my lunch breaks at my new job. Nothing to write home about, but I think they're kinda fun. The first is simply me drawing my extreme anxiety over when my next cigarette will be. The following is a play on a past master, a love note, and my favorite holiday. The last is wishing I went to Denmark with my Grandmother.

More coming in the near and dear future. I'm about to start two collaborative peices with James for a show at Masthead. I also have some projects I'm keeping close to the vest in case they crash and sink into the oily deep. Cheers folks!

DEAD AND DREAMING...

2010-11-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, I hope you all had a happy Halloween and your meditations and visiting with passed loved ones on Dia De Los Muertos was cathartic and joyful. Last night was the opening of the Worlds Fair exhibition curated by Patch and Concetta, whom I'd like to thank for inviting me to be a part of the show. Below are two of the ink drawings I contributed to the show. They were printed and toned with coffee and habanero ink. The show was amazing; the artwork was of the highest pedigree of imagination and the flow and arrangement of the work was art in itself. Also, Shadow Space gallery is an amazing venue and I hope to show there again in the near and horrible future.

Also, a chance self-googling and the following correspondence with the multi-talented Kenny Harris has yielded me a new web-site in trade for some art!
Also, I've begun some new projects with the Autumn Society that may make for some really cool shows and opportunities for local illustrators... but may yield a headache and a warm hand full of wasted time/thanks for giving it another shot. Time reveals all.
Also, it seems there is strange weather blowing new and odd wind into the PCS sails and I sincerely hope adventure is on the horizon.
Also, I'm about to get back to work doing a rendition of the great and all mighty Cthulhu... my first, which is odd because I'm a huge lovecraft fan.
Also, my personal art gallery has gained: two more Jeffro Kilpatricks, and a Melissa Lomax.
Also, working on some posters for Giggle Party that are turing out to be pretty fun!

More soon folks. I promise. For all that's worth.

Hallowed Halloween Video!

2010-10-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Shot, edited, and much thanks to David Diperstein for the great looking video, and much thanks to Matt Cavanaugh for setting us up with David, and doing his own fare share of Photography!

THIS YEAR AND LAST...

2010-09-22T14:40:00.000-07:00

The above is my piece from last years smash-hit show "Dia De Los Muertos" by the Autumn Society of Illustration at Proximity Gallery. This years show, "Hallowed Halloween" is shaping up to be the best group showing I've ever happened upon. The drop-off was last saturday (photos to come) and the few pieces I got to see before shoving off were incredible. This is one not to miss folks.

And in old news; Fresh out of school I did a mailer, sent to a few hundred American micro-breweries... and didn't get so much as a "thanks for the postcard" e-mail. Well several years later, I might be doing a beer label. More on that soon too...

odds and odds and maybe the worlds fair?

2010-09-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

Hallowed Halloween Cont'd...

2010-09-06T08:53:00.001-07:00

Still ironing out the kinks on this one. Piece number 2 for 'Hallowed Halloween' (see previous post for all show info). So far I've seen two other pieces for this show, and believe me, this is one you're not going to want to miss!

Hallowed Halloween Cont'd...

2010-09-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

He is without a doubt gleefully watching
children trick-or-treat, while listening to
his father, Ronald Clarke O'Bryan, howl
and scream in Hell.

Rest in Peace Timmy.

HALLOWED HALLOWEEN!!!

2010-08-30T05:22:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

This October 1st - 31st the Autumn Society of Illustration, the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society and Proximity Gallery present:

HALLOWED

HALLOWEEN

Opening Reception - October 1st, 2010

October 1st - October 31st

PROXIMITY Gallery

2434 East Dauphin Street

Philadelphia, PA 19125

267.825.2949

Once a year the summer sun passes on to make way for the birth of the next season. From it's passing, the month of October welcomes many changes with the coming of the season of Autumn. Most know the presence of Autumn thanks to the calm breeze that soothes the sun scorned fields of a past summer's day and the prismatic changes that trees decorate themselves with. Others, especially in the northern ends of the world, know it marks the last harvest of the year. The last harvest, the slaughtering of cattle, and stockpiling of grain are all in preparation for winter. These tasks largely decided Life and Death, and thus was a time to celebrate, mourn and call on the spirits of the season and the field, both good and evil.

