To say Ray Harryhausen's work had a strong influence on my imagination is a huge understatement.
Before there was Star Wars there was Jason and his Argonauts. There was Sinbad and his 7th Voyage and the eye of the tiger.

Lets not forget Clash of the Titans with that amazing Medusa scene.

The very believable personality of Mighty Joe Young.

I could go on and on.
He was a creative giant and his influence on VFX work in cinema is unmatched.
His skill and dedication was astounding. One man creating movie shots that Hollywood would now give to entire teams of people to get the same shots
He was a masterful storyteller as well.

I wanted to let everyone know that I had already planned 13 Nights 2013 back in December. The theme I had decided on was The Monsters of Ray Harryhausen. I am proud to say that this is now a lock and I cannot wait to give tribute to this great man

Rest in Peace

I wanted to take a moment to say THANK YOU for the wonderful support of this community.
If you have taken the time to write me to say hi, tell me you enjoy my work, say kind things about my art and also to critique it.
Please know I am ALWAYS grateful and thankful.
I read every note, I read every post. I realize that you have taken time out to write me and I don't take that for granted.
There is just not enough time in my day to respond to everyone. I figure you would rather see my art so I just keep making art.
I wish I could respond because I know how much it meant to me when people I admired sent a note or at least acknowledged  I was here on DA.

I have many good friends here. Good people just trying to listen to their Muse and share with the world what is going on in their creative minds.
The risk to share something so personal, that takes a lot of guts. So if you are on DA and you are creating I honor you and your Muse.
If you are just a person who appreciates art and loves collecting favorites, you are the wind that carries my artwork to others.
I could not do this without you.
It has been a very hard year for me but I know it has helped me to push my work and grow.
The DA community has opened up so many doors of opportunity. I am so grateful to have this forum to share my work.

Today is a day of thanks.
I never take for granted your thoughts, your notes, your favorites.
I am just an artist trying to find my way in the world and share my voice.

I hope this note finds you all healthy and well. I wish you all great things in your future.
Leave a comment here and I promise to respond

Be Great

Grimbro

Unfortunately I find myself right in the middle of a massive oncoming storm here in the Northeast. They are calling it Frankenstorm, which I think is kinda cool.
I am really hoping this does not interfere with 13 Nights of Halloween postings, but since they are predicting massive power outages all along the Northeast coast, odds are high that I will have to deal with power problems.
I will try to get the images posted if I can but if you suddenly find that the day goes by and there is no image posted this is probably the case.

Thanks for your understanding in this. It would be horribly disappointing if I don't get images posted before Halloween, but unfortunately this may be beyond my control

Thanks for understanding
Grimbro

Here we are again!! Wow it is insane to think this is Year 7 of 13 Nights of Halloween. I never tire of it. It means so much to me and allows me to get into that Halloween mood.
This years theme is Godzilla and Friends!
or
The Dakaiju of Toho.
OR
Kickass Giant Japanese Monsters!
I have always loved Giant Monster movies and the sheer fun of the Godzilla movie series.
I am not sure I ever got over the idea of how cool it would be to just annihilate an entire city.
I still don't think Giant Monster CG films have captured that mass destruction well enough.

I have 13 Nights of images to share. They will all be available for purchase as prints and you can enter the code 19541956 and get free shipping on those prints!

I hope everyone enjoyed the new series. This year's collection is not speed paints. These are fully painted images.

Cheers
Grimbro

Hey everyone,

It is now that time of year that I absolutely love, October, that means Halloween. That means the world decides to come and visit the world I live in 365 days of the year.
I am so blessed to have the great support and community that I have here.
I am ecstatic that I will be celebrating my 7th year of 13 Nights of Halloween with the DA Community.
Before Myspace, before Facebook, I was here at DA. The community and website has allowed me to be seen by so many people.

This year is going to be an absolute EPIC 13 Nights of Halloween. Everything is big! Bigger Monsters means a big event.
Throughout this years 13 Nights I will be having contests to give away prints from the series. I will be doing this not only here but at my Facebook group, "Art of Grimbro" you can get to it here
[link]
I would really appreciate it if you are a Facebook user to give my page a like.

