Tasker House

Kingpin of Pain

2009-05-12T16:41:00.002-05:00

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Tony Trov and Johnny Zito write and produce “Kingpin of Pain” The martial arts movie was an entry in the Philadelphia 48 Hour Film Festival. The 48 Hour Film project is a wild and sleepless weekend in which teams of masochistic film makers write, shoot, edit and score a short movie — in just 48 hours. The film won best editing and special effect awards for its epic karate fights and silly pyro stunts.

Written in four hours and shot in 14, "Kingpin of Pain" is about a tournament of warriors fighting over a sword of immortal power. It stars Adult Cover Girl, Stoya as Kamikaze SheGun 5000, the world's baddest ninja. Stoya's character is the reigning champion and uses the sword for evil.

"You're randomly assigned the props, dialogue and genre so you make the best of it. All the visual short hand we learned in comics came in handy," says Tony Trov. “A lot of the action centers on Stoya’s deadly kung fu skills. Her scissor chokehold can kill a man.” adds Johnny Zito.

"This is my first time playing a bad guy," says Stoya about her 48 Hour debut. "I'm handy with a sword and beating up boys is always fun."

Tony Trov and Johnny Zito live in a big Philadelphia row home with all of their childhood friends and a cowardly dog. They are best friends for life and super writing partners. Read their girl gang vs Zombie comic at BlackCherryBombshells.com.

Stoya™ is original, outrageous, and chipping away at the common misconceptions regarding the adult industry and sexuality. Stoya’s youthful, pristine body envelops an old soul and intellectual mind. She is a rare combination of book and street smarts. In 2008 and 2009 Stoya achieved a unanimous sweep of best new performer awards, including the coveted AVN Best New Starlet and XBIZ New Starlet of the Year.

-Johnny Zito

FCR Photoshop Exercise

2009-05-04T10:46:00.003-05:00

Hey TH! It's been a while, I miss you a bunch. I was goofing around on Photoshop a bit and decided to play with some new brushes I happened upon. Aside from the swirly background, all of the objects in this image are brushes and their alterations, even the clouds. The pink and magenta swirl is one of the trademarks of my good buddies' band Fat City Reprise, and I did the image (pre-text) with them in mind. This was pretty fun, hopefully I'll get around to doing another. Bye, Tasker House, I miss you!

How To Do Your Own Zombie Make-Up

2009-04-07T16:50:00.001-05:00

Johnny and I made this lil tutorial video to celebrate Zombie Week.

All over the world people are celebrating the joy of being undead until April 12.

Join us in the festivities by reading Black Cherry Bombshells.

-Tony Trov

2008-12-25T16:52:00.000-05:00

Tony found a red piano for sale (free) on Craig's List.

It was sort of like a Tasker House Christmas Present except half of us don't play piano.

Above: Al Bruno rocks out, side walk style, on the red piano before we moved it into the house. I preferred it on the step, lodged in the vestibule as a conversation piece but everyone else wanted to put the doors back on the house.

Happy Holidays,

-Johnny Zito

Barack Obama Portrait

2008-11-28T16:54:00.000-05:00

Obama keeps saying there's only one President at a time. I think he's secretly telling us that means it's him.

Couldn't help it, had to draw him. Worked on it last week in my 'free' time.

Click HERE for high rez Prez.

-Johnny Zito

Wonder Woman

2008-11-18T17:03:00.000-05:00

Sassy.

-Johnny Zito

Cartoon Dump

2008-08-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

Did B&W of these before for Tasker House.

Had some time so I threw some colors on there for practice this weekend.

I was thinking about putting these on t-shirts but then being consignment guy is a whole other job I'd be awesome at but have no time for.

-Johnny Zito

I <3 Ninjas

2008-08-02T21:17:00.002-05:00

I did this while listening to Beethoven 7 at the Mann Music Center. Thanks to Candace who taught me how to do this craft!

Winterreise

2008-08-02T21:16:00.002-05:00

Schubert's "Winterreise" is a set of 24 art songs on dejected love.

The Men of DC Comics

2008-05-17T11:46:00.003-05:00

Since Tasker House has become more of a repository for our artsy nonsense than a weekly installment of our artsy nonsense I wanted to throw this out there.

So, Adam Hughes illustrated this sweet 'Vanity Fair' style pin up of the super heroines from the DC Universe for the New York Comic Con.

It was a real smash, everyone dug it. Mostly.

And then Joanna, comic book journalist and blogger at Comics Worth Reading, had this great idea. She asked her readers what a male version of that poster might look like.

Here's my entry:

John Stewart (Green Lantern), Hal Jordan (Green Lantern), Ryan Choi (The Atom), Oliver Queen (Green Arrow), Bruce Wayne (Batman), Clark Kent (Superman), Krypto (the Super Dog), Barry Allen (The Flash), Dick Grayson (Robin), John Henry Irons (Steel), Arthur Curry (Aquaman)

My line up is a classic catch all with a few modern additions. Special credit to fellow Zudite Paul Salvi for the brilliant idea of putting Hal in his Air Force dress uniform. (Although I did go with the tropical white.)

Check out the other fantastic entries at Comics Worth Reading. Make sure you drop a comment for your favorite!

-Johnny Zito

Sketches - Al Bruno

2008-04-16T19:14:00.006-05:00

I found that marker in work again, so I did some more sketches. I was in a robot mood. I'd like to get some color onto these, too, particularly the last one.

