Very nice. Using a ballpoint pen takes dedication. So many artists I've met balk at just attacking the paper with ink without some kind of plan. Some of my best work is the stuph that just happens.

And I'll forgive the lined paper. At least it's non-repro blue. Ever do a REALLY nice piece of work on a sidewalk? Take LOTS of pictures.  

Add Battlestar: Galactica to my list. Now that Sci-Fi has greenlit the new series, a toy line based on this show would be a cool addition to my sci-fi pop culture collection.

i thought i heard that Pirates of the Caribbean was already underway?

It is now, but alas, not 3 3/4".   Maybe for "Secrets of the Abyss" or whatever the sequel's called.

Wal-Mart?! Mine has four pegs and a lone Clone Wars Ani doing his best to keep them all clear. "Chosen One" my ass. He's been there for months.

So is this just a hobby of yours, or does it pay the bills?

I do freelance work from time to time to supplement my career as an Art Director. Though my profession is commercial art, I'll always be an illustrator first.  

have you ever tried to get a job or freelance with Hasbro? (I'm serious)

Ever since I saw a copy of The Art of Star Wars in 1978 and realized I could make money doing that, I wanted to be an artist for Lucasfilm. I had a chance to work there prior to Episode I, but the timing wasn't right. I kicked myself a bit for not doing it, but once I saw the creative direction Lucas had in mind for the Prequels (which was considerably different from what I'd expected), it definitely worked out for the better. I don't know if I'd have lasted as long as Doug Chiang.

Then I had an opportunity to work for Kenner in Cincinnati. I applied, as did a friend of mine. He got the job and was let go when Hasbro closed the doors a year and a half later. He was single and relatively nomadic and struggled to bounce back by relying on freelance illustration before he found full-time work. I had a wife and child and probably wouldn't have fared as well.

I also had an "in" at Disney's Orlando animation studio a few years ago. We all know what happened with that. Even the veterans were let go thanks to Disney's downsizing and emphasis of CG over 2-D animation.

It's interesting how my plans to work at Lucasfilm, Kenner, and Disney have been thwarted, but to my favor. I'm a lot happier knowing I've got steady work and can do the occasional freelance job as I please without having to uproot my family.  

I can honestly say the only time I was plastered was for Star Trek.  

If you ever get a lifemask, remember to breathe slowly through your nose. And avoid headcolds. It's bad for you but worse for the poor SOBs dealing with your mucus.  

Looks like a blue version of the alien from The Last Starfighter, with a jockstrap on his head...  Was that your inspiration, or am I off base there?  

Don't tell anyone, but after I entered the contest, I found an illustration I did for West End Games that had an alien in it pretty dang close to the Trek alien. George had it before Viacom did.   But that's our little secret, okay?

Mister PL, thats truly amazing. Did you create the costume yourself, or did the makeup artists create it?

Thanks, Kevin. Bob Blackman's costume department did the costume, but he and I designed it together. I only provided a headshot and a brief history of the character. I was content wearing a Starfleet or Bajoran uniform off the rack, but he said, "No. This is your creation. Besides, I want to try something new." We looked at fabric samples for inspiration and he showed me some experimental texture effects he was dying to try, so I sat down at his desk and incorporated it. I love to collaborate. It was easily the most fun I had the whole time.

For the mask they had to create a lifemask of my head. I'm a little claustrophobic, so I practiced my breathing on the flight out. It was interesting having your head covered in about 15 pounds of plaster and algenate.

Geez, can't a man be humble?

Here's the head shot that won.

Here's the costume design I did at Paramount Studios.

Here's the final costume.

That's why I'm partial to the idea of a Star Wars contest. Being on Trek was cool, but being in the last Star Wars movie would probably be a hoot, too. (Unless I got kicked off the set over "creative differences.")

"Orgy." Just say it, Matt. "Orgy."

And yeah, I can do more than one character in an illo. That's not a problem. Let me know what you've got in mind.