So this is a story idea I put together about 8 years ago and it was my first serious attempt at getting an agent. It wasn’t accepted, but I got some good feedback that lead me to a revised version where Lloyd and Floyd were kids and the trains were toys. That version did get me an agent! That said, I always liked the characters as portrayed in this version - middle aged men behaving like kids. Probably because that describes me pretty well. Anyways I decided to make an animation out of the original dummy sketches (and some later sketches too). I like to think I’ve learned a thing or two since making the original dummy. You’ll notice the pacing is a bit herky jerky, the story leaves some questions, and its hard telling what type of book I was trying to make - but I still have a soft spot for it.
Katy Days 2015. I'm back!
Its Katy Days time! Katy Days is a festival celebrating the railroad heritage of the town of Parsons, Kansas (where I was raised). The town was founded by the MKT railroad (the Katy) and since its founding trains have continued to play a big role in that town. Everybody there knows a railroader. Or 10.
Last year I skipped being a demo painter at Katy Days because I was feeling swamped with work. I was about to skip again this year for the same reason, but I had some time in between projects to whip something up. The paintings that resulted are modeled after the old black and white images of locomotives that I used to love to look at as a kid. There was something about those engines in black and white that really gave them personality. Anyways. These are the ones I came up with in a pinch.
While there I will be selling many other train paintings as well as art featuring regional people and themes. I'm going to be selling them cheap because I need to make some room! So those folks in my beloved PK come out and get some cheap original art! And oh yes, I will be doing a paintings demonstration too.
Acrylic Black and White, 22" x 22"
Acrylic Black and White, 48" x 24". I had to throw in the water tower for good measure. When I was a kid I was convinced that thing was going to collapse and flood the town.