Curious Robot and quasi-DRD:

Happy 386:

El Luca-Bot:

Remember, Curious Robot, see with your multispectral photosensitive receptors, not with your omnidirectional clasping mechanisms.

Chinatown - Al Bruno

2008-04-08T18:17:00.003-05:00

I had so much fun doing the South Philly post from a few weeks ago that I had to do another one. A couple months back, I realized just how much I enjoy Chinatown; the people, the markets, how it sounds, everything. So I decided that would be a fun subject. What came out wasn't so much Chinatown as it is Asiatown, considering some of the aspects of this image. But whatev.

Mostly everything in this image was taken directly from Philly's Chinatown on or around 10th and Cherry Streets, with the exception of the parade dragon and the fireworks. I stole the idea of using a piece of art as a background from a super-cool illustrator named Jimi Benedict and his two particular pieces featuring Mario and Link; don't even get me started as to how rockin' those images are. For South Philly, I used Raphael, and for Chinatown, I used a beautiful Japanese samurai landscape which I ruined by covering it with Photoshop garbage. Anyhow, this one was great fun. Next up, The Navy Yard!

We Won!

2008-03-31T11:54:00.000-05:00

The Black Cherry Bombshells are the March 2008 winners at ZUDAcomics.comThis means my team and I will be able to tell the rest of our zombie/girl gang epic.And that means I work for DC Comics.We're very excited and super appreciative to everyone who voted for us.

If you get the chance pop by our shinny, URL:

ZUDAcomics.com/The_Black_Cherry_Bombshells

Swing by to celebrate and check out the premiere of Pray for Death by Doan and Serra.

Thank you from somewhere near the bottom of my heart, in'a my chest, for showing me that beauty is truly in the eye of the tiger.

-Johnny Zito

Sketches - Al Bruno

2008-03-26T18:26:00.008-05:00

Hey, Internet! I found a marker in work today so I did a few tiny sketches on the back of a piece of scrap paper. That was the highlight of my week.

An Al Bruno standard, reeds.

Clouds of varying style:

Science, Nature, and Scnature:

That's all for now, I suppose. Hopefully I'll get to do a few more sketches with my fancy new felt-tip, or maybe I'll go revisit all those posts I wanted to. Miss you, Tasker House.

We're On Hiatus

2008-03-11T17:00:00.003-05:00

That's right, kiddies, we're taking a break from Tasker House for an undetermined amount of time.

For those of you who don't know, our very own Johnny Zito and Tony Trov wrote a comic book, The Black Cherry Bombshells, and said comic book is currently competing among 9 others in Zuda's March round.

What can you do, you ask? Well, you can head over the The BCB page at Zudacomics.com and vote, favorite, and rate the comic book. Hopefully by the end of March, the comic will reign victorious. Until then, we'll be hard at work pushing the comic and working on upcoming releases. So head over and vote, hopefully we'll see you back here at TH soon!

Week Fifty-Six: Vigilante - Al Bruno

2008-03-04T21:24:00.003-05:00

These were two of the first things that came to mind when I thought of vigilante; namely, The Punisher and me not liking The Punisher. I feel that he's pretty lame, and I'm actually not a big fan of vigilantism in and of itself. That's not to say that I wouldn't avenge any one of your deaths, because I would...with vengeance.

Sorry everyone, this week was a Flash phone in.

Week Fifty-Six: Vigilante

2008-02-27T23:54:00.005-05:00

Let's face it, from time to time, we can all be a bit like a Vigilante. You know as well as we know that when avenging a fallen comrade, measly words like "multiple counts of" and "without parole" tend to lose their meaning. So here's your chance to show what you'd like to do, what you have done, or perhaps the empowered actions of others you admire.

The piece here is entitled Elysium, and it was painted by the ever-creative and always humorous Brandon Bird. Mr. T, a member of the most elite vigilante group this side of a maximum security stockade, has earned his rightful place in the wheat fields of the underworld along with other ancient heroes. We shall miss you, Mr. T, but pity you we shall not, for a fool you have never been.

See you on Tuesday.

Week Fifty-Five: Dumb and Dumber - Johnny Zito

2008-02-26T21:32:00.003-05:00

I'm sure they were in no rush to return the tuxes.

-Johnny Zito

Week Fifty-Five: Dumb and Dumber - Al Bruno

2008-02-26T20:46:00.003-05:00

This is the second in my Floating Head and Object series. The subjects are our dog Kira and her new trick Corn On The Cob; I'll let you decide which one is dumber. Give the command and she nibbles your arm with her front teeth as if she were eating corn kernels lovingly off their stalk. Of course, the background is a houndstooth pattern.

Characters in Flash, compiled in Photoshop.

Week Fifty-Four: Dumb and Dumber- Tony Trov

2008-02-26T20:33:00.003-05:00

Mock. Yeah. Ing. Yeah. Bird. Yeah. Yeah? Yeah!

Week Fifty-Five: Dumb and Dumber

2008-02-19T23:55:00.003-05:00

You remember the movie, I know you do. That laugh-a-minute adolescent comedy has come back to tickle us here at TH as we continue the light and humorous tone. Of course, you submitters out there on the internets don't have to conform to the movie alone, you can send in anything dumb. We do it all the time, completely unprovoked.

Anyhoo, here is a scene from the film that would certainly be classified as "dumber." Lloyd, one of the film's protagonists, is having a dream sequence involving the elaborate manner in which he would impress his lady friend. He'd wine her, dine her, and proceed to fight kung-fu style for her honor. It's a simple formula: sight gags + funny sound effects = comic gold.

C U 2's-day.

