Your Pal Cal

Here's to Cal Albro, 1947-2011. One of the first friends I met in Brooklyn almost 15 years ago and a good soul all around. Cal had a laugh that could only be described as "Pall Mall Unfiltered" and was great at giving advice on dealing with things he wasn't too informed on. He had one of the biggest hearts and never hesitated to help you out. He had a jailhouse tattoo of Snoopy. He played pool with the best of them and liked to dance. He wouldn't eat a vegetable if he could help it. He was my friend.

I just heard the news today that Cal had passed away from pancreatic cancer on March 5th and can't help but feel the world is a little smaller now. Though I had been out of touch with Cal for a while, he would pop into my head every now and then and make me smile. It was the same in real life, one of those guys you were always happy to see. I'll miss my pal, Cal.

--B

The Abbey Elf Off

If you're in Brooklyn on December 19th, get your elf gear on and head down to the Abbey for their annual Christmas party. Best elf costume wins a $100 dollar bar tab. I'm not sure how much booze an elf can handle, but it's worth a shot. Or several shots, like $100 worth. The Abbey Christmas Party, Saturday December 19th, 8pm. 536 Driggs Ave. (between N. 7th & N. 8th), Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Now enough with the shilling...

--B

Thanks-dank-diddly-giving-a-rino!

Hey all! Did up a poster for good ol' Mark at the Abbey, where he's hosting the annual Abbey Simpsons Thanksgivathon, Sunday November 29th. Each year I pick out around 20 good Simpson episodes for a marathon watching at the bar. It's usually a crowd pleaser.

Since I was making the poster, I felt bad because I've owed my cousin, Anne, a Simpsons-esque portrait of her for like a year now (D'oh!). Since I was already warmed up by drawing some Simpson characters, I figure now was a good time to deliver. She even gave me crap about it via facebook when I was asking people to submit ideas for drawings (which you should all do).

--B

Missing In Action And Lost In 2008

Hey all,

Don't know if anyone checks my poor, neglected blog any more, but if you're reading this, thanks for dropping by. It's been nearly three months since I posted and, as you can see, Monster Month was hugely successful, profitable, and creative. Heh. However, hopefully things will pick up in January. Here's a few pieces I had worked on in my absence from the blogosphere:




Front cover and disc artwork for WFUV's FUV Live Vol. 11.


Poster for the Abbey's third annual Simpson's Thanksgivathon. Pictured is bartender Mark.

--B

Sot! Artwork

I took a few snaps of the artwork, excluding my pieces, hanging in the SOT! art show. The pics aren't lighted great and I'm no Ansel Adams, but below are some of the works very talented artists contributed. Again, my thanks go out to them for making such a great show so successful.


Borracho 1498, Helena Petersen


Utica Club, David Cahill


Untitled, Keith Vincent


Untitled, Kelly Denato


All The Way, George Lowrey


Pink Elephant Stink!, Pedro Delgado


Decisions At The Under The Bed Tavern, Andy J. Smith

--B

SOT! A Man Walks Into A Bar...

Hey! Thanks to everyone who contributed to the SOT! show last night and yay to everyone who showed up. From what I remember, it was a good time. Apparently I ended the night without a shirt on, so, hey, success.

--B

SOT!

Hey, if you're around town this Saturday, pop in the Abbey for the art show I'm curating/exhibiting in:

SOT!
A group art show celebrating the Boozehound.

Featuring work by David Cahill, Pedro Delgado, Kelly Denato, John Holt, George Lowery, Helena Petersen, Andy J. Smith, and Keith Vincent. Curated by yours truly, Brendan Tobin.

Saturday, September 20th, 2008. 6pm-10pm

The Abbey
536 Driggs Ave., between N. 7th & N. 8th Streets
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718 599 4400

By Subway: L train to Bedford Ave, exit Driggs Ave & N. 7th end of platform.

For Info: tobin_brendan at hotmail dot com

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Cover #4: Luxo, The Living Condo

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg #42- Our likable, lumbering, luxury live-in continues to soulfully search for a habitable homeland as he recovers from his battle with the dastardly duo, Bridge and Tunnel! Just as he discovers a reliable, restful refuge, a nefarious nasty returns to reap retaliation! Now five times larger and just as hungry, the Predatory Lender stalks steadily to stamp out the beloved behemoth known as Luxo! Will our weakened, weathered warrior survive the sucking smack down of a substantial scoundrel of somewhat similar size?

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Cover #3: Madam Mainstay

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg #37- Mild mannered Mabel Manicotti accepts a new tenant in her North 6th Street tranquil tenement this month. However, the benevolent boarder may be more than he seems! Will the majestic Madam Mainstay fall into a mournful, murderous mousetrap or is the most recent, red-herring renter a mere fly in the spider's web? It's inter-dimensional incitement as we experience the titillating Terror from Tenant X!

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Cover #2: The Slick

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg #23- Just when things were looking up in the Slick's personal life as Carl Carrington, a new toxic menace is born on the South Side: The Radiac Maniac! And the glimmering, glowering, gloom-gangster is gunning for the Slick! Will our nocturnal knight be able to nimbly neutralize the nuclear knave and make it to dinner on time with his special lady friend? Don't miss this issue!

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Cover #1: Captain Hipster

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg #14- Captain Hipster falls under control of I.T.H.O.D., the Ironic Trucker Hat Of Doom, when he innocently dons the diabolical dicer down upon his dome! Will the good Captain's magnanimous might be enough to break free of the malicious malcontent's mental manipulations? Find out in this month's issue, dependable devotees!

