Mike Moore Studios

The Man in the Mirror...*

2012-01-31T14:57:00.000-06:00

I've known this sumbitch most of my life. I've laughed with him, I've cried with him. I've loved with him, I've hated with him. My best friend, my worst enemy. We've put in a lot of miles together.

I've recently come to a startling realization...

If I can get along with him...I can get along with anybody.

The Man in the Mirror... © Mike Moore Studios 2012

(*Author's Note: I promised myself when I started doing this thing that I'd avoid at all costs any display of "tortured artistic soul" kinda crap. Cut me some slack on this one and I'll try real hard not to let it happen again. Deal?)

Have Fun!

Rambler Deluxe...

2012-01-12T11:58:00.000-06:00

I took this one the same day as the rest. Missed it as I was going through the batch

My dad had a Rambler when I was a kid. We used to coast down the hill behind the hospital when it was a dirt road, the Rambler in neutral.

Rambler Deluxe © Mike Moore Studios 2012

Have Fun!

Futura...

2012-01-10T16:48:00.000-06:00

Sounds like the Future.

Maybe it is.

Futura © Mike Moore Studios 2012

Stopped by a junk yard today. They had a lot of good junk. Said I could come back anytime...just check in first. Will do.

Have Fun!

Steps...

2012-01-06T23:10:00.000-06:00

Monochrome HDR experiment with twist...

Steps © Mike Moore Studios 2012

Have Fun!

Holy Ground...

2012-01-05T15:00:00.000-06:00

Sefcik Hall.

More correctly, Tom Sefcik Hall.

It's safe to say my life was forever altered due to the adventures, misadventures, mayhem, romance, drunkenness, and generally complete disregard of matters legal, or moral...that happened in this building.

Bonds were forged that will never be broken in this building.

I learned about "Rock n F'n Roll" in this building.

It is Holy Ground.

Sefcik Hall, Holy Ground. © Mike Moore Studios 2012

Have Fun!

Back of the Shack...

2012-01-03T15:13:00.000-06:00

Lines and angles...Photo 101 kinda stuff I reckon. The Fat Man in Red brought me a new lens for the Holidaze. I'm diggin' it. Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5.

Shack #2 © Mike Moore Studios 2012

Have Fun!

The Dream...

2011-12-31T16:19:00.001-06:00

It had long been a dream of mine to get so fat the Fire Department would have to cut me out of my house so I could appear on Jerry Springer. Possibly a pipe dream at best.

My new dream is just to get "sweatpants fat". That's the kind of fat where the lower half of your wardrobe consists of nothing but sweatpants.

It's good to have dreams.

Have Fun!

Well it ain't Natalie Portman...

2011-11-29T13:06:00.001-06:00

...and I don't even think it's a swan...but the pic turned out ok.

Not Natalie © Mike Moore Studios 2012

Shot at the Cameron Park Zoo, in Waco, Tx.

Have Fun!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-11-07T11:16:00.002-06:00

After, roughly, 35 years of skating, and 45 (now 46) years of living...I had a Skateboard Birthday party!

Thanks to my family and friends for making this happen for me. Meant a lot to me.

A little special thanks to Newk for the above photo. After, roughly, 35 years of skating, and 45 (now 46) years of living...I got a cool shot! I'll be hunting you down for a print Jack.

Now what am I gonna do for the next 46?

Really? Already?

2011-10-09T00:40:00.001-05:00

It's nearly midnight. I'm in a hotel room in Austin, TX. I'm not alone. There's a beautiful woman lying next to me. She's snoring.

They're not ugly snores, far from it...more like a song I never want to end. These soft snores make me feel both protected and the protector. They make me feel loved, and they make me happy.

18 years ago today, these gentle snores became legally half mine. I couldn't be happier. Mine also became half hers, but I suspect she's not as thrilled at this exchange as I. Mine are more the ugly type.

I know at some point she'll read this, and more than likely won't be exactly ecstatic I told the world (more like the 3 or 4 people who actually read this) that she snores. I can live with that. What I couldn't live with, is not hearing them anymore. They're half mine, and I want to hear them for the rest of my days.

Thank you, for you, my love. There's much more to love than just your quiet symphony of snoozing, and I do.

18 years. Really? Already?

Happy Anniversary!

I LOVE YOU.

Have Fun!

Sometimes the G.O.B. awakens...

2011-09-26T10:26:00.001-05:00

Up until not too long ago, I went by the online handle of Grumpy Ol' Bastard. It was a nickname given to me, jokingly, by a good friend due to some animated complaining I had been doing about younger generations of skateboarders and the state of the skate industry at the time. I played the character for years in various degrees of success and sobriety. Over time I grew tired of the name, and character, and dropped it...opting for a kinder, gentler, more positive MMS.