Week Fifty-Four: Elvis- Tony Trov

2008-02-19T22:00:00.000-05:00

This piece is called "Elvis Watches You Sleep". I painted in a few years back and signed my mom's name to it and tried to hang it in her house. She whited out her name as you can see and obviously is not hanging anywhere.
If you are interested in purchasing this work, the bidding starts at $1,000,000

Week Fifty-Four: Elvis - Al Bruno

2008-02-19T21:20:00.004-05:00

This is my rendition of a young Elvis falling in love with a fried peanut-butter and banana sandwich after experiencing one for the first time. I've had those sandwiches from time to time, and let me tell you, they are very easy to fall for.

I wanted to make it more lovey-dovey with some butterflies, hearts, and fireworks, but I realized that the simple lines of the two lovebirds lent themselves to a pattern in the background. Thanks to Colour Lovers (coincidentally) for that. Happy belated Valentines Day!

Characters in Flash, composed in Photoshop.

Week Fifty-Four: Elvis - Johnny Zito

2008-02-19T18:00:00.000-05:00

I was gonna do Elvis-Jesus but then Elvis Costello showed up and ruined the whole thing.

-Johnny Zito

Week Fifty-Four: Elvis

2008-02-14T10:04:00.004-05:00

Music is certainly a large part of TH, and we haven’t really touched the subject since, oh, about fifty weeks ago. So if our topic were to be a musical individual, the person would have to be huge, iconic, and ripe for caricature. No one fits that bill like His Highness, The King of Rock and Roll, the one and only Elvis Presley.

So here’s an image of The King by the Utahan artist Nathan Lindsay, and much like this blog, this Elvis is well past his prime. However, some may argue that glitzy Vegas Elvis was the better entertainer, and that his fall from grace weaved a tragic story reminiscent of Greek drama. In any case, the man owned a golden Cadillac.

See you on Tuesday.

Week Fifty-Three: South Philly - Johnny Zito

2008-02-12T23:59:00.001-05:00

South Philly is the coolest. I've lived here all my life.

-Johnny Zito

Week Fifty-Three: South Philly - Al Bruno

2008-02-12T22:51:00.006-05:00

This is my Electric South Philly. The best part about this whole project was that my buddies John-Paul and Anthony took the walk all over 19147 and 48 to take each of these pictures.

The only unoriginal images are the Mummer and Raphael's Galatea in the background, and most of the sights I picked for the post have something to do with my youth. I had a stoplight to throw in there, but I couldn't figure out a good place for it. And I regret not putting an image of the Phillies in there, too, they were a rather significant part of my South Philly youth.

Photoshop.

Week Fifty-Three: South Philly - Tony Trov

2008-02-12T16:22:00.001-05:00

I'm sure we're a few years away from never having to play real stickball ever again.
"One strike you're out, two fouls you're out."

Week Fifty-Three: South Philly

2008-02-06T10:05:00.000-05:00

Everyone gets reflective around their birthday, and we at TH got to thinking, how does our location contribute to our identity? To find out, we’ll be examining our very own neighborhood, South Philly. For our contributors who aren’t from the neighborhood, may we suggest mocking us or calling attention to our idiosyncrasies.

The short film seen above, made by none other than our very own Johnny Zito, is titled South Philly: A Visual Documentary. It features many sights of South Philadelphia set to a familiar and very accurate tune by Louis Prima. Whadaya thingadat?

See youse on Tuesday.

Edit: As per Tony's comment, it is in fact Sam Butera, not Louis Prima, responsible for the accurate tune. So much for that degree.

Week Fifty-Two: Birthday - Tony Trov

2008-02-05T22:31:00.001-05:00

The Bartender at Ray's Happy Birthday Bar get's ready every morning with a freshly baked birthday cake.
Big thanks to Zito.

Week Fifty-Two: Birthday - Johnny Zito

2008-02-05T22:11:00.000-05:00

I'm not much for Birthdays but a good slice of cake always makes me happy.

-Johnny Zito

Week Fifty-Two: Birthday - Al Bruno

2008-02-05T20:29:00.000-05:00

Jeez Louise, another excerpt from that awful Intro to Al Bruno textbook. This time, I took a page from Chapter 7 in the online PDF, the section having to do with his birthday. I remember now that the publisher kept using the same goofy illustrations of that sorry sap, this image being a prime example.

Side note: I've completed by left-armed wave trilogy.

Week Fifty-Two: Birthday - Chris

2008-02-05T19:21:00.000-05:00

I'm traveling and don't have my drawing tablet with me, but I found this sketch I did a long while back. It is titled: Worst Birthday Ever.

Interpretation is left up to you.

Week Fifty-Two: Birthday - Mello

2008-02-05T18:00:00.000-05:00

!!

-Mello

Week Fifty-Two: Birthday

2008-01-30T21:37:00.001-05:00

It's our Birthday! We can't believe it's been a year since we started this little site. It's been a fun pet project, and we hope that it remains that way for many more weeks. So to commemorate this event, we'll be depicting our interpretation of Birthday.

Pictured here is The Creation of Adam by the famed Italian Renaissance artist Michaelangelo. He was commissioned at the age of 33 by Pope Julius II to paint the Twelve Apostles, and this is a small part of what it turned into; the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, arguably Michaelangelo's greatest work and one of the world's most recognizable artistic pieces.

Thanks for visiting and all the comments, hope to see you in the coming weeks.

Week Fifty-One: Frozen - Tony Trov

2008-01-29T22:09:00.000-05:00

People have been snapping photos of the fountain on the corner all week. And well, this one is mine.