--B

Show's Over

Well, the Toxic Tales of Williamsburg came down this past weekend. It was quite an ego boost for yours truly and I would like to thank all of you who attended the opening, showed interest over the past month, purchased prints, or just supported my efforts in general. Many thanks to Mark Quinlan, gallerist and bartender supreme, who conceived the idea of hosting art shows at the Abbey, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, home to many artistic individuals. During this week, I will be posting each piece that was hanging on the brick walls of the hallowed pub, starting with this one, featuring four pinups of my local heroes. Hope to get some new stuff up as well. Word.

--B

Brooklyn Based Plugs Toxic Tales Show

The good people at brooklynbased.net stumbled upon my blog and asked if they could post a "shout out". They feature artwork from a different artist weekly on their home/index page and this week, it's me. Luxo and the Slick are representin' and there's a link to my site, as well as info about the show. For all who are interested, you can sign up for the newsletter, which does a decent job of offering, as they explain it, Brooklyn distilled.

--B

[UPDATE: September 5, 2007- Another little plug in the article Salvaged Goods with a link to the Madam Mainstay post. Thanks, Nicole!]

More Pics of Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Opening at the Abbey

Steve Moverley

Added a few more pictures from the Toxic Tales of Williamsburg opening at the Abbey. Want to get back to posting drawings, the reason I created the blog in the first place. With the long weekend, perhaps I can squeeze a few out and slap 'em on up the blog. Enjoy and thanks again for all those who have expressed interest in the art hanging in the show.


Meredith Rodgers and Ray Alma


Luxo in the Titanic Grip of the Predatory Lender


Charlie Reis


Pedro Delgado and myself

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Opening at the Abbey

Thanks to everyone who came to the opening and made the night a success. Several beers and not much sleep later, I sit here in awe of a great night. Thanks to Mark Quinlan for hosting, Matt Enis for his dilligent assistance in framing and hanging the pieces, and my Brooklyn and AC crews for coming, boozing, and schmoozing. Prints are available for sale and I will probably post decent files of them here soon.


Brent Cox and myself.


Mary Varn and John Holt


Carrie Oelfke


Madam Mainstay and Terror from Tenant X


The Slick and the Maddening Menace of the Radiac Maniac


Animation Collective Crew- Ray & Karen Alma, Megan Crisp, Jon Renoni, and Lauren Krueger

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Pin-Up #4: Luxo, The Living Condo

When Greedy developers did not heed the words of a local sage, they broke ground on a cursed lot! After erecting a multi-storied luxury apartment building, they soon realized the structure contained sentient life! Now the giant dwelling has become a misunderstood monster, roaming the streets of Williamsburg for a home as... Luxo, the Living Condo!



Hey all! The day is here and the show is framed. The pieces look good despite minor color and size issues. If you can make it, check out the opening tonight. If not, the show will be hanging up for a month.

The Abbey presents
"Toxic Tales of Williamsburg"
Comic Book covers by Brendan Tobin

Saturday, August 25th, 2007 6PM
The Abbey
536 Driggs Ave. (between N. 7th & N. 8th)
718.599.4400 L Train to Bedford Ave.

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Pin-Up #3: Madam Mainstay

Mabel Manicotti has been a Williamsburg resident from before anyone can remember! Possessing a well maintained sanctuary on North 6th Street, few realize that she retains great mystical abilities, coupled with a time/space-bending cosmic lawnchair! From the comfort of her front stoop, Manicotti defends the old way of life from astral regentrification as... Madam Mainstay!



Three days until the show and, true to form, still cranking out pieces. I have a good feeling overall that the work is coming along well and the pieces are looking good. Still, printing and framing and time will tell. Hope to see a good many of you there. For now, enjoy Madam Mainstay.

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Pin-Up #2: The Slick

While EPA agent Carl Carrington was testing dirt samples at a local construction site, he was engulfed by a strange oily substance present in the groundwater! His body underwent an astonishing transformation, now possessing the ability to seep through any substance! Carrington presently lurks the night, using his crude-born powers to wipe out crime as the superfund hero known as... The Slick!



Well, one week until the show hangs at the Abbey. Here's another card featuring the Slick, a commentary on the Exxon Mobil spill that still saturates the ground here in Greenpoint/Williamsburg 50 years after the fact. I gotta get moving on the actual pieces that will be up on the walls, but I guess stress motivates a man.

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Pin-Up #1: Captain Hipster

When cool dude Dylan Donaldson purchased a funky white belt in a vintage clothing store, little did he know it was a totem containing an awesome power! After donning the article, he was transformed into a superhuman dynamo with great strength and agility, as well as the uncanny sense to detect the next great fashion trend! Donaldson now prowls Bedford Avenue, defending hip and non-hip citizens alike from the forces of villainy as... Captain Hipster!



Above is the inked and colored, as well as the original penciled, versions of the Captain Hipster pin-up. This will be featured on one of the 4 cards promoting the show at the Abbey, along with the character description. It's so tragically hip.

--B

Toxic Tales of Williamsburg Sketches

Coming up on August 25th, I will be hanging a show at the Abbey here in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There will be 4 to 5 pieces up on the walls, each one a mock comic book cover with the banner "Toxic Tales of Williamsburg". While trying to keep the subject of the show somewhat hush-hush, I've decided to post some sketches of the characters featured on the covers.



Captain Hipster.



The Slick.



Madam Mainstay.



Luxo, the Living Condo.

--B