In June of 2017, TV’s Batman, Adam West passed away. The mayor of Los Angeles realized what an important “hero” Mr. West was to many people here in Southern California, not to mention around the world, and decided to honor the late actor in a very unique, and Weird Hollywood way.
On June 15th, Burt Ward, (Robin the Boy Wonder) was on hand as Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck switched on the Bat Signal to cheers and chants of, “Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na… Batman!
Every now and then I do illustrations for magazines. Sometimes I know the subject pretty well, and other times, like this time, I have no idea about the subject matter.
Every now and then I do a serious one.
I hope you feel the real emotional element in this one. I started out wanting it to be moody piece. I saw them as separate, but equally detached. After I finished him, and I was happy with the fact you couldn’t really read his expression, I planned on making her kind of aloof, but then a sadness kind of happened as I was working on it – I tried to keep it subtle, but undeniable.
I am pleased with the outcome. I was originally going to call it, “The Eternal Struggle,” because I was seeing it as the yin and yang thing. Different but equal, but she seems like she’s losing. It’s not equal at this moment. Not sure what to call it yet.
If you’ve ever been to Disneyland and never heard of Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, you’re missing out.
Here’s a piece I created after visiting that magical tavern recently with good friend, Deke Black.
A friend asked me to do a scene of all four characters at the bar at the same time. I liked the idea. So if you’re planning on some 4th of July binge watching, catching up on favorite movies, or movies you’d heard were great, but never got around to watching, may I suggest “The Big Lebowski.”
Enjoy…. and abide.
-Joe
Got off stage at #RegalCon in Irvine around 11:30 this morning after telling some amusing anecdotes, spinning a few yarns, dusting off a chestnut or two and delighted in the occasional bon mot.
Went pretty well, sold some #WeirdHollywood books, met some great people. Left my booth about an hour ago. Fun time. Enjoyed the weirdness.
The news of Adam West’s passing hit me harder than expected, and to be honest, I expected it to hit me pretty hard. I have some fairly vivid memories as a three year old watching the show when it was first broadcast in 1966.
I recall one day in the summer of ’66 stopping at a gas station near our home in Northeast Philly, and suddenly without warning, I’ became temporarily immobilized – as if by some villainous, super freezing ray, at the sight of the Batmobile, just the Batmobile. No Batman. No Robin – Just the Batmobile – fueling up next to us.
All art work is available in custom sized giclee print or 8.5 x11 canvas print.
Contact me here or at Joe@JoeArtistWriter.com for details and pricing. – Joe
Joe Oesterle 