RICHARD KIRK

Phantom Limb

I’ve been wanting to shout out to Richard Kirk, my best friend I’ve never met. He’s been pretty busy, but he sent me some images to share with you a couple days ago.

Shortly after the release of the Mars Volta’s album Amputechture, (AKA My Big Break), I began to get emails from TMV fans, which was really COOL! Rick was in that vanguard. He complimented me and then suggested we might trade links. I’ve already been cynical about trading, but I went to his site and was stunned. This guy was a total Original, and I immediately fell in love with his work.

Pen and ink is where my artistic journey really began when I was a teenager, and I have a soft spot for the effort it takes to do it well. I’m glad I met Rick, at least via email and then telephonic communication–like I said, Rick’s my best friend I still haven’t met in person. I personally prefer to paint, and although I do a bit of pen/rapidograph/ink, still, I can’t take the time Rick spends on his drawings now. My wrist can’t handle it. But I can live out some of my pen and ink fantasies vicariously by experiencing Rick’s work.