Narciso Espiritu - A Face Only a Mother Could Love

The Phantom of Phantom of the Opera fame

I saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time last year thanks to my friend Robert Jason Clark. It's probably the best play I've seen, but that's not saying much since I don't get to the theatre as much as I would like to. Like, what happens to Phantom after I watch Wicked?

I regrettably looked up cleft lips on Google for reference. Regrettably.

Drawing this was a lot of fun, though.

Kyle Smart - A Face Only a Mother Can Love

Jeffrey Alan Love - A Face Only A Mother Can Love

Today's theme reminded me of the horribly scarred Sandor Clegane, aka "The Hound", from George R. R. Martin's fantasy series "A Song of Fire and Ice" (better known now perhaps as "Game of Thrones" due to the HBO series).  This is the vision of him that lived in my head while reading the books.

Ricardo Lopez Ortiz- Horacio Quiroga

Here's a portrait of Horacio Quiroga, a fantastic latin american writer who excelled at portraying mental illness, hallucinatory states, death and the supernatural. His book of short stories "Stories of Love, Madness and Death" is incredibly dark and tragic. I highly recommend it

Jaime Zollars - Love is a Battlefield

Ack! I'm totally behind. But I remain steadfast and will try to keep up... For this challenge I had fun drawing military medals for weathering said battlefield  :)

Chris O'Neill - I Love My Bike

I Recently put new handlebars and brake levers on my bike. I LOVE the new setup. As soon as the snow stops, I'm going for a ride!

- CHRIS

Kristina Carroll - Neverending Story Love

Last night I heard some music coming from the living room that I recognized but couldn't quite place. When I asked Scott, he said he was watching the Neverending Story. Now most children of the 80's that grew up with this movie have fond memories just like me, but when I got older I also discovered the original novel- which I've read about 5 times and is my favorite book. Last night reminded me of how much I've always wanted to do art for this book. I've done a couple pieces throughout my education, but was never satisfied. (doing art for something so personally important is always the hardest) But today I decided to sit down and do a little character design.

The story has some distinctly eastern flavors in descriptions and philosophy, so I thought I would start by adding some of those to my version of the Golden Eyed Commander of Wishes. (aka- the Childlike Empress) I wanted to give a hint of story elements in her crown (including Falkor) and hid Auryn in her costume. She even has a heart in there.

Cynthia Sheppard - Manufactured Love

Jeanine Henderson—Love Finds You

With a crazy-busy day today, I decided to revisit and colorize a drawing I'd done awhile back. Last year, I participated in the Arthouse Co-op Sketchbook Project, with a "Girls in Love" themed sketchbook. I chose quotes about love, and illustrated them with simple inked line drawings and hand-lettering. Every so often, I love revisiting them to create more finished color pieces. I'd like to take more time with this one and try some more color variations—especially within the type.

Narciso Espiritu -LITM

This guy is one of the bartenders at a local watering hole called LITM-- or Love is the Message. Everyone just calls it 'LITM' in Jersey City. I'm sure even visitors call it that. Anyway, this guy's name is Alan Cano. He works at this bar, he's pretty funny, and we may be related.

Yes, this is vaguely love-related.

(I do love this orange ink, though. Rich color.)

Sarah Gay - Love

Marc Scheff - Cherry Pie

The first tape I ever bought was Warrant's Cherry Pie. This album is still some of my favorite guilty-pleasure poppy hair-rock. Pure sex on roller skates. I remember listening to Mr. Rainmaker over and over and over, and singing along with all my pre-a-capalla-group might. Go ahead and have a listen.

Tim Paul - Love is Battlefield II

Love is a Battlefield II. 

Terese Nielsen - Day 1 Revisited

I may get excommunicated from the group for this because I'm reposting one from the first day that I put several more hours into yesterday and today. I'm calling this a finished tonal drawing now. I just completely fell in love with designing shapes and lines within this... really enjoyed myself.  : )

Alice Stanne - Papilio Amoris

Here's another love bug, though this time it's a love-butterfly.

Scott Murphy - Snow Love!

I'm so excited that we're finally getting a proper blizzard here in New York. The past couple years haven't really seen many nice big storms. I know that many people don't like snow, but I absolutely love it. No other natural weather occurrence has the ability to turn every day environments into magical wonderlands like snow does. When I was young, I remember countless winters where it would snow well over 12 inches and very often, 24 inches. I would always go out fully suited up so that every inch of my skin was completely covered, and I'd carry a ruler. Thus, I would wander around the neighborhood measuring the depths of snow to see where it was deepest. It was always so quiet and peaceful. Not to mention the great snow forts and tunnels I built in many a snow mound! So here's my quick ode to snow. I'm sure there'll be more in days to come.

he's making a snow angel(heart)

Also, I'm not sure why he's a viking, I guess I'd rather draw a viking than some normal person in the snow...more fun!