I also have a blog where I tend to share some more intimate thoughts on my creative process
You can see it here
[link]

I know I can do both of those things here at DA but I really need to expand my level of visibility to do this full time.
I will never leave DA unless they shut it down willingly. I am grateful for all the people who supported me back when I was still trying to figure out this fantastic journey. You guys are the DA Originals who keep me doing this. I can always find support here.

Please share my work with horror appreciators whenever you can.

I can't wait to start sharing the new series  on the 19th. I am even hoping to share 2 new repaints from the very 1st 13 Nights of Halloween series.

Again thanks to everyone who has taken the time to stop by. Everyone who has taken time to type me a note and tell me that they like my work, and especially those who believe in my work to share it with others. These things I will not take for granted

Cheers
Grimbro

Hi everyone,

I have finally found a local printer that is really doing my work justice.
I have decided to open and Etsy store to help me sell my work.

Here is the link
[link]

There will be more work posted as time goes on
If you have a request for a print please send me a note.
I would love to hear from you

Cheers
Grimbro

Hey everyone!

I am so happy and proud to announce the 7th Annual 13 Nights of Halloween.

It begins on the 19th of October. For those who might be new to my work let me explain. For what will be 7 years now, I have posted 13 paintings, 1 a night for 13 days leading up to Halloween. The 1st year was a hodgepodge of images. The 2nd year I started having a theme for each year and I have continued that format ever since.
So I am sure the question everyone is wondering, "What is this years theme?!!!"

This Years them is....................

GODZILLA and FRIENDS!!! The Daikaji (Giant Monsters) of Toho Co Ltd.

I have love Giant Monster movies since I was a kid. I have always wanted to do this series but never felt my skills were up to it.
I decided to do it anyways.
Is this Halloween and monsters? YES!
Will 13 Nights ever go back to Werewolves, Vampires, Mummies, ect
Most likely. I challenge myself every year with new themes and trying new things I have learned or want to add to my paintings.

I love the lead up to Halloween, I love this series and I love this community.
Feel free to "like" Art of Grimbro on Facebook if you want to keep up that way. [link]

I look forward to the 19th of October. Hope to see you then

Cheers
Grimbro

I mentioned in my last journal that I was walking away from my career of 15 years to try and make a go at freelance and getting my own personal artwork noticed.
Like the title of this journal I have found it to be much like juggling chainsaws and a level of discipline I was unprepared for.
I have done contract work in the past, so I am familiar with getting an assignment and finishing it to completion so there was no shock there. But the trickier part is trying to start pay cycles so you can actually pay your bills.
This is very much a cliche but I heard it enough before I started this that I was not surprised to find, the hardest part is GETTING PAID!
I have been pleased with the support I have received outside of DA. I do have some very promising opportunities to get my work on skateboards and t-shirts as well as some possible concept work.

I have tried in the past to start my own business and I realize how hard it is to juggle all the responsibilities of getting a business going, especially when 1st starting out. You cannot delegate anything. But I would be lying if I said one of the more infuriating things is people reaching out to me for work and they have not put aside money to make sure I am paid. There is always an excuse. I get it shit happens beyond our control sometimes. But I wish people could realize that when I (and I don't think I am alone in this) sign on to do this stuff I expect to get paid on completion and sign off. I protect myself with money up front as well as making sure the client understands they get only a limited amount of revisions. (You need to specify number of revisions before embarking on the job. Otherwise I have found people will use it to get more free work out of you and also use it as a tool so they can stall payment)
Now for some this may seem unusual, many will say if you are not getting paid you need to work with more reputable clients. I am not working for any big game companies or comic companies ect. I still need to build up my network and contacts. On some levels I am just starting out.
Needless to say it requires a lot of focusing and a lot of pre planning. I am getting better at mapping out my day and goals. But I would be lying if I did not confess that beginning weeks I was spinning around like a whirling dervish throwing all kinds of shit at walls hoping something would stick.
Nothing big has broke for me yet but I am able to get some work.
Thanks for the support and allowing me to vent. Maybe my experiences will help others
Cheers
Grimbro

I have worked in the video games industry for 16 years and it has been a rough ride. I have met some amazing talented people and made some really good friends. But I really don't have much to show as far as critical or financial success. Not to mention the industry is very unstable and two year cycles of upheaval is common place. I am proud of the work I have done but I am also fed up and exhausted. I really feel it is time for me to seek out other things. So I am going to try my hand at freelance and see if I could possibly make a living off my art.

