Bulletins to Forget

Tom in TONY

2011-04-13T18:37:00.001-07:00

In a move guaranteed to swell my head beyond Barry Bonds proportions, Time Out New York has
Stumbled.
Collapsed.
Failed miserably.
Gone stark raving mad.
And named me a "stylish New Yorker" in this week's issue.

If you're interested in windbaggery and grotesque narcissism heretofore unseen since, well, the days of Narcissus himself, then by all means gaze at my bad self.

Enjoy, and remember that I only dress well to conceal rampant self-doubt and hideously withered limbs.

-THOMAS

FEEDING GROUND #003!!! Available 1/19

2011-01-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

Good evening, assembly

After months of tingling with anticipation, I finally have the pleasure of announcing that Archaia Comics is shipping the third issue of FEEDING GROUND on Wednesday 1/19. This is of special interest to me (and by extension to YOU, my cult!) because it features a pin-up in the back by your everloving narrator himself. Ace interior artist Michael Lapinski alone would have made it worth the purchase, but my humble painting perhaps enhances your salivation, no?

SO! Seek it out at your local comic book peddler. Ask...nay...DEMAND that your store carry it if they do not. It's cracking entertainment! And it features my first non-self-published work.

Yours, as always,

THOMAS

MAMMAL MAGAZINE #003

2010-11-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

Good evening, my electronic evesdroppers,

As many of you know, I'm one of a crack team of zine-weaving commandos who make the intolerably slick, glossy, and borderline-affront-to nature MAMMAL MAGAZINE. Our third issue recently exploded from the gates of publication, I suspect in spite of, rather than because of, our collective efforts. She needed to be born. Whether we successfully midwived her or not, she was arriving, even in the form of an informational pollen that settles on the brain-stem like a dusting of powdered sugar on the most sizzling, pillowy donut in terrestrial existence.

Regardless of the nature of the bound and printed beast, it's here, and readily available to any fool enough to seek out it's fevered wisdom. It can be acquired with only moderate hoop-jumping at the MAMMAL STORE. Additionally, like a cracked and splintered old mule, I've begun carting my arcana from unsuspecting retail outlet to retail outlet, and should one approach BERGEN ST. COMICS, COSMIC COMICS, or SPOONBILL AND SUGARTOWN BOOKS, easily enough would one find MAMMAL, waiting spread-eagle and inviting, its corrupting charms naked as original sin. Purchase it not as a favor to me, a desperate and near-depleted man, but for your own edification.

As always, this blog and its addled caretaker appreciate your concern,

-THOMAS

Aaron Ross bike frame for Odyssey BMX!!!!

2010-10-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

Evening, fiends!
My pal Jim Bauer, creative director for the amazing ODYSSEY BMX, recently gave me a gig designing decals for one of their bike frames. The bike was set up to be an homage to the legendary monster truck GRAVEDIGGER, requiring me to draw all sorts of sick and horrific shit. Well they debuted all of their new bikes at INTERBIKE 2010, and the end result of my work is now on sale. Jim absolutely killed it when he put color to my designs. Please check out Odyssey's site, and their bike frames division, Sunday (where you can purchase said vehicle.)

Ride or Die,
THOMAS

New Work! FEEDING GROUND!

2010-10-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

Evening, changelings. My pal Michael Lapinski recently started working on a deeply cool Mexican border drama/werewolf horror comic, FEEDING GROUND, at Archaia Comics. It's a totally awesome book, Michael's art is sterling, and he was charitable enough to allow me to contribute to the book's 3rd issue. My piece, pictured here, is your standard werewolf on the Mexican border menacing a pretty Mexican lady (played by my not Mexican at all girlfriend, Erica). Michael's first issue is on sale 10/13, and I assume he'll have some stuff going on with it at the New York Comic Con this weekend 10/8-10/10. Come find him (I'll be there, too, at the MAMMAL booth...)

THOMAS

BORN UGLY Smears the Gallery Walls...

2010-08-02T19:01:00.001-07:00

Friend of MAMMAL MAGAZINE and all-around terrifying hesher Jim "Barf" Callahan will be part of a gallery show out in L.A. August 6th and 7th. If you're SoCal based, give this stuff a look. He's one of the masterminds behind the true til death skate zine BORN UGLY. They're keeping the 80s thrash fire alive.

