Dr. Valentine Duran: A tribute in ink

Dr Valentine Duran. Micron pen (.03 and .05), Sharpie marker, Sharpie acrylic paint pen, Copic marker and Prismacolor marker on 9" X 12" Strathmore Bristol board. Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click to enlarge.)

 

Makayla (in 2014): "Daddy, is Valentine a doctor?"

Me (in 2014): "Uh...YES! Valentine IS a doctor! A board certified physician, at that!"

That question came out of nowhere but it certainly was entertaining, considering it was asked by our then-four-year-old daughter. I mean, how could I answer otherwise, especially since we loved fueling our little girl's imagination from a very early age? The fact that Makayla was a big fan of Disney Junior's "Doc McStuffins," at the time, was a contributing factor; we're certain.

From then on, our newly adopted cat Valentine was known as "Dr. Valentine," or "Doc," as I liked calling her, for short.

We adopted Valentine in 2014 when she no longer fit in her previous home, with Tracy's cousin Jeremy, his wife Angie, her children and pets. For a while, we were looking into welcoming a pet into our family...well, one that wasn't a turtle, at least. At the time, we had two turtles: Shelldon, a three-toed Eastern box turtle, and Super Steve Irwin McQueen ("Steve" for short), a common snapping turtle. When Jeremy and Angie asked us if we'd like to give Valentine a new, permanent home, we jumped at the chance after meeting her.

Mitch Hedberg in ink

Mitch Hedberg. Micron pen (.03 and .05), Faber-Castell PITT "B"-series brush pen, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and Copic markers in a Daler & Rowney sketchbook (8.5" X 11"). Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click to enlarge.)

"I bought a donut and they gave me a receipt for the donut. I don't need a receipt for the donut. I'll just give you money and you give me the donut, end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario where I would have to prove that I bought a donut."

                                                         - Mitch Hedberg

Late one night, a couple of weeks ago, while toiling away (and by "toiling away," I pretty much mean "staring at the wall if I don't have any entertainment") at my lonely third shift Joe job, I fell into one of my many YouTube wormholes when I came across a video of one of my absolute favorite stand-up comics, the late, great Mitch Hedberg. Naturally one video led to another, then another and staring at the wall was replaced by laughter. Good times, man.

I'd always been a big fan of Mitch's and his unique brand of humor, laced with one-liners and non-sequiturs, frequently taking the obvious to new levels of surrealism.

Consider:

"An escalator can never break; it can only become stairs. You should never see an 'Escalator Temporarily Out of Order' sign, just 'Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience.'"

(I told that joke to my daughter Makayla, who wanted to know more about Mitch, a few mornings ago and she agreed that it just plain made sense.)

After a long artistic dry spell, watching these videos inspired me to dust off my trusty art supplies. I had the itch to draw some Mitch...

Love that Danhausen (or be cursed!)...in ink

 

Danhausen. Micron pen (.02 and .03), Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Copic markers and white Prismacolor pencil in a Daler Rowney sketchbook (5.5" X 8.5"). Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click to enlarge.)

If you're an all-around wrestling fan, you have to have seen Danhausen at least once!

A current member of the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) roster, Danhausen (who describes himself as "very nice, very evil") brings such new meaning to the word "character." A staple on the independent scene for most of the last 10 years, Danhausen's "human disguise," a guy from Michigan named Donovan Danhausen, describes his character as "Conan O'Brien possessed by a demon. Sounds pretty accurate as he's a huge fan of Conan, as well as "The Simpsons."

Danhausen's voice is said to be a combination of Conan and Mark Hamill's take on the Joker. When speaking, he often uses the suffix "Hausen" on random words. For example, in a Cameo-video I booked for Makayla, we were referred to as "Coyotehausen" and "Makaylahausen." The funniest thing about the video was, as a response to Makayla's desire to see Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss get their comeuppance, Danhausen cursed them! (Yes, he does curse people, so behave or you will be cursed too!)

And we think it worked. The Cameo was done in May 2021 and WWE released Bray two-and-a-half months later. Yikes...

Muhammad Ali vs. Superman in ink

Muhammad Ali vs. Superman. Copic marker, Prismacolor pencil and Micron marker on 8.5" X 11" Bristol Board. Art by Coyote Duran. (Please click to enlarge.)

I've always said that if I ever had the opportunity to meet Muhammad Ali, I would've likely cried my eyes out. I suppose it was a good thing that I didn't before the "Greatest of All-Time" passed away because I would've certainly made a fool of myself.

