Behind The Lines ART

Hi my name is Troy.
MY ARTIST HANDLE IS: HALFMAST.
Thank YOU for visiting!

Alive, but without permission.
I am currently still SANE.(shocking, I know) I must thank the Comedians of the world for that.
I am of Black Foot Indian & German descent, and ..100% AMERICAN... I am a COLOR-BLIND Artist, poet, musician, photographer, Body Painter, nymphomaniac, Freedom Fighter, etc., etc. Oh, and a Contractor, let's not forget that.
I like scary shit, loud-ass music, women(all of 'em!), the pain they all bring with them, & the darkness beyond what you can see with your eyes! I love the question WHY, as well as WHY NOT. Question reality!
A Solitary Creature; I don't run with the pack, I secretly ensure it's existence. I'm not dependent on the company of others and can go days without even talking. However, the humans who have befriended this beast all rest assured knowing that I would do unspeakable things to protect them. Above all else I believe in HONESTY & RESPECT, you gotta give it to get it.

Currently, I work as a Contractor/Carpenter and though I'm good at it, I have been trying to quit for years!!! But, money vs no money. hmmm. I despise the cannibalistic nature of Capitalism. It's the predatory phase of human development. I despise money and yet I still have to eat. Dammit! (sometimes I just eat rich people) I guess we do what we ARE and I am a creator of sorts. I create structures & facades for money and create art (in whatever form) for sanity & sometimes money if the price is right. lol. ..Money is not really what I'm after, material possessions are not a goal of mine... I deeply feel pity for those who think that money = happiness, and do things based upon how much $ they'll make as opposed to what they feel or believe.

Music has become a great influence and outlet as well, R-tistiK-ly speaking. I am self-taught and I wish I had started earlier in life! I started playing acoustic guitar in '99 and moved quickly to an electric bass (first a four string Fender, now a 5 string Alvarez). I fondly remember the epiphany when it all became simple in my mind. It was a strange day when I caught myself playing for 24 hours straight. An awakening of sorts. THEN shortly thereafter I got my drums!! Now I can't fucking STOP! I like the odd timed stuff(maybe I'm odd?) I play a Black Pearl 9 piece with hydraulic heads & 2 Pearl snares, a closed aux Hi-Hat, & a double bass pedals. That's right, the Hi-Hat stays closed! When I play my friends say that they either want to put on war paint and kill everyone in the general vicinity, or do a rain dance. I hear it as METAL though (I can feel the combination of tribal beats to metal) and try to keep it pulsing and progressive - I need more toms! F**K cymbals I'll let somebody else do those, I'd rather fill with more drums! lol My band: Half-Mast, has been working underground for the past 6 years. My album covers are all in my photo album. If you'd like to hear some.....just try your local underground music source. You won't find it at a big chain music store and I plan to keep it that way.

I always prepared myself growing up to be a soldier. I thought it would be my one and only career. I proudly served as a Weapons Specialist & Bradley Gunner in the US Army Infantry in S.Korea and I both loved and hated it(the military in general: hard to explain). It both Created & Destroyed me, though I miss it immensely, and have respect & love for every one of our soldiers(my brothers)- Hooah!
I'm an NRA & GOA member and LOVE to target shoot. I love firearms of all styles from black powder to Full-Auto anything. I'm into Tactical Handgun Combat training, high explosives, & fire in general! My baby is a nail-driving .40 Walther P99, 11 rounds of ass-kickery! During High School I played Paintball Semi-Professionally (Yes, I actually made money playing paintball!), until going into the Army. Now, it's too far out of the woods and commercialized so if you're looking to recruit.... dream on. Having pioneered many of the aspects of what is now a major market, I can have no more to do with the monster I helped create. It's dead to me.
I hold a third degree black-belt in Kenpo-Jujitsu as well as various belts in multiple styles (Aikido, Kung Fu, and TKD)and have many years experience in teaching. Though my time of late has been occupied with other things, it still plays a major part in my life and outlook.

I have a very strong need to create, and so I do so in whatever way is most suitable at the time. I tend to work "OLD SCHOOL" using my hands and not my computer. From sculpture to woodworking to graphic design and architecture to pen & ink illustrations to poetry, I've been behind the lines and have Killed my fair share of ink pens. Did I mention that I'm Color-Blind? Yes, you'll just have to get used to it, there's nothing can be done. Black & white is all I see! You would be surprised at how many shades of gray there are. :)
So far I have had my poetry published 12 times since 2002.(I've posted them on my blog). So, to date I've experimented in most mediums, and have no plans to stop progressing. As a Gemini I find it hard to commit entirely to just one thing. (probably why I'm still single).

Currently in the developmental process of several projects, and sorting through the chaos of ideas and concepts. My new projects will be in various directions & dangerous perspectives utilized. Including a GRAPHIC NOVEL that's been in my head for years now! Be patient and check my photo albums & blogs, who knows?

If you've read all that then YOU ROCK!

See my gallery at Zazzle
Please feel free to contact me, if you have questions, comments, custom orders, or if you just want to say Hello.
I will always respond in some way.
Please note:No longer accepting smoke signals as an adequate form of communication.