Geometric Comparison of Shock Waves from a Nuclear Sky Burst Detonation vs. Ground Detonation: Clockwork Atomics x167

What can I say? This is what I think about during a morning espresso in the city. I blame the morning commute with the idiots on their cellphones. Seriously, who needs to talk that loud?

Kafka-Tesla Suicide Machine: Prototype and Production Type: Clockwork Atomics x428 & x429

This is one of the rare cases where I did a smaller drawing and then immediately produced a larger version of that idea (mainly I was playing with conical gearing). But x428 is fun in its brevity and I was careless and left coffee stains on it (the ink is very water soluble). The next one was done during lunch breaks over a couple of days while we were sorting through an art collectors home (which was inspiring as always). As for their names, I am often bothered or interrupted while drawing. (Apparently headphones on and intently drawing in a corner is an invitation for interruption). When I was stopped by someone's curiosity this time by them wanting to know what I was drawing, I told them the first thing that popped into my head that I thought would make them go away. It was a drawing of a Kafka-Tesla Suicide Machine. They quickly left and the name stuck.

Structural Matrix of a Nuclear Bullet: Clockwork Atomics x071

An early drawing, back when they took very little time. This was before the drawings became machines. All the drawings were based on something a read or heard about. Many were inspired by pulp novels from the early 20th century and the design of alchemy etchings.

Mechanical Reliquary for a Forgotten Catholic Saint: Clockwork Atomics x442

There are a couple of great examples of reliquaries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. And after seeing them I thought a mechanical one was sorely needed or may have been made and lost to time. This is my second attempt in the series. It holds promise, but needs more work.

Planet with Satellite Group Collapsing into a Black Hole's Event Horizon and Being Reduced to a Singularity: Clockwork Atomics x270

A ridiculously long title but that's what it is a drawing of. A few years ago there was a brief period where I was fascinated by black holes. As a child I saw Disney's The Black Hole (great in a weird way..although wildly inaccurate) and always thought it was mind blowing how they even exist. So I ended up reading JP Luminet's book Black Holes and became obsessed with them all over again. This one was drawn after work at a bar on a Starbucks' napkin that I happened to have on me (which has one of the ugliest shades of green logo on it).

Leonardo Da Vinci's Geared Celestial Sundial: Clockwork Atomics x315

This is the first piece I sold at the show I was in at The Laundromat Gallery in NYC. I had no idea if anyone would get the whole elaborate drawing on napkin thing, but a few did. Anyway, Da Vinci has always been a huge influence. The pages of his various codex have fascinated me ever since my first exposure to them. I was lucky enough to see the Codex Leicester in NYC. I do not write backwards as he did, but I enjoy the look and writing out notations about the works.

Fritz Lang's Heart of Metropolis: Clockwork Atomics x212

The first time I saw Metropolis was the fascinating yet not terribly true to the original idea 1985 Moroder version. I still think that version is awesome in its own Hindenburgian manner. Soundtrack and story (what was left of it) aside, the visuals came through loud and clear. This drawing is but a doodle of the impression I have from the film. Cyclopean monoliths with Tesla generators with a mathematical matrix at its center.

I have been fortunate enough to be at time when a nearly complete version of the film is available for viewing. After viewing it at Film Forum in NYC, it is impressive as the first time I saw it in its truncated form.

H.G. Wells' Martian Tripod v 0.9 at Juan Valdez Coffee: Clockwork Atomics x401

First off, yes there is a Juan Valdez Coffee shop (I know who knew). Anyway I have always loved H.G. Wells' stories, in fact they are some of the first books I ever read. And War of the Worlds was definitely a favorite. I loved the idea of the Martian's Tripods that reined destruction upon mankind. The elegant hovering ships from the 1953 version were great but I much prefer the mechanical beasts that were in the illustrated in the book I had as a child.

I have drawn a variety of versions of the tripods and give this one a v 0.9 notation as it is an unmanned version. A continuation of my fascination with destructive clockwork automatons.

Galileo's Astronomic Gyroscope at Dunkin' Donuts:Clockwork Atomics x381

First off I really like Dunkin' Donuts. Decent espresso and a good selection of donuts. But very few have my favorite one. Does no one else like maple frosting? Anyway...

I have always loved gyroscopes although I never fully comprehended the physics behind them. In my studies in the sciences I always understood just enough to appreciate something but enough was still out of reach to make my knowledge of it slightly flawed and potentially dangerous. I like to think that has certain advantages....so long as you are standing at a safe distance.