I am open to suggestions and to critiques. Do you want me to sell prints on DA? is there any interest at all? Would anyone be interested in a new book? Would anyone like to collaborate? T-shirts? Skateboards? Freelance? Commissions?

I am just curious if anyone is even still following my work.

In the coming days/weeks I will be posting more and I am really interested in what people think. I am sure this is one of the most asked questions on DA but I will ask it again, anyone have any good thoughts or resources on breaking out on your own?

I would really like to hear them
Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers
Grimmy

13 Nights of Halloween: Alien Invasion wraps up today with The Predator. I had a great time this year and I wanted to thank people who provided input and support. I know I did not get a lot of the characters suggested by people in my last journal. I can only offer my apologies and let you know that I am seriously considering doing them throughout the year. This was so hard to narrow down which subjects to do and I try to measure all the pieces together as a whole. I went back and forth on whether to do Marvin the Martian or the Great Gazoo. We know who won, but I really want to still do a fun Gazoo.

Yes I wanted to do Tor from Plan 9

Yes I wanted to do Bad Taste

Yes I wanted to do Ray Walston from My Favorite Martian

Cloverfield

War of the Worlds

E.T.  yes I considered E.T.

In the end there could only be 13 and I have no regrets. I think the series this year is diverse and I am really happy with this years series. I hope you enjoyed it as well because I love to share it with you and I look forward to the 7th Annual 13 Nights of Halloween next year

Stay Scary

Grimbro

Today marks the 6th anniversary of 13 Nights of Halloween paint series I do every year. This years theme is Alien invasion and for the next 13 days I will be posting a new image each day.

I wrestled with a lot of ideas and inspiration for this one. I can tell you this was one of the hardest years to decide who made the cut and who did not. I may have to post a rogues gallery of movies/tv characters who did not make the initial cut.

I hope you enjoy this years series, if I did not do a character you requested or I just happened to overlook, no worries I will probably do one in the near future.

Cheers
Grimbro

So I am announcing 13 Nights of Halloween early this year and I want your help.

This is the 6th year of doing this and I am really excited about this one.

Without further ado this years 13 Nights of Halloween is FAMOUS ALIENS !

What I want from you is leave a comment here with an alien from movies or tv you would love to see a painting of.

It can be obscure like ALF or creepy like the Hidden.

I have my own personal list made up but I am hoping someone surprises me with a cool one I had not thought of.

Keep it fun. Halloween is not just scares and gore.

This is my favorite time of year and I cannot wait to get started on these

Cheers
Grimbro

Sure I have not updated my journal in ages but I am still lurking about.

Heck I even have my theme for this years 13 Nights of Halloween! (No Spoilers.....sorry)

I have been very busy making art for a fantastic MMO that will be announced soon.

1) Yes the MMO is VERY cool

2) No I cannot talk about it

sorry.

Honestly I have been so busy with that job I have not had a lot of time to be Grimbro.

The fact is I love the art I make and I love the people that follow me here and it makes it hard to stop.
I am not sure I could ever NOT do 13 Nights of Halloween.
So 1st things 1st, I have removed the watermarks on all my art. It is not the fault of the people who enjoy my work most that my artwork gets stolen and packaged by others. You came here to see it. You deserve to see it. Enjoy it.

Second I would really like to start trying to explore the convention circuit. I only ever did one and I lost my shirt.
But man did I have fun and met some really cool people. So I am looking into picking a few good conventions and trying my best to get to them

I would be happy to entertain suggestions from fans here on Deviant Art. Also if there is anything you would like for me to sell, let me know that too.

My goal is just to enrich my life and enjoy sharing my work with like minded folks who love art and monsters and other crazy things that happen to pop into my mind.

So I will try and get some art up here soon. There will be a new book collecting 13 Nights. There WILL be a 13 Nights 2011! (6th year! WOOT!) And I hope if you see me coming to a con near you, you will stop by and say "HI!"

Cheers
Grimmy

I was tipped off today to the story of  Aidan Reed, a five-year-old with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, finds time between his chemotherapy treatments, painful spinal taps and oncologist checkups for his favorite hobby: drawing pictures of monsters. Aiden is selling these wonderful art piece on etsy to help pay his medical bills. You can read about it in detail here:

[link]

This is an incredible story which really touches my heart. I know I have a lot of fans who support my art and monsters. I appreciate that, but send that same support to Aiden and his family. They could really use it.

