If you remember back a few posts to the stained glass Star Wars Han Solo and Chewbacca sketch I got, it was part of a big trade that I made. Another piece of the trade was this card- a 2010 Galaxy 5 (what I call) "Vader in three stages" sketch. Young Anakin, older Anakin, and finally Vader. 

The person who traded this sketch to me was told that it was one of Mike's Return cards/artist proofs from Galaxy 5. I think it's cool that it's a retail sketch- much rarer stock. Galaxy 5 sketches didn't have the inner border that this card has- Mike drew it. And I love how Mike goes "outside the border" with young Anakin's head and shoulder, and older Anakin's lightsaber. It just gives the sketch added depth. Probably my favorite part of this sketch is how Mike drew older Anakin with an angry and defiant look on his face. Just an awesome sketch and definitely one of the jewels of my collection. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thanks for stopping by, and thanks for reading!

#starwars #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #darthvader #vader #lordvader #sithapprentice #anakinskywalker #anakin #sithlord #thephantommenace #attackoftheclones #revengeofthesith #anewhope #empirestrikesback #returnofthejedi #rogueone #jamesearljones #davidprowse @michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio  

 

    "By my life or death, if I can protect you I will. You have my sword." 

   He was known by many names. Aragorn. Strider. Elessar ("Elfstone"). Thorongil ("Eagle of the Star"). Ranger of the North. He vowed to protect Frodo as a member of the Fellowship, and when Gandalf fell in Moria Aragorn didn't hesitate to take up the role of leader. 

   Born of royal lineage, an heir to the throne of Gondor, his father died when he was two years old and he was raised in Rivendell by Lord Elrond. Aragorn was a Dunedain ("Man of the West"), a race of men descended from the Numenoreans, who had unnaturally long life spans. Aragorn was 87 when he joined the Felowship, and ruled Gondor for 122 years, dying at the age of 210. 

   Played wonderfully in the movie trilogy by Viggo Mortensen, he's definitely one of my favorite characters. He was fearless, brave, and loyal to the Fellowship. 

   I like how Mike captured what I call the "forming of the Fellowship" version of Aragorn, formally dressed for the meeting, and as usual, a sword always at the ready. 

   Anyways thanks for stopping by and reading!

#lordoftherings #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #aragorn #viggomortensen #fellowshipofthering #thetwotowers #returnoftheking #lordelrond #frodobaggins #bilbobaggins #samwisegamgee #legolas #gimli #boromir #merry #pippin @michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio 

    Back in 2010 at a show outside of Pittsburgh, I bought two Galaxy 5 sketches by Mike that he had done in a "stained glass" style. One was Darth Maul, the other Cad Bane. Very unique, very different. I had only seen one other sketch in this style since, and I missed out on it on EBay. As luck has it, sometimes you get a second chance to get a card you want, and that's exactly what happened to me. I was having a conversation with another member of a Star Wars group on Facebook, and we both had cards the other was interested in adding to their collections. 

   This Han Solo and Chewbacca stained glass sketch was one of two Michael Duron sketches I got in the deal. For me it was the best of both worlds- two of Star Wars' best characters, and a rare style. 

   So it's been 10 years since I've been able to blog about one of these rare sketches, and as luck has it I was able to get a little more information on them, and also found one extremely important date from my history. A good friend found a website that tracks sketch card sales on EBay and gave me the link. I punched in "Duron sketch" and saw a bonanza of sketches sold on EBay in the past 12+ years. I found 4 more of the stained glass sketches (Leia, Luke, Boba Fett, and a Stormtrooper). 

I also found the sketch that started it all (see former blog post), but more importantly found the date that I bought it

   March 9, 2008. This was not only my first Michael Duron sketch purchase, it was my first sketch purchase of any kind. Before March 9, 2008 I didn't know sketch cards existed. And if not for an EBay search for Lord of the Rings cards, I may have never noticed them. So that was the exact day my journey began, for good or bad lol. I think it's cool that I now have that bit of information. 

   Anyways, enough of my babbling. Thanks for stopping by and reading! 

#starwars #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #hansolo #han #chewbacca #chewy #stainedglass #anewhope #empirestrikesback #returnofthejedi #theforceawakens #thelastjedi #riseofskywalker 

More Willie...

   Although Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom wasn't my favorite movie in the series, it may have been the most humorous. Not that it was a comedy, but it definitely had it's moments that made me laugh. One such moment Mike caught on this week's sketch..

   Setting the scene: Willie, in the jungle, had a run in with a rather touchy-feely elephant. So when a large snake flops down across her chest, she assumes it's her pachyderm friend back for seconds lol. Mike plays the whole scene out for us in one sketch.. the snake draped across her chest, the look of anger and disdain on her face, and the thought bubble in the corner of the former elephant groper. Classic!

   Mike's passion for the Indiana Jones saga shows thru in all of his cards. Thanks for stopping by and reading!

#indianajones #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #raidersofthelostark #indianajonesandthetempleofdoom #indianajonesandthelastcrusade #indianajonesandthekingdomofthecrystalskull #indy #drjones #harrisonford #shortround #williescott #katecapshaw #stevenspielberg #molaram @michaelduron @locoduckduron @michaelduronportfolio 

   As I've said before, Mike uses many different styles when he draws, and I love to get his sketches with as many different styles as possible. I just acquired this week's card in a trade, and although I have seen Mike use this style before, he doesn't use it very often. I'm not even sure what to call this style, I just know I like it.
   One of the things that made me want this card (besides the subject matter) is that it's from a Widevision set. Widevision and panoramic cards are my favorites because there's more room for the artist to work. This one has Darth Vader and two Snowtroopers and is from the Empire Strikes Back 3D Widevision set. 

   I love how Mike shows Vader's anger by just the way he draws his eyes in this card. So subtle but so effective. Empire is probably my favorite Star Wars movie, and Darth Vader the ultimate movie villain. Of course I love how George Lucas redeems Vader at the end of "Return of the Jedi" and softens that villain image, but that's for another time and hopefully another card. 
   Until next time, thanks for stopping by and thanks for reading! 
#starwars #michaelduron #locoduck #locoduckduron #artistsketchcard #artistsketch #sketch #darthvader #vader #lordvader #sithapprentice #darkside #anakinskywalker #anakin #snowtrooper #empirestrikesback #anewhope #returnofthejedi #thephantommenace #attackoftheclones #revengeofthesith #theforceawakens #thelastjedi #riseofskywalker