A novelty now, viewed as children's games of years forgotten, the rites, practices and superstitions stemming from harvest holidays used to embody the fact that life is precious, delicate, and at a time, largely relied on the last harvest. What at one time was a potluck holiday, borrowing from most farming civilizations, Halloween has lost its edge, its lesson, its beauty. What was once a celebration of life and death, role-reversal and phantasmagoria, black and orange is now garish, commercialized and seemingly meaningless.

Fall is often a short reprieve; a flash of beauty between the sweltering summer and bone chilling winter, passed before it's noticed. However, thanks to rituals that do not invite publicity or the light of day, the practices, adornment and lore that were once Halloween will be celebrated by 35 nostalgic artists this October. For the first time, the Autumn Society and the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society have collaborated to bring you "Hallowed Halloween". This celebration will be welcomed and housed at Proximity Art Gallery, which is Philadelphia's premiere upcoming gallery for fresh, new talent in the visual arts.

The "Hallowed Halloween" art exhibition will feature multi-media based artwork exploring all the elements that make Halloween creepy, imaginative, and fun. This will include exposing its roots in folklore, diverse rituals, adornment and staple characters. Thanks to Proximity Gallery and the gathered artists this exhibition and celebration will ignite the Autumn bonfires as we, the living and the dead celebrate Halloween in all its magic and lore.

Come join the goblins, ghosts, witches and artists this October 1st for the opening reception of "Hallowed Halloween" at Proximity Gallery.

Participating Artists:

Melissa Lomax

James Heimer
Paul Palcko
Tim Durning
Timmy Smith
Christine Larsen
Alex Eckman-Lawn
Concetta Barbera
Jen Gin
Eric Braddock
Yis Goodwin
Ray Chase
Anthony Pedro
Sam Heimer
Ryan Studley
Peter Wonsowski
Jeffro Kilpatrick
Amy Houser
Marc Damicis
Andrew Hart
Matt Cavanaugh
Joseph Game
Kyle Margiotta
Matt Stewart
Gina Stewart
Justin Gray
Andrew Hoffman
Christian Patchell
Jay Bevenour
Eamon Dougherty
Jane Hay
Tim Grimmer
Ralph Giguere
Stephanie Struse
April McPhatter

HALLOWED HALLOWEEN!

2010-08-24T18:13:00.001-07:00

As mentioned in a prior post, the official announcement for 'Hallowed Halloween' is coming soon, but in the mean-time, a detail from one of three pieces. Three in the event that the big one doesn't get finished... this being from the least impressive of the three. Just a little more info on the show: THIS IS THE FIRST ASOP/ Philadelphia Cartoonist Society COLLABORATIVE SHOW! More soon, I promise!

Poster Of The Week! Third Time!

2010-08-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

Got a nice write up on the Dallas Observer music Blog HERE for my Coathangers poster. Check it out.

bourbon flavored tears...

2010-07-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been so long folks. Above is the ink-work for my "All Hands on Deck" show piece. Sadly, due to a last minute detour to New Hampshire to see a Portuguese speaking catfish named Earl, I was not able to finish this piece how I wanted. Instead of ink-wash gray-scale and digital color with a full-view frame, I had to do ink on ink and use a frame with an odd mat. Sorry Anthony. The following photos are courtesy of the lovely Kacy Jones.

If I haven't mentioned it in a prior drunken ramble, I'm curating the first ever collaborative show, joining the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society and the Autumn Society in an unholy union in celebration of the baying of dogs and the spilling of blood... also known as Halloween! Between the two groups we have 32 artists participating, and I'm not one to speculate, but this show is going to be killer.

HALLOWED HALLOWEEN
First Friday, October 1st
Proximity Gallery
2434 East Dauphin
Fishtown

THC EXPO WEB EDITION

2010-05-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

http://trendmag.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=37197

If you flip to pages 106 - 109 you can see the four pages of illustration I did for this magazine. As time has passed, so has my liking of the work I did...

Got a ton of stuff on the stove folks, more dishes soon!

