Since that time, my mom has gone through four rounds of chemo, with two more rounds to go. She is responding very well, with almost all of the cancer destroyed through four rounds. She looks forward to getting her mastectomy over with, and getting her hair back. It’s all very good news so far, and I am happy for every moment I have.

To be honest, the diagnosis has caused me to question being in Los Angeles, and I was considering moving home to Milwaukee until my mom told me that she would have me back… she wants me to work in animation; she knows I would be miserable back home.

After a lot of talking, we decided I could come home for her Cancer Fundraiser this Saturday. After I’m done typing this, I am off to LAX to fly to Milwaukee. It also happens to be the point of my post. I created an illustration that I will be selling at my Etsy store to raise money for her fundraiser. On the site, the image is $10 plus $5 for shipping. When all is said and done, I will ship an 11×17 print to whoever buys one, with 100% of the proceeds going to my mom. I will also be doing 8×10 full color, single character digital commissions (of your choice) for $50 each, shipping included. Once again, 100% of the proceeds go to the bottom line of my moms fundraiser. I will take commission orders indefinitely, as she needs continuous treatment, and the bills will continue to come.

Below is the flyer for her fundraiser tomorrow.

Keep scrolling to see the auction item my awesome Spongebob family at Nickelodeon contributed.

For the benefit, my Spongebob Squarepants family helped out in a really big way. I can’t thank them enough for everything they continue to do to be a part of my life and be there long after my time there was done. Thank you so much everyone, even all the voice guys who barely know me. I hope I can somehow pay it back someday.

Visit the link to purchase a print. Once again, all proceeds go to my mother.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/93256865/fighting-cancer-illustration

I don’t do this kind of stuff enough. Hopefully this is a first of many.

As always, thanks for stopping by.

~ Steve

Here is something I did for client concerning a video game pitch for a company in Chicago. They must of liked something about it because the Game has been green-lit. I will be staying on freelance to create art for the final version of the game.

I was lucky enough to be asked to do a few commissions for the holiday season. I always get really excited about commissions. It feels really good to have people give your work as gifts to the people they love. Here are two of the ones I’m pretty sure I can show by now… Each has a couple of versions so they could pick what they liked the most.

1st. Venice Wedding Anniversary Painting

Fairly simple in concept, but I really feel like I pushed myself in a new direction style-wise. This was a fun painting to do.

2nd. Father and Son Superhero Team

I took requests for super powers and costume colors. The little man wanted to shoot spider webs from his eyes, fly, and be able to create tornadoes. Dad wanted to be made of steel, have good hair, lazer eyes, and shoot live spiders from his hands!

I am really thankful for the opportunity to create these. Thanks everyone and drop me an email if you are interested in having me create something for you. Wells (at) Basement61 (dot) Com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Joule has been a long time in the making. Over a year ago my sister Teri came out to visit and I talked to her about this epic comic I wanted to make with all sorts of crossing story-lines and multiple characters. Thankfully, that project has been pushed to the back of my ‘to-do’ list.

After talking about the first idea for way too long, I brought up Joule, who first surfaced on this very website over a year ago. Joule was a character that I had always talked about extensively but exclusively with my girlfriend Tammy. So, during a half-day fishing trip, Teri and I broke down a couple of plot points and personality anchors and I was hooked (I had to add those puns).

Over the next year I had done some splash art, but was way too worried about getting into animation, and focused all of my energy on that. An internship at Nickelodeon later and I’m still looking for a permanent place in animation… but I was really inspired by all of the artist I got to meet. A lot of them are doing artwork all day and then coming home and doing personal projects all night. They churn out content like crazy. I would be lying if I didn’t also point out that Tammy was constantly pushing me to do something with Joule.

So that’s it. I will keep trying to fight my way in to a studio, but there is no reason Joule shouldn’t be in print. 11/1/11 is the date she will be. I have to recharge the batteries, because in all honesty, I am starting to give up. I have even started looking for work back in Milwaukee lately, and I won’t let that happen. I need to fight the way I have been for the past two years.

Hopefully I can look back on this post a year from now and be proud of my self. I’m excited… I hope you are too.

Thanks Everyone,

Steven

I created this image for Mike Meyers of St. Louis. You can read his story here. I was really hurt by what happened to Mike and wanted to put a little good out there as so many people are now doing. Seeing as this story now has the attention of the animation community here in Burbank, I’m guessing Mike should be getting a lot to smile about. I hope it brings him back some happiness.

I wanted to draw something in the style of the great Skottie Young. Not only is Skottie my favorite Graphic Novel/Comic artist, but he also seems to be a pretty awesome guy who still has a lot of himself in tact after having such a successful career. So, here’s to you Skottie, and all of my followers as well. Hope everyone has a great week!

~Steven

Here’s the pen sketch it was drawn from…