But sometimes, no matter my steadfast diligence to avoid it...the Grumpy Ol' Bastard comes back.

A sure fire way to bring about this horrid ressurection? Taking my kids to the doctor.

Love my kids, like their doctor...but sitting in the pediatric waiting room makes me want to shoot everyone I see with birth control bullets. It is quite literally possible to see the local gene pool get shallower as you wait. I've always been pro-choice, but waiting here makes me want to petition on both the state and federal levels to make late term abortions not only legal, but, sometimes, mandatory...say up to about 25 years or so.

Seems like you have to have a permit or license to do pretty much anything...except make babies. It boggles the mind.

And why does this need to happen soon? So the progeny of these mouth-breathing, knuckle dragging, consumers of all that is wrong don't grow up to do this...

(on a vehicle spied in the pediatric parking lot)

Have Fun!

If it's under 100, it must be...

2011-09-04T12:34:00.001-05:00

Time to skate! What could be better? Skating with your kid! Me and grom #1 hit up Chuck's for a Sunday brunch session. The wind was nuts, but rest assured...fun was had!

Have Fun!

It's not a clown...

2011-08-24T12:43:00.002-05:00

But it's more happy scary stuff, in more ways than one. It's also a bottle of Tequila.

Have Fun!

Coulrophobia?

2011-08-22T13:38:00.000-05:00

Coulrophobia is the fear of clowns. I don't have it, but I do so enjoy the oxymoron of the scary clown.

I ran into this guy at a miniature golf/go cart track in South Padre.

Have fun!

These are a few of my favorite things...

2011-08-01T12:17:00.001-05:00

Past couple of days, I've gone skating.

Chuck's both times.

Those two walls. Those two boards. These are a few of my favorite things.

Have Fun!

A New Terror within the Inner Sanctum...

2011-07-29T12:53:00.001-05:00

Truman...

Have Fun!

I've Always Been Crazy...

2011-07-28T12:04:00.001-05:00

...but it's kept me from going insane.

I was listening to a cover version of this Waylon Jennings classic on the way to work this morning. No where near as good as the original...but it did conjure it's ghost.

Mrs. MMS and myself saw Waylon in a hotel lobby in Austin, TX a few weeks before his death. He was wheelchair bound and pretty tired looking. He was surrounded by who I assume was band and crew. Everyone was having drinks, and no shortage of laughs. Waylon was pretty quiet most of the time, listening, smiling. When he spoke though, everyone stopped to hear what he had to say. Maybe it was because he was the boss, but I'd like to think differently. He seemed like a bearded Yoda in a black hat. He had more years, miles, and stories than anyone in the area, and I bet, under the tired, a lot more "crazy".

I wanted to approach, and introduce myself...but for once in my typically uncouth life, I thought it rude. Somehow it was better to just watch, maybe learn? Dunno.

I think about that day sometimes, I wonder if I'll be regarded as the elder statesman, like Waylon...or just the old kook. I think about a lot of weird crap like that.

I've always been crazy, but...well you know the scoop.

Have Fun!

How do you get a better day?

2011-06-26T10:13:00.002-05:00

Sure, I've got some "Real World" type things to deal with today...but no worries. The core of my day is about all you could ask for.

Hot summer day sitting in the shade, the Pit's smokin'..

Brisket's on, ribs are coming...

Mr. Blackhart is at the ready...

And my handy, dandy sketchbook...

Can it get better?

Have Fun!

A Few Pix from The Road Trip

2011-06-14T13:40:00.001-05:00

My favorite shots from this trip were mostly Hipstamatic shots from my phone. I wasn't real comfortable throwing my DSLR around in the bars, and restaurant. (I need to get over that...)

One DSLR shot turned out pretty good from the hotel window...

Have Fun!

Days 3 & 4...

2011-06-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Most of the day Saturday was spent lounging. Egads! More relaxing? Yes.

We hopped a shuttle to the Mai Kai around 4:30. Saw some of Ft. Lauderdale we hadn't seen yet, more of the stupid money bits...then a more "reality" based version of the city. Not a bad Burg...but we don't plan on leaving Texas, so don't roll out the welcome wagon.

How does one describe the Mai Kai? Adult Disneyland? A throwback to a "Classier" time? A wallet gouging pit of high octane fruity drinks and hula girls with tramp stamps? A little bit of all the above. It was a spectacle to be sure. But we were over it pretty quickly. After the "show" we were ready to bolt. It was gonna be nearly an hour before the shuttles started running again. The decision was made to hop a cab and get the hell out of Dodge. It was cheaper than waiting.