Christmas (Halloween) came early

2010-04-25T09:34:00.001-07:00

I was antiquing in Cape May this past weekend and came across the above; a home shrine for last rites. With a little persuasion from my Girlfriend, I'm now the proud owner of said shrine, and have already begun dismantling and cleaning it in preparation for the ASOP/PCS Halloween show at Proximity Gallery. Both the main compartment, and the frame door of the smaller compartment (holds an image of the last supper, not shown) will be used in some manor, but I felt this wooden box, with candle holders, and compartment to hide my sins, would be a perfect fit for some of my artwork.

Fishing for work...

2010-03-03T14:10:00.001-08:00

more soon folks. I promise...

Nobody ever brings anything small into a bar...

2010-02-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

...so I've had a lot going on lately. The editor of the magazine for the LA THC Expo saw my work in Cigar Press and commissioned me to do four pages of vampires smoking weed... really... I'm not kidding... Dracula with a spliff.

Above is a doodle I've been wanting to start the finish on for a while, I'll probably get around to it after the aforementioned project is done. I still want to do a 'maritime' themed show with my chums Eamon and Anthony.

Below is a show poster... nothing like starting off the year with the same crap I've been drawing for the last few years...conceptually dead...but fuck it. Next show poster is for 'the Coat Hangers' so maybe I'll be able to hash out something a little more worthy of being silk-screened.

more soon. I promise.

"Bottom of the Ink Well" book is finished!

2009-12-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

So after a few days worth of scanning and sorting through old crap and using blurb.com's awesome book layout program, I present to you:

"Bottom of the Inkwell"

52 pages of sketches, largely drawn at Bob and Barbras and assorted philly bars. The drawings are from 2007 to 2009 and include failed attempts for PCS Book III, images used in Parade of Flesh show posters, preliminary work for a few unfinished projects, and some personal work. I'm going to be selling them at this firdays ASOP Hellboy show at Brave New Worlds, and on my new etsy shop: www.samheimer.etsy.com

ODDITY SHOP...

2009-11-15T18:31:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, few announcements:

- Finally got around to putting together "Bottom of the Inkwell", a collection of sketchbook pages from 2007 to 2009, about 52 pages. I'm getting the proofs later this week, copies of the book will be available at the upcoming Autumn Society of Illustration Hellboy show, first friday of December and available on...
-The Etsy shop I'm finishing up. Silkscreened posters, t-shirts, digital prints, and my soon to be finished book will be for sale. www.samheimer.etsy.com
-The 'Dia De Los Muertos' issue of Cigar Press drops this week, including my cover, and a four page spread with current work and an interview.
-I'm taking a more active role with the Autumn Society of Illustration; expect some great things in 2010.
-Looks like master sheets of the Tatuaje Drac Spooky Ticket will soon be available, most likely on the Etsy shop.
Keep an ear to the ground folks, got alot coming to a head!

Magazine cover and 3 page spread...

2009-10-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hey folks, I know that there are probably very few cigar smokers on this blog, but if any of you happen past a cigar shop, stop in around Halloween and ask for Cigar Press magazine. I did the October cover, along with a three page spread including a brief interview, some of my current work (you've probably already seen) and the spooky ticket promotional item I did for Tatuaje Cigar Company. Below is a tiny detail from the cover... and by the way, the theme for the cover was Dia De Los Muertos...

Ever wonder what 75 hours of Ink looks like?

2009-10-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

It looks like the above. Ink a couple hours, eyes go cross, smoke a cigarette and wait for eyes to re-align, repeat. Below are the print files of the promotional item for tatuaje cigars. They look a little different printed because they were done on watercolor paper, dyed, and hand numbered. Also, finished the cover for cigar press. The issue drops halloween. In addition to the cover I have a 3 page spread on the inside with images and an interview. If that doesn't result in some work I'm gonna cry.

More soon lovelies. And if not prior, please...

HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Many thanks to you, lover of art and beer!

2009-09-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Thank you everybody who cam out last friday and supported my friends and I, and thank you so much to the folks who purchased art. While the accommodations, overlapped booking and preliminary headaches from Triumph Brewery were a little infuriating, we put on a hell of a show and the place was packed.

