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One of my all time favorite creators, Stan Sakai and his wife Sharon Sakai, have been going thru a horrific time. Sharon has had a long battle with illness and the costs of all the medical treatments have grown. I know the suffering, powerlessness and comic strain a prolonged illness can cause to everyone. With my loss of my mother-in-law, Father and mother (to which all suffered a prolonged battle with illnesses) I can empathize with the epic strain these can do. When Stan started posting to all his friends and fans of what was going on, I had posted that if he needed anything (as did many other wonderful people) that there was an army of loving people waiting to help...they just had to ask. Then CAPS, the Cartoon Art Professional Society and Dark Horse comics offered to do a benefit book for Stan and auction to aid them. A call went out to every artist to join in to donate art for the book and the auction or even a place just to donate money...this is my contribution. I only found out about this recently and with many outside events keep me from working on this until this week, to which I full delved in. I hope I am still in time for aid in the book and send it to the auction..and to which I hope it will get some money for the Sakai's.

Like the call that went out for any and all, I title this "A call to Arms" (Ude ni yobidasu). The Great sensi of a wonderful universe of characters that are all moving, entertaining and teaching is in trouble and I thought that all the character's in Stan's world allied and fight for them. It is the honorable thing to do...and that is what Stan taught me, honor, truth, good even if it is not convenient the way of good person, a good samurai. Usagi Yojimbo, taught me these things over the years or should I say just reinforced them. Stan has made a world that really moved me and even in our current great financial strains I still pick up his book. One little joy. Those stories are always an escape and I never know where they are going to lead...old characters in and out then back again years later. I love his book and his characters and It's not just Usagi (he is the core) it's everyone that makes the book..and I wanted to try and but as many as I could in this picture. And like the Japanese love and awe of Cherry Bosoms I wanted them to be in the prime falling around them for this battle maters most...why? For all this is going to help Stan and Sharon financially but I'm certain it will send home all the love we have for them and all that has been created for us, his fans.

I love his book and world. I had the honor to meet him at a convention and he was quite and friendly..and I tough tied and in awe...I did take all I had brought and purchased a sketch of Usagi and it is framed over my art table everyday. I look it often to the look in Usagi's eye's focused and determined to fulfill his quest. My quest is to be a better artist. I have never been published and only do some commissions that humble me that someone wants my work at all...this week I put all my skill and love into this...it's not the best, I was working my full time job and my loving wife watched Maya a great deal to give me all the minutes I could to get this done. I wish I could have colored it in time but we never have enough of that. I know it's lacking a lot but I put all I had into this...Just so you know Stan. I really tried all I could on this. I can't afford anything. We just had our first daughter, Maya and we have nothing but love and ability to give. She is wonderful. A gift we thought we would never have, but the good Lord blesses us with small things and great things when we need them. Your book did that for me over the years and I know Maya will love this world as much as me. Now the Lord blesses us all to help you and to give you all we can. It is the honorable way to settle a long debt I have owed you. I hope this gives you that, hope for you both and some money to help as well.

As for the art I am hoping to clean it up soon and add some color when I can...and offer it as a print with all profits (if anyone purchase's any) going to help Stan and Sharon. I don't know if anyone ever buys a print on DA but if it helps them..

I did rush this I started Friday night and went non-stop when I could...honestly I have no, NO idea how I pulled this off with all the detail...to those I have commissions I plan to dive right into them and keep this energy going...I hope you understand I had to do this for Stan...I said I'd help if it was asked and I had to follow up. I have not done animal type art in some time and it was easier doing them...also mostly faces so anatomy (which is my big hang up) was not so much an issue...I did like the sword detail...I did..

I would really like critics and opinions...I feel one of my better works...I'd like to color just the cherry blossoms and Usagi's eyes...what do you think..

Thanks for looking!! AND GO HELP STAN SAKAi....www.facebook.com/stan.sakai1?f… ; and garageartstudio.blogspot.com/2… (where they set up a paypal donation page) and www.usagiyojimbo.com/ to learn more on this great book!

ALSO, this will go to the auction benefit is anyone is interested. I mail it in tomorrow and will post when it and other great works from Art Adam, Guy Davis and many, many more will have are up for bid. It all goes to Stan and his wife...so bid often and get great art too!.