Info here:

DRAWINGS, PHOTOS, AND DRAWINGS OF PHOTOS
Friday August 6th 7PM
Secret Headquarters
3817 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90026
Featuring new work by Born Ugly creators James Callahan and Mickael Broth
More info at bornuglymag.com and thesecretheadquarters.com

MANIFEST DOPAMINE
Saturday August 7th 9PM
2HeadedHorse
1770 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90026
Featuring new work by Mickael Broth, James, Callahan, Will Carsola, Ted Newsome, and Jesse Hotchkiss.
Music by Green & Wood, Red Octopus, and Blackleg.
And the premiere of Born Ugly Issue #7.
More info at bornuglymag.com, 2headedhorse.com, and livedaybyday.com

METAL MAD...the aftermath

2010-02-25T17:57:00.000-08:00

Evening, bloodthirsters! As detailed in my last post, I was recently invited to participate in the METAL MAD show at Giant Robot Gallery, and at the (logical, altogther correct) insistence of my gf Erica (who chronicles the world of cats at http://worldwidewhiskers.org/, I'm including a link to pics from the event. It went well, and while no one has purchased my work yet, it's there and people are seeing it, which is splendid. The vast majority of the work up there was excellent, and I was honored to be included. Major daps to Mark Gilson, the manager at the gallery and a generally awesome guy (and serious headbanger) for putting it together. See pics at my flickr link...

bloody teartracks,
THOMAS

Metal Madness at Giant Robot!

2010-01-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

Hark, Heshers!

Yours truly has been humbled by an invite to the upcoming METAL MAD show at GIANT ROBOT GALLERY here in NYC. The show is inspired by the power and glory of Heavy Metal, and as those close to me know, long have I been a disciple of the music's dark teachings. I just finished one piece and am hoping to have two more smaller ones, all inspired by my "Boring Meeting Drawings." I'll post work as it's being completed, and I definitely am trying some different things. Hopefully people dig it! The show's opening is 2/6. I'll be there, covered in blood and screaming my lungs out...

goat horns,
THOMAS

UPDATE*****

Here's the first finished piece I'll be displaying. Are you not entertained!!!?

I'm BORN UGLY too!

2009-12-16T18:50:00.000-08:00

Hello cannibals! I recently had the privilege to contribute art to the totally awesome Richmond, Virginia-based skate zine BORN UGLY. Friend-of-MAMMAL Jim “Barf” Callahan was kind enough to include one of my “Boring Meeting Drawings” in issue #4. You can order it from them or read it in convenient pdf format at their site. It’s really pretty excellent and will make you want to take out the board you haven’t used since all of your high school buddies got driver’s licenses. Take a look when you have a chance, and make sure you take a look at some of Jim’s illustration and comics work. The dude is keeping the torch lit for ultra-sick graphics!

Other mentionables: I'm totally obsessed with "end of the decade" lists. LOVE that they're all coming out now. I read pitchfork's and I was like, "Why haven't I listened to Spoon in years? Spoon is good!" Lists like that are kind of awesome for reminding you of shit that just kind of got back-burnered.

Along similar lines, I love that Converge's AXE TO FALL is showing up on end-of-the-year lists, including the Onion's. Anyone who knows me knows that Converge is pretty much my favorite band and I feel like they make the most exciting music in the world, but it's undeniably aggro, so I dig that not everyone gets into it. It's heartening to see (sort-of) mainstream (meaning not metal/hardcore ghetto) press praising them (The Onion even interviewed frontman Jake Bannon). They make me feel like I'm killing dragons in a viking helmet while surrounded by white-hot flames when I listen to them. It's powerful.

Thrash,

THOMAS

Slowly but Surely...

2009-11-11T18:29:00.000-08:00

Evening, fanged fiends - - The big news here is that I finally updated my main website. And word? It was shockingly easy. My man Kris "Johnny Brazil" Locascio engineered that shit with precision so that I could update it with ease, and yet I still didn't do so for a year. What a loser. My apologies, world. Regardless, it's up to date now, with some more design stuff coming once I figure out what else from my clock-punching gig at HARPER COLLINS is worth putting in. Give it a look when you can. Your patronage will be appreciated.