Above is the only piece of mine I was happy with. I was originally supposed to have a native american in it accepting the candy corn, with text reading "The Patron Saint of Halloween bestowing candy-corn upon the savages... The died a short time later". If any of you have read David J. Skal's 'Death Makes a Holiday' you probably understand what I'm getting at.

Working on a alot of projects right now, the Spooky Ticket promo for Tatuaje's Halloween release needs to be done soon, the cover for Cigar Press magazine is due at the end of the month, and two show posters in the works. Cheers!

make yourself available!

2009-08-16T09:40:00.001-07:00

Date:	Friday, September 4, 2009
Time:	7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location:	Triumph Brewing Co. 2nd Floor
Street:	117 Chestnut St

Come by and check out new work by:

Leanne Biank
James Heimer
Sam Heimer
Shane Leddy
Anthony Pedro
Ryan Resch
Danielle Rizzolo

There's supposed to be some kind of drink specials and i'm sure some crazy shamwow stealing will ensue ending with Anthony and the Heimer boys picking a fight with some douche bags.

FRUSTRATION COMES IN DROVES...

2009-08-09T10:23:00.001-07:00

...rough seas folks. It seems some dead god has manufactured the summer months solely to piss me the fuck off. My scanner is broken. The poster below is the product of miss-communication, I'll probably end up swapping out the type and using it for a different show. Shame, I really liked how it turned out. Apparently Mike Allred is going to be at the baltimore comic con. I found this out a few days after passing on having a table for financial and schedule issues. I happen to own a very large, original piece of Allred art that was from the first comic he was ever paid to work on, under comico, which went bankrupt and the art was seized by the bank before the series was ever published, therefore NO FAN HAS EVER SEEN THIS PIECE.

Below is the finished shirt design for PVC street gang. These guys were awesome to work for. They allready have me doing more work; in a previous post is the tumbnail for the below shirt, next to it is another tumbnail,(the shirt I wanted to end up doing), well, next best thing, it's being turned into a promo-poster. fucking sweet.

Also, right now is the RTDA. I'm going into sketch phase for the Fall cover of CIGAR PRESS magazine, and hopefully I'll be finishing up a promotion for Tatuaje Cigars in the next few weeks. More to come soon folks...

The banging of kettle drums and cracked sardonic bass...

2009-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

The above is the raw art and placement for an upcoming XDS show poster. The final print will be
black, and two shades of green, hopefully on tan paper.
Below are two of the six thumbnails sent to 'PVC Street Gang', they went with the one on the right. Should have this done by the end of the week (fingers crossed)

More to come real soon folks!

MARQUIS PIN-UP ON GUY DAVIS's BLOG!

2009-07-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

http://themarquisinferno.blogspot.com/2009/07/marquis-diableries-3.html

So he finally got it in the mail and loved it, here it is re-posted on his blog promoting the new collection, Marquis Inferno. Check it out.

Something familiar...

2009-07-14T07:41:00.001-07:00

Got some new work in the pot:
PVC Street Gang shirt
Experimental Dental School poster
Cigar Press magazine cover
Triumph Brewery show
Dia De Los Muertos show
Dremmel Project building a monster
to be worn at social events and perjury hearings

...keep an ear to the ground folks, lots of new work to come in the next few weeks.

Found this little ditty on an unlabeled disc, this was drawn on a receipt that survived my wallet, and was colored during that embarassing phase when I was trying to adapt to coloring with Photoshop, something I still haven't figured out. It's from the Baltimore Comic Con's "Not so Dark Heart of the Forrest". Rough, ugly little doodle, but a reminder of things I won't share with you. heh heh.

Poster of the week... AGAIN!

2009-07-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2009/07/poster_of_the_week_strange_boy.php

Looks like I must be doing something right if texas likes me. check it out!

NEW FRONTESS:

2009-07-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

eh, why not. Little more eye-grabbing than the original...

"all these ghosts and bodies were in no manner...

2009-06-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

...ghosts and bodies, but pishogues..."

