Streetcar

Almost everyday I listen to a little bit of "A Confederacy of Dunces", my favorite book ever. I've been working on pumping up my 'art' section of my website. Inspired by the New Orleans setting of the book I drew this streetcar in my sketchbook.

VACATION!

We're going on vacation!

Michelle and I have been to Disney World 8 or 9 times. We haven't been in a couple of years and Michelle wanted to go again. We planned this trip in a rush, but I think it's gonna be one of the best. We're staying on the edge of Disney property and I think it's gonna be cool. There's a 7-11 near our hotel!

I know it's hip to be down on Disney, believe me, I seen the down side, but what I love is the care they put into everything. I look around and see all the artistry that goes into everything and it really inspires me.

What I'm listening to...

Art of Concentration
Meditative Music Designed to Enhance Focus

I picked this up at Target. I've seen these kinda things for a while now and I've wondered if they do anything.

I think it's better then listening to some stuff while you're trying to draw. They claim there are hidden harmonics that add your focus and concentration.

I don't know if it helps you, but I don't think it hurts you.

I've tryed to find music that i can listen to while I draw; stuff that won't distract me, but will help mask distracting noises.

Some classical and jazz seem to work. I like some of the Brian Eno ambient stuff, epsecially 'On Land'. I've got a few of those 'ambient' CDs with rain and jungle noises, that sort of thing.

I would LOVE to find a CD with 'urban' sounds like they play in the NYC backlot at Universal Studios (e-mail me if you know of one!) You know trucks, buses, that sort of thing.

I found a guy online who had mp3s he had made of 'Arcade Noises'. That is very distracting, but very cool!

My Studio

I was scanning through some photos on my computer and came across this photo of my studio.

Typically, my studio is the messyest room in the house. Too much comics, books, paper, etc. and too little time.

The theory is if you keep your workspace neat, know where evrything is and never look for anything.

And I believe that, I even keep my pencils in the same place all the time.

But the problem is all the 'other stuff' that seems to pile up.

Of course it dosen't help that I feel the only time I am in my studio is when I am drawing. It's not an office or a study or a 'spare bedroom' (thankfuly!)

One day I'll keep it clean and spend my evenings sorting and throwing stuff away.

But for now, I'll let other guys trying to break into comics spend their time cleaning. I prefer to spend my limited spare time drawing!

iMac Pencil

One of the cool things about being an artist is getting buy buy all the cool supplies. I love going to office supply stores and have since I was a kid.

This weekend I picked up this:
It's a Pentel Papermate Clearpoint mechanical pencil. I love this pencil! It's got that first generation iMac clear look. The barrel is clear so I can what is going on inside it. Best of all it works good. The grip is grippy so I can hold it looser; I tend to put my pencils in a deathgrip. And its got a big eraser. I've never used a 'sidebutton' pencil, but I'm liking it more then the 'top push' style! Only downside is I think it only comes in 0.5 & 0.7, no 0.9.

When it seems like everything is getting cheaper and cheaper made, it's nice to find something new that is this cool!

Now if they made it in Blueberry!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We rang in the new year with a communion service at the church. There was a brief moment of terror when I thought there wasn't enough supplies (I was responsible for putting them out!) but we were okay.

This was a time of reflection about the past year. Overall 2006 was pretty good. I could list all the amazing things that I saw and did this year, but they might not seem as cool to you!

I would be tempted to obsess on the shortcomings, only looking at the things I didn't acomplish.

But the blame for any failures is only my fault, not from lack of trying, but from aiming too high.

See, I have this theory that if you are reaching all your goals, you aren't setting your goals high enough.

Conversly, if you are always falling just short, your goals are just high enough. Thus, you are always doomed to failure. This is a tall task and can be very demoralizing!

Like a wise man once said "Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"!

And may God bless you this new year!

Merry Christmas!

Some new art.