After arriving safely back at the hotel, we strolled over to the Bahia Cabana bar. Legend has it that actor Nick Nolte had them institute a 7 a.m. Happy Hour. This is a fun place. The people watching is epic. It's the kind of place where the filthy rich mingle with just the plain filthy...and all points in between. Good times.

It's now Sunday morning as I type this. We're packing up and getting ready to head home to Tejas. Another cab ride, another trip through airport hell, then home. Ready to go, but not too.

Hukilau. Would we do it again? Maybe. The people we met, and the relaxing we scored, made the trip for us. The event is very well organized, and from our vantage point went off without a hitch. I could probably make it the rest of my life without going back to the Mai Kai. Overcrowded, overpriced, and over the top...the schtick is just a little too thick.

Thanks to anyone that read through this self indulgent travel journal. Maybe there will be more down the line. I'll try to do better if there is a next time.

Have fun.

Day 2 is in the books...

2011-06-11T10:35:00.002-05:00

There's a stupid amount of money in Ft Lauderdale. $15 million yachts parked at the "curbs" of $40 million homes. People that own more than a couple of these homes, and pay over $40K a month in property taxes on each one. Crazy, stupid amounts of money, and no matter hard I looked...I couldn't find piles of it anywhere. Maybe next trip.

Don't weep for me though...the good times keep rolling.

I wanna be this guy when I grow up...

Didn't get his name or know anything about him, but he is obviously a profound and worldly gentleman of the highest order. We should all have a little "him" in us.

Monkey masks? Check. Flight suits? Check. Surf guitars turned to 11? Check. The Disastronauts will rock your lame ass!

Will grown women hula hoop to the cheers of more grown people for cheap prizes? Yes they will.

We're having a hoot of a time, with more projected.

Saturday night brings dinner at the The Mai Kai a 50 year old Tiki bar/restaurant. Awesome!

Have Fun!

Day 1 is done...

2011-06-09T23:57:00.002-05:00

Imagine going to a Trekkie convention after only seeing one episode of Star Trek (if you're not old enough to get my graying pop culture reference, blame your parents,or grandparents, for not procreating sooner). That's sort of what going to a Tiki festival is like if you only have an entry level interest in things Polynesian...minus, of course, Vulcans, Klingons, and Phasers set on "Stun".

We've met some cool people, and seen some cool stuff, but we're definitely the neophytes in this festival of floral patterned polyester. The lovely Mrs. MMS and I, are big fans of Mid Century Modern design/style. The Tiki thing, to us, is an offshoot of that. To be honest, the devotion of our fellow festival goers to this little sliver of pop history is either Saintly, or maybe a bit kooky. To be equally honest, I've never understood zealots no matter their preferred kink. A little goes a long way for me.

But damn...these Technicolor Tikiphiles party HARD. There were "after parties" scheduled long after we called it quits...and that's just for today...the whole thing is over Sunday.

Check out The Intoxicators. They're a nitro-charged Surf band with one of the best song titles of all time..."Prostitutes in a Clown Car". We met Adam, the bass player, and his family (some of the aforementioned "cool people") earlier in the day. Good times.

Friday brings more opportunity for fun!!

Have Fun!

Relax? What's that?

2011-06-09T10:45:00.002-05:00

This is completely insane. We have nothing to do, nowhere to go. We are, in fact, relaxing. Laying about poolside, listening to an oldies mix courtesy of the hotel...watching old people slather on sunscreen...relaxing is hard work.

Have Fun!

In Flight Doodle...

2011-06-08T19:04:00.001-05:00

Fort Lauderdale. Made it! The Hukilau (the Tiki festival we're going to) starts tomorrow. We're getting the lay of the land and figuring out what's what...

Here's a doodle I did on the plane...

Have Fun!

And so it begins...

2011-06-08T18:12:00.002-05:00

I reckon no news is good news...and yet that still manages to make me nervous. We made it away from home good. We made it to the airport good. Everything has been good. Weird.

But wait...

Ahhh...the human cattle line that is security. As long as there's not a big sweaty fat guy at the end with a bolt gun I guess we'll be ok.

No bolt gun.

But we are in Group C for boarding...which roughly translates to "No, you can't actually sit WITH your wife, but there is the distinct possibility you'll recognize the top of her head from your seat!"

The couple next to me ordered doubles. It's the little things that mean the most.

Next to some of our other trips, this one is shaping up to be nothing but cake thus far. I'm, guardedly, optimistic about our chances for extreme merriment.

Time to sit back, relax, doodle, and listen to my schizophrenically shuffling iPod.

Have Fun!