Realized I never posted the final version of the Guy Davis fan art. I silk-screened these, framed the first print of a 40 edition, and sent it to Guy c/o Darkhorse... still havn't heard anything. Hope he got it...
Here's a collection of recent sketches and one failed attempt at breaking into a market. Below is a sketch from last saturday at Bob and Barbs. As I was drawing it, the phrase "I love when you look at me with those wild eyes..." kept popping into my head...

The following are failed attempts at an idea for PCS book III. I wanted to do "Catfish Heimer's guide to Bartering your way around Philly"; a collection of portraits with a little blurb about their use...

Below: Something about the coven of Kensington and going to the local yaga for a hangover cure.

Below: Something about a witch doctor to stick pins and needles in an effigy of the jerkoff who broke into your car for the pennies in the ash tray. Also wanted to do a zombie safari game hunter who stands across from the Khyber and shoots the goofy hair-cuts off hipsters...

If you read my last post, here is an un-finished portion of the art-work that was going to be wrapped around the brick of my cigars. Guess I don't need to bother finishing up this one...

Every time a door closes and window blows out in a plume of fire...

2009-06-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

...that's how it goes, right? My 'top secret' project which I had been riding high on in a vague manner was shot to shit. For those of you I did not tell about it, I was getting a cigar made by _______. The size was going to be 6.25 x 46 with a belicoso tip, the cigars, 20 in a brick, were going to be wrapped in a print of my artwork, in a black-lacquered box with a simplified part of my art burnt into the top, and the name of the size/cigar burnt into the sides, appropriately called 'the Heimer'. Because of some recent events that happened at my work place, this went from a sure thing to no longer happening...so tomorrow I'm going to post the art, which I was planning on redoing parts, along with some other sketch-book work. Stay tuned.

-catfish

"He has grown timid and strange..."

2009-05-21T19:26:00.001-07:00

...sorry the blog has been fallow. I've been gearing up to move a little ways down the road but close enough to smell the bars I love; things have been hectic. Here's a grab-bag of new, old, and embarrassing. Hope it all finds you well.

This was my brain-storming page for PCS book III. Surprised? Figured you wouldn't be. The story is about... eh, not going to give it away. I did this piece start to finish at Bob and Barbs and on lunch breaks at work, it just needs a dapper ink-wash and it'll be ready for the oven.

This was my first concept for the "Strange Boys" poster. Think it makes more sense than a demon-chimp firing squad, but it's nowhere near as much fun. I'm sure it'll get some new diggs and used in the future...
I did this sketch at the bar and finished it at the Baltimore comic con 2008. Sure, it's a little dated, but so am I... this ended up going to Mama Pedro for Christmas. Heh heh heh...
...This turned out like crap in a hot car. Yanni from "Hermit Thrushes" (local freak-folk-ish bad) asked me to do this a long while ago. I had like two weeks to work on this, and I loved the concept (that I came up with), but due to time constraints it went to shit. Low and behold they didn't end up sending this off to be pressed for months after my deadline... It's nice that they paid me quickly and in full, but I'd much rather have done it for free and used the time the file discs collected dust to really work this thing into a frenzy...
I got to the bar excited to do some doodlin...yeah, thats where I doodle, you got a problem with that?... and forgot both my brush pens are beat to shit and frayed. Figured I'd use them anyway and see whay effect it gave my hand after a few specials... not horrible... not good though. I slapped some color on it for a fo-finish...
...right now things are still slowly picking up after a huge road-block. Gotta finish up my 5 pages for PCS book III (keep an ear to the ground for the release, it's gonna be hotter than gods fat teat) and going to try and throw something together for the Baltimore Comic Con 2009 other than the Guy Davis pin-up that is awaiting screen-printing treatment.

No Pit is here wherein to fall:

2009-05-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

I decided this was as far as I could take this poster with three colors... and I've already spent way too much time on this one. Sadly, it won't be printed on creme paper, just white, but the above is to an extent how I wanted it to look. Registration is going to be a bit printing this thing.

Next up is finishing the Guy Davis piece, printing it, framing it, and sending it to him on the back of a winged monkey. fingers crossed.