Week Fifty-One: Frozen - Al Bruno

2008-01-29T19:03:00.001-05:00

I certainly would not call this guy abominable, he just seems to want some company way up there in the Himalayas. And despite the cold, one thing that's not frozen is his friendly furry heart. He doesn't look exactly how I envisioned him; I just couldn't get the brush to emulate fur how I would have liked. More practice is needed.

Painter.

Week Fifty-One: Frozen - Johnny Zito

2008-01-29T18:00:00.000-05:00

Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer is just a cave man, he fell in some ice and later got thawed out by our scientists. Our world frighten and confuses him. When he sees a solar eclipse, like the one he went to in Hawaii last year, he thinks "Oh no! Is the sun eating the moon?" He doesn't know...

But he does know that Micheal Jackson didn't touch those kids...

-Johnny Zito

Week Fifty-One: Frozen

2008-01-24T18:00:00.000-05:00

Even though lots of things freeze without being cold (computers, criminals and socially awkward boys) this week's topic was inspired by the cold snap that comes with winter.

It doesn't get much colder than a giant T-Rex carved from ice. Designed and delivered by the Ice Ninja himself it also serves as a tasty luge that cools your shot on the way down.

While this week's entries aren't expected to be as functional we hope they're just as much fun.

Week Fifty: Warrior Race- Tony Trov

2008-01-23T18:00:00.002-05:00

This was a lame subject. So here is a really cool picture I took of some window washers the other day.

Deal with it Zito.

Week Fifty: Warrior Race - Johnny Zito

2008-01-23T18:00:00.001-05:00

How long do you expect to contain them, Jor-El? A day? A year? Just long enough for it to be some one else's problem?

Your a scientist among a race of warriors, old man.

-Johnny Zito

Week Fifty: Warrior Race - Mello

2008-01-23T18:00:00.000-05:00

As my hand-drawn picture shows… he has the body of a spider, and armor like a beetle, his wingspan is that of a lady-bug, and he has pincers like an ant. Similar to the arachnid, he has eight legs but the difference lies in his hind legs, which are large like a grasshopper’s.

I have named him INVINCEABUG.

Clearly he is the warrior race of insects, made of the best parts of all bugs. I assume that he was born when a grasshopper, beetle, daddy long legs and a fire ant were caught in Russian Missile export during the cold-war and their DNA was fused into one being. Why he has taken refuge in my house is unclear, but nothing can kill him. Trust me, I’ve tried everything.

I think he has special powers.

Here I show INVINCEABUG in detail, including his hind legs, which I am convinced emit supersonic waves that can control your thoughts, his antenna that I assume penetrate and alter
radio waves and his icy stare. He’s deaf and blind, but finds his way through sonar. He can jump like a flea, but he can also fly. Oh, and this is completely an assumption based on loose facts… but I think he MAY cause cancer.

INVINCEABUG is clearly a remarkable mutation of what, I am almost certain, will be the warrior race of insects that will destroy all of humanity in 2012.

-Mello

Week Fifty: Warrior Race

2008-01-17T13:32:00.001-05:00

As pervasive as any other intellectual or social development, war has been a cornerstone of societal advancement for many years. It is no surprise, then, that Warrior Races have been known to ascend to power fairly regularly. Eventually, either by self-destruction or by being conquered themselves, these societies fall. And so goes the ebb and flow of history.

Pictured here is a Jaguar Warrior from the Aztec codex Magliabechiano, dating back to the mid-Sixteenth Century. These codices serve as an excellent first-hand historical source about this pre-colonial Central American group of warriors, and they interestingly contained mostly pictures. This isn’t to say that the Aztec’s had no other culture but war; to them, poetry was considered the only true art form of the docile warrior.

See you on Tuesday.

Week Forty-Nine: Hipster - Chris

2008-01-15T20:24:00.000-05:00

Haha! I snuck onto my coworkers computer to scan this while she was at lunch. But I couldn't find where it saved the original file, so some day she will undoubtedly discover this on her hard drive and wonder what the hell it is all about.

Anyway, we don't really have hipsters in Spain. In fact I think I have only met one hipster in my life. At least I think he was a hipster. He was a big fan of Spoon and Neutral Milk Hotel. And he was wearing snake skin boots (not pictured). Anyway, this is a police sketch based on my recollection of him. I have highlighted the important features.

Week Forty-Nine: Hipster - Al Bruno

2008-01-15T20:15:00.000-05:00

To me, this guy is the quintessential hipster; we see him 'round the neighborhood at cool coffee shops, he has a beard, wears retro t-shirts (some authentic), has thick red glasses, and always wears short-shorts. I don't know his name, but he's definitely in the Al Bruno cast of characters. I'm sure he's a nice guy, too, because he always seems to be smiling.

The style is reminiscent of my Jerk submission (down to the background color), but instead of the pristine cut edges, I wanted to try my hand at the torn paper effect. It's all Photoshop, and I decided to go really kiddie with it with the crayon limbs and facial details and the galactic background. After all, hipsters are just kids at heart. Aww.

Photosherp.

Week Forty-Nine: Hipster- Tony Trov

2008-01-15T19:56:00.000-05:00

Inspired by the M Room in Fishtown. Thanks to Mel and Al for modeling.

Week Forty-Nine: Hipster - Johnny Zito

2008-01-15T18:00:00.000-05:00

This doubles as my submission to The New Yorker's Draw Eustace Tilley Contest.