Road Trip!!!

2011-06-07T13:04:00.000-05:00

Me and the Mrs. are taking a little trip.

Stay tuned for details from the road.

Various forms of gadgetry will likely come into play, as well as visual documentation.

I'm also gonna go ahead and apologize for any possible damage to those with delicate sensibilities.

See ya in the funny papers...

Yesterday was a good day...

2011-04-11T11:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a good day. Had a good Tex-Mex lunch, went on a Mountain Bike ride with my family,bought some variegated Vinca, skated 2 ditches, rode my cruiser, grilled some burgers, and topped it all off with an absolutely incomparable Coconut Pecan Pie crafted by the lovely and talented Mrs. MMS.

It was indeed a good day.

Have Fun!

"Downtown, no finer place..."

2011-03-29T14:56:00.000-05:00

Needing new Auto tags presented the opportunity to head where I don't normally tread...downtown.

Old buildings. Signs. Good stuff.

My new toy...

2011-03-21T12:18:00.000-05:00

This bike has been a project in the making for over 20 years.

Way back in the day (mid to late 80s), I had an SE OM Flyer. It was a SUPER FUN bike. I got into Mountain Bikes and ended up giving the SE to some neighbor kids that didn't have a bike. I'm glad I did a nice thing, but bummed I don't still have the OM.

I traded a longboard for this On One Gimp frame and a set of Planet X BMF rims over 5 years ago. It hung around my attic for years. I finally brought it down and it guilted me into the building it. More skateboards were traded off. I'm stoked on the outcome.

It's a SUPER FUN ride just like the OM.

If anyone has a MOSTLY Red or Purple Odyssey Senior 2 Mexican Blanket seat...I'm interested!

Fireworks...

2011-03-10T13:28:00.000-06:00

I went out this morning sort of intent on getting either some skate shots, or skate spot shots...neither of those happened. I remembered a couple of fireworks stands not far from where I was...so off I went.

Back on the job!

Have Fun!

Mike

Buda Bob

2011-02-24T12:53:00.001-06:00

'Buda Bob' is the nickname of a friend of a friend. It was the first name I thought of when I made this image from a photo shown earlier. Fun with Photoshop...

El Diablo De La Zanja - Background

2011-02-22T13:36:00.001-06:00

I replaced the curb and started on the background. I'm happy so far.

Thank You Ed Economy...

2011-02-21T14:56:00.000-06:00

I first learned the name "Ed Economy" in the pages of Skateboarder Magazine back in the 70s. It was a quivers article. The picture was of Ed on a dock with a group of insanely long skateboards. Ed is one of the granddaddies of longboarding.

The good people at Gravity Skateboards have offered an Ed Economy model for a few years now.

At 55", it's a rolling sofa. I've set mine up to further accentuate it's plushiness....big Reflex barrel bushings in Paris Trucks, spinning some Abec 11 Gumballs with Biltin Bearings.

I've had this board about as long as they've been on the market. I'm not following the trends of the longboard world as closely as I used to, but I suspect my Ed is not currently fashionable. I don't mind. The feeling this ride produces is why I skate.

Thank you Ed Economy.

El Diablo De La Zanja - Sketch to Ink

2011-02-17T13:13:00.000-06:00

This is something called "El Diablo De La Zanja" (The Devil of the Ditch). It's sort of a pretend Ditch Board graphic.

I still like to do my initial sketches in blue line. It's a hold over from my T-Shirt "Pre-Digital production art work" Shop days. 20 years later I can still smell PMT chemicals.

First few areas of ink. I obviously "cheated" the line work. So what?

More ink...

Pretty much done with ink...

Scanned, and cleaned up in Photoshop...

I'm not real happy with the curb...but that's not a big deal at this point. I'll color and layout the rest in Photoshop as well.

More to come...

W-w-waiting...

2011-02-17T09:39:00.002-06:00

I'm not a fan of it. This is especially true when I'm where I'm supposed to be, when I'm supposed to be there. I'm always reminded of the Seinfeld "Reservations" episode.

The cat's not too stoked either.

Have Fun!

We Went to the Animal Fair...

2011-02-15T14:08:00.003-06:00

...zoo actually. The weather was really nice. Low key relaxing day with my family, it was killer!

These are DSLR shots using my 75-300mm lens.

I'm not trying to mean, but...

2011-02-15T13:45:00.001-06:00

Something about a guy leaning against a convenience store having a smoke next to the girl's bike he rode up there on, makes me laugh.

Photos from 2/6/11

2011-02-07T15:15:00.001-06:00

DSLR photos from Super Bowl Sunday walk. Good times.

Photos...

