Fremont native Skelton displays prints, comics

Similar to many of his works that hang on the walls of Gallery 92 West, at first glance, Deryl Skelton seems pretty ordinary.

Upon further inspection, however, details emerge into something much more fun, much more interesting, much more complex.

Skelton, a 1971 graduate of Fremont High School, has spent much of his life living in Las Vegas, but has returned to Fremont to visit his mother, Elaine, and to bring his artistry back as “Deryl Skelton, The Reality Tour.”

Beginning Aug. 2, gallery-goers have been able to see Skelton’s works �” many of which are monochromatic or sepia, and each with a story.

One of the more noticeable prints is that of the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. Faces on the commemorative poster include Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and in the lower right corner, three frontmen for the “Mob.”

Skelton, a Las Vegas resident, was commissioned to do the work by the Sands in honor of its 35th anniversary in 1987.

“When I was half done, the people who commissioned the work were

gone,” Skelton said.

The new management had a different idea, “We want to look forward. Not to the past,” Skelton retold of his first encounter.

“All you have is the past,” Skelton told them, because all around them came corporate casinos and hotels that had much more to offer. Skelton was allowed to complete the poster.

Skelton’s work ethic and reputa-

tion quickly gained him

status within the city.

“They called it ‘Juice,’” Skelton said. “I did a caricature of the son of the maitre d’ at the Sands. After that, anytime I wanted to go to a show it was, ‘Mr. Skelton, come this way.’”

Other works visible on the walls include editorial cartoons, portraits and religiously themed works.

“I’ve been doing a smattering of everything,” Skelton said, “The pictures of Jesus in (the gallery) are preliminary studies for a mural for a church in Las Vegas.

Skelton is also illustrating a children’s book.

His most widely recognized works, however, still lie in the pages of comic books.

One large wall of the gallery is devoted to original inked comic book pages for “Silver Surfer,” “X-Men,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and more.

Skelton’s devotion to the art made him a bit of a pioneer in comics.

“I first got a computer in the early ’90s,” Skelton said, “I saw the writing on the wall.”

Skelton used the machine initially just for scanning and printing images.

“Actors had to approve their likenesses,” Skelton said.

When they approved a comic portrait, Skelton would scan it, save it and be able to use it in future books.

“I was known as the ‘Computer Guy,’ in comics, Skelton said.

Skelton is never-the-less quick to dispute the notion that he is good with the machines.

“I would love to be 30 years younger, where my learning curve isn’t the size of Mars,” Skelton said, smiling, “It just underscores the fact that I still do a lot of things by hand. It’s still just a tool.”

“I’m going to be an artist, ‘I will use you,’” Skelton said of his computer, “‘But, I don’t really like you.’”

Skelton credits much of his success to traditional art training,

“One nice thing about my training is that I know why things work. I know how light sources work,” Skelton said.

Unfortunately, Skelton doesn’t see as much artistry to modern comics as when he was a kid, or even, as a young professional.

“(Comic books) have lost the art of storytelling ... Comics now have a sameness and sterility about them,” Skelton continued.

Skelton also drew a parallel between modern comics and the “big screen.”

“Unfortunately,” Skelton stated, “A (modern) comic is justified by how much a movie makes.”

“I’m still a geek,” Skelton said of his love of comics.

The Deryl Skelton Reality Tour (Every Picture Tells a Story) will be on display at Gallery 92 West at 92 West Sixth Street until Sunday. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. daily, except for Monday when the gallery is closed.