Other mentionables:

1) I'm weirdly loving the new JEMINA PEARL solo album. I think I'm not supposed to or something, like, I'm supposed to be all, "that's not punk!" But it's entirely enjoyable tough-girl pop that's kind of 80s, kind of girl-group-y, etc. Like Blondie and Joan Jett playing with Phil Spector producing (though presumably not murdering anyone). I might love her a little bit. Enjoy

2) Ummmm...anyone else see the lady Oprah was talking to who had her face ripped off by a chimpanzee? It was...unpleasant. I was on the treadmill at NewsCorp gym and actually moved to a closer one to see what the fuck was happening. Maybe that's why MJ had a prosthetic nose? 'Cause Bubbles done ripped the real one off? I dunno - - but let's just all agree it's an epic terrible idea to keep a chimp as a pet. They're strong. I'm not even gonna post a link. Go google that shit if you dare.

3) Scored about ten Lawrence Block MATTHEW SCUDDER mysteries in the basement at work. I read the first one, SINS OF THE FATHERS, and it's a little shocking to see how bleak Scudder's circumstances were when he was created. In the throes of alcoholism...bating muggers so he can vigilantize them (and break their fingers...some old testament shit!) Talking about how he would have killed himself long ago if he didn't believe it was a sin. Props to Block for sticking with a character long enough for us to watch him grow. Scudder's cuddly these days!

That's all for now. Everyone keep it real.

THOMAS

MAMMAL 003 COVER!!!

2009-10-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

Good evening, bloodthirsty masses!

I just completed the cover art for the latest issue of my mag, MAMMAL. This third issue is all about FEAR, so I went with a 70s euro-horror comic/movie poster look. A little more raw than I usually work, with some underpainting and underdrawing poking through. I'm pretty happy with it, and hope that it properly titillates people into buying MAMMAL. I'll be displaying it at the KING CON in Brooklyn the weekend of November 7th, so if you're in the area drop on by!

I'll update again once I work out the logo for the cover, but for now enjoy the raw finished art.

Holler!

THOMAS

ODYSSEY BMX!

2009-09-29T10:59:00.001-07:00

Greetings, desperate youth!

I recently had the opportunity to do a magazine ad/poster for ODYSSEY BMX. It was a long project, as I had to cram 12 riders into the composition, but it was a ton of fun to paint. The poster finally went live over the weekend at a trade show in Vegas, and my esteemed colleague Jim Bauer, Odyssey's art director, has given me clearance to break this poster bigger. Apparently he and his crew brought 500 posters, and they all went! Not sure when it becomes an ad, but I'll update this when it does. Enjoy!!!

-THOMAS

MAMMAL COVER Drawing

2009-08-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Hello friends. MAMMAL MAGAZINE 003 is still being worked on. Yes, I know we lads are slacking a bit, but everyone got kind of busy and the book's juts gonna get done when it's good and ready. One of the things I'm most excited about is the Cover, which it's my turn to paint. This is the finished drawing I'm going to slather in acrylic very soon. I want it to look like a 70s horror comic, and I think I'm on my way there. Anyway - you'll see it finished in a few weeks, I'm hoping. The Creative Process! Yes!

-THOMAS

Hello it's me...

2009-07-23T14:51:00.001-07:00

Time goes by in a sickening instant. I had NO IDEA how long it had been since I last posted, but I aim to be less laggard in the future. So - what have I been up to? Well - - mostly working on a new painting for Odyssey BMX bikes that I can't show just yet, and also doing my stuff for the next issue of MAMMAL. I'll post a preview of that work soon. For now, however, here's a sampling of my "Boring Meeting Drawings," an ongoing "project" basically aimed at helping me keep my sanity during ungodly dull meetings at work. "But Tom! Aren't you supposed to be paying attention?" The answer is a resounding, "NO!" They don't need me, so why am I there? There's no good reason. So I draw instead. results can be found on this Flickr link, and will be uploaded to my main website sometime soon. Enjoy.

xoxo

THOMAS

P.S. Three of these sketches were recently displayed at Giant Robot Gallery in their PANELISTS V show. No one bought them, but they looked good on the wall!!!

2009-03-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

My old College chum Samantha Hahn does a lovely little blog called Maquette , where she blogs about her work and illustration in general, among other things. She's currently knee deep in a "male artist series," and bewilderingly chose to cover me. You can see the entry here.

Please make sure to take a look around while you're at it and give Sam's stuff the look see it deserves!

Thanks Sam!

