blog

Uncle Toots: I've Had It with The Gays

Ray Caspio — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:17:11 +0000

Uncle Toots takes on Prop 8, DOMA, and The Gays.

"The country's got hemorrhoids."

Valerie Harper as Rhoda Morgenstern

Ray Caspio — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:49:18 +0000

Last week, I wrote a little about Valerie Harper and Rhoda Morgenstern, plus showed a very early-in-the-process sketch of a piece I was working on.

Well, here's the completed work:

...and the sketch:

Watching Valerie on her talk show appearances last week, plus disc after disc of RHODA, really inspired me in so many ways. I'm happy with this illustration. It says more about how I feel than anything I could type.

"Don't go to the funeral until the day of the funeral." – Valerie Harper

Valerie Harper as Rhoda (In Progress)

Ray Caspio — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:17:17 +0000

Valerie Harper has been in the news lately. Her willingness to share her story is another reason why she, and her work, effects me so much. After being with my grandma through her final month through her moment of death, a time like this serves to reminds me, once again, how important life – and living in the present moment – is. It's something I remind myself of frequently.

I started working on this tribute to Valerie as Rhoda. It'll be done in a couple days. I'm not really satisfied by my previous effort – which Valerie Tweeted me that she loved, and it also ended up on Playbill in a video interview with her – so I figured there's no better time than right now to work on Valerie/Rhoda, and what that means to me, again. Or, maybe, that dissatisfaction is just a sign of growth.

Valerie, if you see this, please know you've had a great impact on my life and artistic career. Secretly – or, not so secretly, depending on who you talk to! – I've always thought you'd be the perfect person to play my grandma, Josephine, who introduced me to Rhoda in syndication on late night TV in the early 1980s. (It was a Friday night and I was up much later than I should have been, but Grandma didn't mind.) I wish you much love, peace, and strength...and more love. Listening to I, Rhoda and watching your interviews, as I have been these past few days, you do have it all around you.

Back in a couple days with the finished work!

UPDATE, March 18th: The completed work

The Excavation: Signage

Ray Caspio — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 03:51:32 +0000

A sign, featuring my illustration for Theater Ninjas' The Excavation, on display during performances at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

A comma before an "and" in a list is always satisfying.

The Excavation at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Ray Caspio — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:41:00 +0000

Tomorrow night is opening night! I cannot wait to perform this show, and some of my favorite characters (Erato, Maurice, plus some new ones) again! This will be an event you won't want to miss.

Illustration by Ray Caspio

Theater Ninjas' 2011 hit The Excavation has been resurrected as part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's latest exhibit, "The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection."

Explore this living museum-within-a-museum as zany professors, peaceful gladiators, puritanical performers, ecstatic archaeologists, and rude puppets celebrate the life and death of the famous city that was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

•Performance Days: See The Excavation in the Ames Family Atrium - March 1st performance requires admittance to the CMA MIX event; future performances are free!
March 1 @ 7pm
March 20 @ 7pm
April 12 @ 7pm
April 28 @ 2pm
June 12 @ 7pm

•Ninja Days: Fridays and Sundays, Theater Ninjas are installed within "The Last Days of Pompeii" exhibit. Enhance your exploration of Pompeii through a blend of site-specific performance and interactive story-telling. Fridays (3pm-7pm) and Sundays (12pm-4pm)
March 8-May 19 (excluding March 29 & 31 and April 12 & 28)
Admittance to the special exhbit required.
No regular exhibition tours on Ninja Days.

http://www.clevelandart.org/events/music-and-performances/theater-ninjas-cleveland-museum-art

Directed and Devised by Jeremy Paul

Lead Creative Team
Ray Caspio, Ryan Lucas, Cassie Neumann and Renee Schilling

Performances Featuring
Davis Aguila, Ray Caspio, Katelyn Cornelius, Cassie Goldbach, Val Kozlenko, Ryan Lucas, Cassie Neumann, Michael Prosen, Renee Schllling and Lauren B. Smith

Ninja Days Featuring:
Davis Aguila, Ray Caspio, Lauren Fraley, Valerie Kilmer, Ryan Lucas, Cassie Neumann and Renee Schilling

Technical Direction by Chuck Karnak

The Excavation 1.0 was Created and Performed by
Ray Caspio, Katelyn Cornelius, Stephanie Ford, Ryan Lucas, Noe Montez, Cassie Neumann, Michael Prosen, Emily Pucell, Renee Schllling, Adam Seeholzer and Lew Wallace

Special Thanks
Jon Seydl, Bethany Corriveau, Temple King Productions, Lola Rothmann and Benedictine High School

Support for Theater Ninjas' project has been provided by the Cleveland Museum of Art's Painting and Drawing Society, Dr. Nancy Clay-Marsteller, Antoinette Miller and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Schubert.

Dallas: Judith Light as Judith Ryland

Ray Caspio — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:02:03 +0000

A quick sketch I did tonight of Judith Light as Judith Ryland from TNT's Dallas.

I'm astounded by Judith Light's work on this series and LIVE for her scenes.

Commission: Lauren and Sam

Ray Caspio — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:59:40 +0000

Lauren and Sam were married mid-January in New Orleans. Lauren's brother commissioned me to render a portrait of this good looking couple as a wedding gift! According to Lauren's brother, "I might need to order a larger print of it. They loveddddd it!"

Are you interested in commissioning me to create a piece for you? I do pencil or full-color digital work, like this one.
All the info you need can be found right HERE!

Commission: Pete and Marley! They're Dogs!

Ray Caspio — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 03:11:07 +0000

Here's a pencil portrait of Pete and Marley, two adorable Bichons Frisés I was commissioned to draw as a Christmas gift for their human mom. I love dogs (I have two of my own!), and Pete and Marley's mom loved the drawing!

"You captured them perfectly. It's not just a pix of Bichons, but a picture of MY Bichons! It's as if you knew them. You truly captured their spirit and everything unique about them. It is a gift I will always treasure."
– Laura Neumann

If you'd like a commission of your own, click right HERE for details.

Quinn Jaxon Sketch

Ray Caspio — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 01:54:35 +0000

I was totally inspired to sketch model Quinn Jaxon, based on one of his photographs for the Andrew Christian campaign.

Aside from being a gorgeous photo of a gorgeous guy, I was fascinated with the line going down the center of his back and the curve of his quadricep. All of his bodily curves captured so much sensuality and grace that I had to put him to paper!

You're Gonna Make It After All

Ray Caspio — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 19:07:02 +0000

Available as prints and clothing, starting at less than $4.00:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/raycaspio/works/9787533-youre-gonna-make-it-after-all

Commissioned with the understanding that I could reuse the image, here is Mary Richards from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Want to commission a piece for yourself or someone you love (or someone you moderately care for)? Click here for more information!