Inky Disaster

This guy had an opinion or two.

Another one from LJ.

I like his hat.

From a photo by the excellent photographer, LJ. More to come!

A few things about this one:

1. This is a request from a fan of Collazo. For the sake of the story, I’m going to say this fan is actually a friend of Collazo, making this my second portrait of a boxer that will actually be seen (owned?) by the boxer in question. I don’t know if this is actually the case, but who cares. You shouldn’t believe everything you read on the interwebs anyway.

2. I knew a guy named Jaime Collazo. I think I went to school with him. He’s an actor, not a boxer, so I could possibly kick his butt. Well, actually, probably not. But, since it’s my blog and I can make up whatever story I want, let’s say I could. I’m calling you out, Jaime! Not you, Luis. You could definitely put me on the canvas.

3. I finally figured out how to make my scanner scan the way I want it to, which might be why I’m feeling a little punchy, so to speak.

Anyway, Luis, if you see this, I hope you like it. And Jaime, it’s ON.

UPDATE: Obviously, I pretend to be a badass.

(Title edited for linguistic clarity – “strike-the-rooters?” That sounds like an act of violence against plumbers, which would certainly NOT be in my self interest, as I’m getting my plumbing certification this Spring.)

So my portraits may not be all neat and pretty like the Wall Street Journal, but I ask you: isn’t there something a little fascist-y about staying in the lines and perfectly equidistant cross-hatchings?

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Thanks for stopping by, everybody.

My favorite boxer did what he does best last night – got robbed. That’s ok. He has the respect of the biggest names in the sport, and frankly, no one (including him, I suspect) cares about what the scorecard says at the end of one of his matches. He is incredibly skilled and always puts on a great show.

The best fight I’ve ever seen was him (Emanuel Burton at the time) vs Micky Ward in 2001. He arguably lost (although not by the margin the judges had), but it was the perfect matchup of styles.

Emanuel, if you ever happen to chance upon this blog, please leave a comment. That would officially make me the coolest blogger in the world.

For Illustration Friday, the topic being “wise.” So, some Mencken quotes:
“The older I grow the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.”
“Platitude: an idea (a) that is admitted to be true by everyone, and (b) that is not true.”

And my favorite (tonight, anyway):
“We are here and it is now. Further than that all human knowledge is moonshine.”

This is the final piece for a friend who now has to come over and help us clear out our woods.

There’s something poetic about drawing the portrait of a man who encouraged employment in practical work as I’m preparing to go to school for a certificate in plumbing.

Unless, of course, anyone out there wants to pay me lots of money for my pictures. No? Then call me when your toilet gets clogged.

The wife says he looks like someone who writes for Gawker.

I suppose the timing of this image is appropriate, as we’re getting close to the time Americans engage in the wackadoo tribal pageantry called “elections.” It’s basically the culmination of a long stretch of time when it’s socially acceptable to treat your friends, family, and neighbors like crap.

As someone who has had and will continue to have a motley hodgepodge of jobs, you could say Studs Terkel is my patron saint. His Chicago apartment may now be vacant, but I’m still working.