Also. the long awaited, much anticipated, PCS book III juggernaut has been oiled and re-tooled and is back on the road to conquering the old cities of Prussia and bring the ancient gods to their knees. Once again, I am re-doing my 5 pager. I get a few hours in a scrap the projects, hopefully this one will have a longer shelf-life.

Drink up folks, this is going to be a rough month. And better under the table then under the ground.

(Catfish Heimer and Hobo Foot circa 1928)

captain bittermins frost bitten fingers

2009-05-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

This is a work in progress, another poster for parade of flesh. I've never spent near this much time on a poster, hopefully it'll turn out ok...

WELCOME BACK

2009-04-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

...finally after years of hiatus Guy Davis is going to finish the Marquis story line with a third and final book. I've never followed too many comics, but his work in the first two books is the love-child of Gustav Dore and Edward Gorey. To cut down on my anticipation I thought I'd do some fan art, silk-screen it, and maybe send it to him... here are two details from the roughs I worked up today.

Life is good at the bottom of a rope:

2009-04-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Below is my poster for Parade of Flesh's next 'True Widow' show. This poster started as a gorilla picking worms out of a zombie and sticking them into canopic jars, then a gorilla butcher, then a pig with human arms and legs with the torso missing and the bones spelling the band names, then I got lazy and thus below:
...printing it this week (hopefully). Next up is a poster for a 'Strange Boys' show. Also, my friend Luis Falto at La Garita Cigar Company contacted me to do art for his new cigar lounge/aging room in Puerto Rico, and the logo for Tabacalera Falto. Should be fun. More to come... devil willing and the creek don't rise.

HEIMER BRO's MASH UP / JOKER SHOW

2009-03-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Hey folks. James and I finished our collaboration for the Man Man poster, commissioned by Parade of Flesh. Check it below.

Also, this friday is the Autumn Society's first show. Everybody did a rendition of the joker, or rather a few people did a rendition of the Joker, and a shit-ton of people did a rendition of Heath Ledger doing a rendition of the Joker. So much for concept and originality. I'll post mine after the show is hung. It's at Brave New World comic shop this friday, see details on poster below:

After these two projects I'm working on a new mailer, updating the site, re-doing my 5 pager for PCS, a pin-up poster I'm sending to Guy Davis, and some other odds and ends. More soon...

POSTER OF THE WEEK

2009-03-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2009/03/poster_of_the_week_woven_hand.php

Hey all, apparently my poster won some sort of music blog award.

Next on the slate for Parade of Flesh is going to be a collaboration of my brother and I for a 'Man Man' show. More to come.

MORGUE MEAT

2009-03-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

Sun's over the yard-arm and I'm not drunk; either there's work to be done or I'm not on a boat. Kinda wish I wash though. Concetta Barbera sent me the last of the photos from silk-screening, and I think these last two are the best of the whole lot. Note to self: next time print on black paper with white ink.

Below are two old/new pieces from the young/old Sam Heimer. I'm too cheap to invest in a decent brush pen, so I got two of the new Micron brush pens. They worked beyond my expectations, aside from the fact that by the time I was done these two doodles the points were frayed to a point where using them for line-work was out of the question.

(click image to enlarge for texture)

VAGUE BLURB HISSING OUT OF THE RECEIVER OF THE GRAPE-VINE TELEGRAPH AS TRANSLATED/DECODED FROM ENCRYPTED GERMAN:

alle Kunstarbeit für das streng geheim Projekt ist fertig.
Anschlag.
jetzt gerade Warteproben von Nicaragua.
Anschlag.
Wartezeit für weitere Details.
Anschlag.

PROCESSING PROCESS : SHOWPOSTER (three of three)

2009-02-19T16:26:00.001-08:00

The final step: screen-printing. Above are the separations for each color that were printed on acetate and then burnt into emulsion on a screen. Concetta Barbera was kind enough to photograph the printing, so rather then explain the process (which is not the point of this), I'll let her photos guide you through...

All in all they turned out pretty good. Screen-printing is truly a labor of love; its a big hullabaloo if you don't have the tools directly at your disposal, but the end result trumps digital prints any day. Below is the digital mock-up; the prints came pretty damn close. Thanks to my brother, and Timmy for help printing, and Concetta helping out with the photography.

