Delbert Winans, 1949 - 2009

I got home from dinner Monday night around 11 pm to find a message on my phone. It was from Scott MacQueen, asking that I call him upon getting the message. He sounded serious, so I called immediately, at which point Scott informed me that our friend Delbert Winans had passed away that afternoon. I gasped, because I had just received an email from Delbert earlier in the day, and had spoken to him on the phone the night before.

I have been working closely with Delbert for the past eight months, on the project Gary mentions above. Now it was called the MONSTER BEASTRO, and we were well along in it's development. It appeared that Delbert was finally going to see his dream come true.

I'm still in a bit of shock. He was so very happy with the artwork I had done, and how the website was coming. Not only that, but a major cable network was interested in filming the creation of the restaurant as a reality series. That he has left us now seems so unfair.

Delbert had a collection of posters and lobbycards that any genre fan would be envious of. Almost all of the ones on display in his office were signed by the original stars. He was so proud of them. He also produced a great number of spectacular sculptures, working with Henry Alvarez and many other talented artists. Many were created for Disney's catalogues.

Delbert was sweet, funny and very passionate about classic movies. He had made plans for us to visit with Ron Borst later this month. He was, indeed, a true Monster Kid.

I didn't know him for very long, but I know I will miss him for much longer.

New Limited Edition Prints!

As the Rondo Awards draw closer and Wonderfest looms, I have just made available two new limited edition prints.

The first is The Sketchy Things Monster Party, featuring over 30 caricatures of favorite film fiends, from the tiny (THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN) to the gigantic (THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS).

The Sketchy Things Monster Party is 11" x 17" and professionally printed on 100 lb. glossy stock. This is a limited edition of only 100 pieces, each signed and numbered. How many monsters do you recognize? The cost is only $25.00, including U.S. shipping.

The next is a very limited edition of the Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein Castle, the oil painting that I chronicled in this blog several months ago. This print is full color, printed on heavyweight glossy stock and measures 13" x 19" with a clean white border.

The A&C Meet F Castle costs $35.00, U.S. shipping included. This print will be shipped rolled in a mailing tube. I only have 10 of these right now.

To order either of these prints, drop me an e-mail directly at fdietz@sbcglobal.net, and put "Monster Print" in the subject line. I can accept personal checks, money orders and Paypal.

In the meantime, don't forget to vote in this year's Rondo Awards, as time is running out, with the deadline set for March 21st! www.rondoaward.com

2008 - The Sketchy Year In Review

The year 2008 certainly turned out to be interesting. I became an actor again, and 2009 should see the release of THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN and possibly THE RESTROOM, which we hope to shoot in the early Spring. The coming year should also see the release of several art projects I worked on this past year - stuff I can't show you yet. Bill Warren's revised edition of "Keep Watching The Skies" and Midnight Marquee's mystery novel "Bela Lugosi and The House Of Doom" are just two you'll be seeing soon. In the meantime, here's a quick look back at some of the classic monster art created in the last twelve months...








I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2009. I'll be appearing at Wonderfest (Louisville, KY) and Monsterpalooza (Burbank, CA) this May, so I hope to see many of you there.

Have fun!