2011-02-07T11:52:00.001-06:00

Hipstamatic snow pix...

And a quick shot after a dinner date with my beautiful better half...

Thanks for lookin',
Mike

Who ordered this stuff?

2011-02-04T11:12:00.001-06:00

Snow in Texas? The kids were stoked, no school. I'm officially old...all I see is cold, wet, and messy...

Thanks for lookin',
Mike

Parking Lot

2011-02-03T18:46:00.001-06:00

We have a really nice parking lot for these kind of shots...

Thanks for lookin',
Mike

Coyote down

2011-02-03T16:26:00.001-06:00

Coyote down...

Location:Texas

I's Gots the Devil in Me...

2011-02-03T13:31:00.001-06:00

I've recently been called The King of Tomfoolery. It ain't true! I's just gots the Devil in me. I reckon this is what you call a "work in progress"...

Blahhg

2011-02-03T10:42:00.000-06:00

I may be the world's most boring blogger. The only thing I can think of that would be more narcissistic is to be a Twitter-er. No offense...well, not much.

More Pix...

2011-01-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

I'm the proud owner of a new DSLR.

20+ years ago, I was a Photo Minor in College (Texas Tech...if it matters). I did the whole Black and White attempt at Artsy Fartsy-ism deal. Once school was over and I had no access to a dark room, I lost some interest in photography.

Fast forward to the digital world.

I've been playing with Photoshop for years, & I think we're on our 3rd or 4th digital point and shoot camera. The point and shoots are fun, but I missed the control I had with an SLR. It's all back! Except for whatever "eye" I may have had...but I can feel my brain starting to work that way again too.

Here's some shots I took recently. Staying strictly "manual" in Camera settings, full frame shots...no cropping, but playing with color in Photoshop.

The "trip" has just begun...but I'm digging it.

(Please forgive me for any "art" speak...I personally find it repulsive)

Hipstamatic Pix

2011-01-06T07:08:00.000-06:00

Santa is bringing me an after Christmas DSLR. In the mean time I've been playing with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone. I'm digging the Hi-tech with the low tech look...

Skelly Fez

2010-11-29T14:31:00.000-06:00

You may or may not be aware of my recent Fez fascination...no matter.

Started with a Shriner Fez I bought at a garage sale and a plastic halloween skull still life...

Trimmed it out...

Goofed around with color and such...

Played with replicating vintage press looks...

More of a workout than anything serious...learned some stuff. Happy.

Fez Power!

2010-11-16T10:35:00.000-06:00

The POWER of the FEZ can not be denied!

Awesome birthday present from my family!

Galveston DIY

2010-10-12T12:58:00.000-05:00

Spied this on a recent roadtrip to Galveston. Not sure if it was never finished, or just rendered useless.

It's a Big Mess...

2010-08-23T14:45:00.000-05:00

The Big Mess "Del*13" Kickers showed up today...

Super Stoked on them! Snooze you lose...

Thanks again for letting me tag along guys!

Fun With Phone Camera #1

2010-08-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

Playing with phone camera, going for that toy camera thing...

Something New from Big Mess Skateboards & MMS!

2010-08-17T15:56:00.000-05:00

But sorry...they're already gone...

I was asked a little while ago to do a doodle for a deck honoring Steve "Del*13" Weston for Big Mess Skateboards. Steve's deck of choice back in the day was a Santa Cruz Stinger, but these days...he's more of an Equine sort. Thus...The Kicker!

It was an honor and a pleasure contributing to this project honoring Del*13 The Skate Mechanic. Del's (Steve's) monthly columns in the early years of Thrasher Magazine were a source of knowledge in my formative skate rat years.

Big Mess Skateboards is Richard Kirby's stomp on the foot of corporate skate companies. Skater owned, Skater designed, American made, Skater shredded.

1 Squashed Frog...

2010-08-08T00:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a picture I took of a squashed frog. It's actually, probably, a toad...but I enjoy the word "frog" more.

I took this picture one day out skating with my friend Bob Loftin. It was really hot that day. Froggy here pretty much summed up how we were feeling about the heat.

I fiddled around with Alien Skin's Exposure 2 filters on this photo. I don't know really why I like it...but I do.

Slowly...

2010-07-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

Very, very slowly this is coming together. I think I've figured out this Blogger business, so that's a good thing. I've got most of the stuff that will be appearing in the Gallery, on the main part of the site, put together and formatted...so that's a good thing too. Just seems to take more time than I have to devote to it...baby steps I reckon.

More to come.

Welcome...

2010-07-27T13:24:00.000-05:00

Here's the new blog for Mike Moore Studios. CLICK HERE to go back to the main site.