-THOMAS

2009-02-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

DORM STALKER for Smith Magazine

I was recently invited by award-winning comic artist Dean Haspiel (THE ALCOHOLIC) to contribute art for a 6-page story as part of Smith Magazine’s NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR series of web comics. It’s a creepy little story by Anthony Lappe about obsession. It went live today, and I’m fairly pleased with the results. Comics are tricky business, and Dean was immensely helpful in squeezing the maximum out of my minimal talents. See the whole thing here.

THOMAS

DollyPOP in the Knoxville Metro Pulse

2008-09-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Friends, Romans, Countrymen!

Coury Turcyzn from the Metro Pulse, an alternative arts and entertainment weekly out of Knoxville, was kind enough to e-mail interview me for an article about the DollyPOP show. It's really a nicely done little article, even with my somewhat pretentious artist flimflam talk. LINK!

DollyPOP Reaction!

2008-09-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

Bow Mortals! The DOLLYPOP show had its opening at WORLD OF WONDER gallery, and the MAMMAL MAGAZINE repped it strong. On the gallery's blog, there's even a photo featuring the Dolly piece by yours truly! Not sure who the fella in the overalls is, but he's appropriate to the occasion for sure. Also on the scene was THE WB (didn't they merge with UPN?! Whatever), who shouted out the show on their blog, and God-Danged CMT!!!

Anyway - it's cool to see how many people checked out the show. Matt, Devin, and Benjamin also did tremendous stuff for it in addition to my painting.

THOMAS

(photo by Debbi Rotkowitz)

DollyPOP at World of Wonder

2008-09-04T07:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings, rockers - - I have a piece in the upcoming DOLLYPOP show at the World of Wonder storefront gallery in Hollywood. The organizers were kind enough to spotlight me on their blog as well. The gallery is the outgrowth of the production company founded by filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (responsible for the outstanding documentary THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE.) This is the same place that showed my Bionic Commando piece. For those in the L.A. area, the show opens on September 12 at 8 pm. Check it out!

THOMAS

Tom is 8-Bit

2008-07-24T17:55:00.000-07:00

Evening, slackers. While you were picking lice out of your neighbor's hair, I completed a new painting. It's for the annual I AM 8-BIT gallery show out in sunny Los Angeles. All of the pieces deal with 80s video games in some respect. Mine's about Bionic Commando, a game I loved but paradoxically never purchased. The show runs from 8/14 to 9/7 at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery in Hollywood. Check it out if you get a chance. It's going to feature work from fellow MAMMALS Devin Clark and Ben Marra, and it's been organized by our friends from NERDCORE publishing.

Enjoy(sticks),

THOMAS

MOCCA Mammals

2008-06-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

Me and the posse just finished doing up the 2008 MOCCA Convention at the Puck Building in Manhattan. Despite it being hot as a spinster's vibrator, the weekend was a success. We sold some books, and were hopefully recognized for the trail of dead we left behind. Visual evidence (courtesy of angel beauty Sue McCaffrey):

Miley Sketch (The Scrap Heap)

2008-06-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

Hello again, pretty people. Just wanted to post my first version of the Miley Cyrus piece. It wasn't quite what BUST was looking for, but I figured it was of a high enough quality to show regardless. This is the creative process! The magical alchemy that leads to a final piece revealed for all to see! Witness!

New Illustration for BUST Magazine

2008-06-06T12:49:00.001-07:00

Greetings - I've been writing music reviews for BUST for over seven years now, but this is the first time I've done an illustration for them. Given that I'm over 30, I have little to no idea what Miley Cyrus is all about, but it was pretty mind-blowing when her formerly bemulleted dad showed up in MULLHOLLAND DRIVE. Anyway - it's an illustration for one of Wendy McCLure's POP TART columns. Check it out when it hits the stands.

-THOMAS

MAMMAL #002 Work!

2008-05-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hey Headbangers- MAMMAL #002 is currently gestating at the printer's, but here's a sneak preview of the art I'm going to have in it. The bodybuilding stuff will have text in the finish, but you get the idea...

Enjoy,

THOMAS

Clothing for (mostly) hairless MAMMALS!!!

2008-04-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Whatup superfans!? So - MAMMAL Magazine, the pictorial journal of the unknown regions of the mind that my friends and I publish has now expanded into a full-fledged haberdashery in addition to the whole magazine thing. YES! IT'S TRUE! MAMMAL now has splendid T-Shirts available courtesy of yours truly! I showed you the sketches, and now the shirts are available to the unwashed masses. Purchase them at MAMMAL'S store! DO IT! NOW! NOW!!!