All his pieces are 12 bucks. Buy them here [link]

Stay Scary people

Grimbro

Famous Zombies of Filmland kicks off tonight with 13 paintings, one a night til Halloween.

I am very proud to say this is the 5th year of my 13 Nights series and I am really excited to be painting my favorite zombie characters. I  hope you enjoy it

Cheers
Grimbro

Just thought I would give everyone the heads up that I will be posting my first ghoulish image for the 5th Annual 13 Nights of Halloween tomorrow.

This years theme is Zombies of Filmland! I picked some of my favorite zombie characters from some of my favorite films about the undead.

This of course is to get everyone jazzed for the premiere showing of The Walking Dead tv series on AMC! (I have no affiliation with this except that I freaking love zombies, The Walking Dead comic series, and the fact that I could get a cool zombie TV fix every week) [link]

SO MAKE SURE YOU WATCH IT!!!!

Cheers
Grimbro

Time for the annual 13 Nights of Halloween. And holy crap its the 5th anniversary of it!!! So the big question is what do you do to celebrate such an event? Well I searched long and hard for a theme. I came up with nothing for a very long time. Then it was announced that AMC would be doing a series based on my favorite comic The Walking Dead. The show would Premiere on HALLOWEEN! That was it. I had to do a tribute to zombies this year.
So for 13 Nights this year I will be doing a painting each day depicting a favorite zombie from the movies. Do you have a favorite? Chime in. I may have missed one or you may come up with a cooler one. I have a list of 13 right now but I would love to hear suggestions. The list is not locked in.


Getting really excited.

Cheers
Grimmy

It has been awhile. I barely recognize DA anymore. No seriously WTF is this stuff? Everything is trapped in groupings and its hard to follow any threads of conversation! Even trying to catch up on others journals, "NO I do not want to delete all journals by UserX!!!" But I am trying to clean some space. UHHHGHH!
Anyway DA has never seemed to care about users thoughts so not really worth complaining. I finally found a job I really enjoy and I have been spending most of my time working at it. I am not doing much for freelance anymore. If you have a project that you want to work on let me know, I could be interested.

Anyways, to say I won't be posting a lot is ridiculous. I barely post anything anymore.
But want to shout out again to all those who stop by, say hi and enjoy my gallery. I really appreciate it. No....seriously ..........I DO!

Stay Scary people!

Like many on DA, I was shocked to hear that Pat Carlucci   is no longer with us. Pat was an early fan of my work and I quickly became a fan of his.Pat was a gifted artist with an amazing style.I met Pat in NYC Comicon couple years back. He greeted me like we had known each other for years. Even though we had only talked though posts on DA.  Pat was just awesome. Great attitude, great outlook, always there with a kind word or thoughts of encouragement.  It was all these things that made me always believe that, even while knowing Pat was ill, I always thought he was beating it. He would survive. Sadly that was not to be. His art survives and so do his posts. Pat and I always talked of collaborating. I regret now we never found the time.

My thoughts and prayers to his wife and family.

Grimmy

So looks like whoever hit 50K page views had no idea there was a contest.

Life is funny that way sometimes.

So here's a touchy subject. I was alerted to the fact that there is a zip file floating around torrent circles with my work "Collected".

On some levels I am pretty thrilled that my work warrants a torrent zip. On the other hand kinda feels a bit shady. It does confirm that the DA watermarks do work. I noticed all the images in the collection were all posted on DA and were all the images that did not have a watermark.

I had a lot of people gripe about the watermark so I stopped using it. But now I am not so sure.
I don't want or need to make this a soap box on usage and ownership. I know the risks of putting ones work online. It does make me wonder if I water marked all my images on DA and my website if I would possibly generate more book sales that contain clean images. Thoughts?

I am thinking about doing a new book, I have 2 reasons in my head right now why I should do it. First I have over 2 years of unpublished material and second I want to take the 1st out of print.
I have no delusions of becoming famous, but if my art ever did find an audience and market for whatever crazy reasons the universe decides it would be cool to reward the people that supported my earliest efforts.

Thats all for now. Thanks again for the 50000 page views I am really just blown away

Cheers
Grimbro