Hipsters are the modern day dandy.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Nine: Hipster

2008-01-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

“Hey, Man, what’s going on, Man? Oh, this blog is rad, Man, totally digging the free submission policy. Yeah, Man, you should put up some pictures of your decoupage toothbrush pieces. No, Man, you can do it after your theramin set at open mic night. Yeah, Man, your new glasses look fine, their thickness is spot on. We’re so rad, Man.”

We don’t make fun of too many people (aside from ourselves) here at TH, but Hipsters make a pretty good target. The image here is a Philadelphia Weekly cover published some time ago, and with it comes a rather hilarious (but somewhat dated) article written by an unaccredited sardonic Scot that is absolutely worth a read. Music, [f]art, politics, style of clothing and hair; all these and more can be made fun of this week. We’re pretty excited for the results.

No hard feelings, Man.

Week Forty-Eight: 2007 - Mello

2008-01-01T18:00:00.001-05:00

So what has changed for Mello since 2007? A whole hell of a lot. But I've come to realize that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I don't have time (or talent?) to wax poetic like our friend Al Bruno, but I sure don't mind slapping together some "then and now" photos.

1 - Did you know that Al and I got married? Happy 5 year anniversary, sweetheart!
2 - Trov makes for a really awkward prom date.
3 - PJ sure knows how to woo a girl with shots from ice-animal's posteriors.

Check out the hilarious font I used!

-Mello

Week Forty-Eight: 2007 - Johnny Zito, Melissa, Tony Trov

2008-01-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone worked on this.

It started out trying to be funny but wound up deeply personal.

The words are posted below.

Happy New Year,
-Tasker House

Week Forty-Eight: 2007 - Al Bruno

2008-01-01T17:59:00.000-05:00

I'm not typically a lyricist, and by no stretch of the imagination am I a poet. But from time to time, typically around New Year's or my buddy Dave's birthday, I've been known to write a limerick. For those who regularly view this blog; you will probably find it, if not amusing, at least familiar because you know most of our inside jokes. For the others; sorry, this won't be much fun. So here goes:

Here we are once again with some verse;
I promise, you won’t hear one curse.
But the jokes, you may find
Unsettl’ing of mind
And perhaps just a bit too perverse.

Oh, where should poets begin
To tell of the mirth and the sin.
Fare thee well, Year ’07,
And surely to heaven,
But not PJ with tonic and gin.

Now the house, it has come a long way.
With new floors and new paint, we portray
An air of pure class,
With the “gold” brought en masse,
Though we cannot but help look most gay.

But illness was held off this year
With no twists of the testicle spheres.
Yet the poop, like mosquito,
How it pestered poor Zito,
The lad with “little baby ears.”

Some months back, there were bombs of the fairy,
And deft Trov ventured ‘cross the great prairie.
Dennis browsed on YouTube,
Hired PJ, pwned n00b’s,
Quite a year for this brother Scoleri.

Pray tell; let us turn to our pet,
For we have not spoke word of her yet.
She’s still very lazy,
Has gone slightly crazy.
Her fancy? Our living room set.

Now my reflux, it doth still survives,
As when women at our house arrive.
“I’m the gayest,” well maybe,
Though not a “Wee baby,”
I was shown how immortals did drive.

With this stanza, I’ll cram it all in;
“Push it,” HIT, and the art blog begin.
Knut, Hot Movies, and One Cup,
New electric, dog throw up,
And balloons fill Trov’s room for the win.

I hope that I gave you no blues,
As for the poor jokes, please excuse.
Luck and health in Naught-eight.
More fun years, we await,

And 12 months ‘till more verse from my muse.

Week Forty-Eight: 2007

2007-12-27T21:09:00.000-05:00

Well, the holiday's are over, the food has been eaten, and now we have the New Year to look forward to. Some see it as a new beginning, some see it as another year that we'll never have back. This sentimental, festive, messy, jubilant time of the calendar soon transforms into routine, but this is your chance to take an insightful look back at 2007.

This video shows our very first moments of the year chimed in with our in-house New Year's group The Dennis Scoleri Experience featuring Anthony Troverallo and The When The Ball Drops Band. We think the title speaks for itself.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus - Mello

2007-12-25T21:00:00.000-05:00

Fuck that fat bastard. If he really existed I would have gotten what I really wanted for Christmas: VIOLA HERO.This isn't a picture that I made, it's a real ad that ran in Strings Magazine recently. I tried dropping hints to friends and family, but it fell on deaf ears. You'd think that glutton would have came to the rescue? Nope! Look at the game (Ugh, I so want it) the added bad ass viola (can you believe that baby comes with this?) and hardcore rosin (I don't care what that is, but I want it!)

Not pictured: A clear understanding of viola clef.

Pictured: My terrible photoshop skills.

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus - Johnny Zito

2007-12-25T18:00:00.003-05:00

So, a strange elf-man breaks into your house in the middle of the night and invites you to look into his magical sack.

He promises there's a surprise in there for you.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus - Melissa

2007-12-25T18:00:00.002-05:00

Santa is pretty standard MOST of the time. When it's not, its kinda funny... Actually its really funny.

This weeks project was a mission that was accomplished with the help of my good friend Trov. It took a couple hours but it was worth it.

-Big Mel

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus - Tony Trov

2007-12-25T18:00:00.001-05:00

Stained glass Santa. I really liked making the wire frame glasses.

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus - PJ

2007-12-25T18:00:00.000-05:00

This piece is called "Harden Tha' Fuck Up, Mate."