Description
One of my all time favorite creators, Stan Sakai and his wife Sharon Sakai, have been going thru a horrific time. Sharon has had a long battle with illness and the costs of all the medical treatments have grown. I know the suffering, powerlessness and comic strain a prolonged illness can cause to everyone. With my loss of my mother-in-law, Father and mother (to which all suffered a prolonged battle with illnesses) I can empathize with the epic strain these can do. When Stan started posting to all his friends and fans of what was going on, I had posted that if he needed anything (as did many other wonderful people) that there was an army of loving people waiting to help...they just had to ask. Then CAPS, the Cartoon Art Professional Society and Dark Horse comics offered to do a benefit book for Stan and auction to aid them. A call went out to every artist to join in to donate art for the book and the auction or even a place just to donate money...this is my contribution. I only found out about this recently and with many outside events keep me from working on this until this week, to which I full delved in. I hope I am still in time for aid in the book and send it to the auction..and to which I hope it will get some money for the Sakai's.

Like the call that went out for any and all, I title this "A call to Arms" (Ude ni yobidasu). The Great sensi of a wonderful universe of characters that are all moving, entertaining and teaching is in trouble and I thought that all the character's in Stan's world allied and fight for them. It is the honorable thing to do...and that is what Stan taught me, honor, truth, good even if it is not convenient the way of good person, a good samurai. Usagi Yojimbo, taught me these things over the years or should I say just reinforced them. Stan has made a world that really moved me and even in our current great financial strains I still pick up his book. One little joy. Those stories are always an escape and I never know where they are going to lead...old characters in and out then back again years later. I love his book and his characters and It's not just Usagi (he is the core) it's everyone that makes the book..and I wanted to try and but as many as I could in this picture. And like the Japanese love and awe of Cherry Bosoms I wanted them to be in the prime falling around them for this battle maters most...why? For all this is going to help Stan and Sharon financially but I'm certain it will send home all the love we have for them and all that has been created for us, his fans.

I love his book and world. I had the honor to meet him at a convention and he was quite and friendly..and I tough tied and in awe...I did take all I had brought and purchased a sketch of Usagi and it is framed over my art table everyday. I look it often to the look in Usagi's eye's focused and determined to fulfill his quest. My quest is to be a better artist. I have never been published and only do some commissions that humble me that someone wants my work at all...this week I put all my skill and love into this...it's not the best, I was working my full time job and my loving wife watched Maya a great deal to give me all the minutes I could to get this done. I wish I could have colored it in time but we never have enough of that. I know it's lacking a lot but I put all I had into this...Just so you know Stan. I really tried all I could on this. I can't afford anything. We just had our first daughter, Maya and we have nothing but love and ability to give. She is wonderful. A gift we thought we would never have, but the good Lord blesses us with small things and great things when we need them. Your book did that for me over the years and I know Maya will love this world as much as me. Now the Lord blesses us all to help you and to give you all we can. It is the honorable way to settle a long debt I have owed you. I hope this gives you that, hope for you both and some money to help as well.

As for the art I am hoping to clean it up soon and add some color when I can...and offer it as a print with all profits (if anyone purchase's any) going to help Stan and Sharon. I don't know if anyone ever buys a print on DA but if it helps them..

I did rush this I started Friday night and went non-stop when I could...honestly I have no, NO idea how I pulled this off with all the detail...to those I have commissions I plan to dive right into them and keep this energy going...I hope you understand I had to do this for Stan...I said I'd help if it was asked and I had to follow up. I have not done animal type art in some time and it was easier doing them...also mostly faces so anatomy (which is my big hang up) was not so much an issue...I did like the sword detail...I did..

I would really like critics and opinions...I feel one of my better works...I'd like to color just the cherry blossoms and Usagi's eyes...what do you think..

Thanks for looking!! AND GO HELP STAN SAKAi....www.facebook.com/stan.sakai1?f… ; and garageartstudio.blogspot.com/2… (where they set up a paypal donation page) and www.usagiyojimbo.com/ to learn more on this great book!

ALSO, this will go to the auction benefit is anyone is interested. I mail it in tomorrow and will post when it and other great works from Art Adam, Guy Davis and many, many more will have are up for bid. It all goes to Stan and his wife...so bid often and get great art too!.