CHOCOLATE_update

CHOCOLATE- A Collection of Art by Eric Canete (2011)   6 x 9.25 inches - Full color pearlescent cover w/ dust jacket wrapper, B&W interior pages on vellum, heavy stock. 56 pages. $25.00USD + shipping and handling. (Available at HeroesCon 2011 and for pre-order.) 50% of all proceeds  from the sales of CHOCOLATE will be given as an IN MEMORIAM donation to the CANADIAN CANCER SOCIETY in honor of artist CLEMENT SAUVE who passed away on January 26, 2011.
    

Health effects of chocolate include both positive and negative effects. While chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potential beneficial health effects of eating chocolate. Cocoa or dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system. Other beneficial effects suggested include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventer, reduced risk of heart disease and antidiarrhoeal effects. That chocolate has an aphrodisiac effect is yet to be a well supported claim. 

On the other hand, the unconstrained consumption of large quantities of any energy-rich food such as chocolate is thought to increase the risk of obesity without a corresponding increase in activity. Raw chocolate is high in cocoa butter, a fat which is removed during chocolate refining, then added back in at varying proportions during the manufacturing process. Manufacturers may add other fats, sugars, and milk as well, all of which increase the caloric content of chocolate. 

Chocolate absorbs lead from the environment during production and there is concern of mild lead poisoning for some types of chocolate. Additionally, chocolate is toxicto many animals because of insufficient capacity to metabolize theobromine. 

A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended. 

Cocoa products also contain pharmacological substances such as n-arclethanolamines that are related to cannabis. When drugs are used to block the brain's opiate receptors,the desire for chocolate disappears and confirming the addictive nature of these types of foods. ...

 Chocolate contains a variety of substances, some of which have an effect on body chemistry. These include:

• Anandamide
• Arginine
• Caffeine, present in smaller amounts
• Dopamine
• Methylated xanthines (theobromine, caffeine & theophylline)
• Monoamine oxidase
• Oxalic acid
• Phenethylamine (an endogenous alkaloid sometimes described as a 'love chemical')
• Phenylalanine
• Serotonin
• Sugar
• Theobromine (primary alkaloid in cocoa solids and chocolate and partly responsible for mood-elevating effect)
• Theophylline
• Tryptophan (an essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin)

FOR KATIE & GRAYSON_commission

[8.5 x 11" - blue pencil, brush & technical pen, COPIC marker on sketchbook paper]

I didn't have any affinity nor any familiarity with these characters, the book that they came from nor the author. It's been dubbed an American classic and has since gained the acclaim of children, parents, critics and fans world wide. It even spawned a full length movie. That said, I never understood its appeal.

Then KATIE COOK comes by my table at MOTOR CITY COMIC CON and asks me to do an image in a themed sketchbook for her beautiful daughter, Grayson - a gift she'll eventually give to her once she's come of age. Katie provided me with reference material in the form of the original publication, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by MAURICE SENDAK, which was helpful because I always try to familiarize myself with the subject matter as much as possible before I draw it; I believe it helps with the narrative of the image if I know a little about it. Reading it took all of 5 minutes as it's only 40 some-odd pages long, and with the help of Wikipedia and other informative articles online, I quickly grew to appreciate why it has endured for as long as it has, why it has garnered all its critical success, and why it has resonated with young and old alike.

But beyond any and all of that, I was drawing the image for Grayson - and that made the experience extra special.

It was such a huge privilege to be able to contribute to Katie's collection and it was a bit of luck that, through her request, I was able to read the original material and learn a little bit more about its author (I learned that even if you can't draw a horse, you're going to end up writing and drawing a classic. But it's probably good if you learn how to draw a horse too). So, I guess you could say, in a weird round-about way, Grayson has already done her part to make me a better illustrator.

Thanks, kiddo.


PS - Your mom is awesome. Love her always.

"YOU STAY. I GO. NO FOLLOWING..."_commission

[11 x 14" - blue pencil, brush & technical pen, COPIC marker on 300lb bristol board]

Every once in a while, I'm asked to do an image from this movie and I am reminded of how perfect it is. It represents a warm nostalgic glow inside of me and as an artist, I wish I could some day be part of something just as special.

Do yourself a favor - if you've never seen the movie IRON GIANT (or it's been a while since you've watched it) take an 86 minute break, sit back and enjoy a brilliant classic.

Oh... and bring your kids. They'll thank you for it later.

VAMPIRE SLAYER_commission

[9 x 12" - blue pencil, brush & technical pen, COPIC marker on sketchbook paper]

One of my biggest fears as an artist is when someone asks me to draw the likeness of real people. Some illustrators have the skill set, some do not. Not only do I lack the ability, but when I try it, the final image just looks awful. So much so that when asked, my level of anxiety shoots through the roof and 99% of the time I decline the commission request all together. In short, I'm not good at it.

So maybe I was feeling my oats this weekend at Motor City Comic Con, or maybe I was just bored to death and wanted some perverse stimuli, the kind brought on by thoughts of panic which says, "Oh my god. This is gonna suck, this is gonna suck, this is gonna suck..." - but for whatever reason, I did this image.

As it turns out, I don't think it's not half bad. But that also means it's not half good. But if you're a guy like me, who couldn't work at Disneyland doing portrait caricatures of families on surfboards at the beach or next to Simba on Pride Rock, then you'd be pretty ecstatic at the idea that this commission image looks sort of like a young woman who stabs vampires in their hearts with wooden stakes.

Anyway, there is it. I hope everyone had a decent weekend and that your Monday isn't as half bad as this image.

ARTIFACTS_cover

[11 x 17" - red pencil, brush & technical pen on 300lb bristol board]

I'm way behind in uploading this image because I never know if I'm allowed to do it before solicitation. I was informed that this book was not only solicited, but it's actually been on the stands already. So... here you go: a cover with a butt-load of Aphrodite robots.

I'd like to give a huge thanks to Top Cow and their dedicated editorial staff for dealing with me. I was in the middle of doing some storyboards and designs for various animated projects, I was up to my neck, drowning in those deadlines, and guys like Filip Sabik (and the assistants in his office) did all they could to accommodate me. They're a classy organization and they bent over backwards in order to make sure this looked as slick as possible by the time it was all colored up and released for public consumption.

Anyway. Thanks all. I hope everyone is having a good weekend.