I've been talking to a guy about working with him on something. He wanted a design of a werelion. Here's my first shot:

But the guy felt this was a little too far out and he wanted something a little more human looking. So here's my second shot:

I don't know if this is more like what he's thinking. Nothing is solid right now, I haven't read a script yet, but we'll see!

And The Winner is...

One of the weird "perks" for working for an awards company is sometime you see some cool stuff.

How many people get a chance to hold the actual Heisman trophy?

Pretty cool!

Drain Pin up

I just started attending life drawing sessions and since I go straight from work I got there way early so I drew this pinup of Chinatsu, the vampire in C. B. Cebulski's comic 'Drain'.

'Drain' is a very Japanese-styled painted comic, so I enjoyed giving Chinatsu my own spin!

'Drain'#1 was just released by Image Comics.

Wizard World Texas Photos

C. B. Cebulski and Me

Me, David Finch and D. L. Nelson

Wizard World Texas!

Went to WWT last weekend. Holy cow it was AWESOME! I need to post photos, but this was one of the coolest cons I've been to.

I got to hang with CB Cebulski, Dave Finch and some guys from Activision . I briefly met Ed Brubaker. Took CB to lunch one day.

Best of all, the editor from Dark Horse liked my samples and said he would like to use me in his anthology! I don't know what that means, but its better then 'you suck' which is what I mostly get!

Jury Duty

Oh man I had jury duty this week. I figured, hey man I'll hang out draw some and read a little, maybe leave early.

Oh crap, I was the extra on 2 juries so I had to wait around and LISTEN to the lawyers. And I only got home about 20 min early. Plus, sitting on those hard benches WORE me out!

On the plus side, I got to go into the Okc Metro Concourse, see my buddy Eric, check out the downtown library, check out the bombing memorial and eat at the art museum!

I'm on the SciFi Channel website...

...Well, so of. I'm in the video of Stan Lee, waiting for the man!

My Birthday!

Today (okay, yesterday) is my birthday. I was kinda bummed because I haven't heard from any of all this work I'm talking to people about. Also, I was gonna leave work early, but the guy I carpool with asked if we could ride together. I was going swimming at lunch, but the pool was closed. Finally Michelle was going to work late.

Well, Jon wanted to leave early. I went to a music store after work, saw a buddy I haven't seen in a while and picked up the 'Samaurai Champloo' OST cheap. Michelle's had eaverybody leave early and lastly I got a late call from my ad agency with some storyboard work.

Awesome, I was starting to think they weren't going to use me. I think trying to break into comics is making me insecure!

What's Going On Now?

Well, I'm kinda finished with everything and waiting on the next thing to start. I was working on something to submit to Digital Webbing, but I've lost steam on that. I have the itch to draw a Spider-Man sample, but who knows!

I should work on my website, but that's no fun!

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Meanwhile, this is what I'm listening to:

New art

A friend, Mario Wytch, is drawing Guerra for Unknown Comics. They have a booth at Wizard World Texas this weekend and Mario is going.

He gave me one of their scripts and I drew a couple of pages for him to show them.

The character is Purify published by Unknown comics.

San Diego post #2

Well, my dream of getting discovered in San Diego like a '50s blond in a Hollywood drugstore fountain didn't happen. While I'd love to quit my day job and start drawing 'BIG NAME COMICBOOK', I think I better climb the ladder slowly.

 

I did meet a writer who has sold a script to a fairly big company and he wants me to draw some sample pages to show the publisher (they didn't like the first artist). It's not a done deal and even if I get it, I'm a long way from the BIG TIME.

 

But hey, I gotta start somewhere!

San Diego post

Okay, this is stupid, but nobody is looking so why not. Here's my 'audition' for the re-make of Revenge of the Nerds. Like I'd be in that crappy movie.

Here's me dancing. The stupid webcam missed most of my best moves. Check out my wicked 'Lawnmower' at the end!



In case it dosen't work, here's a link:
http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=10EFBF4A183311DB8D2DF64154DE9F6D

Ronin For Hire

This is the first 5 pages of the ashcan we are taking to San Diego.

Page One
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