Ali set an unmatched standard of cool that I only could've dreamt to attain but this isn't to say I didn't try. Socially and ideologically outside the ring and masterful within it, there was seemingly nothing he couldn't do.

Even challenge the "Last Son of Krypton" to a fight.

In 1978, DC Comics released a one-shot I wanted so badly but never got: "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali." Now at the time of the book's release, Ali wasn't the world heavyweight champion. Ali had lost the championship to Leon Spinks that February but would regain it exactly seven months later. This little variable didn't dull my desire to have this tome in my hot little paws. And naturally we didn't have anything close to an internet then, so it wouldn't be until many years later, when I would find out what happened within its covers, thanks to any trade magazine that took the time to revisit the story.

So imagine my delight and surprise when, 32 years later, in 2010, a gentleman from DC Comics reached out to me and several members of the boxing media, offering us a comped hardcover copy of the company's re-release of "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. What was I going to say, "NO!"?

And there it was...an oversized edition in all of its Neal Adams-penciled, Denny O'Neil-scripted scripted and Terry Austin/Dick Giordano-inked glory. Wow. It was indeed GLORIOUS.

Just recently I was given the opportunity to revisit this truly fantastical story when my good friend Bernie, a true blue comics, boxing and music guy, proposed a commission idea celebrating one of his favorite stories featuring his favorite superhero. I would've jumped at the chance, were it not for not initially seeing the comment in my Instagram notifications. That said, I  responded with a resounding "YES"

Roy Jones Jr.!

Roy Jones Jr. Micron pen, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and Copic marker on 9" X 12" Strathmore Art Bristol Board. Art by Coyote Duran

I have an idea. I think. I'll get back to you on it later when I can figure out how to make it work.

That said, the idea - raw and unrefined as it is - is being christened with this image, a comics-style portrait of former four-division boxing champion (and former pound-for-pound best) Roy Jones Jr. (Micron pen and Copic Marker on 9" X 12" Strathmore Art Bristol Board).

I hope you boxing, art and boxing art fans dig it! And I'll keep you posted on that idea I have...

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Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at artofthepaw@gmail.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @CoyoteDuran, on Instagram @CoyoteDuran and on Facebook @CDCreationNation.  

Sketch Card Chronicles No. 4: Manny Pacquiao!

Manny Pacquiao, 2.5" X 3.5", Micron pen and Copic Marker on Bristol Board sketch card. Art by Coyote Duran

As a member of the boxing media, I've often shown artistic preference to the sport's most iconic warriors (as any of my followers and supporters know full well by visiting CoyoteDuran.com!)! So it should come as no surprise that I have a lot of fun rendering one of boxing's modern-day legends, eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao.

I've drawn the "Pac-Man" in all sorts of mediums, from simple comic-style ink renderings to full-blown acrylic and watercolor paintings. So in recognition of Manny's upcoming welterweight bout against Adrien Broner on January 19, I figured Pacquiao was due his time in the "Sketch Card Chronicles" close-up spotlight (Micron pen and Copic Marker on a 2.5" X 3.5" Bristol Board sketch card)!


Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at coyote@coyoteduran.com. You can also follow me at twitter.com/CoyoteDuran, instagram.com/coyoteduran and facebook.com/CDCreationNation.

Sketch Card Chronicles No. 3: Peter Parker and Miles Morales as Spider-Man!

Peter Parker and Miles Morales as Spider-Man, 2.5" X 3.5", Micron pen and Copic Marker on Bristol Board sketch card. Art by Coyote Duran

Who knew that, out of all the cinematic renderings of the Spider-Man franchise, "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," an animated picture, would be one of the most compelling films dedicated to the Wall-Crawler ever offered? I sure didn't. And although I still haven't seen it yet (I know; shame on me...), I do know that sucker has made over $300,000,000 on a $90,000,000 budget. ($90,000,000 on a cartoon? Yep. Animation has come a long way, Howlers.)

Therefore in the spirit of my new "Sketch Card Chronicles" series, I give you a close-up of my half-and-half rendering of Peter Parker (the original Spider-Man) and Miles Morales (at one time, Parker's "Ultimate Marvel Universe" counterpart). (Micron pen and Copic Marker on a 2.5" X 3.5" Bristol Board sketch card).

Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at coyote@coyoteduran.com. You can also follow me at twitter.com/CoyoteDuran, instagram.com/coyoteduran and facebook.com/CDCreationNation.

Sketch Card Chronicles No. 2: Christopher Reeve as Superman!

