I have a child-like fascination with robots. Not the realistic kind that make automobiles in Detroit or the ones that look like futuristic dogs. I’m talking about the kind of robot that would greet you with your smoking jacket and the evening news after a hard day’s work or would join up with you to rocket through the cosmos for rollicking space adventures. I’m sure this is part of my fascination with the science fiction of by-gone days (see Sky Captain review). That being said I was quite excited to come across the work of Brian Despain in Spectrum 11.

This past year Brian won a Silver Award in the Industrial category of Spectrum 11 for his work Piscis Ex Machina(shown above). He has done work for several role-playing and collecticable card games and is currently doing conceptual design work for the gaming company Snowblind Studios. Brian has also had his first gallery showing recently at Lunar Boy Gallery. I had held off on posting about Brian’s site because the order page has been down for reconstruction. I recently heard back from his gracious wife, Halima Alli, who encouraged me to go ahead as the “for sale” page will be back up and running shortly. In the meantime, she encouraged visitors to email her at alliha@imphead.com with any questions. She’s very sweet and helpful. Most of the work featured on the site can be purchased in print form. The prints are high quality, reasonably priced, and will be signed on request. Brian Despain’s art has such richness and depth and yet remains quite fun… I sense a kindred spirit of imagination in it all.

The 2 pictures above are copies of prints that I ordered which now grace the wall in front of my desk at work. Matted and framed these two pictures, along with my Phil Noto and Tri-Gun robot, ensure that each work day finds me ensconced in robotic bliss. (in best Homer Simpson voice) MMMMMM….Robots…..

I added a link in the “links” section to NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day. The link navigates you to the main page from which you can look at the “today’s picture” or you can click on “archives” and get pictures going back several years. The site doesn’t look like much….they let creation speak for itself. Awesome pics! Go check it out!

In the spirit of Superbowl week I wanted to pass this information along. Tony Gonzales, local Kansas City Chief, and other NFL members are teaming with Sharpie to promote education. Log on to Sharpie today to submit your virtual autograph for Sharpie’s effort to collect 1 million signatures for 1 million dollars towards education. Its free. You can also sign up for a chance to win a $50,000 scholarship or $25,000 in school supplies. In addition, if you click on the current promotions logo you can find out information about how your school can send in its school supply list and get $40 in free supplies. Sign up today and leave me a comment to let me know you did.

Woke up this morning to the most beautiful snowfall…thick flakes falling fast, branches heavy laden, everything blanketed in white powder…the kind of day where you want to stay home in a comfy chair with a warm blanket, hot chocolate, and a good book. Put some Enya or Sarah Brightman on in the background and it would be perfect. This fantasy is not to be, however, as its Monday morning and work beckons. I don’t know what it is about a good snowfall that makes me feel relaxed and at peace. It may be a connection with childhood memories of snow days in Nebraska. Oddly enough days like this also make me nostalgic for older console/pc games that I’ve played that have snow levels: James Bond’s Goldeneye for Nintendo 64 and No One Lives Forever (PC) are 2 games that immediately spring to mind. This is one of those moments when I wish I had a digital camera to take a quick picture to post on the site. I’ll have to rely on Mosker to take care of that!

I’ve added a link in the Art/Comic Links section to DiTerlizzi.com, site of celebrated illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi. Tony DiTerlizzi has created some of the most entertaining and visually stunning children’s books currently available. His illustrated books for younger children, Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-this-World Moon-Pie Adventure and The Spider and the Fly, are as entertaining to read as they are to look at. Mr. DiTerlizzi has also illustrated and co-authored (with Holly Black) the immensely popular 5-volume series The Spiderwick Chronicles. I own all the books previously mentioned and have enjoyed them as much, if not more than, my daughter has.

This site is a must-see for children and children-at-heart. There are delightful desktops, downloadable paper-dolls, coloring pages and even a birthday kit.