Geared Caulder Mobile at Cipriani's Grand Central Bar: Clockwork Atomics x305

One reason of the reasons I love drawing on napkins is that for me it captures a moment in time. This was drawn at the end of an exhausting day. I had been in Greenwich all morning attempting to install a Caulder mobile. I say attempting because it had been flat packed (dismantled) and no one knew what it was supposed to look like ....no pictures, nothing. Many hours later it was installed in what I felt was the most balanced and logical of configurations. Needless to say I felt I deserved a drink or two. So after getting off Metro North and before the subway, I stopped at Cipriani's on the west side of Grand Central ordered a drink and drew this.

Dual Death Ray at the Carlyle's Bemelmans Bar: Clockwork Atomics x360

Not that being at Bemelmans turns my mind to sinister things (or at least no more than anything else), but the low lighting, excellent drinks and mummers from other tables sets my mind in motion. It really is a great place. While, as usual, I have Manhattans there, I do occasionally have one of the signature drinks. All and all a great place to meet, drink, write, draw and plan for the conquest of the know world.

Jules Verne Automaton Airship at the 21 Club: Clockwork Atomics X420

It began as a sketch of a dirigible and after a few cocktails (Manhattans to be precise) it became, as I like to say "complicated". While it may not be the best drawing, the experience drawing it was excellent. Early evening and seated in large chairs in the lounge of area of the 21 Club in NYC drinking a fantastic Manhattan, possibly the best in the city, and letting ones mind drift to imaged times when airships and steampunk technology ruled the day. (I really can not express how good the service and the atmosphere of the 21 Club is....but it is quite fantastic.)

Geometric Tardis or Cafe Lalo and What Too Much Espresso Does

Officially the title of this is Clockwork Atomics x434. To be perfectly honest the title should be more along the lines of "Holy Shit, I Think I Have Had Too Many Espressos". Anyway, this was drawn at a little cafe and pâtisserie on the UWS on 83 and it is kinda nice for that sort of thing. A nudge toward the French aesthetic with a bit on NYC thrown in. It was a cold wet day and I had about 3 hours to kill between appointments, so I drank espresso and drew on there napkins. Needless to say 3 hours was too long.

The general theme of the drawing is how can a larger object fit inside a smaller object (yes, like the Tardis). As for the solution, I really can't say. While I can normally decipher my writing here I am at a loss. I left Cafe Lalo with reality jittering and trying to catch up with my super caffeinated consciousness.

Steampunk Atomic Bomb: The Clockwork Fat Man: Clockwork Atomics x403

For me steampunk is the culmination of the brilliant cacophony of gears and pistons, the kaleidoscopic motion of spinning gyroscopes and mentally rending designs. This is not the standard definition, however it is what inspires me. My designs are meant to be the crossroads of Victorian Era science and the new future that Tesla, among others, would come to represent. The base form for this design is from the atomic bomb nicknamed "Fat Man".

T-Rex Skull At American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)

While I do try to spend my time sketching and designing machines during my down times between appointments. I have recently begun going to the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side in NYC and doing some still life sketches. My favorite area unsurprising is the 4th floor that houses the dinosaur exhibits. While it can become insanely crowded and noisy and children treat it like a playground, it is enjoyable to draw there. The trick is finding a niche where people have trouble getting behind you. (I don't mind people watching, but if I don't know you are there it creeps me out).

Anyway the Tyrannosaurs Rex is by far one of the most fun to draw and look at (it is also one of the busiest areas). I started going with the intent of teaching myself to watercolor, which I have no discernible skill in, but often sketch instead. (Which explains the odd horizon layout book with the watercolor bleed on the spine.)

Clockwork Atomics x155: Mathematical Musing

One of my earlier drawings, but I like it. I was killing time between appointments at the Dean and Deluca in Soho drinking espresso and drew this. I had been reading an article on transitional states and planes and was intrigued by the geometry.

Electric Eye of Science: Gyroscopic (Uzumaki) Hybrid: Clockwork Atomics x457

While I have begun working larger, I have tried to continue to use improvised materials. Many of which are small (i.e. napkins). This was drawn on the back of a Kirin beer bottle label while I was at one of my local sushi joints. I love spirals. And I love the Japanese translation: uzumaki.

Clockwork Atomics x445

In the process of moving from smaller images to larger I made a few 'transitional' works that were comprised of multiple napkins lightly glued together. Which led to several revelations. Among them being that I like the larger work area (the scale is the same) and the collage effect really does nothing for the piece. Other than make it insanely fragile and destroy my cheat of using a scanner.

Stay Calm...The God Machine Is Watching

Don't worry...the Electric Eye of Science is in control.

From the Ministry of Technology

The MOT enthusiastically endorses the Electric Eye of Science. Furthermore the EES approves of said statement.

The Electric Eye of Science

The Electric Eye of Science is real.