Christopher Reeve as Superman, 2.5" X 3.5", Micron pen and Copic Marker on Bristol Board sketch card. Art by Coyote Duran

As I laid out in my previous blog post, I decided to try my hand at creating sketch card art. By no means is this a new idea, as many artists I admire have been doing it for years but I figured I would give it a shot in order to present something my followers and supporters could enjoy on a more frequent basis, especially if I can't post as frequently, due to larger pieces of artwork or commissions.

In this post I present to you my rendering of one of the most - if not the most - legendary bearers of the Superman uniform, Christopher Reeve (Micron pen and Copic Marker on a 2.5" X 3.5" Bristol Board sketch card).

Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at coyote@coyoteduran.com. You can also follow me at twitter.com/CoyoteDuran, instagram.com/coyoteduran and facebook.com/CDCreationNation.

Sketch Card Chronicles No. 1: Marvelous Marvin Hagler!

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, 2.5" X 3.5", Micron pen and Copic Marker on Bristol Board sketch card. Art by Coyote Duran

Having not posted here at CoyoteDuran.com in almost a year, I thought it might be a good idea to shake up my personal status quo and create some new vehicles that I can post more frequently (as larger pieces and commissions typically take longer to conceive and finish). So last month, I figured I would try my paw at something many artists already crank out: The sketch card.

Now most sketch cards I've seen used are made from Bristol Board and measure about 2.5" X 3.5", the standard size for a trading card. However instead of buying a pack of cards, which retail for around $2.00 to $3.00 for a pack of 20, I figured I would just take the time to cut my own and save some dough. (I'm sure Strathmore Art was none too happy to hear that but I'm an artist on a budget, dammit! Plus I buy their brand of Bristol Board and cold press watercolor paper in the first place.)

So in the spirit and tradition of "Sketchbook Chronicles," I give you the inaugural offering of "Sketch Card Chronicles," my favorite middleweight of all-time, Marvelous Marvin Hagler (Micron pen and Copic Marker on a 2.5" X 3.5" Bristol Board sketch card).

And yes, I realize I've already posted these on my Instagram account but in those photos, you're seeing perspective, regarding size and in comparison to my black-clawed paw. Here I've posted a close-up without glare from the LED lamp on my drafting table.

I really hope you dig these because, effective immediately, I'll start posting these every time I complete one. On Instagram, you'll be able to experience the perspective and here, you'll be able to scope out the close-up product, warts and all. Stay tuned!



Questions? Comments? Complaints? Commissions? Hit me up at coyote@coyoteduran.com. You can also follow me at twitter.com/CoyoteDuran, instagram.com/coyoteduran and facebook.com/CDCreationNation.

ArtBar Aurora: Geeks Start Young

May 2nd's ArtBar Aurora was my third foray into the local art-fest held at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois and the topic this time out? Geek!

Yes, you read right, Howlers. Geek-inspired art was the catch of the evening as the masses convened to share their take on what defines "geek." Admittedly, this was a toughie.

And I'm an idiot (you probably all knew as much anyway). Though I knew what I wanted to render and had my visual references already filed, I sat on my thumbs UNTIL THE MONDAY OF ARTBAR WEEK (the caps are to accentuate my idiocy). See, I've done marathon pieces - stuff I considered very good - over the course of one day. That said, those were also during times in which I really wanted to be left alone - by everyone.

These days, it's the total opposite. :)

But your favorite obstinate artist/editor thought he could hit the three-pointer from the key nonstop, starting Monday, April 29 and finishing somewhere around 3 a.m. on Thursday, May 1.

See? Idiot.

OK, so enough of that. What we have here is a comic-style piece inspired by our daughter, Makayla (four next month!). She's gussied up in geek regalia, which includes Superman's boots, cape and pants, Wonder Woman's golden belt and magic lasso, a red lightsaber from "Star Wars," Batman's gloves, a blue shirt from "Star Trek" (probably Spock's) and a Pinkie Pie stuffed animal from "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" (incidentally, I drew pointy ears ala Spock but you can't really tell).

The piece was done on Bristol Board (10 1/2" X 13") and rendered in Micron pen, Faber-Castell PITT artist pen (black and white) and Copic markers.

My biggest issue - other than my flagrant procrastination - was how I rendered the fabric. My being in a hot rush resulted in major suckage, therefore I name and claim said suckage.

Still, I think it's a pretty cute piece and it hangs in Makayla's room today - and she loves it.

That's really the most important thing I took away from this.

Next month at ArtBar: "Freak"! And yes, I'm not waiting until the 11th hour on this one. :)