All Santa brought me was a sliced finger on Christmas Day. People were telling me to go to the hospital. "NAH" I said to those people, "I will cauterize it myself."

So, I cleaned my knife and finger, bit down on my copy of Mein Kampf and got to work. This is the result. As u can see the finger is not gushing blood any more.

-PJ

P.S. Look closely at the knife; that is dried blood on there.

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus - Al Bruno

2007-12-25T13:33:00.001-05:00

A few days before we selected this topic, I was thinking about what Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were like when they were younger, if they ever were younger to begin with, and all the other specifics. Did they marry old? Did Santa decide to settle down when he realized his life was missing something? Maybe they had known each other for some time, were sweethearts from a young age. There were a bunch of options here, so I had to settle on one.

So this is what I decided on, The Engagement of Mary Christmas to Kris Kringle, an observation of the two well into adulthood but before their familiar old age. And how else would Santa propose but ice skating at the North Pole? I wanted to call back to those old 1950's greeting cards, so I dressed the couple appropriately, although Santa seemed to be a sophisticated quasi-beatnik. In any case, Kris did a good job on this date as Mary apparently didn't see it coming.

Week Forty-Seven: Santa Claus

2007-12-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

Whether you call him Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or Sinterklaas, he is the ubiquitous symbol of the most celebrated Christian holiday of the year. Santa is jolly, flushed, exuberant, and rotund, a depiction made popular by the famous cartoonist Thomas Nast. We don't know about you, but he always brings a smile to our faces.

Here we have perhaps the most famous modern American depiction of Santa Claus painted by Haddon Sundblom for the Coca-Cola company. Building on Nast's image from the late 19th Century, Haddon capitalized on the color publication of the iconic Saturday Evening Post, with warm fire lit cheeks and light tufts of ivory fur and beard. Sundblom also painted another American character, the Quaker Oats Quaker, as modeled by Wilford Brimley.

So be sure to check back with us on Christmas for a special holiday treat. Merry Christmas!

Week Forty-Six: George Burns - Johnny Zito

2007-12-18T18:00:00.001-05:00

Montgomery was a terrible straight man and the Burn Brothers reunion tour never took off.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Six: George Burns - Melissa

2007-12-18T18:00:00.000-05:00

Since I don't know who George Burns is, instead of doing research like one might think I would do, I made him look like everyone else in my head that has no identity. I couldn't tell you if he was a comedian, actor, singer, politician... alive or dead... don't know, don't care ... either way this is my interpretation of George Burns... enjoy!!

-Big Mel

Week Forty-Six: George Burns- Tony Trov

2007-12-18T13:42:00.000-05:00

"Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed."

Week Forty-Six: George Burns

2007-12-13T10:46:00.000-05:00

We’ll be taking a more obscure, yet more specific approach to this week as our topic will be George Burns. A legendary comedian born in New York and made prosperous by silver screen California, this polytalent has a face ready for caricature.

And speaking of caricature, the flowing ink lines of this sketch were unmistakably swirled by none other than the famous Al Hirschfeld. His unique and understated style is perhaps one of the most recognizable of any cartoonist, and his subjects are traditionally selected from (but not limited to) the Hollywood or Broadway lots.

Until next Tuesday, kiddies.

Week Forty-Five: Storm - Johnny Zito

2007-12-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Hurry! Tomorrow this will all be gross and brown!

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Five: Storm- Tony Trov

2007-12-11T17:38:00.001-05:00

The entrance way of my old job after a snow storm.

Week Forty-Five: Storm- Melissa

2007-12-11T10:10:00.001-05:00

This week with the topic being Storm, I decided to go with the X-Men character herself. Growing up she was probably my favorite (tied with Wolverine of course) and I dont know what it was about her. Could have been just that she was a kick ass girl who took charge of something so incredible like the weather or maybe it was just that she always looked really good in her uniforms and her hair and eyes were awesome. Either way this is my drawing of baby Storm rising up from her crib ...

-Big Mel

Week Forty-Five: Storm

2007-12-06T16:21:00.001-05:00

This week’s topic will be Storm. A classical representation of tumult, both literally and figuratively, this topic will hopefully rain varied, stylized, thought-provoking imagery upon this blog.

The image presented here is the classic Christ in the Storm on the Lake of Galilee by Rembrandt. A master of light and shadow, Rembrandt’s image of the fishing ship tossed and overcome by waves speaks volumes about crests and troughs, clear skies and oppressive clouds.

Be sure to check back on Tuesday when the storm breaks.

Week Forty-Four: Tired - Melissa Impo

2007-12-04T18:00:00.002-05:00

This week is titled "Circle of Love" ... this is my very tired friends all snuggling up together in a circle for a nap. They are very masculine and super straight.

-Big Mel

Week Forty-Four: Tired - Johnny Zito

2007-12-04T18:00:00.001-05:00

I'm pulling all nighters through New Year's. There's too much to do.

The holidays always come at the most inconvenient time of year.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Four: Tired - Al Bruno

2007-12-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

I was a bit tired this week, so I decided to phone it in. Here we have TH contributor PJ Maitino, with yours truly, taking a nap at the end of Big Mel's Halloween party. No, we were not placed in those positions as some type of practical joke, and yes, we were really asleep. A day on the Falcon can be pretty tiring.

There actually is a bit of [f]art in this image, though. PJ's costume, the mercurial but loyal Chewbacca, took many man hours to glue ribbons of yarn to a sweat suit and a whole evening to attach individual strands to the headpiece. It was a team effort, and PJ was quite the wookie-trooper as he had to wear the outfit, including the headpiece, and remain still for hours on end.