Also (ummm...did you buy a shirt yet?) - - - we will be rolling deep at the NEW YORK COMIC CON this year, so look for us at BOOTH #2364! When we're in your neighborhood, you better duck,

-THOMAS

T-Shirt Sketches for MAMMAL!

2008-03-07T07:16:00.000-08:00

So - everyone knows how much i like fashion - and as a consequence of that, i've been going off on potential designs for MAMMAL magazine's t-shirts and merch. Here are a couple of the possible shirts i've been spitballing. I'm influenced by those amazing t-shirts pushead did for metallica in the 80s. Doesn't quite look like those, but it's kind of ...my interpretation of 'em. Check 'em out...

The Man of Many Talents...

2008-03-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

I've got a backlog of stuff to direct your attention to here. First off is the latest voiceover work I've done for the insanely talented DAN METH:

This one finds me inhabiting Sir Paul McCartney in a fable of the first meeting of the Beatles and Bob...

and this one features me as several beloved b-list celebs: Charles Bronson, Jeff Goldblum, and Christopher Walken.

It was a blast to do and an honor to be part of Dan's ambitious METH MINUTE project, Check it every week on Thursdays...

ALSO!

I have some new writing stuff out there courtesy of my friends as MOVIES.COM

First, "8 Great Hot Ghosts"

and "8 Great Heists"

AND... I just quit my 9 to 5, as I'm hanging my shingle out as a full-time freelancer. If you or anyone you know is looking for a cat who can illustrate, design, and write, I could be the guy. Check out my portfolio at tomforget.com

that's all for now. keep it real, world...

tf

More Esquire Goodness

2007-12-05T07:01:00.000-08:00

My main man ERIC GILLIN, grand poobah supreme of Esquire.com, recently hooked me up with a mission to provide imagery for their upcoming drinks database. It went live today, and he and I are both psyched about the results. I worked on the ice cube logo, the bottles, and the portrait of Mr. Wondrich on the drinks page. Check it out when you're feeling frisky.

Drinks Database

Let it snow,

tf

8 Great FREAKS!

2007-12-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

Greetings, flock. My fine employers at MOVIES.COM have posted my latest "8 Great" article, "8 Great Freaks of Nature". This one was fun to do, as it included personal faves like John Carpenter's PRINCE OF DARKNESS and THE FOG (love Carpenter, man. love him to death.) Anyway, give it a look when you have a minute. Merci...

http://movies.go.com/moviesproxy/eightgreat?id=926780

MAMMAL Hits Like an Asteroid!

2007-11-16T13:28:00.000-08:00

MAMMAL Magazine is a collaborative effort involving me and some Barneys I schooled with. MAMMAL?! MAN?! Amazing.

It's available now. Dig. It's got a website: http://www.mammalmag.com/ Go there and experience wonder. Stocking stuffers? It's the perfect size for your literate loved one. Do it. I've got six pages in there, but there's less fat on it than a marathon runner, so look at the whole thing.

We hosted a shindig for it at Brooklyn's outstanding ROCKETSHIP COMICS. Pics here.

I'm the fella with the mortuary style.

You can pick it up on the website and at fine NYC retailers such as Saint Mark's Comics, Rocketship Comics, and Cosmic Comics.

New Work for ESQUIRE, etc.

2007-11-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

So - the purpose of this blog is to make it unecessary for me to constantly update my website (http://tomforget.com/), and as a result, I'm going to be posting quick little blurbs about my tremendous and Earth-shaking accomplishments as they occur. The most recent triumph is some graphic identity work for the forthcoming ESQUIRE.COM drinks database. Given that I have not tasted alcohol in almost three years, this assignment rings with irony. My fine friend Eric Gillin is doing great work on ESQUIRE.COM, so please give the site a look. Not sure when the drinks database launches, but it should be soon.

http://www.esquire.com/

i also did an illustration for them recently for a (really pretty good) Tom Junod short story, "My Three Lunches With Alberto Gonzalez". Check it out below. I was pleased with the results...

http://www.esquire.com/fiction/threelunches

Please stop by again, and remember to wash your hands frequently.

ciao,
tf