Carly Janine Mazur - Web of Love

5"x7" acrylic and pen on masonite

I was in the basement a few days ago and saw a woodlouse spider ambling his way across the floor. They're frightening looking things with huge fangs and deep rusty red in color. I named him Peanut.

Kyle Smart - Love is a battlefield

What the hell is this?! did i just draw a guy getting cut in half by a kick to the balls

Jeffrey Alan Love - Batman & Robin

Inspired by Sarah's previous Batman post, here's my take on the caped crusader and his diminutive sidekick.  Who doesn't love Batman?

Scott Brundage- Miga

Here's my dog, Miga. She's a runty pitbull that spends the entire day like this. I love her.

Challenge #4 for Saturday Feb. 9th

Our 4th Challenge  comes courtesy of Carly Mazur

The subject is:  "A Face Only a Mother Can Love"

Narciso Espiritu - Love is a Battlefield

First time I dropped the ball here on Month of Love. To be honest, I was having too much fun with this one. I wanted to drop around thirty more heart knights in the back, maybe surround them with spade, diamond, or club warriors. Probably a project for another day. 

You can see all the fun I was having in the sketch below.

Scott Murphy - Love is a Battlefield

Quite literally.

Ricardo Lopez Ortiz- Love is a Battlefield

Here's Spider- Man at the scene of his greatest failure, the Brooklyn Bridge. Where his girlfriend Gwen Stacy is hurled off the tower by the Green Goblin. Spider- Man manages to catch her with his web shooter, he pulls her up thinking that he has saved her. But the whiplash from being caught in mid air has snapped her neck and killed her...

Cynthia Sheppard - Love Is A Battlefield

Getting a bit silly in here today. Love is a battlefield, and every mean girl's high school yearbook page a memorial to those who fought.

Chris O'Neill - Love is A BattleField

All this talk about Blizzards has got me thinking... LOVE may be a battlefield, but maybe sometimes it's a snowfield too... or something!

- CHRIS

Kristina Carroll- Love is a Battlefield

Charcoal

Words can be the sharpest weapons. They cut small and shallow but leave a lot of scars.

Sarah Gay - Love is a Battlefield

My concept behind this drawing is: like a battlefield, life can be fleeting and each step must be taken with care. I feel the hourglass, cliche as it may be, symbolizes how fleeting our moments are. 

And with love, I feel that it's constantly flowing and can sometimes be disproportionate but surely, things always flip around. 

Jeanine Henderson—Love is a Battlefield

A little warrior girl for today's challenge topic, ready to fight her way to, or through, love.

Kate Feirtag- Love is a Battlefield

She's gonna eat him. 

Marc Scheff - Love is a Battlefield

I was in an a capella group in college. I know for a fact you can spell that with one 'p." We did a very intense medley of Pat Benetar's oeuvre. There was choreo. Points if you can find the video on YouTube.

She is the first thing I thought of to sketch for this one, squeezed between all-day meetings, class, and a new very fun project I hope to tell the internet about very soon.

Carly Janine Mazur - Love is a Battlefield

5"x7" acrylic on panel

Gotta get some target practice in.

Tim Paul - Love is a Battlefield

Heartache to heartache, we are strong.

Once we get out of recovery.

Alice Stanne - Love is a Battlefield

Only time for a quick sketch tonight, so here's our cat Maximus. When you want to play with him you have to suit up, I usually opt for oven mitts. But he's just so cute I can never resist.

Tara Jacoby - Love is a Battlefield

Terese Nielsen - Love is a Battlefield

Moleskine journal, photos, staples, tape, sewing machine, heart juices...

An angsty, visual journal page, from several years back, in which I was struggling with the losses and questions of my ravaged, battle-torn relationship.  

(Photography by Alex Tinsman)

Scott Brundage- Love is a Battlefield

All Primate on the Western Front

Jeffrey Alan Love -Love is a Battlefield

Richard III has been in the news lately, and today's theme reminded me of his story.  When his brother the King died he was named Lord Protector of his nephew King Edward V.  Richard moved quickly, escorting the young King to the Tower of London, quickly followed by his other nephew Richard.  By August the young King had been declared illegitimate, Richard had been crowned King, and the young princes were never seen again.  It is thought that Richard sent a knight, possibly James Tyrrell, to murder them.  Not so long ago love truly was a battlefield.

Kyle Smart- I love the NHS

I go for pretty regular infusions at the hospital, and today was such a day. The NHS has been getting a lot of flak lately, but every time I go, I'm reminded by how important it is and how grateful I am that its there. Its probably my primary concern when we talk about emigrating once in a blue moon.

Tara Jacoby - Playing with Fire

Sketch #6...A few hours late. 

This is one I actually did in January, but never got around to posting.  This seems like the perfect opportunity. 

Goes with the general love theme. Will post todays theme later on. 

:)