Thanks to Mel for taking the photo.

Week Forty-Four: Tired- Tony Trov

2007-12-04T12:27:00.001-05:00

Kira: The Laziest Dog in the World. As a matter of fact, she's sleeping right next to me as I'm typing this.

Week Forty-Four: Tired

2007-11-29T11:43:00.001-05:00

Goodness, was last week rough. We couldn’t get enough sleep, then we had that thing to do, then we had to get ready for the holidays. All in all, we feel pretty Tired. It’s a fairly common feeling, but people react differently to it; stumbling, slurring, maybe even delirium.

Here we have a sketch by Mr. Sam Nielson. According to the write up, he drew it while on a bus. Judging by the characters' expressions, it must have been the morning commute.

Hope you all gather the energy to participate next week, now go get some rest.

Week Forty-Three: Success - Johnny Zito

2007-11-27T18:00:00.002-05:00

Ron Paul and his supporters have overcome every obstacle set in our path since this whole thing began back in March.

I have no reason to doubt this will continue.

This hasn't just been a successful grassroots campaign - It's redefined grassroots campaigning. As never before, the individual supporter is able to share their vision of Ron Paul with the world.

As proof I submit this t-shirt logo I designed featuring Ron Paul as Uncle Sam. It's for sale in a variety of styles and colors through my website.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Three: Success - Melissa

2007-11-27T18:00:00.001-05:00

This week is titled "Headache" ... I have been taking courses to get my appraisal license and they have SUCCESSFULLY stopped me from putting any time into anything else; including but not limited to Tasker House.

These are the 2 course certificates I've earned so far and I have 4 more to receive still.

-Big Mel

Week Forty-Three: Success - Al Bruno

2007-11-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

This week, I thought about what success meant to me, particularly what it involves. As far as the art goes, I was lazy and just wanted to do a quick sketch in Flash. Not a very good approach toward success, I suppose. Hope everyone has a successful week.

Week Forty-Two: Success- Tony Trov

2007-11-27T07:21:00.000-05:00

"I'm going to find it and I'm going to destroy it. I don't know how yet. Possibly with dynamite."

Despite whatever Steve Zissou thinks of himself, anyone with their own submarine is a success in my book.

Week Forty-Three: Success

2007-11-22T14:21:00.001-05:00

This week, Tasker House will be tackling the very familiar subject of Success. Let's face it, we're pretty awesome. This blog, pretty awesome. We're kind of hilarious, and we bring the gold like it's nobody's business. But then we make it your business and that makes us even more awesome. Seriously, though, we're a bunch of losers.

The image we have here is by Oliver Chipping, and it depicts the Tenenbaum family of Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums. Gene Hackman's character, Royal Tenenbaum, seems to be a complete failure as a father and a husband. But by the end of the film, we learn that his successful patriarchy is a result of the most important family value one could have - selfishness.

We'll successfully see you next Tuesday.

Week Forty-Two: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Melissa

2007-11-20T18:00:00.004-05:00

This week is titled Finally.

I cant tell you how many times the words "I hate Space Ghost" have come out of my mouth over the years. I absolutely despise him and his stupid talk show; Coast to Coast. I hate his stupid friends, the grasshopper and the alien-robot dude.

This picture is Space Ghost's funeral. It's in the studio and the grasshopper took his spot at the desk as the host of the stupid show.

-Big Mel

Week Forty-Two: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Mello

2007-11-20T18:00:00.002-05:00

I love cartoons so much that I don't have a most hated character, or even a slightly hated character. I imagine that the only way I can hate a character is if it were based on
Adolf Hitler.

Here Lil' Hit is candidly caught sleeping on a Nazi Monger's boot! I bet he's dreaming of failing out of art school and invading Poland!

This was created with staff paper, a red marker that I stole from work and my sick sense of humor.

OK WAIT! Take that back. I really hate Lil' Bush. Not because it's based on (easily) the most idiotic leader this nation has seen in decades, but because it fell so short on the humor scale, it nearly disgusts me.

-Mello

Week Forty-Two: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Johnny Zito

2007-11-20T18:00:00.001-05:00

I don't like Mickey Mouse.

It's been twenty years since he was relevant. Now, he exists solely as a logo with no actual personality of his own.

He used to represent innovation but now he stands for the same old, corporate shit.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-Two: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Al Bruno

2007-11-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

This is my actual least favorite cartoon character, a biologically "correct" version of a snork. Apparently, the Snorks were born from a Belgian comic like their blue Smurf cousins, but never quite caught on like the lilliputian Funkes. I never liked them, definitely one of those change-the-channel cartoons.

I modeled this guy after an axolotl, the rare Central American perpetual tadpoles. Unlike the Snorks, they're pretty cool, and they can regenerate their limbs.

Pencil and paper, color in Photoshop.

Week Forty-Two: Least Favorite Cartoon Character

2007-11-13T21:00:00.000-05:00

Okay, for cereal this time, Least Favorite Cartoon Character.

At left is Duckman; no explanation necessary. The show was Jason Alexander's talent vehicle that aired late night on the USA Network. Surprisingly, there was a total of 70 episodes that aired over three seasons. If he wasn't cryogenically frozen, Walt Disney would have been rolling over in his grave.

Thanks to PJ - oops, we mean Justice Lad - for being such a good sport last week. We love 'ya, Buddy. See you all next Tuesday.

Week Forty-One: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Johnny Zito

2007-11-13T18:00:00.003-05:00

You're a side-kick and that's all you'll ever be.