PROCESSING PROCESS : SHOWPOSTER (two of three)

2009-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

After years of avoiding the computer, with much coercion from professors and voodoo priests I formed a way to make my images by hand and use the computer in the end to get a result I was both comfortable and happy with; Line work followed by one or several ink washes and texture layers on semi-transparent layout paper, and lastly, put together on the computer. This gives me much more control over each aspect of my image, and to a sense replicates the form and file of Photoshop whereas each separate layer can be manipulated within the larger image. Original method? Far-from it. But it works for me. (see below for line work)

The funnest part of the line-work is by far the meticulous texture in the hand and face. After a few straight hours of being inches from the bristol your eyes start to cross and you can no longer focus on the hatching, your hand knows what to do and continues, but you are off somewhere else; a bomb could go off and you'd be none the wiser.
The ink washes I used in this piece are not par for my course. Gray-scale is tricky when screen-printing, and unpredictable. Normally I do several washes for tone, dark and light shadows, highlights, and separate washes for fine features; in this case I did one wash that will be turned to half-tone. Half-tone looks badass silk-screened. Really. You'll have to wait for step three to see it though...

Hand lettering typography has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. Guilty because it often looks like shit, but in this case I think it works. The standard is do multiple versions of each word till it clicks... I did one. And for some reason when it's white punched out of black there seems to be a larger excusable margin of error. (see type layers below)

Again, the type needed to be tied into the concept, and not obviously an afterthought. Not to toot my own horn, but I think I nailed it. From here I scan in each layer, adjust layers to get the line-work and shadows right, piece together the ink-washes, and get the type ready. This method of layers minimizes the use of the computer quite a bit and you don't have to use the infernal pen tool to get juxtaposition right. The next step is making the layers into silk-screen ready separations and then on to the printing. Check back soon for the finale...

PROCESSING PROCESS : SHOWPOSTER (one of three)

2009-02-17T07:45:00.000-08:00

Figured I'd hop on the ol' ban wagon and start posting my process step by step. I was asked by 'parade of flesh' show booking to do a poster for Woven Hand at Club DaDa out in Texas. Show posters are 2/3's the perfect job: Little if any art direction, free advertising, other people hang your work all over the place, and music stuff is always fun. The only down side is it pays peanuts. In this case, there was no art direction. The bands name being what it is, I took the low road and did the most obvious thing that came to mind. (see below for first sketch)
When you don't have sketches, thumbnails, or color comps due you have to be your own art director, and if you're not a dick-head art director you're going to end up with a lack luster piece. Why the cow skull? Well...I like drawing them. Does it add anything to the concept? Nope. Problematic? I hate you. Fix it. Pretty picture, flawed concept. Bring it full circle baby. (see second sketch below)

At this point I was a little happier with the concept. I was even happier because I did this sketch in its entirety between four specials sitting at Bob and Barbra's. And I was exuberant because the people sitting around me actually knew who Woven Hand was. Rock. (see below for type resolution)
At this point I go to the Ink and Brush. Next step: Separations... alot of em. After that: Screen Printing. Check back in a day or two folks...

...Salutations are in Order.

2008-05-07T16:30:00.000-07:00

Evening folks.

After completing my web-site it dawned on me that a blog would be far easier than updating my site with the content this blog is soon to hold...

Bottom of the Inkwell started as a folder I kept of drawings and thoughts that were jotted down after a few too many drinks in local bars. After a while, I noticed that the scribbles and crude jokes had a lot more character than my actual illustration work. I drew the wrong conclusions from this, and attempted doing a Political Affairs cover after throwing back a few. Didn't go as planned. I then had the idea to make a small ashcan with the fore-mentioned title, subtitled: An Illustrators Observational Guide to Drinking in Philadelphia. This was put on the back burner. As I started my web-site, I wanted to figure out a way to let the viewer get to know me a little better than what the body of marketable work would let on; thus Bottom of the Inkwell found a use. The sketches on the site are just a few from the folder, I'd like to keep posting current ones on this blog, along with explanations and maybe take some of these doodles to a finished stage and in the end publish the ashcan...

cheers.