Scrap wood served as my early "drawing paper" in the door plant.

Drawing on the factory floor, put me on the front line of defending high hopes and dreams - it gave integrity to the journey - no more creating sketches for paintings I didn't have the studio to bring to life - I took the leap and the factory floor became my "studio" - where I was, with what I had - majestic moments between assembling doors.  Amidst the roar of chop saws and pneumatic machines was a train horn - blue skys beckoned, Banner Days were on the horizon, and never would you be more alive than when you were living the dream. Sometimes, you only had enough change in your pocket for the wishing well. But that was enough.

"Dream Homes" were created on the factory floor, some 30 years ago, in Virginia Beach. The factory has become a homeless center, opening soon. Would some of these works not be a perfect fiut for the new center's walls?! 

Artchilles Story page 3 - "Taking the Leap"

artchilles story page 2 - "I was Stuck!"

artchilles Story - page 1

Strip featuring local Witch of Pungo mysteriously vanishes from printer not far from where she was dunked over 300 years earlier. No one how the original disappeared. A check for compensation arrived just in time for Christmas  - a gift from a "Witch?"

HEADLESS BETTY & BROKEN ELVIS Comic Strip

For years they just collected dust...in my Pink Garage. Broken icons that once made people smile, a service so needed in a world so broken, lived in a dark, silent corner. And me, with words that hadn't found a voice, was also "broken." I must have looked out my bathroom window a million times, ever since I was big enough to peek over the sill. And yet, I didn't see what was right in my back yard. But, in July, I had a "Eureka" moment when the 4-panel windows of my garage morphed into a 4-panel comic strip, and the 2 broken forms inside were brought back to life via word balloons. It didn't hurt that their "home" was pink, owing to the color of Elvis' iconic Cadillac. "Garageland" isn't exactly Graceland, but hey, at least they weren't alone. After completing the 1st 4-panel strip, I sent a note to the Virginian-Pilot. I got a positive response Aug. 10 and a meeting Aug. 23. By that time, I had multiple strips, the latest touching on the Charlottesville tragedy (Aug. 12).

The figures had enough in common for a meaningful relationship. They were both victims of vandalism, originated in the '30's, made people of all walks of life smile, were entertainers, and both were censored for their dance moves. Elvis was famously filmed from the waist up on TV in 1957, to block out his sensual hip motion. Moral standards enforced by the Hays Office, forced Betty to wear a less revealing dress, remove the garter, and discontinue her suggestive winking and hip wiggle in the opening credits of her films. Her role also became more domesticated.

"Yes, we're broken, but wouldn't you say, that at times, the nation and even, the world also is.  We might be a pretty good mouthpiece for what's going on. With our new voice, maybe we can even fix a thing or two." - Headless Betty & Broken Elvis

Latest "Artchilles" Strip released 9-6-17. First "Duck Tape" appearance of Partially Limblesss Elvis. In comic language, this would be a key issue. Also because it is 1st History Orign of Betty. Thirdly, the 2nd Local "landmark" - the Ocean View Pier, appears (in panel 2). The 1st local landmark was in issue #1 - my Pink Garage (see below). Be sure to enter to win this strip and others at Cool and Eclectic at Pembroke Mall, Virginia Beach. I signed them.       

As the fate of more monuments head to debate, it is relevant to start a conversation about controversial subjects like Wernher Von Braun, who spearheaded the Apollo 11 mission. He, and hundreds of ex-Nazi members were snatched up by the US in Operation "Paperclip," as the US wanted the best scientists on their side. There's no exact science for calculating the fate of certain monuments, because there tends to always be two sides.  Above, Von Braun admits shame, while Neil Armstrong acknowledges Von Braun's positive contribution to space science with his famous words.  

Sometimes, one just needs to look at things from the angle of art. Obsessing on the negative could make things worse. Addressing issues is important, but anger can sometimes get the better of you. Usually, an alternate view can expand your mind...if you allow it. 

In July, 2005, Betty was Beheaded in Virginia Beach, outside of Cool and Eclectic. She made many tourists and locals alike, smile. After efforts to find her head were exhausted,  I summoned syndicated cartoonist, Bill Griffith, to restore her head, in his strip, Zippy the Pinhead. This would at least give some closure to Boop fans. Twelve years later, Zippy returns to find Betty Headless again. How did this happen? And why is she with Broken Elvis? Well, Zippy only put Betty's head on in the comic world of his strip. Betty's life-sized incarnation remains headless. Even though Zippy's a bit of a freak himself, based on the real life of the "Dean of Freaks" - circus performer Zip, the "reality" of this situation proved too bizarre for even him. I guess, like me, he has difficulty processing what's real and what's not.