Even though you were better than Andy at the staring contests - you disgust me, Justice Lad.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty-One: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Melissa

2007-11-13T18:00:00.002-05:00

Edged out Space Ghost by this much.

Left hand and crayons.

-Big Mel

Week Forty-One: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Tony Trov

2007-11-13T18:00:00.001-05:00

FTW.

Week Forty-One: Least Favorite Cartoon Character - Al Bruno

2007-11-13T18:00:00.000-05:00

I heard The Lad is popping pills again, which is why he seems plagued by inaction and why he forgot his pants. Thanks for being a good sport, P.

Pencil and paper, color in Photoshop.

Week Forty-One: Least Favorite Cartoon Character

2007-11-08T10:46:00.000-05:00

Most of us have watched cartoons at some point in our lives. Actually, most of us at the Tasker House still watch cartoons regularly. Animated characters have those wonderful qualities of elasticity, humor, and sometimes introspection (just to name a few) that are sometimes absent in their fleshy counterparts. But now and again, there comes a sprite that just doesn’t cut it. This week, we’re examining our Least Favorite Cartoon Character.

Pictured here is one of the lamest of the lame, the Great Gazoo. Three words can best be used to describe him: jumping the shark. C’mon, Hanna Barbara! You’ve honed in on the incapable-chubby husband/smart-sexy wife formula perfectly, and then you go and introduce a Lilliputian 1960’s teleporting space alien to two stone-age buffoons? C’mon!

See you all on Tuesday.

Week Forty: Dogs - Johnny Zito

2007-11-06T23:40:00.000-05:00

Come here, dog. You're about to be pet.

-Johnny Zito

Week Forty: Dogs - Tony Trov

2007-11-06T22:11:00.000-05:00

Took this when I was 12 years old.

Week Forty: Dogs - Melissa

2007-11-06T18:00:00.001-05:00

This week's piece is titled Bark Bark.

We've all thrown around the idea of what it would be like for Dennis and Kira to have "buppies."

I imagine this is what it would look like. I'm sure when Dennis Jr. realizes how loud his bark is he wont stop doing it...

-Big Mel

Week Forty: Dogs - Al Bruno

2007-11-06T18:00:00.000-05:00

If there's one guy that loves his dog, it's my buddy Anthony DelQuadro, affectionately known as "Del." His dog, Regis, has been a part of his family for some time now and has established himself as a bit of a character in the Al Bruno cast. Regis is a fine example of the canine companionship that first came to mind when thinking about this week's topic.

This screen capture is from the 2005 hit Del's Christmas 2, the sequel to Del's Christmas originally programed in VB5. Another thing you should know about Del is that he loves Jimmy Buffet and Christmas, so throwing those in with Regis made perfect sense. The games have always been a Christmas gift of-sorts to Del, and I've been itching to make a third one to complete the trilogy. Click the image, and I hope you have some fun.

Flash.

Week Forty: Dogs

2007-11-01T22:58:00.001-05:00

Dogs. They're cute and they lick your face. Oh, and some have velvet ears.

Pictured is Hand Banana, friend of Spaghetti.

Do it up.

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin - Dennis

2007-10-30T18:00:00.005-05:00

"He's looking right at me, Ray."
"Brains!"
Large pizza, extra cheese, extra pumpkin.

-Dennis

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin - Gena

2007-10-30T18:00:00.004-05:00

-Gena

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin - PJ

2007-10-30T18:00:00.003-05:00

This! Is! TASKER HOUSE!

-PJ

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin - Melissa

2007-10-30T18:00:00.002-05:00

While thinking what I was going to do for my pumpkin I decided to go with the villain from my favorite movie The Little Mermaid. Ursula the Sea Witch is a great character and I think I did a pretty good job for not doing any pumpkin carving in a while.

-Big Mel

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin - Johnny Zito

2007-10-30T18:00:00.001-05:00

I carved my Pumpkin to look like Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul.

13,000+ people have pledged to donate a $100 a piece to his campaign, all at once, on November 5th. The single day earnings will be undeniable proof of his support and simultaneously garner publicity and media attention that will continue to expand his constituency.

I plan to be a part of it.

Please donate to Ron Paul on November 5th, 2007.

-Johnny Zito

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin - Al Bruno

2007-10-30T18:00:00.000-05:00

So this is my pumpkin. Nothing really special about it other than I carved the top instead of a side. I wish I had bought a really wrinkled, pulled-looking pumpkin, but this one was lopsided and looked pretty cool. I did get to use a nifty little motorized carving knife that Dennis picked up, which made quick work of the skin.

Pumpkin.

Week Thirty-Nine: Pumpkin

2007-10-24T08:57:00.001-05:00

This is it, Trick-or-Treaters, we are on the final week of our Halloween merriment. And what better way to show the ol’ Halloween spirit than by decorating your very own Pumpkin. I’ll take one, please.

The photo above is just a pleasant little autumn scene, complete with a traditionally carved pumpkin. But don’t think that you’re limited to carving, my friends, because you certainly are not. You can paint the pumpkin, or bedazzle it, or maybe even make it into a pie or a loaf of bread. You could even paint a picture of a pumpkin. We just hope that the pumpkin’s full potential is realized.

Happy Halloween!

Week Thirty-Eight: Mischief - Johnny Zito

2007-10-23T18:00:00.003-05:00

Never TP'ed a house that didn't deserve it.

Happy Hunting this Mischief Night.

-Johnny Zito